The Sword Star's Visit (1)
“Instructor Willis Graham is suspicious?”
“Yeah.”
At that very moment when Clarice Levatein had gone berserk, Eleonora—principal of Terastial Academy and one of the Palstar Heroes—was meeting with Hakodate Karin.
It was all because Karin had suddenly announced she’d come to the academy to conduct an instructor evaluation. Eleonora, sensing there had to be more to it since Karin had no reason to do that out of the blue, had come all the way to the mountain cabin to meet her in person.
What she heard there was that Instructor Willis Graham was suspicious.
But Eleonora shook her head as if Karin’s suspicions were overblown.
“Is it because he’s from the Empire? Last time, you said the same thing—what’s a guy like that lacking that he’d become an academy instructor?”
“Is he not?”
“Honestly, yeah.”
Karin lightly sucked on her flower stem before spitting it out. She found Eleonora’s quick judgment odd and pressed further.
“I checked the records myself before saying this, so why are you so certain?”
“Of course I was suspicious at first, just like you, since he’s from the Empire. I investigated him.”
Eleonora shook her head.
“But I couldn’t find any connections to the Empire. Sure, his record as a frontier knight is suspiciously clean, but oddballs like that pop up now and then. Probably just that kind of case.”
But Karin wasn’t convinced by Eleonora’s explanation.
“Maybe your intel just isn’t good enough?”
“No way. You know how good I am at gathering info.”
“Then the Empire must’ve gotten really good at covering their tracks.”
“Why are you so dead set that Instructor Willis is an Empire spy…?”
“I’m certain.”
“Huh? What’s your proof?”
When Eleonora asked about her certainty, Karin answered simply.
“Instinct.”
“……Instinct?”
“Yeah. He’s always rubbed me the wrong way since the first time I saw him, and the records just confirmed it.”
Eleonora couldn’t say it out loud, but inwardly she thought this was ridiculous.
What the hell…
Just then, as Eleonora stared in disbelief—
Ding-dong~ Ti-di-ding~ Ding-dang-do-dong~
A loud racket erupted from her pocket. Karin scowled at the bizarre noise and glared at Eleonora.
“What’s that sound?”
“Oh, it’s a pocket communicator.”
Eleonora pulled a small orb from her pocket.
“They’ve got these now—super convenient, right?”
“…Looks like portable phones are finally getting close.”
Eleonora nodded at Karin’s words.
“I got inspired by what you said and developed it myself.”
“You made it? Anyway, it’s noisy—answer it already.”
“Yeah, I should.”
Eleonora flicked the orb with her finger, silencing the alarm as a voice came through.
“Ah, Principal?”
“Oh, Academic Affairs Director. What’s up?”
“Principal, big trouble! Someone died in Academy City!!”
“What? Leave that to the city police, why tell me….”
“It’s Instructor Willis Graham!”
Eleonora’s eyes went wide at the director’s words. Karin, who’d been chewing on her flower stem, yanked it out in shock—but her reaction shifted completely at what came next.
“Student Seong Hyun-jin from first year was attacked, and he killed him while dealing with it….”
“…Student Seong Hyun-jin was attacked?”
“……Kuh.”
Even hearing her disciple had killed someone, Karin just chuckled lightly. When Eleonora looked at her, Karin said it as if she’d expected it.
“See? What’d I tell you.”
“……Academic Affairs Director, I’ll head back soon. Handle things until then.”
“Got it, Principal.”
The connection cut, and Eleonora turned to Karin.
“Your instincts are spot on, Karin.”
“Born with ’em, I guess. The Empire’s intel game is getting sharper by the day. Even you couldn’t dig anything up.”
“…Yeah.”
Eleonora accepted that part, but she still eyed Karin with lingering confusion.
“What’s with that look?”
“Your disciple killed someone—doesn’t that bother you?”
“…Demon Star, that’s a silly thing to say.”
Karin rebuked her coldly, as if it were obvious.
“What swordsman hasn’t cut down a man?”
“……True.”
“It was bound to happen eventually. Quicker than expected, but that’s fine. My disciple handled it himself before I even had to step in.”
Eleonora couldn’t grasp swordsmen’s mindsets, but she had no desire to nitpick Karin’s values. To wrap things up, she changed the subject.
“So, no need to come to the academy anymore?”
“Why would that be?”
“Huh?”
Eleonora blinked in surprise.
“Weren’t you trying to avoid it as much as possible?”
