The Entrance Ceremony (3)
My head felt bleached white, as if my brain was floating aimlessly in the middle of the universe. Then, Hint's consciousness snapped back to reality.
Right. What was done was done.
What mattered now was what came next.
Stelle ending up in F-class wasn't something that could be brushed off lightly. Saving the world or whatever came second. The priority was making sure this protagonist didn't get expelled.
As Hint frantically racked his brain for a way to overcome the situation, the lights in the grand auditorium suddenly went out.
The students, sensing that something was about to begin, fell silent in an instant. A heavy stillness settled over the hall.
"A power outage?"
"No, this is..."
Before Hint could finish speaking, a light flickered on above the stage, and a girl stepped forward.
She couldn't have been much over 150cm tall—a petite frame. Her waist-length red hair swayed with every step.
The brooch on her chest proudly declared her S-class status, while the armband on her sleeve clearly marked her as the student council president.
The academy's strongest swordswoman, someone who wouldn't lose even to the graduates.
She tapped the microphone on the podium a few times, then spoke.
"Hello everyone. I am the student council president, Hina Lionhart."
The real entrance ceremony had begun.
Even though it was the academy's entrance ceremony, there wasn't actually anything particularly special about it. It started with the student council president, Hina Lionhart, introducing herself, and the event proceeded smoothly from there.
"Next, we will introduce the academy's faculty."
The highlight among them was, of course, the introduction of the academy's professors. Watching the numerous instructors ascend to the stage, Stelle had to cover her mouth with both hands to hold back a scream.
"Those people... no way!"
"Yes. Every single one of them is a living legend who has left their name in history."
The former Sword Saint who had slain the Black Dragon.
The Sage who had rewritten the history of herbalism.
The Elf who had held the position of Divine Archer for a thousand years without ever stepping down.
And so on.
Of course, since I was a person from another world, I didn't feel much excitement. But the new students' reactions were nothing short of ecstatic. A wave of fervor strong enough to shake the grand auditorium spread through the crowd.
"Everyone, please calm— I mean, let's all calm down."
The student council president grabbed the microphone to quiet the overly excited freshmen, but she looked awkward, like she was wearing clothes that didn't fit. Watching her, Hint let out a bitter smile.
I know that personality all too well.
Right now she was trying her best to maintain dignity because it was an official event, but knowing her true nature from the game, it just looked like she was forcing herself. Even now, she kept fiddling with the top button of her uniform shirt, clearly uncomfortable.
Though the excitement had died down somewhat, it hadn't completely vanished. With the freshmen still buzzing and the student council president looking increasingly restless, the entrance ceremony continued.
Then came the long-awaited highlight: the freshmen oath.
Clap.
The student council president clapped once.
Just one clap. The heat that hadn't fully subsided despite her repeated requests instantly died down. Looking around the now-silent auditorium with satisfaction, she took hold of the microphone.
"Freshman representative. Please step forward."
The one who answered the student council president's call was the freshman representative and Imperial Princess—Shepia Evergreen.
She, too, seemed uncomfortable with the solemn atmosphere as she carefully made her way onto the stage. Well, that princess is quite the tomboy herself. No wonder she feels stifled.
Hint, who knew Shepia's real personality, watched with a faint smile. The two girls, both looking like they were wearing ill-fitting clothes, stood facing each other across the podium.
"Greetings, senior."
"Greetings, junior."
Originally, the Lionhart family was a ducal house of the empire. It should have been unthinkable for the imperial princess, Shepia, to bow her head first to Hina. But this was the Land of Learning, the Island of Heroes—Arpia Academy. Here, no titles or ranks held any power.
"I ask the freshman representative, Shepia Evergreen."
Within the solemnity, the student council president spoke.
One. You shall enter this academy as a student.
Two. You shall approach your studies with the proper attitude of learning.
Three. You shall take pride in being a student of this academy.
Four. You shall not turn a blind eye to injustice.
Five. You shall become a shield that protects the weak.
