The Sky Princess's Challenge
Just ten minutes.
In that short time, Zien finished reorganizing his team members. It wasn't easy binding together people who were practically strangers, but Zien had a real talent for reading and handling others.
'Kumo. Franklin. Sin Ha-seong. ...Red. Total of four team members.'
He would need to deal with each of them differently.
A carrot for the timid, always passive Kumo. A whip for Franklin, who only listened when you took a firm stance.
Respect the opinions of strong-willed Sin Ha-seong. And for the quirky woman who called herself Red, the self-proclaimed secret agent...
'Nothing to do but understand her.'
Reading Zien's expression, Red lifted the corner of her mouth and winked. Even in her late twenties, she was still full of youthful energy. And Zien wasn't just purely exceptional with the sword.
"And you must memorize the formations and hand signals I taught you. There's no room for mistakes in real combat."
The experience from Zien's previous life was seasoned enough to work in any zone.
'These people are all basically Hunters with Traits. If used well, they'll be solid assets.'
In his past life, Zien had taken on the roles of pillar and leader at some point. Once given the position, wrangling team members was straightforward.
"And during the mission, always move in pairs of two."
Zien paired with the client Yume.
Red with the 2nd-rank Hunter Kumo.
And Franklin with Sin Ha-seong.
"Yes! Got it!"
Maybe because he'd gotten some praise earlier, Kumo replied with uncharacteristic confidence.
"Our team leader~ He's a student, but isn't he way too seasoned? What if he's not really a student but just looks young?"
When Red teased Zien, Franklin—who seemed to have a soft spot for her—looked regretful about being paired with Sin Ha-seong.
"Pairing me, with this nasty spear punk... It's a bit upsetting, but... Understood."
Sin Ha-seong clicked his tongue at the sight.
"This bastard, who the hell are you looking at while you say that?"
"What? Looking where? Heh-hum! This guy's picking on the wrong person!"
Sin Ha-seong and Franklin, itching to tear into each other. Zien activated his Stigma to summon his Magic Tool.
"As you can see, my Trait is this sword. It has the power to cut mana."
Zien framed his Stigma and Magic Tool as Traits, and mana as magical power, to explain his abilities. Sin Ha-seong, who had assumed Zien's swordsmanship came from some Trait after seeing it, was shocked.
"So that swordsmanship wasn't from a Trait boost?"
Sin Ha-seong continued with a look of disbelief.
"Ha, really... Can't even trust the Association's licenses anymore. A guy with skills like that at 2nd rank."
Even the steadfast Sin Ha-seong acknowledged it in the end, and Zien used his team leader position to lay down the rules.
"Heh, done some class rep stuff in school? You're pretty slick at this."
Jin Yura, who had picked Zien, watched the scene with evident pride. She handed out black suits and name tags—the uniforms for Sky Group's bodyguards—to the team members.
"Now you're Sky Group bodyguards too. Same status as us, so treat us casually."
Vermouth's following advice was businesslike.
"That's right. Just hope there are no slip-ups. What you're guarding is Sky Group's princess, after all."
Jin Yura smirked at the sarcastic use of "princess," sweeping her gaze over the members.
"Then it's time to introduce the client your bodyguard team will protect? Our Sky Group's princess~"
Sky Group, the mega-corporation of Zone 1.
There was only one woman there worthy of being called princess.
In a corner of the Gate Management Bureau.
Stella, Arcana's 3rd-year ranking 1st, and student council president Camille were out on extracurricular activities for volunteer points. As graduating seniors, their duty was as safety personnel.
"Safety personnel my ass— like anything's gonna happen here? Total cakewalk."
As Stella said, all they had done so far was spectate gate raids. Unless a crisis hit, they were no different from the viewers.
"Being deployed only after an incident happens defeats the purpose. Safety personnel prevent accidents before they—"
Camille suddenly turned serious, killing the mood. Stella stared at him with a fed-up expression.
"You know you're no fun, right?"
"Fun?"
"Yeah. I'm the only one who puts up with you—otherwise, who'd hang out? You should be grateful."
Camille pushed up his glasses with his middle finger instead of replying to Stella's tongue-clicking.
"Thanks."
"Ugh, whatever—check that guy out? That's Zien, 1st year, right? His quest handling is insane."
"True. That level of performance in his first gate... unbelievable skill."
Camille nodded.
Stella's face lit up with pride.
"His leadership's smooth as hell, combat power's off the charts. See? Told you I have a good eye for people."
"Stella. It was my idea to nominate Zien for student council."
"Sure, but I approved it."
"Approved?"
