The Splendid Entrance Ceremony
With the glamorous entrance ceremony, academy dormitory check-in, and all other schedules finally wrapped up, the first day at the Imperial Central Academy began. The ceremony itself.
As an academy primarily attended by nobles, the Imperial Central Academy invested heavily in events like entrance and graduation ceremonies. It was the only way to satisfy the discerning noble parents. And sure enough, this year's entrance ceremony was dazzling.
The first segment was standard: introductions of the faculty and the dean's address. But the second was a ballroom dance, and the third a free party with fireworks. The entrance ceremony was essentially a full-blown festival.
No one from my family showed up... Fortunately, not a single member of the Fredericia family had come to the ceremony. Though they might be watching from somewhere I didn't know.
"Next, we will have the dean's introduction and address."
Anything I can smash around here...? Yawning, I watched for the dean's appearance. But the dean never showed. Just as described in the original novel, Star-Eyed Sword.
"Ahem... Due to the dean's busy schedule, we will skip the introduction and address this time as well."
In the original work, the dean of the Imperial Central Academy was portrayed as a mysterious figure. He rarely participated in entrance addresses, appearing only occasionally to effortlessly solve problems that stumped everyone else before vanishing. I hadn't finished the novel, so I never learned the dean's true identity, but based on his actions in the story, he was clearly hiding something.
Even if the dean had come out to give a speech, it probably would've been boring anyway. This was better.
"Next, introductions of the faculty, starting with the vice dean."
Soon, it was time for the faculty introductions. Of course, I had no intention of just sitting through this dull segment. Closing my eyes, I decided to check for the major characters from the story.
Glan Braden, whom I'd met before. He was at the far opposite end from me.
Mariella. My friend, and one of Glan Braden's heroines-to-be. She sat right behind Glan.
Likewise, most of the key characters were clustered at the far end, away from me. The special class sat first, followed by the general classes: the "Pen and Paper Class," then the "Flame and Sword Class."
Among the others, I spotted Yuria, the swordswoman who would later join Glan Braden's group. Brown skin, black hair, red eyes, and a small scar on her cheek. A perfect match for her description in the novel.
The only one nearby was Shariel. Wide-brim mage's hat, round horn-rimmed glasses, purple hair and eyes—a timid mage girl. Glan Braden's party's shy mage, and the only one from their group in the special class.
They're all here... I'd identified all the major characters from the original story. I also spotted the professor who would become the protagonist's homeroom teacher.
The reason I'd bothered attending this boring entrance ceremony was precisely to scout the key figures from the novel.
Good call coming... My goal was achieved; I'd spotted every character visible at the ceremony. But unrelated to my objective, the events of the entrance ceremony were far from over.
"Next, Professor Edn, in charge of the special class."
Professor Edn entered the auditorium. So he was here after all... I smiled faintly at his entrance.
His brief introduction ended, and he returned to his seat.
It should start soon... The introductions proceeded smoothly after that. But the peace wouldn't last long. Knowing the original story, I was aware of what would happen at the entrance ceremony.
The monster attack where the protagonist shines for the first time. And the event sparking his first connection with Mariella.
Anticipating that event, I quietly stood from my seat.
"Student. Where are you going?"
"The restroom."
"Hurry back."
My first rule for crafting a ridiculously cool character: A ridiculously cool character is never present when the incident starts. They always join midway. They swoop in like a comet when the protagonist and allies are struggling, crushing the threat with overwhelming force.
To pull that off, I needed to step out first.
Who was the final mastermind in the story again...? The original novel, Star-Eyed Sword, dealt with the empire's civil war against the revolutionaries, along with the political intrigues, schemes, friendships, and incidents at the academy leading up to it. But the protagonist's party eventually realizes that a ultimate mastermind lurks behind it all.
I hadn't finished the novel, so I didn't know who that was, but this incident was one orchestrated by that final antagonist. Right now, they were probably on the rooftop, tampering with the golem's magic core to make it go berserk...
I slipped quietly into the shadows, suppressing my presence, and waited for the chaos to erupt.
"That concludes the faculty introductions. Next..."
Boom! The auditorium's ceiling shook. A smile spread across my lips. It had begun. In the original story, this would be the protagonist's first moment to shine—but I'd claim this opening event for myself.
"What was that noise?"
"Up there! Look at the ceiling!"
Thud! As a few students raised a commotion, everyone's eyes turned upward. The auditorium grew noisy in an instant. Chaos bred more chaos, escalating rapidly.
The ceiling was collapsing. With each massive rumble, it trembled, dust raining down.
