The so-called Five Great Sword Families was, at the end of the day, nothing more than a convenient label to round out the number.
In truth, there were only three sword families that the world recognized and revered—houses that possessed true glory and prestige.
The Divine Sword Do Family, the Radiant Sword Baek Family, and the Crimson No Family, which currently held their place among the Ten Great Families.
These three families had competed for their positions among the Ten Great Families over the course of two hundred years.
Depending on the era, it had been the Radiant Sword Baek Family or the Crimson No Family—not the Divine Sword Do Family—that had stood among their ranks.
Because of this.
“I shall restore that glory.”
The Crimson No Family’s battle maiden, No Hyowon.
She possessed fierce pride in her clan.
Thus, it was only natural that she harbored the ambition to elevate the Crimson No Family back among the Ten Great Families with her own hands one day, just as her ancestors had done.
Her competitive spirit toward the Divine Sword Do Family—which currently reigned supreme as a member of the Ten Great Families—was equally understandable.
She wanted to conquer them and prove that the Crimson No Family was a renowned house inferior to the Divine Sword Do Family in nothing.
Consequently, she couldn’t help but take an interest in Do Gyeonu, who was her age and had enrolled as the runner-up.
Deep down, she had been suppressing a desire to contend with him for supremacy—to bring him underfoot and conquer him.
“By now, it should be about time for a Rank 2 to appear around us….”
Of course, No Hyowon was not foolish enough to act on her emotions recklessly.
Even if she forced Do Gyeonu to submit, she might prove her strength, but she could not represent the collective will.
That role was permitted only to those belonging to the Ten Great Families.
The covenant handed down for roughly two hundred years—the social consensus—did not grant her that qualification.
If she violated the covenant, she would incur the opposition of the Divine Sword Do Family and the other renowned sword families.
It could escalate into a war between clans, and without support from other families, she might be attacked one-sidedly.
Therefore, she had to keep her ambition buried in her heart; she could not let greed dictate her actions.
Just as the Divine Sword Do Family had their role, she had to remain faithful to hers.
As one of the Five Great Sword Families, it was her place to support them.
And while doing so, wait for her moment.
“They’re coming.”
She fixed her eyes on a cluster of light gathering not far away.
The monster’s form was taking shape.
[You have encountered a monster.]
[Sweat Bison (Rank 02) x 1]
“It’s a Sweat Bison!”
“Hyowon! You can handle it, right!?”
“Leave it to me, Oppa.”
The purpose of this unity gathering was not only to promote smooth exchange between seniors and juniors, but also for freshmen to display their abilities.
It was, in a sense, the freshmen’s debut match.
No Hyowon faced the Sweat Bison backed by her party members.
Moooooh!
The creature, sweating with heat radiating from its entire body, snorted and scraped the ground with its forelegs.
Immediately, it charged at No Hyowon.
She swung her sword at the frenzied beast.
Fwoosh!
The greatsword cleaved the air.
As the blade’s trajectory split open, crimson flames gushed forth.
Now wreathed in fire, she showed no sign of being burned and bestowed upon the creature a sword strike blazing with crimson light.
The moment she brought the greatsword down vertically, flames surged up from the ground.
Mooooooh!
Mortally wounded by a single slash, the creature shrieked in agony, unable to escape the flames.
It thrashed desperately to survive while engulfed in fire.
But even as it rolled across the ground, it could not extinguish the flames, and eventually drew its last breath.
It turned to ash and vanished.
“She’s fighting a Rank 2 monster steadily all by herself?”
“I could do this because you and the others were supporting me, Oppa.”
No Hyowon picked up the dropped magic stone and passed the credit to her party members.
They, who had known her since childhood, congratulated her on her debut.
“You’ve taken down a Rank 2, so next you have to take down a Rank 3.”
“We’re here too, and with your skills, you can handle a Rank 3.”
“Right? You need to make sure everyone here knows who you are. We’ll make you the star today!”
“Yes, I’ll trust in my seniors.”
The party members livened up the mood.
