The Deadly Entrance Ceremony
With our enrollment in Arcade Academy—whose so-called entrance ceremony was little more than a death game—confirmed, we savored a brief vacation as recompense for our grueling training. We stretched our slashed sleep back to around six hours and trimmed swordsmanship and study sessions to carve out leisure time, like leisurely strolls around the neighborhood together. Once we reached the academy, who knew if we'd ever get to sprawl out and relax like this? Better rest up while we can.
"Once we're in the academy dorms, coming back to the family estate will be tough, won't it?"
"Yeah, probably. They handle pretty much everything inside the academy."
The academy was practically a small city in its own right.
"Even if we set aside the dorms, they've got a restaurant district, clothing shops, training grounds, and even weapon forges... It's a real privilege."
"Damn right. And everything costs about half what you'd pay in the city. If this isn't a privilege, what is?"
There was even a jewelry shop—I remembered going there often back in the day to browse rings. Not the happiest memories, but even so, I wanted to pick up a pair this time.
"By the way, you're really going to live in the dorm with me?"
"Of course."
An S Grade student's dorm was fit to call a mansion. The facilities were top-notch, and it was spacious enough for six or seven ordinary people to live comfortably.
"You want to be with me that badly?"
"Yes, of course."
Whoa, she was coming out bolder than I'd imagined, leaving me flustered for asking. I'd thought I had some resistance to women by now, but a straight pitch like that hit harder than expected. Or maybe it only landed because it was Rain throwing it?
"Hearing you say that makes me happy too."
"Me as well."
Exchanging such embarrassingly sweet words had our faces heating up for no reason. Wondering if it was just me, I glanced over—thankfully, Rain's cheeks were flushing as red as her hair.
Yeah, even if Rain wasn't totally shameless, this was the kind of thing new lovers might hesitate over. A little shame was natural.
"Then let's start packing. The dorm assignments come right after tomorrow's entrance ceremony, so we need to get our luggage ready."
"Understood... Should I leave the packing to Lianne?"
"Yeah, the assignments are after the ceremony."
Even if the academy dorms came fully equipped, living there would reveal all sorts of gaps—clothing, daily necessities, and... well, gifts for when I inevitably ran into them. Or maybe that last one was just for me...
"Rain, pack your important stuff too. We won't see home again until vacation."
"Understood."
After disembarking from the carriage at the gates of Arcade Academy, Rain and I handed all our luggage to Lianne.
"Take care of it. We'll come back for it later."
We kept only the essentials and headed toward the First Auditorium for the entrance ceremony.
"...Understood, Young Master."
Lianne trudged off in the opposite direction from the First Auditorium.
"She looked off earlier... You think she's okay?"
"Lianne?"
"Yeah, after taking the luggage, she clutched her chest like she was in pain... Does she have some chronic condition?"
"Nah, nothing like that."
No way she'd been cursed, and if she'd been injured...?
"Rain, when we get back to the bath later, mind checking her out with me?"
"Understood."
That settled Lianne. Now for the entrance ceremony... or rather, the incident during it. The academy principal's daily dose of madness, ringing like a starting bell.
"This is the First... Auditorium, right?"
"Yeah."
It was a bit too grandiose for a mere auditorium. Gargoyle statues flanked the ends, and the architecture evoked ancient temples of the gods—far too ornate and majestic to be confined by the label "auditorium." The interior matched: absurdly vast, with facilities to match. No wonder Arcade Academy was called humanity's final bastion, on par with the imperial palace. Though against ancient-magic-wielding demons, it was about as secure as an open door.
"Anyway, let's head in. It's about to start."
The real chaos would hit just before I was named a hero in my past lives. Variables were endless, but I wasn't grabbing the holy sword anyway—no need for grand "save the world" excuses. Protecting my own skin was priority one; shielding friends and loved ones would be ideal.
The sight of just twenty or so students scattered in this massive hall was almost comical, but I reined in my focus and heated my mana force circuits furiously.
"Lian Primal and Rain Astral, correct?"
"Yes."
"Yes."
We handed over our student IDs from the mail and were ushered to the front row—top seats as valedictorian and salutatorian. Right, top rank meant front and center...
"Young Master? Why the long face all of a sudden?"
"Just wait. You'll see soon enough."
My overheated mana force circuits gleamed smoothly, no worse for a bit of azure flame. Though this ceremony would leave everything in shambles, of course.
