The First Challenge Letter
The reason I'd sighed upon receiving my first challenge letter was simple. There was only one person in the entire academy who would send a formal letter like this, written in classical Chinese script.
Choi Yeon. It had to be her.
"I didn't expect her to take an interest in me this soon."
"Huh?"
Choi Yeon was the type who pushed herself to grow in order not to disappoint her family or her grandfather. Given that her clan was led by a swordmaster, they placed great emphasis on spars and real combat, so whenever the player got stronger, she'd immediately challenge them to a duel. Sending these [challenge letters] to students she deemed equal to or stronger than herself was one of her signature events.
Because of that, the community even nicknamed her the "Freshman Slicer" of the academy.
But that was only from her perspective on who was strong. I'd heard rumors about myself spreading through the academy lately thanks to club activities, but I hadn't expected her to approach me so quickly.
Does that mean she already sees me as her equal—or better?
The fact that the challenge letter event had triggered seemed to confirm it. Well, her judgment wasn't wrong...
"You gonna read that thing or what?"
Sea-a twisted her body like she was dying of curiosity.
"Nothing special in there. Probably just 'meet me at this time and place next week' or something."
I opened the letter as I replied, and sure enough, it was exactly as expected.
Next Monday duel time. I'll be waiting.
—Choi Yeon
"...Yeah, called it."
"Whoa, for real. Oh, so that pretty lady with the blue hair who dropped off the letter and vanished—her name's Choi Yeon?"
Sea-a reacted like it was the first time she'd heard the name.
"You didn't see her during the entrance exam? She's top of this year's class—you must've at least caught a glimpse."
"Ahh... I was swamped with part-time gigs back then, so I rushed through the test and went straight home to cook for my little siblings."
...Now I felt kinda bad for no reason.
"Anyway, so you're dueling that Choi Yeon girl next week, Eugene? First place versus second?"
Maybe it was the top-and-runner-up titles, but Sea-a looked at me with sparkling excitement.
A duel with Choi Yeon... It'd be great to build a connection with her through a spar, but...
The problem was her personality.
"I'm gonna turn it down."
"Ehh? Why?!"
Her fierce competitive spirit was an asset, but considering the academy events coming up, accepting the duel would just wear me out for no real gain. The cons outweighed the pros.
So...
"Just 'cause."
Building a connection some other way—one that benefited us—made more sense than a duel.
"Urk?! Huh? Oh, it's over already... Boss, wanna grab some food?"
Jinwoo Bivalt, who'd been dozing on the table nearby, rubbed his eyes and sat up.
Perfect timing. Now that he was up too, it was time to move.
"Yeah. Let's eat."
Guests were coming, after all. I'd stuff myself, then give them a proper welcome with that energy.
Hoping they'd be satisfied.
* * *
"President, do we really all need to go en masse like this?"
In the Ranger Club's sub-room, members geared up like they were heading into a dungeon gathered, preparing to head out somewhere.
"Those punks who haven't even been around a week declared war on us. You think we'd just sit still?"
Kwon Su-hyeop, president of the Ranger Club, clenched his fist recalling the recent incident.
The recipe they'd gotten from the Recipe Development Club—a dish that permanently boosted physical abilities just by eating it. But it turned out to be incomplete.
To revive the Ranger Club and secure better facilities and funding, Kwon Su-hyeop had sent members to extract a proper recipe, but...
"How dare some freshmen disrespect their seniors? And our club, with me, Kwon Su-hyeop, leading it?"
The problem was those kids who'd hired the club 'Familia' to protect them.
Of course, Kwon Su-hyeop wasn't dismissing Familia's skills entirely. Even as a brand-new club, they'd crushed the Gold-rank Fund Investment Club—that much was fact.
That's why he'd decided to pressure them another way.
"Don't sweat it. We're just going to say hi."
No matter how much of a rising star they were, they were still a fresh Bronze club. Kwon Su-hyeop planned to drop by "to greet them," fully armed with his members to intimidate.
This would show them what a real combat Bronze club—and the academy's powerhouse—looked like.
He had no intention of starting a fight. He didn't want to relive the humiliation of his member losing to them last time.
Instead, he'd use his position and influence to squeeze them slowly, then swallow Familia whole.
If I absorb them right, promoting to Silver is a pipe dream no more.
In fact, Kwon Su-hyeop was convinced the Ranger Club would be the next to hit Silver.
"All the interns here?"
