-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Looking at Kali, I grew tense.
Whether I had confidence or not, this wasn't a situation that could be described with such words.
— Predator and prey.
It was as if she and I were in that kind of relationship now. Being fully under Kali's gaze felt completely different.
A cold smile.
And her direct, crimson gaze was beautiful, but... it didn't feel good at all right now.
Gulp.
Why did even swallowing feel so loud?
And then, Kali posed a question to me.
"Han Cheon-seong, do you believe the Empire's front lines are currently being properly maintained? I'd like you to tell me your honest thoughts, without reservation."
The question, delivered in a calm voice,
was entirely unexpected, yet ironically, it didn't feel out of place.
'A question only Kali would ask.'
That's how it felt, rather.
Kali Ishtar, one of the most distinctive characters I encountered in Grand Royal Academy. She truly was unique.
Despite being born with innate abilities and talent, she constantly spoke of effort.
And she was obsessed with 'effort' to an extent that anyone would find strange.
I knew why. Why she came to value effort so much. Even her question about the front lines now was a reflection of that.
Until this year, she had spent three years living on fierce battlefields, performing remarkably on what could be called the absolute front line.
Crimson Dawn. That moniker followed her precisely because of the extraordinary achievements she had made.
"..."
After posing the question, Kali didn't rush my answer as she looked at me.
She merely met my gaze with a calm, deep look, as if willing to wait even if I fell into thought.
I quickly gathered my thoughts and opened my mouth.
"I believe the front lines will gradually be pushed back."
Knowing the future allowed me to deduce the answer.
The future of this world, as I knew it.
Considering the current war situation, the Empire's front lines had been stalemated for several years.
They neither pushed forward nor were pushed back further. But then, a sudden wind of change would blow.
An absolute crisis.
The front lines must already be showing some signs of it.
"The front lines will be pushed back, you say. Han Cheon-seong, why do you think so? For the past three years, the front lines haven't been pushed back. Not even once."
Was my answer unexpected? Kali affirmed her statement as she looked at me.
Her gaze held interest, as if asking why I thought that.
"The reason is that the number of students willing to go to the battlefield is gradually decreasing, and the number of officers and soldiers maintaining the front lines is also steadily diminishing, isn't it?"
I could answer that immediately.
Various officers and soldiers were struggling to hold the front lines. And there were a few individuals who could be called the pillars of this world.
The very fact that the front lines weren't collapsing and were being maintained was due to them. However, it was also true that the Empire's talents were being ground down on the front lines, with each day being fiercely fought.
Suddenly, Kali's words came to mind.
— Among those who serve as instructors at this Academy, there is no one who has not stood on the battlefield.
So it was natural for Kali to look at us coldly now.
Their gaze, having experienced the battlefield, couldn't help but differ from that of students who had just entered the Academy.
Even standing at the academy's podium wasn't merely about teaching.
They stood at the podium because they *had* to teach.
The grim reality of the battlefield. Those who had faced that truth couldn't think normally or live ordinary lives.
Because they knew that if they didn't do even that much, this Empire would have no future.
Kali, who had been giving my answer a deep look, chuckled softly and continued speaking.
"Han Cheon-seong, it seems you're more interested in the battlefield than I thought? Most wouldn't bother to look into such things."
"I merely happened to learn of it."
"Really? Then even that implies you had at least a minimum of interest, which allowed you to learn."
At Kali's words, I merely gave a slight nod.
...I couldn't think of any further reply.
Still, it felt fortunate that my answer hadn't displeased Kali.
Immediately after, Kali turned her gaze away from me.
And she brilliantly surveyed the many students in the lecture hall with a gaze different from before.
As her gaze fell upon them once more, the stiff students gradually relaxed, and the heavy atmosphere inside eased considerably.
At that sight, I too could let out a small breath.
"Wow. That's impressive, isn't it?"
As David, whose body had also relaxed, whispered a small exclamation, I merely shook my head slightly, unable to reply.
My answer was only possible because I knew everything.
It wasn't particularly impressive.
And at that moment, Kali slowly erased the smile from her lips.
"Contrary to Han Cheon-seong's answer just now, the front lines are indeed quite stalemated. And that state has persisted for several years. Most people in the Empire believe this stalemate will continue. However, for me, having spent every day directly on the front lines, it doesn't feel that way at all. In the future, the front lines are highly likely to be pushed back, just as Han Cheon-seong said. And other officers currently on the front lines don't think much differently."
As Kali continued speaking calmly, all the students listened intently to her words.
An overwhelming presence. Not a single student took Kali's words lightly after witnessing her casual display of power moments ago.
And even knowing that... I felt an odd tickle in my ears.
'It feels a bit strange to be included in her speech like this.'
My name kept popping up in her weighty statements. It made my face feel hot for no reason.
