Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Path of Growth & The Apostle's Arrival
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***
Monday, 6 AM.
Now at the start of the seventh week, the first thing Cheon-seong did upon waking was to compose himself.
“...Hoo.”
He rubbed his eyes through his messy hair, unable to hide the excitement welling up inside him. He had intentionally gone to bed early the night before, thinking he would lose sleep if he checked his status window then.
And now, having woken up early to see it, he slowly opened his mouth.
“Status window.”
*Ding!*
*
----
Name: Han Cheon-seong
Gender: Male (20)
Title: The One Who Forges Ahead.
Height · Weight: 178cm 68kg
Current Continental Influence: 1457
*[Status window information is now displayed with additional details!]
*Path Forward [Currently 'Escaping Death' is in progress]
-[Escaping Death!]
―Expand for details.
*Stats.
[Strength 27]
[Agility 40]
[Stamina 38]
[Mana 26]
[Luck 5]
*Possessed Traits [1]
[Spearmanship Lv.5 Growth Rate - 1%]
(Keyword for reaching Trait Level 6: 'Indomitable Fighting Spirit' has not yet been met.)
*Skills [0]
- Spiral Spear [Unacquired] - (Acquisition Rate: 98%)
(Acquisition rate is limited due to low stats)
----
*
The status window brilliantly decorated his vision. As I examined each change from before, my mouth felt dry.
*Gulp.* Swallowing hard, my spirits soared as if they would fly to the sky.
“Just how much did my stats increase…”
I muttered blankly, the significantly higher numbers looking dazzling to my eyes. The stats whose first digits had changed were incredibly satisfying just to look at.
The total increase seemed to be around 50 points, a rise that even I found hard to believe.
“Agility’s first digit even jumped two places.”
A number that was, I think, 25, had shot up to a whopping 40.
Experimentally moving my arm, I could feel a definite difference. My movements felt lighter than before, as if I could truly fly.
*Squeeze.* Even clenching my fist, I could clearly feel my grip had strengthened. My lips twitched, unable to contain the smile that was breaking through.
“So… this is why people get so absorbed in training.”
In the story, major characters would often lose themselves in training, and I felt like I was finally understanding why.
You grow and develop. And when you can feel it so concretely, expressed in numbers, your motivation can’t help but ignite.
...It was a pleasure akin to a drug. No, perhaps I should call it a sense of accomplishment. A feeling of fulfillment unlike any other filled my entire body.
*Whoosh.*
As I lightly stretched, other parts of the status window caught my eye.
While I was pleased that my Spearmanship had reached level 5, it was the skill section that had changed most significantly.
“The restriction has been greatly eased.”
Before, there were various qualifiers, saying my stats were ‘too’ low or the acquisition rate was ‘extremely’ limited.
It was a roundabout way of telling me I couldn't get the skill, but now it was concisely stated as just being low or limited.
“I think it means it’s now possible for me to complete the skill.”
I had a faint feeling.
My goal for the next few days, until the apostle arrives.
‘Completing the skill.’
Nodding to myself, I thought it was definitely worth a try.
I had achieved great growth through my duel with Glacia yesterday, and because of that, I could now aim for a power I couldn't obtain before.
The absolute power of a skill.
It felt as though the path forward was now clearly visible.
*Rustle, rustle.*
As I prepared to head to the academy, I felt even more excited than yesterday.
“If I train with Kalli... maybe I can even do it today.”
Even if I had to push myself a little, completing the skill would be the ideal outcome.
I was already looking forward to my training session with Kalli, scheduled after my classes.
"If it's Kalli..."
She would surely be able to handle me.
***
Edelfia Station, the capital of the Empire.
[You have arrived at Edelfia Station. We hope all passengers have a pleasant journey.]
The announcement, amplified, echoed gently throughout the train.
*Thud, step, clack….*
Among the passengers tidying their seats and slowly disembarking, two figures with exceptionally unusual appearances rose to their feet.
“So much has changed.”
“Indeed. Things only improve with time.”
As they spoke as if it were their first time on a magitech train, a young girl passing by let out a small laugh.
“Is this the first time for you pretty lady and mister on a magitech train too?”
With the unique brightness of a child, she spoke to the pair. The two, who were about to leave, glanced at the girl.
“Yes. And you?”
The black-haired woman among them responded warmly, crouching to meet the girl's eye level. The child, excited, began to speak animatedly.
“This is my first time on a magitech train too. It was so nice... and the food was so yummy, it was the best…”
Suddenly, a woman grabbed the child's hand and shook her head awkwardly.
“...I'm sorry if my child is bothering you. You seem to be busy.”
As the woman, who appeared to be the girl's guardian, smiled awkwardly, the child looked at her with a slightly sulky expression.
The black-haired woman let out a soft laugh and spoke lightly.
“Not at all. She’s a very cute child.”
Just as the girl's parents were nodding in thanks, the red-haired man beside the black-haired woman spoke coldly.
“...Azazel. Let's go.”
“Alright.... Well then, I hope you two have a good day.”
“Yes... you too.”
With that brief exchange, the man and woman walked away. The child watched them go with a look of wonder.
