Chapter 267
Chapter 267
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 267
Chapter Title: 3rd Class Entrance Ceremony
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Who was the most anticipated figure at Raheln Academy's entrance ceremony?
Though Raheln Academy had only been established for three years now,
the person drawing all the attention had already become a tradition of sorts.
The top student of the Martial Department.
The first class's Martial Department top student, Charlotte Valheim.
The second class's Martial Department top student, Krash Valheim.
These two had left behind such dazzling tales since enrolling at Raheln Academy that they could truly be called legends.
Thanks to them, the most outstanding figure at Raheln Academy was naturally decided to be the Martial Department top student.
In this situation where such a tradition had formed,
it was only natural that everyone was buzzing about who this year's top student would be.
There were two candidates for Martial Department top student.
Two individuals who had astonishingly defeated an associate professor in the final exam of the entrance trials.
One was Dalea Juno, granddaughter of the Celestial Emperor.
Wielding the swordsmanship of the Moonlight Divine Sword, she had displayed overwhelming prowess in the entrance trials through her explosive leg strength and innate battle sense.
So much so that the countless swordsmen who faced her realized the wall of talent, acknowledged they could never reach the pinnacle with the sword, and gave up.
Dalea Juno was a person of absolutely overwhelming talent.
The other was none other than Bianca Hardenharts, the fiancée of Krash Valheim—the famed second-class Martial Department top student.
With beauty so stunning it could leave one entranced, the Familiar Arts she wielded boasted ridiculous power.
Those who had witnessed the breath of her Familiar Dragon Crima, Glacis Radius, right before their eyes all said the same thing.
Her might was undoubtedly the strongest among Raheln Academy's third class.
With these two formidable figures as the candidates for Martial Department top student,
the incoming students chattered endlessly about who would take the spot.
But no hasty conclusions could be drawn.
Bianca had beaten Dalea in earlier trials,
but conversely, it was Dalea who had ultimately defeated the associate professor in the final exam.
Just as the entrance ceremony—building all this anticipation—began,
Dalea Juno, who had ended up greeting Krash as her friend's husband-to-be, wore a sullen expression, too preoccupied to care about top student honors or anything else.
Dalea entered the ceremony with Bianca and sat beside her, glancing her way.
The moment Krash disappeared from view, Bianca's face returned to its usual composure.
"......You really do like him, don't you."
As Dalea muttered to herself, Bianca's gaze flicked toward her.
"Yes."
Without a hint of hesitation, Bianca affirmed that she loved Krash.
Dalea found the sight utterly fascinating.
Among high noble houses, marriages were almost impossible based purely on love due to all the tangled alliances.
Most heirs had fiancées arranged to some extent, and the majority wed even more exceptional partners to bolster their families.
Dalea had assumed Bianca was the same,
but now it was clear Bianca truly loved Krash deeply.
Perhaps it was her first time seeing someone fall so profoundly in love.
Dalea felt a strange fascination in many ways.
"What's so great about Krash Valheim?"
If she had to list reasons aloud, there were plenty.
Though Krash had once been rumored to be half-mad,
those rumors now garnered positive acclaim given his tremendous achievements.
His features were sharp like a true Valheim heir yet handsome overall,
and he possessed outstanding leadership and skill, enough to stand at Raheln Academy's center.
Setting aside his prickly personality, any girl his age might harbor feelings for him at least once.
But Bianca seemed indifferent to all that.
To her, Krash's accomplishments didn't particularly matter.
"Because it's Krash."
It went beyond achievements—it was a matter prior to that.
Bianca simply stated that she purely liked Krash.
She had fallen for him back during his half-mad days, after all.
That fact was truly hard for Dalea to believe.
"We'll end it here."
Just then, Durandal finished her entrance ceremony speech and stepped down.
The next to ascend was a man of frail build incomparable to Durandal herself.
Vice President Eraodin Judis.
"Now, we will announce the top students from each department who placed first in the entrance exams."
The moment his greeting led into the announcements,
anticipation lit up in the students' eyes.
These were the ones destined to lead Raheln Academy into the future.
"Literature Department, Verita."
The first called was the Literature Department top student.
A slender boy wearing glasses rose at the summons and took the podium.
Not nobility, but a commoner topping Literature.
Murmurs rippled through the entire auditorium.
The noble Literature students flushed red and bowed their heads.
Born to nobility and raised with genius-level education, they had been outdone by a commoner.
They had every reason to feel ashamed.
"Magic Department, Temarin Jevram."
But attention snapped to the next name mentioned.
The Magic Kingdom Jevram, one of the four great kingdoms—a place where all things magical converged.
There stood the son of its king, the Magic Emperor Terasius Jevram.
The silver-haired boy ascended the podium gracefully amid the spotlight.
His striking features, befitting his name, were captivating enough on their own.
"The Magic Emperor has a son?"
"First I've heard."
"Top of Magic Department. Fitting."
The children's whispers soon filled the hall.
