The Saintess of the Infirmary (1)
With the department assignments complete, the entrance ceremony came to a full close. The instructors gave a brief explanation to the students about the classes starting tomorrow and then dismissed everyone. The students headed off to their dorms or wherever they needed to go, and the instructors left as well.
But one person remained in his seat, as if the event hadn't ended for him yet. It was Seong Hyun-jin, the freshman who had proudly claimed second place in the entrance exam.
Seong Hyun-jin had told Serena to go ahead and was waiting a moment. And soon, a woman approached him.
The soft patter of footsteps was accompanied by the light sway of elegant, pristine white garments. She stopped right in front of Seong Hyun-jin, and her night-sky-black hair cascaded down gently.
The Sword Star, Hakodate Karin. She was the one Seong Hyun-jin had been waiting for.
Having expected his master to come see her disciple, Seong Hyun-jin had waited—and his expectations were not betrayed.
Karin removed the flower candlestick from her mouth. Exhaling a light puff of smoke, she said, “Your hair's a mess like weeds again today, my disciple.”
“Master, you've come.”
“Do you even take proper care of it? I told you your curls are so stubborn that even daily maintenance isn't enough.”
“I've not been negligent, but compared to how you used to manage it for me, Master, it's sorely lacking.”
Seong Hyun-jin bowed his head politely in greeting. Deciding it was better to take his punishment first, he reported his own shortcomings.
“My apologies. This unworthy disciple has tarnished your name.”
“Disciple, is that because you didn't take first place in the entrance exam?”
“...Yes, that's right.”
Karin gazed steadily at Seong Hyun-jin. Then she took the flower candlestick back into her mouth, letting smoke waft up once more.
“Hoo, disciple.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think this master would get angry over something like that?”
“...Pardon?”
“This master is glad you failed, in fact.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Karin blew lightly on the flame of the flower candlestick to extinguish it, brushed off the ash, and continued.
“Only those who experience failure in life can truly grow further. You, who never had the chance before, failed so splendidly this time—how could this master not be pleased? Whatever you do next, it must have become your motivation. Isn't that so?”
Seong Hyun-jin paused at Karin's words. It was true—failing to claim the top spot had sparked his interest in Serena, led him to listen to her troubles, and built their friendship. It had also ignited his competitive spirit to steal that first-place seat from her, giving him a clear goal right away.
Understanding what Karin meant, Seong Hyun-jin nodded slightly and relaxed.
“Then I'm relieved.”
“Fail plenty more in the future. Just don't push yourself to the point of injury.”
“Understood.”
Karin looked at her disciple. Having just entered the academy, he would likely face many trials and hardships ahead. Those would forge his growth even further.
His understanding of swordsmanship was already complete, but both his physical and mental aspects still had room to develop... Especially that lustful fixation on his master—she hoped he'd somehow fix that.
Thinking that inwardly, Karin changed the subject.
“By the way, Combat Department, eh? So that's your choice.”
Seong Hyun-jin replied, “Does it displease you? If so, unworthy disciple that I am, I'll throw a fit and switch right now. I'll go to Dean Eleonora and...”
“Throw a fit...? Don't do anything foolish. And there's no need anyway.”
Karin reined in her disciple, who seemed ready to cause another scene, and praised his decision.
“I said you chose well.”
“Really? I thought you'd be upset I didn't pick Swordsmanship.”
“Disciple, what use would learning some other sword style be to you? Even if they gave you time to train it, it'd be no different from basic physical conditioning for you. Better to go to Combat and learn about actual battle instead.”
“That's what I thought too, Master. Hearing that my humble choice meets your approval makes this unworthy disciple truly happy.”
Seong Hyun-jin smiled, pleased that his decision had been right. With his mind at ease, a question he'd overlooked earlier bubbled up.
“But Master, why are you here? Have you ended your seclusion?”
“I never said such a thing—don't jump to conclusions. I just came to see my disciple's entrance ceremony. Now I'll return.”
“So you came down here just for me?”
Seong Hyun-jin wore a moved expression.
“Unworthy disciple that I am, I'm grateful for your vast, ocean-like consideration.”
“If you think that, then coming down was worthwhile. And know that we might see each other often from now on.”
“Often?”
Karin briefly explained to Seong Hyun-jin that she'd accepted Eleonora's offer.
“I've agreed to be Terastial Academy's swordsmanship advisor. Not frequently, but I'll visit occasionally, so don't be too surprised if we cross paths here.”
“Ah! Understood. But as swordsmanship advisor, will you be teaching the students?”