"Yeah. What if I'd said no, even if you thought of it?"
"I'm the president, not you."
Camille narrowed his eyes.
Stella snorted.
"Dude, you didn't know?"
She lazily flicked her white hair with her hand.
"You're the figurehead~"
"What?!"
Stella's bombshell declaration.
Outmatched in both intimidation and words, Camille whipped his head away.
"Just watch the gate broadcast."
Floor 6 of Sky Town.
Surveying the room overflowing with luxury, Zien thought.
'This is a temporary solo residence? Zone 1 hasn't changed a bit.'
Zone 1.
The place commonly called 'Earth' was a world where national borders had blurred due to monster outbreaks. Monsters pouring from dungeons had unified the world's cultures, languages, and nations to fight them. Amid the chaos, corporations had grown the fastest.
'That's why corporate power is especially strong in Zone 1.'
This much history was common knowledge to any Saber, let alone Zien. Plus, Sky Group was one of the top three chaebols in Zone 1.
'"Nation" isn't an exaggeration.'
That was why Jin Yura had mocked her as "princess." Yume, the only daughter of Sky Group's chairman, wielded power that made even prominent figures bow.
"These are my bodyguards?"
The woman sat with legs crossed on a jewel-encrusted chair. Barely 17, just a student, but Yume's influence was no joke. Even 4th-rank Hunter Jin Yura stiffened with deference around her.
"Yes, miss."
"Team leader's a student. Then a blond delinquent, a creepy brat. And just to confirm—is that woman a Hunter too?"
Yume's tone was sharp as she pointed at Red. Born into privilege, she'd never heard a harsh word. Everyone around her treated her with near-worship.
"Hmph. What is this, a circus troupe?"
Yume flicked her long straight hair haughtily.
'This brat who can't even grow peach fuzz...'
Jin Yura's temple vein throbbed, but she held it in.
"Of course. Her swordsmanship is top-notch."
Jin Yura forced a smile, as friendly as possible. Yume ignored it, reacting only to "sword."
"What, sword? You handle swords?"
Yume smirked and rose confidently from her chair.
"Let's see what you've got. I've never lost a swordfight anywhere."
Yume manipulated her pocket device to draw a rapier. A beautiful blade shimmering in faint rainbow hues—an Artifact, without doubt.
"FYI, if you lose to me, you're all fired. Can't have bodyguards weaker than me, right?"
Yume gripped the sword familiarly, assuming a stance. This wasn't mere bluffing. Elite-trained from childhood, she was a Trait-awakened Hunter, and the sword her strongest weapon.
But.
The problem was her opponent: Zien, called the Sword God.
"Fine."
With that, Zien drew his Magic Tool, Heukhyang. Jin Yura's face went pale as paper at the sudden sword duel.
'What the hell is this nonsense?'
No matter how self-absorbed, charging at bodyguards? And Zien accepting? From Jin Yura's view, both were insane.
"S-Senior, what do we do?"
Vermouth whispered, his face drained, sweat beading.
"F-Fuck. At least he'll go easy if he's got any sense?"
Jin Yura moved to Yume's corner as she warmed up confidently. Then, instead of speaking, she mouthed her plea to Zien.
'Go. Easy. Let. Her. Win.'
With Zien's skills that Jin Yura had witnessed, he could toy with her a bit and still win.
"Then, uh, c-count?"
Jin Yura's eyes twitched under the strain.
She prayed as she faced Zien and Yume, hoping they'd get through this unscathed.
"...You're really counting?"
Jin Yura trembled, worried Yume might get hurt. Seeing it, Kumo whispered to Sin Ha-seong.
"I-Is the client that strong?"
"Nah."
By 3rd-rank Hunter Sin Ha-seong's standards, Yume seemed comparable or weaker. Zien's exam swordsmanship was in a league of its own, irregular territory.
"Th-Then won't she get hurt?"
"Pfft, he'll hold back. You that clueless?"
Red laughed, amused by the whole mess.
"Who do you think'll win?"
Unlike the others, Red hadn't seen Zien's swordsmanship. Franklin grinned and answered her kindly.
"Ah~ Well, her license is 2nd rank, but the team leader's real level is at least 4th to 5th rank."
"Oh really?"
"Heh heh, yep yep. So he'll probably match the client's level, right?"
Yume glared daggers at the delay.
Jin Yura had no choice but to start the count.
"3..."
Her voice barely a crawl.
Tense, Vermouth swallowed hard too.
"2. 1... Begin!"
At Jin Yura's shout, Zien gripped Heukhyang and charged at Yume.