Exchange Student (3)
Yeonhui, the mistress of the chapel, flashed a bright smile as if her cold expression had never been there. She turned to Seong Hyun-jin and asked, “Junior Hyun-jin, what brings this on?”
“Senior Ciela said she had something she wanted to talk about, so I figured I'd hear her out.”
“Oh, I see.”
Yeonhui cheerfully opened the door. “Please, come in.”
“I hope we're not imposing?”
“Not at all. No one comes here outside of worship hours anyway.”
Seong Hyun-jin nodded and followed Yeonhui inside. He beckoned to Ciela, who seemed strangely hesitant. “Senior, come on in.”
“...Fine.”
With no choice, Ciela followed Seong Hyun-jin into the chapel.
Yeonhui turned to him with a benevolent smile. “Should I step out?”
“That'd be great, thanks. Oh, and no eavesdropping like last time. It's Senior Ciela's secret talk.”
“A secret?”
“...It's not really a secret, Junior.”
Ciela lightly denied Seong Hyun-jin's words, though he made it sound like there was something juicy.
“Then I can stay?”
“Well...”
“See? It is a secret.”
It was true in a way, but there was nothing particularly secretive about it. Ciela just didn't feel like sharing with anyone but Seong Hyun-jin.
“Looks like that's how it is, Senior Yeonhui.”
“Senior Ciela must have a lot on her mind.”
Yeonhui smiled warmly as she said it. “Once you're done, Junior, could you hear my story like last time?”
Seong Hyun-jin nodded readily to her request. He'd just heard she was heading back soon, so a small favor like this was no trouble.
But Ciela, standing nearby, reacted to one part. “Like last time...?”
Like last time. Meaning this wasn't the first time Seong Hyun-jin and Yeonhui had talked alone.
The moment that image formed in Ciela's mind, her expression hardened coldly—as was only natural.
Noticing Ciela's reaction, Yeonhui simply smiled quietly.
...What's with these two?
Seong Hyun-jin sensed the subtle tension between them and felt puzzled.
“Senior Yeonhui, for now, it's my time, so could you give us some space?”
“...Of course, Senior Ciela.”
Yeonhui seemed ready to comply, but she added a jab as if to check her. “It's intriguing that there's a story too hard to share with others but fine for Junior Hyun-jin. Enjoy your little secret chat, and then it's my turn after?”
“......”
Yeonhui and Ciela traded sharp barbs laced with menace, glaring at each other. Sparks seemed to fly between their gazes.
Seeing the two guard each other so fiercely, Seong Hyun-jin alternated looks with a baffled expression.
Do they have that much to talk about with me?
His thinking was utterly straightforward. He hadn't even considered that both women might harbor feelings for him.
Daniel had once told him that good looks were all that mattered and everything else was secondary, but even that felt wrong after seeing Karin's utter disinterest.
Interpreting people's actions through that lens, Seong Hyun-jin couldn't grasp why the two were clashing.
“Or we could all talk together...”
“No way.”
“Absolutely not.”
Rejected outright by both, Seong Hyun-jin scratched his cheek awkwardly.
The atmosphere was so tense that he decided to change the subject. “Oh, Senior Yeonhui.”
“Yes?”
“Did you hear? You're heading back to Celestial Academy.”
Yeonhui's expression changed dramatically at his words. The wariness toward Ciela vanished as she reacted in shock to the news. “Junior, what do you mean? The exchange program isn't over yet. Midterms are just around the corner...”
“I ran into the Celestial Academy headmaster earlier.”
“Shania?”
Seong Hyun-jin nodded at her question. “She said she'd discuss taking you back right after midterms with Headmaster Eleonora.”
“......”
“Guess you hadn't heard.”
Yeonhui nodded slightly and said with a faintly sorrowful look, “...I see. So I have to go back.”
“Don't be too bummed. Even if you return to Celestial Academy, we'll cross paths again.”
Yeonhui gazed at him softly at his comfort. “You think so?”
“Why not?”
“......”
She just smiled at his blunt reply. Then she addressed Seong Hyun-jin and Ciela. “Talk it out. I need to see Headmaster Shania for a bit. Could you lock up when you leave?”
“Where's the key?”
“Over there.”
A key hung on one wall of the chapel. Seong Hyun-jin acknowledged it. “Got it, Senior. But about hearing you out after Ciela...”
“We'll do that later. I need to look into the news you brought.”
“Ah, okay.”
Yeonhui left first. Gone was the bold woman who hadn't backed down from Ciela; her shoulders slumped slightly as she walked away.
“...Did I mess up by telling her?”
“Nah, it's better to know ahead of time.”
Ciela replied, “It's surprising she's going back so soon, though. Exchanges are usually a full semester.”
“Yeah, I don't know the reason either.”
“Something must be up. I don't know much about Celestial Academy stuff.”
Seong Hyun-jin pondered Yeonhui briefly at Ciela's words, then decided to get on with it. “So, what did you want to say?”
“Oh, right. Listen up, Junior.”
