The Entrance Ceremony
The professors graded each cadet through the video artifact in the Arcadium Academy entrance ceremony hall.
Scratch, scratch.
The pencil dancing across the paper stopped when one of the professors spoke.
"This really is a golden generation, isn't it?"
"Three ducal daughters and even the crown prince."
"The gap between first and last place is going to be massive."
"Seems that way."
Though only two professors were speaking, the others nodded in agreement.
There were no curses aimed at the cadets who fled, nor much praise for those who fought back.
However—
"That cadet..."
"Huh..."
One cadet had captured the professors' attention.
-Crunch crunch- Want more? -Give me more~
In the middle of gargoyles charging in and cadets screaming, two cadets were sharing popcorn.
One of them was Beatrice, the ducal daughter known as the Magic Tower's pride, so there was no issue.
"What's that cadet's name?"
"...Isaac."
"Isaac. Is that all?"
"Yes. He's a commoner."
"......"
Silence fell. The academy was said to treat commoners and nobles equally, but that was only half true.
Thousands of years of class systems had been more than enough time to etch such prejudices deep into people's bones.
"Let's fail him."
"By regulation, he passes."
"So you're saying we should accept a child who did nothing as a cadet? I oppose it."
"Ahem... I agree as well."
"This is a pass! As long as he didn't fail, that's all that matters!"
The professors continued offering conflicting opinions about one cadet.
A pass by regulation. But that attitude was a fail.
Since this was an unprecedented case, even the experienced professors couldn't help but feel confused.
Just then—
"Hole-hole-hole..."
"Ah, Principal. You've arrived."
"Hole-hole..."
"Ah. We were just making a fuss over one cadet... Sorry if we disturbed you."
"Hole-hole-hole..."
"He's just a commoner. I don't sense any special mana from him." "Hole..."
Stroking his long white beard, the principal carefully observed the Isaac the professors had pointed out.
Most of what he saw was Isaac chatting and sharing snacks with Lady Beatrice, as if making idle jokes.
But for a fleeting moment—
"Hole... Oh my... At that age..."
Isaac's eyes, glancing around, were so cold they sent a chill down the spine.
Once his calculations were done, he smiled again and resumed talking with Lady Beatrice.
They were just ordinary children now, but that brief glimpse...
It resembled the principal Aiden Arcadium's own past far too closely.
"Hole."
"Yes, Principal."
"Hole-hole."
"Yes...? B-but..."
"Hole."
"Ah, I understand."
The female professor who had tried to argue shut her mouth tightly.
"...How does Professor Seres talk with the Principal like that?"
"...She did research with him once, didn't she? Most of it was probably advice, so maybe that's why..."
"Ah..."
Ignoring the professors' whispers completely, the principal turned back to Isaac.
"...Interesting."
Leaving behind a small murmur and a satisfied smile that no one else could hear, he departed.
"Huh? P-Principal?"
Once the principal started walking, he didn't stop even when called.
"What did the Principal say?"
All eyes turned to Professor Seres, the only one who had spoken with the principal.
She bit her lower lip before relaying his words in a sharp tone.
"He said to pass him."
"...The Principal..."
"Haa..."
Half the professors sighed.
"As expected, we'll proceed according to regulations."
"I knew the Principal would say that."
The remaining professors snorted and left a large mark beside Isaac's name.
Pass.
*
How much time had passed while watching the spectacle of swords and magic unfold before my eyes?
"Hole."
Thud.
With the sound of the staff striking the floor, an unknown pattern appeared on the ceremony hall floor.
Thud.
When the sound came a second time, a pure white barrier enveloped each cadet's body.
The gargoyle's hand struck the ignored barrier.
Crack.
-Kreeaaak
Urgh...
I frowned at the grotesquely twisted form that was barely recognizable.
Realizing its attacks were ineffective, the gargoyle's movements stopped. And then—
"Hole."
The old man's quiet voice echoed throughout the entire entrance ceremony hall.
A pure white light rose from the pattern on the floor.
Rumble rumble rumble!
Debris dangling from the collapsed walls fell further from the tremors.
"Ugh!"
"What is this light...!"
The intense light struck the ceremony hall before gradually fading.
"Huh?"
"Where did they go?"
The gargoyles had vanished without a trace, and the collapsed walls had been restored to their original state.
As if nothing had happened at all.
"Haa... We're alive..."
"I really thought I was going to die."
"So this is the academy...?"
Having witnessed the miraculous scene, the cadets' tension eased and they plopped down on the floor, chatting amongst themselves.
