Sword Star (1)
The academy had quickly caught wind of the war breaking out as the Empire invaded the Levatein Duchy. Eleonora, the head of Terastial Academy, had even debated whether to personally step in to safely retrieve the students or hold off and assess the situation further. Fortunately, word came that the carriage had departed before the imperial forces arrived, so she waited anxiously for everyone except Clarice Levatein—the direct heir of the ducal family—to return.
But then, out of nowhere.
“……Pardon?”
Eleonora couldn’t hide her bewilderment upon receiving a communication from her disciple, Ciela Teraport.
-We’ve ended up joining the fight too. We were planning to head back as scheduled, but the imperial forces ambushed us, wrecked the carriage, and Hyunjin got hurt… We had no choice. I’m sorry, Master.
In truth, Seong Hyun-jin had smashed the carriage himself, and the injury was self-inflicted… but Eleonora had no way of knowing that. What caught her ear wasn’t that anyway.
“…What did you just say?”
-Pardon? Oh, I mean…
“…The Empire attacked you all just now?”
The fact that academy students—neutral figures under international educational protections—had been assaulted. That alone lodged in her mind. Students from the academy, an international institution, were guaranteed neutrality anywhere they went. Especially if one was her own disciple, the disciple of the Sword Star whom even Eleonora had to tread carefully around, and the daughter of the Dragon Star…
“…I’ll come get you. Stay put.”
-Pardon?
“I said I’m coming, so wait there, Ciela.”
It was only natural for Eleonora to be furious. She’d nearly lost not just her disciple, but the Sword Star’s disciple as well. If that had happened, she wouldn’t have the face to ever look Karin in the eye again. It was Eleonora who had sent the invitation drawing Karin’s disciple to the academy, and who had lured Karin herself there too. If they’d stayed away from the academy and lived quietly in the mountain cabin as usual, none of this would have happened…
“I need to show those fools what happens when they lay hands on my students.”
-You’re coming yourself? But Master, if you do…
Eleonora didn’t even want to imagine that horrific future, which was why she planned to handle it personally.
“I’ll make those barbarians see what happens when they mess with our academy.”
-M-Master? Wait a sec…
Ciela’s panicked voice came clearly through the communication orb, but Eleonora ignored it and cut off the connection. She grabbed her doll body and turned to fly straight to the Levatein Duchy.
“You’re not seriously planning to go, are you?”
Stopping her was a voice as chillingly cold as it was beautiful.
“…Lady Karin, when did you get here?”
It was Hakodate Karin, the Palstar Hero known as the Sword Star, who had taken up the position of swordsmanship instructor at Terastial Academy.
“You didn’t even notice me arrive.”
Karin let out a sigh as she spoke.
“Why are you so worked up? It’s not like you.”
Eleonora, unaware of when Karin had arrived, broke into a light sweat.
“Did you… overhear?”
“Overhear what?”
“My conversation with Ciela just now…”
“I heard your disciple was injured. Got caught up in the war, right?”
Eleonora panicked inwardly. This is bad…! Karin seemed to cherish her disciple almost as much as Seong Hyun-jin adored his master.
She was surely about to hear demands for retribution for letting her disciple get hurt. That was why Eleonora had planned to go herself, resolve the situation, and bring back Ciela, Seong Hyun-jin, and the other students safely.
“…Did you think I’d lash out at you over that?”
“……Wasn’t I?”
Karin shook her head.
“Swordsmen get hurt sometimes. Why would this master blame anyone for that?”
“Oh…? R-Really?”
“Besides, this isn’t the result of you, the Demon Star, leading your students astray. Even if things go wrong, there’s no fault to lay at your feet.”
Eleonora relaxed a bit at Karin’s words.
“And no matter how much you want to fix it, you know moving the academy head would drag the whole institution into the flames of war, right?”
“……Ahem.”
Eleonora cleared her throat awkwardly, regaining her composure. She put the doll back in the cabinet and said,
“I-I know that, but the people there aren’t exactly ordinary. It’s not just your disciple—there’s the Dragon Star’s daughter and the Holy Kingdom’s saintess too. How could I not worry?”
This time, even Karin sympathized with Eleonora’s feelings. With students tied to four Palstar Heroes caught in the war, it was impossible not to care.
“…So you’re saying we need to take some action.”
“Yes. I was going to rush over and sort it out, but you’re right—that might not be the best idea.”
Eleonora continued,
“I need to think about how to handle this properly.”
“This master will go.”
“…Pardon?”
Karin shrugged off her instructor’s jacket as she explained.
“I’m merely filling in as academy instructor temporarily. I have no deep ties to this place. And since my own disciple is injured, this master has every justification to intervene.”
Karin naturally entered the inner bedroom of the headmaster’s office—originally Eleonora’s lounge, but now practically Karin’s own room—as she spoke.
“The Empire doesn’t know I’m an instructor here, so the academy won’t be implicated. It’ll just be a master coming to rescue her disciple.”
“…That works.”
“If you understand, then it’s settled.”
Thud. The door closed.
Eleonora stared at it for a moment.
…If Lady Karin steps in, it’ll be resolved easily.
But considering what would follow, she found it odd that Karin would volunteer.
If word spread that the unaffiliated Sword Star had intervened in the war and led the Magic Kingdom to victory… many would see her as aligned with the kingdom.
She hates that sort of thing…
Yet Karin knew that full well and still chose to go…
“Heh.”
It showed how little she usually fussed over it, yet how deeply she cherished her disciple.
She treasures him so much.
Realizing that, Eleonora smiled lightly.
Soon, Karin emerged from the room, dressed in her usual kimono-like attire, two swords sheathed at her waist.
“All set?”
“Indeed.”
“I’ll send you via teleportation magic. Best to get there fast, right?”
“I leave it to you.”