“Nothing like that, so don't worry.”
Karin raised her hand and lightly flicked Seong Hyun-jin's forehead.
“This master's sword is taught to no disciple but you.”
“...May I take that to mean I'm your only disciple, Master?”
At Seong Hyun-jin's question, Karin furrowed her brow and stepped back. She raised her hand like a blade and smacked his forehead.
“Ow!”
“Delusions of grandeur, you shameless disciple.”
“That really hurts, Master...”
“Don't whine. And you've made a pretty friend your age this time—why are you still so fixated on this master? Pay attention to her instead.”
Karin spoke as if baffled, but Seong Hyun-jin replied as if he were the baffled one.
“That's a separate issue from this, Master.”
“...How is it separate?”
Karin sighed and pulled something from her sleeve—a small leather pouch—and handed it over.
“What's this?”
“Living expenses. You'll need some money to get by at the academy, won't you? You can't just forage wild greens and hunt animals like we did at the mountain cabin...”
“Why not?”
“...?”
Karin gave her disciple a look that said, What are you talking about? With a hunch, she asked, “You planned to live like that here too? Disciple, this isn't the mountain cabin.”
“Can't I live freely however I want? They said tuition's waived for top scorers like first and second place, so if I hunt for food, I can save on needless spending. Dorm fees are free anyway.”
“What do you plan to do with all those savings?”
“Haven't thought about it.”
Karin could clearly picture what would happen if Seong Hyun-jin lived like he had at the cabin: he'd become Terastial Academy's “wild man” or “savage.”
Imagining it, she pressed her forehead and said, “I can't have my prized disciple earning such ridiculous nicknames.”
“Pardon?”
“Enough nonsense—take it.”
“Yes...”
Seong Hyun-jin reluctantly pocketed the money pouch. Karin tilted her head up slightly to look at him. He hadn't fully grown yet, so their heights were similar, but soon he'd tower over her even more.
Anticipating that, Karin smiled faintly. When her disciple, whom she'd raised for twenty years, had left the mountain, she'd felt empty and forlorn. But seeing him now, blending into this little society called the academy, wasn't so bad.
Deciding she'd caught up enough, Karin said, “I'll be off now. I've said all I came to say.”
“Ah, yes. Next time you come, I'll come find you.”
“Do that.”
Karin gave a light wave and turned to leave.
“Stay well, disciple. Keep healthy.”
“Yes, Master. Preserve your noble self as well.”
The nuance felt oddly suggestive, so Karin glanced back. Why mention the body, of all things? It was a perfectly normal farewell on the surface, but Seong Hyun-jin made it seem intentional, leaving her uneasy.
But when she turned, he was simply bowing in respect.
...My imagination?
Dismissing it as such, Karin turned away again. Then Seong Hyun-jin suddenly called out.
“Ah, Master.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Why are you dressed so neatly today?”
“The dean here chewed me out, saying the academy's a place of learning, so I should mind my attire a bit.”
Hearing Karin's explanation, Seong Hyun-jin pondered deeply. Then, as if reaching a grand conclusion on his own, he said, “...So, back at the cabin when you wandered around half-naked, that was to seduce this disciple, wasn't it?”
“......What?”
“Otherwise, there's no reason you couldn't dress neatly like this but chose to expose yourself every time. You were deliberately toying with my heart.”
At Seong Hyun-jin's nonsense, Karin stopped dead. She turned, lips twisting into a smirk. One hand on her sword hilt, the other gripping the scabbard.
A drawing stance.
“My disciple has such refined manners. Nothing he won't say to his master.”
“...It was a joke. This unworthy disciple just couldn't bear to see you go, so I made a cheeky quip. You can take your hand off the sword now.”
But Karin didn't release the hilt. She gripped it tighter and strode toward her disciple.
“...Master?”
“You seem desperate for a beating. Do you enjoy it? If so, this master will give you a proper thrashing.”
“M-Master! It was a joke!! Calm your anger...!”
Thankfully, no one heard the pitiful scream of a certain man echoing across the entrance ceremony grounds.
# The next day.
It was the first day of classes for the official first-year students of the academy.
Seong Hyun-jin headed to the Combat Department lecture hall for class and immediately drew everyone's attention upon entering.
“Hey, where'd you get hit?”
“......”
Even Serena Eldark, who was already there, asked that much. Seong Hyun-jin's injuries were obvious to anyone—his eyelids were swollen puffy, and his split lip was bruised purple.
Shocked by his state, Serena said incredulously, “Who beat you up this bad...? And why were you fighting someone in the first place? You're not the type to pick fights you can lose.”
