Valhalla.
A massive institution located in Gangdong District, Seoul. It is a highly famous and prestigious Contractor training academy, known as one of the world's three great Contractor training institutions.
Every year, a tremendous number of Contractors apply to carry the prestige of Valhalla on their backs.
Among them, only 1,500 manage to pass the absurd competition rate of 250:1 and step over Valhalla's threshold.
But even if they gain admission, their competition does not end there.
After all, fewer than 150 cadets graduate with Valhalla's name and enter society.
Therefore, every student entering Valhalla begins a competition.
A competition to carry the name of Valhalla on their backs.
Since when?
From the very moment the entrance ceremony begins.
"Wow, there really are a lot of them this time."
Above the massive stadium within the Valhalla grounds.
From a vantage point overlooking the entire site, Lee Sang-cheol, a combat instructor at Valhalla who was watching the fights unfolding in a total of 16 arenas, turned his gaze to the man approaching him and replied.
"Well, it's inevitable for the Entrance Ranking Battle."
Entrance Ranking Battle.
It was a kind of test held among the freshmen whose admission to Valhalla was confirmed, to determine their rankings before the semester began.
"So, are you here to see your niece?"
At Lee Sang-cheol's question, the smiling man, Yoo Min-jun, nodded.
"That's right. Our Yusin Family has high expectations for So-yeon this time."
"Yoo So-yeon...."
At the mention of her name, the data from her student file flashed through Lee Sang-cheol's mind.
"...Certainly, it seems the Yusin Family has reason to have high expectations this time."
Yoo So-yeon.
Holding the title of a genius who appeared in the Yusin Family, one of the Five Great Families of South Korea, her personal file was as spectacular as her fame.
"She began handling mana, which usually requires one to be a high school student, at age 10, and naturally infused mana into a sword at age 13... huh."
"She didn't stop there. At 16, she won several times against Contractors belonging to our Yusin Family. Furthermore...."
"Is there something else? As far as I know, what's written in her file ends there."
At Lee Sang-cheol's question, Yoo Min-jun grinned and spoke.
"Actually, just this much would be enough for our high expectations, but what's most important is that So-yeon can already communicate with our Yusin Family's Guardian Constellation."
"...What?"
Lee Sang-cheol looked at him with an expression of disbelief.
However, Yoo Min-jun only looked back with a confident expression, and after a short while, Lee Sang-cheol asked.
"Is that true?"
"Of course."
"Ha."
The reason there are Five Great Families in Korea.
It was precisely because of the Guardian Constellations attached to each of the Five Great Families.
'Sword God' of the Yusin Family. 'Spear Ghost' of the Jangsan Family. 'Blade King' of the Choijin Family. 'Fist King' of the Oseon Family. 'Bow God' of the Dojon Family.
Unlike B-Rank Constellations that contract with ordinary Contractors, thanks to the power of Constellations possessing S-Rank or higher abilities, Korea had the Five Great Families differentiated from others.
Unlike ordinary people, those belonging to each family receive the 'Blessing' of the Constellation and gain far superior talent and abilities compared to others.
However, being able to communicate directly with a Guardian Constellation was something else entirely.
Communicating with a Guardian Constellation at her current age meant that Yoo So-yeon's mana was already large enough to communicate with an S-Rank Guardian Constellation.
That meant she could not only receive the Guardian Constellation's 'Blessing' at an early age but potentially form a 'Contract' as well.
And naturally, forming a contract with a Guardian Constellation at an early age, even for a family successor, was not something anyone could do, so Lee Sang-cheol chuckled in disbelief and replied.
"...She really is a genius."
"Right? I'm looking forward to it too."
Yoo Min-jun smirked with a proud expression and spoke.
"So, when is my proud niece's match?"
"It probably hasn't finished yet. Did you come just to see your niece's match?"
At his question, Yoo Min-jun shook his head.
"Well, I figured So-yeon would easily make it to the finals or become the runner-up at the very least, so I just stopped by to go home together on my way back today."
At Yoo Min-jun's words, Lee Sang-cheol tapped on his tablet to check the schedule.
"Round 8. It's the last match of the day. Starts in 30 seconds."
"Oh, is that so? Then let me watch too."
"Didn't you say you didn't need to watch earlier?"
"Well, it's funny not to watch a match that's happening, right?"
"Then go down and watch."
"Watch in that crowd? That's a bit much."
Certainly, the interior of the stadium was lined with quite a few people.
