Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Han Cheon-seong and Leonhardt & Midterm Evaluation
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***
“I have no intention of comparing you in a negative sense or trying to establish superiority. I’ll explain that first before I give my advice.”
“Please, speak frankly. I don’t mind.”
As Cadet Leonhardt took it in stride, I voiced my thoughts exactly as I felt them.
“First, regarding you, Cadet Leonhardt, you have the greatest sense of stability among all the cadets I’ve tested. You’re not the least bit swayed in handling your Trait, and everything you manifest is natural. It’s safe to say you’re well aware of the strength your Trait holds. Knowing how you should develop and strive is more important than one might think.”
As I spoke, I couldn’t help but feel that Cadet Leonhardt was truly upright.
Legendary Traits, being a grade only a select few can receive, harbor immense power, but the difficulty in mastering them is more complex than it seems.
This is because a principle that is anything but simple is inherent to Legendary Traits from the very beginning.
No matter how hard one tries to understand it, the principle of such great power is not easily accepted. I was the same in the past, and my growth had even stalled once.
But Cadet Leonhardt showed no such signs.
He strives to advance swiftly on his path of growth, as if sprinting at full speed down a well-paved road.
The fact that his growth isn’t delayed in the slightest… meant he had a proper grasp of the path he was meant to take.
To put it another way.
His extraordinary comprehension and the naturalness with which he handled these principles were akin to the talent of a ‘genius.’
“……”
Watching Cadet Leonhardt, who was lost in thought as if mulling over my words, I then turned my thoughts to Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
“In that sense, Cadet Leonhardt, you are completely different from Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Cadet Han Cheon-seong showed almost no inclination to follow the path set by his Trait. No, you could say his path isn’t even clearly visible. Common Traits, as is the case for many, require one to master the principles they’ve realized on their own and then ‘find’ their own way forward. So, looking at the Traits alone, you could say they are completely different, but in my eyes, Cadet Han Cheon-seong and Cadet Leonhardt are remarkably similar in terms of willpower. Especially in the way they don’t hesitate or waver.”
“…You’re saying my will is similar to Han Cheon-seong’s.”
As Cadet Leonhardt muttered in surprise, I gave a light nod.
“That’s right. You’re similar in a positive way. Even if your Traits and the paths you walk are different, an upright heart is a great strength in itself.”
As I wrapped up my advice, thoughts I hadn’t voiced aloud swirled in my mind.
‘To carve out one’s own path is, in a way, even more astonishing.’
Just because Common was the lowest grade didn’t mean the path to growth was blocked. In fact, there were rare but definite instances of officers with Common grade Traits who were active on the front lines.
It’s just that it required much more to grow compared to high-grade Traits.
Even for a Common Trait, I believe the potential for future growth is limitless.
In that sense, Cadet Han Cheon-seong could be called a true ‘genius of talent.’
If Cadet Leonhardt is a genius who understands and accepts his Trait, running down a well-paved road without delay…
Then Cadet Han Cheon-seong is a cadet who masters principles through his own will and understanding, forging a new path as he goes.
Strictly speaking, their brands of talent were different, but in terms of willpower, both cadets possessed a genius-level gift.
“I understand. For you to give me such undeserved praise, Lady Anastasia… I don’t know what to do with myself.”
A small smile escaped me as I watched Cadet Leonhardt bow his head in embarrassment.
‘And they’re both humble.’
Even this was similar.
While both cadets shared the commonality of being geniuses, their biggest shared trait was the absence of the arrogance and self-centeredness that geniuses often possess.
My gaze then shifted to Glacia and Cadet Yumia, who were watching us intently.
“You two also have truly outstanding talent in my eyes. Even though I praised Cadet Leonhardt and Cadet Han Cheon-seong, the gap isn’t actually that large. It’s a matter of how you think and understand. And if you’re diligent, you can always advance further in the future.”
Even with talent, cadets had a lot of time on their hands in the beginning.
How they used that time was the more important thing.
“…Big sis. I’ll work harder too.”
My heart warmed at Glacia’s bright, smiling reply.
“Excuse me, Lady Anastasia. Did you say that Leonhardt’s and… Han Cheon-seong’s talents are similar?”
Cadet Yumia asked as if she hadn’t understood my words.
“Wait a minute, Yumia. My talent is obviously less than Han Cheon-seong’s. He’s already grasped a clue to a skill. How could our talents be similar?”
As Cadet Leonhardt immediately refuted her, a laugh escaped me unintentionally.
‘It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he’s the most humble Legendary Trait holder I’ve ever met.’
The sight of a cadet humbling himself without a second thought, even when being compared to a Common grade cadet, was quite remarkable, and I didn’t deny his words either.
“Cadet Yumia, strictly speaking, talent comes in many forms, so it can’t be defined by a single thing. In that respect, Cadet Leonhardt and Cadet Han Cheon-seong are very different. If you only look at the total amount of talent, Cadet Han Cheon-seong, with his lower-grade Trait, might seem inferior, but to me, the two cadets appear very similar.”
“So in your eyes, Lady Anastasia… the two cadets really do seem similar.”
“You see me as having a similar talent to Han Cheon-seong…?”
Looking at the two cadets, both surprised for different reasons, I gave a calm nod.
If one simply looked at the total amount of talent, Leonhardt, with his Legendary Trait, would naturally be rated higher.
Nine out of ten instructors and officers would probably assess them that way, and it wouldn't be strange at all.
