Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Entrance Ceremony
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Whoa, calling a perfectly fine person a monster?
That's gotta hurt the listener's feelings.
"H-Hiiik!"
The girl who had muttered "monster" locked eyes with me.
I glanced at her as she freaked out and collapsed onto the floor, then turned my gaze back to the front.
Now, only four people remained standing in the hall.
One was me. And another one was...
'Celine.'
As the illegitimate son who had come here thanks to the privileges of a high noble, it was only natural that she, too, was in this hall.
Of course, since I had left first, she hadn't arrived before me.
'...When did she get here? During that fight with that goat-faced Jotkis guy?'
I think I noticed her around the time I was arguing with that goat-looking Jotkis.
I remembered her staring at me the whole time we were fighting.
She had been staring so intently that even if I didn't want to notice, I had no choice but to.
The image of her looking abandoned, with a face like she was about to cry and fidgeting restlessly, came to mind and tugged at my heart a bit.
...What can you do? The best thing is to ignore it.
"Hngh...!"
Celine was barely holding on, her face pale as she bit her lip hard.
Silver mana wrapped around her entire body, desperately pushing back against Ingrid's pressure, but she looked like she was nearing her limit too.
'That's normal.'
No, honestly speaking, it's not normal. It's only possible because it's her.
'Still, as expected of one of the heroines. She can use mana even in a place with a suppression summoning circle.'
For an ordinary student, even sensing mana in this space would be difficult, let alone operating it to resist.
And the remaining two.
"..."
One was a boy with black hair and sharp eyes.
His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, standing firm like a rock without a single groan.
Only the beads of sweat forming on his forehead hinted that he was enduring this pressure.
'Kaiyen von Raven.'
The eldest son of the Raven Ducal House, called the Kingdom's Sword.
A key figure in the original story who opposes the protagonist Iris at first but later becomes a reliable ally.
I remembered he had insane talent in swordsmanship that allowed no rivals.
And the last one.
'The other one is...'
Ah.
The moment I saw her, I almost blanked out without realizing it.
Golden hair reaching her shoulders, emerald-like transparent green eyes.
Her mysterious aura was like a forest spirit incarnate, but what stood out most were her ears.
Longer and pointier than a human's—elf ears.
'Elisicia von Arden.'
The lady of the Arden Ducal House, the only otherworldly noble house from afar, and a half-elf who inherited elven blood.
Along with Celine, she was called one of the academy's top geniuses.
If my memory was correct, she was one of the main heroines who got involved with the protagonist first in the original story.
Celine and Imir were stunningly beautiful on another level, but elves really were elves.
Her beauty was on a whole other plane, enough to draw an involuntary gasp from me.
"..."
The pressure was intensifying to the point where the ground seemed to shake, but she stood still with her eyes closed.
Her expression was serene, as if meditating. But contrary to that,
mana swirled around her, gently deflecting Ingrid's pressure.
'Spirit affinity, huh.'
The ability to wield mana by borrowing spirit power even inside a suppression circle.
Indeed, a cheat-level talent.
So, the survivors number four.
'All the academy's key figures are gathered.'
I gave a wry smile inwardly.
Being awkwardly inserted among the original story's main characters as Villain No. 1.
Even I thought the picture looked off.
"This year, there are quite a few promising sprouts."
She murmured softly while adjusting her glasses.
"Then how about this?"
Fwaaah!
Kugugugugu!
With those words, Professor Ingrid swung her hand once more.
"Kyaa!"
"Kuh...!"
The intensity was incomparable to before, making Celine and Kaiyen sway as if they might collapse any second.
Even Elisicia, who had maintained a calm expression throughout, had faint wrinkles form between her brows.
And rightly so—the pressure had already exceeded limits.
'That witch. Planning to kill us all...?'
The pressure on me grew heavier. I could say for sure.
This wasn't a test in name only; it was done with real intent to kill.
'Let's see how far you can endure.'
Whatever. I lightly rolled my slightly stiff shoulders.
