Opening Ceremony (2)
Opening Ceremony (2)
The sun rose in winter as a matter of course.
A perfectly natural phenomenon. It would be stranger if it didn't. This world's Earth was spinning as well, and its sun was burning too, after all.
'With Bitter Cold's arrival it'll be a bit different, but...'
On the way out of the mansion, heading to the venue for the opening ceremony.
While observing the sunlight beating down on the ground, a thought suddenly crossed my mind, and I turned my head slightly toward Baek A-rin.
In the source material, the iteration where the Tower Master of Bitter Cold properly descended was one where sunlight was hard to come by.
His true body's sheer might and the army corps he led certainly fit a final boss, but he was primarily an entity whose environmental changes upon descent were utterly vile.
Dark, gloomy clouds churned together to veil the sky completely, and a frigid blizzard howled, laying waste to the world.
In game terms, the world itself gets slapped with a debuff.
Animals and plants are buried in snow and cold and die, and it's common for the magical installations across the world to freeze solid along with their circuits and shatter.
As a result, even the survivors weren't remotely unscathed. Their movements became constrained, food and materials grew scarce, and life itself grew harsher.
The Tower Master of Bitter Cold is a troublesome entity just by appearing. That held true even in the source material, which was merely a mass of information—how much worse in reality?
Therefore, if signs of the Tower Master of Bitter Cold's descent are detected, the correct course is to tear it up by the roots without a moment's hesitation.
"What's the matter?"
Baek A-rin, who'd been walking while looking around, tilted her head. Even though I hadn't opened my eyes, she apparently saw me turning toward her clearly enough.
[It's nothing.]
"Hmm...?"
At my soft shake of the head, her sea-blue eyes grew half-lidded, as if asking whether it really was nothing. I pressed my lips shut, averted my gaze, and turned away.
Despite the markedly cold weather, energy buzzed all around. The broad streets were lined with the usual stalls and street booths.
Some had already started doing business even though the opening ceremony hadn't begun. Food stalls were especially plentiful—likely targeting visitors who had just arrived.
Right now, the stalls were run by resident shopkeepers originally from Siyoram or outside traders granted special entry. But after the opening ceremony, a fair number of booths run by cadets would pop up as well.
There wasn't a hint of coercion; they set up stalls among themselves to build memories.
And even beyond the stalls, many clubs and circles would hold their own tournaments or performances.
Thanks to that, simply wandering Siyoram would provide plenty of sights. Even for the first day, I probably wouldn't need to worry about Seo-yul being bored while I showed her around.
"Hmmmm... Fine, I'll let it slide this time."
Baek A-rin, who had been staring intently at me while I deliberately turned my head away, reached out. Her slender fingers fiddled with my cheek.
[Ngyeh.]
[Cold.]
As I sat still while she fiddled, her touch felt rather chilly. The sensation of cold was sharper than even the brisk air, so I immediately raised my right hand and wrapped it around hers.
- Fwoosh.
The Calamity Flame that bloomed softly coiled around Baek A-rin's hand. Her half-lidded eyes widened into circles.
The surrounding area was bathed in warm light, and the chill receded.
—Huh? It suddenly got warm?
—Right? Maybe some kind of magic from Siyoram... Whoa, hey, look over there.
—Over there? Why is... Wow, those flames are really pretty.
Passersby in thick winter clothing also opened their eyes wide at the sudden change, looked around, and soon stared blankly at the fire wrapped around my hand.
There were many people nearby. Plenty of cadets heading to the opening ceremony venue like us, and many who originally resided in Siyoram.
But right now, far more other presences registered. Entities I was observing for the first time in my life... these were outsiders admitted after Siyoram's stringent identity checks.
Fwoosh! Under the countless gazes, the Calamity Flame flared larger. Unlike its owner, who found the attention uncomfortable, it seemed to dance as if enjoying the surrounding interest.
"Just when I was feeling cold... thank you."
Her wide eyes only lasted a moment; after stealing a glance at the drones floating nearby, Baek A-rin's eyes curved pleasantly.
She clasped my hand, the one producing the Calamity Flame. Despite that being all, my hand somehow felt warmer.
Baek A-rin shrugged her shoulders and pulled my hand toward her own cheek.
"As expected, Ha-yul, you're so considerate. The warmth is ni— Aaaaagh! Wait! That's not warm, that's scorching hot!"
But my hand never reached her cheek. Because of Hong Yeon-hwa's hand, which had appeared right beside Baek A-rin's face.
Her hand was likewise wreathed in Calamity Flame, but unlike mine, it was blood-red and flickered fiercely.
"Why? This is Calamity Flame too, right? Here, come closer. I'll rub it in thoroughly."
"Kyaaaak! That crazy bitch is trying to kill someone on festival day!"
Baek A-rin, horrified, let go and leaped back with a start. As Baek A-rin fled in a hurry, Hong Yeon-hwa chased after her. Behind her, the bright-red scarf wrapped around Hong Yeon-hwa's neck fluttered.
- Whirrrr...
An abruptly started chase. Just as everyone blinked at the scene, the broadcast drone—perhaps thinking it was entertaining—followed their pursuit.
To be sure, a chase between the heirs of Calamity Flame and Azure Sea was an extremely rare sight. It wasn't so sensitive a scene that they'd edit it out, so letting such a fun moment slip by would be a shame...
'Ah.'
A scene that wasn't sensitive enough to edit, a fun moment you'd hate to miss. I knew of an event where such scenes would pour out in abundance.
With the Tower Entry on the third day behind us, starting on day four, various events meant for cadets to enjoy would begin.
