The Disciple Descends the Mountain (1)
The Sword Star, Hakodate Karin, gazed up at the sky with an odd feeling stirring within her.
“Fine weather today.”
Normally, she’d be overseeing her disciple’s training by now, but there was no need for that today. Her disciple had already left this ramshackle mountain cabin.
To be precise, he had headed to the Magic Kingdom, home of Terastial Academy, after receiving the letter of recommendation she’d sent.
It was the quiet time Karin had once longed for. She had secluded herself in these lofty peaks precisely to live out her days without encountering another soul, savoring her solitude.
Yet the emptiness left by his absence—something she hadn’t felt in ages—gnawed at a corner of her heart. It was proof that her disciple had, unbeknownst to her, carved a deep place in her life.
“…Insolent brat.”
Karin lit a dried flower in her pipe and took a light draw, exhaling slowly. Wisps of odorless, colorless smoke drifted out, mirroring the void in her chest, scattering into the air.
“…What am I doing?”
Suddenly overcome with disbelief, Karin sighed and flicked the pipe away with a casual toss. It flew through empty space at first, but astonishingly, a magic circle bloomed right where it arced, and someone appeared.
Thwack!
“Kyaa!”
Thanks to impeccable timing, the pipe struck the newcomer square on the forehead. Clutching her brow, the woman made a pitiful face.
“Wh-what are you doing, Lady Karin?! How could you just hurl something that hot out of nowhere!?”
The silver-haired woman who had popped up out of nowhere jabbed a finger at the flying pipe, complaining loudly.
Karin narrowed her eyes sharply and snapped at the intruder. “I could ask you the same thing, Demon Star.”
Demon Star—Eleonora. One of the Palstar Heroes like Karin herself, and the supreme authority on spirit magic. That was the identity of the uninvited guest before her.
She had earned her title as a true hero during a great flood in the Magic Kingdom, saving countless lives. She was also the owner of Terastial Academy, where Karin’s sole disciple had headed.
As fellow Palstar Heroes, Eleonora’s visit wasn’t entirely unexpected, but Karin clearly wasn’t pleased.
“I told you not to barge in unannounced. I overlooked that cheeky invitation you left behind, and now you show up bold as brass?”
As Karin growled fiercely, Eleonora gestured for her to calm down.
“Please, just relax a little, Lady Karin.”
“You’re the one who came without warning—how dare you tell me to relax?”
“I’ll apologize for dropping in uninvited, so how about hearing me out? You gave that recommendation letter to your precious disciple, didn’t you? That means you don’t think poorly of our academy.”
Karin’s stunning face twisted slightly in a frown. Even that furrowed brow looked like a work of art, but Eleonora had no time to admire it leisurely. A chilling killing intent washed over her.
Cold sweat beaded on Eleonora’s skin as she stammered amid Karin’s fury. “N-no need to get that angry, right?”
“Get to the point. If it’s all hot air, I’ll deem it worthless and kick you out.”
“You’re so impatient…”
Eleonora grumbled softly but hurried on when Karin’s frown deepened further.
“Have you ever considered serving as our academy’s swordsmanship advisor?”
“…So that’s what this is about.”
Karin waved her hand dismissively. “Do you really think I’d do something like that?”
“It would’ve fallen on deaf ears before.”
“Then why even ask?”
“But Lady Karin, you’ve just sent your disciple to the academy, haven’t you? Don’t you want to see him grow day by day?”
“…”
Karin’s reaction to Eleonora’s persuasion was peculiar, but she didn’t push back—suggesting it was starting to sink in. Seizing the moment, Eleonora rattled on.
“I’m not asking you to teach. Heaven forbid we presume to have you instruct in your swordsmanship. Just come as an advisor and watch your disciple’s progress at your leisure. You wouldn’t have to do a thing! Simply check if the instructors are up to snuff. It’s that simple, right?”
As Eleonora unleashed her rapid-fire pitch, Karin stared at her with an incredulous expression. Then, in a flat tone, she said:
“Losing ground to Celestial Academy on all fronts lately, are we?”
“!”
Karin let out a hollow chuckle at Eleonora’s bullseye-hit expression.
No matter if it was just as an advisor with no teaching duties, a Palstar Hero’s prestige carried weight. True, twenty years of seclusion had dimmed Karin’s fame somewhat, but among swordsmen, the Sword Star’s renown still soared.
Her mere presence at the academy would surely draw aspiring swordsmen to Terastial’s gates.
Karin teased her further. “If you’d asked honestly from the start, I might’ve considered it.”
“…Ugh, fine! I panicked because we’re desperate!”
“I didn’t think you were trailing that badly. What happened?”
“Celestial Academy invited the Wise Star. And he accepted!”
Surprised by the unexpected news, Karin tilted her head curiously. “What’s that old codger doing setting foot in an academy?”
“Beats me! Maybe Shania seduced him with that voluptuous body of hers…”
“He’s not the type to fall for that.”
“Exactly! That’s why it’s so baffling.”
“So you want me to counter their prestige pull.”
Eleonora nodded without denial at Karin’s insight. Karin eyed her quietly before asking:
“Does being an advisor mean staying at the academy full-time?”
“Not at all! Just show your face at the entrance ceremony and special events—that’s plenty.”
“What about evaluating the instructors?”
“I only said that, but it won’t mean much. I handpick them through interviews myself. All elites.”
Eleonora spoke confidently, and Karin gave a light laugh. “Proud of picking them yourself when your head’s full of nothing but magic and swords?”
“…I know enough to judge. And I got advice from others, of course.”
“I see.”
Eleonora glanced at Karin cautiously, then ventured: “You’ve been asking all these questions… Does that mean you’re actually considering it?”
