Nursing (1)
“……Yes.”
Shania had no choice but to acknowledge Seong Hyun-jin’s claim that he had made contact. Though all he’d grazed was the hem of her sleeve and a lock of her hair, she knew he’d targeted those spots deliberately. Aiming for her body directly might have caused her serious injury. His sword had undoubtedly cleaved through her Eden, and had he aimed properly, Shania’s body wouldn’t have emerged unscathed. She knew he’d intentionally pulled the strike to avoid that, but with hair actually touched, she couldn’t call it invalid.
A first-year student already…
Shania was deeply shocked inside. The swordsmanship Seong Hyun-jin had just employed was one she’d seen before. Long ago. About twenty-five years back, when she was still a teenage girl. A powerful, noble strike she’d witnessed from Karin during a chance encounter. And now, it was manifesting not from Karin’s hand, but another’s.
She already knew he was Karin’s disciple, but to think he could replicate the Sword Star Karin’s techniques so faithfully.
Shania picked up the severed tip of her hair. Her reaction was surprisingly gracious. One might expect the unparalleled Palstar Hero to feel indignant at showing an opening to a mere academy freshman, but Shania didn’t.
“…Congratulations.”
As the Archspirit Uriel’s form faded, Shania withdrew all her power.
“You pass the exam.”
Thinking Karin had raised a monstrous disciple, Shania praised Seong Hyun-jin and Yeonhui honestly.
“Impressive. Your teamwork was excellent, and each of you shone individually. Yeonhui’s blessing and Student Seong Hyun-jin’s swordsmanship were both superb on defense and offense.”
Yet despite her praise, there was no real response from the pair. Just as Shania sensed something off, someone brushed past her—like a cold winter gust.
Looking up, she realized the situation late and gasped in surprise.
“…Student Seong Hyun-jin?”
“…Tch.”
The one who’d passed was none other than Karin. She’d rushed over, cradling the one who’d landed a proper blow on Shania—limp as if all vitality had drained from his body.
Yeonhui, startled by Seong Hyun-jin’s sudden collapse, quickly summoned her blessing’s power.
“H-Hyun-jin junior!?”
But Karin blocked her. Calming the surprised Yeonhui, she explained simply.
“Don’t. It would only harm him now.”
“Pardon? Why….”
“This isn’t from injury.”
Karin stated flatly.
“Divine power won’t heal it. Infusing mismatched energy would just backfire.”
“Th-Then what should we….”
“Rest. That’s all. It’ll take a while, though.”
Karin glanced aside as she spoke. The King of Chaos hovered around the fallen contractor, fretting—or perhaps scheming. She found its behavior utterly pathetic.
“Hurry.”
Killing intent laced Karin’s voice. Spirits, as ethereal beings, typically ignored human malice, but hers was different; the King of Chaos looked up.
A cold, lethal voice slipped from her beautiful lips, directed at it.
“Begone.”
“…….”
At Karin’s command, the King of Chaos vanished. Karin, still holding Seong Hyun-jin, turned to leave.
Eleonora, who’d watched the exam, approached her.
“Lady Karin, use our academy’s recovery facilities—”
“Understood.”
Karin departed with Eleonora’s guidance. Yeonhui stared blankly at their retreating figures, then clenched her fists and pressed her chest.
“Hyun-jin junior….”
It pained her that she could help the injured with her power, yet couldn’t aid the one who’d fought for her.
Someone gently grasped Yeonhui’s twisted expression on her shoulder.
“It’s fine, Yeonhui.”
“…Pardon?”
“Student Seong Hyun-jin’s condition is temporary.”
During the fight, Shania had hinted at noticing the link between the King of Chaos and Seong Hyun-jin. And indeed, she had pieced some together.
“He overused spirit power, that’s all. As Lady Karin said, rest will restore him fully.”
“From overusing spirit power…? But he didn’t look like simple exhaustion. If it were, I could replenish his energy with my abilities….”
“It’s not that.”
Shania hesitated, then spoke since Yeonhui seemed so restless.
“Some spirits are like that. They lend power to contractors like others, but demand a wicked ‘price.’”
“……!”
Yeonhui stared at her in shock.
“Yes, what you’re thinking is right. Student Seong Hyun-jin probably…”
Shania said.
“…has contracted a vicious evil spirit.”
Where am I. Who am I.
Seong Hyun-jin floated leisurely in an unknown space. All around was pitch-black something, a liquid filling the void that let him swim freely. Like a whale, he savored the mysterious realm.
