Chapter 3: Entrance Ceremony
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 3: Entrance Ceremony
"Loki..."
Lucas muttered my name. However, it wasn't nearly as cute as when Johanna said it.
"Loki, we’re both Academy students now. There's no need for such formalities."
"I’m used to polite speech; it’s more comfortable for me."
Perhaps because of my 'Clown' trait, honorifics tended to slip out automatically unless the situation was truly exceptional. Lucas glanced at the cane in my hand.
"Loki, are you a mage?"
As expected, Lucas seemed to take my cane for a magic staff.
Then again, who would look at this and think it was a sword-stick—a blade that transforms the moment mana is infused? Johanna, who had realized its true nature instantly, was the extraordinary one.
Come to think of it, what did Johanna lack? She was beautiful, skilled with a sword, and possessed incredible instincts. While she was a bit ditzy, she certainly wasn't a bad person.
‘I wish this entrance ceremony would end quickly so I can go see Johanna.’
"Loki?"
Right, I was in the middle of a conversation with Lucas. His question was... whether I was a mage.
I raised my index finger and pressed it to my lips.
"That’s a secret."
Lucas let out a hearty laugh, seemingly finding my response amusing.
"Haha! Honestly, I’ve never met a guy like you."
At Lucas's reaction, the people around us began to whisper. Those who had been looking for an opening to join the conversation merely watched from the sidelines, lacking the confidence to treat Lucas as casually as I did.
"But why are you wearing a mask and a cloak? Ah, let me guess—is that a secret too?"
He seemed to have given up on formalities, now treating me with complete ease.
"The mask is like my identity; I feel more comfortable wearing it. As for what’s draped over my back—I’m wearing it like a cloak, but it’s not actually a cloak."
"I don’t know what you mean by 'identity,' but I’ll accept that the mask is comfortable. If it’s not a cloak, then what is it?"
"Actually, this is—"
I once again raised my index finger to my lips.
"A secret!"
"Heh. You better make sure you survive until the very end at this Academy."
His words about surviving were likely sincere.
Entering the Academy itself wasn't difficult. As long as you possessed a certain level of physical fitness and mana, you could pass. The real challenge started now.
‘About half, I suppose.’
That’s right. Today—in this single day—about half of the students would be expelled. Well, it had nothing to do with me.
I looked at the spear Lucas carried on his back.
"Are you a spearman, Lucas?"
"That’s a sec— sigh, yeah, I’m a spearman. How do you even do that with a straight face?"
Lucas tried to put his finger to his lips to mimic me but gave up. Indeed, it wasn't easy. I only pulled it off because of my Clown trait.
"H-hello. Y-Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
Just then, a girl approached Lucas. It was a courageous act compared to those just watching from afar, even if her voice trembled.
"Hmm. You were Lady Lisa, right? I haven't seen you since the last banquet. Yes, what is it?"
"Oh, it’s—it’s nothing!"
The girl blurted that out and fled as if her life depended on it. Tsk, tsk. Such a lack of courage.
"Usually, that’s the normal reaction," Lucas said, staring intently at me.
To be honest, he was right; that was normal. Whether commoner or noble, most people would tremble when meeting royalty—especially the future Emperor.
However, I was different. For ten years—a full decade—I had played as Lucas. Although I didn't know his exact personality, I felt a deep sense of familiarity with him. Was it because he was handsome, just like me?
"It would be nice if all nobles were like you... actually, no, it wouldn't."
Lucas pressed his fingers to his brow as if the mere thought gave him a headache.
"By 'all nobles being like me,' do you mean all nobles becoming handsome?"
"Heh, it might be good for them to inherit at least some of that confidence."
"My confidence comes from this face, you see."
"Then let me see that handsome face. Take off that mask—"
[Ahem.]
Lucas couldn't finish his sentence. A voice infused with mana echoed through the auditorium. The owner of the voice was an old man. The long beard flowing from his chin and the deep wrinkles on his face spoke of the many years he had lived.
[Nice to meet you all. I am Merlin, the Principal of Croa Academy.]
As soon as the Principal spoke, the murmurs of the students vanished. Every student hung on his words.
[If I speak for too long, you will all get tired, so I will keep this as brief as possible.]
No one actually thought that. Everyone wanted to hear even one more word from the man known as the Sage, Merlin.
[Status is unnecessary at the Academy. Once you are here, you are all equal as students.]
No foolish noble protested. There might have been those who harbored dissatisfaction, but none were so stupid as to voice it here.
[However, that does not mean there is no discrimination. It is not discrimination based on status, but discrimination based on strength.]
Meritocracy. There was no better term to describe the Academy.
[If you desire special treatment, become strong. The Academy will treat you differently according to your strength.]