No Hyowon welcomed their goodwill with a bright laugh.
But at the same time, she was coolly assessing the reality of the situation.
“As if I could be the protagonist….”
At this debut match, this unity gathering meant to spotlight the freshmen’s achievements.
She was nothing more than a supporting actor.
The leading role had already been decided.
Do Gyeonu of the Divine Sword Do Family.
“The student council president will stick to his side and help him pile up achievements somehow.”
This stage was also where Do Gyeonu, as the first-year representative, would earn recognition from the other distinguished houses.
If she didn’t plan to oppose him going forward, she needed to stand out just enough to help draw eyes toward him.
So in that sense, he was the protagonist.
No, if there was a protagonist, there was one more.
Crackle!
One side of her vision flashed blue.
No Hyowon turned her head at the sound of thunder.
“Thunderwall….”
Against a Rank 2 Sweat Bison.
Do Seungu was battling the creature, emanating Thunderwall around him.
“…He’s pretty good.”
Do Seungu, who had once been hailed as a prodigy of the Divine Sword Do Family and held great expectations.
Though he had ultimately lost out to Do Gyeonu, as a direct descendant of the Divine Sword Do Family, he too possessed the qualifications to take center stage.
Depending on the circumstances, the role of first-year representative might have gone to him.
“….”
As she watched Do Seungu’s swordsmanship.
No Hyowon recalled exchanging greetings with him at the assembly of distinguished families a few hours ago.
In fact, before receiving Do Gyeonu’s proposal, she had received the same offer from him.
“I want you to stand on my side.”
Among the first-year swordsmanship students.
Since there were no direct descendants of the Radiant Sword Baek Family, No Hyowon was the highest in standing after the direct descendants of the Divine Sword Do Family.
Depending on who she supported, it could influence the representative selection.
That was why Do Seungu had tried to win her over to become the first-year representative.
But she rejected the proposal and gave him the same answer she had given Do Gyeonu.
“Then show me your skills at the unity gathering. Show me that you’re worthy of conquering me.”
Since the Crimson No Family was not among the Ten Great Families and she was in a position where she could not become the representative.
If she had to accept being conquered by someone, even against her will.
No Hyowon would rather be conquered by someone stronger than herself.
In that sense, Do Seungu had displayed fairly competent skill.
“But it’s not enough.”
No Hyowon smacked her lips in disappointment.
Do Seungu’s Thunderwall was certainly impressive.
The sword he wielded was swift and sharp.
But it was no more than a level she could contend with.
She wanted a being so overwhelmingly powerful that she could do nothing against them.
It was then.
Rumble!
From the opposite side of where Do Seungu stood.
A sound like lightning tearing through the atmosphere erupted.
The blue light was fierce.
Startled as if struck by a bolt from the blue, No Hyowon quickly turned her head.
“Ah….”
Within the descending lightning.
Do Gyeonu was holding his sword.
“….”
Crackle!
To a degree incomparable with Do Seungu.
Blue electricity crackled savagely from Do Gyeonu’s body.
She could see the Thunderwall clearly.
The lightning erupting intermittently around him was ruthlessly brutal.
“…He’s more than I imagined.”
It was as if Do Gyeonu were wielding lightning itself rather than a sword.
A wondrous sight.
Truly worthy of enrolling as the runner-up.
No Hyowon was overwhelmed by the swordsmanship he displayed.
“I want to try… conquering him.”
If she had to submit to someone, she wanted it to be Do Gyeonu.
If it was him—he who surely possessed strength greater than hers—she could accept being conquered.
At the same time, a competitive spirit ignited.
The thought of crossing swords with him, defeating him, and placing him beneath her feet flashed through her mind.
She wanted to surpass him. She wanted to conquer him.
These contradictory thoughts collided, heating her body.
The corners of her lips rose in excitement.
It was the moment No Hyowon’s heart stirred.
* * *
The rate at which Sweat Bisons appeared grew faster as time passed, and occasionally Blood Bisons—Rank 3 creatures—began to emerge.
