The Valedictorian's Oath

After returning to my room and changing clothes, I spent some time inspecting Dis Pater for any issues.

"...Just a few light scratches?"

Despite an attack that had shredded the academy uniform—with its basic defensive enchantments—in an instant, Dis Pater had held up as if it were nothing. With its auto-repair function, these minor scratches would heal in no time.

For a unique-grade item to perform like this... once the core was installed and it was fully completed, just how broken would this gear become?

Lost in such thoughts, I pulled out the dungeon core I'd carefully stored in my cube.

It was essentially this world's equivalent of an arc reactor.

"It definitely said something about needing a narrative hook."

The academy terror was the main scenario of the academy route. So, wouldn't a dungeon core tied to this incident make a perfect centerpiece?

"Well, I'll only know for sure once I take it there."

I slipped the dungeon core back into my cube and moved to sit on the bed. That's when I noticed the unusual clamor outside the mansion, which had been quiet until now.

"What's going on?"

I opened the window to check and saw that the organization members who'd gone out with Father had returned. Which meant Father was back.

Heading to the mansion entrance, I spotted him arriving right on cue.

"Welcome back, Father."

"...Yeah."

For some reason, Father's expression seemed darker than usual. There was a smudge of soot on his face, which made me ask cautiously, half-expecting the worst.

"...Was it a trap?"

"Yeah. There were traces of the guy being there, sure, but by the time we arrived, all that was left were bombs."

...So that soot on Father's face must've been the work of Bloody Clown.

"It felt too suspicious to call it their hideout, so I went in alone. If I'd brought the other members, it could've been a disaster."

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Hm? Are you actually worrying about your old man? Ha! As if a little thing like that could hurt me. It didn't even tickle, so don't fret."

...Of course. This was a man who could take a tank shell to the face, shrug it off without a scratch, and crush it barehanded. What was there to worry about? No matter what Bloody Clown tried, he couldn't lay a finger on Father.

"But if the place you went to was a trap, doesn't that mean there's a problem with the informant?"

"...I thought so too, but it seems they really were there."

With that, Father pulled out his phone and showed me a photo.

A charred black wall. Scrawled on it was a drawing of a black rat pointing and cackling.

"...Plague Rat."

"Exactly, Plague's symbol. The intel wasn't wrong. It's a shame for today, but what can you do? No one got hurt, so count our blessings."

Yet Father's eyes burned with the unmistakable gaze of a man plotting revenge.

"I'll catch him for sure, so don't worry."

A faint killing intent lingered, promising he'd hunt the bastard to the ends of the earth. Even though it wasn't aimed at me, it made my skin prickle for a moment.

But Father soon clapped my shoulder with a thwack and flashed a grin, lightening the mood.

"By the way, I hear the academy's going ahead with the freshman welcome ceremony tomorrow as planned?"

Had Father gotten a direct call too? From the academy's perspective, he was basically a parent, so it made sense he'd be informed.

"Yes. Postponing it now might create public opinion that they're scared of the Villain Union."

That very evening, the academy had issued a statement: the Villain Union's terror attack had been completely thwarted by the students, proving the union was nothing more than a pathetic club of villains.

"Is that so? Then the oath will go to the top student from the Changcheon family, huh. What a pity."

"...Ah. About that, Father."

"Hm?"

"I'll be the one giving the oath."

"W-what?"

Father's eyes widened in genuine surprise.

"You're saying you—you—will give the oath at Seoul Hero Academy? The one reserved for the nation's finest hero cadet?"

"...Yes."

"N-no. I know you're exceptional, but... how? Did that kid die during the terror attack or something?"

No way—he must've heard from the consigliere about Choi Yeon and the swordmaster meeting after the incident. His reaction showed just how flustered he was.

"Of course not. Choi Yeon just stepped down on the spot, so I took her place."

Even stating the facts plainly didn't calm him. If anything, his weary face was brightening by the second.

"Ha! Haha! Hahahaha! Parnello, did you hear? My son's giving the oath at Seoul Hero Academy!"

"Congratulations, Don. Young master."

"This isn't the time. Tell Dominic to write the perfect declaration for Eugene right away."

"Yes, I'll relay it immedia—"

"Wait, hold on!"

Caught off guard by Father's over-the-top reaction, I spun around and grabbed Parnello's arm as he moved to leave.

"It's fine! The academy's providing the declaration!"

