Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Top Student (1)
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The next day.
The long-awaited entrance ceremony had finally arrived.
On the way to the academy.
"Ahem, ahem."
I kept clearing my throat, fussing with the hem of my uniform.
As for why I was suddenly in a school uniform...
When I stepped out of the officetel that morning to check out, a delivery was waiting: the uniform.
Checking the missed message on my Smart Watch, it had arrived the previous evening.
I'd gone to bed early from exhaustion and only picked it up right before leaving.
Still, thanks to my Transfer skill, I managed to change quickly without a hitch.
"...Feels awkward."
Even though I'd put it on flawlessly with a clean Transfer, wearing the uniform itself felt off, so I kept tugging at it.
I might look like a fresh twenty-year-old now, but before possessing this body, I was a thirty-something uncle.
Going back to school in a uniform at this age? It felt downright weird.
Carrying that awkwardness, I was almost at the academy when...
Buzz buzz buzz,
A crowd of fellow freshmen was buzzing around.
But... listening closely to their murmurs,
I realized the topic was me.
'No wonder...'
They kept stealing glances my way.
"Hey, hey. That's the guy..."
"...Yeah. The one who took first in the third exam."
"Heard he flicked his fingers and sent Lee Seo-yeon and Arthur flying?"
"...With just a flick? Those two?"
"...What a monster."
Something was off. Really off.
There was something weird mixed into their conversation.
'...I sent Lee Seo-yeon and Arthur flying with a flick?'
What nonsense was that?
They got knocked back by the shockwave from the Thunder Bag...
Did they not see me throw it?
'Maybe they didn't?'
The moment I tossed the bag, Lee Seo-yeon and Arthur had instantly redirected their sword paths toward it and sliced it apart.
'...It exploded and vanished right away, so all they saw was me reaching out?'
That made sense. Easy to misunderstand.
Realizing the students were under a serious misconception, I headed into the auditorium where the entrance ceremony was about to start.
And I learned that the whispers outside were tame by comparison.
"That's the valedictorian, right?"
"They say he has an S-rank skill."
"And an S-rank talent too."
"Man... total freak."
"No wonder he beat out Lee Seo-yeon and Arthur for top spot."
Murmurs drifted from all around.
Maybe because I'd been listening closely outside,
Even the quiet whispers drilled right into my ears.
Me with an S-rank skill. Me with an S-rank talent.
I nearly burst out laughing at the ridiculous rumors.
'I just threw two Thunder Bags, that's all.'
Way too exaggerated.
I smirked inwardly but played it cool, heading to the very front of the auditorium.
The seats were arranged by entrance ranking.
To match my rank, I had no choice but to go all the way forward.
But...
'...What the hell is that.'
Next to the frontmost seat was a placard reading 'Valedictorian.'
And beside it, 'Salutatorian,' where Arthur was already seated.
'...Right. They had those.'
In the game too, top ranks got fancy placards by their seats in elegant script: 'Valedictorian,' 'Salutatorian.'
Why the embarrassing signs? To align with Arena Academy's ethos of skill and heroism: 'We've prepared this for people like them.'
Basically, 'Want this treatment? Climb the ranks.'
"......"
I wanted to toss that placard away right then.
But sadly, no dice.
The writing on those placards was penned by none other than a monumental figure.
'No, that guy's ancient, why even...'
The academy's founder and chairman.
A first-generation Transcendent and living legend.
....
......
The War God, Baek Yu-hwa.
Even if it was the War God's handiwork...
'...Don't wanna sit.'
Advertising 'This seat means valedictorian!' was just humiliating.
But I couldn't stand there forever, so I sat down anyway...
"......You're here."
Resigning myself, I took the seat. Arthur, sitting ramrod straight without turning, acknowledged me.
I turned to greet him back—and nearly lost it.
'...Pfft!'
I almost cracked up.
Arthur stared straight ahead in perfect posture.
His ears were beet red.
And a flush on his cheeks.
'You're embarrassed too, huh?'
The placard next to his seat mortified him too.
"Yoo-hoo! Valedictorian! Salutatorian!"
Then, from the fourth seat, the pink-haired girl who looked like cherry blossoms—Asuka—stood and waved at me and Arthur.
Yesterday it was 'Fifth Place' and 'Third Place.'
Today, official titles.
Thinking that, I waved back at Asuka.
Then my eyes met Lee Seo-yeon's in the third seat.
She gave a small bow in greeting, then faced forward again.
"Heehee!"
Asuka giggled brightly at my response and sat back down. Just then, light flashed through the auditorium as the principal appeared.
