Uncontrollable Impulse
Having realized that Seong Hyun-jin's condition was far from normal, they decided to head straight back to the academy. The three who had set out for the Elf Forest returned to Terastial Academy earlier than planned.
"We'll let the dean know."
"Yeah, head back to the dorm first, sunbae. Don't go anywhere else, okay?"
"Yeah...."
Normally, they would have reported to Dean Eleonora that Seong Hyun-jin had safely obtained the elixir and returned, but given his abnormal state, Ciela Teraport and Serena Eldark sent him back to the dorm first.
Since the three arrived while students were still in class, Seong Hyun-jin didn't run into anyone on his way back to the dorm. But of course, the maids working there were present. They were diligently going about their duties as usual when Seong Hyun-jin entered, and they all turned to stare in surprise.
"......Huh?"
"...Who is that?"
"H-He’s seriously so handsome...... Is he a guest?"
One maid approached, her face flushing bright red, and asked,
"Um, excuse me... If you tell me who you're here for, I can pass the message along when they return."
Up close, she glanced at his even more striking face and briefly lowered her head, but she pressed on with her duties clearly.
"Only those authorized to reside here can enter Teraport Hall... I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait outside until we confirm."
Seong Hyun-jin looked at her and said,
"I'm Seong Hyun-jin."
The surprised maid snapped her head up. "Y-You're Seong Hyun-jin? Really?"
"Here's my student ID."
Well aware of how much he'd changed, Seong Hyun-jin understood her reaction. As proof, he showed her his student ID—the one thing in this world only he possessed.
The maid's eyes widened, then she looked back at his face and asked, "H-How did you... You look so different, I didn't recognize you at all."
"Haha... Yeah, something like that happened."
"No joke, you got really handsome...."
Seong Hyun-jin watched the maid admire his face. Though she worked as a dorm maid, she seemed only two or three years older than him at most—same age range, basically. To him right now, she was plenty attractive.
He stared blankly at her for a moment, then unconsciously reached out a hand.
"Seong Hyun-jin-ssi?"
Luckily, the maid noticed something off about him and called his name, snapping him back to his senses. Seong Hyun-jin awkwardly tried to retract his hand as naturally as possible, making an excuse.
"......You had some hair stuck here."
"...Eh."
As he did so, he gently removed a stray hair from her cheek—likely from her cleaning duties. He hadn't planned to do it; it was just a small act of kindness doubling as an excuse. But with his current otherworldly looks, even that simple gesture made both her cheeks burn red.
"Ah, uh...! Th-Thank you...."
"......"
Her girlish reaction made Seong Hyun-jin swallow hard. Reason screamed that he shouldn't, clashing with the primal urge to claim the woman before him. He fought to keep his gaze from wandering to lewd places.
The problem was, what he felt for this maid wasn't affection or love—it was pure lust. He knew it all too well and was trying to hold back.
But Seong Hyun-jin hadn't accounted for one thing: just as men want to possess beautiful women, women feel the same.
Sensing something odd in his demeanor, the maid stared at him intently, then whispered cautiously,
"...S-Seong Hyun-jin-ssi."
"......Yes?"
"If you... need me, just call quietly. I'll come to your room later...."
Seong Hyun-jin's eyes went wide. He hadn't expected her to be so bold.
But contrary to what he thought, servants visiting their master's rooms in dorms or estates wasn't all that rare. Especially in well-soundproofed places like Teraport Hall, such discreet encounters happened often. Usually, the higher-status person initiated, but in a special facility like the academy, maids sometimes took the lead.
How irresistible must the academy's young, talented male students seem to the pretty young maids in high-end dorms like Teraport or Superior Hall? Especially if they were highborn and handsome—they were even more alluring to young women.
Male students often had nowhere to relieve academic stress, so they naturally turned to the attractive maids always nearby... and that's how these secret student-maid liaisons came about.
Of course, to Seong Hyun-jin, who had no idea, it was quite the shock.
"Uh, that’s..."
He obviously should refuse, but the words wouldn't come. It wasn't like the special feelings he had for Serena.
This was the terror of instinct, he realized deep in his bones, as he finally forced his mouth open.
"Sorry, I don't plan on—"
That was when it happened.
Just as Seong Hyun-jin was about to refuse the maid's offer, he felt a chillingly familiar presence.
"Dallying with women in broad daylight, my disciple?"
