Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: A Man...?
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***
Time passed, and the afternoon lectures came to an end.
News of Anastasia and Medelfen's arrival at the academy was spreading quickly.
The Grand Royal Academy was vast enough to be described as immense, with over ten buildings on its grounds, but rumors within its walls tended to spread faster than one might think.
Once a rumor started, it wouldn't even take a few hours for it to circulate...
…
“Did you hear that Major Anastasia came to the academy?”
“Anastasia? You mean Major Anastasia from the Western Front?”
“Yes. The one they call a pillar of the Western Front.”
“I've heard of her. But why would she suddenly visit the academy? Is it because of that incident the other day?”
“I'm not sure, but I heard she's meeting a student named... Glacia?”
…
On his way to the training grounds with David, Cheon-seong was inadvertently surprised by the voices of students gossiping about the rumor.
Talk about her was already making the rounds among the students.
*Is Anastasia with Glacia right now?*
As he thought this, he recalled the appointed time. If he remembered correctly, he was supposed to meet Glacia at the park at 6 p.m.
“Han Cheon-seong. Do you know about Major Anastasia too?”
When David also showed interest, I gave an awkward nod.
“...Not in detail, but I know a little.”
*Anastasia.*
One of only four pillars of the Empire, a being who would bring about the greatest upheaval in this world. Her fame was so great that even the students knew her name.
“She's the one who's active on the Western Front.”
When I summed up Anastasia so concisely, David let out a disbelieving laugh.
“Right, but for someone of her stature to suddenly visit the academy, I wonder what's going on.”
“I don't know. Maybe she really is here because of the incident, but there must be a good reason.”
In truth, I had no real idea either.
Whether it was because of the incident involving Leteia or for some other reason.
I didn't know Anastasia's personality, so even if there was another reason, I had no way of knowing it.
“Then maybe she's here to see the student named Glacia, just like those students we passed said? You're pretty close with Glacia, right?”
David asked nonchalantly, and I didn't deny it.
“That would be my guess. But we don't know if that's really the case.”
“Didn't you hear anything from Glacia?”
“I knew Major Anastasia was visiting the academy today. But I didn't hear anything about the purpose of her visit or anything specific.”
“Really? That just makes me more curious. The instructors here at the academy are all renowned, but Major Anastasia is on a whole other level...”
Watching David's immense curiosity, I didn't show it on the outside, but if I had my way, I would have gone to see Glacia right away.
And I wanted to see Anastasia, who would be right beside her, with my own eyes... but for now, I suppressed the urge.
*I can't approach her unnaturally.*
Having keenly felt how important first impressions are, I believed I needed to approach her as naturally as possible and make a good one.
Above all, I absolutely could not do anything that would get me on Anastasia's bad side. That's why I planned to stick to my usual schedule until our 6 o'clock meeting.
*Step.*
Reaching the training ground doors, I spoke.
“David, let's stop thinking about other things and just train today. I'll give you a proper session. You said you're about to reach Trait Level 3, right?”
“Right... Let's just train then."
As David set his thoughts aside, I too tried to clear my mind.
Even though I was actually the most curious about Anastasia...
*I need to be careful.*
***
*Click. Clack...*
Similar yet different footsteps echoed.
Two women, who greatly resembled each other, were walking along a path in the academy.
Dark blue hair, calm and unreadable faces. And yet, the excitement dwelling in their eyes was unmistakable.
However, if there was one clear distinction between them, it was their attire.
Glacia, dressed in a pure white student uniform, and Anastasia, clad in an officer's uniform adorned with countless medals.
In that way, the two resembled each other not just in their faces, but also in the emotions they held.
*Thump.*
Upon arriving at a park within the academy, Anastasia was the first to stop walking.
As she slowly sat down on a bench, Glacia quickly sat down beside her.
Anastasia smiled affectionately at Glacia, who had settled next to her.
“Glacia.”
“Yes, sister.”
At Glacia's immediate response, the smile on Anastasia's lips deepened.
“These past few years... you must have been upset with me, haven't you? I couldn't contact you often. It's been years since we've met like this. I feel very sorry about that.”
“No. Why would I be upset with you? You couldn't help it.”
After a moment's hesitation, Glacia immediately denied it, and Anastasia smiled as she reached out a hand.
Unlike her own hair, which had grown coarse from long years on the battlefield, she gently stroked Glacia's glossy locks.