Among them was the cross-dressing contest I'd signed up for.
'...No, worst-case scenario, I can just slightly interfere with the drones.'
At the sudden thought, the corners of my eyes twitched. But the solution that immediately came to mind loosened my stiffened shoulders again.
Those drones were also products of this world, after all, so they moved via magic. There was ample room for interference; if it came down to it, I could simply interfere with them myself...
"Ahaha, you're having fun from day one."
Professor Liana, beside me, covered her mouth and giggled. She seemed to find the two of them amusing as well.
But I was calculating the distance between them as it slowly increased, and felt some concern.
[We need to arrive soon. Is that going to be okay?]
"We still have some leeway, so it's fine. And it's not far away, so if they think they're late, they'll just sprint over on their own."
[Ah... you're right.]
They were getting farther from here, but given the two's physical abilities, it was actually a short distance.
If they felt they were running late, they'd use Body Reinforcement Technique or the like and dash over. Since Baek A-rin is with her, they'd keep to the time.
Convinced, I nodded and continued walking.
.
.
.
Like most festivals, the opening ceremony is a schedule heavily skewed toward spectacle. The first scene to show off just how grand our festival is. Later, if media outlets carry coverage of the festival, footage from the opening ceremony is often used.
The Birth Festival's opening ceremony is similar. In the end, it's meant to announce to the outside world just how magnificently this festival begins.
[Cadets currently waiting, please all gather at the designated location by 9 a.m. As announced beforehand, please find and stand at your places by school year and class. Once again...]
A magically amplified voice resounded across the sky. Thanks to an additional spell formula inserted, it didn't ring painfully in the ears.
I interpreted the magic spread grandiosely across the sky, rubbed one ear, and observed the surroundings.
The opening ceremony venue was the Grand Auditorium at the center of Siyoram. If I had to compare its shape, perhaps a baseball stadium?
The ceiling was open, allowing what warmth the sunlight carried to pour down into the center.
In the wide-open central area, cadets stood aligned by year and class, while the tiered spectator seats wrapping around them were packed densely with people.
"Didn't the ends of my hair get singed? I think it touched..."
"Touched my ass. I didn't even get close to you, you idiot."
"Tsk, no way... I'm sure it did..."
Standing in the very front row of the first-year Ipchun Class area, Baek A-rin murmured while fussing with the ends of her hair.
Even with Hong Yeon-hwa's denial right beside her, the suspicion on Baek A-rin's face didn't easily fade.
Thankfully, the two arrived before the opening ceremony started. Because of that, they avoided being dragged over by the Vice Headmaster's Spatial Leap and scolded in front of everyone.
Of course, before it came to that, I would've retrieved them with the Authority of Space.
'...Lots of unique abilities have appeared.'
Leaving the bickering Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek A-rin behind, I played hand games with Ellia and observed the cadets gathered in the Grand Auditorium.
Future protagonists, growing at a staggering pace while receiving the Blessing of Growth. As if asserting that this description was absolutely correct, the aura felt from them was intense.
Moreover, the innate talents sensed were dense and diverse. Though some overlap existed, many abilities were decidedly distinct in character.
Especially the first years, my own cohort. Perhaps because a fair amount of time had passed since receiving the Blessing of Growth, there were numerous cadets who had manifested unique abilities they hadn't had before or who had altered and expanded existing ones.
'It's a shame they're not in manifested state, but I'll be able to observe that plenty in the Tower of Growth.'
This Tower of Growth admission didn't separate by year. If they fought in there, I'd be able to feel the unique abilities that had transitioned into manifestation to my heart's content, and stockpile material for imitation.
[Ah, as of this very moment, we shall conduct the opening ceremony of the Birth Festival for Siyoram's 121st Cohort. Cadets, please take your positions. Also, visitors are...]
As I was idly chatting, an announcement voice resounded from the sky. At once, the bustle pervading the Grand Auditorium gradually settled.
- Crackle!
A moment later.
Above the protruding dais at the center, space warped, and from within, the Vice Headmaster, wearing a thick robe, emerged.
As always, it was the Vice Headmaster who took charge of proceedings for this opening ceremony.
'Truly a busy person.'
A proxy personally established by the Headmaster, decades ago now. Having handled all manner of Siyoram affairs ever since, just how much work had he carried out?
I briefly wondered if beneath that emotionless expression lay a face brimming with fatigue.
With an odd expression, I observed the Vice Headmaster announcing the start of the opening ceremony. Before long, I'd have to go up there as one of the first-year representative cadets.
'?'
At the anomalous information caught at the edge of my observation range, my head turned of its own accord.
* * *
Around this time every year, Siyoram's Gate Terminal becomes a sea of humanity.
The reason is none other than the Birth Festival.
So many visitors gather from all over the world to see the once-a-year Birth Festival in person that the Siyoram Gate Terminal, counted among the top five in scale, feels cramped.
With so many people swarming about, it's painfully loud.
How many signs of presence does one person emit? And if each muttered a single word, the overlapping reverberations would be enormous.
- Tap.
That very Gate Terminal was, at this very moment, exceptionally quiet.
The noise had lessened, not vanished entirely, but the only sound reaching the ear was that of a single footstep.
Other noise certainly existed, but it was crushed flat by an overwhelming presence.
- Tap.
The owner of the presence that crushed all surrounding noise flat was a woman.
Brown hair falling just past her shoulders. Outwardly, her limbs were long and slender, but the aura she exuded was as immovable as a great mountain range.
"......."
The woman, the Eleventh Clan Head of Taesan, Lee Ji-ah, moved her feet, feeling the texture of a land she had not walked in a long time.