However, in my eyes, the two cadets were truly similar.
‘Though I do feel that Cadet Han Cheon-seong has a slight edge right now.’
But even that was just my subjective opinion.
In the first place, for a cadet with a Common Trait to be evaluated as having talent comparable to a cadet with a Legendary Trait was an absurd situation.
That in itself was like manifesting an unprecedented level of talent.
It had only been two months. Not only had he reached level 4 with his Trait, but he was also handling the nature of mana and had grasped a clue to a skill.
Such a cadet was unheard of, regardless of their Trait’s grade.
For someone to accomplish all that with a Common grade Trait was a story hard to believe even as a joke…
But having briefly tested Cadet Han Cheon-seong yesterday, I had felt it for certain.
‘An endless drive for improvement.’
Though countless obstacles undoubtedly blocked Cadet Han Cheon-seong’s path, he showed the will to overcome them no matter what.
The way he immediately collected himself when his spear was blocked by the ice wall was proof of that.
That was not the kind of mindset an ordinary cadet could possess.
I had a vague sense of just how much effort and strong will it must have taken for a Common Trait to reach level 4.
Lost in thought, I shook my head and spoke.
“Let’s all take a short break before heading back. We can’t overexert ourselves.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Okay…”
“Alright, big sis.”
As we took a break, each responding differently, my gaze unintentionally fell upon the three cadets.
*Flump.*
As Cadet Leonhardt naturally sat down near Glacia and Cadet Yumia and began to drink some water, I suddenly found myself watching Glacia.
‘Wait, surely not…’
I was starting to worry that Glacia might act as unreservedly toward Leonhardt as she had with Cadet Han Cheon-seong a few days ago.
But my concerns were rendered moot.
*Shh.*
Glacia cautiously shifted away, putting some distance between herself and Cadet Leonhardt.
It was a clear gesture, visible to anyone, that she would not allow him to approach beyond a certain distance. I found it intriguing and was struck by various thoughts.
Truthfully, Cadet Leonhardt was also remarkably handsome, had a good personality, and a high-grade Trait—a cadet with virtually no shortcomings.
And yet, looking back, there was a clear difference in how Glacia treated Cadet Han Cheon-seong versus how she treated Cadet Leonhardt.
‘It seems she doesn’t think of him as a friend in the same way she does Cadet Han Cheon-seong, but as something else.’
I naturally sat down near Glacia.
“Glacia.”
“Big sis. What is it?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I was just worried you might have overdone it during the test.”
A strange feeling washed over me as I gently stroked Glacia’s hair.
“I didn’t overdo it. I just showed the best of my ability.”
Seeing Glacia’s gentle smile, a small smile bloomed on my own lips.
‘Then again, Glacia is…’
She wasn’t just pure and innocent.
She was a lovely younger sister who could forge her own path. I trusted that Glacia herself would be careful not to cause any trouble.
Perhaps it was a sign of just how highly she thought of Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
“Leonhardt, are you sure you didn’t push yourself too hard?”
“…No, I’m fine, Yumia.”
“While breathing that heavily? Hah…”
Then, seeing Cadet Yumia dotingly worrying over Cadet Leonhardt, I was able to completely put my mind at ease.
‘Perhaps…’
Perhaps Glacia was being careful because of Cadet Yumia, who was so openly expressing her feelings right beside him.
After all… anyone could see what a well-matched pair they were.
***
At the same time, in the C1 Class training hall.
Even though it was past 4 p.m., the class was still in session.
This was because the midterm evaluation was currently taking place.
Kalli’s individual evaluation had been going on for quite some time, and the cadets who had finished were all sitting in the training hall, looking completely exhausted.
Before long, only two teams were left for the midterm evaluation.
“Cadets Han Cheon-seong and Millia, step forward.”
As Kalli called one of the two remaining teams in a calm voice, Cheon-seong, with a composed expression that contrasted sharply with Millia’s tense face, slowly walked forward.
*Clomp. Click-clack.*
As their different footsteps echoed through the training hall, the gazes of the exhausted cadets naturally turned toward them.
“What’s with this combination…?”
“Are they a couple?”
The cadets whispered among themselves at the sight of the rare male-female pairing.
Since it was still early in the semester, cadets who were in relationships or were close with the opposite sex were rare, making the two stand out even more.
“...”
Hearing the whispers, Millia’s cheeks flushed red, but Cheon-seong paid them no mind, letting the words go in one ear and out the other.
Having experienced far worse through various rumors in the past, Cheon-seong was not one to be swayed by such playful teasing.
After the two cadets stood before Kalli, she looked at them and spoke.
“The maximum time limit for the midterm evaluation is 15 minutes. During the test, you can help each other with your Traits or infuse mana. All you have to do is show synergy. I will evaluate you both based on that. Understood?”
“Understood, Instructor.”
“…Understood.”
Satisfied with the two cadets’ different responses, Kalli nonchalantly spoke.
“Then, begin.”
At the word signaling the start, Cheon-seong immediately raised his training spear and took a stance.
*Chk!*
As he aimed the tip of the spear squarely at Kalli, preparing in a sort of charging form, Millia, who was right beside him, gently placed her hand over his.
—!
A brilliant light erupted, and her spirit, Cesi, was summoned.
Cesi, in the form of a hawk made of water, seeped into Cheon-seong’s hand as if becoming one with it.
———!!
And then, a change began to occur.