I also left my own review.
"That old man has lost it..."
Triple chanting. And the calculations were completed in the time it took him to raise and lower his staff twice.
That wasn't the only thing I had to say about it.
The magic the principal had used was actual attack magic, restoration magic, and defensive magic all at once.
In the original game, artifacts were used to create hologram situations that only looked real. But the fact that the old man had actually come here meant—
"He really released gargoyles?"
Was he trying to kill the cadets? As I frowned and glared at the old man, Beatrice poked my arm repeatedly.
"Isaac, Isaac~"
"...Huh?"
"Look over there, over there~"
Following the direction of her slender finger that looked like it had never done a hard day's work, I saw a line of priests standing in formation.
And among them, right at the front, one was treating the injured cadets.
"The Saintess?"
"Correct~"
With that many priests and the Saintess present, safety was practically guaranteed, but—
Whether it was because the story differed from the game, or because I hadn't known we might actually get hurt—
My hands trembled slightly.
It was a natural biological reaction.
'Getting hurt hurts, after all.'
I didn't like pain. There were occasionally people with peculiar tastes who enjoyed it, but that had nothing to do with me.
Let's try to avoid getting hurt or feeling pain as much as possible. Whether that's feasible or not is another matter.
'Still, at least I learned one thing.'
This world...
flows differently from the game.
I had suspected as much, but I didn't expect it to change starting from the entrance ceremony.
'Wait, but... Is that just my imagination?'
When the old man used his magic, it didn't look like he put up a barrier around me.
Nah. Even if I was a commoner, he wouldn't have done that, right?
If he had, I would've been erased from this world by the second spell.
Mm-hmm. That doesn't make sense.
"Anyway, looks like the entrance exam is over."
"Isaac~"
"Huh?"
"Congratulations on getting in~"
"Pfft. You too."
"Not you, Bera~ You're banned~"
"...Congratulations to Bera too."
"Thank you~"
At least some level of safety was guaranteed now.
My favorability with Beatrice, who I'd expected to be the most difficult, was building up better than anticipated.
With just this, I could probably get through half of it.
-Ahem. Ahem.
While receiving her gentle smile and cleaning up the remaining trash, I heard a voice.
Turning my head, I saw several professors standing in front.
-I would like to sincerely congratulate the cadets who passed the final entrance exam, and will now announce the top student, the runner-up, and other cadets who showed outstanding performance.
Aiden Arcadium, the white-haired old man with a large staff. Professor Seres of magic theory was giving the speech in front of him.
I could see more professors lined up behind them, but I didn't know all their names.
I only knew the frequently appearing professors or their notable characteristics.
-Ladian Noctia, Priya Behelm...
The names that followed were the same.
Why would I memorize hundreds of academy cadets? I only needed to remember the important ones.
-Beatrice Magia.
"I'll be right back~"
"Go on, Bera."
Well, well. The academy supposedly treats commoners and nobles equally without discrimination.
All lies.
We were eating popcorn together right next to each other, so why is she going up there?
Being from a ducal family. Must be nice. Really nice.
-Now then, I will announce the runner-up.
With sleepy eyes, Beatrice waved at me from the front.
Smirking, I returned the wave, and I could feel the stinging gazes from those around me.
"...What family is that kid from?"
"Family? He's a commoner."
"Eh? But Lady Beatrice greeted him."
"Must've been a mistake. There's no way she would associate with a commoner like that. They're on completely different levels."
"True... Still, his face is..."
I thought it might be a compliment, but confirming it was gossip, I closed my ears.
I don't accept extras. Go away.
Just then—
-I will now announce the runner-up. -Elysia Ignis, who burned a full twelve gargoyles.
Oh.
Her name, which I'd heard so often it had become tiresome, was strangely welcome right now.
Thud, thud.
Confident footsteps and swaying twin tails. Her fiery red hair alone was enough to tell what kind of personality she had.
Even though she'd been called as runner-up, her brow was furrowed and her expression twisted.
She stomped up like she was kicking the floor and stood beside Beatrice. And finally, the highlight.
-Top student. Rayna Frigel, who not only protected cadets from falling building debris but also froze ten gargoyles.
This was another name I'd heard until my ears bled.
Her straight hair imbued with blue light gave off an air of mystery.
Up to this point, everything had gone as expected.
-And this time, a special cadet.
Huh? I'd never heard of this before, so I perked up my ears.
-The only commoner to pass in this academy's history, Isaac. Congratulations. Please come up.
What?