The Sparring Match Test (1)

“Excuse me.”

“Hmm…”

I stepped inside, uttering a polite greeting.

I looked up to survey the surroundings.

It had been a while since I last visited Professor Peng Jin-ah’s office.

The dark yet girlish interior exuded a sense of familiarity.

‘Still the same…’

Equipment and tools scattered everywhere.

And even the cape and eyepatch symbolizing her chuunibyou¹ phase.

I recalled them being haphazardly stuffed in a box before…

This time, they were fully on display.

It seemed like she had decided to cherish them. I thought.

Soon, I noticed something impressive.

“Ah, Master. That…”
“Hmm? Ah…”

A safe made of mana.
Inside, like a sacred treasure, was a blue whetstone.
It was definitely the whetstone I had gifted her.

“Ahem!”

Peng Jin-ah, slightly embarrassed, repeatedly cleared her throat.
She soon responded in a voice that seemed to crawl inward.

“I-it’s something my disciple gave me as a gift. I kept it safely.”
“Thank you.”
“Al-alright, now take out the report card. The <Written and Practical> scores should be out except for mine.”

Peng Jin-ah extended her hand as if she were a mother.

Technically, I wasn’t required to show her my scores, but I knew exactly what this was about.

This was just an excuse to keep the conversation going.

She was embarrassed to say it outright, so she was beating around the bush.

‘Now I can clearly see what you want to say.’

Indeed, she seemed very different from the first impression.

At first, she had come across as cold, sharp, and ruthless—like a finely honed blade.
Now that I think about it, she was just an adorable mentor who was clumsy at expressing herself honestly.

“…Wh-why are you grinning like that?”
“…Hehe.”
“D-don’t laugh!”

I felt like patting her head like a kitten, but I’d probably get scolded for that.

Smiling gently, I lifted my phone to show her the score.

Peng Jin-ah silently examined it and soon widened her eyes.

A deep smile spread across her face, as if she was looking at something to be proud of.

“Excellent. This score is certainly enough to aim for a scholarship.”
“Thank you. It was worth working hard with the others.”
“Hmm…”

Peng Jin-ah nodded, as if acknowledging its excellence.

After a moment, she brought over some newly acquired black tea and desserts, placing them on the table.

“The aroma is nice.”
“I’m glad you like it.”

Peng Jin-ah dropped a sugar cube into her tea with a plop.

About twenty were piled up like a mountain, not fully dissolved, yet she drank it without issue.

As I watched Peng Jin-ah, a sudden curiosity arose.

“Um, Master?”
“Slurp… hmm?”
“Did you do well on exams during your cadet days?”
“…Cough?!”

Was it an unexpected question?
Caught off guard, Peng Jin-ah spilled a bit of tea as she coughed.

I handed her a tissue, and she thanked me as she wiped her mouth.

“Wh-why suddenly ask that…?”
“I was just curious.”

Yu Seha looked on with a giggle.
Watching, Peng Jin-ah thought he was quite mischievous.

‘…A naughty child.’

He had zero awareness of his own face…

Yet, he smiled so effortlessly, without realizing how dangerously open he appeared.

If a woman who didn’t know any better saw him like this, she’d probably turn red on the spot.

As his master, she wanted to warn him not to go around charming women so recklessly.

But…

For now, she decided to worry about something else.

‘Grades, huh…?’

It was a question that came unexpectedly.
At the same time, it was a slightly embarrassing dark history for Peng Jin-ah.

She wanted to dodge it, but seeing those curious eyes, not answering properly felt wrong.

‘Hmm…’

Clearing her throat, she confidently straightened her shoulders.

She deliberately put on an air of bravado.

“Ahem! Of course, I was always at the top. I wouldn’t be a professor otherwise.”
“Really?”
“……”

Yu Seha’s innocent eyes looked up, and Peng Jin-ah felt a twitch deep in her chest.

‘…Ugh.’

I can’t do this. Lying is just…

With no other choice, she decided to answer honestly.

“…I stayed in the lower-middle rank. I did well in practicals, but the written exam was a disaster…”
“Oh? Similar to Ju Na-young?”
“…?!”

Peng Jin-ah felt like someone had hit the back of her head with a hammer.

Wh-what did you say?!