'Still manageable.'
For me, who had inherited the Black King's power, this much had no effect whatsoever.
I gazed at Professor Ingrid on the platform with a still-calm expression.
As if telling her to bring everything she had.
"..."
Her eyebrow twitched.
'What's with that guy? Why's he so fine?'
...Her eyes seemed to hold such a question.
All the other notable students were on the verge of death,
yet here I was, standing perfectly fine. It was bound to look suspicious.
"Enough. This should suffice."
As she withdrew her hand, the pressure crushing the hall vanished like a lie.
"Haa... haa..."
"Huu...!"
With the seemingly eternal time finally ending, Celine and Kaiyen panted roughly, hands on their knees.
"...Phew."
Even Elisicia, with her composed face, lightly caught her breath and opened her closed eyes.
"L-Lived..."
"Thought I was gonna die. For real."
Amid the students buzzing with relief, Ingrid's voice rang out clearly.
"Only four endured to the end. Especially..."
Her gaze swept over each of the remaining figures one by one, stopping on me.
"Young Master Evan. Most impressive."
"Just got lucky."
Though it was really skill. Still,
better to play humble than show off—it would look more favorable.
"That illegitimate bastard in S-Class?"
"Crazy. The professor went easy on him, right?"
"No way. How could a guy like that..."
Whispers from the defeated losers on the floor reached my ears—impossible, must've cheated, etc.
Let them bark all they want.
Under the professor's intrigued gaze, I just shrugged without a word.
"Results are out."
Professor Ingrid unfurled the roster in her hand.
"Evan Dreadnote, Celine Dreadnote, Kaiyen von Raven, Elisicia von Arden. The above four are assigned to S-Class."
S-Class.
The top class in the academy, gathering only the utmost elites.
I'd proudly enter the class where Iris—what you'd call the protagonist but read as monster—belonged.
'Well, as expected.'
This much was according to plan.
My goal from the start was S-Class. I was a bit worried, but it stayed within expectations.
In the original, Evan was in D-Class, at the bottom. But now I'm different.
"The rest will be assigned to Classes A through D based on scores. Check the bulletin board for details and gather in the auditorium on time."
Professor Ingrid ended briefly and exited the hall.
Once she was gone, the hall grew noisy again.
Cheering students, despairing ones. And losers whispering about me.
'Time to go.'
S-Class confirmed, so head to the auditorium without being late.
Most were still testing, so arriving early to snag a good seat was best.
"Imir. Let's head back."
"Master. You okay? That bitch seemed to be doing something weird, so I was about to charge in."
"...Hold it in. Please."
That brute nearly caused trouble.
I sighed in relief and lightly tapped her head.
"W-Wait a sec...!"
As I turned toward the auditorium, a desperate voice called out.
"...?"
A familiar yet tense, trembling voice. Turning, I saw Celine staggering toward me.
Her face was still flushed, breathing not fully recovered.
"...Brother."
She looked up at me with a complicated expression.
Damn. Should've bolted before she could talk.
'Ignoring and leaving would be awkward too.'
As I eyed her awkwardly, she seemed scared I'd just leave,
grabbing my clothes with trembling hands, panting roughly.
"...Rin. I'm not going first, so let go."
"Ah. S-Sorry..."
Even as students trickled out one by one, I quietly waited for her breathing to steady.
"Thanks... No, that's not it."
"Take it slow. Slow."
She was flustering in a way unlike her usual self.
Well, being alone in this unfamiliar academy with no one she knew must be scary.
Even for her, she's still just a student.
Once her breathing calmed, Celine cautiously gauged my reaction before speaking.
"Congrats on S-Class. For you, Brother... I knew it would happen."
Her voice held genuine congratulations mixed with subtle relief.
Probably because she'd seen me beat the overwhelmingly powerful Imir, so she half-expected it.
"Yeah. Congrats to you too."
I replied as curtly as possible, hiding emotion.
"I'll head out first."