I tuned out the rote formalities and schedules—familiar from countless loops, and who wanted to memorize timelines derailed by that damn Irregular anyway?
"Now, a word from the principal!"
Here it comes!
The principal finished her levitation chant in a flash and ascended the stage... That crazy bitch?!
"Greetings, everyone. I am Skaya Arinfield, principal of Arcade Academy."
Skaya, the principal, cut a captivating figure: silver hair like Arian's, a youthful face barely five or six years my junior, paired with a voluptuous body that clashed deliciously. She seemed the perfect woman at a glance—but her twisted heart was anything but. And today, she looked... different. Specifically, the staff in her hand.
"The Staff of the World Tree…?"
A holy branch from the treetop, bathed in the fiercest sunlight, crafted into a staff. And now the principal was ascending armed with it.
"I assume you've heard all the boring formalities by now."
Skaya grinned and aimed the staff at us. A sharp crack echoed—likely some professors smacking their foreheads behind her.
"So, straight to the exam."
She intoned the spellname—Dragon Spear—and wind gathered in an instant, coalescing into a draconic form. Mana-charged gales glowed pale green as they spun wildly. The moment the whirlwind perfected a dragon's head, the spell fired. Flawless execution, zero margin for error. Still a monster.
"Hup!!"
No way were we tanking this and filing into the infirmary en masse. I sucked in ambient mana through my heated circuits, converting it to mana force as fast as possible, then traced runes in a fluid motion.
Fwoosh!!
Krunch!!
"What the hell!!"
Was that power control?!? Gritting my teeth, I chanted aloud. Barely blocking with both hands left no room for runes—divert focus for a second, and the spell would shred me.
"...Nngh…!!!"
Unfamiliar incantation, plus the sheer pressure shaking my body to the core—mana stuttered in my throat. Calm down. Botch it in a panic, and nothing could be more pathetic. I soothed the mana in my throat and compressed the azure flame another layer.
"Oh ho, this batch has some promise?"
Damn it! Struggling just to hold, and she's judging us. This is why I hate the principal!
"Tch!"
I poured my last dregs into my straining circuits, reinforcing the sword at my hip while snuffing the azure scythe. The spell clashed with cold air against azure-heated winds, scattering wildly... but damn, her magic was flawless. After all this, a week bedridden? Hell no!!
Kagagaga!!
Good call bringing a durability-focused blade over sharpness. A monster-slaying edge would've shattered under the mana and heat already.
"…."
I ground my teeth to dust, enduring—but my body screamed its limit. No runes to amp the azure flame or optimize further; I'd burned too much mana. The lateral slash had drained the rest. Shit, can't hold.
"!! Young Master!"
"Lian!?"
Students snapped alert, staring in shock, but Rain or any norm couldn't block this. Small mercy: three days in the infirmary, tops.
Whoosh!!
Eyes shut, ears ringing, I prayed for a painless blackout.
………? What the—why hasn't it hit? Half-convinced I'd blacked out and been carted off, I cracked my eyes. Golden hair fluttered like sunflowers in the gale of the principal's spell.
Serena? No, she was a pure mage—no close-quarters skills beyond basic hand-to-hand. Only one blonde swordswoman could block this.
"Minel?"
"You're up."
Calm words, but her limbs quaked like they'd snap any second. No surprise—raw strength and battle sense against that, sans proper mana control? Reckless.
"That settles... our debt."
"Seriously... that's why you're doing this."
Foolish? Stubbornly loyal? A-ranks had collapsed, legs giving out; other S-grades scrambled too late. Without Minel, I'd be three days down—but the mages behind? Novices to direct hits; a week minimum.
"Finishing move…."
"Sorry, but you're at your limit too."
I knew. Minel's breaking point. And mine to end it.
"Sword…."
"Here."
Rain wordlessly handed over a fresh blade after spotting cracks in mine. What kind of entrance ceremony is this?
Ignoring my throbbing, mana-drained head, I raised the sword high. Shoved Minel aside and slammed down mana-infused steel. All I had—but Skaya's spell was too perfect. Damn it all.
────!!
A deafening roar shattered the spell before my eyes. Eyes heavy with exhaustion, I closed them. We won... and I still end up in bed?
No one heard my final mutter before I crumpled to the cold auditorium floor.