“I was.”
“The incident’s resolved, so why come now?”
“Can’t I?”
“No, it’s not that, but… you’re in seclusion…”
“I’ve got business.”
Karin stood, finishing her flower and setting the stem aside.
“My disciple’s heart’ll be a mess after this. As his master, I should at least comfort him.”
“…Ah.”
Eleonora relaxed a bit.
Acting like she doesn’t care…
This woman, who seemed endlessly cold, still had human feelings deep down.
“Let’s go.”
“Yeah, you’re coming too, right, Karin?”
“Better together.”
Karin nodded, and Eleonora snapped her fingers. Spirit power instantly converted to magic, stacking over ten layers of magic circles.
“Let’s go.”
“Right.”
As Eleonora and Karin stepped onto the circles, a brilliant light flashed, and all ten activated at once.
⟨ Spatial Transfer ⟩
And in an instant, the two vanished.
#
“Is it true Student Seong Hyun-jin was attacked by Instructor Willis Graham?”
“Yeah, like I said.”
“Why did he attack Student Seong Hyun-jin?”
Seong Hyun-jin faced a fellow student with an utterly annoying expression. Scribbling every word in his notebook like some reporter and grilling him on every detail—this guy was Grain, a second-year swordsmanship major from the Terastial Academy newspaper club.
Hard to imagine now, but he was one of the department’s top three geniuses.
A swordsmanship major playing reporter…
Seong Hyun-jin thought that, but Grain poured tremendous passion into his work. Undeterred by Hyun-jin’s obvious annoyance, he kept up the barrage of questions. For Hyun-jin, who found it hard to refuse earnest requests, that zeal was overwhelming—which was why he was putting up with this.
“It’s kinda hard to say.”
“Can’t you give details?”
“Police said not to talk until their investigation’s done—might muddy things.”
“Police silencing Student Seong Hyun-jin? Sounds like a cover-up!”
“That’s a stretch.”
Grain seemed intent on tarnishing the Academy City police’s image. Hyun-jin stared in disbelief, but Grain pressed on undaunted. Guessing Hyun-jin wouldn’t spill on that, he shifted topics.
“So how’d you beat Instructor Willis? Honestly, few would survive a surprise attack from an Empire senior knight like him.”
Finally, a decent question.
“Simple—skill.”
“Oh, you’re saying you’re stronger than a senior knight?”
“Otherwise, I’d be dead. He would’ve been the one standing.”
“Fair point! So how’d you get so strong?”
“Find a good master.”
“A master?”
“Incredibly strong, and so compassionate she raised me from infancy.”
“Ooh, now I’m curious who that is.”
Grain reacted with admiration, and Hyun-jin got excited, rambling on.
“And stunningly beautiful…”
“Beautiful too!”
“Big breasts, wide hips, firm thighs, skin white as snow… Gotta touch her at least once.”
“……?”
Even Grain’s enthusiasm faltered at Hyun-jin’s weird turn. Just then, a shadow fell over Hyun-jin.
Grain spotted the figure first, his face twisting in shock.
“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
“Enough nonsense, disciple.”
“?”
Hyun-jin thought he’d misheard. But the icy presence—like fresh snow—confirmed it. He shot to his feet and spun around, prostrating himself flat on the ground.
“You’ve come, Master.”
“I have.”
The woman even Hyun-jin’s sharp senses had missed until now. She was his master—the Sword Star, Hakodate Karin, whom he’d just been raving about.
Grain, focused on reporting but still a swordsman at heart, naturally recognized her. He realized why Hyun-jin had praised his master so highly—and that it wasn’t nonsense.
To sum up his first impression in one word: bewitching.
Her unconventional attire and hair pinned up in a noblewoman’s style evoked an antique elegance, making her beauty seem otherworldly. Yet it stirred a man’s heart perfectly—bewitching fit her to a T.
As Grain stared dazedly, Hyun-jin—still bowed—spoke to Karin.
“This unworthy disciple regrets not greeting you despite knowing of your visit.”
“Enough. We came via the Demon Star’s magic—you couldn’t have known.”
“With the principal?”
“Yes. I’d planned to visit over the Willis Graham business, so she escorted me…”
Karin continued.
“But you handled it yourself.”
“Not that this unworthy disciple grasped your intent—it just happened that way.”
Karin nodded.
“Rise.”
“Yes.”
Hyun-jin finally lifted his head and stood straight. Recalling his earlier ramblings, Karin sighed deeply.
