Myeonggahoe [Illustration]
The first weekend since enrolling in the Academy.
Having toiled over writing my will the day before, all I wanted was to rest comfortably and spend the weekend lazing about.
But the name Singeom Doga would not leave me in peace.
As the saying goes, with privilege comes duty.
Enjoying the protection of Singeom Doga, I could not defy my clan’s orders and had to follow along obediently as I was told.
If the clan told me to attend a gathering, I had to attend without fail.
Like today.
“Even after coming to Academy City, the family’s events keep following me around….”
There is a gathering called the Myeonggahoe.
It would be appropriate to describe it as a gathering where people from prestigious houses of the same lineage come together to build camaraderie.
As someone of Singeom Doga, I had to attend the Myeonggahoe to interact with the people of the swordsmanship prestigious houses.
Moreover, since it was a gathering led by Singeom Doga, which stood at the very pinnacle among the swordsmanship prestigious houses, it was unthinkable for me to be absent.
Could I at least count myself fortunate that I wasn’t the one hosting it?
Having eaten lunch at the dormitory cafeteria, I set out with Dosieun through the back gate to attend the Myeonggahoe.
She had arrived first at the meeting place and was waiting for me.
“Gyeonu, over here.”
“Sorry, nuna. Was I late?”
“No, you came right on time.”
“But you look like you came out early… How long have you been here?”
“I haven’t been here long either. I probably came about… ten minutes early.”
Hearing that she had come early to avoid being late, she was indeed the meticulously self-disciplined Dosieun.
Her time management was strict as well.
If I had been even a little late, I would have kept her waiting for a long time.
From now on, when meeting her, I would have to take care not to be late, at least as I was today.
“That aside… is it because she’s dressed up? The atmosphere feels different from usual.”
I focused on Dosieun’s attire.
Since entering Academy City, I had only ever seen her as the student council president, so the sight of her in flashy casual clothes and dress shoes rather than her uniform felt quite refreshing.
Her blue eyes set in her fair face were like looking at a clear, serene lake.
Above all.
“My eyes keep drifting to her earrings without thinking.”
The sparkling necklace was the same.
Not excessive but subtly revealed, the earrings hanging and swaying from both ears suited her incredibly well.
Perhaps because Dosieun had short hair, they seemed to stand out even more.
It felt like a spoonful of splendor added to pure elegance.
Just then, she tilted her head, and her earrings sparkled in the light.
“What’s wrong?”
“…It’s different from the usual you.”
“Ah… Since it’s a gathering where other clans participate too, I was a bit careful with my outfit today, worried I might get nitpicked for no reason…. I even put on a little makeup…. …Does it not look good?”
“No, you look extremely pretty. It suits you well. The earrings are especially pretty. Why don’t you dress like this when you’re the student council president too?”
“…As the student council president, I have to set an example and maintain my dignity, so I don’t think I could go around dressed like this. I think I’d feel a bit embarrassed…. Still, thank you for saying I’m pretty.”
“But nuna, can you swing a sword dressed like that later?”
“That’s why I brought a change of clothes.”
Her blue eyes curved into arcs.
It was a smile unseen by anyone who knew her only as the student council president, or as the Lightning Flower.
I smiled along with her at that melting smile.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
“I checked the hotel location on the map yesterday; from the bus stop in front of the back gate, we take the bus….”
“Gyeonu, come this way.”
“Hmm?”
I was about to move toward the bus stop.
It was then that Dosieun abruptly grabbed my wrist as I turned.
She pointed toward the parking lot.
“Taking the bus is uncomfortable, so let’s go by car.”
“By car… Nuna, do you have a c—”
Beep!
“Let’s go. I’ll drive.”
“….”
As if to show rather than tell.
Dosieun took out a car key from her handbag.
When she pressed the button on the key, one of the parked vehicles flashed its lights.
It was a gray sedan.
She pulled my wrist just like that and moved toward the car.
“Get in the front.”
“Nuna, so you had a driver’s license….”
“I probably got it as soon as my student ID came out after enrolling. It’s convenient to have a car. Make sure to put your seatbelt on.”
“….”
