Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: An Unbreakable Heart
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***
Even as I unwrapped the box I’d been given, I wasn't sure what to think.
‘What on earth could this be….’
I never expected Anastasia to come looking for me. Moreover, as far as I knew, today was the day she was leaving for the front lines again.
Which meant... she had taken time out of her already tight schedule to see me.
*Thud.*
As I opened the box, I was completely taken aback.
“......!”
And for good reason. The box contained potions, neatly placed in three perfectly divided compartments. The liquid inside the elegant bottles glowed with a purple light.
The moment I saw them, I knew what kind of potions they were.
‘Potions mixed with elixir….’
Potions in this world were largely divided into three tiers.
Highest-grade. High-grade. Standard.
Among them, the highest-grade potions were those that contained a minuscule amount of elixir. The novel had briefly explained that these potions contained about 0.5% elixir, and the ones I was looking at now were exactly that—highest-grade potions.
‘...The only potions that glow purple are the highest-grade ones.’
What’s more, a single bottle was known to cost over 20 gold, making it a high-priced potion I could never have hoped to afford.
“To be honest, over the past few days, I've deeply regretted not wearing my officer’s uniform that day. Because I was in my casual clothes, I didn't have any potions on me and couldn't even provide proper first aid. So, I prepared these potions as a gift, thinking they would be helpful to you, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Please accept them without any hesitation.”
Lifting my head at her gentle voice, I saw her gazing at me with calm eyes.
...It felt as if a halo was shining from behind her, and I hurriedly nodded my head.
“Th-thank you!”
The gift was so extravagant that I found myself stuttering without realizing it. It was something I had coveted without even thinking.
“Seeing you accept it like that puts my mind at ease. I felt that just words wouldn't be sincere enough. And as for the potions, they're enchanted with a protective spell so they won't break from most impacts. It would be wise to keep them on you, just in case.”
“...I will be sure to do so.”
Countless crises will surely come my way in the future.
Having highest-grade potions would undoubtedly be a great asset.
‘And….’
During that accident, if I had potions like these, I might have been able to handle the situation.
The thought that I could use these potions not just for myself, but for others as well... it was enough to make my heart swell with emotion.
*Ssk.*
As I carefully touched one of the bottles, even the elegant, embossed pattern on its surface felt beautiful. Its luxury was apparent at a single glance.
Just what a precious gift I had received.
“And Glacia is also very worried about you, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. I was hoping you could meet with her when you have the time. Is that possible?”
“I’ll meet with her tomorrow. I’m almost fully recovered now.”
A faint smile escaped my lips as I spoke.
Such a wonderful connection. The fact that my relationship with Anastasia had grown to the point where I would receive a gift from her made me happy.
At the same time, I suddenly felt I needed to speak to her again.
“Lady Anastasia. Regarding what I mentioned last time... I hope you will give it a little more thought.”
Since Adelia was in the infirmary, I couldn't mention it directly, but I still wanted Anastasia to be a little more cautious.
“You mean about the ‘coming crisis’?”
“Ah... yes. That’s right.”
But as Anastasia mentioned it so casually, I had to force an awkward smile.
She didn't seem to have any reservations about mentioning it, but honestly, I wasn't confident I could explain it well.
“Hmm? A coming crisis?”
Adelia, who had been watching us from a short distance away, immediately showed interest, and I hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Yes. It might sound a bit presumptuous, but I felt the atmosphere on the front lines has been very strange lately, so I shared a few words with Lady Anastasia.”
“Is that so? In that case, may I hear the explanation as well? I’m quite curious.”
“You might find it interesting. Cadet Han Cheon-seong’s interest in the front lines was quite surprising.”
As Anastasia nonchalantly followed up on Adelia’s words, I hesitated for a moment before nodding.
‘Should I consider this a good thing?’
With Leonhardt having stepped out for a moment, perhaps it was all right to speak to these two instructors.
As they both turned their gazes to me, I began to carefully lay out my thoughts.
……
The story I told wasn't particularly grand.
It was about the current situation on the front lines, repeatedly emphasizing the traits and dangers of the apostles and the need for extreme caution.
Me, a mere cadet, grasping the situation on the western front at a level comparable to an officer stationed there, and offering something akin to advice.
Honestly, I wasn't confident even as I spoke.
Confident that they would take my words seriously.
Still, if there was a silver lining, it was that the situation on the front lines was not much different from what I knew from the novel, which lent my words a degree of credibility.
“......That’s why I believe that the more you distinguish yourself, Lady Anastasia, the more the apostles will target you. The recent decrease in the number of apostles appearing only on the western front seemed like a sign that we should be extremely wary of."
Even as I finished my lengthy explanation, I was surprised to see the two of them listening so intently.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Have you been thinking that deeply about the front lines?”
At Adelia’s astonished question, I nodded awkwardly and cautiously glanced at Anastasia.
“Actually, I started thinking about it more seriously after you visited the academy, Lady Anastasia. Truly, for the Empire... you are like a treasure, Lady Anastasia.”
“For you to say that, Cadet Han Cheon-seong... even I feel a little embarrassed.”
When Anastasia replied with a faint smile, I felt a sense of relief.
‘She’s not dismissing my words lightly.’
Just the fact that Anastasia was considering it seriously was enough to make me grateful.
