A Different Kind of First Introduction (1)
"So, Seria — how did I do?"
"...Smooth as silk. You're really something when it counts. Makes me wonder how anyone could think you weren't raised among nobles."
It was the stretch of time after the entrance ceremony when everyone made their way to their respective departments.
And, as always, I was walking alongside Seria.
"Really? That's a relief. Honestly, I was shaking like a leaf up there."
That was no lie.
During practice I hadn't felt the least bit nervous, but the moment I'd actually stood in front of a crowd, my mind had gone completely blank.
Words wouldn't come — I just stammered along while some transcendent force seemed to puppet my body through the speech. Which was exactly why I'd said I finished it purely on momentum.
'Good thing I practiced like hell.'
"Eh, I still get a little nervous standing in front of a lot of people myself."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You never really get used to this sort of thing. Having an audience versus not having one is a huge difference."
Listening to Seria ramble on in her oddly giddy state, we somehow arrived at the Swordsmanship Department classroom before I knew it.
"Whoa, packed in here."
The classroom resembled a university lecture hall.
Maybe it was because we'd been strolling and chatting on the way over, but the seats were already filling up with cadets.
"The Swordsmanship Department always takes in the most freshmen."
Seria tossed the remark over her shoulder as I marveled at the dozens upon dozens of cadets in the room.
She was right.
Magic and restoration demanded you cram an endless mountain of knowledge, wringing your brain dry in the process.
Swordsmanship, on the other hand? You grip a blade and swing it. Done.
Even if the ratio of nobles choosing magic, swordsmanship, and healing was roughly even, commoners overwhelmingly preferred to train their bodies.
And since the Swordsmanship Department didn't just teach the sword but also shortblades, daggers, spears, and every other weapon under the sun, it was only natural that it boasted the largest enrollment of the three departments.
"There's a pair of seats open, luckily."
Seria spotted two empty desks in the front row, slightly left of center, and headed straight for them.
I followed and sat down beside her.
After a short while, unfamiliar cadets trickled in one by one, and just as the last seats were filling—
Creeeeak—
"Good, everyone."
The classroom door swung open, and in strode a hulking, bear of a man.
It was Bronson — the Swordsmanship Department instructor I knew all too well.
"I am Bronson Clyne, Chief Instructor of the Swordsmanship Department."
He swept his gaze across the cadets once before introducing himself.
"That's the First Sword of the Kingdom..."
"Huh? That's the instructor who tested the top rankers during the entrance exam? He's the Chief Instructor?"
A murmur rippled through the room.
In an instant, the classroom filled with the low buzz of cadets whispering among themselves.
"Ahem."
Bronson cleared his throat to settle the room and continued.
"Now, as you all know, here in the Swordsmanship Department we train you not only in the blade, but in wielding a wide variety of weapons and fighting in close quarters."
"Honestly? As you are right now, you're all green. We've gathered the finest talents on the continent, sure, but you're still flowers that haven't bloomed. From today onward, it is my job to nurture every last bit of talent you possess into full bloom."
"Unfortunately, no lessons today — it's the first day. Your official first class will be tomorrow."
"The Academy's instruction is designed to gauge each of your individual levels and establish a combat style suited to you personally. Before that can happen, you'll need to be tested — so all of you, gather at the 1st Arena where you took your practical exams, and be on time."
For all his fearsome appearance, Bronson's voice was deep, calm, and clearly enunciated as he explained.
'Even a guy who looks like that is a Chief Instructor for a reason, huh.'
It wasn't a post you could claim on raw strength alone, so it only made sense.
"Well, that's about all the orientation you need. Spend the remaining time getting to know the comrades you'll be living alongside from here on. We'll do introductions. Just state your name and sit back down. Sharing your ability is optional — though knowing about it would help me prepare tomorrow's lessons. We'll start from the leftmost row."
And so began a simple round of self-introductions.
"I'm Lumia Catarina! My ability is Blink — I can teleport over short distances!"
"Ron McAllister. My primary armaments are a one-handed sword and shield, and my ability is Protection."
The introductions moved along from the row next to ours.
Since we were in the second row from the left, our turn would come up quickly.
'Ron. So he's here too.'
The male cadet who'd just introduced himself as Ron McAllister.
He was another 5-star character known in Union Academy for having genuinely good performance.
His position was tank, and his ability was so strong he was practically a mandatory pick in co-op content.
"Protection? Just from the name, I can't quite picture what it does. Could you elaborate a bit?"
Bronson, who had been jotting something down, asked Ron directly.
"Yes, sir! Of course!"
Ron answered brightly, then immediately drew up his mana.
Hmmm—
"I can receive, in place of a designated target, all damage directed at them. Instructor — would you care to strike the desk in front of you?"
