Champion by Forfeit
The semifinals had ended on a disappointing note, but Seong Hyun-jin still looked forward to the finals. His opponent had seemed like a worthy adversary, after all. Yet before the match could even begin, Clarice Levatein, his finals opponent, forfeited, handing Seong Hyun-jin the championship by default.
“The top student of the swordsmanship department forfeiting the match?”
“I was looking forward to a swordsmanship showdown…”
“Isn't she from the Levatein family? And she's just giving up the win?”
Reactions of confusion rippled through the crowd, and Seong Hyun-jin felt the same way.
...Why forfeit without even fighting?
And it wasn't without reason. In her semifinal match—the second one—Clarice Levatein had put on a display that, while not quite on the level of Seong Hyun-jin or Serena Eldark, was utterly dominant.
—Winner, Clarice Levatein!
She seemed a whole dimension above the other swordsmanship students or even Aivin Glenn, the runner-up. Her semifinal opponent had been Diandre Spike, the top spearman and fifth place in the entrance exam rankings. Just as Seong Hyun-jin and Serena had crushed their foes to advance, Clarice had delivered a near-perfect victory over Diandre. True, she hadn't obliterated her opponent like Serena or unleashed overwhelming swordsmanship like Seong Hyun-jin... but Diandre's spear had never truly threatened her. It was that one-sided.
And yet, she forfeited.
The top swordsmanship student, and I was kinda looking forward to it...
His master's swordsmanship was the pinnacle, of course, but he was curious about other styles. He'd thought he'd get to see it, only for her to forfeit.
Did she suddenly fall ill or something?
Anything else just didn't make sense. Of course, it was possible. Seong Hyun-jin's own body was creaking right now. He'd unleashed the King of Chaos to his heart's content, and that wasn't enough—he'd even drawn on his master's Heaven Destroying Sword, one of her ultimate techniques.
The backlash from the swordsmanship and the drain from his spirit power had sapped his vitality. His condition was far from good, even as a polite exaggeration. Having to fight the finals in this state? This might actually be for the best.
Not that there wasn't any regret.
“In that case, Seong Hyun-jin takes the championship naturally, right?”
“Yes, that's how it seems.”
Monica spoke in a bright, energetic voice, as if trying to lift the subdued atmosphere.
“Congratulations! The winner of the 35th Terastial Academy Martial Arts Festival for first-years is... Seong Hyun-jin of the combat department, runner-up representative! The awards ceremony will take place after all the martial arts events conclude!”
Seong Hyun-jin glanced at the judges. “So, I just need to show up?”
“Yes, the third-year matches end tomorrow, and the ceremony follows. Please join us briefly then, Seong Hyun-jin.”
“Got it.”
Seong Hyun-jin left the arena and returned to the waiting room, where Serena was waiting.
“Seong Hyun-jin.”
“What're you doing here?”
“I was waiting to congratulate the champion, but your opponent forfeited.”
Serena smiled faintly.
“Still, a win's a win. Congrats.”
“Doesn't feel like much since I didn't do anything... And I could've lost, but you were gonna congratulate me anyway?”
“If you'd lost, I'd have comforted you.”
“Ah.”
Understanding her intent, Seong Hyun-jin asked in a wary tone,
“How much would you have teased me if I'd lost?”
“Endlessly. I'd have called you an idiot for wasting all your strength on me and losing an important match.”
“Yeah, I'd have had nothing to say to that.”
Seong Hyun-jin flopped into a waiting room chair with a groan.
“Ow, I'm beat. They should do the tournament by grade but only semis and finals the next day after quarters on the first.”
“It used to be that way. I heard they changed it just a few years ago.”
“Why mess with a good thing?”
“Too many mid-tournament forfeits before semis.”
“......Ah.”
With time between matches, someone was pulling strings.
“Why use such cheap tricks in the martial arts festival?”
“It carries a lot of prestige, but the prize money's huge too.”
“Prize money? How much?”
Serena answered simply.
“A hundred gold coins.”
Seong Hyun-jin was so shocked he slipped into polite speech.
“......Pardon?”
“Why the sudden formality? It's not like I'm giving it to you.”
“No, a hundred? For real?”
Even someone as clueless about the world as Seong Hyun-jin knew how massive that was. His master had given him enough living expenses for a while—barely three or four gold coins converted—and he'd lived comfortably, never short. A hundred? Insane.
“The festival's sponsored by the Gold Star, so the prizes are enormous. That's why the old format bred all sorts of schemes.”
“...All for the prize money, huh?”
“Yes. Win, and you cover tuition with plenty left for a lavish academy life. In extreme cases, it could save a poor family overnight.”
Serena called it extreme, but it wasn't impossible. A poor kid winning could lift their whole house. Give them time, and schemes ran rampant. Seong Hyun-jin got why they rushed the schedule.
But something nagged him from her words.
“Academy life's pretty much the same for everyone, though? Dorms are dorms, and the only place to spend is Academy City... Lavish living sounds off.”