“...”
Glacia simply accepted Anastasia's touch with a small smile. It was a peculiar attitude that would have made her fellow A1 Class students doubt their own eyes.
Conversely, the affectionate Anastasia was also behaving in a way that would have made the officers who knew her doubt their eyes.
Anastasia, showing her affection benevolently.
Glacia, smiling softly with a bright expression.
It was a special side of them that only appeared when the two were alone.
“Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. And Glacia, while I haven't seen you, you've really... grown so much.”
“Mhm. I'm almost as tall as you now.”
As Glacia smiled faintly, Anastasia gazed at her younger sister, who was leaning on her shoulder, with a deeply moved expression.
“...You're right. I could say you're about the same as me now.”
And compared to a few years ago, Glacia had become much more beautiful.
Her pure, childlike personality hadn't changed.
To Anastasia, that was better than anything else. She was just proud that her sister, who had to live alone, had grown up well without going astray, as if she were adapting well to the world.
*When did she grow up so much?*
The little sister she always had to look after was now a full-fledged adult, facing her.
Anastasia, who had been stroking Glacia's hair with an affectionate touch, lowered her hand to caress Glacia's cheek, and Glacia shook her head as if it tickled.
“You really still treat me like a child... I'm tall enough to see you eye-to-eye now.”
“You still look young to me.”
“No. Sister, I'm an adult now.”
As Glacia asserted her adulthood with a straight face, Anastasia let out a small laugh.
“Alright, Glacia has really grown up now. So, how's academy life? I heard you got good enough grades to enter the A1 Class.”
“...Academy life isn't too bad. I think I can adapt well enough.”
“Oh? That's a relief.”
As she replied, Anastasia felt even more at ease.
She had been quite worried that Glacia, who started at the academy this year, would have a hard time adjusting, but seeing her now, it seemed she wasn't having any trouble.
As she was caressing her sister's cheek, Anastasia suddenly recalled a recent incident.
An unprecedented event where a trace of an Apostle had appeared within the Empire—and in a space occupied by academy students, no less.
“I heard about the incident during a recent lecture. They said an Apostle was behind it... You're okay, right?”
Despite her serious tone, Glacia was calm.
“I'm fine, sister. I wasn't the one involved in the incident.”
Hearing the calm reply, Anastasia nodded placidly and spoke in a firm voice.
“That's good. And you won't have to worry in the future. Both the military and the Imperial Palace are making big moves regarding the Apostles. Now that the specific epithet 'Apostle of Sacrifice' has been revealed, a subjugation will happen soon enough."
She wished she could handle it herself, but it was a shame she couldn't do so right away.
“Actually, sister…”
“Yes?”
“You know the student who was involved in that incident?”
“The student involved? I heard that fortunately, both students made a full recovery.”
“That's right. It's just that the person I'm going to introduce to you today is the one who was in that incident.”
“The person you're going to introduce...?”
“Mhm. I made a friend.”
As Glacia cautiously but clearly stated her point, Anastasia blinked blankly.
“...A friend? Glacia. You made a friend?”
When she asked again as if she couldn't believe it, Glacia nodded with a slightly awkward smile.
“Mhm. I have a friend now, too. That's why I was so shocked when this incident happened. Because it was my friend who was involved.”
...At the utterly nonchalant reply, Anastasia's mouth fell open for a moment.
“......”
But that was only for a moment. Anastasia's eyes lit up as if she were truly happy.
“That's wonderful! So, what kind of student is this friend of yours? I only heard about the condition of the students involved in the incident, not any specifics about them.”
At Anastasia's cheerful words, Glacia slowly checked the time.
"Sister. He'll be here soon."
"...Soon? You mean he's coming here?"
"Mhm. We planned to meet today. And I thought it would be good to introduce my friend to you in person."
Just as Anastasia showed even greater surprise at Glacia's words.
*Step.*
A man appeared at the entrance to the park right on cue.
And as Glacia's gaze passed Anastasia to land on the man, her expression brightened noticeably.
"Sister. That's him."
....At Glacia's bright voice, Anastasia slowly turned her head.
And she too could see him.
The figure of a man slowly approaching them.
"A man...?"
The words escaped Anastasia's lips before she knew it.
A friend.
...It was surely Glacia's first friend.
But for that friend to be not just any friend, but a male friend... she truly could not have imagined it.