Chapter 36: Magic Beasts
Magic beasts were a kind of error-like entities existing in this world, monsters born from the remnants left after the gods created the races. These monsters were endlessly hostile to all the other races living in the world, and with their monstrous power and threatening abilities, they were a constant headache for every nation. This was one of the core reasons why academies—pan-national talent training institutions—existed in this world.
All magic beasts were born with a special power called mana. Because of this mana, ordinary firearms had no effect on them, making it impossible to deal with them using regular military forces. To confront magic beasts, one absolutely needed abilities manifested through spirits. These abilities could neutralize mana, allowing the extermination of beasts that firearms couldn't touch. The academies were places that trained talents who could wield such abilities, which was one reason they existed all over the world.
Considering that Clarice Levatein hailed from the Levatein Duke family, which managed the northern territories of the Magic Kingdom, it made perfect sense for a northern magic beast like the Frost Wolf to manifest as the enemy.
However, what surprised Seong Hyun-jin was just how threatening it was to face a magic beast...
She sure loves practicing like it's real combat.
Sword training methods varied wildly. Some preferred quietly focusing on sword forms while striking wooden dummies, while others favored practicing through actual battles. It seemed Clarice was the latter.
"A northern magic beast, huh?"
"You recognize it."
"We had things like that where I used to live. Saw them around sometimes."
"...Is that so?"
Clarice thought it surprising that the Sword Star and the place he'd lived were near the north. Unaware that the "similar things" Seong Hyun-jin mentioned were actually entirely different magic beasts.
Clarice set the timer on the virtual combat system and raised her sword.
"Let's begin."
"Yeah, go easy."
The sword Clarice wielded was a massive two-handed sword. It was hard to imagine a woman handling such a blade, but she wasn't just any ordinary girl—she was a scion of the Levatein Duke family.
Whoosh!
The two-handed sword swung as lightly as chopsticks. Thanks to its hefty weight, even a casual swing produced a loud whoosh cutting through the air. Watching this, Seong Hyun-jin inwardly assessed her.
Her raw strength is no issue.
He planned to carefully observe every detail and offer advice tailored to her needs. And if her talent proved solid, he even considered passing on some of Karin's teachings.
Seong Hyun-jin didn't like teaching swordsmanship to talentless nobodies any more than Karin did, but if there was real potential, he had no issue with it.
[Mock Battle - Frost Wolf, commencing.]
With the combat system's alert and the Frost Wolf's roar, Seong Hyun-jin was a bit startled by the realism—it felt like a real wolf's howl right in front of him.
Regardless, Clarice calmly focused on the Frost Wolf's movements like it was routine. The moment the Frost Wolf stepped forward with its front paw, Clarice took a large step with her right foot. As she did, her arms gripping the sword tensed fully. Her seemingly slender forearms bulged with firm muscles, veins standing taut.
"Levatein Ancient Sword Style, First Form."
The Frost Wolf raised its massive front paw. True to a mana-wielding magic beast, it wasn't a mere claw slash—the enormous, menacing paw was shrouded in chilling frost. A freezing cold that would instantly encase the body in ice.
Facing it head-on, Clarice swung her sword without a hint of hesitation.
「Scorching Flame」
Crack—.
As Clarice's sword cleaved the Frost Wolf's flank, its movement halted. And then.
Craaaack────────────!!
The massive Frost Wolf's body split in two along the sword's path.
[Mock Battle End. Time to kill: 45 seconds.]
"Whoa."
Seong Hyun-jin gave a short exclamation of admiration and clapped.
"Not bad."
It was a simple comment, but it was pure sincerity. He neither overhyped her skill nor hid his honest impression.
Sensing that, Clarice relaxed a bit and asked, "Was there anything lacking in my swordsmanship?"
"It was already a fine blade as is. Honestly, it's a shame you forfeited the finals."
"You mean there were no shortcomings? Does that signify the Levatein sword is complete?"
"Of course, it's not without room for improvement."
Seong Hyun-jin said, "I'll give you one tip for free."
"Please, do."
"Grip your sword and take your stance. Like before."
Clarice assumed the exact same upright posture as earlier. Seong Hyun-jin immediately advised her.
"Levatein Ancient Sword Style, right? It seems like a form that loads power into the sword, but you could ease up a bit on the tension in your sword arm."
"Our family's sword requires infusing heavy power. We've always trained to tense our arms strongly... but you're saying to relax here?"
"Not completely. Just loosen it a tad—it should be fine, and the power won't drop much. Your rigid muscles will relax, speeding up your swing. Instead, step a bit farther with your lead foot. Just about a finger's width. Your speed will increase without much change in power."
Seong Hyun-jin said simply, "Don't believe me? Try it."
"..."