"Hm? That would break the desk. You'd be the one replacing it. You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Go ahead and hit it. Ah — you'll need to hold back somewhat, of course. Otherwise I'd be the one getting hurt..."
Ron spoke as he raised his shield.
"Fine."
KWAAANG—!
Without bothering to add another word, Bronson answered with a casual smash into the desk.
"Ugh...!"
He was so absurdly strong that even though he'd clearly tapped it lightly, the impact rang out like an explosion.
"D-Did it turn to dust?"
"So that's the First Sword of the Kingdom... and he said he went easy..."
The cadets each muttered in quiet disbelief—
"Ohh."
But Bronson himself simply let out a sound of admiration.
"That's a remarkable ability."
Seria tossed in her praise from beside me.
And true to those reactions — the desk, which by all rights should have been dust, sat there completely unscathed.
"Whoa, it didn't even break."
"So what exactly is his ability, then...? Oh!"
As a small commotion stirred, one cadet turned their head and let out a groan.
Their gaze was fixed on Ron's shield.
Rugged, yes — but unmistakably steel — and now it bore a deep dent.
"Haaaah... Instructor, I did ask you to hold back."
Ron, shaking out a stinging hand, grumbled.
"Haha, my apologies. I thought I was restraining myself, but it seems I fell short. In any case — Protection is a fine ability. You'll be able to shield your allies and vital supplies splendidly."
"Thank you, sir."
"Right, next up... hm? Why is that seat empty?"
Bronson, moving naturally along, frowned at the vacant seat behind Ron.
I was just as puzzled.
'There was definitely a female cadet sitting there a second ago?'
Her face had been hidden behind Ron's shield, but I was certain someone had been there.
So where on earth had she...?
"Ah."
"Ohh."
A strange sensation brushed over me, and my head snapped forward.
Bronson, too, seemed to have noticed — he was smiling, looking thoroughly intrigued.
Whoooosh—
"...Nia Mist. My ability is... Stealth."
A breath of wind seemed to stir at the front of the room, and then a girl who had simply materialized out of thin air murmured softly.
Nia Mist.
The girl with white hair and mystic grey eyes who'd captivated the crowd at the entrance ceremony and claimed Rank 7, her whole presence steeped in a dreamlike aura.
"Wh... whoaaa..."
"I didn't even notice her until just now..."
At this rather unconventional introduction, exclamations of admiration broke out all over the room.
"Ohh, amusing. I've had my eye on you since the entrance ceremony. Nia Mist — I like it. Take your seat."
"Yes, sir."
Pleased with the praise, Nia returned to her seat with a faint smile.
After that, a handful of ordinary cadets gave their introductions.
And then—
"...Second in the entrance exam. Seria Levenstein. My ability is Severance."
The girl beside me gave her introduction.
Crisp and clean.
Her ability had been public knowledge for a while, so everyone greeted it with applause.
Clapclapclapclapclap—!!
The salutatorian, and the daughter of the continent's foremost sword ducal house.
Perhaps thanks to that staggering name value, even her understated introduction drew a hefty round of applause.
No doubt plenty of them were angling to network with her.
Which meant a fair number of eyes were also drawn to me, glued to her side.
"Good. Next."
The moment Seria sat down, all those gathering gazes converged on me completely.
'Maybe I should've picked a different seat.'
Because I'd sat on the left, my turn had come around far sooner than expected.
And I hadn't even figured out what to say yet.
No — would simply announcing "top rank" be enough to earn applause like Seria did?
As I hesitated, my eyes met Bronson's for an instant. Dragging it out any longer would've been embarrassing, so I rose from my seat at once.
"Pleasure to meet you all. First in the entrance exam — Lucian Peyote."
I gave my name and nothing more. Now came the part where I revealed my ability.
He'd said it was optional, that I didn't have to if I didn't want to — but with everyone else disclosing theirs, it would've been odd for me alone to clam up.
I had no particular reason to hide it, so I carried on without much thought.
"My ability is..."
I was just about to utter the words 'Illusion'—
'...Wait a second.'
Nia's little performance from moments ago flashed through my mind.
'If I'm the top-ranked entrant, shouldn't I show them something too?'
Glancing around, I noticed that while few in number, a handful of cadets were shooting me sour, resentful looks — clearly miffed that a commoner had beaten Seria to the top spot.
'Fine.'
Seeing that, I gave a small internal nod, raised my mana, and spoke.
"[Illusion]"
Violet mana — the same shade as my eyes — spread out in every direction.
Just as I confirmed that the cadets — and even Bronson — had all been touched by my ability, their gazes clouding over—
Snap—!
I snapped my fingers and finished the sentence.
"...There it is."
Grinning, I released the ability.
But for some reason, no reaction came back at all.
Everyone — even Seria — could only wear expressions of blank bewilderment.
"Huh?"
What's wrong with everyone?
This was... not exactly the reaction I'd been hoping for.