Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: The Nine Apostles & Anastasia's Visit
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***
—The deep darkness, where the truth of the world resides.
Within that darkness, a great ripple arose, once again spreading its influence.
Shortly after, nine different, mighty powers erupted from within the darkness, manifesting their intense presence.
Their number was nine.
Among these beings, who possessed such immense power.
“So, it was a failure.”
The first voice to ring out was that of a small child.
As the child’s voice, so out of place among these powerful beings, echoed, a change soon followed.
“A failure?”
“What caused it to fail?”
“...Azazel and Sekhmet. What exactly did you two do?”
Disbelief, followed by a search for the cause of failure, or outright blame. As the other Apostles began to voice their opinions one by one, Sekhmet, who had forsaken a human form to imbue its will into crimson flames, slowly turned its gaze to its side.
As far as it could tell, its avatar had fulfilled its role completely.
It had erased the traits of one human who was to become a linchpin and had even managed to tie up Anastasia, who appeared later.
But the reality that Azazel had failed to eliminate the primary target was difficult to believe.
“……”
As the gazes of the other eight Apostles, centered around Sekhmet, turned to Azazel, who emitted a faint light in the darkness, Azazel’s eyes darkened.
“...I will explain everything.”
“Go on. Tell us.”
As Yusillia responded in an indifferent tone, Azazel bit her lip faintly and began to speak.
“First, there was no issue infiltrating the Empire while working with Sekhmet. Sacrificing a large number of apostles and monsters was an expected loss. The problem was that Anastasia was present next to the targeted human.”
A beat.
Azazel's calm voice was laced with a deep emotion. It seemed to carry anger, yet it also sounded like a voice of regret, as if blaming herself.
“Anastasia… isn’t she a ‘linchpin’?”
“Why was she with the human who is to become a linchpin?”
“...Don’t tell me you were discovered?”
As the other Apostles, hearing the details, reacted with general bewilderment, Azazel slowly shook her head.
“I had gathered information and properly detected Anastasia’s presence. That’s why I was able to modify the pre-existing plan without any major setbacks. It wasn't a plan that would have been derailed by something so minor. However, an unexpected variable arose on that day.”
Adding to her words, Azazel naturally turned her gaze to Sekhmet, who was wreathed in massive crimson flames.
“Yes. There was one more human who was to become a linchpin.”
As if responding to her gaze, Sekhmet spoke resplendently.
—!
At that, even the Apostles who had been listening in silence reacted strongly.
A collective sense of shock.
“...There was another human who could become a linchpin?”
Amidst the Apostles, Yusillia repeated the words blankly. Sekhmet’s crimson flames distorted as it manifested its will more intensely.
“That is correct. Originally, either I or Azazel was to draw Anastasia away from the linchpin, and in that time, the other would eliminate the target. That was the plan. But before we even found the intended target, I sensed a human with unbelievable potential. It was undoubtedly a human who would develop into a linchpin.”
…
Yusillia understood, and yet she couldn't.
‘…Why?’
Then why hadn't it appeared in her foresight?
She had been aware of the existence that had disrupted her initial vision. But the human Sekhmet was speaking of now had not been in her foresight.
It should have been foreseen, yet it did not appear.
—And a human who could become a linchpin, no less…
The number of humans who possessed enough power to be called a linchpin of the Empire was a mere four among all living humans.
Each of them defended a different front, maintaining the Empire's stability. But if there was another, unexpected human who could become a linchpin…
This was not a matter to be taken lightly.
A sudden crack had appeared in her flawless foresight.
Amidst a war of attrition between Apostles and humans that had dragged on for centuries, just as they were finally about to push the front lines, an unforeseen variable appears.
If the number of linchpins increased, the situation would undoubtedly reverse.
The grand design was being distorted, creaking before it had even begun.
Yusillia couldn’t help but feel it.
“Therefore, we changed the plan. I would first eliminate the other human who could become a linchpin and then rendezvous with Azazel.”
Yusillia’s gaze was drawn to Sekhmet’s voice.
Seeing the calm demeanor within the crimson flames, it seemed the plan it spoke of had succeeded. Yet, considering the human she was aware of was not dead, it meant the original target had not been killed.
That had to be the case.
“Sekhmet certainly succeeded in erasing the traits of the human who could become a linchpin. And… just before it could rendezvous with me, the target suddenly began to move. Incredibly, it was as if he had sensed Sekhmet’s unique domain.”
Azazel’s ensuing explanation was both as she had thought and different.
“……”
Yusillia simply watched as the events she had already foreseen were recounted.
“Such a thing…”
“Even for an avatar, is something so absurd possible?”
“A human sensed our domain?”
“Perhaps… was it not Anastasia who sensed it?”
As the other Apostles immediately countered with numerous objections, Azazel instantly shook her head.
“It was definitely the human who could become a linchpin. The human named Han Cheon-seong was the first to sense it. I can say that with certainty. He began to move after that.”
