The Sage's Protégé Revealed
Several hours earlier.
Chung Hak Gwan was suddenly thrown into emergency mode.
Kun, the great sage of the Shinseon Butterfly clan! He had made an abrupt visit to the academy.
Though known as the reclusive great sage, in a premier research institution like Chung Hak Gwan on the Abian Continent, he was practically a monumental figure.
"Kun is coming tomorrow?"
Dean Mandara was in a meeting with Academic Affairs Director Jiruin and Admissions Director Susei when the news hit. She shot up from her seat.
"This suddenly?"
A flurry of expressions crossed her face—surprise, bewilderment, joy, and more. It was only natural.
To Mandara, Kun was as good as a master.
"Jiruin, Susei! Prepare to welcome Master."
"Yes, understood."
"We'll get right on it."
They responded with utmost sincerity.
But why would that elder come here out of the blue? Susei wondered inwardly.
Kun had been in seclusion so long even his face was a vague memory. No clue why he'd break his isolation now.
Eh, whatever. Just do what the boss says.
More important than reasons was impressing the dean by greeting Kun flawlessly tomorrow.
"It's been three years since I last saw Master... I've been too neglectful," Mandara muttered self-deprecatingly.
Kun lived in the Riandri Mountains, not Moon Paper Forest, but she could have visited. She'd made annual courtesy calls before, but busyness had kept her away for three years now.
Maybe he was coming in person out of disappointment in her.
"Darwin, did Master hint at the purpose of his visit?"
"Ah! He mentioned wanting to see the dean's face after so long—and the face of the friend he sponsors."
"...!"
Mandara, Susei, and Jiruin all froze in shock.
"His... sponsor is here at our academy?"
"Yes! Someone who just entered Chung Hak Gwan—he's coming to check if they're being educated properly."
Mandara shot a look at Admissions Director Susei.
"Director Susei, any new trainees from Moon Paper Forest among this batch?"
"Uh... I'll have to check."
Mandara's face darkened.
"Shouldn't you have records of every trainee's background?"
"My apologies, Dean! Must've slipped. I'll compile and report back ASAP."
Susei bowed, face flushed.
Damn it! Kun's protégé here? I didn't see anyone connected when I checked...
He'd survived kickbacks thanks to solid work—and thorough vetting of applicants' histories to avoid slip-ups.
No Moon Paper Forest links in this batch, as far as he recalled.
"I'll go verify now."
"Report back quickly."
"Yes, ma'am."
Susei bowed at ninety degrees and bolted from the dean's office, straight to admissions.
"Everyone, focus! Check new trainees for any Moon Paper Forest ties—now!"
The office buzzed at the sudden order.
Shuffle shuffle—
Papers rustled everywhere.
"No matches in this batch, sir!"
"Damn it!"
Susei gnawed his lower lip.
See? He hadn't missed anything.
Maybe an earlier cohort?
Unlikely. Then...
"Emergency assembly—all new trainees to the auditorium!"
* * *
"What the hell?"
"They can't just cut into rest time."
"Ugh... woke me up, pissing me off."
The new trainees grumbled as they filed into the auditorium.
"Hello, new trainees. I'm Admissions Director Susei. You saw my face during admissions, right?"
"Yeah."
Grudging responses.
The director held high authority at Chung Hak Gwan—but not over everyone. Many trainees hailed from elite clans.
"Haha... Sorry for interrupting your rest without notice. I'll personally give each of you one mile as compensation."
"Ooh!"
"Now that's different."
"Love a surprise like this!"
Indeed, the power of miles—Chung Hak Gwan's currency—was immense. Just one freebie softened the irritated mood.
Even I felt better. Earning a single mile wasn't easy.
What luck. I had just two left to hit fifty.
"I called you here for one thing: confirmation. Anyone who studied at Moon Paper Forest, even briefly—raise a hand?"
They blinked around, no hands up.
Tremble.
Susei's eye twitched.
Unexpected. He'd thought direct questioning would uncover it.
"No one? No one who studied—or even briefly learned—at Moon Paper Forest?"
Still silence.
Makes sense. Moon Paper Forest was a shaman's paradise—hard to access, and only shamans went.
