The Hazing Ritual
“And finally, isn't today the day the new vice warden is due to arrive?”
“Yes, Warden. He arrived in Manrmursk this morning, according to the telegram, so he should get here around lunchtime.”
“Top graduate of the Academy, right? Why'd he apply here, of all places?”
A place where time seemed frozen. Where more than half the year was buried in snow, with barely any change in weather, and you couldn't even tell your family or friends where you worked—that was Utopia. So when someone new showed up, it drew attention. But the top Academy graduate volunteering for this post? Everyone kept quiet about it, but they were dying to see what kind of madman he was.
He heard the name and thought it was some cushy gig...
Or he knows exactly what this place is and has an agenda...
“Guess we'll find out when we peel back the layers. Who's on gate duty at the main entrance today?”
“As far as I know... it's someone from B Block volunteering.”
“B Block, huh... Perfect chance to test him right away. See if he knows what he's walking into.”
When it happened to you, a hazing ritual left you flustered and your mind blank. But watching it happen to someone else? Nothing was more entertaining. The Utopia guards were no different—sly grins spread among the meeting attendees.
“I'll tell the staff to act natural.”
“Nah. Don't say a word. The natural feel is what makes this tick.”
“Warden, you look more like the type who should be locked up.”
The grins deepened even more.
Suhwa was smiling.
What role did the main gate sentry post at a prison serve? Blocking impure inflows from outside, preventing leaks of internal info—sure, those too. But the most crucial job was stopping escapes. Criminals cast out by society weren't about to follow prison rules meekly. No matter how high the fences or how many magic-tech barriers you layered on, inmates always dreamed of freedom. Especially here, where the top dogs of every crime category gathered—escape attempts were inevitable.
And yet, a prisoner was manning Utopia's main gate sentry post?
That could only mean one of two things.
The man who'd introduced himself as Ilka Pavola was actually a seasoned guard pulling this hazing stunt on his own initiative...
Or this place really is what I thought it was.
“Is that so? You look like a nice guy—must've been a bit wild in your younger days.”
It wasn't just Ilka. With this, Suhwa was planting his first impression on the guards here—and everyone else who'd greenlit this cheeky ritual.
No reason to take at face value that he was just another inmate locked up here. No reason not to, either.
Watered-down water, booze-cut booze. He'd just play it as it came.
Ilka paused, momentarily thrown by Suhwa's calm response, then composed himself and replied.
“Hoho, hardly. I'm just your average Joe who got a raw deal coming here.”
No thief ever admits he's a thief.
“More surprising than that—you're the Academy's summa cum laude, they say. I figured you'd be more of a straight-laced scholar type. But looking at you now? Sly as a fox.”
Screeech... Thud!
As Suhwa and Ilka entered, the massive main gate—barely cracked open like an ant's legs—slammed shut with a thunderous boom. Unlike the silent opening, the closing echoed across the snow-blanketed plains to the horizon.
As if proclaiming: you can come in, but you ain't getting out.
“Hahaha. Straight-laced? That's why I came here—nowhere better to fix that about myself.”
And to achieve my goals, too.
“Fix yourself, huh... Great idea. But once you're fixed, you think you can actually leave this place?”
“Haven't thought that far. Worst case, I'll ask my teacher for help.”
The old man's eyes widened like eggs, then he burst into booming laughter, as if he hadn't expected this level.
“Kuhaha! Total defeat for me in round one—total defeat! Can't wait to spend my days with you and the vice warden.”
“Same here, Ilka 'Prime Minister'.”
Ilka's face flushed so red it might burst if he laughed harder. Clearly caught off guard, he clutched his belly and roared with laughter.
Once he'd calmed a bit and turned to look at their destination building, he spoke.
“No kidding. Whew... They say the Empire Academy's got a once-in-a-generation talent, and he ends up here? This old man's days won't be boring anymore.”
Suhwa answered Ilka's near-monologue with silence.
The fact that he'd bitten the bait without hesitation meant Utopia was more or less what he'd expected.
A bit different from what I pictured, but not a bad debut. Now for the next part...
Suhwa's first "interview" at Utopia wrapped up on a positive note.
Next came the second: meeting the real bosses here, his direct superior the warden and the other guards.
Not that he'd pass or fail. It was about whether he'd get the Utopia "family's" help for his prep work—or crush them the hard way.
