It was the first weekend since entering the Academy.
After struggling through yesterday’s will-writing ordeal, all I really wanted was to rest. Maybe stretch out on my bed and do nothing all weekend.
But the name “Divine Sword Do Family” didn’t allow such laziness.
With privilege comes obligation.
I was under the protection of the Divine Sword Do family. That meant I couldn’t disobey its orders, and I had to follow whatever they told me to do.
If the family said to attend an event, I had no choice.
Like today.
Even in the Academy City, I still have to tag along with these family functions…
There was a gathering called the Noble Families’ Association.
It was basically a social event where prestigious families from the same lineage came together to foster unity and maintain relationships.
As someone from the Divine Sword Do family, I was required to attend gatherings with other swordsmanship clans.
Especially because this particular meeting was hosted by our family, the most powerful among all sword clans, I couldn’t just skip it.
At least I wasn’t the one organising it. That was a small mercy.
After lunch in the dormitory cafeteria, I headed toward the rear gate with Do Si-eun.
She was already waiting at the meeting spot.
“Gyeon-woo, over here.”
“Sorry, Noona. Am I late?”
“No, you’re right on time.”
“You look like you’ve been waiting. When did you get here?”
“I only got here a little early. About ten minutes, maybe.”
Of course. That was just like her, punctual to a fault, always managing her time precisely.
If I had arrived even a little late, I would’ve kept her waiting.
I’d have to make sure not to be late the next time we meet.
Now that I think about it… she looks really different today.
I couldn’t help but notice Do Si-eun’s outfit.
Since she entered the Academy City, I’d only seen her in her student council uniform. But today she was dressed in stylish casual clothes, wearing heels instead of school shoes.
The contrast was striking.
Her pale skin and sapphire eyes were as serene as a quiet mountain lake.
But what really caught my attention—
Her earrings.
The way they sparkled as they swayed was subtle but mesmerising. So was the delicate necklace around her neck. Nothing flashy, just tasteful and elegant.
It helped that she had short hair. The earrings stood out all the more.
The effect was graceful, but with a touch of glamour.
She tilted her head slightly at my stare, and the earrings caught the light again.
“What is it?”
“…You look really different from usual.”
“Ah… Since it’s a formal event with other families, I thought I should dress up a little. Didn’t want anyone nitpicking. I even put on some light makeup… Do I look weird?”
“No, you look amazing. Really. Especially the earrings. You should dress like this when you’re doing student council stuff.”
“I can’t. As student council president, I have to maintain decorum. Showing up like this would feel a little inappropriate… and I’d feel self-conscious. Still, thanks for saying that.”
“But Noona… Can you even swing a sword in that outfit?”
“I brought a change of clothes, of course.”
She smiled, her blue eyes forming gentle arcs.
It was a smile that no one who only knew her as the student council president or the famed ‘Lightning Blossom’ would’ve seen.
I couldn’t help but smile back. Her expression was as warm as spring sun melting winter snow.
“Shall we go?”
“Yeah.”
“I looked up the hotel on the map yesterday. We can take a bus from the stop near the rear gate—”
“Gyeon-woo, come this way.”
“Huh?”
I started walking toward the bus stop, but Si-eun suddenly grabbed my wrist.
She pointed to the parking lot.
“Taking the bus would be a hassle. Let’s just drive.”
“Drive? Wait, Noona… you have a—”
Beep-beep!
“Come on. I’ll drive.”
“….”
She didn’t explain. She just showed me.
With practised ease, she pulled a car key from her handbag and pressed the button. One of the cars parked nearby blinked its lights in response.
It was a sleek, silver sedan.
Without another word, she pulled me by the wrist and led me to the vehicle.
“Get in the front.”
“…You really have a license, huh.”
“I got it right after we received our student IDs. It’s convenient to have a car. Make sure you buckle up.”
…
She slid into the driver’s seat with confident, natural movements.
She started the engine, released the parking brake, and checked all directions before smoothly pulling out of the lot.
I couldn’t help but be impressed.
…She’s so cool.
She was only two years older than me, yet she felt so mature.
Wearing a smart outfit and driving her own car, she looked like something out of a drama, a young, successful career woman.
The comfort of riding instead of walking or taking the bus only added to my good mood.
As we drove through the Academy City, I looked out the window and spoke.
“Maybe I should buy a car too.”
“I think that’s a good idea. After you get your license, of course.”
“I’ll get it soon. And I can just ask my dad or the head of the family to buy me one.”
“My dad bought this one for me.”
“Then I should ask my dad too.”
Getting a license wouldn’t be too difficult.
I still had memories from my previous life, after all.
I started to consider it seriously.
It’d be convenient when going on trips with Ha-neul and the others.
The Ten Great Houses
Swordsmanship. Magic. Holy Magic. Dark Magic. Spearmanship. Alchemy. Shield Arts. Martial Arts. Archery. Spirit Arts.
Each of these ten branches had one leading family. Together, they were known as the Ten Great House—holders of absolute authority in South Korea.
