Rival (1)
“You want me to stay by your side, Sunbae?”
Seong Hyun-jin echoed her words in a dazed voice, stunned by the surprise. Ciela flinched, her shoulders trembling. She waved her hands frantically and explained.
“I-I mean…! You said you’d be someone I could talk to whenever I’m having a hard time… that I could just say the word, Hoebae-nim!”
She was so flustered that she even forgot they’d agreed to use casual “hoobae.” Seong Hyun-jin was just as taken aback, so rather than pointing out the formal address, he listened to her explanation and seemed slightly relieved.
“Ah, that’s what you meant.”
Hearing his voice relax for real, Ciela had no choice but to play along with her own excuse, despite her inner turmoil.
“Y-yeah. So that’s why I suggested working for the Teraport family…”
“I’ll think about it. It does seem like a better immediate option than Giovanni’s offer.”
His unexpectedly positive response lit up Ciela’s face as she asked again.
“...Really?”
“Yes. I like that it guarantees my freedom. The pay is less than Giovanni’s proposal, but objectively speaking, it’s so much that I wonder if I even deserve it.”
Seong Hyun-jin continued.
“So I’ll consider it positively. But since this is about after graduation… I don’t have to decide right now, right?”
“R-right…! You’ve still got two more years.”
“Got it.”
Seong Hyun-jin nodded in response, but inwardly, he wondered.
Is that really all there is to it?
Ciela Teraport had been openly showing her affection for a long time now. Naturally, Seong Hyun-jin was aware of her feelings to some extent, which was why her words about wanting him by her side had startled him. She’d denied it for now, but was that truly the case?
“……”
Feeling a strange mix of emotions, Seong Hyun-jin was at least grateful that she’d denied it. Whether that gratitude was appropriate or not was secondary; for the moment, it felt like a relief.
They’d grown much closer living in the same dorm, but he’d never seen Ciela the way he saw Serena. If she’d confessed here, he’d probably have given her the same response he’d given Yeonhui. Yeonhui hadn’t given up, but he had no idea how Ciela would react. She seemed tougher on the outside but had a fragile heart… Unlike Yeonhui, she might completely break down.
He didn’t want their relationship to crumble like that. Not just the relationship, but seeing someone close to him shatter was something Seong Hyun-jin didn’t welcome. Honestly, it scared him.
He was a reincarnator, but his past life’s influence was quite weak. The relationships he’d formed then and the emotions he’d felt were now faint memories at best. So the bonds he’d made since entering the academy were his first real connections with others in twenty years. Excluding his master, these were the first proper friendships he’d built.
Deep down, he hoped they’d endure. He wasn’t asking for more—just that these relationships wouldn’t fall apart.
With the exchange meet fully concluded, it was time for the Celestial Academy students to return to their own schools. Seong Hyun-jin and his group were no exception.
Having come as representatives of Terastial Academy, they were now following someone other than Amanda’s lead on the way back.
“Is everyone here?”
“Elena Sunbae-nim hasn’t arrived yet.”
Her night-sky-black hair fluttered lightly, captivating the students’ gazes. Even in her instructor’s uniform rather than her usual revealing attire, her feminine allure was undeniable, drawing gasps of admiration. The male students were outright entranced.
“I kinda knew from that brief glimpse last time, but…”
“...She’s really beautiful.”
Lebion and Arsen quietly shared their awe at the stunning woman. It was the Sword Star, Hakodate Karin.
By chance, Karin had joined the Celestial Academy group without delay and taken command once more.
Seong Hyun-jin scowled at the students’ distraction, but not wanting to cause his master any trouble, he held his tongue and endured silently. Then Serena, standing beside him, nudged his shoulder lightly.
“Ease up on the face. You’ll start a fight.”
“How dare they critique Sungsang-nim’s appearance…”
“It’s all compliments. Why are you like this?”
At a loss for words, Seong Hyun-jin made a sulky expression. Serena chuckled at the sight.
“You only have eyes for your master, huh?”
“...That’s not true.”
Seong Hyun-jin reached out and gripped Serena’s hand tightly.
“I know my girlfriend’s pretty too.”
“……!”
Her face flushed crimson at the mix of sincerity and teasing affection.
“D-don’t come at me like that out of nowhere…!”
“Hah, you’re flustered.”
Seong Hyun-jin chuckled in amusement, and Serena smacked his back with her palm. Seeing her glare playfully, his mood lifted, and he brought up their achievements from the exchange meet.
“We did pretty well, so maybe the headmaster will give us a gift when we get back?”
“Who knows.”
“Pfft, maybe.”
Ciela, nearby, chimed in after overhearing Seong Hyun-jin and Serena.
“Sungsang-nim is dead serious about beating Celestial Academy. Their headmaster probably feels the same.”
“Why so serious?”
“The headmasters are academy rivals from way back.”
“Really?”
Ciela nodded and explained their relationship.