“What? Oh... you didn't know, Seong Hyun-jin?”
“Huh?”
Serena, grasping his lack of common knowledge, explained right away.
“Your dorm's the basic one provided free. Plenty of highborn students come here too, and they might not adapt to that.”
“Yeah, it'd be tough. Some in ours still haven't adjusted.”
“So pay for better facilities. More private, luxurious dorms. The top is Tera Hall, then down to basic Baelren Hall.”
“...?”
News to Seong Hyun-jin.
“Places like that exist?”
“Yes. Highborn kids would clash in basics. Better they stay out—good for everyone else too.”
Seong Hyun-jin recalled the fighters in his dorm were nobles, but not top-tier. Imagine ultra-elites fresh from mansions crammed in... He couldn't fathom the chaos.
“You live in one?”
“No, general dorm like you.”
“Your dad's the Dragon Star. Can't be short on cash.”
“Don't want to spend Dad's money there. It's extravagant. And money should be used wisely.”
Serena continued,
“Tera Hall costs fifty gold a year just in academy fees. Superior Hall below it is thirty.”
“......What?”
“Now you see why I call it extravagant?”
“So my prize could get me two years in Tera Hall?”
“......”
Serena frowned at his extravagant plans.
“...Kidding.”
“Felt real.”
“Honestly, Superior Hall seems worth it.”
“...Prize money would cover it. Planning to move?”
“Curious enough to check it out.”
“Hmm.”
Serena said casually,
“Why not tour it?”
“How?”
“Ask the head maid at Superior Hall. Say you're considering it—they'll show you around.”
“Head maid? They have maids?”
“For noble kids, yeah. They want home-like luxury... Not real family maids, though—academy staff.”
“Oh, cool?”
Seong Hyun-jin perked up. Serena probed gently,
“Want me to come?”
“Nah... I'll rest first, then go.”
“Tired?”
“Yeah, pretty beat.”
His face and voice screamed exhaustion. Serena nodded without suspicion.
“Makes sense—you hit me with that.”
“...Still dwelling on it?”
“It was scary.”
Serena grumbled,
“One slip, and your sword would've split my head.”
“Knew you'd block it. And I watched till the end—no worst-case would've happened.”
“Huh?”
Seong Hyun-jin said,
“If I thought you couldn't, I'd have shifted the blade path. No injury.”
“...After swinging?”
“Worked, didn't it?”
Serena started to retort, then shook her head. She knew he was a genius with swords. That blunt answer was his honest take—she let it go.
“Rest up then. Need help walking?”
“You offering?”
Serena's face hardened playfully.
“...For real?”
“Joking—don't look so serious.”
Seong Hyun-jin stood and walked fine. Serena relaxed a bit. She'd worried he was downplaying pain from downing traditional liquor for her.
“Seong Hyun-jin, I'll come with.”
Relieved, Serena followed him out.
“Seong Hyu—ow!”
Thud. Her forehead smacked his occiput.
“Ow... Why'd you stop? Right as we—Seong Hyun-jin?”
Seong Hyun-jin ignored the bump, staring ahead. Curious, Serena peeked over his shoulder.
To her shock, there stood...
“...Why's the forfeiting finalist right in front of me?”
Clarice Levatein, top of swordsmanship, was there.
Cheonsan. A colossal range of peaks scraping the heavens.
Late spring approached, long past early spring, yet snow still fell here. Not winter's bite, but soft flakes warmed by spring's breath.
Amid them, Hakodate Karin—who'd sent her disciple to the academy and lived alone in her mountain cabin—gazed at something.
Swordsmanship department materials Eleonora had sent after Karin became advisor. She scrutinized the faculty info, her lips twisting slightly.
“Well, now...”
Her focus: first-year instructor Willis Graham.
Eleonora had said he was an elite imperial knight from the border regions. Karin had wondered why such a man taught at the academy—until hearing his leg injury forced retirement. That made sense.
But once suspicious, Karin didn't let go easily. Checking further, she found something off.
“Spotless, isn't it?”
His pre-retirement imperial record was suspiciously clean. Not erased, but pristine—like a model knight's log.
Perfectly normal on surface, but for a border knight? Karin knew their lives: constant skirmishes, near lawless. Could guardians there really stay pure? Knights were human—how long could they wear the virtuous mask?
Rare saints existed, but most didn't. Willis's record screamed central knight purity, not border grit.
Two possibilities: true saint, or traces scrubbed.
Karin checked his post-retirement move from Empire to Magic Kingdom.
Conclusion:
“...You've got ulterior motives.”
She pondered. Intervene? Or tip off Eleonora and leave it?
Eleonora could handle it—she was capable.
But...
“...Time to visit that fool of a disciple.”
She missed that weed-like hair lately. Twenty years of daily sight, perhaps.
Karin contacted Eleonora to set a date. Anytime was fine, but no surprise visits—she was checking swordsmanship instructors as advisor.