Seated in the driver’s seat, Dosieun started the car with practiced movements and released the side brake.
The way she gripped the steering wheel while checking all around her was no ordinary skill.
I couldn’t help but admire her as she drove the car smoothly.
“…So cool.”
She was only two years older than me, yet she was incredibly mature.
The sight of her driving in such refined attire was exactly like a successful career woman straight out of a drama.
On the other hand, the comfort of riding in a car naturally lifted my mood.
Admiring the view of Academy City, I spoke.
“Should I buy a car too?”
“I don’t think that’s a bad idea. Though you’d need to get your license first.”
“I can just get the license. And I can ask Father or the Patriarch to buy me a car.”
“My father bought mine.”
“Then I should ask Father to buy me one too.”
Getting a driver’s license wouldn’t be very difficult.
Because I had memories of my previous life.
I decided to think about it seriously.
“If I buy a car, it’ll be convenient going out with Haneul and the kids.”
* * *
Swordsmanship, Magic, White Magic, Black Magic, Spearmanship, Alchemy, Shield Arts, Martial Arts, Archery, Spirit Arts.
The group known as the Ten Great Clans, comprising the foremost houses in these ten major lineages, held absolute authority in Korea.
Every clan in Korea, without exception, had to follow the will of the Ten Great Clans.
They could not refuse or oppose them.
“It was a setting that appeared in the game too.”
About 200 years ago, the world was destroyed once by the Great Upheaval.
The beings who emerged during the process of rebuilding that world were the Hunters.
Back then, they were called by many names—heroes, warriors, saviors, awakeners, superhumans, pioneers—and they naturally became the center of reconstruction.
The problem was that they ran rampant everywhere, fighting among themselves to become the center.
It was an era of warring lords.
In such a situation, the world couldn’t possibly function properly.
That was when the Ten Great Clans appeared.
Having resolved to pacify and rebuild the world, they eliminated the rampaging forces.
But there was no guarantee that those calling themselves heroes wouldn’t rise up again.
The superhuman power of Hunters standing against the threat of monsters was hope for humanity, but also despair.
The world needed order to exist; ironically, they were a chaos capable of potentially destroying that very order.
Thus, to set the world right, they had to be controlled.
The Ten Great Clans were no different.
They too were a potential danger.
All Hunters were.
That is why.
“They formed a social covenant.”
To avoid destroying with their own hands the world that had once been destroyed by monsters.
Under the leadership of the Ten Great Clans, all Hunters made a solemn covenant, staking their very souls.
It was an oath that, should they break the promised terms, appropriate restrictions could be imposed on their souls.
To put the contents of the covenant simply, they were as follows.
One, only those who obtained a license could be recognized as Hunters.
One, all Hunters must not deny the existence of the Association.
One, all clans must respect one another and not encroach upon each other’s domains.
One, the Ten Great Clans are appointed as the foremost houses in their respective ten major lineage categories at set intervals.
One, the Ten Great Clans represent the collective will of all subordinate clans.
One, ….
Because such a covenant took effect.
The world was able to be reorganized into the one I live in now.
But a covenant originating from social consensus loses its power if the members’ consent is absent.
Therefore, it was necessary to promote unity to gain the members’ consent.
The Myeonggahoe was one of the gatherings born from such meaning.
To unite prestigious houses of the same lineage and respect one another.
Also, as the Ten Great Clans representing them, to hear their opinions and gain their support.
No matter how much authority the Ten Great Clans wielded to represent the collective will of their subordinate clans based on the covenant, they could never ignore them—nor should they.
Because authority comes from below.
The students’ Myeonggahoe was no different.
As a member of Singeom Doga, I was going to build friendships with the students of the swordsmanship prestigious houses.
“The people we’re about to meet are those we’ll continue our ties with even after we enter society. So it’s best to get along with them as harmoniously as possible.”
“If they don’t pick a fight, I have no intention of being hostile either.”
Academy City District 23, Regulus Hotel.
Arriving at the hotel owned by Singeom Doga, Dosieun and I talked as we walked down the corridor.
Having figured out my personality over five years, she offered advice to keep me from causing unnecessary trouble.
