Chapter 149
Chapter 149
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Water Spirit: Seshi's Enhanced State
-----------------------------------------------------------------
***
The training spears provided in the training grounds were nothing special.
They were just light, easy-to-use spears with a simple description stating they increased Agility by 1.1x.
But now, it was quite different.
*Fwoosh—!*
A faint azure light enveloped the spear's shaft, giving it a soft, shimmering glow. What was once a mere training spear now looked like a high-quality weapon.
In fact, it had gained a special ability.
*
---
Training Spear (Water Spirit: Seshi's Enhanced State)
Grade: Common (Rare).
Item Effect: Increases Agility by 1.1x when equipped.
[Adds 50% Water-elemental damage]
*Your Agility is adjusted to 25 by the item's effect.
---
*
The stats in the item window that appeared in my vision were one thing, but when I actually swung the spear, it felt completely different.
*Swish!*
As the spearhead cut through the air, a spray of water traced its trajectory.
"...This is good."
I could tell for sure after just a few swings.
"Does it feel okay?"
"Yeah. It feels great. Better than I ever imagined."
I knew spirits were a versatile power, but I never thought they could be used to enhance weapons like this.
"That's a relief. It seems I can be of help to you."
As Millia spoke with a bright smile, I found myself nodding honestly. At this rate, it felt like she wouldn't just be helpful; she could make me significantly stronger.
‘There’s no strain on me at all.’
I didn't have to channel my own mana. It felt like I was swinging a normal spear, but with the destructive power of a spirit layered on top.
"Millia, how long do you think you can maintain this spirit enhancement?"
"From the feel of it now, I think about two hours."
I nodded instinctively at Millia's calm reply.
"Great. Then is it possible to control its power, maybe make it stronger than it is now?"
When I asked about a potential application, Millia pondered for a moment before cautiously reaching out to me.
"Excuse me for a moment."
"Go ahead."
With my light affirmation, she carefully placed her hand over mine as I gripped the spear.
*Slide.*
...While I tried to remain outwardly composed, not showing any reaction to her soft hand, I saw the azure light dwelling in the spear's shaft fluctuate wildly.
"I don't think I can make any major adjustments to the power right now, but Seshi says she can make it a little stronger. It would probably be about 1.3 times more powerful than it is now. But the duration would be cut in half... Is that okay?"
As Millia slowly pulled her hand away with an awkward smile, I thought that was more than enough.
"That's perfect. I think that level of intensity would be great for the test tomorrow."
"Okay. I'll do that."
Listening to Millia's reply, I looked at the spear, now coated in a vivid azure light.
The more I looked at it, the more I liked it. It was as if it had been magically enchanted. To be honest, it looked undeniably cool.
'A spirit...'
It also felt like a truly desirable trait.
It was a bit of a different thought, but the brilliant effect imbued in the spear looked like a +10 enhancement from a video game. It was childish, but it made me wish I had a spirit of my own.
*Splash!*
Then, as a small splash of water danced on my hand, a laugh escaped my lips.
"Seshi must really dislike me."
Even though Millia had coaxed Seshi into lending me its power, I could clearly see the hawk-faced spirit that had briefly materialized on the spearhead glaring at me.
"...That's strange. I didn't get the feeling she disliked you so much when we met before."
"As a trait's level increases, the spirit's personality develops too. It can probably express its likes and dislikes more clearly now."
As I said it, a slightly amusing thought came to mind.
In the original story, spirits didn't have a gender. There was no such setting, just that they shared an emotional bond with their master... But for some reason, I felt like I could understand Seshi's feelings a little.
To Seshi, Millia was undoubtedly the master she cherished most.
So, I had no choice but to understand.
'Her master was an adorable girl like Millia, and now she has to lend her power to a drab guy like me.'
I'd probably hate it too if I were in her shoes.
While I understood Seshi's feelings, her pouting at me just seemed cute.
Since the spirit had taken the form of an animal, it looked like a special pet to me.
"Still, for Millia's sake, just bear with it for a little while."
When I spoke in a slightly placating tone, the bird-like face of Seshi immediately vanished.
It was as if she couldn't even stand the sight of me. I let out a small laugh.
"Well then, Millia. I'm going to focus on training for a bit."
"Okay. I'll get out of your way."
As Millia stepped aside, seemingly done with her part, I began my training, lightly swinging the spear imbued with Seshi's power.
With power dwelling in the spear without me needing to focus my mana, it felt completely different from my usual practice.
Compared to ordinary mana, the spear imbued with Seshi's power was far stronger.
