Dragon Princess (1) - Chapter 28
The sight of the Combat Department's vice-top overwhelming the Magic Department's top student was more than enough to send shivers down everyone's spines. Of course, Seong Hyun-jin had outranked Aiel Northwood in the entrance exam, but the second- and third-years, who knew better than to judge full strength by exams alone, were awestruck by the display they'd just witnessed.
"That's a first-year?"
"Even the Combat Department's second-year top wouldn't stand a chance."
"That spirit he summoned—wasn't it chaos attribute? Even his contracted spirit is a rare one."
Not only were they stunned by Seong Hyun-jin's skill and presence, but those who recognized the spirit he wielded were doubly shocked.
"But that swordsmanship... isn't it on another level? It looked like a simple horizontal slash at a glance, but the form and power behind it were insane."
"Yeah, I've never seen a style like that. What school is it from?"
A few even picked up on the true value of the swordsmanship Seong Hyun-jin had employed. With its extraordinary techniques, rare spirit, and aura utterly unlike a first-year's, the entire audience was impressed, buzzing about him with admiration.
"He's gonna win the whole thing, right?"
"But he's just the Combat Department's vice-top."
"Who cares? After that performance?"
"If he's the first-year vice-top for Combat, who the hell is their top? This year's first-year Combat class is no joke."
Amid the crowd's cheers and anticipation, Seong Hyun-jin returned to the waiting room. The moment he entered, every other first-year representative's gaze locked onto him. The looks directed his way were a mix: awe, fear, envy, rivalry. A tangled mess of emotions bored into him, but he ignored them all, striding straight toward one person.
It was Serena Eldark, the girl who had been staring at him blankly ever since he arrived. As he approached, her ruby-red eyes widened in surprise. Seong Hyun-jin chuckled at the sight, then flashed her a lighthearted smile.
"You saw it all, right?"
"……!"
He patted her shoulder lightly. "Fight easy now. Nothing left for you to worry about."
Serena couldn't find words. How long had he known? Why hadn't he told her and handled it alone? She had so many questions, but with him standing there fresh from the arena, her mind went blank as a white sheet. No accusations, no demands—just overwhelming gratitude toward this man. A stranger, not even family, who had stepped up for her out of pure goodwill and sacrifice...
...You're the only one who has.
Serena stared at him dazedly for a long moment before cautiously speaking up.
"......A-are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh."
He waved it off reassuringly. "I'm fine against most poisons or drugs. Tough constitution, plus I've built up immunity eating random toxic herbs since I was a kid."
"What? Did your master make you eat them?"
Serena blinked in confusion. Had the Sword Star forced toxic plants on her young disciple to build resistance? She hadn't pegged Karin as that harsh, but Seong Hyun-jin's unexpected reply caught her off guard.
"Nah, I was just hungry and grabbed whatever I found."
"...Pardon?"
"Master had a hell of a time with it. Nearly died once from a bad mushroom. Still feel bad about it thinking back."
"What in the..."
Serena stared at him, dumbfounded. As a reincarnator, he'd had common sense from childhood— so why gobble random plants to gain poison resistance? What kind of life did he live in his past world...?
It was so absurd she momentarily forgot her gratitude. But only for a moment—she knew exactly what kind of man stood before her.
"......"
He'd always had his eccentric side. Sometimes crossing into reckless territory. But he wasn't defined by flaws alone. What seemed frivolous hid real depth, and he quietly looked after those around him.
"...Seong Hyun-jin."
Even if he was naturally resistant, there was no reason to seek out poisons. He'd done it purely for her sake. Serena fully recognized that. She needed to thank him, but the words stuck in her throat.
...A simple thank you shouldn't be this hard.
Why was it so much tougher today than last time? Her cheeks flushed faintly as she glanced at him. He'd been patiently waiting since she called his name.
"Next match: Combat Department top representative Serena Eldark! Magic Department vice-top representative Ryugrien Graywood! Please prepare!"
It was Serena's turn right after Seong Hyun-jin's. Coincidence? Her opponent was once again from the Magic Department... and from the Graywood family, Aiel Northwood's lackeys.
Serena lifted her head at the announcement, meeting Seong Hyun-jin's eyes squarely.
"...I'll repay you with actions, not words."
"Yeah. Do that."
Serena spun on her heel and left the waiting room. Seong Hyun-jin watched her go with a soft smile, then let out a light cough.
"Cough...!"
He had resistance to most drugs and poisons, but what he'd swallowed was laced with the Graywood family's secret elixir—a cut above ordinary stuff. He felt his condition worsening.
...No wonder they thought it'd secure a win.
His body felt off. Not outright pain, but a creeping lethargy. He worried if he could handle the rest of his matches like this. He needed strong results in the Martial Exhibition...