No other family could go against them.
That was part of the lore in the game too…
About two hundred years ago, the world was destroyed by a cataclysm.
When the world was rebuilt, Hunters rose to prominence.
Back then, people called them many things—heroes, saviours, awakened ones, superhumans.
Naturally, they became central figures in the restoration of civilization.
But they didn’t unite. They fought among themselves, each trying to become the true center of the new world.
It was an age of warlords.
In such chaos, the world couldn’t function.
That’s when the Ten Great Houses emerged.
They resolved to bring order, crushing the warring factions and restoring stability.
But there was no guarantee that self-proclaimed heroes wouldn’t rise again.
Hunters, with their overwhelming strength, were humanity’s greatest hope and greatest threat.
They were powerful enough to rebuild civilization, yet also capable of destroying it again.
For the world to stand, it needed order.
And Hunters, for all their power, were also the source of potential disorder.
So the Ten Great Houses weren’t exempt from that risk either.
All Hunters were.
That was why…
A social pact was made.
To prevent a second downfall, this time not by monsters, but by humanity’s own hand, an oath was established.
Under the leadership of the Ten Great Houses, all Hunters pledged their souls to a binding agreement.
Breaking the terms would result in spiritual consequences, enforced by magical constraints.
The contents of the oath were as follows:
- Only licensed individuals can be recognized as official Hunters.
- No Hunter may deny the authority of the Association.
- All families must respect each other and not invade another’s territory.
- The Ten Great Houses will be appointed periodically as the leading houses of each branch.
- The Ten Great Houses will represent the collective will of the subordinate families.
- …
Thanks to this agreement, the world we live in today was able to take shape.
But an agreement is only as strong as the consent of its members.
To maintain that unity, the Ten Great Houses had to foster bonds with those beneath them.
The Noble Families’ Association was one such effort.
A meeting to promote harmony among families of the same branch.
Also, a chance for the Ten Great Houses to listen to their voices and earn their support.
Because even if the Ten Great Houses had authority on paper, they couldn’t ignore or overlook the others.
Real authority always comes from below.
The student-level Noble Gathering was no different.
As a member of the Divine Sword Do family, I was on my way to connect with other sword clans’ students.
“The people we’ll be meeting today are the same people we’ll be working with once we’re out in society. It’s important to stay on good terms with them,” Si-eun said.
“As long as no one picks a fight with me, I don’t intend to cause any problems.”
Academy City, District 23 – Regulus Hotel
Owned by the Divine Sword Do family, the Regulus Hotel was our destination.
As we walked through the hallway, Do Si-eun offered more advice.
She knew me well after five years and didn’t want me making trouble.
“This isn’t just a social gathering.”
“It’s not?”
“It’s also where decisions are made.”
“Decisions?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
According to Do Si-eun’s explanation, the Noble Families’ Association wasn’t just a social club.
It held real weight.
Because it gathered students from powerful families, its collective voice could influence Academy policies. Their opinions represented not just individuals, but entire branches of students from their respective lineages.
Even as student council president, she couldn’t afford to ignore them.
“And the one who speaks for that collective voice, the one who sometimes guides it, is the representative.”
Representatives were chosen by grade level.
Each year’s representative had the authority to speak on behalf of students in their year.
“Typically, the one who hosts the gathering is the third-year representative. This year, that’s me. So I’ll be organizing all the meetings. That’s why I want you to observe closely and learn, Gyeon-woo.”
“So you’re saying the collective voice of the third-year swordsmanship students rests with you?”
“It does. The third-year representative is also the overarching representative for the whole department. So in a sense, I speak for all swordsmanship students in first, second, and third year.”
“So you’re basically the top figure in our department.”
“In simple terms, yes. But remember this, just because you hold the collective voice doesn’t mean you can wield it recklessly. That voice is granted through the support and trust of others. A representative is a spokesperson, not a dictator.”
She made her point firmly, her voice calm and authoritative.
She sounded like someone who didn’t just hold a title but knew its weight. A true student council president and a leader recognized across years and ranks.
I nodded slowly.
But a question lingered in my mind.
“Noona… something doesn’t add up.”
“What is it? Ask anything.”
“You said each year has a representative. But what about the first years? We have only just enrolled. Can we even have a representative?”
“You and Seung-woo are the first-year representatives.”
“…What?”
“Unless something unusual happens, representatives are usually chosen from the Ten Great Houses. After all, they’re the only ones with the rightful authority to speak for others.”
“…Right.”
“That’s why I told you to watch and learn. Next year, you’ll be the second-year rep. Then the year after that, you’ll be representing all swordsmanship students.”
…To be honest, I’d already suspected it.
As she said, the only ones qualified to carry that role were those from the Ten Great Houses.
And among the first-year swordsmanship students, only two of us held that lineage: myself and my cousin, Do Seung-woo.
Now that’s a headache.
In one sense, it was flattering. I was being recognized.
But it also meant responsibility. I’d have to listen to every voice that came from the first-year swordsmanship students.
That sounded exhausting.
