The Entrance Ceremony (2)

On the way to the auditorium where the entrance ceremony would be held.

Amidst the crowd of excited students moving about, it felt as if time had stopped only for me and the members of Rosemary as we stood there, glaring at each other.

Their school uniforms fit their slender figures perfectly. To be honest, their visuals were so captivating it was hard not to look. They might be former idols, but idols were idols for a reason.

I could hear the passing students whispering as they recognized Rosemary. But that didn't matter to me.

I didn't expect to run into them so soon.

Well, not that it changed anything. My plan for revenge had already begun the moment I stepped foot into the Academy anyway.

I met Rosemary's stinging glares head-on. A few seconds stretched out like hours. Ultimately, it was Lee Cheri who broke the silence first.

"I warned you, yet you still ended up coming here."

"Ha, I wondered what you were going to say. Why on earth should I listen to your warnings?"

It wasn't Lee Cheri who flinched at my words.

"You son of a...! How dare a mere baron's house...!"

Ok-ja took a step forward and shouted. Her face was flushed red with anger. Of course, I wasn't the type to be shaken by such cheap provocation.

"Why don't you stop playing noble? It looks like people haven't found out you're a bunch of frauds yet. Want me to spread the word?"

The faces of the Rosemary members contorted at my words. They must have realized it when we met at the Imperial Palace last time—that if I lost my temper, I could expose their identities at any moment.

As the Hero of Knowledge, even the Imperial Palace couldn't easily ignore my words. Besides, they didn't fully understand my abilities, so it was only natural for them to be wary of my threats.

"Why you...! I'm going to kill you, you fu—"

"You're incredibly noisy, yapping away like that. What are you going to do if you don't let it slide, kiddo?"

"W-what?"

I took a step toward Ok-ja and looked down at her.

"You look just as childish as you did back on Earth. Are you an elementary schooler or something?"

"W-what? What did this pig just say...!"

Ok-ja's biggest insecurity. Unlike the other members who were on the taller side, she was the only short one in Rosemary. There was no way I didn't know about that weakness.

I vividly remembered her wearing heels twice as high as everyone else's and standing on her tiptoes during every photoshoot. Back then, I let it slide because it was cute, but now, I had no hesitation in targeting her insecurities.

"Run along, kid."

"Y-you... how dare this pig...! I'm gonna kill you, motherfucker!!"

As Ok-ja prepared to pounce, Lee Cheri, who was standing next to her, grabbed her. Caught by the collar of her school uniform, Ok-ja thrashed around.

"Let go, Unni! Let me go! I'm going to kill him!"

"Scar... no, Ok-ja. Calm down. We are inside the Academy."

"But still!!"

"Hey, listen to me. I am telling you this as the Imperial Princess."

"You're so mean..."

Once Ok-ja stopped ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠struggling with a tearful face, Lee Cheri looked back at me.

"There are too many eyes watching, so let us leave it at this."

"Suit yourself."

"...You had better watch your step from now on."

"Oh, I'm terrified."

Glaring at me one last time, Lee Cheri walked away without another word. Always acting so haughty. I couldn't stand her disgusting, noble-like tone.

As Lee Cheri moved first, the other members had no choice but to follow. However, one of them acted differently. Choi Seoyeon, who was at the very back, bowed her head slightly toward me.

...What is she trying to pull? She's been doing that since before.

It was the same behavior as when we met at the Imperial Palace not long ago. I didn't know what it meant, but it wasn't something I needed to care about. In the end, it didn't change the fact that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they were the ones who killed me. Just as I was about to ignore it and leave,

"E-excuse me... Lady Rosemarys!"

Merchi, who was standing beside me, urgently called out to stop them.

An awkward silence descended once more.

The confrontation, which I thought had ended, dragged on thanks to Merchi.

"Who are you?" Lee Cheri asked, looking at Merchi with displeased eyes.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"H-heek...! I-I am Merchi Redford. It is an absolute honor to meet you, Lady Rosemarys!"

"What the... You look like a commoner. Who are you?" Ok-ja spat.

Despite Ok-ja's grating tone, Merchi didn't seem to mind as he fumbled inside his coat. His face looked even paler than usual from anxiety.

What on earth is he doing?

"A-actually... I have adored you all for a very long time! I even created a Rosemary Fan Club here at the Academy! I-if it's not too much trouble, could you please give me your autographs...?"

What Merchi pulled out of his coat was none other than portraits of the Rosemary members. And they were paintings of them posing coquettishly. By the looks of it, he had taken down some of the ones hanging on his walls.

This bastard, he's asking for that now? And you were the one who started the fan club?

Did this guy have absolutely no tact? The portrait Merchi held out depicted Lee Cheri blushing, barely holding up a slipping silk dress.

Upon seeing the painting, Lee Cheri's face stiffened terrifyingly. Her expression conveyed only one thing.

Disgust.

Just as she had done to me in the past, Lee Cheri glared at Merchi with eyes full of revulsion.

"Birds of a feather really do flock together."

"...Pardon?"

"Sigh, what a pathetic combination. You're like filthy beasts."

Merchi stood there blankly, his mouth agape. He looked like a mute who had swallowed honey. Watching him, Lee Cheri added in an irritated voice:

"You said you wanted an autograph, right?"

"Yes? Y-yes, that's right...?"

"Then lick it."

"Huh?"

Lee Cheri thrust her shoe forward by a span.