"Excuse me, is Seong Hyun-jin junior here?"
Someone entered the waiting room calling for him. Seong Hyun-jin looked up in mild surprise at the familiar voice—and sure enough, his guess was right.
"...Ciela sunbae?"
Is he really okay...?
Serena worried about Seong Hyun-jin's condition as she headed to the arena but forced herself to focus. She eyed her approaching opponent.
Ryugrien Graywood. Second son of the Graywood family, vassals loyal to Northwood. She knew him by face. He hadn't been second in the Magic Department during class placement exams, so how he'd become vice-top rep was a mystery... but...
"...Good timing."
Serena figured it worked out fine. Seong Hyun-jin had handled Aiel Northwood, but she had her own score to settle. Seeing Ryugrien's shameless expression stirred no guilt in her as she spoke.
"Looks like that stickler Aiel oppa didn't scheme this alone."
If Seong Hyun-jin hadn't intervened, she'd have been the target. Her peak-condition Martial Exhibition prep would've been ruined—obvious as day. Serena's tone turned icy.
"Someone must've helped from the shadows. With all sorts of tricks. Is that why you're standing here instead of the proper Magic vice-top?"
"...I have no idea what you mean, Lady Serena Northwood."
"Northwood? You dare call me that? Ha..."
Serena let out a hollow laugh. Planning filth like that, yet invoking Northwood? If she were truly one of them, he'd be powerless.
...Pathetic.
She smirked coldly, eyes on the referee's hand signaling the start. As it dropped, she spoke.
"...Listen well, Ryugrien Graywood."
Serena, who always spoke formally to everyone, addressed him casually. Stunned—even as the match began—Ryugrien stared at her in confusion. But her tone stayed sharp.
"I am the daughter of the Dragon Star, Serena Eldark."
Roooar─────!!
Flames erupted with immense heat. The intense blaze obscured her figure, but Ryugrien clearly saw one thing.
"Not some backwater elf from the Northwood clan."
Eyes blazing like furious flames.
"But a dragon with Eldark blood."
"Hm-hmm~♪"
Ciela Teraport hummed lightly as she headed somewhere, Seong Hyun-jin trailing behind.
"Sunbae? Where are we going?"
She'd burst into the first-year waiting room, spotted his worsening state, and dragged him out.
"Where? To fix you up, obviously."
"...My condition?"
"I don't know the details, but you're not feeling great, right?"
Seong Hyun-jin stared at her in surprise, then calmed, recalling her earlier feats.
"...Shamash told you?"
"Ah-ha, so you figured it out?"
Ciela didn't deny it. Instead, she explained clearly.
"Yup, just like you guessed—it's the name of a prophecy spell. Shamash predicted you'd get sick today."
She hadn't divined the exact cause, but foreseeing the illness alone defied common sense.
Seong Hyun-jin laughed wryly. "...Prophecy magic? Isn't that impossible?"
"Not impossible—theoretically feasible, just hard to pull off. No one had succeeded until now."
Ciela shrugged. "I just made the theory real. Shamash is the 'prophecy system' it birthed."
No one before her. Despite the Demon Star Eleonora, the pinnacle of spirit magic, existing. And Ciela Teraport had done it herself. Meaning...
"You're saying you're better than your master?"
Ciela turned, beaming. "Yup. Even she said so."
"......"
No denial—in fact, Eleonora herself acknowledged it. Seong Hyun-jin had nothing to argue. When a master praises her disciple, what more is there? It just reshaped his view of Ciela Teraport entirely.
Even Serena's a powerhouse, but this... she's on another level.
Master's words about plenty of experts out in the world hit home.
"But dragging a sick guy where? If you knew, shouldn't you take me to the infirmary? This isn't toward the stadium exit."
"Oh, right. Shamash even told me who to see for your treatment. Heading there now."
"Pardon?"
Before he could ask who, Ciela started up the stairs.
"Stairs aren't too tough, right?"
"...I can manage."
He followed. At first, he thought medical staff on the first floor. But she climbed past it to the second, then third. Curious, but he kept up—until he realized where they'd arrived.
The broadcast booth.
Bang!
Monica and Yeonhui were mid-broadcast of Serena vs. Ryugrien, but Ciela barged in without a care.
"Yeonhui sunbae, patient's here~!"
"......Pardon?"
"Mission done—I'm out~."
She'd brought him to Yeonhui in the booth.
"???"
Monica gaped at the departing Ciela, then turned to Seong Hyun-jin. She flicked off the sound amplifier—a magic invention mimicking a mic—and said coolly,
"Barging into the broadcast booth like that?"
"......I didn't ask to come."
Seong Hyun-jin felt wronged.