Clarice decided to trust him and give it a shot. She summoned the Frost Wolf again via the virtual combat system. This time, she eased her arms slightly per his advice and stepped a finger's width farther.
"...Levatein Ancient Sword Style, First Form."
And she swung exactly as before.
「Scorching Flame」
Craaaack────────────!!
Surprisingly, the strike was identical to before. But the swing was microscopically faster. Same power, increased speed—and no new openings created.
"...!"
The Levatein swordsmanship had advanced, even if just a little. Clarice's eyes widened in shock.
Seong Hyun-jin nodded at her reaction. "See? Convinced?"
"...Y-Yes. How did you spot it so quickly? It might sound like boasting in front of the Sword Star's disciple, but our family's sword is a technique refined over generations through oral tradition. A perfected form, and yet..."
"How'd I find a flaw no one else did?"
Seong Hyun-jin replied, "My eyes are sharper than anyone's. Even my master acknowledges that."
"...Sharper than Lady Karin's?"
Seong Hyun-jin neither denied nor confirmed it. Instead, he praised his master. "Of course, Master is far superior to someone like me."
"......"
Clarice couldn't hide her surprise, staring at Seong Hyun-jin with wide eyes.
...This is the Sword Star's first disciple.
He was different, unmistakably so. Spotting and fixing a flaw their ancestors had missed in one glance—that spoke to a level of swordsmanship understanding on another plane.
A spark of greed ignited in Clarice. She'd been content with just one look, but now she couldn't help wanting more.
"Could you perhaps continue teaching me the sword?"
"Huh? Well, that's..."
"I beg you."
Clarice stepped forward with a clack. In an instant, she closed the distance and clasped Seong Hyun-jin's hands tightly. They weren't soft like a swordsman's should be, but the warm touch from another person's hands enveloped his.
"In return, I'll do whatever you desire."
"...Whatever I want? Anything?"
"Yes. Anything at all. Even..."
Clarice stared straight at Seong Hyun-jin, her voice dropping shyly. "...even a somewhat embarrassing request."
Her bold declaration left Seong Hyun-jin even more stunned.
"...That far?"
Flustered, Seong Hyun-jin couldn't help but let his eyes scan Clarice's body. Hearing that from a girl his age triggered any guy's instincts.
He hadn't noticed with Serena nearby earlier, but up close, she was quite developed. Her breasts were modestly ample, her waist slim from training, hips wide. Especially those long, slender legs—they were captivating. If Serena Eldark's appeal was thick thighs, Clarice Levatein's was endless legs. Serena's weren't short, but proportionally, Clarice's seemed longer.
And her face passed with flying colors. Eyes like clear jewels, skin white as northern snow, red hair in a neat shoulder-length cut. Even to Seong Hyun-jin, who took Hakodate Karin as his beauty standard, she was pretty.
Reading his gaze, Clarice spoke more confidently. "If you're fixing my sword, what wouldn't I do?"
"Even so, this is..."
"You don't seem disinterested in women, so wouldn't mutual help be best? I learn the sword from you, and you learn about women from me."
Clarice declared boldly and demanded upright. "You can treat me as roughly as you like—just please teach me the sword!"
"Hey, don't say it like that! People will misunderstand!!"
Seong Hyun-jin was relieved Serena wasn't here. If she'd heard this, she wouldn't have stayed quiet. His gut told him so, though he didn't know why.
"...Seong Hyun-jin."
And his instincts proved spot-on—thankfully, fate's god demonstrated it. He turned with a creak at the voice from behind.
"Treat you how, exactly, 'as roughly as I like'?"
Somehow there without notice, Serena fixed Seong Hyun-jin with a murderous glare.
Sensing danger instinctively, he swallowed dryly. "...No, I was the one being pressured here."
"Don't pin it all on me. You showed interest too, Seong Hyun-jin."
"What are you talking about...!"
"Aha, so you did show interest?"
Serena smiled thinly. But her eyes weren't smiling, sending chills down his spine.
"Looks like I've interrupted rudely. Go to the award ceremony with Clarice Levatein, Seong Hyun-jin."
"Serena? Wait, there's a misunderstanding...!"
Seong Hyun-jin called after her, but she vanished, leaving only her platinum hair fluttering in the wind.
"Why is Serena Eldark so angry?"
"...You're asking me? You made it sound like a huge misunderstanding."
"I'm not asking because I don't know that. I'm asking why Serena Eldark would get mad over that."
"Huh?"
At Clarice's point, Seong Hyun-jin blinked. Come to think of it, why was Serena mad? Wasn't there no reason for her to get upset just because he showed interest in Clarice's body? It wasn't something friends would fight over.
"...You're right."
Seong Hyun-jin puzzled over it, staring at the spot where Serena had left.