The Sword Star's Visit (2)
A female student dared to block Hakodate Karin, the Sword Star, in an attempt to protect Seong Hyun-jin. Serena Eldark's face was etched with tension. Yet she refused to yield. If anything, she stepped forward, positioning herself to shield him even more completely from Karin's view.
This child…
Her radiant platinum hair, crimson eyes, and the dragon horns rising from either side of her head proclaimed her identity at a glance. Karin recognized her immediately.
“You must be the daughter of the Dragon Star.”
“...Do you know me?”
“Of course. Though I haven't heard your name.”
Serena was mildly surprised that the Sword Star had identified her. But that was beside the point—this situation was something else entirely. She couldn't conceal her nerves, yet her resolve held firm as she pressed Karin.
“W-well, then why are you trying to hit your precious disciple?”
“...He earned it.”
“I don't know what he did, but he's hurt right now.”
As Karin appeared to recognize Serena, Seong Hyun-jin sensed a chance to smooth things over. He darted to Serena's side and made the introduction.
“Master, this is one of the friends I mentioned. Serena Eldark—she's the daughter of one of the Palstar Heroes, just like you.”
“I know. Around the time I retreated to the mountains, I heard Ahajaka had a child.”
“I see. Please forgive my friend's rudeness, Master. She just overreacted because I got hurt.”
Karin shot Seong Hyun-jin a sharp glance. In a voice like winter frost, she scolded him.
“It seems you don't realize the rude one here is you, not this child, my disciple. Shall this master teach you?”
“...It slipped out in my excitement. Please be merciful.”
Karin let out a sigh. She sheathed her sword and turned to Seong Hyun-jin.
“More importantly—were you injured?”
“Yes. This unworthy disciple underestimated the foe.”
“Disciple, I'm not blaming you for the injury itself.”
Karin narrowed her brow ever so slightly. She didn't mind that Seong Hyun-jin had taken a hit from Willis. In a fight to the death, wounds were par for the course. What irked her was why he hadn't mentioned it right away.
“Why hide it when we just reunited? Did you think this master would rage over a scratch from trash like that?”
Karin had never approved of her disciple's escapades, but her affection ran deeper still. A reincarnator or not, she'd raised him from swaddling clothes—how could she not love him fiercely?
“What matters is how badly you're hurt. If your body's holding up... that's the priority.”
It was only natural for Karin to fret over him like this. Seong Hyun-jin scratched his head.
“Huh? It's nothing major. Just a surface cut...”
“...Hm?”
Karin blinked at him, then at Serena. She'd assumed a grave wound from how desperately the girl had intervened. A touch flustered, she asked,
“Then why all the fuss from her...?”
“H-he was hurt, you know...”
“She's always dramatic like that.”
“S-Seong Hyun-jin...!”
Serena flushed, chiding him in embarrassment, but he offered no correction. Karin watched, mildly taken aback. Friends, he'd said—and the easy teasing did suggest real closeness. She felt a strange mix of novelty and warmth seeing her once-cloistered disciple bond with another.
The boy who knew only me...
Yet a faint pang tugged at her too. Brushing it aside, Karin asked Seong Hyun-jin,
“How many other friends have you made? If you're already close with girls, surely plenty of boys too.”
“I have male classmates, but no real friends among them.”
“What?”
Karin blinked in surprise. Seong Hyun-jin stated it proudly.
“Master, this disciple's made up his mind: friends with pretty girls only. Why bother with guys?”
“What in the...”
Karin stared in disbelief as Serena piped up beside him.
“Is that why you approached me?”
“Why take it so seriously? Can't a guy joke anymore?”
“You say it like it's true.”
“...What’s that supposed to mean?”
Seong Hyun-jin eyed her as if to say what's wrong with me? Serena just laughed lightly, dodging the question. Karin observed and remarked,
“...It's been a while—your jokes have gotten worse.”
“Did it bother you? I'll hold back, then.”
“No. You're weirder holding back.”
Karin shook her head, glancing at Serena and Grain.
“I've got the gist of things. Mind giving this master and her disciple some space to catch up?”
“Ah, sure! Seong Hyun-jin sunbae, the rest of the interview can wait!”
“There was more...?”
Grain retreated without fuss. Serena, though, lingered with a troubled expression. Seong Hyun-jin noticed.
“Serena? Staying?”
“Ah, it's just...”
She knew she ought to leave. But her feet felt rooted. Her body and heart weren't aligned, she realized acutely. Karin's head tilted as Serena stalled. Snapping to, Serena started to withdraw—then Seong Hyun-jin spoke.
“...Ah, I get it.”
“S-sorry...”
