Exchange Student (1)
Owing to Karin's prodding, Seong Hyun-jin had no choice but to watch each instructor's swordsmanship one by one and point out areas for improvement.
Someone was watching Hyun-jin from afar with keen interest. She was so adept at concealing her presence that even Hyun-jin, with his sharp aura sense, hadn't noticed her.
Her deeply golden blonde hair cascaded like waves, draping over her voluptuous figure. The woman licked her lips secretly as she observed Hyun-jin.
"Definitely... a talent worth coveting." She looked as if she wanted to scout him right then and there.
While it wasn't unheard of for one academy to poach students from another, it rarely happened at Terastial Academy. To scout successfully, you'd need to offer better terms, but few institutions could match the curriculum or conditions of Terastial, one of the world's top academies.
"What are you skulking around here for?"
Though even Hyun-jin hadn't sensed her, the Sword Star was different. Karin detected the woman's presence instantly and appeared before her.
Karin acknowledged that Hyun-jin's aura sense surpassed her own, but there was a reason she had spotted what he missed.
"...My, you startled me. When did you arrive?"
"'Tis thy dull senses at fault, Divine Star."
The two knew each other well. The one covertly watching Hyun-jin was Shania, the Divine Star who led Celestial Academy, Terastial's fiercest rival.
Like the Demon Star Eleonora, she headed an academy while holding the rank of Palstar Hero.
"So why art thou here?"
Suspicious of her presence at a rival academy, Karin pressed her. Shania waved dismissively, urging her not to be wary.
"Lady Karin, no need for such caution. I had no intention of harming your disciple."
"I asked why thou art here—what nonsense is this? Of course thou wouldn't harm him."
Karin's tone was icy.
"Unless thou hast a death wish."
"...You seem quite fond of your disciple. And Lady Karin, I came to Terastial Academy perfectly legitimately."
"Legitimately? The Demon Star would never permit the head of Celestial Academy to visit."
"True, under normal circumstances. But today..."
Shania cupped her ample bosom with both arms, speaking with bold confidence.
"...there's good reason, and even Eleonora couldn't refuse my visit."
"...?"
Karin eyed her quizzically, and Shania explained succinctly.
"It's about the exchange student."
"Exchange student? Isn't that just a formality to show superficial goodwill between our academies?"
Karin tilted her head.
"What reason would the headmistress have to visit in person for such a thing?"
"You know more than I expected, Lady Karin. It's mostly ceremonial, as you say, but the student we sent here is a precious talent."
Shania spoke as if the student were of utmost importance.
"I want to take her back right after midterms, so I came to discuss it with Eleonora."
"I see. But can an exchange student leave before completing even a semester?"
"That's the rule, but as I said, she's vital... so I'm here to expedite it. The student we sent is valuable to us, but yours is equally precious to Terastial—no reason to refuse, right?"
Karin understood, yet something struck her as odd.
"If so, why not keep her longer? Having a rival academy's talent around isn't so bad."
"I'd love to, but..."
Shania sighed wistfully, shaking her head.
"...she's more willful than I imagined. Honestly, handling her for a full semester would be tough."
"A bit of pressure should tame her."
"Not this one. She's from the Apocalipse family."
"......"
Karin's eyes widened at the family name.
The Apocalipse family belonged to no nation, yet their influence spanned the world. Its members held key positions in economies, finance, military, and politics everywhere, manipulating global affairs.
Of course, nations would have expelled them long ago if they overstepped, but the Apocalipses were exceptionally competent, excelling in their roles. That was why an unaffiliated family wielded such power—nations couldn't afford not to utilize their talents.
Thus, they assumed critical duties across countries, receiving treatment akin to top nobility. Even the Empire, perpetually at war with neighbors, accorded them respect. Their most famous moniker was "Nobles of the World."
"Apocalipse, eh? That would make her tricky. But they're not known for raising brats—why call her willful?"
"Most Apocalipses I've met are like that, but she's... a bit unique?"
"Late bloomer puberty, perhaps."
"Who knows. Anyway, that's why I'm here to end the exchange early."
Karin nodded, satisfied with the explanation, and asked no more. Shania gazed at her quietly before broaching another topic.
"By the way, Lady Karin, you seem even more beautiful than before."
"Foolish words. Thinkest thou this master hath changed?"
"Hm, my mistake? It's been twenty years since we last met."
"...But Shania, why hast thou not aged?"
Karin cocked her head curiously.
"Eleonora has her doll excuse, but thou shouldst age normally."
"Rigorous self-care, diet, and treatments."
"...?"
Karin knew what she meant—as a transmigrator, she was aware of how female celebrities from her old world barely aged. But even they showed some changes; they could delay inevitable decay and maintain looks, but not halt it entirely—unless, like her or Eleonora, there was a special reason.
Yet Shania appeared utterly unchanged. Puzzled, Karin studied her closely and soon found the answer.
"...Thy words are all true, indeed."
"Of course."
