Hakodate Karin, the Sword Saint, gazed at the sky with a peculiar feeling.

‘The weather is nice.’

Normally, she’d be overseeing her disciple’s training at this hour, but today, there was no need.

Her disciple had already left the dilapidated mountain hut, heading to the Terrestrial Academy in the Magic Nation, following the admission recommendation.

This was the quiet solitude Karin had once desired. She had secluded herself on this high mountain to live away from people, cherishing her alone time.

Yet, the emptiness left by her disciple’s absence tugged at her heart. It was proof of how deeply he had become a part of her life.

‘…Cheeky brat.’

Karin lit her pipe, filled with dried fireweed, and took a drag. A colorless, odorless smoke drifted into the air, mirroring the hollow feeling in her chest.

‘…Tch.’

Suddenly exasperated, Karin tossed the pipe with a flick. It flew through the air, but astonishingly, a magic circle appeared at its trajectory, and someone materialized.

*Thwack!*

‘Kyaa!’

The pipe struck the forehead of the newcomer with precision. The woman, clutching her forehead, glared at Karin with a tearful expression.

‘What are you doing, Karin-sama!? Throwing something hot like that out of nowhere!?’

The silver-haired woman who appeared out of thin air pointed at the pipe, protesting loudly. Karin narrowed her eyes and snapped at the uninvited guest.

‘I’m the one who should be asking what *you’re* doing here, Magic Star.’

The Magic Star, Eleonora.

One of the Eight Star Heroes, like Karin, and the foremost authority on spirit magic.

That was the identity of the intruder.

She had earned her title as one of the Eight Star Heroes after saving countless lives during a great flood in the Magic Nation.

She was also the head of Terrestrial Academy, where Karin’s sole disciple had gone.

As fellow Eight Star Heroes, a visit wasn’t entirely unexpected, but Karin was visibly displeased.

‘I told you not to come here uninvited. I overlooked you leaving that recommendation letter, and now you barge in openly?’

As Karin growled, Eleonora gestured for her to calm down.

‘Please, calm down a bit, Karin-sama.’

‘Calm down? You show up unannounced and have the nerve to tell *me* to calm down?’

‘I’ll apologize for coming uninvited, but why not hear me out? You gave my recommendation letter to your only disciple, so you don’t think too poorly of our academy, do you?’

Karin’s beautiful face twisted into a slight frown. Even her furrowed brow looked like a work of art, but Eleonora had no time to admire it.

A chilling killing intent washed over her. Sweating nervously under Karin’s wrath, Eleonora stammered.

‘Y-you don’t need to get *that* angry, do you?’

‘Get to the point. If you waste my time with nonsense, I’ll kick you out.’

‘So impatient…’

Eleonora grumbled but quickly spoke up as Karin’s frown deepened.

‘Would you consider coming to our academy as a swordsmanship advisor?’

‘…What kind of nonsense is that?’

Karin waved her hand dismissively.

‘You think I’d do something like that?’

‘I know it’s a long shot.’

‘You know that and still say it?’

‘But, Karin-sama, you sent your disciple to our academy. Don’t you want to see him? Watch him grow day by day?’

‘…’

Karin’s reaction was subtle, but she didn’t outright reject it, suggesting Eleonora’s words were getting through.

Seizing the chance, Eleonora launched into a rapid pitch.

‘I’m not asking you to teach. Nor am I daring to ask you to share your swordsmanship. Just come as an advisor, watch your disciple grow from the sidelines. You don’t even have to do much! Just check if the instructors are teaching properly. That’s it! Simple, right?’

Karin stared at Eleonora, dumbfounded by her rapid-fire speech, and retorted coolly.

‘Feeling pressured by Celestial Academy lately, huh?’

‘!’

Eleonora’s expression confirmed Karin had hit the mark. Karin let out a dry laugh. Even if she went as an advisor, not teaching anyone, the name of an Eight Star Hero carried weight.