Six. You shall dream of becoming a hero.
Seven. You shall save the world from evil.
The Seven Oaths requested a thousand years ago by the seven heroes who founded the academy, to be passed down to their juniors.
"Will you follow the Seven Oaths of the Heroes?"
To the student council president's solemn question, the freshman representative answered.
"Yes."
Hearing her firm reply, the student council president broke into a wide grin. Then she shouted loud enough to make the entire auditorium shake.
"Will you all follow these Seven Oaths!"
"YES!!!!"
The shouts of hundreds of students filled the grand auditorium. Perhaps satisfied with the sound, the student council president called out to Shepia once more.
"Freshman representative Shepia Evergreen and the other 315 students."
The student council president extended her hand to the side. From behind the stage, another girl—the vice president—emerged and placed something in her hand. A scroll woven with golden thread now rested in the president's grasp. Even without any interaction, it glowed with a soft, subtle light.
Grade: Legendary Relic
Effect: Proof of enrollment at Arpia Academy. Contains the weight of a thousand years of history.
Note: Heavier than it appears.
"This is the 'Enrollment Scroll' that has been passed down for a thousand years. It's heavy, so be careful when you take it."
The student council president handed the scroll, engraved with the seals of the seven heroes, to Shepia. Shepia bowed her head and accepted it. Though she had expected it to be heavier than paper since it was made of gold, the weight she felt far exceeded her expectations. She could sense the full weight of the academy's long history contained within the scroll.
"Congratulations on your enrollment. From this moment on, you are all students of Arpia Academy."
"WAAAAAAAAAH!!!!"
The freshmen all rose from their seats at once, cheering and clapping. The auditorium, which had shaken several times already today, shook harder than ever before.
What finally cut through the endless heat was someone's laughter. The student council president, Hina—who had maintained solemnity and seriousness throughout the ceremony—bowed her head and began to chuckle. It was a laugh so eerie, so happy, so delighted that it blew away the freshmen’s cheers in an instant.
"Hehe... hehehe... The entrance ceremony is finally over, right?"
"Sigh... Yes. Thank you for your hard work, President."
The vice president shook her head as she answered. She knew the student council president's personality better than anyone else here—except for Hint—and had been anxiously watching from backstage, wondering if the ceremony would be completely overturned.
But now it was over.
The entrance ceremony had ended. There was no longer anyone, any justification, or any reason to hold Hina back.
Hint, who had been momentarily dazed by the heat shaking the auditorium, came back to his senses. Among all the freshmen present, he was the only one who knew exactly what was about to happen next. He quickly grabbed the wrist of Stelle, who was sitting beside him.
"H-Hint?"
"Stelle. From now on, you must not let go of this hand no matter what."
Stelle's face flushed red with confusion, but sensing something unusual from Hint's completely unmoving expression, she stopped struggling.
"Don't forget! Freshmen! The academy will present you with trials at every moment!"
The student council president shouted. The archaic solemnity from before was gone. Her voice now rang with uncontainable excitement.
The freshmen, who still hadn't fully grasped the situation, began to panic. At that moment, a massive magic circle appeared beneath the students' feet.
A magic circle that filled the entire grand auditorium. Even the new students—who had surely lived extraordinary lives—had never seen such an enormous magic formation before. It began to emit a brilliant light.
The brooches worn by the first-years started glowing in response to the circle.
"What the hell is this?!"
"The brooch is reacting...!"
"This arrangement... this formula... spatial magic?!"
The students realized something was wrong and tried to respond, but the student council president was one step ahead.
"Off you go! This is the first trial the academy gives you!!"
The brooches and the magic circle resonated, both beginning to pour out light.
"Return to the academy!!!"
With a deafening roar and a blinding flash that threatened to sear their eyes, every single freshman in the auditorium vanished.
All first-year students have been transported to an unknown location.
First Trial has begun.
"Hehehe. I became the student council president just so I could do this."
Looking at the now-empty auditorium, Hina smiled.