Sun and Hill's Shattered Pride
html, body { margin:0; padding:0; } New Student: Johan 23
Maraelle's Illusion Sword had been broken. Hanji's Swift Sword and Bursta's Mighty Sword had also failed to withstand the bizarre sword of this human freshman.
As three of the seven executives from Sun and Hill knelt before a first-year newcomer, the circle's atmosphere shifted from unrest to stunned silence. The members stared in disbelief at the handsome freshman who was scratching his head and yawning nonchalantly.
"Kuh! Defeat."
When the fourth challenger, executive Kunrel, admitted his loss, one of the spectators cried out in horror.
"Club president! Call the club president! Or at least the vice president!"
The gap between the vice president and the other executives was even wider than that between executives and regular members. They were named characters, after all.
With the situation this dire, the vice president or president had to step in. Sun and Hill's pride had already been trampled beyond recognition, but sending this freshman away like this would mean—jokingly or not—they might have to relinquish their spot as the top swordsmanship circle.
"No need to fetch him. I'm already here."
A dignified voice rang out from the crowd. The spectators parted around it like the sea splitting in a miracle.
From the divided crowd emerged a stunning beauty with graceful steps.
She was a beautiful woman with long, straight black hair cascading down. Her eyes held the ferocity of a storm, exuding an irresistible charisma, while her confident lips curved into a thin smile.
But it wasn't a smile of joy—it seemed more like rage masked as mirth. The crisp uniform she wore was Drake's school attire. It was Idsha Garnet, president of the Sun and Hill circle.
"Master!"
Kunrel, who had just lost, looked up at her. But Idsha gazed down at him with a face utterly devoid of warmth.
"Maraelle, Hanji, Bursta, and Kunrel. No—all circle members who lost to this freshman are hereby expelled, effective immediately."
"!?"
Baren, the first to fall, convulsed in shock and shouted at Idsha Garnet's radical declaration.
"M-Master! What do you mean!?"
"Exactly what I said. How dare you ask after dragging the circle's honor through the mud?"
Idsha snapped her fingers, and circle enforcers wearing white armbands on their left arms stepped forward in a line.
"Escort them politely out of the circle hall."
"““““Yes!””””"
The enforcers barked in unison, gravelly and fierce. They were no different from Idsha's personal guard. Maraelle, Hanji, Bursta, and Kunrel raised their swords into defensive stances.
"President! Even after all our devotion to the circle, you're tossing us aside like rags!?"
"Devotion? What devotion? Even if there was any, today's fiasco wipes it all away. If you have any shame, leave on your own two feet."
Idsha pointed toward the door. Yet the four executives stood firm. With a sigh, she said,
"Vice president."
"Yes."
A white-haired boy stepped forward at her call. Barely over 150cm tall, his youthful face was unmistakably boyish.
This fairy boy, who looked even younger than the freshman, drew his sword from his waist, causing the four executives to falter and step back.
Even all four together couldn't beat the vice president. Accepting this, the executives trudged out.
"Get rid of that trash too."
Idsha nodded toward Baren, who was dragged away by enforcers.
"N-No! This is just a minor slip-up! Damn it! Let go! Gah! Don't step on my foot!"
Even their final exit was utterly pathetic.
"We really need to recruit new talent. Calling this the top swordsmanship circle with such mediocrity? Hmph! Even a stray dog would laugh."
"Well, the reputation in our era was mostly built by you and the president."
"That's why Sun and Hill grew complacent, relying on past glory and slacking on freshman recruitment. This mess is the result."
Idsha exchanged brief words with her vice president, Doris Bienker. Then she turned to Johan.
"Hey, freshman. Join us."
She declared it boldly, like a pirate dreaming of becoming Pirate King. But Johan smirked and shook his head.
"No thanks."
Idsha sunbae furrowed her brows like an enraged lion, chewing over my words. Her expression was like that of a lover hearing a shocking breakup line.
Of course, Idsha sunbae—the Sun and Hill president known as the Black Death Sword—wouldn't have a boyfriend.
