Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Relationship with Anastasia
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***
"Do you happen to have a stalker, Cadet Han Cheon-seong?"
"...Excuse me?"
As Cheon-seong blinked blankly at the unexpected question, Anastasia shook her head with a thoughtful expression before letting out a sigh.
“No, it’s nothing. Just forget I said anything.”
Even as she changed the subject, Anastasia felt a strange sensation.
‘Perhaps it’s not my place to interfere.’
She had felt a female cadet staring at her for some time now.
And she’d even heard her mutter something strange the moment Cadet Han Cheon-seong appeared in the park.
—Really... why on earth does she have to like a guy like that.
To her, Luna’s words had clearly been laced with some kind of emotion. But for her to be the one to tell Cadet Han Cheon-seong about it... she dismissed the thought, not knowing the exact circumstances.
“Understood.”
Seeing Cheon-seong’s hesitant acceptance, Anastasia spoke lightly.
“Let’s head straight to the cafe. I think we can talk more slowly there.”
“That sounds great to me.”
At his cheerful reply, Anastasia found herself wishing she had just arranged to meet at the cafe from the start, when her gaze suddenly drifted toward the trees.
The girl seemed to be making a clumsy attempt at hiding, but to Anastasia, Luna was just another cadet.
Which meant her hiding was hardly hiding at all.
Anastasia briefly recalled the image of Luna with her pink twintails before shaking her head.
‘She’s at that age where she can like someone.’
And from her perspective, Han Cheon-seong certainly had a charm that would make him popular with the opposite sex.
“Lady Anastasia. Please allow me to treat you this time.”
“There’s really no need.”
“No. You even bought me dinner last time. I have my pride. Please, let me.”
As Cheon-seong voiced his opinion, cautiously but firmly, Anastasia glanced at him for a moment before nodding.
*Tap.*
*Thud.*
As the two of them slowly left the park, Luna, who had been hiding in the bushes, revealed her face.
“...Hah. What am I going to do about this?”
Luna muttered to herself, lost in thought.
She didn't know why she had hidden, nor did she have any reason to watch them like this, but by the time she was conscious of it, she had already acted.
Swept up in the strange feeling that she had to help Millia, Luna began to follow them cautiously.
"They don't seem to have deep feelings for each other, but I just need to confirm a little more."
She didn't know why the two were meeting, but she wanted to be sure.
So that Millia wouldn't have to suffer a broken heart...
“That’s right. This is all... for Millia.”
Rationalizing her actions, Luna began to walk with care.
*Tap.*
And so, Luna's strange tailing began once more.
A bizarre pursuit, of which two were aware, leaving only one person in the dark...
***
*Jingle—*
The cafe’s signature bell chimed as several people entered.
When Cheon-seong and Anastasia walked in, the patrons’ attention was momentarily drawn to them. Not long after, the bell chimed again as Luna entered the cafe.
“...?”
The successive entry of eye-catching individuals made some of the people inside blink, but they soon returned to their own business.
*Click.*
After ordering some light drinks and taking a seat, Cheon-seong cautiously opened his mouth.
“Lady Anastasia. First, thank you for making time for me like this.”
“Not at all. I had business with you as well, Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
After taking a sip of her drink, Anastasia replied nonchalantly. Cheon-seong gave a faint smile and nodded.
‘Not a bad start.’
He felt that he had, at the very least, made a decent impression on Anastasia.
“And I’ve thought deeply about what you mentioned at dinner the other day.”
“Oh?”
As Anastasia rested her chin on her hand and looked at him with interest, he slowly voiced the thoughts he had prepared.
“First, regarding Glacia, I want to tell you not to worry. At the very least, I will not be the one to approach her with ulterior motives.”
He started by giving her a firm assurance on the topic she was most worried about.
That he would not be the one to make the first move.
“Hmm. It’s thoughtful of you to say you won’t be the one to approach her, but on the other hand, that sounds like... Glacia could be the one to approach you. Is that what you mean?”
At Anastasia’s sharp observation, I gave a slightly awkward nod.
“I believe the chances of that are almost nonexistent, but if such a situation were to arise, I think I would have to reconsider our relationship. I know you wish for me to remain friends with Glacia, Lady Anastasia, but I believe Glacia’s feelings must be considered separately.”
There was no hesitation in my answer.
The fact that Anastasia, who cared so deeply for Glacia, had made such a bold proposal to me was a matter important enough to warrant my repeated consideration.
However, no matter what Anastasia said, I felt it would be presumptuous of me to unilaterally define my relationship with Glacia.
‘A person’s heart...’
You never know how it might change.
I knew that from experience.
As our eyes met, Anastasia suddenly broke into a faint smile.
“That’s not a bad answer. I had hoped her first friend wouldn't develop into a romantic relationship. But you're right, Glacia’s feelings must be respected. Even as family, I can’t restrict her every move. Your answer is good. If Glacia ever develops feelings for you, Cadet Han Cheon-seong, you may make a serious judgment for yourself at that time.”
“...Thank you for your understanding.”