A feeling of irritation rose automatically.

No matter how precious Yu Seha’s words were, she couldn’t let that one slide.

Who on earth was he comparing her to?

No way, this can’t be!!!

Peng Jin-ah, slightly agitated, spoke as if to argue.

“Cadet Yu Seha! No matter what, I’m smarter than Cadet Ju Na-young!”

“Oh… yes. Um.”

Peng Jin-ah grumbled, feeling as if she had heard an utterly insulting remark.

Yu Seha, watching, felt a slight pang of sympathy, thinking, ‘What kind of image does Ju Na-young have…?’

“…By the way, since Ju Na-young was mentioned…”
“Yes?”
“…Since the amusement park d-a-t-e, nothing much has happened, right?”

Peng Jin-ah emphasized the word “date.”

Yu Seha, who was listening, broke out in a cold sweat.

He sipped his tea, thinking he might have stepped on a landmine.

“Nothing much happened…”

Yes, that’s right.
Nothing much happened.
Yeah, nothing much.

‘…Although while studying, there was a lot of unintended physical contact…’

Often linking arms…

Or having an arm around the neck…

And, the fact that those enormous fire pockets frequently touched…

There were several minor things.

But nothing major.

Peng Jin-ah’s face showed a subtle sense of relief at Yu Seha’s response.

“Is that so? Then, that’s a relief…”
“……”

A moment later.

“Ahem…”
“Ahem…”
“Ahem, ahem…”

Peng Jin-ah cleared her throat repeatedly, observing the atmosphere.

That face and expression.

He knew it well now.

When someone wants to say something but feels a bit embarrassed to actually say it.

‘Still so adorable.’

“…Um, Master. Is there something you’d like to say?”
“…!! Ahem.”

As if waiting for the question, Peng Jin-ah opened her mouth.

“Well… Cadet Yu Seha. As you might already know, the <Exclusive Discipleship> class doesn’t just end with forming a master-disciple relationship.”
“Yes, I understand.”

It had been mentioned once before.

<Exclusive Discipleship> involved a contract to share each other’s essence in the future, continuing a deeper connection.

“…It’s a bit early, but the vacation after the exams is coming soon, isn’t it? I plan to do it once it’s over.”
“…! Really?”

<Exclusive Discipleship> appointment ceremony.

It was usually done when moving up to the second year, but Peng Jin-ah thought there was no need to wait any longer.

‘Most second-year students should have the capacity to accept the origin of others.’

Yu Seha was already an outstanding cadet.
There wouldn’t be any issue proceeding right now.

“I’ll inform the Chairman.”
“…Well, that’s fine with me, but are you sure?”
“Of course. Who would refuse a contract with someone like Cadet Yu Seha?”

It was a statement delivered with pride.

Hearing this, a slight blush appeared on Yu Seha’s face.

Peng Jin-ah realized belatedly that her praise might have been excessive.

“Ah, as you might know, the contract doesn’t mean much. Perseverance in your efforts is more important. Keep that in mind.”

“Yes, yes. Master.”

A few minutes later.

The cozy tea time ended, and it was time to part ways.

Peng Jin-ah saw off Yu Seha, who bowed in farewell.

“Then I’ll be going, Master.”
“Uh, okay…”

Peng Jin-ah expressed a peculiar regret.
Watching him leave, she unconsciously shouted.

“C-Cadet Yu Seha!”
“Yes?”

She looked at his face for a moment.

She had to make the suggestion.

The words she should have said to him with the <Exclusive Discipleship> appointment ceremony.

But… in the end, she couldn’t overcome her embarrassment and mentioned something else entirely.

“The whetstone…”
“Oh, yes?”
“I’m using the whetstone well. Thank you.”

At those words, Yu Seha smiled brightly.
It was such a charming smile that it brought a flush to Peng Jin-ah’s cheeks.

“Thank you for liking it, Master.”

Thus, Peng Jin-ah sighed as she watched Yu Seha’s retreating figure.

Returning to her office, she sat down on the chair.

She sat quietly for a moment, then grabbed her head.

‘…Ugh.’

She stomped her feet.

Covering her face with her hands, she exhaled a sigh.

‘…Originally…’

She was going to suggest having dinner together.

She planned to subtly mention it there.