“...Nah, Master just scolded me.”
“Pardon? Because you didn't get first place?”
“No, just 'cause I was being a smartass.”
“?”
Serena, who'd been worried moments ago, now looked at him like he was some kind of idiot. But Seong Hyun-jin, oblivious to the shift, brushed it off.
“Don't worry. It'll heal quick.”
“...Yeah, it looks it.”
“Your tone's gotten kinda cold, hasn't it?”
Serena sighed. Then she scolded him.
“Go to the infirmary. The instructor will freak out if they see you like that.”
“Class is starting soon.”
“I'll handle explaining.”
The pain Seong Hyun-jin felt was far less than his appearance suggested. He could've said it didn't hurt at all. But people trusted their eyes most and judged accordingly.
Figuring he'd get the same questions nonstop, he decided to follow Serena's advice.
“Fine, guess I should slap on some bandages.”
“Do that.”
“Where's the infirmary?”
“One floor down.”
Seong Hyun-jin left the lecture hall and went downstairs. He soon spotted the sign reading “Infirmary.”
“Excuse me.”
As he opened the door without knocking, the person inside turned her head slightly. Their eyes met, and Seong Hyun-jin was a bit surprised.
“Oh my?”
“Huh?”
It was someone he already knew. A slender, delicate girl with a gentle face that stirred protective instincts. In her pristine white uniform and veil—contrasting his black one—she was a beautiful sight.
“Sunbae?”
The girl in the infirmary was none other than Yeonhui, the third-year Theology exchange student from Celestial Academy.
Seong Hyun-jin had no idea why she was there and just felt puzzled, but Yeonhui's eyes widened in shock at seeing him.
“Junior Seong Hyun-jin, what happened? Why are you hurt like that?”
His state was far from normal. Seong Hyun-jin belatedly remembered his looks and explained.
“Ah, I got banged up here and there due to circumstances... Got any bandages? Just wanna cover 'em up decently.”
“Not treat them properly?”
“Doesn't hurt that much.”
Yeonhui firmly told Seong Hyun-jin, who planned to slap on bandages and go.
“No. Untreated wounds can get infected, and that could turn serious.”
“If you wanna nitpick, they have been treated...”
“Let me see.”
Karin always treated him with medicinal herbs after scolding. This time too, after knocking him senseless, she'd handed over herbs and told him to heal fully.
Then don't hit me in the first place, he'd thought, but protesting after starting it himself would be shameless, and he knew it.
Examining his wounds, Yeonhui immediately recognized them.
“Crushed herbs, huh? That's pretty old-school...”
“Don't people use herbs anymore? This isn't Korea, and there's no pharma companies making ointments.”
“We have those here too.”
“Pardon?”
Seong Hyun-jin's common sense shattered. Then why had his master stubbornly stuck to herbs? One tube of ointment would've sufficed.
As he stared in disbelief, Yeonhui nodded slightly.
“They use herbs as base materials, of course, but local pharmacology's advanced a lot. Way better than raw herbs in many cases.”
“...I had no idea.”
“You're the Sword Star's disciple, so you lived in seclusion with her, right? Makes sense you wouldn't know. No shame in it.”
Yeonhui's consideration, deducing that much from just “Sword Star's disciple,” moved Seong Hyun-jin with her kind heart.
“Then ointment it is. I'll apply some and bandage up.”
“Might last a few days though...”
Yeonhui pondered, then looked at him and suggested gently.
“Want to try a more reliable method?”
“Reliable how?”
“No need for bandages.”
No bandages? Curious, Seong Hyun-jin tilted his head. Yeonhui smiled warmly at his confusion.
“Mind if I touch the wound? Might sting a little, but it's necessary.”
“Sure, whatever...”
“Then, pardon me.”
It wouldn't hurt much even if touched. With his okay, Yeonhui placed her hand on his swollen eyelid. As expected, it didn't hurt enough to complain—Seong Hyun-jin didn't even blink.
But soon, he couldn't help blinking in surprise. A brilliant light flowed from Yeonhui's fingertips, touching his wound.
He'd never seen anything like it. He knew of Spirit Holy Law, the healing arts, but this felt entirely different from ordinary holy magic. Like handling the power of a true god, on another dimension altogether.
Unable to hide his shock, Seong Hyun-jin called out.
“Sunbae? This is...”
“Shh.”
Yeonhui beamed, placing a slender, pretty finger to her lips.
“It's a secret just for my cute junior, so don't tell anyone, okay?”