Though Karin’s fame had faded somewhat after twenty years of seclusion, her reputation as the Sword Saint still held immense prestige among swordsmen.

Her mere presence at the academy would undoubtedly draw those pursuing the path of the sword to Terrestrial Academy.

Karin teased Eleonora.

‘If you’d asked honestly, I might’ve considered it.’

‘…Fine, yes! We’re feeling the heat!’

‘I didn’t think you were lagging behind. Did something happen?’

‘Celestial Academy invited the Sage Star, and he accepted!’

Karin was slightly surprised by the news and tilted her head.

‘What’s that old man doing at an academy?’

‘I don’t know! Maybe Shania seduced him with her lewd figure…’

‘That old man isn’t the type to fall for that.’

‘…Exactly. That’s why it’s so baffling.’

‘So you’re inviting me to keep up with their name value.’

Eleonora nodded without denying it. Karin studied her quietly, then asked.

‘As an advisor, would I need to stay at the academy constantly?’

‘No, not at all! Just show your face at the entrance ceremony and maybe at special events.’

‘What about evaluating the instructors?’

‘I said that, but it’s not a big deal. I personally interviewed and selected them. They’re all elites.’

Eleonora spoke confidently, and Karin gave a light smile.

‘You, with a head full of magic, think you know enough about swords to pick instructors?’

‘…I know a bit, okay? I got advice from others too.’

‘Is that so?’

Eleonora glanced at Karin cautiously, then asked.

‘You’ve been asking a lot of questions. Are you actually considering it?’

‘Didn’t you ask me to come?’

‘Wait, you’re really coming?’

Instead of answering, Karin gestured for the pipe. Eleonora respectfully handed it back.

‘I owe you a debt.’

Lighting the pipe and taking a long drag, Karin exhaled and said.

‘So I’ll lend my name.’

‘Really? No takebacks!’

‘I won’t. But as an advisor, I can come and go freely, right?’

‘Of course, Karin-sama.’

‘Good.’

Karin glanced at the sky, picturing her disciple’s face, already missed. With that, she accepted Eleonora’s proposal.

‘I’ll do it.’

*

Terrestrial Academy, the most prestigious academy in the Magic Nation, stood alongside Celestial Academy in the Holy Nation as one of the only two continent-recognized educational institutions and the largest of its kind.

At the academy’s entrance, known as the Gatehouse, a checkpoint was bustling. Though usually busy, today it was packed to the brim.

‘Next, please.’

It was the day for submitting admission applications. Talented individuals from across the land had gathered, making the crowd inevitable.

Noble heirs, disciples of famed mercenaries, successors of renowned swordsmanship schools—such talents were everywhere.

Among them, a few naturally drew attention.

‘Look, that person…’

All eyes turned to one individual.

A woman with dazzling platinum blonde hair and crimson eyes stood out.

But it wasn’t her beauty that captivated the crowd—it was the dragon horns protruding from either side of her head.

‘Dragon horns? Could it be…?’

No one failed to recognize her. Only one person in this world, born of a dragon who fell in love with a human instead of their own kind, bore such features.

‘The daughter of the Dragon Star!?’

‘She’s enrolling with us?’

The Dragon Star, one of the Eight Star Heroes.

And this stunning young woman was his daughter, Serena Eldark, the Dragon Princess.

Though her demeanor seemed cold, her dignified eyes, sharp jawline, and slender, elegant figure turned her icy presence into a unique aura.

‘Her presence alone feels noble. So refined.’

‘As expected of the Dragon Star’s daughter…’

The crowd marveled at her appearance and aura, praising her beauty.

Yet, contrary to their impressions, Serena sighed under the weight of their gazes.

‘…These stares are too much.’

Despite her fame as the Dragon Star’s daughter, Serena found such attention burdensome. The expectations and responsibilities tied to her father’s renown felt like shackles.

If only she could embrace the pressure, but unlike her cold exterior, Serena’s personality was fragile, closer to timid.

