014. Lamieli Academy Entrance Ceremony (5)
Serena managed to arrive at the entrance ceremony just in the nick of time, right before it began.
Unlike the other nobles who brought their servants along, she showed up alone.
She had simply been looking forward to clinking glasses with Zeke—just the two of them—and chatting about their academy life ahead.
Of course, Serena still wanted to do exactly that.
Though the topics they had to discuss had changed quite a bit now.
Zeke Clayman….
As Iriel and Serena made their entrance at the ceremony, every noble's gaze turned toward them.
But the prestige and status of duke's daughters kept anyone from approaching too easily.
They were in a position to humbly accept any words from those ladies—not the other way around.
All they could do was watch with longing eyes from afar.
Regardless of the situation, Serena and Iriel were too busy craning their necks and scanning the tables.
There was no sign of black hair anywhere.
She had figured his striking appearance would make him stand out even if he tried not to, so his absence left her flustered.
"Where the hell did that guy go…."
"Where'd he go…."
Serena was getting annoyed by Iriel constantly echoing her words.
If not for all the eyes on them, she would've grabbed her by the collar and shaken out every detail of her connection to Zeke Clayman.
Argh, I was really trying not to care right now!
As the two stood blankly at the entrance, rolling their eyes around,
a man approached them holding two glasses.
All eyes turned to him.
He was a blond, sleazy-looking middle-aged man.
He offered the glasses. They took them, since he was handing them over anyway.
Suddenly, he thumped his chest with his left hand and bowed with the sharp formality of a knight.
"Greetings, ladies. I am Dios Redwood, swordsmanship instructor at Lamieli Academy and former captain of the Black Dragon Knights from the Redwood Count family."
"Ah, sure."
"Uh… hello…."
Serena and Iriel returned the greeting with awkward expressions.
Who the hell is this guy…? Wait, swordsmanship instructor?
Dios raised an eyebrow upon noticing Serena had no servants with her.
"My, it seems you didn't bring any attendants. It happens sometimes—people who don't realize. The ceremony's about to start, so may I guide you?"
"No… that's okay. Um, but more importantly, you're the swordsmanship instructor? Where's Zeke Clayman?"
Serena cut straight to asking about Zeke, and Dios's face soured for a moment.
"That guy said he had business and bolted suddenly."
But remembering who stood before him—duke's daughters—he quickly composed himself and answered.
"What? From the entrance ceremony?"
"What do you mean? Zeke's not here?"
Grind—
Damn it, why do all these women obsess over Zeke Clayman!
With two stunning beauties right in front of him, jealousy boiled up in Dios.
He'd mustered the courage to approach, thinking they might be interested in swordsmanship because of Zeke.
Yet here they were, ignoring him to hunt for that bastard.
Dios chewed his lip.
The ladies of Yohayden and Yustia houses.
Any man of marriageable age in the empire had fantasized about the children he might have with them.
But status, wealth, honor, career—nothing he had measured up, so he'd given up.
Even now, everyone was sneaking glances while pretending not to watch him talk to them.
No way… do they both like that guy…? Damn it. What kind of luck did that bastard get born with!
Dios recalled the Zeke Clayman he'd seen earlier.
A face devoid of expression, rude as hell, and utterly clueless.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't see why these women would hang on that guy's neck.
Yeah. They're young girls. They don't know what a real man is yet. He's just the first guy they met by chance—pure luck. There's nothing he has that I don't.
Both invited as sword instructors to Lamieli. He was just some regular soldier. Looks-wise too,
and age was just a number—men were like wine, improving with time.
All things considered, Dios had no reason to feel inferior.
With his happy delusions in full throttle, Dios kept smiling and said,
"You've made it to the ceremony, so please join in. Let me show you to your seats."
"I'm good. I'll sit over there."
"No, I'll find my own way…."
Both rejected his offer.
Iriel spotted the table where her followers had gathered.
Everything was already prepared to welcome her, as if they'd known she'd come.
Serena found her circle of friendly ladies and received a warm reception.
Dios, who had stepped up first, was left looking foolish.
The nobles watching from the start snickered quietly.
Zeke Clayman, you son of a bitch!
Dios trembled with humiliation.
A moment later,
the background music cut off abruptly.
"Students and honored guests, thank you for attending the entrance ceremony. I am Roto Istoria, principal of Lamieli Academy."
A white-haired old man stepped up to the voice-amplifying magic tool.
Zeke hurried toward the back of the main building.
He wanted to sprint like the wind,
but his body seemed to impose brakes, insisting on maintaining dignity on academy grounds.
Soon, Zeke arrived at the back of the main building.