‘T-together…’

She thought of asking if they could train alone during the <Vacation> period.

But in the end, she couldn’t even bring it up.

‘…It’s okay. This isn’t the only chance.’

Peng Jin-ah vowed to try again soon.

Then, by chance, she glanced at a calendar.
And noticed the word <Sword Emperor> marked on it.

‘Come to think of it, I forgot to mention it.’

Junior.

It was…

The fact that the <Plum Blossom Sword Emperor> wanted to see him, and that she’d come here sometime soon, though she wasn’t sure when.

‘Hmm…’

Peng Jin-ah pondered deeply but soon brushed it off.

Well, nothing major will happen.

‘…Right?’

A few days later.

The day of the <Sparring Test> arrived after the weekend.

The <Sparring Test> was, as the name suggested, conducted by having two randomly selected cadets come up and spar publicly.

‘If I remember correctly, each cadet gets matched for at least three fights, up to a maximum of five.’

The higher a cadet climbed through victories, the more points they earned.

Well, naturally, it wasn’t just decided by spinning a wheel.

It was based on the current cadets’ held <Class> categories.
So, with affiliations like ‘Warrior’, ‘Archer’, ‘Assassin’, and so on.
Checking the scores of the upper, middle, and lower ranks.
They said the duels were conducted at levels deemed similar through the final score calculation.

“Meeeooow~ Seha. This really reminds me of the <Entrance Exam>.”

I turned my gaze at the words I heard.

Our angelic Meowi was smiling ever so Meowi-like.

The highlight here was definitely her hairstyle.

“Kreuh!”
“Meow?”
“Meowi, your hair is so cute…”
“Meow~”

Meowi had an unbelievably cute hairstyle with fabric wrapped around her pigtails.

Commonly referred to as ‘dumpling hair.’

‘This is unfair.’

Meowi is already cute.
And now there’s an extra layer of cuteness?
This is literally a heart attack waiting to happen.

I guarantee if this hairstyle is released in ‘GAL,’ our Meowi’s popularity will skyrocket.

I offered a silent thanks.

I have no idea who did it…

“That person will surely be blessed.”
“Hehe, thank you for that.”

I was startled by the voice right next to me.

It was none other than Moon Bora.

Currently, she was wearing a very unique fashion that only she could pull off—a white kimono with a fur-lined coat.

Moon Bora gave a pleasant smile at my gaze.

“M-Moon Bora, did you really do this?”

“Yeah. Since she’s usually in a short bob, I thought it might be cute to tie it up since it’s grown out a bit. Then, I figured tying it would suit her best—and it turned out perfect, don’t you think?”

Moon Bora mentioned she would try adding ribbons to her two tails next time.

Snap!

I immediately grabbed both of Moon Bora’s hands tightly.

Moon Bora, who had been smiling with a relaxed expression just a moment ago,
blushed instantly, trembling slightly.

“Uh, uh-huh? Uh-uh-huh?!”
“Moon Bora! Thank you! Do it often!”
“O-okay… l-let go of this. Please…”

A timid answer came through.

However, I continued to shake Moon Bora’s hand without thinking of letting go.

“…Yong-ahhh.”

Nearby, something about Ju Na-young’s eyes turned fierce, but I ignored it.

Yes, yes.

This deserves praise.

“Everyone~ Please pay attention~”

It was then.

With a characteristic gentle voice, the female professor, with a warm impression, captured everyone’s attention.

The referee conducting the <Sparring Test>.
It was Professor Sarang-mi, who was in charge of <Understanding Barrier Techniques>.

“We’ll start the test now~”

Sarang-mi picked up the artifact on the table and turned it this way and that.

With a rattling sound, the cadets’ numbers were soon updated on the electronic board.

“Participant number 77, Cadet Ma Hana~ Please come out.”

Oh, it was our Meowi’s turn from the start.

“Meowi, do your best!”
“Do your best.”
“Yong-ah, do your best!”
“Meow! Triple cheer power, Meow! I will return victorious!”

With renewed energy, she clenched her tiny fists, her determination adorable as ever.

With a ‘Meowmeowmeow!’ step, she swiftly ascended the sparring platform.

“Alright~ Next participant, number 102~ Cadet with well-defined abs~ Please step forward.”