Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Valuable Advice
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***
Tap.
Even as she lightly placed the straw of her drink between her lips, the woman’s gaze on me was truly terrifying.
A momentary mistake—no, to be precise, it was hard to even call it ‘my mistake’.
Glacia had suddenly said she wanted to see my hand, so I had simply extended it naturally.
I hadn't expected Glacia to suddenly grab my hand, and I certainly hadn't expected Anastasia to return at that exact moment.
But if there was any silver lining,
“Your hand feels different, big sis. Yours is quite firm, but it's definitely softer.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Your hand isn't calloused like Han Cheon-seong's.”
It was that Glacia, now holding Anastasia's hand, had managed to redirect her attention.
It felt like she was creating a problem just to solve it, and I was the only one who had been startled for no reason.
A furtive glance.
Despite that, Anastasia’s suspicious gaze repeatedly fell on me before shifting away.
'...I don't think the misunderstanding has been completely cleared up.'
I steeled my resolve once more.
I absolutely had to leave a good impression on Anastasia.
First, I needed to talk to her beforehand to prevent her from disappearing, but beyond that, I was running out of time.
It had only been a few days since I left the nurse's office.
There were only nine days left.
Not one, but two powerful apostles would be coming to the academy.
And this time, I would find myself in danger for reasons unknown.
“Glacia, my powers manifest with my Trait as the focus, so I don't undergo significant physical changes. As for Cadet Han Cheon-seong, he probably has a physical Trait, which is why he has calluses.”
“Really? I guess that makes sense. But big sis, I handle the wind, but my hands have gotten a little rough from using a sword.”
“Let me see.”
“Okay. Here.”
As the two of them conversed as if they had forgotten I was there, I found myself simply staring blankly at them.
This time, Anastasia took Glacia's outstretched hand and caressed it with affection, and I began to guess at something.
'Is it familial love?'
I had been wondering why Anastasia suddenly returned to the academy, and that thought occurred to me just from her brief display of affection.
There might be a more specific reason, but her love for Glacia was undeniable.
'Well, she did say it was their first reunion in three years.'
Perhaps it was only natural. Glacia herself had expressed her affection for Anastasia to me; the sisters clearly cared for each other deeply.
So much so that you could see how much they cherished one another...
“It's fine to manifest your Trait while holding a sword, Glacia, but it's not good to focus on it to the point of damaging your hands. Your ability isn't related to swordsmanship in the first place, is it?”
“But it's easier to manifest my Trait when I'm holding a sword.”
“That's because you're still not proficient enough in handling your Trait. Elemental Traits can be manifested powerfully without any particular medium. So, you don't need to be so rough with your hands.”
“...Okay. I'll try to focus more on my Trait from now on, just like you said.”
“Good. The important thing is to be conscious of it.”
As she spoke, explaining the nature of Traits, I found myself listening intently without realizing it.
Anastasia's Trait was level 10.
A level so high it was considered unparalleled within the Empire.
Considering that even Kalli, one of the strongest in this world, was only at Trait level 9, Anastasia was truly in a league of her own.
And here she was, sincerely advising her younger sister about her Trait.
Even though our fields were strictly different, it was not something I could afford to ignore.
Her gaze shifted.
“...”
Then, Anastasia's eyes met mine again, and I tensed up involuntarily.
The coldness in her gaze had subsided, but a strange suspicion seemed to flicker within it.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Come to think of it, what is your Trait?”
At her sudden question about my Trait, I took the straw from my lips and calmly spoke.
“It's a Common-grade Spearmanship Trait.”
To Anastasia, who possessed a Legendary Trait, a Common one must seem insignificant, but I couldn't lie about it.
With a question in her eyes, Anastasia asked me again.
“Spearmanship... Then what about your Trait level?”
“It's 4.”
“...I see. In that case, it's respectable.”
Anastasia nodded lightly at my answer, her expression finally showing a hint of understanding.
...And that look seemed to hold a strange meaning for me.
Like she was beginning to understand how I had become friends with Glacia.
“Big sis. Han Cheon-seong is really strong.”
I was a little surprised when Glacia spoke up as if to support me.
“Is he? Spearmanship is certainly a Trait with an advantage in close-quarters combat, and considering it's only been a little over a month since the term started, it's plausible that he's strong.”
“No, big sis. Han Cheon-seong reached Trait level 4 on the very first day of the entrance ceremony. He's much stronger than a simple level 4.”
As Glacia continued to defend me, Anastasia looked at me with an expression of curiosity.
“...Since Glacia said it, I'm sure it's true. So you reached level 4 on the first day?”
“Yes. I was lucky.”
Being praised by someone like this felt incredibly awkward.
Moreover, Anastasia was a 'genius' among geniuses in this world.
Although she goes missing in the original story, kicking off all the events, she was mentioned more frequently than the protagonist in the early stages.
'To be acknowledged by someone like her.'