“Didn’t you invite me?”
“Y-you’re really coming?”
Instead of answering, Karin beckoned for the pipe. Eleonora handed it over politely.
“I owe you one.”
Karin relit it, took a long drag, and exhaled. “So I’ll lend you my name.”
“For real? No take-backs later!”
“No take-backs. Advisors get free access to the academy, right?”
“Of course, Lady Karin.”
“Good.”
Karin glanced skyward, imagining her disciple’s face—already missed for some reason—and accepted Eleonora’s offer. “Very well.”
# If asked to name the Magic Kingdom’s top academy, Terastial Academy would inevitably top the list.
Alongside the Holy Kingdom’s Celestial Academy, it was one of the continent’s only two “officially recognized” institutions—and by far the largest.
At Terastial’s entrance stood the gatekeepers known as the inspectors. Their lobby was always bustling, but today it was packed to the brim.
“Next!”
It was the day to accept entrance applications, drawing elite talents from far and wide. Highborn scions of noble houses, disciples of famed mercenaries, heirs to renowned sword schools—they were everywhere.
Even among such luminaries, a few inevitably drew extra attention.
“Hey, that person over there…”
Gazes converged on one figure. A woman with radiant platinum hair and crimson eyes that left a striking impression.
But it wasn’t her beauty that captivated them. It was the dragon horns sprouting from either side of her head.
“Dragon horns? No way…”
No one failed to recognize the woman who bore human features and draconic horns. There was only one dragon in the world who had fallen for a human rather than her own kind.
“Th-that’s the Dragon Star’s daughter?!”
“She’s enrolling with us?”
The Dragon Star, one of the Palstar Heroes. And this beautiful girl was his daughter, Dragon Princess Serena Eldark.
Her cool impression was softened by dignified eyes, a sharp jawline, and the elegant, slender lines of her figure—turning her chill demeanor into a unique allure.
“She exudes such nobility. Overflowing with grace.”
“The Dragon Star’s daughter, after all…”
The crowd admired her appearance and aura alike. But unlike their awe, Serena sighed under the weight of their stares.
…These gazes are too much.
Despite her fame as the Dragon Star’s daughter, she found such attention burdensome. The pressure and responsibility of her illustrious father crushed her.
If only she could revel in it, but Serena’s temperament wasn’t as tough as her looks. Far from cold, she was rather delicate.
The atmosphere here choked her. She hated strangers recognizing her and heaping expectations on her unbidden.
Their curiosity about her talents as the Dragon Star’s heir mingled with interest in Serena Eldark herself, pressing down on her slim shoulders.
Bowed under the pressure, she filled out her application with her head down. Each stroke drew more eyes. Soon, her line had vanished entirely as people fixated on her every move.
Qu-quickly finish and get out…
But contrary to her wish, her tense pen trembled, slowing her progress. Cold sweat trickled down from the scrutiny.
Even the academy staff waited patiently, knowing who she was. Such special treatment only added to her burden—ordinary handling might have eased her nerves.
She had barely finished half when:
“Hey, you’re not done yet? Mind if I go first?”
“…Pardon?”
Someone approached her now-empty line. A man with vivid light-green hair that shimmered like dew-kissed leaves.
From it, Serena guessed he had elf blood. His silver eyes and youthful features confirmed it.
Half-elf…
Sharing half-elf heritage with her eased her tension slightly. Even if one parent was a different race.
His casual approach—treating her normally, without fawning over the Dragon Star’s daughter—further relaxed her.
“I-I just need to finish this.”
But he glanced at her form and sighed. “You skipped this line—wasting time solo? No wonder everyone switched queues.”
Caught off-guard by the blunt critique, Serena panicked, assuming he was annoyed at waiting. “S-sorry…”
“I wasn’t waiting, so no need to apologize.”
“Huh?”
Then why point it out? Perplexed, she watched as he repeated:
“So if you’re not done, I can go ahead, right?”
Though flustered, she nodded—his request was fair. He grinned satisfactorily.
“You’re more reasonable than I thought. Great—mind taking mine first?”
“Yes, of course.”
Handing over his form, he flashed a pleased smile and turned to her. “Thanks to you, I’m in quick. Appreciate the yield!”
“Uh? Oh… sure.”
His shift from chiding her delay to thanking her baffled her. As she tilted her head in confusion, the clerk finished.
“Processed, Seong Hyun-jin.”
Seong Hyun-jin. Hearing the otherworldly naming convention, Serena blinked in surprise.
A transmigrator?
Those using foreign names were usually transmigrators. But he looked utterly native.
No—a reincarnator.
She’d heard some reincarnators used their past-life names.
“Entrance exam tomorrow—be back by 9 a.m.”
“Oh, all set?”
“Yes.”
“Top academies really deliver. Fast processing.”
Seong Hyun-jin gave the clerk a thumbs-up, but she responded mechanically. “No different from others.”
“Ah, got it.”
“Your exam voucher. Bring it tomorrow.”
He scratched his head sheepishly, took it, and glanced at Serena. “See you tomorrow, then?”
“Pardon?… Oh, right.”
“Hm. Hope you don’t run into me.”
“Huh?”
As she puzzled over it, he patted his sword hilt. “Sucks if a friend fails because of me…”
“…?”
Her mind filled with question marks. Friends? They’d just met. And failing because of him? Terastial’s exam wasn’t student duels.
“What do you—”
“Catch you tomorrow!”
Before she could speak, he waved breezily and vanished like the wind—arriving and leaving the same way.
Serena stared blankly at the spot he’d left, murmuring in deep confusion.
“Wh-what… was that guy…?”