But I couldn’t just ignore it either.
If I didn’t take the role—
That bastard Seung-woo would.
My cousin, Do Seung-woo.
Even after five years, the resentment hadn’t faded.
I couldn’t stand the idea of him leading, speaking for our peers, receiving their recognition.
He’d become an obstacle in the story. One that would only grow worse if I didn’t act.
Which meant I had to hold onto the position myself.
The problem is… I don’t have time to manage the Noble Association.
I already had my hands full.
I needed to train. I had to make time for Yeon Ha-neul, Kang Han-byeol, and the others.
Managing meetings and politics? That was out of the question.
So I turned to the one person who likely had faced the same issue—Do Si-eun. Student council president. Representative. Organizer of the entire event.
She had an answer ready.
“That’s why I told you to build good relationships with the people you’re about to meet. Gather allies. Form your own faction. Delegate the tasks you can’t handle.”
“My own faction, huh…”
“You’re not going to do this alone. Find the people you can trust. Let them carry the weight with you.”
“You’re right.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll help. The second-year rep will support you, too.”
“Really? Thanks, Noona.”
A personal faction. A circle I could trust to carry out my responsibilities.
It wasn’t a bad idea.
I accepted with a nod and turned toward the banquet hall’s entrance.
Beyond that door waited the other swordsmanship clans.
“Here. Pin this to your chest,” Si-eun said, rummaging through her handbag. “It’s a badge. Everyone wears one with their family crest. That way, no one accidentally offends anyone.”
She handed me a small pink, yellow badge shaped like a lion, the symbol of the Divine Sword Do family.
I fastened it carefully over my chest and gave her a nod.
“Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
With the same badge pinned to her blazer, Do Si-eun stepped forward and opened the door.
I followed her inside.
…
So many people…
The moment we stepped in, all conversation halted.
Every gaze in the hall turned to us.
The sudden silence said it all.
I glanced around casually. There had to be at least a couple of hundred people here. Possibly more.
Dozens of conversations have been happening. Now all of them had stopped.
Hundreds of eyes were fixed on us, unwavering.
“You don’t have to feel pressured,” Si-eun whispered. “They’re just curious because they know we’re from the Divine Sword Do family.”
“I figured. So we have to face all these people, one by one?”
“It’s ideal, but not realistic. We can’t meet everyone in one day. Let’s start by connecting with the important families.”
“Which ones?”
“The other houses that form the Five Great Sword Families. We’ll talk to them first.”
“Alright. I’ll look around.”
“No need. Just wait.”
“Wait?”
“They’ll come to us.”
“…Seriously?”
“There’s etiquette between people, and there’s etiquette between families. A family of lower rank should be the one to greet those above. We’re the highest-ranked here, so we wait. It’s their duty to come to us.”
“…I see.”
“Right. So just stand tall and accept the greetings. The first ones to approach will be the Five Great Sword Families. Then the others will follow, in order of rank.”
Back when I trained with the Divine Sword Do family, I’d learned the proper etiquette between houses.
But this was my first time participating in an official event, and I hadn’t had a chance to use those teachings yet.
I focused on Do Si-eun’s voice as if she were my etiquette instructor.
Then she murmured to me.
“They’re coming.”
“…Who?”
“There’s a family I wanted to introduce you to. I think you’ll want to keep an eye on them. I recommend bringing one of their kids into your faction.”
A group was making their way through the crowd.
They walked with poise and purpose, drawing everyone’s attention as they headed straight for us.
That girl…
Among them, I recognized a face.
A character from the game.
Not quite a villain. More of a supporting role.
“The Crimson Ro family.”
“…Right.”
As Do Si-eun spoke quietly, I focused on the girl in the lead.
She was tall, nearly one-eighty.
Long limbs made for battle. Crimson hair tied back with a black ribbon. Sharp brown eyes.
Elegant, but unmistakably built for combat.
“President, you must be busy with the council and as a representative. Thank you for hosting again this year.”
“I appreciate that. And this must be…”
“One of our new students. I brought her along to introduce her. Hyo-won, go ahead. You probably saw her at the entrance ceremony, but this is your senior by two years—Do Si-eun. She’s this year’s student council president and the host of today’s meeting. You’ve heard of her, right? The ‘Lightning Blossom.’”
“Nice to meet you, President Do Si-eun. I’m No Hyo-won, of the Crimson Ro family. Your speech at the entrance ceremony left a deep impression. I’d love to see your sword technique one day, if I may.”
“I’ve heard of you, even before you enrolled. Whi-chan and I are close, so you don’t have to be so formal. Just call me ‘Unnie,’ or ‘Sunbae.’”
“Then I’ll call you Sunbae from now on. Si-eun Sunbae.”
“Great. Looking forward to working with you. Now… It’s our turn to introduce ourselves. Gyeon-woo?”
“Ah, yeah.”
No Hyo-won of the Crimson Ro family.
Title: The Duel Princess
I returned her greeting.
“Do Gyeon-woo. I think you already know the rest.”
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