Since the monsters that served as conditions for gate conquest were appearing, it meant the conquest was drawing near.
From now on, they had to focus on finding the creature that held the Gate Key.
[You have encountered a monster.]
[Blood Bison (Rank 03) x 1]
Special caution was required when facing a Rank 3 monster.
The average first-year student could not handle one alone.
By the same standard, it was burdensome even for second and third-years, as well as active hunters.
Therefore, according to the Association’s guidelines, monsters Rank 3 and above required party-based subjugation for safety.
Because of this, those who faced the Blood Bison were largely divided into two reactions.
“If you don’t want to die, get your heads on straight from now on! It’s Rank 3! Follow my orders properly!”
“First-years, don’t step forward—fall back! Focus on covering from the rear!”
Those willing to shoulder the risk to gain honor.
“Fall back! Leave that thing to the others! We’ll assist by taking down the surrounding Bisons!”
“Don’t provoke it needlessly! If you draw its aggro, you could get hurt!”
Those who prioritized safety over honor and refused to take risks.
Among them were also those who gave up on subjugation due to their own ulterior motives.
“Gyeonu! A Rank 3 appeared over there!”
“…Thank you.”
It was embarrassing to say it myself, but.
I was the representative of the first-year students, and once I advanced to third year, I would be the one to represent the collective will of the entire swordsmanship track.
Therefore, this stage was a place for me to prove my qualifications to them, as well as a place for them to curry favor with me in advance.
I was the protagonist.
They didn’t want to face the creature and have the Gate Key drop by chance, stealing the spotlight that was meant for me.
“They’re trying to butter me up.”
For my part, I was simply glad to be spared the trouble of finding the Blood Bison myself.
The party consisting of me and Do Sieun was facing the creature.
Mooooooh!
The Rank 3 monster Blood Bison, unlike the Sweat Bison, stood on two legs and wielded a massive club.
Blood trickled from its body, where its hide had peeled away to reveal red flesh.
The heated blood evaporated instantly, creating a mist around it.
The mist contained a toxic component that would sting the skin on contact.
Because of this, one had to cast protective magic on their body to ward off the mist in order to fight the creature.
“Noona.”
“Yeah, Gyeonu.”
While the triplets were distracting the creature.
Having completed a series of attacks, Do Sieun and I called out to each other.
There was no need for lengthy words—a single call was enough to communicate our thoughts.
We immediately charged.
Whoosh!
The creature’s club whipped up wind.
The triplets, who had been moving about to confuse its vision, hurriedly dodged.
We dove into that opening.
Mooooooh!
Once again, fierce wind tore through the overgrown grasslands.
The club fell vertically.
At that moment, without any prior agreement, we split left and right almost simultaneously.
Crackle!
Blue sparks crackled along the Deep Azure Sword.
From the opposite side, the Suyeon Sword in Do Sieun’s hands also crackled with blue sparks.
The blue sparks soon became visible as Thunderwall, transforming into lightning.
Wreathed in lightning, we immediately kicked off the ground and lunged toward the creature.
Lion Iron Whip.
He shook the air with the Deep Azure Sword.
A blue trajectory that advanced parallel to the ground curved like a whip.
The sword strike wrapped halfway around the creature’s flank, carving a deep wound.
Lion Claw Scar.
On the opposite side, Do Sieun’s Suyeon Sword delivered a sharp blow.
The creature’s flank was torn open savagely.
Mooooooh!
The creature spewed a bizarre scream, scattering blood from both flanks.
Hearing the sound, the Sweat Bisons rushed toward us.
As if they had been waiting for this moment, the people watching from afar quickly joined the fray.
We left the surroundings to them and focused on finishing off the creature.
It wouldn’t be long now.
Lion Wild Dance.
I unleashed the same swordsmanship as Do Sieun.
Thunderwall radiated in all directions.
An irregular, adaptive barrage of chained attacks poured down upon the creature.
The creature could not swing its club.
Because just moments before, I had cut off one of its arms.
