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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 79
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79. The Apostle of Sacrifice - Letheia
***
The lecture hall.
"In handling mana, the principles one grasps through their unique characteristics are important, but if you understand mana a little more deeply, you can manifest it more naturally and powerfully..."
It was now afternoon lecture time, past lunch. Kali's voice echoed clearly through the lecture hall.
During the lecture on Introduction to Mana Studies, I was listening intently.
"..."
Even as I took notes during what seemed like important parts, my gaze would involuntarily drift to Kali. She usually spoke from the podium, but sometimes she would walk around the lecture hall, and her voice would be heard from nearby.
Standing at the podium now, Kali appeared calmer than I had expected. Compared to previous lectures, her coldness had lessened to the point where I could even sense the other students breathing more easily.
'Could it be that she hasn't heard the rumors about me?'
I had heard the rumors from David this morning, and if they were circulating that widely, I thought Kali would surely have heard them too. But from her current demeanor, it didn't seem to be the case.
Whenever our eyes met by chance, the way she looked at me was virtually no different from before.
A subtle shift.
"..."
Suddenly, Kali's gaze met mine. I hesitated for a moment, then lowered my eyes as if concentrating on my notes.
Time passed quickly after that.
It flowed calmly and uneventfully, which was a relief, but it also made me feel like I had been overly conscious of her.
'After all, no matter how much the rumors spread, I'm just a mere student.'
It was ridiculous to think that Kali would react to me specifically.
"You all worked hard listening to today's lecture. Let's stop here for today."
At Kali's calm voice, signaling the end, the students bowed their heads almost in unison, showing their respect for the lecture.
I did the same.
A soft stir.
As students began to leave one by one, their expressions visibly lighter, I also felt a sense of relief.
"I don't know, but Instructor Kali's lecture felt really comfortable today."
"Tell me about it."
"Han Cheon-seong. Aren't you a bit bewildered that today passed so comfortably?"
When David chuckled and asked, I smiled along, but honestly, it was just as David said.
Since nothing happened, it was simply comfortable.
"You seem to be hoping something would happen to me, don't you?"
"Not at all~ How could that be?"
Watching David's playful banter, I slowly stood up. Even so, there was a reason I needed to approach Kali today.
'I had arranged to meet Charite on Saturday, but...'
For the time being, I intended to put my personal training aside and focus on the first episode, 'The Sacrifice's Condition'.
To do that, I needed to inform Kali in advance about the training session we had scheduled.
"David. You go on ahead for now."
"What? Do you have something to do?"
"Just some personal matters."
"Is that so? Then I'll head off."
Bidding farewell to David, who coolly took his leave, I walked towards Kali, who was tidying up her teaching materials at the podium.
A step.
As I had felt during yesterday's training, my mind was quite conflicted.
The moment I gripped my spear, my thoughts would clear, but that was only for that moment. Throughout today's lecture, various thoughts continued to plague me.
—The Sacrifice's Condition.
Thinking of Letheia, the Apostle of Sacrifice, I continuously sought a solution.
With human lives at stake now, it wasn't something I could simply stop at by saying I didn't know. I had to think more, and devise a method.
Because I needed to act more proactively, gather information, or simply try harder.
At the very least, I had to do my best within my capabilities.
A step.
And so, I arrived before Kali.
"Instructor Kali."
"...Oh. Student Han Cheon-seong. What is it?"
Seeing Kali slowly raise her head from her teaching materials at my words, I cautiously opened my mouth.
"It's nothing else, but do you happen to have some time later?"
"Time? If it's about training, our appointment was clearly for tomorrow. Do you want to train today?"
"Not that. I wish to speak with you about a personal matter, Instructor."
"A personal matter..."
"Yes. If possible, I would appreciate it if you could spare a little time."
I requested in a polite tone.
I didn't know if she had heard the rumors about me or not. But even putting that aside, I needed to make the best possible impression on Kali.
As I watched her, feeling a little nervous.
Kali nodded calmly.
"Alright, I understand. I don't know what it's about, but if Student Han Cheon-seong says so... let's just tidy this up and move together right away."
"Yes."
After waiting for Kali to finish tidying up for a moment.
I was able to move with her.
...
I briefly caught sight of the golden embroidery on the nameplate that read 'Kali Ishtar'.
A click.
Kali unhesitatingly opened the door and stepped inside.
"Come right in."
"Excuse me."
As I cautiously stepped inside, I saw an interior that wasn't very spacious but was quite refined.
True to Kali's character in the story, who likes the color red, many of the furniture pieces and decorations in the inner room were filled with red. It seemed to be where she conducted her duties as an instructor.
Tables, bookshelves, and more. Even files piled high with documents were visible on the desk, and as I looked at them, I found it quite fascinating.