She could not forget the bizarre sensation she felt the moment she found Han Cheon-seong.
She looked at him and clearly perceived him as human. Yet, the moment she did, she felt he was on a different plane from other humans. Incredibly, it was similar to the otherness of Apostles like themselves.
—A sense of otherness that only a being not of this world should possess.
That was what the human named Han Cheon-seong had.
She clearly realized that Anastasia had not moved first. It was, astonishingly, the human named Han Cheon-seong who had initiated the action.
“And so, the entire plan went awry. While Sekhmet was erasing the power of the other potential linchpin, I never predicted that Anastasia would head in Sekhmet's direction.”
Even as she spoke, Azazel still couldn't understand.
She couldn't explain the human named Han Cheon-seong.
Even if the plan had been disrupted midway, it should have succeeded. If only that human named Han Cheon-seong hadn't perceived their domain and changed direction…
“So we had to content ourselves with erasing the power of just one of the two potential linchpins. Anastasia's intervention was something our avatars, so far from our main bodies, could not overcome.”
…
A low murmur and a strange silence hung in the darkness.
The other Apostles were stunned by the unexpected facts. And amidst them, only Yusillia spoke, addressing Sekhmet.
“Can you say for certain that you erased the power of one human?”
“Of that, I am certain. Far from becoming a linchpin, he will no longer be able to acquire even the foundation of power needed to grow properly. The human will crumble. That is why I erased only his power.”
At Sekhmet’s nonchalant reply, Yusillia felt a faint sense of relief but said no more.
There was no way they, the Nine Apostles, could have been mistaken about a human's potential.
Yet she had not foreseen the other human who could become a linchpin.
Then… it was one of two things.
Either an unconscious gap had formed in her power of foresight.
Or, it was an unchangeable ‘destiny,’ which was why it hadn't appeared in her vision.
Since her own power remained unchanged, it was right to assume the latter.
‘So it was a fixed destiny.’
Because the human had lost the power he possessed, the only one she foresaw was the human named Han Cheon-seong. That must be why she hadn't sensed the other potential linchpin.
Foresight doesn't reveal all the results that have occurred.
It only shows what I ultimately need to pay attention to…
“With this incident, the Empire’s vigilance will intensify, making it difficult to use avatars. I believe it's more important now to eliminate Anastasia."
Lifting her head at Azazel's voice, a small smile played on her lips.
The fact that the unforeseen potential linchpin had lost his power was a relief.
“There is no change in the progression of the grand design. When Anastasia returns to the battlefield. We will begin again then."
***
Click.
The footsteps felt heavy even as I opened the door and entered.
The reality of facing my own mistake, my fault. The guilt of failing to properly protect someone, causing them to be hurt, refused to leave my heart.
“Welcome, Anastasia.”
“...Instructor Adelia.”
I spoke awkwardly, taking in the woman who faced me.
She was a woman I had once stood on the same front line with, whom I had trusted more than anyone. Her emerald hair, and the much softer impression she now gave, seemed to put even my own heart at ease.
“Really, I wasn't planning on letting anyone in, but I'm making an exception for you. You know that, right?”
“I appreciate it. So, is Cadet Han Cheon-seong all right now…?”
“He’s fine. Ah, he’s looking at us right now. Go on and check his condition yourself.”
After briefly meeting the faint smile on her beautiful face, I gave a short nod of acknowledgment and turned my gaze.
He seemed surprised, blinking his eyes, and just that sight alone reassured me further.
I could see just by looking that Cadet Han Cheon-seong’s body had almost returned to normal.
Tap.
As I approached him, I saw the cadet immediately bow his head.
“...Greetings, Lady Anastasia.”
“Hello. Are you feeling any better?”
Slide.
I carefully sat down in the chair placed beside the sickbed and faced him.
“I’m perfectly fine. Did you perhaps come… to visit?”
“I did. A few days ago, back then. I said I would protect you, but I failed to do so properly. I came to apologize and to check on your condition.”
As I spoke, I took a slower look at his body.
My eyes were drawn to the bandages wrapped around his shoulder and waist… I imagined it must have been incredibly painful. To the point where I thought he had done remarkably well to endure against an Apostle.
“An apology? I truly feel that you were a great help to me, Lady Anastasia.”
Looking at his faint smile, I carefully took out a small box from my pocket.
“...Thank you for saying so, but I feel too sorry to just let this go.”
I handed him the bluish box.
“This is…”
“Open it yourself. I’m sure it will be to Cadet Han Cheon-seong’s liking.”
It was a bit of an extravagance… but I felt that such matters needed to be settled properly, so I even prepared a gift.
Rustle.
As he reluctantly took the box, I watched him quietly.
“...Then I will accept it gratefully.”
As he awkwardly untied the knot on the box, I suddenly felt a gaze.
…It wasn't Cadet Han Cheon-seong looking at me, but rather from behind.
When I turned my head, I saw Instructor Adelia with a very peculiar expression on her face.
‘Why is she looking at us like that…?’