#
“I’m truly grateful for your help. I don’t even know how to repay you.”
Elcarus Levatein expressed his thanks to Seong Hyun-jin and the others on behalf of the duchy.
“Thanks to you, victory in this war is within sight!”
“We’ve only won one battle so far, though.”
“A win in the opening skirmish sets the tone for the entire war. We were at a disadvantage, but taking the first clash boosts our soldiers’ morale sky-high, while the imperial troops will have lost their fighting spirit.”
Elcarus heartily slapped Seong Hyun-jin’s shoulders with both hands, his gratitude genuine.
“And with you all joining us, how could we lose? This is all thanks to you!”
“Is that so?”
Seong Hyun-jin smiled awkwardly at Elcarus’s exuberant thanks.
“Still, we need to stay vigilant, Father.”
Clarice approached the two, cautioning against getting too carried away.
“They’ve now gauged our forces properly, so they’ll surely come with countermeasures. Especially since Agnar Balderte fell in close combat, the Empire will avoid melee and try something else.”
“Mm, true.”
Elcarus nodded.
“Against swordsmen, mages’ ranged firepower is ideal, so they might bring a horde of them next.”
Seong Hyun-jin tilted his head.
“Why are mages perfect against swordsmen?”
His reaction left the others puzzled, as if wondering why he’d even ask. Elcarus looked mildly confused too.
“Well… mages can attack from farther away than swordsmen. Sure, spirit arts allow ranged counters, but swordsmen’s range is still shorter.”
“That’s obvious, yeah.”
Seong Hyun-jin said simply,
“Just close in before they finish casting.”
“…That’s the textbook way for swordsmen to handle mages, but the problem is this isn’t a small duel—it’s war.”
“Mages won’t expose themselves openly. They’ll distract with something else to buy casting time.”
Unlike Seong Hyun-jin, who knew little of war, Clarice—raised as the Levatein heir and schooled in military strategy—understood perfectly.
“Like sending knights to pin us down while melting us with mage barrages.”
But Seong Hyun-jin still seemed puzzled.
“I get what you’re saying. But if mages are hiding, just find them.”
“You think it’s easy spotting committed hiders in the chaos of battle?”
“……”
Seong Hyun-jin scratched his head.
And thought to himself,
Is it…?
His sensory perception was a talent Karin herself admitted surpassed her own, honed alongside his swordsmanship. Even if mages hid to cast, if he focused, sniffing them out was child’s play.
“Yeah, got it.”
Sensing that explaining his ability would just loop the conversation, Seong Hyun-jin nodded along.
“I’d love to reward you right away, but circumstances make it tough now. If it’s alright, may I settle it after things wrap up?”
“Sure, of course.”
Clarice followed with her own thanks, but voiced her curiosity about their return.
“We’re deeply grateful for your aid. But why did you come back?”
“Uh… the imperial army attacked, wrecked our carriage, and I hurt my arm. So we had to turn back.”
Seong Hyun-jin’s explanation came out stiff, like a malfunctioning machine.
Serena facepalmed at the awkward performance, while Ciela and Yeonhui stifled laughs at the absurdity. It was his own contrived excuse, yet his acting was this bad.
Clarice chuckled lightly at his clumsy charade.
“You’re terrible at acting, Seong Hyun-jin.”
“…That obvious?”
“I’ll pretend to believe it.”
Clarice said,
“Thanks to that decision, my father and I survived today.”
“You’re not mad? For coming back on my own…”
“Not at all, don’t worry.”
Clarice smiled warmly.
“I’m grateful you had the courage to do so.”
“…Good to hear.”
Elcarus smiled contentedly, sensing the good vibe from their exchange. He cautioned Seong Hyun-jin and the group,
“Still, no need to charge the front lines in future battles. Supporting from the rear is plenty—leave the direct fighting to our ducal knights. You’re guests, after all, and we have a duty to protect you.”
“Got it, we’ll do that.”
It was then.
“Your Grace! Your Grace!!”
“What is it?”
A lookout came sprinting up, breathless, and urgently reported to the duke.
“Th-the Empire’s retreating! The whole army’s pulling back!”
“……What? What’s that supposed to mean?”
The Empire retreating out of the blue? Their opening defeat was shocking, sure, but this was a war they’d started after years of preparation—they wouldn’t quit over one loss.
What wind had blown to make them withdraw like this?
“…A ploy to make us drop our guard?”
“N-no, Your Grace!”
The lookout said,
“Their camp’s completely collapsed! It looked like they were attacked by something!”
Elcarus looked baffled at the report.
“We cleared the beasts from this area, so not monsters… What in the world happened?”
“Couldn’t see details, but there was a massive sword scar where their camp stood. Huge and crisp—visible to the naked eye.”
A sword scar. One etched clearly into the earth. And the Empire suddenly retreating.
Seong Hyun-jin’s eyes went wide at the description.
……No way?
The suspicion hit him. He whipped around, grabbed Serena, and whispered,
“I gotta check it out.”
“Huh? Wh-where to all of a sudden?”
“Looks like my master’s here.”
“……Pardon?”
“Be right back.”
Seong Hyun-jin bolted at full speed, vanishing on the spot.
Serena stared blankly at the empty space he’d left, then sighed deeply.
“……Haa.”
“…Sh-shouldn’t we stop him?”
“…Nah. And we couldn’t anyway.”
Clarice tilted her head at Serena’s demeanor. She’d always been the first to snap at Seong Hyun-jin’s impulsiveness, yet now she was oddly calm.
“He ran off alone— isn’t that dangerous?”
“If it’s her who came, it might be safer there than here.”
“Pardon?”
Clarice blinked in confusion, but Serena gave no further explanation. She didn’t need to.
“The Sword Star’s arrived.”
That name alone said it all.