The icy voice piercing his ear and the steady footsteps descending the stairs were all too familiar to Seong Hyun-jin.
He looked up. The maid had already bowed her head and retreated, replaced by another woman.
Or rather, a beauty incomparable to anyone else there. Raven-black hair like the night sky cascaded over snow-white skin, flowing in waves along her curves.
"According to the Demon Star, you shouldn't be back yet, and the first thing you do is harass a woman? Is that how this master taught you?"
"...Master?"
Just seeing her made it hard for Seong Hyun-jin to cling to reason—a woman of devastating beauty. His one and only master, the Sword Star Hakodate Karin.
# In truth, Karin's presence in Teraport Hall was pure coincidence. She had no idea Seong Hyun-jin was returning today.
She was there for Elena Apocalipse.
Recently, Seong Hyun-jin and Elena had dueled, sparking buzz among students. The news naturally reached Karin, the first-year swordsmanship instructor.
Intrigued that someone could duel her disciple, Karin had made contact with Elena—purely to gauge the swordsman's skill.
Elena, walking the path of the sword herself, was overjoyed that the Sword Star sought her out. She eagerly shared her journey, goals, why she'd challenged Seong Hyun-jin, and her path as a swordsman.
Karin noted the name Elena Apocalipse and planned to keep an eye on her, ending the meeting. But Elena didn't want to miss this fateful encounter.
She asked if Karin would watch her demonstrate a sword she wanted to show, and Karin permitted it for the talented swordswoman.
Thus, Elena returned to the dorm for her private sword—not the one she carried in class—and Karin followed.
While waiting for Elena, Karin sensed a familiar presence. Doubting her senses, she descended to check—and saw a strangely familiar yet unfamiliar man flirting with a maid.
He shared her disciple's hair and eye color, with slightly pointed ears hinting at elven blood. Even to Karin, he was strikingly handsome.
And then she realized.
"......Huh?"
The man she thought resembled her disciple was her disciple. He wore the sword she'd gifted him at his waist.
Stunned by his transformation, she stood frozen—until an irritating whisper reached her ears.
"...You had some hair stuck here."
She saw his gentle voice and hand tenderly removing the maid's hair.
For some reason, the voice and sight grated on her. Unknowingly, her brows furrowed, lips curling coldly.
"...S-Seong Hyun-jin-ssi."
"......Yes?"
"If you... need me, just call quietly. I'll come to your room later...."
The ensuing conversation had her descending the stairs before she knew it.
She couldn't fathom her rising irritation... but it was probably because she hated seeing her disciple act like a playboy when he already had a girlfriend.
That led to the current situation.
Karin sighed at Seong Hyun-jin's silence and said,
"...Shouldn't you at least make an excuse? How can you do this to another woman while dating Ahajaka Eldark's daughter? What if Ahajaka Eldark finds out?"
Even as she scolded his behavior, Seong Hyun-jin said nothing.
His odd reaction made Karin tilt her head—then he raised his palm and spoke.
"...Master, please step back for a moment."
"What talk is that all of a sudden?"
Karin furrowed her brow slightly.
"Ignoring this master's questions to order me away?"
It was improper for a disciple to issue commands without answering his master. Seong Hyun-jin was always impeccably polite to her, so this was baffling, deepening her frown.
But Seong Hyun-jin had his reasons; he struggled to maintain reason as he pleaded,
"Master, just step back a bit...."
"I said answer first, didn't I?"
Unaware of his plight, Karin couldn't comprehend the request. Instead, she leaned forward demandingly, glaring sharply.
"No answer, disciple? How dare you ignore this master's words?"
But that was her gravest mistake.
Seong Hyun-jin was now far taller than Karin. Unlike before, leaning in let him gaze down from above.
She wore not her instructor uniform but her usual flowing kimono... and as she leaned, her ample bosom and deep cleavage came into full view.
Seeing it, Seong Hyun-jin felt something snap in his mind.
"......Grahhh, I can't hold back!!"
"Disciple?"
Karin eyed him suspiciously as he suddenly yelled and jerked his head up. Then she felt it.
A rough hand gripping her breast like it was his to claim.
"......?"
Karin was so shocked she couldn't process it at first, despite seeing it with her own eyes. The watching maids, however, gaped in horror.
Yes. Seong Hyun-jin, barely clinging to sanity, couldn't resist the massive temptation before him.
In the end, he committed the outrage of groping the Sword Star Hakodate Karin's breast.