“The Myeonggahoe is not merely a gathering for the purpose of socializing.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s also a gathering where decisions are made.”
“Decisions?”
“Yeah.”
According to Dosieun’s explanation.
The Myeonggahoe, comprised of students with solid backgrounds, could voice their opinions on the Academy’s policy-making.
Because the Myeonggahoe’s opinion was considered the opinion of all students belonging to that lineage.
Even as student council president, it seemed she could not afford to disregard their opinions.
“And the one who represents the collective will of the Myeonggahoe—sometimes even leads it—is the Representative.”
Representatives are divided by year.
Each year’s Representative could speak for the collective will of the students in that year.
“Basically, the third-year Representative hosts the Myeonggahoe. Since I’m the Representative this year, I’ll be hosting all the gatherings this year. So Gyeonu, watch and learn from what I do by my side.”
“Then nuna, you have the collective will of the third-year swordsmanship students?”
“The third-year Representative is also the Representative who encompasses the entire grade. So the collective will that the third-year Representative speaks for can be seen as the will of all first, second, and third-year students combined.”
“So that means nuna is the real power in the swordsmanship lineage.”
“Well… to put it simply, yes. But you must remember that just because the collective will follows you doesn’t mean you can wield it carelessly. After all, the collective will comes from the members’ support and consent. A Representative is nothing more than a spokesperson, not a dictator.”
Dosieun cautioned firmly and sensibly.
It was indeed a statement befitting a student council president who commanded the collective will of students across all years, all departments and lineages regardless of enrollment status.
I nodded.
But I had one question.
“Nuna, but.”
“Yeah. If you’re curious, ask.”
“You said there’s a Representative for each year, but how does the first-year Representative work? Can we, who only just enrolled, have a Representative?”
“The first-year Representatives are you and Seungu.”
“….”
“Representatives are basically supposed to be from the Ten Great Clans. After all, only those from the Ten Great Clans possess the justification to wield the students’ collective will.”
“….”
“That’s why I told you to watch and learn well from what I do. Gyeonu, when you become a second-year, you’ll be the second-year Representative, and when you become a third-year, you’ll speak for the collective will of all swordsmanship students.”
…Honestly, I had somewhat expected it.
As Dosieun said, only those from the Ten Great Clans had the justification to represent the collective will.
Among those who entered as first-years, there were only me and my cousin, Doseungu.
“This is going to be a headache.”
Having the collective will of the first-year swordsmanship students follow me felt good on one hand, but was also bothersome.
It was as if I would have to lend an ear to each and every voice they made.
It would be nothing but annoying and cumbersome.
But I couldn’t just ignore it either.
If I didn’t become the first-year Representative.
“That bastard Doseungu would become the Representative.”
My cousin, Doseungu.
My feelings toward him still hadn’t faded even after five years.
I couldn’t sit by and watch the students’ collective will fall into his hands.
If the story were to proceed, he could become an obstacle.
That was why I had to secure the position of Representative, which allowed me to exert influence over the swordsmanship students.
“The problem is that I don’t have the capacity to pay attention to the Myeonggahoe….”
Time was overwhelmingly insufficient.
Of course I had to train myself, but I also had to set aside time for Yeon Haneul, Gang Hanbyeol, and the others.
I had no time to manage the Prestigious Families Assembly.
So I asked Do Sieun, who must have had similar concerns as student council president and representative of the Prestigious Families Assembly.
She answered.
“That’s why I told you to get along with the people you’re going to meet from now on. So you can draw them into your faction. You’ll entrust the work you’re supposed to do to those people.”
“A faction…”
“So go and take a good look at them, and find people who can become your strength.”
“I guess I should.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll help you. The second-year representative will help too.”
“Really? Thanks, noona.”
Create a faction that would act in my place.
That was certainly one way to do it.
Taking it positively, I stood at the entrance to the banquet hall.
If I opened this door and went inside, the people of the swordsmanship prestigious families would be waiting.
“Attach this to your clothes. It’s a marker to identify which family you belong to, so no one makes a mistake and causes offense.”