"And all the students here have been granted battle-related abilities and have entered Grand Royal Academy. But now, I want to ask you: how many of the students here will stand on the battlefield in the future? With that in mind, if there are any students who wish to stand on the battlefield after graduation, please raise your hand."
As soon as Kali finished speaking, students began to raise their hands one by one.
Some seemed to raise their hands as if moved by Kali's words, while others raised their hands boldly, as if unafraid to stand on the battlefield.
And there were also students who didn't raise their hands, as if they had no intention of going to the front.
Rustle.
Even David, who was right beside me, raised his hand at that moment.
I... found myself deep in thought without realizing it.
'My goal for living in this world after falling into it.'
I had thought it would be enough if I could simply live comfortably and safely.
Enter the academy, graduate with decent grades, be chosen by a high-ranking noble to become a knight, or pursue something else fitting my abilities.
Just live like that...
But.
As Kali's words sparked a cascade of thoughts, I realized how complacent that idea now seemed.
At the core of that thought was the belief that the protagonist would handle everything.
The countless crises and adversities yet to come.
I had trusted that Leonhardt would overcome them all with his indomitable will.
Even when his spirit should have broken, even when facing numerous atrocities, Leonhardt's will would not waver.
Because I believed that, I thought that way.
I had read the entirety of 'Grand Royal Academy,' a novel of immense length, and a large part of why I viewed it favorably was precisely for that reason.
The novel certainly had charming heroines, but that wasn't the main reason. It was the protagonist's attitude. His demeanor. His indomitable will that appealed to me most.
He wouldn't yield to adversity and hardship. He could overcome them with a strong will.
Despite possessing an excellent ability, 'Legendary,' and overwhelming talent, the protagonist never looked down on others or took them lightly.
He was truly ideal.
And that ideal image... oddly captivated me.
It resonated with me far more than other novels that casually resolved difficulties and crises, like an old shonen manga that used to be popular.
However.
This world had changed.
While there were parts that were the same as what I knew, there were also quite a few things that were completely different.
For instance, Glessia being assigned to the same class as Leonhardt. And the reality that Luna and Millia, who could be considered the protagonist's allies, were assigned to Class C1, like me, instead of Class B.
And even my duel with the protagonist just yesterday.
All of it was anomalous, none of it existed in the original story.
'Right. This world is already different.'
In a direction completely different from the original I had imagined...
Then, I felt numerous gazes, and my thoughts were cut short.
"..."
"..."
Before I knew it, many students in the lecture hall were looking at me. And I soon understood why so many students were looking my way.
Kali, standing at the podium, was gazing at me with an intense look.
I certainly wasn't the only student who hadn't raised their hand immediately. Yet, Kali simply stared at me without a word.
With eyes that held clear 'disappointment,' unlike before.
And even her silence felt like she was giving me time.
A feeling as if her eyes were telling me to raise my hand, even now.
"..."
Swallowing a breath inwardly, I slowly raised my hand.
Honestly, I wasn't sure what was what anymore.
How I should live. Whether it was right to only think of my own safety, as I had initially planned... it was confusing now.
'If this world truly... is different from what I knew.'
Could I truly live with such complacency?
Could I still believe Leonhardt would overcome everything that was to come?
— Such worries echoed endlessly in my mind, resonating within my heart.
Was my attitude of trying to live by ignoring and neglecting what would happen in the future correct?
And amidst those thoughts, I could see.
Kali slowly curving her lips into a smile.
Her smile looked very satisfied, as if she had expected me to raise my hand... making me feel inexplicably embarrassed.
'If this was going to happen, I should've just raised my hand earlier.'
I hadn't been forced to raise my hand.
But to the other students, it must have looked like I was compelled by her gaze to do it.
Rustle.
Once I had fully raised my hand, Kali swept her crimson hair back once and nodded.
"More than half of the students have now raised their hands, indicating they wish to stand on the battlefield in the future. You may lower your hands now. Although, I'm sure many of you raised your hands due to my gaze, or perhaps swept up by the atmosphere. I believe that when the time for Academy graduation approaches, not even a tenth of those who raised their hands now will actually stand on the battlefield. Nevertheless, I am fully satisfied with this sight alone. This mindset. Even if you don't end up on the battlefield, simply thinking about it holds its own meaning."
...Everyone seemed to listen with deep impression as Kali spoke, looking at the students with a slightly softer gaze.
Simply having this earnest mindset now is enough.
That it's fine just to have an interest in what's happening on the Empire's battlefields.
That's what Kali was saying now.
That it was fine not to specifically stand on the battlefield.
"..."
However, her words sounded as if they were aimed at me.
There was no way that was true.
Yet, I strangely felt that way.
For me, who knew the future of this world...
Her words didn't sound light in the slightest.
My momentary immersion in thought was brief.
"In that sense, Han Cheon-seong?"
"...Yes, Instructor."
As I replied blankly to the sudden call, Kali abruptly flashed a very peculiar, enigmatic smile.
"After today's lecture. Student, follow the instructor."