Ciela sat with Seong Hyun-jin in the chapel and began chattering away hesitantly at first.
Wondering what it could be, Seong Hyun-jin listened closely—only to realize it was just everyday gripes.
But that didn't make him want to tune her out. Seeing this human side of her made Ciela Teraport feel even more approachable than before.
Even geniuses are just people, huh.
The fact that Ciela Teraport—even acknowledged as a once-in-a-generation genius by the Palstar Heroes—was just one person. Reaffirming that simple truth, Seong Hyun-jin listened patiently to her cute complaints to the end.
#
“I wondered what urgent business required a formal visit request out of the blue.”
Terastial Academy's headmaster, Eleonora, was furrowing her brow unusually as she dealt with someone. The fact that she faced them in her true form—not her doll body as an old man—revealed they knew each other well.
“Demanding we send the exchange student back early, just like that?”
And unusually for Eleonora, who spoke politely to most, she addressed them casually.
As if accustomed to her reaction, the visitor casually brushed back her golden hair. “Yeah, because handling your wild student is getting tough.”
It was Shania, headmaster of rival Celestial Academy and the Divine Star.
Unlike her formal speech to others, she spoke casually only to Eleonora.
Shania explained the exchange student's issues and requested ending the program early this year.
“Wild? What's wrong with Elena Apocalips?”
“No matter how much I dislike it, she keeps trying unauthorized stuff. Last time, she applied for field training and went hunting beasts alone, then wrecked the training grounds on her own...”
Eleonora snorted at Shania's explanation. “Hmph, sounds like Celestial Academy's conservative curriculum is stifling her future again.”
“...What?”
“And the training grounds are just inadequate on your end. That never happened when Elena was at our academy.”
“That's because you built them!”
Terastial Academy's training facilities had all been designed with Eleonora's direct involvement as the Demon Star. Naturally, they outclassed any other academy's in every way.
Shania protested as if it was absurd. Eleonora immediately pounced on her slip. “Oh? So you're admitting my skills after all? Why didn't you say so sooner? I could've taken a look at Celestial Academy's facilities.”
“...!”
The Demon Star Eleonora and Divine Star Shania were long-time rivals and prickly friends.
Even before becoming Palstar Heroes, they'd been the top talents in spirit magic and divine spirit arts, the same age and from the same academy. Competition was inevitable.
That rivalry from childhood had evolved into a pride-fueled feud, the root of their ongoing enmity.
There was reason behind Eleonora's casual speech toward Shania alone—and vice versa.
Having unwittingly given her ammo, Shania denied it. “When did I admit that? I just meant other spirit mages are inferior, so your facilities are a bit lacking.”
“So you're admitting it's not the student's fault, but your facilities?”
“...That's not the only issue. And there's one more reason.”
“If it's more about Elena, save it. It'll be the same story.”
“No, this is about Yeonhui.”
Shania sighed deeply, signaling a different matter. “The Holy Kingdom doesn't want her here.”
“......”
Eleonora fell silent this time, no retort, ready to hear her out.
“As you know, Yeonhui's a big deal in the Holy Kingdom.”
“...Next pope candidate?”
“Right. The Holy Kingdom's pope isn't hereditary—the one closest to 'god' in their generation becomes the next.”
Shania continued, “In that sense, Yeonhui's closer to god than anyone this era. You know her power, right?”
Yeonhui kept it secret from other students, but academy headmasters like Eleonora naturally knew.
Through the blessing from her transmigration, she wielded true divine power.
Eleonora summarized, “The people aren't thrilled about a next-pope candidate lingering in the Magic Kingdom?”
“Exactly. We never announced the exchange publicly, but academy students found out. Can't exactly gag them.”
Shania went on, “Word spread gradually to the public. They weren't happy, and the higher-ups in the Holy Kingdom, gauging the mood, told us to bring her back quick.”
Eleonora sighed softly. “...I get the situation, but it doesn't sound mandatory.”
“True, but giving them this saves face. Ending the exchange early doesn't hurt you or Terastial Academy.”
As Shania said, there was no loss. If anything, getting top third-year Elena Apocalips back sooner benefited them.
But Eleonora didn't agree rashly. She checked first. “Did you ask Yeonhui herself before telling me?”
“Not yet, but... do we need to? She'd prefer her home turf anyway.”
“Then go ask.”
Eleonora smirked, interlocking her fingers and propping her chin. “Our academy's policy is to let students do what they want as much as possible.”
“...Ugh, do you have to be so stubborn?”
“Yup. So ask Yeonhui first.”
Eleonora stated firmly to prevent later backtracking. “If she doesn't want to, the exchange proceeds as planned.”
“...What a model educator. No way she'd say that. What's so great about here with no friends or acquaintances?”
Shania sighed in frustration. “Just ask and report back. No changing your tune later.”
“Sure. Ideally, bring her here and have her tell me herself.”
“No need for—”
“Please do.”
A third voice cut in as the headmaster's office door opened. Shockingly, the subject of their talk entered.
“Let me speak here.”
It was Yeonhui.