As always, teleporting in. He descended from midair onto the podium.
Glancing over us freshmen—including me—he held a wand to his throat and spoke.
"I sincerely welcome all of you to Arena Academy."
With a gentle, grandfatherly voice, he greeted us, then flicked his wand toward the air.
The sunlit auditorium plunged into darkness.
Bang, boom, bwoom-boom-boom.
Like fireworks in the gloom, multicolored sparks lit up the sky.
"Whoa... so pretty..."
"...As expected of a grand archmage. No incantation for a spell like that..."
Exclamations erupted everywhere.
Some marveled at the fireworks display overhead.
Others at the principal casually casting grand magic without a ritual.
I didn't gasp.
As a veteran, it was familiar—and someone was staring right at me.
Amid the fireworks.
The principal on the podium fixed his gaze on me.
No idea why.
But no reason to look away, so I met his eyes steadily.
"......"
"......"
How long did we lock eyes in silence?
- A curious child.
The principal's voice echoed in my head.
- One whose fate... cannot be seen.
Probably just for me.
Fate... unseen?
'...What does that mean?'
First time for this event dialogue. I couldn't help floating a question mark over my head.
Arena Academy's principal, Yoo Baek.
Bestowed the title 'Grand Archmage' by the world upon becoming a Transcendent, he wields all magic and reads the heavens' celestial bodies.
In other words, he has the power to read people's fates.
Yet mine was invisible?
Even after 30,000 hours and 99% achievements, first I'd heard of it.
But this wasn't the place to probe.
'Gotta ask him face-to-face later.'
As I thought that, his eyes sparkled like they lit up.
- Those whose fate is unseen fall into two broad categories.
Oh, spilling it here?
- But the setting isn't right. I'll tell you later.
......Ah.
No, Principal. Come on?
Mood soured instantly.
Spotting my expression, his eyes curved like crescent moons in amusement.
- Haha. Don't be mad, kid. We'll meet soon enough.
That eased the frustration bubbling up.
Our eye contact ended.
The dark auditorium brightened with sunlight again.
Most students applauded the principal's show.
Clap clap clap clap clap!
The thunderous ovation rang through the hall for a bit.
Satisfied, the principal raised a hand to quiet them.
"I'm grateful this old body could entertain you with the welcome."
Scanning the students, his gaze returned to me.
"Now, let's begin the ceremony. First, the pledge from the freshman representative. Valedictorian, come forward."
I stood and ascended the podium.
The principal stepped aside; I took his place.
From up there, countless eyes fixed on me.
A torrent of emotions washed over: awe, envy, jealousy, anger, fear.
I kept a straight face, acting unfazed.
Though cold sweat beaded inside.
Click, click.
Camera shutters snapped repeatedly from the back, where students sat—near the auditorium's end.
The sound ratcheted my tension.
One slip, and tomorrow's headlines: 'Arena Academy Valedictorian Flubs Pledge'—hyenas tearing me apart.
Hands slick with sweat from the pressure.
"Pledge."
My voice didn't waver.
&
"...This concludes the pledge."
Thankfully, I recited the prepared words without forgetting or stumbling.
Only after finishing did the tension ease a little.
But it wasn't over, so I stayed alert.
"Valedictorian, splendid pledge."
The principal approached, offering his hand.
I stepped down, shook it firmly.
Clap clap clap clap clap!
Applause erupted now.
After it died down completely, we released hands.
I forced strength into my shaky legs, feigning composure as I returned to my seat.
Thud.
'Hoo...'
Collapsing into the chair, tension flooded out.
Body went limp.
'Wanna head back to the dorm already.'
Just crash in bed.
But schedules remained before dorm time.
Normal schools end the day post-ceremony, send kids home. Not Arena Academy.
The real agenda kicks off after.
"This concludes the entrance ceremony."
With that, the principal twirled his wand lightly.
Light flashed over every student.
Blink—and we weren't in the auditorium anymore.
A new place entirely.
Looking around: a spacious classroom-like hall, smaller than the main one.
All 100 of us, including me, seated at desks.
100 freshmen.
Main cast among them.
Yes.
The principal had teleported everyone from the auditorium to their assigned classrooms.
Truly, the grand archmage's magic is unmatched, I thought—
Clap clap.
Someone clapped, drawing all eyes.
Ours followed the sound.
"Welcome to Class 1-A."
Short sporty hair.
A diagonal scar from forehead to cheek.
And a hulking frame of muscle threatening to burst his suit.
Instructor Kang Cheol-su grinned, baring his teeth at us.