[The Academy was founded by the First Hero after sealing the Demon King, to prepare for future confrontations with demons. Although much time has passed and no demons have appeared, we must still prepare for the dangers that may strike at any moment.]
[The Academy will constantly test you. Grow strong within those tests. That concludes my speech.]
"Wooooooo!"
As the Principal finished, countless students cheered.
However, knowing what was about to happen, I didn't join them. Instead, I began to stretch my limbs.
[Ho ho, this year's students are quite energetic. Then, shall we move straight to a simple test?]
Before the students could even process the sudden mention of a test, the Principal left one final remark and vanished.
[Show me your value.]
As his words echoed through the hall, countless magic beasts poured out from thin air.
Now then, shall I go on a wild, flashy rampage?
* * *
In the monitoring room where the Academy professors were gathered, numerous monitors displayed the situation inside the auditorium.
"As expected, most of the students are panicked."
Just as the young professor said, most students were at a loss, bewildered by the sudden appearance of the magic beasts.
"Even if they regain their composure, nothing will change."
It was just as the professor with the sharp impression said. A few students seemed to have come to their senses and drawn their weapons, but it didn't make much of a difference. There were as many students as there were magic beasts.
The students couldn't swing their weapons recklessly. If they did, they might hit the student behind them. They couldn't even use magic; if they fired a spell at a magic beast, they risked hitting the student next to them.
They were all in each other's way. While dealing with the magic beasts, the students also had to worry about their peers.
As a result, one student was taken down by a magic beast without even being able to swing his sword. Of course, they weren't real magic beasts, but artificial monsters created through a combination of alchemy and magic.
"Tsk, tsk. That one is definitely disqualified."
"This is why we shouldn't accept students based on grades alone."
It was a worst-case scenario where they were stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"But still, this generation is truly overwhelming."
Even in such a dire situation, there were students who shone.
"Is that girl the adopted daughter of the Rivayden family?"
Fire, water, wind, and earth attacked the magic beasts. Water trapped the beasts, and fire burned them. Earth spikes erupted from below to pierce them, while wind tore them apart.
And all of it reached only the magic beasts, never touching the other students. This was a method possible only because they were spirits with their own free will, not mere magic.
A girl who was originally a commoner but was adopted into a Marquis household due to her overwhelming talent for commanding the four elements—the girl was slaying magic beasts, her pink hair fluttering in the air.
"Anyone can see that those crude methods belong to the Isar tribe."
If other students got in the way of his punches, he simply leapt into the middle of a dense pack of magic beasts where no students were present. When his fist connected with a beast, it exploded with a violent bang.
Even as the magic beasts bit into him, he threw his punches with a smile. All of this was possible because of the iron-like physique passed down through the Isar tribe. The heir of the Isar tribe was tearing through the magic beasts using his overwhelming physical prowess.
Besides these two, several other students were hunting magic beasts in their own unique ways. A swordsman from the East. A sorcerer using peculiar spells. A priest who clad his body in Sacred Power and fought like the Isar tribe. There was an abundance of students who could hardly be called ordinary.
"They truly deserve to be called the 'Generation of Miracles'."
"Indeed."
The Generation of Miracles. An expression used to describe the students currently enrolled in the Academy. It was a miraculous phenomenon where so many geniuses—the likes of which usually appear only once in a generation—emerged at once, making "genius" seem common.
Even within this Generation of Miracles, two individuals were particularly famous and peerless.
A girl with striking black hair that resembled the night sky and ruby-red eyes. However, what stood out more than her appearance was her overwhelming magical skill.
She used flight magic to hover in the air, raining down countless fireballs upon the magic beasts. Even amidst that, she protected other students with mana shields to ensure they weren't caught in the crossfire. The magical sense and mana capacity required to do all of this at once was staggering. She was the sole disciple of the Tower Master, Clara Adelian.
"But the Crown Prince is also quite eye-catching."
"He’s an Academy student now, so try to call him Lucas."
"That’s easier said than done."
Blonde hair and golden eyes—the proof of the Empire's most noble bloodline. The spear in his hand struck the magic beasts like a bolt of lightning. Numerous beasts hit by his spear were pierced through in a single strike.
The Crown Prince of the Croa Empire, Lucas Leonhart, was hailed as the second coming of the First Emperor who had turned the Croa Kingdom into the Croa Empire.
Clara Adelian and Lucas Leonhart. Many professors believed these two would be the protagonists even among the Generation of Miracles.
That was why the professors could not believe the scene being shown on the monitor.
"Who on earth is that guy?"
A man wearing a white mask and a red cloak—an image that brought a clown to mind. Every professor froze at the sight he was displaying.