"Ah..."
I gave her a light nod and hurried off.
"W-Wait...!"
Like a man with no intention of further talk. I quickened my pace toward the auditorium.
I wanted to put as much distance as possible, but she limped after me quickly.
Me walking ahead, Imir following a step behind.
And Celine trailing a bit further back.
It was natural for gazes to flock our way.
To others, it must've looked like a bizarre combo.
Contrary to my thought that seats would be plentiful,
the auditorium was packed with freshmen for the entrance ceremony.
The grand interior was lit by thousands of candles, and on the platform sat the academy headmaster and high officials with solemn faces.
"Fucking crowded, Master."
"Be quiet."
"Why? What'd I do wr—"
"Not a word. No baby talk from now on."
"...Cheating bastard."
Worried she'd slip up, I sternly warned her, then
took a seat in a remaining corner spot. As Imir stood behind, scanning around,
Celine hurriedly sat beside me, lest someone take it.
"B-Brother! Th-There's a seat, so I sat..."
"..."
"N-Not... okay?"
Haaaaah.
How could I say no to those pitiful eyes looking up like a thick teardrop would fall if pricked with a needle?
Under her gaze, I could only say it was fine.
[My lord. You're not being very cold.]
Shut it, Tundra.
Just as I thought nearly all freshmen had arrived,
a grand fanfare blared, and the ceremony began.
The headmaster rose from his seat, cleared his throat on the platform, and slowly spoke.
"Welcome. I am Billhel Wiro, headmaster of Eldain Academy."
"This year's freshmen seem particularly talented compared to others. When I first entered the academy..."
"...?"
Huh? Why isn't the skip working?
...Ah. This is reality.
I'd forgotten a key fact.
Back when playing The Glory, this was a skippable section, obviously.
But here in reality, no skipping possible.
"It's nostalgic. Someone a year ahead of my class was..."
Having to listen to this unheard monologue all the way through...
Already, 'YOU DIE' seemed to flicker before my eyes.
"Ku..."
Thud.
"Imir. Don't sleep."
"W-Wasn't sleeping... Mmph!"
"Shh."
After the headmaster's eternally boring address ended and we sighed in relief,
"Next, the freshman representative's oath."
The auditorium hushed at the announcer's voice.
Freshman rep. Usually the top scorer of the entrance exam.
And who that was, no need to see.
Obviously no one else.
'Iris.'
As in the original, protagonist Iris would top the exam and give the oath. I turned to the stage.
Step. Step.
Steady footsteps as a girl ascended the platform.
Dazzling silver hair. Blue eyes, and neat clothes hugging her form.
Her appearance made the auditorium feel brighter, an illusion of overwhelming presence.
Iris.
'Only natural.'
The protagonist of The Glory, the center of this world itself.
At the center of the platform, she began reading her oath slowly, her clear, pure voice echoing through.
"Oath. As a student of Eldain Academy..."
Listening to her, I felt a strange sensation.
Facing the protagonist I'd only seen on screen in person made me truly feel I'd entered the game world once more.
And simultaneously, I realized one fact.
'No matter what, don't get involved with that girl.'
Like original Evan who pestered her and met a miserable end. Getting tangled with her would be bad for me too.
My goal: keep maximum distance, quietly finish academy life.
'Until I find a way out of this world. Graduate S-Class safely.'
Graduating top class would help with future jobs too.
Always planning ahead isn't bad, right?
"...That concludes it."
Clap clap clap!
As I nodded lost in thought,
Iris finished her oath and descended, our eyes meeting by chance.
She paused, fixed her gaze on me,
"...?"
tilted her head slightly with a puzzled look.
'...What?'
Does she know me? No way.
If my memory's right, we had no prior encounter.
...Could it be Evan's infamy?
An ominous feeling passed, but I ignored it and looked away.
"This concludes the entrance ceremony. Students, proceed to your assigned dorms to rest. Details..."
Following the broadcast guiding remaining freshmen, I stood from my seat.