Nerves Before the Welcome Ceremony
The freshmen, buzzing with excitement for the welcome ceremony, filled the classroom with lively chatter.
Just like always, Ji Suhyun entered with an utterly exhausted look in her eyes, attendance book in hand, and slammed it down on the podium.
"It's nice that I don't have to call roll one by one in our class."
She swept her gaze over the room once, then smiled brightly as she set the book down on the podium.
"About an hour left until the freshman welcome? I'll go over some things to watch out for, so pay attention, everyone."
The kids started tuning in once they realized it was about the freshman welcome, and looking quite satisfied with their attention, Ji Suhyun continued her explanation.
"Given yesterday's incident and the fact that outsiders are coming today to check on the freshmen, the atmosphere's going to be pretty stiff. So just be careful about a few things."
First: Avoid indiscriminate contact with outsiders during the event.
Second: No rowdy behavior in the presence of outsiders and seniors.
Third: Don't leave the banquet hall after the event during the lunch reception.
"That's about it? I trust you all to handle the rest... but since so many of you look anxious, I'll give you one piece of advice."
Pausing to catch her breath, Ji Suhyun wiped the playful glint from her eyes and spoke with a serious expression.
"──Don't freak out. Today, every hero in Korea is watching over you, doing their utmost to protect you. Just sit back, accept your seniors' welcome, and enjoy the event. Got it?"
She was right. Even now, dozens of Seoul Hero Academy graduates were voluntarily guarding the perimeter for their juniors.
If you tallied just the academy's current forces, it was secure enough to annihilate every Villain Union member even if they all showed up.
"Alright, stand by, and when the announcements start, head to the auditorium. Oh, and Eugene Han Calione. Practiced your oath?"
Suddenly remembering I was reading the oath today, Ji Suhyun turned to me and spoke.
"Yes. I have."
"Good. Don't mess up. Think of it as making a good impression on the big shots. Might not impress you, but. Heh."
Knowing my family background, that was her natural reaction... She had her own preparations to make and left the classroom after that.
Maybe because it was really drawing near, the classroom atmosphere—now just students—sank into an unusually heavy silence, different from usual.
We are broadcasting from the broadcast room. We are broadcasting from the broadcast room. Freshmen, please gather at the main auditorium. We repeat. Freshmen, please...
"Whoa, when it actually comes, I'm nervous. They said reps from the association brass and guild leaders are coming today, right?"
Jinwoo Bivalt, who had seemed fine until now, stood up from his seat and swallowed hard, looking tense.
"No need to freak out that much. Our mentors alone are big shots, aren't they?"
"...That's why. That crazy bitch is coming to the academy! We need to evacuate the kids now!"
I wondered why it was so quiet—he wasn't tense; it was something else.
Looks like he had the leisure to joke around.
As Jinwoo said, the auditorium was probably packed with heroes I'd only seen in the game, there to inspect the new freshmen.
And I was making my public debut on this stage.
My official debut in CS society, so to speak.
I'd already sorted my mindset.
"Let's go."
Led by me, Class A headed toward the main auditorium.
The hallway bustled with kids moving to the auditorium.
But as soon as we stepped out and started moving, the noisy hallway fell silent in an instant.
At the same time, the fear from those around us, sensed through my Bloodline: Calione ability.
Probably rumors from yesterday's terror—that we'd taken down villains ourselves—had spread.
Yesterday's chaos was too much for any normal student to handle.
Even for hero wannabes.
Their reactions weren't incomprehensible.
"Eugene."
In that silence, someone raised a hand toward us and called my name.
"...Choi Yeon."
"Hi."
The other kids looked surprised.
Seeing Jeong Ui-hoon mixed in, it seemed she was from Class C.
"Eugene. Heading to the auditorium?"
"You heard the announcement."
"Giving the oath today?"
"...Thanks to someone who said they wouldn't."
"Who? Oh. Me?"
She'd had no intention of doing it in the first place and had even forgotten she'd refused.
Or maybe she didn't even see it as a refusal.
"Let's go together."
"...Why? Go with your class."
"Why not?"
Choi Yeon left me speechless again.
Finally giving up on arguing, I sighed and said,
"Do what you want."
"Okay."
The academy's main auditorium was about a three-minute walk from the main building.
A massive structure that could comfortably seat thousands.
Last time I'd been here was the entrance exam, so it felt like ages ago.
Weird—it seemed recent, but felt like forever. Why was that?
"Whoa, check out the reporters camped at the entrance. Is this really the academy?"