He thought of the freshman who'd joined last week.
Kim Young-je, who despite his youth wielded four elements freely and showed off his talents. His dungeon performance had been impressive too, so Kwon was determined to snag him.
Such a versatile, promising mage was a rare find.
"Uh... that mage intern's not here."
"Young-je?"
"Yeah. The others say he hasn't even shown up to the sub-room today."
"...I see."
It was odd for such a diligent kid, but Kwon brushed it off.
How many favors had they done to keep him? Extra rations in the dungeon, loot shares as a full member despite being an intern. He'd even given him a rare ten-year-old ginseng he'd lucked into harvesting.
Any normal freshman would sell their soul for that. He'd recruited a few that way already—he was confident.
Busy today, maybe? Anyway, time to wrap up and go.
No way he was some chaebol heir. A few more perks, and he'd join for sure. No issue.
"So we're all mostly here?"
"Yes, President."
"Too bad. I wanted him to see our club's prestige."
Tsk. Would've made recruiting easier...
But what could he do? Kwon Su-hyeop decided to head to Familia's sub-room on Basement Level 1, Room Z, with this lineup.
"Let's go. Time to show them who they messed with."
Every member was heavily armed. Charging in like this, even Familia would feel the pressure.
Familia's Room Z was in the deepest part of the basement where Bronze clubs clustered.
Until recently a mere storage room—Kwon was sure they'd be chatting in a dusty hole. He strode up, flung both doors open, and barged in.
"We heard a new club formed, so we came to congrat—...da?"
But the interior was nothing like he'd imagined—something out of a fever dream. Kwon froze.
The sheer scale dwarfed other sub-rooms. That much he could accept—basement storage varied in size.
But the equipment inside? No.
Gleaming, luxurious colors. Sleek, modern design. Stuff even top heroes couldn't get...
"Another String?"
Why was that company's gear lining a Bronze sub-room?
Growing up wealthy, Kwon knew Another String—elite gear for top guilds. Astronomical prices, prestige required just to buy. And now, perfectly arrayed in a Bronze club room.
"President? Why're you—huh?"
The vice-president who'd followed him in also froze at the sight.
Luxury beyond their own Ranger Club: showers, bedrooms, lounge, game room, training area. Facilities that rivaled proper guilds—shocking for a Bronze vice-president.
"Oh? Seniors, you made it."
A guy on a leg machine set it down, approached with a bright smile.
"You... you... why the hell are you here?"
Kim Young-je. The freshman he'd lavished investments on.
Acting so at home, using the gear casually—it was utterly unforeseen.
"Huh? Why am I here? 'Cause I'm in Familia, duh?"
Kim Young-je shrugged with a grin, and suddenly everything clicked for Kwon Su-hyeop.
A spy. Familia's president had planted Kim Young-je as a spy.
"Ha, playing cute already... Resorting to spies this early."
"Spy? I was just purely curious about what the Ranger Club gets up to. Oh, and that ginseng you gave me last time? Delicious. The ten-year vintage packed a real punch."
Kim Young-je's refreshing smile might look innocent to others, but to Kwon right now, it was pure mockery.
But he held back. They weren't here to fight today.
"G-good, glad you enjoyed it. So, where's your president?"
"Our prez? Out at a meeting."
"...A meeting?"
Murmurs rose from the back. Turning, Kwon saw members parting, revealing a man chatting between two women.
The face from last week's arena.
Eugene Han Calione. Familia's president.
And not just him.
"Payment for the weekend renovations. There's still a ton left from what Young Master... I mean, President Familia gave us. What should we do with the rest?"
"Hm? Oh, that. Hang onto it for now. We'll probably use you guys a lot more."
"Understood."
Kwon Su-hyeop's pupils shook at the woman opposite him. He recognized her instantly.
No way he wouldn't—the hottest topic lately.
The International Trade Club. And its president, Inomiya Haru.
If you needed anything the academy didn't have, go to International Trade—they could procure most things for a price. A top-tier distribution club, Silver-rank but outperforming many Golds.
Rumors swirled that with the Fund Investment Club's collapse, they'd absorbed everything and were on track for Gold.
So why was that president here?
"Oh? Don't think I've seen you before. What brings you here?"
Eugene finally spotted Kwon Su-hyeop, scanned the Ranger members, and flashed a sly grin.
Their faces were blank with shock. Eugene stifled a laugh.
His plan was already in motion.