Suspicious as the darkness was, he breathed normally and moved freely, so he wasn’t worried. Thinking simply as always, he swam idly—
—when a voice echoed. Not in his ears, but stabbing into his brain. Seong Hyun-jin tilted his head. He wanted to ask who, but no sound came when he opened his mouth.
A somewhat androgynous, yet feminine voice bade him farewell.
With her parting words, the space brightened.
“……?”
As the faint voice murmured, Seong Hyun-jin’s eyes snapped open.
A strange ceiling filled his vision.
“…Did I reincarnate again?”
“As if.”
A familiar voice came from beside him. Radiant platinum blonde, red eyes, and the most distinctive dragon horns—features Seong Hyun-jin couldn’t forget unless amnesiac.
“Dragon girl.”
It was Serena Eldark. Unhappy with the nickname, she narrowed her eyes.
“…Hearing that after so long feels even worse.”
“Sorry, just excited.”
Seong Hyun-jin apologized promptly; Serena sighed lightly.
“Joking right after waking means you’re definitely fine.”
“But you being here… Did you nurse me, Serena?”
“Nurse?”
Serena gave him an odd look, then grumbled slightly.
“…I wanted to, but someone beat me to it.”
“Huh?”
“I arrived just before. Heard about the hospitalization from the instructor this morning.”
Seong Hyun-jin tilted his head. Then why was she alone? Reading his doubt, Serena answered preemptively.
“I came to visit and took over for a bit. The one who nursed you was…”
Creak.
Then the hospital room door opened cautiously. A petite girl entered with a basin of water and clean towel.
Spotting Seong Hyun-jin awake, she exclaimed in surprise.
“J-Junior!?”
Realizing this cute, startled girl had nursed him, Seong Hyun-jin smiled lightly.
“Ah, so Senior Yeonhui was the one nursing me.”
“Wh-When did you wake!? How’s your body!? Any pain!?”
“Asking three at once…”
Seong Hyun-jin looked flustered; Serena explained.
“He just woke. No pain. Calm down.”
“Ah, good…”
Yeonhui sighed in relief, then glanced at Serena.
“Then, Serena junior, as I said, I need to wipe his sweat, so could you step out?”
“…I just got here too. Can’t I stay a bit longer?”
Serena sounded wistful, but Yeonhui’s reaction was strangely pointed.
“Pardon? Are you trying to hinder nursing junior?”
“No, not that…”
“Then you’ll step aside, right?”
Her gestures treated Serena like an intruder to shoo out.
“Senior Yeonhui, by any chance…”
“Serena, I’ll discharge soon anyway. See you tomorrow normally.”
“…….”
Clueless to Yeonhui’s attitude, Seong Hyun-jin chimed in; Serena couldn’t linger.
Feeling a bit miffed, she stood.
“…Got it. Tomorrow.”
“Yeah.”
Seong Hyun-jin’s light smile and wave melted her sulk away.
—You’re hopeless too.
Karin’s old words to her.
“…….”
She had to admit it herself.
As Serena left, Yeonhui turned to Seong Hyun-jin.
“Hyun-jin junior, sit for sweat wiping? Ah, back to me. I’ll do your back; you handle the rest.”
“Sweat?”
Just woken, in non-summer heat?
“Did I sweat?”
Seong Hyun-jin tilted his head; Yeonhui nodded.
“Yes, thrashing wildly? Sweating buckets…”
“…….”
He recalled leisurely swimming in the dream and went speechless. It had manifested physically?
“The doctor said check-up first if awake, no full wash. Wiping’s best.”
“…Then, please.”
“Yes.”
Seong Hyun-jin turned, doffing his top. Though rigorously trained by the Sword Star, growth issues kept his back from bulging muscles. Still, his build was fine—better than lanky guys for his size.
Yeonhui blanked briefly at the sight, then applied the towel.
“N-Not cold?”
“No, fine.”
As she wiped his back, Yeonhui said.
“Dean Shania approved my transfer. Some backlash, but she’ll handle it.”
“Ah, good.”
“Yes, thanks to you passing the exam.”
Wiping his shoulder blades, Yeonhui smiled faintly.
“Truly grateful.”
“No big. It was a promise.”
“…Not something to brush off as ‘just a promise.’”
She fell quiet; Seong Hyun-jin followed suit.
Finishing his back, Yeonhui stood abruptly.
“…Junior.”
“Yes?”
Creak. The bed tilted.
Yeonhui had climbed on.
“If okay, may I…”
Thud.
Startled, Seong Hyun-jin turned; Yeonhui pressed the towel to his chest.
“…reward you, junior.”
“……Reward?”
“Yes. Front too. And if you want…”
Pausing, her lips moved.
Her words made Seong Hyun-jin’s eyes widen.
“…that next, too.”