Better yet, there was no strain in swinging it, allowing me to focus entirely on the technical aspects of my spearmanship and practice skills I normally wouldn't dare attempt.
*Swish! Whoosh!*
Even when striking the training dummy, instead of a sharp cracking sound, there was a splash of water and a strange aquatic sound that seemed to purify my mind.
*Thud—!*
And crucially, the training dummy was staggering far more violently than usual.
Just seeing that gave me a clear sense of it.
'There's definitely synergy here.'
Millia's spirit-based trait felt so superior that it seemed to possess something beyond its grade.
It looked like things wouldn't be too bad for the midterm evaluation tomorrow.
***
"......Haaah."
Luna let out a sigh that seemed heavy enough to crack the ground as she walked, shaking her head.
With the midterm evaluation tomorrow, she had briefly practiced with Jerad, but she couldn't stay with him for long.
An instinctive aversion had caused her to end the practice session prematurely.
Now, as she returned after killing time alone at a cafe, her mood was, frankly, not good.
"...Millia is being so unfair."
She muttered her best friend's name, though she wasn't there, feeling nothing but gloom.
She had been abandoned.
That was overwhelmingly how Luna felt. She'd had her doubts when Millia first started approaching Han Cheon-seong, but now that her fears had become reality, her heart was a tangled mess.
She wondered if her friendship with Millia was really this fragile, yet she couldn't bring herself to throw a tantrum or be stubborn about it.
'...It's what Millia wants.'
Her hatred for Han Cheon-seong was growing, but when she thought of Millia, she was at a loss for what to do.
As Luna passed through the park, her gaze drifted aimlessly.
"...?"
She hadn't been looking at anything in particular.
*Thump.*
Her steps came to an abrupt halt.
On a park bench sat a woman in a luxurious, dark officer's uniform.
Her blue hair cascaded down to her waist, and her expression was cold, yet she exuded an elegant nobility that made Luna gasp in admiration without realizing it.
"Right. Could that be Major Anastasia?"
A woman said to have shown unparalleled performance among the officers on the front lines. She remembered hearing that the major had recently visited the academy and recalled her description.
Focusing mana into her eyes, she could clearly read the name on the officer's name tag despite the distance.
[Anastasia]
As her gaze lingered, Luna saw a completely unexpected person.
"Huh?"
Tilting her head, Luna couldn't understand.
Why was *he* entering the park right now?
She could never forget the face of the boy dressed in the same black cadet uniform as her.
—Han Cheon-seong.
He was one of the people she currently despised the most.
The one who had stolen her best friend. The guy who was supposed to be practicing with Millia had suddenly appeared in the park.
'What's he doing here?'
Luna's confusion deepened as he walked toward Anastasia as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"..."
Then, Anastasia's gaze met hers for a fleeting moment, and Luna flinched in surprise.
Despite the considerable distance between them, it was as if the major had sensed her stare.
But soon, Anastasia turned to face Han Cheon-seong with a faint smile, and Luna's surprise was quickly replaced by bewilderment.
'Han Cheon-seong, what on earth is he doing meeting with Major Anastasia?'
As far as she knew, Han Cheon-seong was a commoner.
He was supposed to be a commoner with nothing special about him, yet the people he met were anything but ordinary.
The fact that he was always with a woman wherever he went made her let out a hollow laugh.
At this point, it was so common that it was starting to feel normal.
"Really... why would she fall for a guy like that?"
Her own heart felt heavy and frustrated.
She was upset with Millia, but deep down, she had hoped things would work out for her. Yet the object of her friend's affection was meeting with different women every day.
She was in a difficult position, unsure whether to tell Millia or not.
"......."
After a moment of deliberation, Luna cautiously began to spy on them.
***
The moment I entered the park, I was met with an overwhelming presence.
My eyes were drawn to Anastasia, and I tried to calm my racing heart.
'Stay calm.'
Right now, Anastasia was more important to me than anyone else.
It was no exaggeration to say that my life would be in her hands in a few days.
To prepare for the coming Apostle, I had to maintain a good relationship with her.
'Don't get on her bad side...'
I chose my words carefully as I approached.
"Major Anastasia. Have you been waiting long?"
I spoke to her calmly, and she greeted me with a gentle smile.
"No. I just arrived myself."
Her friendly tone helped to put my mind at ease.
"By the way, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. There's something I'd like to ask you first..."
I nodded, having no idea what Anastasia was about to ask.
"Of course. Please, ask away."
"Do you happen to have a stalker following you?"
"...Excuse me?"
The words were so unexpected that I could only blink blankly.