The first ones visible were the scouts from each guild.
Excluding the Five Great Families whose destinations were already decided, they were rolling their eyes diligently to discover any usable talent.
Next were the reporters.
Since Contractors were a profession enjoying popularity comparable to celebrities, public interest was naturally high, so reporters were also rolling their eyes looking for scoops.
Lastly, the citizens.
Most of them were likely friends or parents of the freshmen currently undergoing the entrance ceremony.
In fact, excluding reporters or scouts, citizens wouldn't come here to watch rookies who hadn't even become famous yet.
"Come on, show me a little. What's good about having a senior?"
"Tsk, did you ever treat me like a senior?"
Lee Sang-cheol grumbled at the retort, but he sighed in resignation. His fingers were already moving across the tablet.
[Vwoom—]
Simultaneously, one of the 16 arenas that had been displayed broadly on the glass window zoomed in.
"Oh."
Inside the zoomed-in arena, there were two figures.
One was Yoo So-yeon, whom Yoo Min-jun beside him had praised endlessly, gripping the handle of the sword at her waist with a cool face.
On the other side stood an ordinary freshman wearing the basic gauntlets provided by the academy for the ranking battle.
"...He looks relaxed."
Lee Sang-cheol frowned at the sight of the man standing without even taking a combat stance, but Yoo Min-jun replied without losing his smile.
"Looks like he gave up? Well, So-yeon is already well-known externally because of her genius title."
Indeed, as if Yoo Min-jun's words were true, quite a crowd gathered near the arena where Yoo So-yeon and the man stood.
Starting from scouts to reporters, and even citizens gathered with intrigued expressions.
They were all paying attention to the arena where Yoo So-yeon and the freshman were, or more precisely, to Yoo So-yeon standing inside that arena.
A situation where the spotlight was focused on one place.
Certainly, that situation alone was enough to make the freshman on the opposing side intimidated.
Unlike Yoo So-yeon, a direct descendant of one of the Five Great Families holding the title of genius for handling mana since age 10, the man on the other side was nothing more or less than an ordinary freshman.
However, even so, Lee Sang-cheol still didn't like the freshman's attitude.
"Tsk, assuming he can't win and giving up beforehand. It's unsightly."
"I think it won't even take 5 seconds to take him down."
Watching Yoo Min-jun predict how quickly the freshman would fall, Lee Sang-cheol replied.
"Tsk, pathetic."
"Rather than that, he's unlucky. Meeting the genius of the Yusin Family on Day 1."
[3]
The count began simultaneously with their light conversation.
[2]
As the count began, Yoo So-yeon, who had been watching the opposing freshman in the arena, lowered her body with a hardened expression.
[1]
Her grip tightened around the hilt.
[START]
The moment the signal dropped, she launched herself forward, drawing her blade.
Leaping with a perfect posture that even decent Contractors would praise as clean movement, Yoo So-yeon closed the distance to the man in an instant and swung her sword.
Watching that, Lee Sang-cheol could see why Yoo Min-jun had praised her endlessly.
Sword Qi. Handling mana at ten was one thing, but manifesting it into a blade was another entirely. Lee Sang-cheol couldn't help but admire it.
The Sword Qi imbued in Yoo So-yeon's blade was perfect without any instability.
That meant she controlled her mana perfectly at that young age.
Therefore, confirming the blade imbued with Sword Qi striking down, Lee Sang-cheol was convinced that the match would end quickly as Yoo Min-jun said.
And the next moment.
[Thwack!]
Certainly, as Lee Sang-cheol and Yoo Min-jun expected, the match ended incredibly quickly.
However, if there was something different from Yoo Min-jun's expectation.
"...Huh?"
[Kim Joohyuk Wins.]
It was Yoo So-yeon, not the ordinary freshman, who was lying on the arena floor.
And.
"What is this?"
The person who took down Yoo So-yeon, the genius of the Yusin Family whom Yoo Min-jun had praised endlessly just a moment ago.
"Why are these kids so weak? Is this really 300 years later?"
He scoffed, muttering in disbelief.
(End of Chapter 1)
Read more on "novelshub.org"
Thank you for reading The Constellations Are My Disciples.
If you're enjoying the mystery behind Joohyuk's return, the rise of the forgotten master, and the constellations watching from above, your support helps this story shine even brighter.
Share your thoughts and help this tale of reincarnation, power, and destiny reach more readers across the stars.