With a body that had lost its sense of balance, even swinging that heavy club was difficult, and Do Si-eun did not allow it.
And so, we were able to subjugate the Blood Bison.
“It really is nice fighting together with you, Noona. We can even take down a Rank 3 easily.”
“I feel the same. If you hadn’t been here, it would have taken me a while to bring it down alone. You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
“I’m perfectly fine, thanks to you supporting me from the side. But…”
“…”
This was no time to exchange pleasantries.
It didn’t look like we would have a chance to rest.
Sensing an energy stirring awake, I looked around the grassland.
As monsters and people gathered toward us, the mana spilling from them was creating an imbalance.
That imbalance caused cracks in space.
Crack!
A sound rang out like glass splintering.
Cracks spread through the space surrounding us.
In an instant, the fissures expanded, pouring monsters out from within.
[You have encountered monsters.]
[Blood Bison (Rank. 03) x 5]
[Sweat Bison (Rank. 02) x 14]
[Tear Bison (Rank. 01) x 27]
“…There sure are a lot of them.”
“…”
Herds of bison filled the area around us.
I let out a hollow laugh at the sight.
The others, too, looked utterly aghast.
But as if that had never happened, they quickly assumed battle stances.
It was right then that Do Si-eun’s aura changed as well.
The Suyeon Sword, having accepted the mana within Do Si-eun’s body, emitted a blue light.
Droplets of water rose within that light, and the droplets formed a mist.
The mist rapidly swelled in force, blanketing the area in a whitish haze.
The ground faintly took on moisture.
“Third-years, spear formation. Stand at the front and receive their attacks.”
“Third-years, spear formation!”
Do Si-eun calmly issued orders as she watched the battlefield.
The students belonging to her faction immediately relayed them in loud voices.
At that, the students who appeared to be third-years stepped forward to the vanguard without raising any objections.
“Second-years, protect the first-years.”
“Second-years, protect the first-years!”
“First-years, we’re going to break through the encirclement, so don’t fall behind and follow closely. I’ll leave the rear to you.”
“First-years, do not get separated from the front! And prepare for attacks from behind!”
In an instant, the formation was complete.
The first-years, who had shown traces of nervousness, seemed to be influenced by the trust the second- and third-years placed in her.
The wavering vanished from their eyes.
Then, she spoke to me.
“Gyeonu, stand beside me. You and I will open the path. You can do it, right?”
“…All right. I’ll try.”
She meant to hand the credit to me.
Realizing Do Si-eun’s intention, I nodded.
Then I sent her a look of thanks for her consideration.
And soon after.
“Advance. The moment we break through their encirclement, we turn around and eliminate them.”
Do Si-eun gave the signal.
Standing at the very front, she and I advanced toward them.
Lion Shattering Rend
Because of the water mist created by the Suyeon Sword,
the effect of Blue Lightning rose.
Blue currents spread rapidly through the area, using the droplets of water as a medium.
I struck down with a sword blow that cracked the ground with all my strength.
Rumble!
Blue Lightning surged through the damp ground toward them like a spiderweb.
Fragments of the sword strike dispersed into the air, clinging to the bodies of those not directly exposed to the slash.
Do Si-eun’s swordsmanship was the same.
────!!!
Blue lightning shot high from the ground, swallowing the space.
It roared with a sound like a lion’s cry and violently devoured them.
Just like that, a hole was torn through the encirclement.
While they were still reeling, we slipped out of the net.
The situation had reversed.
“Wheel around. From this moment on, annihilate them.”
At Do Si-eun’s command, the people erupted into cheers.
Leading their parties, they launched a counterattack against the monsters.
She and I were among them.
“Gyeonu.”
“I know. Cover me.”
“Don’t worry about your back.”
Taking down the Blood Bisons was our role.
At the signal, we struck and withdrew, gradually reducing their numbers.
At some point, a Gate Key emerged from one individual as it oxidized into particles of mana.
[You have cleared the Gate.]
It announced the end of the social gathering.
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss