Invasion (2)
Clarice's eyes widened in shock, and naturally, the rest of the group who had overheard the conversation let out their own exclamations of surprise.
"The Empire is invading…?"
"Those bastards are really planning to start a war!?"
"…This is already happening, Junior."
Ciela's cool demeanor shocked even the excited Serena, who took a moment to calm down and nodded in agreement. This was undoubtedly the outbreak of war.
The Empire and the Magic Kingdom had fought a massive war in the past and signed a treaty promising not to invade each other—yet here they were, launching a preemptive strike. It was as good as a blatant declaration that they intended to crush the Magic Kingdom without mercy.
"Please hurry to the carriages with your guests! You've only just crossed the border, so there shouldn't be any issues returning."
As Adam said, the invasion was coming from the north, where the duchy bordered Yarnvidr. The south, leading back to the academy, should still be safe. If they left promptly, they could exit the duchy unharmed and return to the academy.
Adam spoke urgently.
"You must go now. There's no time to leisurely write reports."
Serena turned to him. "We could help, you know. If you need more manpower…"
"Absolutely not. We can't drag you into a war."
Everyone from Seong Hyun-jin onward knew they represented tremendous firepower, and the Levatein side was well aware of that too.
"We appreciate your sentiment, but safely escorting academy students back to the academy is also the duty of House Levatein."
But involving academy students who had come merely for experiential training in a war would tarnish House Levatein's honor. After all, Seong Hyun-jin and his group weren't here under official support from the academy or the Magic Kingdom.
Adam politely refused, and Serena, reading his intent, didn't press further.
"…Seong Hyun-jin, everyone."
Then Clarice, connected to both House Levatein and the academy, spoke up.
"Please head to the academy by carriage first. I'll follow later."
"Lady Clarice, you must go too!"
"Butler, I'm a Levatein as well."
Clarice opposed Adam's attempt to send her away too. She argued that, as a member of House Levatein before being an academy student, she had a duty to defend this land.
"We can't abandon our territory and flee. This is land that all of House Levatein must protect together. Of course, I must fight alongside them."
"Lady Clarice…"
"And how could I possibly sit this out? In terms of manpower, shouldn't Brother Kaijid be the one to withdraw instead of me?"
Clarice addressed Seong Hyun-jin and the others she had invited.
"I'm sorry, but could you inform the academy about my situation? I will send a letter as well, but I'm not sure if it will arrive safely."
"…Got it."
"Clarice."
Seong Hyun-jin, who had been quietly listening, asked her softly.
"You okay staying behind?"
"Of course. Ah, poor choice of words."
Seong Hyun-jin slightly rephrased his initial question and asked again.
"You okay staying here alone?"
"…Pardon?"
As Clarice looked at him questioningly, Seong Hyun-jin simply met her gaze in silence.
After a moment of eye contact, Clarice understood his meaning and gave a relaxed smile.
"Yes, no problem."
"Alright then."
Seong Hyun-jin nodded.
"Let's head out right away. We need to leave before it's too late to exit the duchy."
"Seong Hyun-jin, but…"
"Junior's right. Us sticking around is just complicating things."
Yeonhui agreed with Seong Hyun-jin.
"Clarice Junior refused, so we have no reason to stay."
Ciela pointed out they had no justification to remain, helping sway the still-hesitant Serena.
"…Yeah, I know."
Serena realized there was no counterargument and reluctantly went along with Seong Hyun-jin's decision.
Seong Hyun-jin asked Adam, "Is the carriage ready?"
"Yes, it's prepared for immediate departure."
"Thanks for everything. We had a comfortable stay thanks to you."
"Not at all. It was an honor to serve you."
Adam bowed deeply in farewell, and Clarice, as the lady of House Levatein, bid them goodbye too.
"Thank you for visiting."
"Yeah, see you at the academy."
Seeing Seong Hyun-jin speak as if nothing was wrong, Clarice felt his consideration. He seemed like someone who didn't care about others and just did as he pleased most of the time… but moments like this showed he was a good person.
"Yes, at the academy."
Everyone exchanged farewells, gathered their reports and belongings, and left the castle.
After seeing off her companions, Clarice hardened her expression and asked Adam, "Where did Father go?"
"He led the troops straight to Plehein Forest. Reports say the Empire's advance is headed there."
"What about the garrison left at the castle?"
"He left the minimum for defense."
"I'll head to the forest too."
Adam didn't try to stop her but added, as if there was something he needed to mention first.
"Lady Clarice, there's something you should know."
"What is it?"
"First Young Master is joining them there as well."
"…Did Father summon Brother Gaius?"
"Yes, given the circumstances."
A flicker of discomfort crossed Clarice's face, but she nodded slightly as if acknowledging it.
"Understood. I'll keep that in mind."
"Safe travels, Lady Clarice."
Adam bowed formally. In response to the loyal butler's farewell—which might be their last—Clarice simply nodded and left the room.
Adam kept bowing until her footsteps faded, then slowly raised his head.
"House Levatein's fate will be decided today."
On the reception room desk, now empty of everyone, only one report remained.
Clarice Levatein's report. In its final section, the self-reflection and evaluation of the experiential training period titled Overall Assessment, it read as follows.