By the time they'd nearly crossed the snow-dusted courtyard, with fresh flakes starting to fall again, a hexagonal building loomed ahead.
A visibility-obscuring barrier? Didn't look this close before...
“Well, this is my stop. Still got sentry time left.”
“Thanks for the escort. Take care, Teacher Ilka.”
At the shifted title back to "teacher," Ilka flashed a knowing smile, gave a light bow, and turned back the way they'd come.
Suhwa watched him go until his figure blurred like smoke in the distance and vanished completely.
A barrier this seamless running 24/7... Maintenance costs must be insane.
As Suhwa fretted over the budget for the facility he'd soon manage, a soft voice floated from behind.
“Nice to meet you, Vice Warden Suhwa Romanov.”
Golden hair down to her waist, bundled tight in cold-weather gear against the chill. A face as white as the sky-trash piling around her. Gray eyes staring at him with doll-like blankness, belying her gentle voice.
“I'm Helena, Utopia chief clerk. Welcome to Utopia.”
“Ah... he handled that way too calmly.”
“Tell me about it, Warden. Should've thrown some spicier bait.”
The guards who'd eavesdropped on Suhwa and Ilka's chat from the gate to the inner building had mixed reactions.
Like they'd even bet on his hazing response—the warden and the guard beside him looked sour, while others across the table stifled laughs.
“Do they teach mind control at the Academy these days? Never went myself, so who knows.”
“Me neither, Warden. Uh... didn't the chief clerk's deputy team lead graduate from the Academy?”
Caught off guard by being called on, the timid-looking deputy team lead jumped and stammered.
“Y-yes? Oh, yes! It was... a while back... no, not that long ago, I'm still young... wait, that's not the point.”
“So they definitely don't teach it?”
“Right?”
Ignoring whether the guy could hear him or not, the warden finished his piece. The deputy team lead stared at him like a dog awaiting orders.
“Yeah, thanks for the input. But has the chief clerk already headed down?”
“Yes! Oh, right, this is the fifth floor. Exactly! She said yesterday on her way out to send me in her place for the meeting, since we have admin processing for the new vice warden! Details are in the report I sent this morning...”
Vowing never to address the deputy team lead directly again, the warden quietly turned his head.
“Please take my hand.”
“Pardon?”
After parting with Ilka, as Suhwa approached the building entrance, the chief clerk lightly blocked him and said.
She's got a face I like, but... isn't this too forward?
Swallowing the thought that this could've been spicier hazing, Suhwa asked.
“What do you mean by that...?”
“Just what I said. You need to hold my hand to enter the building.”
“......? Oh!”
In a place shrouded by powerful visibility barriers that hid even what was right in front of you, who said the building interior lacked its own?
Suhwa's face flushed faintly as he cursed himself for the embarrassing fantasy seconds ago, then lightly took her outstretched hand.
Warm.
Was it the ridiculous shy thought right before? Her hand felt oddly warm in his grip.
Utterly oblivious to his thoughts, the chief clerk led him forward, hands clasped.
“Every building in Utopia has powerful security barriers active at all times. Guards get registered as exceptions after reporting to the warden via special ritual processing, so they can move freely. But...”
“I'm not registered yet.”
“Exactly. Normally we scout staff here and pre-register them, but since you applied, Vice Warden, it's not done.”
After walking hand-in-hand a ways, they reached a door with a chalkboard-like panel.
“What's this door?”
“This is your quarters from now on, Vice Warden. Set a password on the security pad however you like.”
However I like?
Suhwa pondered briefly, placed his hand on the pad, and channeled mana. It glowed softly, morphing into a familiar padlock shape as a key materialized in midair.
Guess I didn't skip magic class at the Academy.
A flicker of surprise crossed the chief clerk's face as she watched, then vanished.
The pad Suhwa had just activated wasn't civilian-grade—it was military or mercenary style. Most new Utopia staff fumbled it, but he'd handled it like a pro.
“That key is custom-made, so if lost, it's deducted from next month's pay, with reissue available. Note that.”
“Got it.”
Unlocking and entering revealed a space far grander than Academy dorms, fully furnished—perfect for Suhwa, who only needed to bring himself.
The chief clerk eyed his barely concealed excitement, like a kid in a new home, then spoke.
“Well then, please take off your clothes.”