“You wanted to meet Master! That's why, huh?”
“...Pardon?”
He'd jumped to conclusions, deciding she just yearned to meet Karin.
“Makes sense. Passing up a chance to talk with someone you've been dying to see?”
“Er...”
Serena couldn't affirm or deny it. Wrong as his guess was, it gave her an excuse to stay. Karin told Seong Hyun-jin,
“Disciple, this is about the incident. Better just us two, no?”
“She can hear it too.”
Seong Hyun-jin rested a light hand on Serena's shoulder.
“Serena helped big-time. While I handled the culprit, she rescued a student he'd hurt.”
“Did she now?”
“Ah... yes.”
Karin relented.
“Very well—listen in. The Demon Star means to go public with this.”
“She doesn't usually air academy business?”
“Internal matters stay internal, mostly. Especially scandals like this—they taint reputations.”
Karin nodded at Serena's words.
“Normally, yes. But the Empire's involved. Public outrage lets the Magic Kingdom lean on them diplomatically. The Demon Star won't bury it.”
“No capture on Instructor Willis means no hard evidence. Possible?”
“She'll manage. I don't have the details.”
Karin eyed Seong Hyun-jin.
“Point is, publicity hits you too, disciple.”
“Mm.”
“Like that interviewer earlier—press might hound you. What'll you say?”
Seong Hyun-jin pondered briefly, then replied crisply.
“Praise Master's greatness.”
“...What?”
“Explaining how I beat an upper knight instructor and survived? Naturally, I'll tout the master who forged this disciple.”
His eyes sparkled. Karin sighed.
“...If you fancy endless press as the Sword Star's disciple, go ahead.”
“Ah.”
“Best: refuse comment. Direct them to the academy. Demon Star handles it.”
“Worst case?”
“What you just said.”
“...”
Seong Hyun-jin went mute under her bite. Karin turned to Serena.
“Serena Eldark, same advice for you.”
“Y-yes...!”
“Reporters swarm the juicy bits. Don't feed them. Dragon Star's daughter as hero? Prime bait.”
“Got it.”
Mentioning Clarice Levatein, Karin added,
“And the Levatein Duke family's eldest was tangled in this.”
“Victim, Master.”
“You know her?”
“Somewhat.”
“Warn her, then: caution.”
“Meaning?”
Karin explained patiently to his bafflement.
“You wouldn't know, disciple, but Levatein rules the north for ages. Major players even here.”
“Huh.”
“Power draws foes. They pounce on any hook.”
“She's the victim—problem?”
“No deaths, true. But property loss. And mere Levatein ties? That's their feast.”
Seong Hyun-jin sighed.
“Vile lot.”
“Humans gonna human.”
Habitually, Karin drew her flower pipe. Pausing to light it, she clocked Serena and halted.
“Not smoking?”
“Forgot: academy grounds. Bad form with a student here.”
“Master skipping her pipe? Shocker for this disciple.”
“Keep that up, folks'll think I'm hooked.”
“Aren't you?”
Smack—!!
Karin's fist cracked his crown like lightning. He crumpled to the floor.
“Guh... ugh...”
“S-Seong Hyun-jin?!”
Serena gaped, but Karin brushed it off.
“You pick the perfect moments to earn it. Quit the drama.”
“Yessum.”
True to her word, he popped up unfazed—as if the groans were theater. A strike that floored him, yet fine? Serena stared, incredulous.
“...You had me worried over nothing.”
“Huh? Just a knuckle flick.”
“...”
If that was a flick, half the world would've died from concussions. What durability...? As Serena pondered if Sword Star disciples all tanked like this, Karin spoke.
“This master sticks around the academy awhile. Through instructor evals.”
“Great. Morning greetings daily, then.”
“No need—actually, do it.”
She reconsidered mid-sentence.
“Yes, Master.”
Lately, empty mornings without him had grated. This would fill the void nicely.
“Off, then.”
“Staying where?”
“Headmaster's office. Swiping the Demon Star's quarters.”
Serena stifled a scoff inwardly; Seong Hyun-jin nodded in approval—classic Master.
“Ah, one thing.”
Karin halted her exit, facing Serena.
“Dragon Star's child.”
“...Yes?”
“One bit of advice.”
Serena gazed expectantly. Karin smirked.
“Plenty of good men out there. Choose wisely.”
“...!”
Karin swept away. Serena's face blazed crimson, shock plain.
N-no... not like that...
Seong Hyun-jin prodded.
“What? Got a boyfriend?”
“...N-no!”
“Figures. Friendless you with a boyfriend...”
Smack!!
Irked beyond endurance, Serena's fist floored him anew.