"Have a seat on the sofa; I'll brew some tea."
"...Thank you."
"It's nothing."
As Kali, with a faint smile, went to brew the tea, I sat down on the bright red sofa and unslung the spear from my back.
A soft rustle.
As I set the spear aside, I calmly took a breath.
For now, the atmosphere wasn't bad. Kali didn't seem to be in a bad mood.
Though tomorrow's training was important, I first needed to ask about Letheia.
Because there was no knowing for sure.
A soft clink.
Soon after, Kali returned with teacups on a tray, smiling faintly.
"I only drink black tea, so... black tea is fine, isn't it?"
"Yes. I like black tea too."
"That's good then."
With a soft rustle, she offered me a cup, as if it were for me, and I carefully took it.
After briefly savoring the subtle aroma of the black tea, Kali tilted her own teacup and immediately asked.
"So, what was it you wanted to talk about personally? You seemed quite serious."
"...You might find it sudden, but I thought you, Instructor, might know."
"Something I might know?"
"Yes. It's about the Apostles."
I spoke cautiously even as I brought up the topic.
—The Apostles.
Monsters classified as top-tier threats, primarily faced by officers on the battlefield to protect the current Empire's borders.
They were so dangerous that if anyone other than those officers encountered an Apostle, they were as good as dead, a hundred out of a hundred times.
"..."
At my words, Kali paused for a moment, then looked at me with a curious expression.
"Apostles, huh. Yes. It's natural to be curious. You can ask."
As Kali replied calmly, I immediately got straight to the point.
"Do you happen to know anything about... the Apostle of Sacrifice?"
In the story, there were almost no scenes that specifically mentioned Letheia.
"...The Apostle of Sacrifice?"
"Yes. I understand that the Apostle's epithet is 'Sacrifice'."
"Hold on... Let me think for a moment. Nothing immediately comes to mind."
As Kali narrowed her eyes and spoke, I slowly nodded.
My expectations were low.
It would be best if I could find any clue about Letheia. Even if Kali answered that she didn't know... that alone would be somewhat of a gain.
Even in the story, the fact that Charite was harmed by Letheia was not revealed.
If Kali also answered that she didn't know, it could be seen as a period when Letheia had not yet become active in other ways.
Merely 'guessing' that and 'being certain' of it, while seemingly similar, were distinctly different.
"..."
When Kali's eyes suddenly glinted, I grew tense.
"Student Han Cheon-seong."
"Yes, Instructor."
"Before I answer, could I know why you suddenly brought that up?"
As Kali asked with a serious expression, I was inwardly surprised.
'Does she have a clue about Letheia?'
I had expected her to definitely say she didn't know, but her current demeanor suggested otherwise.
Nevertheless, I uttered the answer I had prepared.
"Before entering the academy, I once saw a document about the Apostles. It was about the destructive records created by the Apostle of Sacrifice."
"Before entering the academy..."
"Yes. I believe Instructor Kali knows a bit about me, but since I have no family, I had to wander from place to place to live. And that's how I coincidentally saw it. How dangerous the Apostles are. Through that document."
As I spoke, an extreme tension lingered to ensure my words didn't sound awkward.
What I had said was, for the most part, all true.
From the fact that I had no family in this world, to the document—that too was one of the clues about Letheia mentioned in the story.
It was the same document that Leonhardt would later coincidentally encounter, but since I knew about it, even if I didn't know its exact location, it was definite information.
"I don't know where you saw such a document, but the Apostle of Sacrifice is indeed an existing Apostle. The document Student Han Cheon-seong encountered was probably recorded by an officer about the Apostles."
"Do you, Instructor Kali, perhaps know more details?"
"To some extent, yes. Because I have directly encountered the Apostle of Sacrifice."
At that unexpected piece of information, I instinctively blinked.
'Kali has encountered it?'
That can't be...
'Is that even possible?'
In the story, when Leonhardt searches for clues about Letheia, the Apostle of Sacrifice, he naturally seeks Kali's advice.
After all, she was like a veteran officer who had stood on the battlefield for many years, serving as a pillar of the Empire.
However, in the story, it's briefly mentioned in passing that Kali couldn't provide much help, and the narrative simply moves on.
...But now, Kali showed a completely different attitude towards me.
"I think it's a good attitude for Student Han Cheon-seong to show such interest in the Apostles now. It's a very commendable attitude for a student who dreams of becoming an officer in the future. However, this might take a while. Is that alright?"
As Kali, smiling, spoke softly, I nodded, my mind in a daze.
"Yes. It's fine. If you could explain in detail, it would be of great help to me."
Even as I replied, a chill ran down my spine.
—Grand Royal Academy.
'This world...'
Even before I existed in this world.
Perhaps it was already deeply distorted.