"...Is that right?"

"Yes. Really, it's okay."

A declaration penned by Calione's consigliere? Who knew what it'd say, but it might force me into something ridiculous. And sticking around longer might invite more wild ideas from Father.

"I need to prepare for tomorrow anyway, so I'll head up and rest. You should get some sleep too, Father."

"Ah, sure. You've had rhetoric training since you were little, so you'll do fine."

...I'd studied rhetoric too? New info on Eugene Han Calione.

"I've kept you too long. Go rest."

After bidding Father goodnight and returning to my room, I stared at the declaration script I'd received from the academy a few days ago.

"...So I have to read this in front of the whole school?"

Of course, it wasn't my first time with an academy declaration. In the academy route, I'd always aimed for top or runner-up spots for the easy playthroughs, which meant doing the speech event every time.

But seeing it in-game and actually delivering it were worlds apart.

"Guess I just have to face it head-on."

Might as well rack up some achievement while I'm at it.

As I kept rehearsing the script with that in mind—

[Young master? It's Alesia. Are you asleep?]

Alesia's voice came from outside. Her visiting at this hour?

"It's open. Come in."

Wondering what it was about, I called out, and she entered cautiously, holding something and bowing her head.

"Sorry to bother you so late. A package just arrived for an order, so I took the liberty."

"An order?"

At my question, she showed me what she held.

"Your academy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠uniform. Your assistant said yours got completely torn today, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so I rushed to get a replacement. You can't give the oath in casual clothes in front of the whole school, right?"

Her playful smile made me chuckle despite myself.

"You're right. That could've been a disaster."

I took the uniform from her and checked it over. Same size as my old one. Freshly laundered, it carried a pleasant scent.

"Thanks, Alesia."

"Just doing my job. Cough cough!"

"Caught a cold?"

"...No, probably not. I think I inhaled some dust chasing after the Don... A warm drink before bed should fix it."

Oh, right—the explosion.

"Any injuries?"

"Worried about me? It's been a while. No, thankfully no one was hurt, including me. The Don himself was at the front."

Father had said the same. She showed no visible wounds; it really seemed like just dust.

"If that's all, it should be fine, but..."

"Is that the speech for tomorrow?"

Spotting the still-open monitor, she grinned and walked over with interest.

Nothing she couldn't see, so I let her. She scanned the declaration and gave her verdict.

"Hmm... How to put it... It's kinda clichéd."

"Right?"

Just as she'd said—I'd thought the same, since it was the same old script they'd used for years.

"Can't you just write your own, young master?"

"I could, but the academy wouldn't like it. It'd look like my own initiative."

More importantly... I was barely holding it together by treating it like following orders. Going original? My face might explode from embarrassment.

"If you say so, young master, then no helping it. I'll head out now."

"Yeah. Take care."

After seeing Alesia off, I sat back at the desk, sighed at the script before me.

"...Beats me."

The academy entrance was even noisier than usual.

"External visitors, please confirm your identity ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠here!"

"Student ID check! Students, show your IDs here before entering through the gate!"

Security had ramped up after yesterday's terror. Students got off easy with ID cross-checks against records, but outsiders faced intense scrutiny—you could tell at a glance.

"This is far enough. I'll go in alone from the gate."

"Are you sure?"

Riding in the car as always with Han Seojun driving, I realized it was taking too long and grabbed my bag.

"Better than sitting here. Outsiders seem restricted too, so I'll call when I need a ride back."

"I'm fine. I'll stay nearby—just call."

"...Do what you want."

Stepping out, I pulled my student ID from my wallet—always kept there—and headed to the gate.

A pain compared to normal, but security was security.

As I approached a staff member who'd spotted me, ready to show my ID—

"You're Han Eugene, giving the freshman welcome oath today, right? Go right on in."

"...Ah, yes."

No ID check needed; instant pass. What the...?

Good thing's good, though. I headed to class.

Plenty of time before the ceremony, so the academy instructed us to wait in homerooms.

"You're here! Freshman rep! Famiglia's boss! Han! Eu! Gene!"

The moment I entered, Jinwoo greeted me with over-the-top theatrics, yelling and flailing.

Youngje facepalming in the back and Sea-a sighing told the whole story.

"Jinwoo."

"Yeah? Touched?"

"Tone it down."

"Eeeeng..."

I swear, the guy. Time to prep the declaration.