Chatter chatter—
"Hey, don't push!"
"Ow, shut up!"
"Did you see the nobles on the way here? Their entrance ceremony?"
"Yeah… it was something else. Totally different world."
This is… way too crowded….
The nobles' ceremony had some breathing room,
but the commoners' was packed tight into the cramped space.
It reminded him of a Korean morning rush on subway Line 1.
More commoners than nobles, huh… But can I even find the heroine like this?
Zeke surveyed the overall vibe first.
The commoners' ceremony was worlds apart from the nobles' socialite affair.
The food was cold and stale, set out on wooden tables,
with beer barrels and mugs plunked down beside them.
It felt less like an entrance ceremony and more like a cheap tavern.
No professors in sight—just a few academy staffers in uniform.
One pulled out a pocket watch, then barked in a stiff voice,
"The Lamieli Academy entrance ceremony will now begin. Quiet down!"
The murmurs gradually died.
"First, remember this: You'll be dreaming a short dream for the next four years."
The ceremony kicked off with boot-camp drill sergeant vibes.
Ah, so this is the type of place they run here?
Watching from the back, Zeke scratched his head.
Tch, this is annoying… I can only see the backs of their heads.
To check the kids' faces, Zeke started edging forward stealthily.
But in his crisp new suit with gold braiding dangling, he stuck out like a sore thumb—not exactly stealthy.
A staffer standing by the TA, glaring at the students with beady eyes, spotted him and yelled,
"Hey! You! The one moving! Stay put! Who the hell are you!"
Zeke looked up at the staffer.
Recognizing him, the man assumed he was a noble student and stammered,
"Uh, uh, who… who might you be, sir?"
"Zeke Clayman. Swordsmanship instructor at Lamieli Academy."
"Gasp! The, the swordsmanship instructor!?"
The startled staffer's voice boomed, drawing every commoner's head toward him.
The TA mid-speech sensed something off and said,
"So don't get any ideas… What? What's going on?"
"Uh… the swordsmanship instructor is here."
"Swordsmanship instructor? Here?"
"Yes… right there…."
The staffer pointed flat-palmed at Zeke.
The TA froze upon seeing him.
Snapping to, he addressed Zeke,
"Uh, um. Instructor, sir? Why are you here…? Did you perhaps get the wrong location for the ceremony…?"
"No, no. I just came to check since there are students here too."
The TA's face said, What did I just hear?
They'd run these every year, but no faculty had ever entered the commoners' ceremony since the academy's founding.
The principal occasionally popped in late near the end, but no one else wanted to visit this shabby affair.
"Why would you… Ah, no, that slipped out. I mean…."
"It's fine. I got the principal's permission before coming, so no issue with me joining, right?"
"Uh… yes. Please do."
The TA nodded with a reluctant face.
Hmm, he said to look after the commoners, so gotta do the job. Principal seems more reasonable than he looks—not the grumpy old fart I thought.
In truth, there'd been no permission—just a one-sided heads-up before bolting.
But in Zeke's head, it was already the principal earnestly begging him to check on the overlooked commoners.
Zeke strode boldly forward and took position beside the staffers.
The students' eyes followed.
"Huh? What? Swordsmanship instructor?"
"Whoa, he looks young. Same age as us!"
"Kinda scary, but hot, right?"
"Why's he here? No mention in the schedule my senior told me about."
The tense mood turned rowdy again with Zeke's arrival.
"Quiet! Focus! Resuming the ceremony!"
The TA yelled to regain attention.
But the students kept stealing glances at him.
Zeke stood arms crossed, scanning each kid's face one by one.
A nearby staffer, watching, sidled up and whispered,
"Looking for someone specific…?"
"Mm. Any promising students here?"
"Promising?"
Just thinking it might be tough to spot alone, Zeke decided to take the help.
"Yeah. Someone exceptional or standout. Family background irrelevant—probably a poor kid."
"Well… commoners take exams to get in. Top scorer made it on talent alone. Runner-up with donation points…."
"Who's top?"
The staffer pointed to a girl.
Short-cut brown hair, gray eyes.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement for academy life ahead.
She tilted her head when the staffer pointed at her.
Zeke examined her closely.
She had a rough-around-the-edges look, no fuss on appearance,
but on closer inspection, she clearly outshone the others in potential.
She had a distinctive sparkle.
"What's her name?"
"Soy Spoon."
…Soy Spoon. Soy Spoon, huh… No way! Soil spoon? Dirt spoon lineage?!
Zeke's eyes widened ever so slightly at the girl.
Dirt spoon! Found her!! But how the hell is her name Dirt Spoon…? Fuck, that author bastard went way too far!