No one had ever heard of the Magic Emperor Terasius having a son.
"Theology Department, Arzela Irisim."
Theology's pick was the scion of a famed holy knight family.
"Special Department, Boa Crock."
The Special Department heir called next hailed from a somewhat notable house.
But it paled against the third-class Magic top student Temarin's draw.
Yet as the next department was about to be named, everyone's eyes shifted.
Martial Department top student.
The position of heroes who always made history at Raheln Academy.
Debates over who would claim it had raged all day.
Raheln Academy's hottest topic.
Now, the results were coming.
All eyes locked onto the vice president's lips.
As everyone waited in tense silence,
"Martial Department, Bianca Hardenharts."
The name rang out, and every gaze pierced toward one person.
In the auditorium, where all incoming students' stares converged.
There stood a girl like a pure white flower blooming in the snow.
Her impassive eyes blinked once.
That simple motion alone drew gasps of admiration.
Her face held such overwhelming beauty that it ensnared the eyes.
"She looks like a doll......"
Someone muttered dazedly, and all nodded unconsciously.
"Go on up."
The only one somewhat accustomed to Bianca's looks, Dalea, urged her on.
Bianca nodded and rose, heading to the podium.
Every eye remained fixed on her the entire way.
Unwavering stares followed until she reached the front, whereupon the vice president smiled.
"These five have achieved top place in the entrance exams and will receive awards."
The five who would represent Raheln Academy's third class going forward.
They had been decided.
* * *
While Bianca was in the midst of the ongoing ceremony,
Krash was at the Lion Squad.
The reason was simple.
"Bring the third-class elite class kids yourself, Krash dear."
It was Charlotte's order.
The elite class operated differently from regular students.
Excluding the training assigned to the first class, they joined the student unit for immediate field deployment.
Just as Charlotte had selected and brought students to the unit last year as student captain.
This time, it fell to Krash.
After the third-class ceremony ended,
as he waited at the Lion Squad to gather the elite class members,
"Who are you planning to pick?"
Krash found himself unexpectedly under interrogation.
"Isn't it obvious? Lord Krash already has a fiancée."
"Yeah, figured."
From the left: former saint Astria Stigma Freeman.
Princess Karandis Poseus of Poseus Kingdom.
Daughter of the Poison King, Haring Lagren.
"......"
Krash silently eyed the women before him.
"What do you all care so much for."
In the corner, leisurely sipping tea, was Epania's Fourth Imperial Princess, Sisley Epania.
And finally,
"Here, Lord Krash, your tea."
"......Thanks."
Lilina, Aslan's exclusive maid, who had come all the way to play servant at the Lion Squad.
The gathered women all shot Krash displeased glares.
Krash lifted his tea.
For some reason, it was hotter than usual today.
Unexpected from Lilina, who never made such mistakes.
Lilina stared silently at Krash.
Was she urging him to drink?
"I brewed it a bit hot."
As Krash went to sip, Lilina snatched the cup back.
Just being petty, then.
"You're all glaring so hard my skin's starting to sting—enough already."
Since entering the Lion Squad classroom,
he'd endured their stares all day, so Krash decided to play along no further.
He knew why they were acting this way now.
"I've told you all countless times I have a fiancée."
Truthfully, Krash found their belated protests absurd by this point.
He'd announced his fiancée endlessly.
"It's not about that."
"Huh?"
But contrary to Krash's assumption, their anger stemmed from elsewhere.
As Krash looked puzzled, Astria glared at his hand.
Following her gaze, he saw a ring there.
On his left ring finger, no less.
The issue was that they had all seen Bianca's left ring finger too.
"Jealousy."
Sisley remarked with a relaxed smile after draining her cup.
A ring binding them to Krash—something they couldn't have.
That single ring was why everyone here bristled.
As Krash stared in disbelief, Astria abruptly thrust out her hand.
"Give me one too."
Even more brazen than expected.
Though her face was beet red, like a ripe persimmon.
Astria knew now.
Running away forever wouldn't solve anything.
Urgency burned at her feet.
"Astria......"
"You said you'd take responsibility to the end! So take it!"
As Krash gaped, Haring beside her fidgeted with her own hand.
Haring didn't want to trouble him for her sake,
but her overgrown feelings kept pushing greed outward.
Her pleading gaze hit Krash, leaving him unable to scold her.
He was especially soft on Haring, given their past entanglement with Bianca before his regression.
"Me too! Me too! I don't even need a ring—just something for now!"
Seizing the moment, Karandis waved her arm wildly to appeal.
"Rings look nice."
For some reason, Lilina smiled while polishing a paring knife.
"If you're giving to everyone, make it me too."
Sisley slyly wiggled her left ring finger with a mischievous grin.
Total chaos.
The phrase fit perfectly.
Crimson Garden's voice rang in Krash's ears.
Krash's face hardened.
The words that followed were truly insane.
The Magic Emperor Terasius Jevram, whom he had decided to seek out himself.
He had come to Raheln Academy in person.