“Same antics even at the academy.”
“If I’ve offended by presuming to describe your beauty, I’ll repay with my life.”
“Not that… Sigh, never mind. Forgiven—just don’t do it elsewhere. It’s fine with me, but others won’t get your nonsense.”
“Nonsense? All true.”
“True or not, it’s nonsense!”
Karin snapped like she always did with her disciple, then cleared her throat, remembering they weren’t at the cabin.
“Ahem. How’s academy life? You didn’t blow through the allowance already?”
“Earned more before it ran out. Won the sparring tournament—got a hundred gold coins.”
At the tournament win, Karin eyed him with interest.
“Sparring tournament? Oh ho, you won that?”
“Yes. Proved your swordsmanship’s greatness there.”
“You can’t even manifest it fully—how? Don’t tell me you overdid it.”
Hyun-jin sweated coldly, bluffing.
“…No overdoing. Just like always.”
“…Found a way to handle that thing eating your vitality?”
“……”
“Haven’t looked.”
“Been short on time lately.”
Karin sighed.
“I’ll tell the Demon Star—visit her sometimes.”
“To think you’d go to such lengths for this unworthy disciple—I’m overjoyed.”
“Who’s this?”
Karin glanced at Grain. Hyun-jin eyed him briefly.
“Someone prying info from me.”
Grain stammered in panic.
“D-Don’t phrase it like that, junior—it’s a misunderstanding. Call it an interview.”
“Interview? Writing an article?”
“Y-Yes! I’m in the academy newspaper club.”
“You walk the sword’s path, yet newspaper club—unique hobby.”
“H-How’d you tell?”
Grain hadn’t even brought his sword, yet Karin saw right through. Amazed, Karin chuckled lightly.
“Your hands give it away—what’s the surprise?”
“Ah…”
Grain flushed, embarrassed at asking the obvious—and at how stunning Karin’s smile was. Hyun-jin narrowed his eyes.
This punk, eyeing my master like that…
The king of double standards—spewing pervy talk about his master while brooking none for others.
“S-Sword Star noticing me got me nervous.”
“Happens. Keep at it.”
“Yes…!”
After a brief chat with Grain, Karin turned to Hyun-jin.
“Your friend?”
“First time today. Interviewing me on the incident.”
“Hm. I see.”
Karin asked just in case.
“No friends, then?”
“No, unworthy disciple has many.”
“Many? Surprising.”
“I can introduce.”
“Haha, no need. You wouldn’t lie about that.”
Karin smiled faintly, scanning him top to bottom.
“You’ve grown a bit taller.”
“Master, same as always.”
“Hm? My mistake? Been a while.”
“……?”
Hyun-jin sensed Karin was gentler today. That line especially sounded like longing.
He tilted his head.
“Why come to the academy if the incident’s settled, Master?”
“Hm? I announced the evaluation—I should do it.”
“Hmmm…”
Hyun-jin squinted suspiciously. Karin frowned slightly.
“Disciple, what’s that irreverent look?”
“If I’m wrong, correct me.”
“About?”
“You missed this disciple. Came to see me, right?”
“…!”
For a split second, Karin froze. Hyun-jin caught it and grinned mischievously.
“Forgive this unworthy disciple, Master. I failed to grasp your heart. Never dreamed you’d leave seclusion to see me out of longing.”
“……”
“Am I wrong? Say so if I am!”
As his teasing escalated, Karin’s gentle expression turned icy. Hyun-jin faltered—Too far?—but then—
“Disciple.”
“…Yes?”
“Still haven’t learned your mouth’s the problem.”
Karin drew her sword, cold killing intent flooding out. Grain froze, trembling involuntarily. Panicked, Hyun-jin soothed her.
“Master, I missed you too. No need to be shy…!”
“Q-Quiet!! Keep spouting nonsense, you need a beating to straighten up!”
“It’s not nonsense—it’s fact!”
Hyun-jin insisted, and Karin flushed faintly, yelling.
“Sh-Shut up…!”
“Wh-What are you doing!?! ”
Suddenly, someone else—not Hyun-jin—shouted at Karin. From behind her.
Karin paused mid-draw and turned. There stood a very pretty female student. She rushed over, grabbed Hyun-jin’s arm, yanked him behind her protectively, and confronted Karin.
“I don’t know what Seong Hyun-jin did wrong, but you can’t hit him like that! He’ll get hurt!”