"Didn't you say you adored us? Get down on the floor and lick my shoe."

"...T-that's..."

"Can't do it? If you do, I might consider signing that filthy drawing of yours."

Flutter.

The drawing slipped from Merchi's hand and fell to the ground. Merchi's face looked completely blank with shock.

Suddenly, a scene from the past flashed through my mind.

They hadn't changed a single bit since Earth.

Expressing disgust toward their fans without hesitation.

Looking down on others using class and status.

And above all,

They killed someone and ran away...

I clenched my fists tightly. I couldn't just stand by and watch this anymore. Revenge or not, I felt like I had to start a fight right now to satisfy my anger.

"Hey."

"...You again?"

"Why don't you cut it out? Or should we throw down right here, entrance ceremony be damned?"

"Are you serious? You might end up dead."

"Shut up. If you want to fight, follow me outside."

It was all or nothing now. It was true that I was lagging far behind in terms of stats alone. But stats were just stats. I didn't think for a second that I would lose.

Just as a fight was about to break out,

Merchi reached out his arm and blocked me.

"I'm fine, Yeong-sik."

"Merchi, you..."

"I'm really fine, so you can stop."

His voice was trembling slightly. I understood his feelings better than anyone. To be despised and insulted by someone you had liked for so long—it must feel like his entire world was collapsing.

On the other side, Rosemary was in a similar state. It was Ok-ja who was furious at my words. Lee Cheri and Choi Seoyeon were holding back Ok-ja, who was trying to charge at me while muttering incomprehensible English.

After a few minutes of this,

once things settled into a temporary lull, Lee Cheri spoke up again.

"Sigh... I have no intention of causing trouble at the entrance ceremony. I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said, so let's go our separate ways."

"Ha, what a hypocrite."

"Think whatever you want. We will be going now."

I wanted to say more, but Merchi's hand holding me back tightened. It was a gesture telling me not to say anything.

Damn it, they're pissing me off from day one.

After the members of Rosemary left,

only Merchi and I remained.

Merchi lowered the arm that had blocked me and hung his head low. Seeing him like this made me feel bad for him again...

Wait a minute! Come to think of it, this is all because of him! This damn otaku, seriously.

I almost forgot. The one who revived a fight that was already over was this guy. You need to know when to stop fanboying, you idiot.

I looked at the dejected Merchi. It felt like looking at my past self. I, too, had been crazy about fanboying, but now I realized: Rosemary wasn't worth it.

Surely, he must have realized it by now. Now that he knew Rosemary's true colors, Merchi would be able to quit his obsession, just like I did.

"Merchi, you..."

"Why did you do that?!"

Merchi shouted, cutting off my attempt to offer some mature advice.

What? Was this something to get so angry about?

"No, I just thought you were hurt..."

"What kind of nonsense is that?!"

"Huh?"

"A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If only it weren't for you, Yeong-sik! Damn it!!"

"What...?"

What the hell is this guy talking about?

"The special opportunity Lady Cheri gave me! Why did you interfere, Yeong-sik?! And was that all? If things went well, I could have licked the shoes of the other members too! Damn it, damn it!"

A throbbing pain hit the back of my head.

"...Don't tell me you actually enjoyed that situation earlier?"

"Of course I did! Licking her shoe? That's a reward to me, a reward!"

What a lunatic.

I take back what I thought earlier.

This guy is not on my level.

He was far worse.

"Hey."

"What?!"

"...Are you really the top student of our class?"

On the way to the entrance ceremony.

Merchi remained silent the entire walk. He seemed thoroughly upset that he had lost a golden opportunity and that I hadn't believed him.

"Merchi."

"..."

"I'm sorry for doubting you. But honestly, how could I have believed you?"

"...I don't care. Don't talk to me."

"Alright, alright."

I silently followed him as he trudged along like a paper doll.

A moment later,

as we entered the grand auditorium where the entrance ceremony was to be held, a guide inside recognized me.

"Hello. Are you the Hero candidate, Lord Yeong-sik de Russell?"

"Yes, that's right."

"And the gentleman next to you must be the top student, Lord Merchi."

"Y-yes. That is correct!"

"Please follow me. The two of you have reserved seats in the very front row."

Oh, I expected as much, but they really are giving us special treatment. Merchi and I followed him to the front seats of the auditorium.

The scale of the grand auditorium was larger than I had imagined. It was a space that could easily accommodate over a thousand people. The seats, arranged in a semi-circle around the stage, were luxuriously decorated with red silk.

About half of the students had already taken their seats. As we were guided down, we naturally drew quite a bit of attention.

"They're staring so much it's uncomfortable... Merchi, are you okay with this?"

"...Don't talk to me."

This guy, seriously. How long is he going to pout? Regardless of the stares, Merchi trudged forward.

"Here it is, Lord Yeong-sik, Lord Merchi."

The guide pointed to the empty seats. They were in the very front row, right in the center of the auditorium. And sitting directly behind us were the other Hero candidates.

...Shit.

The members of Rosemary were glaring at Merchi and me with fierce eyes. I gave them a glare of my own before sitting down in my designated seat.

A moment later, the grand auditorium filled up, and the host's voice echoed through the hall.

The sound of students clapping filled the auditorium.

Aside from the fact that they were using magic instead of a microphone to project the voice, it wasn't much different from an entrance ceremony on Earth.

With those words, someone stepped up onto the stage.

It seemed I was the only one who didn't know who he was.

The students ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gasped in unison.