This cohort had fewer than ten shamans, all looking clueless.
"Anyone who just passed through Moon Paper Forest?"
Squeezed eyes, but...
"..."
Dead quiet.
Hm, why the hunt?
My eyes narrowed as I watched. It concerned me.
I'd stopped at Moon Paper Forest before coming here to meet Kun.
I pondered revealing it.
No real downside.
Background checks would show it anyway. No reason to hide.
I raised my hand.
"Uh... Aleck, right? You visited Moon Paper Forest?"
Susei whipped around beaming—then soured spotting me.
"Yes, briefly."
"For what?"
"Personal business... Why do you ask?"
"Hm..."
Susei clicked his tongue softly.
"No ties to Elder Kun of the Shinseon Butterfly clan, I assume?"
His voice drained of life.
Kun's the reason.
I saw why the rush, answering flatly.
"A slight connection."
"Yeah, of course not... What?"
Susei's eyes bulged like saucers, gaze snapping back despite glancing elsewhere.
* * *
The next morning dawned.
Chung Hak Gwan buzzed chaotically. Cleaning spell arrays hummed everywhere; dormant exterior formations blazed to life, adorning the grounds.
"Why the frenzy today?"
"Kun of the Shinseon Butterfly clan is coming."
"The guy Admissions blabbed about yesterday? Who is he?"
"You don't know Kun?"
"First time hearing."
Some didn't know him—an elder from generations past.
"They called him a continental sage..."
"No way? Sage title means top-tier."
"Heard the dean studied under him."
"Whoa..."
The academy erupted in chatter.
Then Kun's arrival neared. Everyone—from dean to staff—waited antennae twitching.
Fwaaaah!
A golden unidentified object streaked from the sky toward Chung Hak Gwan.
"What—what is that!"
"Attack?"
"Attack? It's Kun!"
Thud—.
A pair of antennae atop his head, two ornate golden wings, golden fur cloaking his body.
Classic primalized Shinseon Butterfly form. The radiant gold aura marked an ultimate body shaman.
Anyone knowing the clan would peg it as Kun.
"Welcome, Master."
"It's been ages, Elder. I trust you're well."
Mandara led the high ranks in a courteous bow to the flashy arrival.
"Whoa... they're bowing like that. Must be a big deal."
"Feel that ether wave from here? Body's tingling. No joke..."
"Living legend for real."
Admiration rippled everywhere.
"Aleck knows that guy?"
"How?"
Some recalled yesterday's auditorium scene. Hard to buy Aleck tied to such a legend.
A young mantis and Shinseon Butterfly? Zero overlap.
"Hmph... probably bumped into him once," muttered Hoover of the hornet clan, scoffing.
He'd sharpened his grudge since my external training first place.
His logic held; nods and doubts spread.
Then Kun waved toward the new trainees.
"Whoa, Kun's greeting us?"
"Us? Nah, waving at Aleck."
"No way, that close?"
"Young mantis sneaks into Chung Hak Gwan... ultimate connections."
Gazes swarmed me.
Especially Hoover—lip bit, eyes quivering. Struggling to process.
"Aleck... you're really tight with Kun?"
"A bit."
"Whoa, insane."
Even Katt beside me gaped, hand over mouth.
By rank, no one here reached Kun's shadow.
His friendly wave? Jaw-dropping for those in the know.
"Gotta step away briefly."
* * *
After the welcome, a secretary guided me to the dean's office.
"Aleck, long time no see!"
"Indeed. Hope you've been well."
"Haha, thanks to you."
Kun looked unchanged from last time. His complexion even brighter—likely Titanoptera's seal easing.
"Pleased to meet you. First time? I'm Dean Mandara."
"Pleasure, Dean."
Post-Kun greeting, Mandara approached.
First sight of Chung Hak Gwan's dean—both times. Ulysses swallowtail butterfly clan mark under her ear. Younger than expected; unbelievable without the title.
"But... Master, what exactly is your relation to trainee Aleck?"
"Relation... Aleck and I share a deep bond."
"Deep...?"
Mandara's eyes sparkled at Kun's words.