“They’re really pretty people. Don’t you think so too, Mom?”
“They are... But still, you shouldn't talk to strangers so freely. It can be dangerous, and you might bother them.”
“Okay... I get it. But I was so curious. I wanted to talk to someone that pretty.”
As the child and her parent were talking, the woman who was walking away glanced back and gave a small wave.
It was as if she had heard the compliment about being pretty. The child soon smiled brightly and waved back, bringing their small encounter to an end.
*Thud.*
After leaving the station, Azazel looked at Sekhmet, who was walking silently beside her.
“……”
Through his crimson hair, he had the strong features of a man. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and Azazel smiled faintly at the sight.
“Sekhmet, why must you be so cold? Impatience can ruin even the best of plans.”
“I was being cold? On the contrary, I want to ask you. Why do you try to mingle with humans like that?”
*Thud.*
Sekhmet suddenly stopped walking and looked at Azazel as if he couldn't understand.
She had the appearance of a black-haired human woman.
By human standards, she was quite beautiful, but Sekhmet knew well that within her lay the dark heart of Azazel.
He knew that of the nine apostles, Azazel was the one who hated humans the most, the one who sought to annihilate the entire human race.
...And yet, that same Azazel was now speaking cordially with humans, trying to form friendly relations.
It was an incredibly two-faced and contradictory attitude, to the point of being irritating.
Even now, his vision was filled with a massive crowd of people, and he had to compose himself to suppress the rising urge to kill.
If he had his way, he would unleash his power and wipe out every human in sight. In contrast, what was he to make of Azazel, who treated them so gently?
“Me, mingling cordially? This is all just part of what's necessary.”
“...Even so. The more I see of you, the less I understand.”
“Sekhmet, any more words might draw unnecessary attention, so I'd appreciate it if you'd restrain yourself now.”
Azazel replied coyly and began to walk with a haughty stride. Watching her back, Sekhmet felt a strange mix of emotions.
He had accompanied her with the intention of keeping her in check so she wouldn't ruin their mission. But seeing her now, it seemed there was no need for that.
‘So I just need to mind my own business, is that it?’
Killing the cadets at the academy who would one day become key figures was not something to worry about. The only issue was how to encounter them.
The part to be careful about was killing them secretly, without drawing the attention of the human instructors.
*Step.*
As he followed Azazel, Sekhmet calmly took in the sprawling human city.
The massive buildings and the vibrantly decorated cityscape were completely different from the world outside the Empire. It was well-refined, forming a culture and building a history—he felt it once again.
‘Has it been 300 years since I last came here?’
The city called the capital of the Empire, where humans resided. The imperial palace, where the human emperor lived, must also be within this capital.
The capital now was vastly different from when he had last visited the Empire. They had created a strange mode of transport called a magitech train to move large numbers of humans, and there were countless items made with magitech.
Making humans stronger and allowing them to live better lives.
Instead of becoming stronger themselves, humans were a species that achieved 'development'.
“……”
As he looked at the city and the countless humans, a destructive urge welled up in his chest like a tide.
Humans were, after all, prospering like this. The longer they hesitated and delayed the Grand Plan, the stronger humans would continue to become.
They invented various items and even obtained strange means to acquire great power.
‘Proceeding with the Grand Plan was the right choice.’
If they allowed human influence to grow any further, the entire world would eventually fall into human hands. That was something he could never allow.
On the contrary, eliminating the human species from the world as soon as possible would be of great help in restoring the severely damaged nature…
*Clack.*
As he silently matched his pace with Azazel, he was certain that the countless humans in his sight were insignificant.
‘What good is it if their numbers are so great?’
The presence of each individual felt faint and inferior. They were feeble creatures that he could bring to their deaths with a single, light gesture.
...Which made it all the more strange.
That from among these weak humans, powerful individuals capable of opposing them could emerge.
“Oh, right. Sekhmet.”
“...What is it?”
“Let's get some of this before we go.”
Just then, Azazel pointed to a stall, and Sekhmet wondered what it was.
“What is that?”
“It's called cotton candy.”
Azazel replied lightly and moved with a genuine smile. Following her, Sekhmet felt a strange sensation.
“Here. Two cotton candies, please.”
“Yes! Coming right up.”
...Watching Azazel naturally pay with human currency, his heart felt peculiar.
‘What in the world is this woman…?’
Does she truly hate humans? Even this attitude of hers was strange.
Azazel's words and actions were a mix of lies and sincerity. And while the lies in her actions were discernible, at times like this, they became confusing.
Because he could faintly sense a feeling of expectation for humans rather than hatred.
“Here you go! Two cotton candies!”
Azazel was handed something that looked like a fluffy white cloud.
“Sekhmet. You should try one too.”
Azazel handed it to him with a bright smile. Taking it, he felt odd.
‘What is this thing?’
*Chomp.*
Following Azazel's lead, he took a bite and tilted his head.
'Isn't this just a lump of sugar?'
It had no particular texture or taste. Just something sweet.
"...This really is the best."
And yet, Azazel's expression was filled with satisfaction. Just from eating one of the foods that humans ate…
'To show such happiness.'