Back at the training grounds, I had given her the presumptuous advice that if she were to encounter an apostle she had never seen before, it might be better to be cautious and avoid it.
But I had to say it, even if it was just that.
I don't know why Anastasia suddenly goes missing in the novel. It’s never properly explained.
But... having witnessed Anastasia's overwhelming power a few days ago, I suspected she must have fallen into a 'trap'.
I couldn't imagine an apostle capable of subduing Anastasia.
Unless it was a trap, a scheme hatched by the apostles, there was no way she would disappear...
As I looked at Anastasia with concern, she gave a slight nod.
“I understand your sentiment, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Honestly, as an officer, I’m very proud that there's a cadet who worries so much about the front lines, and I find you truly admirable, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Thank you for your concern. I will be careful.”
“Thank you for... listening to me like this.”
“If anything, I should be the one thanking you.”
A warm atmosphere lingered for a moment.
*Ssk.*
Suddenly, the sound of the door opening drew our attention.
There stood Leonhardt, looking as if he had just washed his face.
“Lady Anastasia, you’re in the infirmary…?”
“Ah, I just stopped by for a moment to see Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Speaking of which, Cadet Leonhardt... are you feeling any better?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
...I smiled faintly at the stunned look on his face as he gazed back and forth between me and Lady Anastasia.
'This might give him some strength.'
Considering he was portrayed in the novel as someone who greatly admired Anastasia, I thought this moment might be a source of strength for him as well.
“…”
But when our eyes met, his gaze momentarily darkened, which made me pause.
*Thud. Thud...*
Even the way he carefully walked to his own bed felt strange to me.
In the novel, he was the type to get excited and show pure admiration just by seeing Anastasia, but now, I could immediately tell he was deeply subdued.
And when I put myself in his shoes, I could keenly feel what he must be going through.
Standing helplessly before someone he admired so deeply, having lost his Trait...
Would this situation feel comfortable at all?
Not in the slightest.
Right now, he simply couldn't get excited even if he wanted to.
***
*Ssk.*
“Well then, I wish you both the best. I have to catch my train, so I should be going now. I hope we can see each other again.”
With a calm voice, Anastasia rose from her seat.
“Lady Anastasia, I will always be cheering for you.”
Cheon-seong replied with a faint smile, and from the bed right next to his, Leonhardt carefully added his own words.
“...I truly hope you have a safe journey.”
“Yes. Thank you, both of you.”
Adelia then stood up to see Anastasia off. Leonhardt watched Anastasia’s receding figure, his eyes taking in her back as she walked away.
“……”
Beneath her beautiful blue hair, her calm expression was breathtakingly beautiful.
At the same time, he could feel her absolute confidence, the strength of a being on a different level, and an upright character to be emulated.
—A pillar supporting the front lines.
From just a few small glimpses, he could sense, if only a little, the immense weight she carried.
The more he heard about her, the more Leonhardt had come to admire Lady Anastasia.
His gaze then shifted to the side.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“You’re on friendly terms... with Lady Anastasia, too. How on earth do you get so close to people?”
He was simply curious as he asked.
To think that Lady Anastasia had come all the way here to visit Han Cheon-seong in the infirmary.
“It’s hard to say how we met... there’s no big reason, really. I naturally got to know Lady Anastasia through Glacia.”
“...Glacia.”
Hearing that, it immediately made sense.
Since the purpose of Lady Anastasia's visit to the academy was her sister, Glacia, it was only natural.
‘Since Han Cheon-seong and Glacia are practically a couple now.’
His lingering feelings for Glacia had faded, and a faint smile even touched his lips.
In his eyes, Han Cheon-seong was more than worthy.
“What’s with you all of a sudden? Why are you smiling like that?”
“No, it’s just... I think you’re pretty amazing, Han Cheon-seong.”
—A Common Trait.
And on top of that, he wasn’t even a noble.
Yet, Han Cheon-seong was proudly forging his own path, for all to see.
He had formed a casual friendship with the very Lady Anastasia that Leonhardt admired so much, and he was proving his own worth through his continuous growth.
“What’s that supposed to mean... Leonhardt. You know you’re being really weird, right?”
Seeing the incredulous smile on the other boy's face, Leonhardt could only let out a chuckle.
...He was able to steel his resolve once more.
‘I can do it, too.’
Looking back... it was as if Han Cheon-seong had started from rock bottom, with nothing.
And yet, he had achieved such remarkable growth.
In contrast, Leonhardt had grown up in an environment that lacked nothing, receiving the love of a good master and his family.
He had been blessed with the Legendary Trait, Sword of the Azure Sky, and had lived a life that no one could envy.
‘In that case, compared to Han Cheon-seong, have I not been trying hard enough…?’
What he had once thought of as effort might have just been a 'moderate' effort. Even in an environment far worse than his, Han Cheon-seong had grown dazzlingly.
“Leonhardt...? Are you really okay?”
At the cautiously asked question... Leonhardt cleared his mind and nodded briskly.
“I’m fine.”
Clenching his fists... he resolved to start anew.
The path he should take was being shown to him by Han Cheon-seong, right here in front of him.
If he could follow that path, try harder, and hold a stronger will...
‘I can definitely do it.’
He decided to think of this current trial as something given to him so he could grow even stronger.