The atmosphere here was suffocating. Strangers recognizing her and projecting their expectations was unbearable.

The curiosity about Serena Eldark as an individual, mixed with expectations for the Dragon Star’s daughter’s talents, weighed heavily on her delicate shoulders.

Overwhelmed, Serena lowered her head, filling out her application.

With each word she wrote, more eyes gathered. Her line grew shorter as people focused on her every move.

‘I need to finish this quickly and leave…’

But her trembling pen, slowed by tension, made the task agonizingly slow. Cold sweat dripped as she struggled with the simple form.

Even the academy staff just watched, waiting, aware she was the Dragon Star’s daughter.

If only they treated her like the others, she might relax, but this special treatment only added to her burden.

As Serena neared the halfway mark on her form, a voice interrupted.

‘Hey, still not done? Can I go first?’

‘…Pardon?’

Someone had approached her now-empty line.

A man with light green hair, shimmering like morning dew on grass, caught her eye. His hair and silvery-white eyes, along with his youthful appearance, hinted at elven blood.

‘A half-elf…’

Realizing he was a half-elf like her, Serena felt a slight ease. Though one of his parents was likely a different race, the shared heritage relaxed her.

His casual approach, treating her like anyone else rather than the Dragon Star’s daughter, further eased her nerves.

Slightly less tense, Serena pointed to her form.

‘Um… I just need to finish this.’

But to her surprise, the man sighed, glancing at her form.

‘I wondered why this line was empty. You’re taking forever, so everyone went elsewhere.’

Startled by his blunt remark, Serena worried he was annoyed at waiting and quickly apologized.

‘Oh, I’m… I’m sorry…’

‘I’m not the one waiting, so no need to apologize.’

‘Pardon?’

Then why point it out? Serena was confused.

Unfazed, the man repeated his earlier request.

‘So, if you’re not done, can I go first?’

Though taken aback, Serena nodded, recognizing his request as fair.

Satisfied, the man smiled and said.

‘You’re easier to talk to than I thought. In that case, can you take mine first?’

‘Yes, understood.’

Handing his form to the receptionist, the man grinned, clearly pleased. He glanced back at Serena.

‘Thanks for letting me go first!’

‘Pardon? Oh… sure.’

His earlier complaint about her taking too long, followed by gratitude, left Serena baffled.

As she puzzled over his attitude, the receptionist finished.

‘Application processed, Seong Hyun-jin-nim.’

Seong Hyun-jin.

Hearing a name that followed the naming conventions of another world, Serena was slightly surprised.

‘A Transmigrator?’

Most with such names were Transmigrators. But his appearance was clearly native to this world.

‘…No, a Reincarnator.’

He must be a Reincarnator using his past-life name, a practice Serena had heard of.

‘The entrance exam is tomorrow at 9 a.m. Please return then.’

‘Oh, it’s done already?’

‘Yes.’

‘This place is efficient. Top academies are different.’

Seong Hyun-jin gave the receptionist a thumbs-up. Though it seemed like he expected a response, the receptionist replied mechanically.

‘It’s not much different from other academies.’

‘Oh, really?’

‘Here’s your exam pass. Bring it tomorrow.’

Seong Hyun-jin scratched his head awkwardly, then looked at Serena.

‘See you tomorrow, then?’

‘Pardon? …Oh, right.’

‘Hope I don’t run into you tomorrow.’

‘What?’

Confused, Serena watched as he lightly patted the sword at his waist.

‘It’d hurt to see someone I know fail because of me…’

‘…?’

Serena’s mind filled with question marks.

Since when were they acquaintances? They’d just met.

And what did he mean by failing because of him? The Terrestrial Academy’s entrance exam didn’t involve sparring between applicants.

‘Um, what do you…’

‘See you tomorrow!’

Before she could ask, Seong Hyun-jin waved casually and left like the wind, just as he’d appeared.

Serena stared blankly at the spot he’d been, muttering in confusion.

‘What… what was that guy…?’