“You don't need to be so modest and call it luck. The evolution of a Trait is something that can only be achieved through one's own efforts. By the way, reaching level 4 on the first day is quite unusual for your Trait. With that level of talent, one would normally be granted a higher-grade Trait...”
“Right? You feel it too, big sis? Usually, a Trait follows one's talent, or vice versa. But he has incredible talent, yet his Trait is low-grade. I thought it was strange, too. I couldn't understand it at all at first.”
“I agree, it does seem like a very unusual case. Ah, Cadet Han Cheon-seong, this is a compliment. Please don't take it the wrong way.”
“I don't mind.”
Though I replied calmly, a sense of fulfillment welled up inside me.
'It wasn't my intention, but... has my effort been recognized?'
In truth, the effort I put into reaching Trait level 4 was likely nothing compared to the effort Anastasia had put in.
I couldn't even imagine the determination and hard work required to reach Trait level 10.
She had supported the front lines by killing countless apostles, enough to be called the Apostle Executioner.
Beyond being a top-tier genius on par with Leonhardt in the story, she had a reputation to match.
A being of such immense power, standing on the front lines, determined to use her strength righteously.
Whether she was a genius or not, the level she had reached through sincere effort was something that could not be disparaged.
That's why being acknowledged by her like this... made me feel good, too.
“Come to think of it. Cadet Han Cheon-seong, you haven't been fully recovered for long, have you?”
“You know about that, too?”
“No. I just got a faint sense of it now that we're face to face.”
As I was taken aback by her unexpected words.
Anastasia spoke slowly.
“May I see your hand?”
“...Ah, yes.”
At her unhesitating request, I extended my hand without the slightest delay.
Slowly.
And Anastasia didn't grab my hand suddenly like Glacia had.
She simply stared intently at my hand, which I had placed on the table.
“Big sis. Why Han Cheon-seong's hand?”
“Because I can get a sense of the direction he's heading in.”
...Anastasia replied calmly to Glacia, who had asked on my behalf. It seemed as if simply looking at my hand was enough for her.
I waited tensely for a moment.
“The nature of the mana inside your body has changed. Are you doing that intentionally?”
Anastasia had asked an utterly astonishing question.
I was currently, almost subconsciously, trying to imbue the dormant mana in my body with the energy of the spiral.
It was still very faint, but it was an attempt to adapt to the spiral more quickly.
Yet, Anastasia had seen right through it.
“You can even... see that?”
“If I focus, I can see the movement of energy. This is a good approach. It seems you're trying to develop your power independently of your Spearmanship Trait. Is that correct?”
At her careful question, I told her my situation truthfully.
“I recently found a clue to a skill. And I've been thinking about it constantly.”
“...A clue to a skill.”
Seeing Anastasia's slight surprise, I felt a renewed sense of embarrassment.
It felt like I was boasting about my own accomplishments. But her question was directly related to my skill, so I couldn't avoid answering.
“Spiral and circulation. I've recently come to understand concepts of that nature.”
Hoping to receive even more substantial advice, I went a step further and mentioned the concepts.
I thought that a being of her caliber might be able to give me something that would help me.
Anastasia let out a faint sigh.
“Huuu...”
Startled by the sudden sigh, I watched as Anastasia slowly shook her head.
Just as I was surprised by her unexpected reaction.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Can your body handle it?”
Her follow-up question left me... utterly speechless.
'How...'
How could she know that?
This was the first time I had ever met Anastasia.
So, naturally, we didn't know each other well. I knew a little about her from her exploits in the original story, but Anastasia knew nothing about me.
There was no way she could know about me.
And yet, she was speaking as if she could see right through me.
“Judging by your reaction, your body can't handle it after all.”
“...Lately, I've been focusing more on controlling my power.”
As I collected my surprised thoughts and replied, Anastasia gave me a calm look.
“You must be very careful when it comes to skills. Gaining a skill and the immense power that comes with it is an inspiring and wonderful thing. But if you acquire a power that is too strong at the wrong time, your body will struggle to accept it. And even if you want to control it, it won't be a power that is easily controlled. I would say you're in a very dangerous state.”
I simply listened intently to her calm advice.
And I found myself agreeing with almost everything she said.
Skills are a form of absolute power.
Naturally, they cannot be obtained through ordinary means. And Anastasia had accurately pinpointed the exact reason I hadn't been able to acquire the skill I'd confirmed last night.
“Yes. I will be careful.”
“And since you're Glacia's friend, I'll give you one more piece of advice. Instead of trying to awaken the skill you've just found a clue for, it would be much better to focus on evolving your Trait.”
She was even showing me the path I should take.
'The next level.'
That what I should be focusing on right now is my Trait level...
Just as I was lost in thought.
Suddenly!
My outstretched hand was grabbed.
I looked over blankly to see Glacia holding my hand nonchalantly.
“......”
Just as I was wondering why she would suddenly do that.
“Could it be that you and our Glacia are not... merely friends?”
Anastasia, who had just been giving me advice, was now looking at me with eyes full of suspicion.