The Childlike Archmage's Welcome
Hero Dia answered everyone, saying, "I baptize you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the fire of the Holy Spirit, hold a winnowing fork in his hand to clear his threshing floor, gather the wheat into the granary, and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire."
“Welcome~! To the 557th class of Kallandra Academy freshmen~! We’re thrilled to have you here at the academy!”
The headmaster made her entrance, arms spread wide like a show host.
Wakpa Hucknockjuke.
Though she looked like a host, with those short, childlike limbs, it was hard to call it that.
She was a grand mage well past her forties, holding a ducal title, yet her appearance was that of an ordinary child. Elementary school age, maybe?
As the academy’s headmaster, she was a character deliberately designed that way.
Among Deus ex Machina players, she was hugely popular with a certain crowd.
Of course, even in that form, her deliberate host-like entrance made it obvious.
She probably pulled this stunt every year to grab attention.
Still, a headmaster acting like that?
Someone of her stature should carry more gravitas, right?
Well, her cute looks made it charming—and that was her appeal.
“The headmaster?”
“It’s Hucknockjuke!”
“That kid’s the headmaster?” “No way.”
“Nah, it’s true! My bro said the headmaster looks like a little kid!”
“Every academy headmaster’s looked young for their age—it’s tradition.”
“Even so, she looks way too young. Younger than us?”
“It’s just her looks. Inside, she’s a total granny.” “Bullshit!”
The banquet hall erupted in chaos the moment they saw her.
No wonder—I knew about her and was still shocked. How must they feel?
In this fantasy world where nobles prized dignity and face above life itself, the head of the empire’s sole, premier academy acting like this?
And she even held a ducal title.
Or maybe it was just her eternally youthful face.
“Pleased to meet you all?”
Snap.
The headmaster snapped her fingers, and the lights returned to the hall.
“Hmm… it’s a bit noisy, though.”
Snap.
Another snap, and silence fell over the hall.
Among the freshmen were mages, artifact wielders with anti-magic gear, and those with exceptional physiques—yet one spell silenced them all.
Unlike her usual antics and girlish looks, her power was the real deal: a grand mage through and through.
Sunny, beside me, was mouthing silently in awe at her own muted voice.
Who else gets to witness a silence spell this wide-ranging and potent?
In Deus ex Machina, the protagonist arrives late to the academy, so I’d never seen this. Refreshing.
“Good. Pleased to meet you all. Welcome to the empire’s one and only—its finest institution of higher learning—Kallandra Academy!”
Boom.
Boom boom boom.
Magical fireworks burst at both ends of the hall.
Beautiful.
So this is how events feel in a world of magic.
…This is fun.
Huh?
Just my imagination?
That woman’s eyes… they seem fixed right on me.
Just scanning the freshmen, probably.
“You’ll spend the next four years living here at the academy. As you all know, this education is for the empire’s future leaders, in line with our founding emperor’s will. So please follow the academy rules diligently and avoid any needless incidents.”
No, she’s definitely looking straight at me.
Ah. Is it because of Siren sis?
Makes sense—she trashed the place on the way in, after all.
Without the headmaster, no one could’ve stopped her.
Finishing her words, she fiddled with the fish-shaped necklace around her neck.
A fish?
Did Wakpa always wear that? Feels off.
I activated mana sight to inspect it closely.
Then I saw the inscription on the fish: ΛΧΘΔΣ.
…!
Am I seeing this wrong? ‘Riktodus’? No way. Wakpa too? When did this happen?
Five ancient Celestial letters.
An acrostic cipher: Λουκ Χριστός, Θεοῦ Δεός, Σωτήρ.
Translates to ‘Luke Christos, Son of Deus, Savior.’
A secret symbol used by high-ranking Christos—Deus cultists—to identify each other.
Only elders and above can use it; its very existence is highly secretive.
Even among Christos, few know of it.
At one point, as Lydia built and expanded the cult, she sent me a letter.
She often sought my advice, and I drew from my past-life knowledge.
My superficial college-level insights worked wonders, boosting her trust in me.
I thought this was more of the same, but she unusually requested a symbol for believers, servants of the Lord.
I racked my past-life memories and created one: inspired by early Christians’ ‘Ichthys,’ I named it ‘Riktodus’—a new Christos symbol.
I suggested a fish shape for it.
After that, key cult figures carried the ‘Riktodus’ symbol. Who knew even Headmaster Wakpa had joined?
Lydia’s scary efficient.
…Huh?
But why fiddle with the Riktodus while staring at me?
Testing if I’m a key cult figure?
Me, just a freshman? Why?
Lydia wouldn’t have told her my identity.
She watched me a while longer, droning on with headmasterly platitudes, then looked away.
“…Having an old fogey like me ramble on must be torture, right? Let the enrollment banquet begin! Enjoy yourselves!”
Snap.
She snapped her tiny fingers again, and delectable dishes appeared on our tables one by one.
The wide-area silence lifted simultaneously.
“Food… it appeared…”
Sunny murmured beside me, wide-eyed.
“Yeah. Food from thin air.”
In Deus ex Machina’s lore, chefs probably cook elsewhere, then magic summons it here.
Not creation magic, but summoning on this scale? Impressive.
Unfortunately, our table was full of extras I had no interest in.
I chatted with them during the banquet, building some rapport, but whatever.
The ones I wanted to befriend were the Deus ex Machina characters.
The feast proceeded with everyone eating, drinking, and merrymaking, bringing the enrollment ceremony to a close.
No oath? No faculty intros? That’s it?
I was curious since it didn’t appear in Deus ex Machina, but they half-assed the setup. Throwaway scene, huh?
With the banquet over, the academy’s first day began.
The first week was orientation.
Various classes opened, and students could freely attend those assigned to their year, then register for favorites to build schedules.
Like a university from my past life—only freer.
One mandatory class: ‘Combat Self-Defense.’
Made per the founding emperor’s doctrine; every student took it yearly.
Future empire leaders must protect themselves without aid, or so the thinking went.
In Deus ex Machina, it let you fight even without Chaos attacks or events.
‘Combat Self-Defense’ was in two days, so today was for desired classes.
I’d memorized the timetable, planned dozens of times, and picked mine: classes with fave characters or profs.
Oh, right.
“Sunny. Picked your first-period class?”
“Class?”
“Yeah. Orientation starts today—gotta pick fun ones. Anything you want?”
“…Whatever Luke picks. I’ll follow.”
Follow my lead? Weird.
Sunny seemed haphazard, but she was meticulously planned.
Following me? Without knowing my picks?
“Cool. Thinking ‘Understanding Magical Engineering’ first period—wanna come?”
She nodded up and down.
Well, class with her? Fine by me.
“Headmaster! Skipping the entire enrollment agenda? The faculty was ready to introduce themselves, and you just started the banquet! Another prank? …Headmaster? Headmaster~?”
No, not a prank.
The moment I saw him, I panicked and forgot everything.
Why did that student carry the familiar aura of Him?
Why… did I sense the Holy Spirit?