"Save for one omission."
"......Pardon?"
In a flash too quick for Shania to react, Karin brushed her finger across Shania's cheek.
Shania flinched in surprise.
"L-Lady Karin? What are you—"
Ignoring her, Karin examined the powder on her fingertip.
"Tch, how thickly hast thou caked it? Knowest thou this kills the skin?"
The final secret to Shania's youth was makeup—expertly applied, thick yet flawlessly natural.
"Learned from a mermaid, perchance? 'Tis a divine art in itself."
"Ugh...! Please keep this from Eleonora, Lady Karin...!"
"Hmph."
"Master, were you here?"
Just then, Hyun-jin approached, having finished advising the instructors. He eyed Shania beside Karin.
"Who might this be?"
"The Divine Star."
Shania shot Karin a look suggesting more explanation was needed, but Karin offered none.
Hyun-jin looked stunned.
"Divine Star? One of the Palstar Heroes, like you, Master?"
"Aye."
Composing herself, Shania smiled warmly and greeted him.
"Pleased to meet you, young disciple. I am Shania, the Divine Star among the Palstar Heroes and head of Celestial Academy. And your name?"
"Seong Hyun-jin. I'm a first-year in Terastial Academy's Combat Department."
His introduction was textbook polite. Shania thought it fitting for Karin's disciple, but Karin herself found her usually bold pupil oddly subdued.
"Disciple."
"Yes?"
"No reaction to the Divine Star?"
"Your unworthy disciple fails to grasp your meaning, Master. What reaction should I show?"
"Well..."
Karin knew Hyun-jin was mad for her type: large breasts, slim waist, wide hips. His friend, Ahajaka's daughter—who seemed smitten with him—fit the bill too. So she'd expected a similar response to Shania, whose youthful allure and sensual figure rivaled her own.
Yet Hyun-jin was utterly serene—disinterested, even. A question mark over Karin's head wouldn't have been amiss.
Misreading her reaction, Hyun-jin belatedly realized.
"Ah, was my response to a Palstar Hero too bland? I'm ignorant of worldly reputations, so the title doesn't ring many bells. I'd appreciate your understanding."
"Huhu, that's fine. I heard Lady Karin raised you in the mountains."
Shania brushed it off graciously. Hyun-jin glanced at Karin for approval. Though her doubt lay elsewhere—and she couldn't voice it before Shania—she let it pass.
"...'Tis nothing."
Hyun-jin, puzzled but seeing her drop it, shifted topics.
"So what brings the Divine Star here? If I recall, you head another academy, yes?"
Shania explained it concerned the exchange student. Hyun-jin looked surprised.
"Senior Yeonhui?"
"Oh? You know Yeonhui?"
Now Karin realized who Shania meant to retrieve—she'd crossed paths with Yeonhui before.
"Yes, we're fairly close."
"To think Yeonhui has such a fine friend—I'm delighted as her guardian."
"Her guardian?"
"Yeonhui's a transmigrator, right? Her abilities are exceptional, but she struggled to adapt at first, wasting her gifts. I took her under my wing."
Hyun-jin nodded, mildly shocked a Palstar Hero would mentor her—but Yeonhui's talents made it plausible.
Karin recalled their prior encounter.
"So that child was a transmigrator too. Her name resembled my disciple's—I wondered."
"Ah, you said your disciple's a reincarnator? Perhaps they lived near each other in their past lives."
"Exactly. Senior Yeonhui's original world is where I lived in my past life."
"Really? She must have been thrilled."
"Pardon?"
As Hyun-jin queried, Shania clarified casually.
"You're from the same region, aren't you?"
"Ah, that's what you meant."
Shania's phrasing had misled him momentarily into thinking otherwise, but her next words revealed the truth.
"Yes, Yeonhui suffers severe homesickness. She adores anything from her homeland."
"...Homesickness?"
Terastial Academy's Religious District. Oddly, a chapel here was entrusted to a single student.
This stemmed from Celestial Academy's demand during exchanges: provide a chapel for their student.
It seemed unreasonable at first, but Terastial's Eleonora readily agreed—she knew the exchange student's identity well.
"...Haa, Lord."
Celestial Academy's top prodigy and a candidate for Holy Nation's next Pope—the "Saintess."
"I know my heart must always turn to You, but please understand I cannot help it."
It was Yeonhui. Alone in her chapel, she prayed to the Lord.
But the content was peculiar.
"No, You sent him to me knowing You'd understand. A compatriot... such a wonderful man before me—You must know I'd fall for him, so You sent him."
She rationalized her feelings as divine will, justifying her affection since God had "arranged" it.
Releasing her clasped hands, Yeonhui brought one to her lips, nibbling her index finger as her cheeks flushed crimson.
She exhaled hot breath, squirming sensually.
"Haa, I saw him just yesterday, but I can't wait already......"
Her other hand drifted downward, past her abdomen, toward the soft juncture of her thighs.
"I miss you, Junior... ♥"