“There’s no need to be so grateful. I simply believe it’s the most correct judgment as well.”
After her reply, Anastasia took another sip of her drink. I also slowly wet my throat with my own.
"..."
The tartness of the lemon drink flowing down my throat seemed to sharpen my senses.
I continued speaking.
“And I have a proposal regarding the offer you made me.”
“Speak freely. That’s why I brought it up.”
At her casual demeanor, I thought about the date and carefully met her gaze.
Anastasia's appearance exuded a maturity completely different from Glacia's.
She was one of the absolute beings in this world.
...And I needed to properly ask for her help right now.
“Next Thursday... would you be able to spare me your time once more?”
“Next Thursday? Does this meeting have a different meaning?”
Seeing her questioning look, I calmly nodded.
“Yes, it does. But I imagine it will be difficult for you to believe me, Lady Anastasia.”
“Just tell me. I’ll decide whether to believe you after I’ve heard it.”
As she urged me not to worry, I honestly couldn't find a way to accurately explain my current situation.
The things displayed on the status window could only be seen by the user; they couldn't be shown to anyone else.
Therefore, I had no proper way to concretely explain the path forward that only existed for me—that is, ‘Escaping Death.’
Because exactly one week from today, an Apostle would come to the academy and threaten my life.
After some thought, I had come up with something else.
“Right now... there is someone who is after my life.”
I spoke indirectly.
I decided to tell her a story that added another ‘lie’ to the ‘truth’ that my life was in danger.
“...!”
Anastasia’s eyes widened, and she paused for a moment.
I couldn't miss this moment.
“Just as it’s hard for me to believe, it must be hard for you to believe me as well, Lady Anastasia. But next week, on this very day, someone will appear who is clearly targeting my life. What I ask is that you protect me then. That is all I wish for in return for the offer you made me last time. You are the only one I can trust and rely on, Lady Anastasia.”
While she was confused, I pressed on, laying it all out at once.
With the pretext created by her words from dinner two nights ago, I had to ask for her help now and do whatever it took to make her accept.
“If you could tell me more specifically about this person... who's targeting you, Cadet Han Cheon-seong, I might be able to do something right away.”
And Anastasia's response, surprisingly, was not one of disbelief or further questions.
As if she believed my baseless words, she was already asking about the next step.
Asking me to be more specific.
“...I don't fully know about the one targeting me either. But if I had to guess, I believe it’s an ‘Apostle.’”
Even as I spoke, I felt my words lacked evidence, but I had to push forward.
The reality was that I had to mix lies with the truth I knew to somehow get her help.
“An Apostle, you say?”
“Yes. I believe you know a little about the incident I was caught up in before, Lady Anastasia. The incident concerning the Apostle of Sacrifice, Leteia. At the time, before I lost consciousness, I had a strange feeling that the Apostle would come for me again.”
Thinking that Anastasia believed me, the words flowed out smoothly.
To the point where I wondered if I had always been this good at lying.
“...So you don’t have any concrete evidence yet, but you have an intuitive sense of danger.”
“To me, it feels like a kind of 'revelation.' I don't know if the Apostle left some kind of mark on my body, but I've started to feel a strong sense of danger recently.”
It was certainly something to be suspicious of, but Anastasia's willingness to believe me was surprising... I just said whatever came to mind.
In a way, what I was saying wasn't a complete lie.
Even if the goal written on the ‘Path to Take’ was only visible to me, it was like a kind of revelation.
A truth from the status window based on an undeniable reality.
‘It’s like a revelation that will help me avoid death.’
For now, my top priority was to reach level 5 in my trait and get more specific hints. Nevertheless, the one who could be my greatest strength was Anastasia. Her.
Since she had been the one to offer me terms first, I thought that even if she didn't fully believe me, she would at least hear me out.
“.......”
I didn't avoid her blue eyes as she stared at me without a word.
And with my gaze, I appealed to her with the sincerity I felt.
That I needed her now, that I wanted her to lend me her strength...
“Hoo...”
When she let out a deep sigh, my heart sank.
Was she about to refuse?
But then, Anastasia gave a faint smile.
“If what you say is true, Cadet Han Cheon-seong, does that mean I need to spend the entire day with you?”
“No. I would just like you to be with me from after my classes end until the evening.”
Kalli would be there during class time, so I didn't think I needed help then.
Kalli alone was one of the most reassuring people I had.
The problem was the empty time afterward.
At my words, Anastasia slowly nodded.
“Alright. Since I said I would listen to you, I'll make time for that. It's hard to believe an Apostle would appear at the academy, but you don't seem like you're lying, Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
Her subsequent words surprised me in turn.
‘Really, this easily...?’
I had endlessly considered how many words it would take to persuade her.
But not long after I started talking, Anastasia agreed so readily.
...That this was reality.
It was hard for even me to believe.
"Really, what are you so surprised about?"
As Anastasia smiled gently, she looked unusually beautiful... and a laugh escaped my lips before I knew it.
"No. It's just... thank you for believing me."