After rummaging through her handbag, Do Sieun held out a small badge to me.
It was a yellow badge in the shape of the Divine Sword Do Clan’s crest.
Nodding at her words, I pinned on the badge shaped like a lion.
“Then let’s go in.”
“Yeah.”
Do Sieun, who had the same badge as mine pinned to her chest, took the lead.
I followed her as she opened the door and stepped into the banquet hall.
“…”
‘…There are a lot of them.’
As soon as we entered the banquet hall, the gazes of the people inside poured onto us.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that their conversations had stopped when they saw us.
From a quick sweep of the room, there seemed to be at least several dozen—maybe two hundred.
There might have been even more.
With that many eyes fixed on us, refusing to leave, it was impossible not to feel conscious of them.
“Don’t feel too burdened. They’re all curious because they know we’re from the Divine Sword Do Clan.”
“I know. So I have to deal with each of those people one by one, right?”
“It would be good to deal with them one by one, but realistically, it’s impossible to do that in a single day, so take your time getting to know them. First, start by making acquaintances with the people from the most important families.”
“Which families are those?”
“The first families you should interact with are the people from the families known alongside ours as the Five Great Swordsmanship Clans.”
“Then I guess we’ll have to find where they are.”
“It’s fine. Stay still.”
“Stay still?”
“They’ll come to us on their own.”
“…”
“Just as there is etiquette between people, there is etiquette between families. It is proper for a family of lower standing to come and greet a family of higher standing. Since we are the highest-ranking among them, the proper thing for us is, basically, not to approach first, but to receive their greetings.”
“…So that’s how it is.”
“Yes. So we can just stay still and receive their greetings. The first families to come greet us will be the Five Great Swordsmanship Clans. After that, the families of progressively lower rank will come in order.”
When I received instruction from the Divine Sword Do Clan, I had learned etiquette between families as well.
However, since I hadn’t had occasion to meet people from other families at official events until now, I was still clumsy with etiquette.
In that sense, this Prestigious Families Assembly was the first official event I was participating in.
I took to heart Do Sieun’s voice as she quietly instructed me from beside me, as if she were an etiquette teacher.
Then, at that moment, she whispered.
“They’re coming.”
“…”
“Coincidentally, it’s a family I wanted to introduce you to, Gyeonu. I recommend bringing that family’s child into your faction.”
A group moved within the crowd.
Receiving people’s gazes, they strode confidently toward us.
‘That girl is…’
Among them, I spotted a woman whose face was familiar.
She was a character who appeared in the game.
If I had to say whether she was a supporting character or a villain, she was a supporting character.
“They’re from the Crimson No Clan.”
“…Yeah.”
As Do Sieun’s voice rang in my ears,
I focused on that woman.
A tall height nearly reaching 180 centimeters.
Long limbs advantageous in battle.
Long, crimson-tinged hair tied with a black ribbon.
Brown eyes.
“You must be busy, being both student council president and representative. I look forward to working with you again this year.”
“Likewise. And this is…”
“She’s one of ours who enrolled this year. I brought her along to introduce her anyway. Hyowon, say hello. You probably saw her once at the entrance ceremony, but this is Do Sieun, two years your senior. She became student council president this year. She’s also from the Divine Sword Do Clan, which is hosting this gathering. Her epithet is Lightning Blossom. You’ve heard of it, right?”
“Hello, Student Council President Do Sieun. I am No Hyowon of the Crimson No Clan. I was deeply impressed by your speech at the entrance ceremony. If I have the chance next time, I would also like to witness your sword.”
“I’ve heard about you since before you enrolled. Hwichan and I are on casual terms, so don’t stiffly call me student council president. You can call me comfortably, like unni or sunbae.”
“Then I’ll call you sunbae from now on. Sieun sunbae.”
“Good. I look forward to getting along with you. Then… now it’s our turn to introduce someone. Gyeonu?”
“Ah, yeah.”
No Hyowon of the Crimson No Clan.
Epithet, Fighting Princess.
I exchanged greetings with her.
“I’m Do Gyeonu. My epithet is… you know it even if I don’t bother saying it, right?”
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss