Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Entrance Ceremony (2)
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Meanwhile, Krash crossed his arms.
"And I have a fiancé."
"Hey, a fiancé?"
The word "fiancé" finally snapped Karandis back to reality, her face flushing a deep crimson with embarrassment.
"I-I didn't mean it like that..."
She trailed off, forcing a smile.
But soon enough, she overcame her shame and took the offensive instead.
"B-Besides, having a fiancé doesn't mean we have to get married."
Crazy bitch.
As Krash shot her a glare that said, Is that something you should be saying?, she put on a brazen expression instead.
Her lips trembled slightly—she still looked embarrassed.
But he could feel her determination to seduce him into marriage.
This woman's no ordinary pushover.
He was half-tempted to just blurt out right in her face, You're not my type.
That's when someone appeared at the front of the platform.
The moment the students saw him, they all fell silent as one.
His face belonged to a white-haired old man, but the muscles peeking through his clothes were enough to leave any onlooker in awe.
These days, advanced age had robbed him of his prime physique, forcing him into retirement and a behind-the-scenes role.
But in the past, he had been one of the Heavenly Sovereign Warriors.
The former War Emperor
Durandal
The pinnacle of human myth, who had risen from nothing to the top without a single family backing him.
He was the reason.
The venue fell silent in an instant.
Durandal smiled.
He was the chancellor of Raheln Academy, after all.
"I am Durandal, and I welcome you all, our new students."
The children swallowed hard.
It was only natural—they were in the presence of a living legend.
"Now, I have just one thing to say to you promising freshmen."
Krash alone wore an expression that said, Here we go again.
"I always respect the opinions of my students. So, any of you with suggestions are welcome in my office anytime. Provided..."
At that moment, Durandal's arms swelled up.
With a ripping sound, his clothes tore open, revealing enormous arms covered in thick scars.
Before the students could even process it, he slammed those arms down on the podium in front of him.
And the podium splintered.
The platform, made from sacred tree branches, couldn't even last two years.
"...that you make your case with strength, not words. In this world, strength is the law. I have no ear for the opinions of the weak."
Crazy old geezer.
One might think this wasn't the talk for fresh sprouts, but he turned away with evident satisfaction.
"Oh, and Literature Department students can just submit it in writing. Keep that in mind."
Including what he considered a kindness.
As everyone stood dumbfounded.
Another figure appeared at the platform.
The bespectacled man of frail build looked even smaller in the wake of Durandal's overwhelming presence.
"Greetings. I am Eraodin Judis, the vice chancellor who will be in charge of you all for the next few years."
He gave a strained smile to the children who weren't even paying attention to him.
"Before the ceremony proper, we will call the top scorers from each department's entrance exam to present their awards. Those called, please come forward."
Only then did the children named start to snap out of it.
Raheln Academy was packed with the world's prodigies.
Coming in first here meant you were at the pinnacle of talent.
Naturally, the kids had no choice but to focus.
"First, Literature Department: Sizli Epania."
The moment that name was called, Krash and Mary both froze.
'Sizli? That guy's here? He wasn't supposed to enroll in the academy.'
A look of bewilderment crossed Krash's face.
Meanwhile, Mary hung her head low.
Regardless of the two, a tomboyish girl bounded onto the auditorium stage.
Her long blue hair, symbolizing the empire, was tied into twin buns.
Round golden eyes like embedded jewels.
A petite girl whose frail constitution kept her small.
Sizli Epania, the Fourth Imperial Princess of Epania.
The hall buzzed with whispers at her appearance.
"It's the Fourth Princess."
"The empire's greatest mind."
"She's so cute and tiny."
Sizli climbed the stage with a smug look amid the evaluations.
Then she glanced straight over here.
Krash stiffened the instant their eyes met.
Because there was no mistaking it—Sizli was staring right at him.
Krash caught the meaning in her gaze.
She definitely knew he was "Krad."
'She figured it out in the meantime.'
That observational skill was impossible to evade.
"Theology Department: Astraia Stigma Freeman."
In the interim, one from Theology was called.
The woman who rose, her sunlit hair swaying, drew every eye instantly.
It wasn't just her natural beauty; her disproportionately prominent chest for her frame couldn't help but attract attention.
But she moved to the stage with light steps, as if accustomed to such gazes.
"As expected of the Saintess—gorgeous."
"Ahem, such irreverent thoughts."
"May light shine upon Freeman."
Perhaps because Sizli was so small compared to her peers.
Astraia stood out even more next to her.
She glanced down at the audience, met Krash's eyes, and smoothly looked away.
She was the same as ever.
"Magic Department: Aslan Igrit."
Next up was Aslan.
This time, gasps mostly came from the girls.
Though healthier now, his decadent looks were perfectly suited to stealing women's hearts.
For some reason, the front of his uniform seemed to flutter slightly.
Aslan swallowed a wry smile and ascended the stage.
"Special Department: Bioren Sedni."
Then another figure appeared.
The students flinched involuntarily upon seeing him.
A male student over two meters tall stood there with a sullen face.
Head half-bowed, he trudged onto the stage.
Krash's eyes quietly flashed as he watched.
He knew the guy's true identity.
"And finally."
One last name was called.
"Martial Department: Krash Valheim."
The instant Krash stood from his seat.
All eyes in the student body turned to him at once.
The Martial Department was essentially the flower of Raheln Academy.
Its pinnacle was the academy's pinnacle.
Amid gazes pouring in on a whole other level from the previous four.
Krash walked straight to the stage with his back straight.
Not a single child spoke.
They simply watched the star of this entrance ceremony in silence.
Krash took the stage last.
The five talents who would represent Raheln Academy from here on.
The moment Krash's name joined their ranks.
＊ ＊ ＊
After that, the entrance ceremony wrapped up without much fanfare.
Once it ended and they'd eaten lunch.
They just headed to their respective department buildings on time.
Somehow, there was spare time until lunch.
Krash eyed the nuisance before him.
"Lord Krash, have lunch with me!"
It was none other than Karandis, the Ninth Princess of Poiseus.
She'd seemed embarrassed after he pushed back hard earlier.
But when Krash drew all eyes by ascending the stage, her gaze had gone goo-goo again.
Her determination to make him her husband shone through.
Krash furrowed his brow at the sight.
Should I just smack her?
He was seriously considering it.
"Um, c-can I join you for lunch too?"
That's when Mary timidly raised her hand behind Karandis.
She'd been trailing after Krash with Karandis ever since the ceremony ended.
Unable to find the right moment to speak, she'd finally mustered the courage to butt in.
Karandis shot her a prickly glare.
"Excuse me, who even are you? Why are you keep following Lord Krash and me?"
You're doing the exact same thing.
As Krash stared in disbelief, Mary flinched under Karandis's venomous gaze.
"...Mary Diana."
Mary answered in a near-crawling voice.
Perhaps due to the harsh treatment as a jade servant.
The once-bold Mary was all but gone, replaced by a thoroughly cowed version.
But that didn't stop Karandis's eyes from sharpening even more.
"Mary Diana? You don't mean the one who tried to assassinate imperial royalty?"
Mary's head drooped further at those words.
Her face beaded with cold sweat as she floundered helplessly.
"Hah."
Karandis sighed at her, as if utterly appalled.
"What gives a traitorous assassin the gall to stick by Lord Krash's side? Don't tell me the empire's out of options, so you're latching onto him to plot something from Staron instead?"
"N-No, it's not like that. I'm loyal only to the empire."
Her barbs left Mary even more flustered.
Mary Diana had once been a spear candidate of the empire, backed by Sigrin—like a tiger with wings.
So even the Ninth Princess of Poiseus, Karandis, couldn't treat her lightly.
But now, Mary Diana was a criminal who'd attempted to assassinate royalty.
Even her prestigious Diana family had essentially abandoned her.
The imperial family had let it slide, but Mary's position was effectively nonexistent.
Karandis and Diana's situations were worlds apart now.
"Shameless. Lord Krash already has a fiancée. Aren't you embarrassed?"
Says the one without shame?
Realizing it applied to her too, Karandis glanced at Krash in panic.
Then, as if thinking whatever, she winked coquettishly.
A madwoman.
But her words succeeded in flustering Mary even more.
Mary shriveled up, wishing she could crawl into a hole.
Shriveled Mary.
"Get lost. Unless you want to tarnish Lord Krash's name."
Tears were already welling in Mary's eyes.
She couldn't refute Karandis a bit.
But she had Sigrin's orders to get close to Krash.
She couldn't back down here.
Mary held back her tears and stared at Karandis.
Karandis just glared back even fiercer.
And Krash, leaving the two to it, turned and walked away.
Fight it out yourselves.
"Pfft, you set up that mess and run?"
That's when it happened.
Following the voice, he turned to see a petite girl standing there.
Her uniform—black with yellow accents—didn't quite fit; the sleeves slightly covered her hands.
Taller than before, she grinned at Krash the moment she spotted him.
"Long time no see, huh? Krad. Oh, Krash. Right."
The girl wore a mischievous smile.
Sizli Epania.
Her entrance.
"What's this Krad business?"
Krash played dumb outright.
But Sizli ignored it, striding up with her tiny legs.
"That..."
Her extending leg tangled, pitching her body forward.
The moment Krash reflexively caught her crumbling form.
Sizli grabbed his shoulder firmly.
Her bright yellow eyes were right in his face.
A soft, distinctive fragrance wafted from her, brushing his nose.
"...you know better than anyone, don't you?"
Even Krash was almost fooled by her acting tumble.
No.
Her ear tips were faintly red—she'd really tripped.
Pretending otherwise, she patted his arm.
"Your arm seems fully healed. Seeing you fly around like that at the entrance ceremony."
"No idea what you're talking about."
"If you wanna hide it, I'll play along. But fix that attitude. Won't you treat me like our first meeting?"
She poked his arm repeatedly, dissatisfied.
Krash scowled, then sighed.
"Fine, Sizli."
"Ahem, that's more like it."
Sizli nodded smugly, arms crossed.
She looked like she deserved a flick on the forehead.
"By the way, I heard you forgave Mary."
Since things had come to this, Krash decided to ask what was on his mind.
Sizli had specially pardoned Mary right before her execution.
That earned her a reputation as the magnanimous princess who forgave even an assassin.
Highly unusual for someone who hated the spotlight.
"Well, she seemed useful to you. Couldn't have her dying on me."
Krash's eyes narrowed.
"She had the means to save her life, but she still threw herself in harm's way for you, didn't she? So I prepared."
Sizli tapped her neck with her index finger as she spoke.
"Like this. Put a collar on her."
What kind of insight was that?
During the martial tournament.
Sizli had glimpsed Krash and Mary's relationship from his reaction to her.
With her genius mind, she'd realized Mary was necessary to him.
And after driving Mary to the brink of ruin.
She'd slapped on a leash and dragged her to the academy.
To hand her over as a gift to Krash.
Krash eyed Sizli anew.
He could see why Sigrin was desperate not to kill her.
If she set her mind to it, she might devour the empire whole.
"Hmm, not satisfied? I put real effort into it. Well, can't be helped. If you want more, all I've got left is me. How embarrassing."
"Don't put on an act just to copy Karandis."
Not that it mattered; their chests were too different anyway.
"Heh, got it."
She beamed with playful mischief.
"Got a lot to talk about, but you're drawing eyes."
Noticing the gathering stares, she placed a hand behind her and backed away.
"Heard today's special is strawberry tart from Serna's, the famous bakery. If you don't like sweets, save it for me—I love 'em."
She knew about the special no one had mentioned.
The inscrutable girl vanished like the wind.
As Krash nursed a slight headache.
In the corner of his vision, a woman with sunlit hair approached.
She spotted him, twirled a lock of side hair, glanced around nervously.
Then, steeling herself, she cleared her throat and drew near.
"...If you don't have lunch plans, wanna eat with me?"
Hearing Astraia, Krash looked up at the sky with a weary face.
"I'm skipping lunch."
Just starve.