She cracked her knuckles, her face twisted in irritation, and bellowed at me.
"Oh ho. You turn our circle into this mess and think you can just walk away without accountability? As president, I can't allow that."
"I like pleasure without responsibility."
I grinned back, and the succubus girls among the spectators wiggled their hips with smiles.
Succubi, the race of lust, might seem promiscuous, but they're actually picky about looks.
Some have weird tastes and go only for ugly guys, but overall, they prefer handsome ones.
"Whoa~♥ That freshman! Mine?"
"No cutting! I marked him first!?"
"Just invite him to our orgy party!"
"Yeah? What if he's a prude and flakes? We can't kidnap him with our strength."
"Wonder if he's that strong in bed too…."
A good vibe from the succubi. I'd definitely go if invited to an orgy party.
Idsha sunbae stomped her foot to silence the rowdy crowd.
Thud!
A mana-infused stomping kick. The resounding boom not only shook the training ground but left a massive spiral mark centered on her.
Her skill was at least two or three levels above the other Sun and Hill executives—visibly so.
As expected of a supporting character.
Idsha sunbae reached out, and one of the iron swords piled in the corner of the training ground floated into the air.
Telekinesis via mana. The tip of the iron sword in her hand gleamed.
"No way—we get to see the president duel today?"
"Gotta be. Executives losing to a freshman means she has to step up. But what's that human's deal? How's a mere human that strong?"
"Dunno. Half-blood maybe? Dragon or divine…."
"Demigod? Yeah! That'd explain it."
Too bad Johan wasn't a demigod. Just human.
"Idsha sunbae. Let me handle this."
The white-haired fairy boy blocked her path, sword in hand. Shorter than me by two heads, but he was one of the novel's leads. Underestimate at your peril.
Sun and Hill's vice president, rivaling Idsha in skill. Their duo basically carried the circle's fame.
"I want to do it."
"There's an order to things. You step in only if I lose."
"What? You're making me nervous saying that. You think you'll lose to him?"
"Not at all. But he might have some wildcard. Can't be careless after the executives fell."
Idsha sunbae pouted at the fairy boy's words, then tossed him the iron sword. Sun and Hill's vice president, Doris Bienker, leveled his sword at me and declared,
"I formally challenge you to a duel. Doris Bienker, vice guild master of Sun and Hill, the Bear Honey Fairy."
"What's a Bear Honey Fairy?"
"My hometown village is called Bear Honey."
"You live in a beehive?"
"...... Draw your sword. If you intend to duel me. Or if you're scared, bow formally and apologize for the disturbance."
Doris was one of the more sensible novel characters. His tone and voice were soft and coaxing.
Shota fans would love him. There were even doujins like that.
"I hate apologizing the most. Apologies are best when received. Actually, I demand an apology from Sun and Hill."
"Ha!? What do you mean?"
"They insulted my dorm."
"Hm… Fair point. Understood. If I lose, I'll apologize on Sun and Hill's behalf."
"Hey! Vice president! Don't decide that on your own!"
Idsha sunbae fumed from behind. Speaking for Sun and Hill in front of the president? Natural she'd rage.
Doris turned to her with a cool gaze and said,
"I have no intention of losing."
"Hmph! You're the one who said 'what if'! Lose, and you're expelled too!"
Leaving the tomboyish Idsha sunbae behind, we entered the reality room.
Only against Doris did I take a proper stance. As my posture shifted, the watching students gulped.
"What!? Totally different from that sloppy stance earlier? He's getting serious now?"
"So he was toying with the executives?"
"Scary freshman…."
"Doris won't lose, right?"
"Don't be ridiculous! Doris ranks 4th in the martial arts club yearlies. And the top six third-years are all comparable. Him losing means the whole third-year martial arts club loses!"
Doris's eyes scanned me. The student operating the reality room machine swallowed pale-faced and spoke.
"Th-Then, beginning now!"
Bzzz!
The reality room activated. And in that instant, Doris vanished.