Kaboom! Finally, the ceiling gave way. A one-eyed golem crashed down with it.
"Run!"
The golem landed right in the center of the student seating. They barely dodged by throwing themselves aside, but its position amid the crowd made quick response impossible. The result was devastating.
Whoosh! "Gah...! Argh!"
"It's a golem! A berserk golem...!"
A few students were struck by the golem's punch and sent flying far away. Fortunately, they weren't from the "Pen and Paper" class, so no deaths, but a single blow had left them critically injured.
The professors on the platform rushed to respond, but amidst the chaos and swarming students, subduing the golem wasn't easy.
"Everyone, get out! You'll get caught in the magic!"
Frustrated, one professor finally hurled a few fireballs at the golem, but anything more was impossible. And neutralizing a golem with fireballs was absurd to begin with.
"Damn it! Professor Imponte, assess the situation! Professor Cheremina, help me restrain the golem! The rest of you, evacuate the students and parents!"
In the pandemonium, a few professors moved to contain the situation, and student evacuation began in earnest.
Glan Braden. To buy time for the students to escape, he deliberately blocked the golem's path. A brave move.
"I'll buy time...!"
He drew his sword and infused it with cold energy. As the protagonist of Star-Eyed Sword, he had his signature technique. While most focused on either swordsmanship or magic, influenced by his mercenary background, he'd studied both—and fused them in his own way. Coating his blade with magic. In the original, it was called Enchant.
Boom! "Nngh...!"
As he enchanted his sword, the golem swung its fist. Glan raised his blade to barely block, but the overwhelming mass sent him flying back.
Watching, Mariella stood and moved to his side, casting a healing spell.
"I'll help!"
Right. This was how Mariella and Glan first met in the story. They bonded quickly from the entrance ceremony event onward.
Not just Mariella—the muscular swordswoman Yuria joined too.
"I'll help as well. I'll stop that raging golem's advance!"
Thus, three brave students held the line against the golem. But they were still too weak to stop it.
Boom! "Nngh...!?"
Yuria blocked an attack but was hurled back by the golem's mass all the same. Mariella tried binding its ankle with vines, but the golem snapped them and pressed on, intent on annihilating all life around it.
"Over here!"
Glan pulled aggro amid the chaos. But he had no follow-up plan.
"...!"
Thud! The golem smashed its fist down toward Glan, as if to pulverize him...
But Glan raised his sword and blocked the blow. This time, he didn't fly back. Bracing his legs, he held firm to avoid being crushed.
"Nngh...! Raaagh!"
Gritting his teeth, he endured the golem's mass. By then, most students had evacuated, and professors were joining the fray.
Ah, missed my timing. That's when I realized I'd blown my entrance.
Honestly, seeing a scene from Star-Eyed Sword play out live was so thrilling that I'd forgotten my plan to pop in midway and resolve it coolly.
Late to the party, I drew the Black Demon Sword and charged toward Glan, who was holding back the golem's mass.
"Nngh...!"
"Good! The golem's restrained! Students, fall back!"
Shing—slash! One strike was all it took. But this made me look like I was just fishing for the killing blow...
Grumbling inwardly, I cleaved the golem in two with a single stroke. Aiming precisely for the magic core, it offered no resistance and collapsed.
Swish—whoosh—clack! I smoothly sheathed the Black Demon Sword and gazed at the fallen golem.
"This ruins my plan. You're more useless than I thought."
"You... You're...!?"
"Celi?"
I said that casually, then walked away as if nothing had happened.
"The plan succeeded."
The men in black hoods murmured as they began quietly escaping the academy auditorium. The plan had succeeded. It was merely a diversion, after all. This was the Imperial Central Academy; their real aim was to draw all eyes to the professors and students while stealing key intelligence from the academy in the background.
"Did you find info on the dean?"
"A blue arrow was fired. Looks like their side succeeded too."
"Good. Let's get out fast."
They dashed across the academy rooftops, fleeing at high speed. And that's when it happened.
Whoosh! Something flew from behind them and landed in their path. A girl who looked somewhat annoyed. She drew her sword with a sigh.
"You should've used a stronger golem."
"...What?"
"Who are you?"
"Before that, I'm more curious about your identities. The final mastermind and company."
"I'll handle her. You go deliver the news."
"Hogging all the fun?"
"I'll yield next time. Get out now."
"Tch..."
One man brushed past the girl. She didn't stop the fleeing man. Instead, she watched the whole scene with interest.
"I'll take you on with my eyes closed. This isn't personal."
"Ha, eyes closed? Against me?"
And those were his final words.