“Our Sungsang-nim was a prodigy in spirit magic, and Headmaster Shania here was a prodigy in divine spirit arts. They made huge names for themselves. Becoming Palstar Heroes just proves it wasn’t hype.”
“They’ve been at odds since then?”
“Hmm, good rivals? Bad blood? Not sure…”
Ciela pondered before settling on the right term.
“Fated rivals?”
“They get along fine in general, but they growl at each other whenever they meet,” Yeonhui added.
Just as Ciela knew Eleonora well, Yeonhui knew Shania and piled on.
“Headmaster Shania has always poured her heart into beating Terastial Academy. It’s partly the academy rivalry, but mostly because Eleonora Headmaster founded and leads it.”
“I see.”
Seong Hyun-jin found their dynamic intriguing. It wasn’t a recent thing—decades of it. Yet no real harm done.
A healthy rivalry.
He thought it’d be nice to have something like that himself.
“Oh, Elena Sunbae-nim is coming.”
Elena Apocalipse, who hadn’t arrived yet, appeared in the distance. She didn’t seem like she’d overslept, but surprisingly, someone was with her. The students tilted their heads.
“That’s Celestial Academy’s student council president next to her.”
“Why’s she with her?”
It was none other than Celestial Academy’s student council president, Astraea Advaldt. Elena, who’d brought her along for some reason, approached Karin with a bright smile and bowed.
“Sorry I’m late, Instructor.”
“You’re before departure time, so it’s fine. But why is that student here?”
Karin’s gaze shifted to Astraea beside Elena.
“...I have something to say. It won’t take long.”
“Very well.”
With Karin’s permission, Astraea turned her eyes to Yeonhui and approached her.
“...Astraea Hoobae-nim.”
Yeonhui knew she harbored hostility, so her response came out sharp. But she didn’t take it back. Astraea spoke quietly to her.
“...I admit it. We lost.”
Looking at Yeonhui, Astraea continued.
“I get why you transferred to Terastial Academy. We were sorely lacking. Without you… we can’t even compare.”
Astraea let out a self-deprecating laugh. Yeonhui fell silent for a moment, gazing at her, then replied.
“...That’s not the only reason I transferred.”
“...Pardon?”
Astraea’s face filled with questions—then why leave Celestial? Yeonhui glanced at Seong Hyun-jin, then met Astraea’s eyes with conviction.
“I found where I belong.”
“……”
Astraea had caught Yeonhui’s brief glance at Seong Hyun-jin. She couldn’t possibly misunderstand now. She let out a hollow laugh.
“...Haha.”
So that’s how it was. Astraea recalled seeing Yeonhui at enrollment. The Holy Kingdom’s saintess and likely next pope, delivering the welcome speech… She’d seemed perfect as an idol for all—expression like a mask, but flawless, holy, and beautiful. Astraea had come to idolize her too. I need to be like that to serve the Holy Kingdom…
But now? Yeonhui, saying she’d found her place, looked more human than ever…
And far more appealing.
“I see.”
Astraea bowed her head. Letting go of the betrayal she’d felt, she offered a bittersweet smile and final words.
“Safe travels.”
“...Yes, thank you.”
Reading her heart, Yeonhui set aside her own resentment and sincerely wished her and Celestial Academy well.
“I hope Celestial Academy achieves something remarkable next time.”
Astraea nodded lightly, greeted the other students and Karin, and left. Seeing the once-hostile rift resolve warmly, Seong Hyun-jin glanced at Elena.
“Elena Sunbae-nim, did you bring her for this?”
“Hm, I didn’t predict the outcome.”
Elena tilted her head back to look at him, her lovely pink hair cascading over her shoulders. Smiling brightly, she added.
“But I knew dragging it out wouldn’t help anyone, so I brought her. Whether it ends well or in disaster… it had to happen. This is the last one for Yeonhui too, like me.”
“Ah…”
Yeonhui was a third-year like Elena. No next exchange meet for her. If there were loose ends with Celestial students, this was the last chance. Elena had considered that and brought Astraea, helping Yeonhui tie things up.
Recalling how she’d humored his baseless hunch about Abraham without complaint, Seong Hyun-jin said.
“You like helping people, Sunbae-nim.”
“Sort of. I don’t hate it, but I wouldn’t say I love it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Still, seeing it resolve like this feels nice.”
Seong Hyun-jin smiled inwardly at her, thinking, That’s just liking to help people.
“Ah, Hoobae-nim.”
“Yes?”
Elena looked at him with one request.
“Once we’re back at Terastial Academy, can you make some time for me alone?”
Seong Hyun-jin froze at the ask, and Serena, Ciela, and Yeonhui nearby stiffened too. Even Clarice seemed wary. They didn’t know why, but it could be read certain ways. Yet Elena, clearly reading his expression, pressed on.
“I’d like some one-on-one time. Is that no good?”