Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: End of the Prologue
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Ten months had passed since the day I returned from the North.
"It's been quite a while since you became my disciple."
Karin swung her sword with an atmosphere that was markedly different from when we first met.
—Whoosh!
The sword slicing through the air showed that she had fully matured as a swordswoman.
You could feel the leisure and presence that only came from someone who had found their own path as a swordsman.
"Even if you say 'already,' hasn't it only been a little over a year?"
"Ahem. If that's the case, then so be it."
Karin's words were cut short as I regained my composure.
The conversation we were about to have needed a serious atmosphere.
No matter how relaxed I usually was, I knew to put on gravity in important moments.
"Now, descend the mountain."
I declared her graduation from discipleship in as stern and weighty a tone as possible.
"...Pardon?"
Karin made an uncharacteristically dumbfounded expression as she asked me back.
"Descend the... mountain?"
"There's nothing more for me to teach you."
"What do you mean nothing!? I've only just reached the peak realm!"
"That's why I'm telling you to descend."
Of course, there were still about two months left until she enrolled in the academy—a time that was long if long, short if short.
And the reason I was telling Karin to descend the mountain was simple.
'Right now, there's no real need for me to be around.'
The Extreme Guidance I taught wasn't swordsmanship per se, but closer to the principles of the sword, if anything.
I'd passed on the basics, so enlightenment and deepening it was her responsibility now.
Plus, since I was planning to enroll in the academy myself, I had preparations to make.
'And honestly, she's long since surpassed the goals I set for her.'
Before teaching Karin, I'd only planned to get her to the early stages of the peak realm somehow.
But contrary to my plans, Karin had harmoniously blended talent and effort to casually place the early transcendent peak right before her eyes—what early stage?
Of course, the stronger she got, the better the outcome in the end.
"And with two months until academy enrollment, it's about time you head back home and prepare."
"...True."
"More than anything, from the transcendent peak onward, it's better to train on your own."
From the transcendent peak, one was undeniably a true master.
It was far better for them to train and gain insights themselves rather than have a master dictating this and that.
"So accept it and start preparing to return home."
Faced with my unyielding stance, Karin drooped her head like a dejected puppy.
"No need to look so down about it. It's not like we'll never see each other again."
"I know, but still..."
Watching Karin, whose disappointment was plain as day, suddenly gave me an idea.
'I wonder what face she'll make when she sees her master—who she parted with upon descending the mountain—as a classmate at the academy.'
She'd probably be incredibly flustered, her iron mask shattering in that Karin-specific way.
The thought of teasing my disciple already had a sly smile creeping onto my lips.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ There were only two months left until academy enrollment.
A middling length of time—short if short, long if long.
Having sent my disciple Karin down the mountain, I realized I had become an old man with nothing to do.
'At least if I had someone to talk to...'
Of course, there was Cecilia, but she handled all the household chores alone, so she didn't have much free time.
Maybe just late at night after everything was done or during meals?
In contrast to her, I had nothing to do.
'...Come to think of it, Bergil told me to visit the academy once before enrolling.'
It was a memory of zoning out in the rocking chair before Karin arrived.
When we'd talked about academy enrollment with Bergil, he'd definitely told me to meet the dean first.
Confidently saying I wouldn't be disappointed.
"Guess I'll pay a visit after all this time."
This wouldn't actually be my first time going to the academy.
Of course, not as a student or faculty.
As a former Sword Saint, I remembered giving a lecture there several decades ago.
Though back then, the academy was empty because the empire was in the midst of war.
Recalling Yuri's memories of lecturing on swordsmanship at the academy, I walked on and soon arrived.
The massive black outer walls surrounding it and the white buildings inside.
"Whoa. Is this really the academy from my memories?"
Of course, I'd heard that after the war ended, the academy's prestige had skyrocketed ridiculously.
Something about the new dean being quite remarkable.
'Remarkable aside, they sure don't skimp on money.'
I gently caressed the outer walls surrounding the academy with my hand.
For a moment, a stinging pain shot through my hand, and I felt the mana in the area ripple.
'...Four enchantment magics, two barriers, and even divine protection?'
These were defenses beyond what any educational institution needed.
Even one would cost an astronomical sum.
At this level, you could easily believe it was a military facility, not a school.
'Well, I get their prestige.'
The academy wasn't just for education.
Nobles had to attend, so it served as a leash.
If high-status foreigners came to study, it could showcase the empire's power.
In other words, the academy symbolized the empire.
Still, pouring this much money into it was hard to fathom.
"That said, this feels really unpleasant... Do they have voyeuristic tendencies or something?"
I pulled my hand away from the wall and stared into the empty air.
True empty space, with no birds, no insects—nothing.
Yes, literally nothing, making that space feel alien with its lack of mana.
"Eek... Don't glare like that. I just couldn't help myself seeing your face after so long."
A woman's voice came from the empty air I was staring at.
Familiar, yet subtly unfamiliar.
More like Yuri's body remembered it than I did.
Meaning I didn't know her, but Yuri did.
"...Who are you."
"How disappointing. You don't even remember."
"Should I cut you down?"
My hand went to the sword at my waist.
Naturally, I intended to do it for real.
If it was truly empty air, slicing it wouldn't be a problem.
"Can't even joke around. Fine, let's properly show my face after all this time."
The mana-less empty air began emitting an unnatural sound.
—Tzzzt!!
A chilling noise like space tearing apart.
Soon, from the ripped-open space—like something torn left and right—a pure white staircase extended straight down to right in front of me.
As if some noble figure would descend it.
"It's been a long time, Senior."
That seductive voice drifted from beyond the torn space.
And it wasn't just the voice crossing over.
A woman in pure white descended, stepping on the white staircase.
She was literally pure white.
White hair, white eyes, white robes.
Even the unique color sensed by my ki perception was white.
"I didn't think you'd even forgotten my voice."
The woman moved her scarlet lips to speak.
The possessor didn't know her, but she was definitely in Yuri's memories.
Though slightly different from the memory, no doubt.
"...Freya."
"Oh! You do remember?"
Remember? How could I forget.
Her impression was too strong.
She was the cherished disciple of one of my old comrades among the Seven Stars.
"Long time no see..."
Her fair white skin and pristine white eyes met mine.
"Long time no see! That said, you're still exactly the same. Even though the last time I saw you was decades ago."
"Well... aging stopped. Anyway, why are you here?"
"...Um, because I'm the dean?"
"What?"
My head rang for a moment.
Not the Frost Star herself, but her disciple as dean?
"...Just to check, you don't still think I'm the same as I was decades ago, do you?"
"Aren't you?"
"Haaa..."
Freya let out a deep sigh, then greeted me with imperial courtesy.
"Freya Whiterose, 13th Dean of the Academy and current Frost Star of the Seven Stars, at your service."
She succinctly conveyed everything about herself.
This confirmed that Yuri's memories hadn't updated past a certain point.
'Typical hermit. Didn't even keep up with the world's news properly.'
I let out a real sigh.
Soon after my curiosity was sated, Freya turned the question on me.
"But why are you here, Senior? To teach as a professor?"
"...No, not that."
"Then, do you have a disciple attending the academy?"
She'd be starting soon, but that wasn't the point.
Like Freya had done earlier, I gave an imperial bow and greeted her.
"Yuri Kaliyam, former Sword Saint of the Empire and soon-to-be freshman at the academy, at your service."
My waist bent firmly.
My head lowered.
Freya just gaped at me, countless question marks popping up over her head.
"Eh, eh, no way... You're joking, right? Senior...?"
No, it's real.