At the auditorium entrance, reporters with huge cameras were snapping photos of entering students.
"There—Choi Yeon!"
"Choi Yeon of the Cheoncheon Sword Clan!"
Reporters spotted Choi Yeon walking beside me and swung their cameras our way, abandoning the other students.
This was getting annoying—
"...The academy's Boss! Eugene Han Calione!"
"What?! Vice-valedictorian Eugene Han Calione? The one giving the oath?"
"Eugene Han Calione! Over here!"
Suddenly, all the attention flooded my way.
Academy's Boss...?
"Who the hell came up with that nickname—"
"Told you it was smart leaking info to the press. I did good, right, Boss?"
"...It was you?"
You madman.
"Boss, don't get too emotional. As your right-hand man, this is the least I could do. Come on, cheese! Ch~eese~"
If not for the reporters, I might've punched him right then.
For now, I'd hold back—we needed to get inside.
"Reporters! No interviews with first-years yet!"
Thanks to the staff guarding the entrance intervening, the reporters hesitated, and we slipped inside quickly.
"Whoa, dealing with reporters is brutal. Is this why celebs hate paparazzi?"
Jinwoo chattered on, looking like he'd enjoyed it.
"Jinwoo."
"Yeah, Boss?"
"Shut up."
"Eek."
After shutting Jinwoo down, I surveyed the auditorium.
Freshmen were lining up by class in front of the stage.
Seniors and outsiders sat on the sides and rear.
"The scale's insane. They usually live-stream online too, but guess yesterday's terror canceled that."
Sea-a, having researched the welcome, looked around as she spoke.
In the original story, broadcasters swarmed the welcome, causing chaos—but that live-streamed the villains' terror, benefiting the Villain Union.
Not our concern now.
Student Council announcement. Student Council announcement. All freshmen, please take your assigned seats.
Yuri Rodmang's voice, student council VP, echoed through the auditorium speakers.
With the whole academy involved, the council was fully participating.
Sensing my gaze, Yuri, who had just mic'd off, looked my way and smiled.
Hm? What was that?
I read her lips as she mouthed something.
'Do your best on the oath, junior.'
She had her own expectations too.
...Not that it mattered; I knew the content was nothing special.
As more people arrived, the auditorium grew noisy.
Even with hundreds gathered, plenty of seats left—highlighting the venue's scale.
Made sense; tons of events here.
As everyone settled and the noise died down,
We now begin the Seoul Hero Academy's annual Freshman Welcome Ceremony.
Applause rang out with the opening announcement, and I glanced at the program on my chair.
1. Seoul Academy President's Greeting and Address.
2. Guest Representative: Korea Hero Association Chairman's Address.
3. Academy Graduate Representative 'Lee Won-ho' Speech.
4. Academy Freshman Representative Oath.
5. Reception and Lunch.
6. Closing Ceremony.
"That's a long one."
Items 1 through 3 were all addresses and speeches—easy to doze off if not careful.
And I was front row for the oath.
Falling asleep up there? Unthinkable.
Best to steel my focus.
"Jinwoo. What're you doing?"
As I psyched myself up, Youngje's voice came from behind.
Glancing back, I saw Jinwoo half-reclined in his seat.
"Huh? Getting ready fine."
"...What if an instructor catches you during the event?"
"Nah, don't worry. Won't get caught. Just prop your chin and tilt your head—perfect."
I wasn't the only one thinking it'd be sleepy...
But sleeping like that wasn't great.
Because...
"Jinwoo, there's a pretty lady in the back glaring at you."
"Huh? A hot chick eyeing me? Where— Eek!"
Following his panicked, sweating gaze, I spotted a woman staring at him in disbelief.
"She's here too."
Han Yeo-eun, leader of major guild Artemis.
Other mentors were attending too.
Including Gwak Chunsik, smiling warmly our way.
And among the heroes, a man in a sharp black suit and sunglasses, sitting silently.
"Hm..."
Dominic Adanbanto, consigliere of the Calione family.
With Father's face so well-known, I figured he wouldn't come—but the consigliere himself?
Heroes and influencers from all corners of Korea—sunlit and shadowed—gathered here.
The president's opening remarks signaling the start of the Freshman Welcome Ceremony will now begin. Guests and students, please cease conversations and face the stage. Thank you.
A man strode confidently to the stage before them.
"Quite the distinguished guests today. Welcome. I am Heo Seokgi, president of Seoul Hero Academy."
With the greeting from the man once called the Silent One, the freshman welcome ceremony finally began.