"I spent a more enriching time than ever before, thanks to being with such wonderful people."
# The carriage carrying Seong Hyun-jin and his companions quickly left Levatein Castle behind, speeding across the snowy plains to exit the duchy.
Inside, Seong Hyun-jin, Serena, Ciela, and Yeonhui were all silent—unlike the lively chatter on the way here. Back then, the mood had been cheerful at least until they encountered the mana beasts, but now no one tried to liven things up. Everyone wore thoughtful expressions.
Even those who had argued it was right to leave like this felt a twinge of doubt deep down. Serena, who had insisted on helping until the end, looked especially uneasy.
Whatever their thoughts, the carriage pressed on, trying to escape the duchy.
"…Hey."
Seong Hyun-jin, who had been quiet, finally spoke.
"If the carriage breaks down in some freak accident, what happens to us?"
"…Pardon?"
As Serena opened her mouth to call it nonsense, in an instant, a sword flew from Seong Hyun-jin's sheath. The three women stared at him in shock.
"Soul Slash"
⟨ 참혼 ⟩
Craaaaaack!!!
Seong Hyun-jin swung his sword, slicing the speeding carriage clean in half.
Ciela, Yeonhui, and Serena shrieked in horror at his apparent madness.
"The carriage…?!"
"J-Junior!?"
"W-what the hell are you doing!? You lunatic!!"
"Get ready to land, everyone!"
With the carriage split while racing forward, it was inevitable that the passengers would be flung out. If they were ordinary people, they might have been seriously injured, but these were among the academy's top talents. Whether through superior physical prowess, magic, or divine arts… each landed safely on the snow.
And Seong Hyun-jin, the culprit, landed lightly on the snow as well.
Crash! Thud! Clatter!!
Unfortunately, the bisected carriage tumbled across the snowfield and was utterly wrecked.
Serena stared blankly at the now-unusable carriage, then exploded at Seong Hyun-jin.
"W-what the hell was that!? Are you insane!?"
"Oh, the carriage is totally smashed."
"You smashed it!!"
As Serena incredulously pointed it out, Seong Hyun-jin grinned sheepishly.
"Now it's gonna be hard to head back like this, right?"
Only then did Serena realize why Seong Hyun-jin had done this.
"Don't tell me you did this on purpose to stay…"
"If we just say the carriage broke and turn back, won't they prepare another one?"
Ciela chimed in, grasping their conversation.
"From House Levatein's perspective, our participation is a risk in itself. We'd definitely help them, but if one of us gets hurt or killed… it'd be a huge mess."
"So a broken carriage isn't justification enough?"
"Pretty much."
Seong Hyun-jin pondered Ciela's words, then muttered to himself.
"Guess we need to create some justification then."
"How?"
"We were riding the carriage when we ran into an Empire detachment, the carriage got wrecked, and…"
With that, Seong Hyun-jin slashed his own arm with his sword. Crimson blood splattered onto the pristine snow.
"Hyun-jin Junior…?!"
"Junior!?"
"…We'll say I got injured in the process."
Yeonhui rushed over in alarm to heal him, but Seong Hyun-jin stopped her.
"If it heals completely, we won't have proof. It'll heal right up if you treat it, Senior."
"But…"
"Just basic care is fine."
Serena, of course, rushed to his side in shock and scolded him upon seeing the bleeding arm.
"Why go this far…!?"
"Because I want to help?"
"Pardon?"
Seong Hyun-jin's simple words gave Serena—and Ciela and Yeonhui—pause. All of them had received his help before. He had done the same for them, purely out of goodwill, without expecting anything in return.
"Leaving like this would just leave a bad taste. And it's not just me, right?"
"…!"
"But Junior, this isn't some local skirmish… it's a real war."
Ciela said.
"Once we're in, no one can protect us—not the academy, not our masters or parents."
"Don't worry. I'm not planning to die."
Seong Hyun-jin had no intention of dying. Dying here would mean he could never fulfill his grand dream of living happily ever after with his master.
"I'll fight only to the point where I don't die."
"Still…"
"And I'll protect everyone so you don't get hurt."
"…!"
"That should be fine, right?"
Ciela had no response to Seong Hyun-jin's question. Rationally, she knew pulling back now was correct. But his promise to protect her stuck in her mind, leaving her speechless. With that, Ciela accepted his proposal.
"…If you're fighting, Junior, I'll stay too."
"I'll follow Hyun-jin Junior wherever he goes, no question!"
"…Haa."
Serena sighed deeply and pleaded with Seong Hyun-jin.
"If you were planning this, at least say so beforehand. Don't scare people…"
"You were worried?"
"Of course! I still don't like leaving it like this…"
"Doesn't really hurt."
Seong Hyun-jin casually patted Serena's head as he spoke. She blushed slightly at the gesture. His decision to stay and show it so boldly was surely out of pure goodwill, but it also clearly considered her own persistent attitude of wanting to help until the end.
Feeling that, Serena glanced up at him and whispered.
"…Thank you."
"Suddenly?"
Seong Hyun-jin played innocent, making Serena chuckle.
'Such a foolishly kind guy.'
This is why I fell for him, she thought, feeling that emotion anew in her heart.