Chapter 9: Illicit Admission (1)
Arsen Academy's admissions office. The place corresponding to the original story's prologue was packed with all sorts of people.
"Ha...."
"Hot, it's so hot."
"Whoa... when are these people gonna clear out? For real."
The number of prospective cadets waiting for consultations was easily in the hundreds. The receptionist at the admissions desk couldn't even take a sip of water. The coffee on the table was cooling off untouched.
Arsen's admission process wasn't all that complicated. First came a written exam that included a simple aptitude evaluation. After that, consultations, followed by the main entrance exam.
All the hundreds gathered here had passed the written exam. So this was already after the first round of filtering...
Expected Wait Time: 30 hours 40 minutes
Looking at the estimated wait time on the information board, most of the people here would probably end up heading home dejectedly. In the original story, it was mentioned that the admission process alone could take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
...Yeah, that made sense.
One of the continent's top three academies: Arsen, Joachim, and the Eastern Flower Garden. Arsen stood at the pinnacle among them.
It had enough renown that even checkpoint guards knew of it, so hundreds flocking to the admissions office was a natural sight.
I hadn't expected to see it in person, but the spectacle of hundreds of prospective cadets gathered together was truly breathtaking. And since there wasn't just one admissions office, there were probably thousands of applicants swarming in total.
"Please maintain order as you move!"
"No cutting in line! We're sorry for the wait!"
To handle hundreds of people, Arsen must have mobilized a sizable staff. Dozens of faculty members were guiding prospective cadets from inside.
Yet the rowdy atmosphere showed no signs of dying down.
"What the hell! Get out of the way!"
"Why? What's your problem?"
"We need to line up. What do you think you're doing?"
One prospective cadet trying to cut in line stood out annoyingly. Soon, a fight broke out.
I frowned and turned my head away.
To begin with, that line wasn't my destination.
I slipped into a back alley, avoiding the faculty's eyes, and pulled out my smartphone.
Right now, my phone had messages that looked blatantly suspicious at a glance.
Strictly speaking, I was going through the proper admission procedures. But I was taking the shadowy route.
Arfen city's commercial district. Block 42.
Across from the dingy back alley stood the promised rendezvous point: the Tasbucks building.
A young man sat at an outdoor table in front of the cafe. He had been peering at a tablet under a pulled-down cap, but he soon turned toward me.
"Ah, there you are. Hello."
The man approached with a friendly smile. I took the business card he pulled from his pocket.
I didn't know this guy, but he clearly knew me.
"You're Shion, right? I'm Exion, assistant professor at Arsen. I remembered you because our names are similar."
"Ah, yes...."
I had nothing to say, so I just smiled vaguely. Fortunately, he didn't seem to know my full situation.
"Well then, shall we go? The professor is already waiting."
"The professor?"
"Professor Biern. First time hearing the name, I suppose."
...First time my ass.
I knew Professor Biern. I'd seen him countless times in the original story and even dealt with him directly—as a player, of course.
The assistant professor who called himself Exion flashed a good-natured smile. But there was something unsettling lurking in Exion's eyes.
I couldn't tell if it was the influence of Telescopic Vision, but I instinctively knew this man wasn't one of the good guys.
Why? I realized the reason.
It was my trait acquired through Esperand's grueling training: Sense.
This man in front of me was a villain.
"Professor Biern is the professor of magic and philosophy. He's likely to become department head soon."
"Higher up than I expected."
"Yeah, something like that. I want to become a full professor soon too, but it's not happening."
I was playing along for now, but the Professor Biern I was about to meet was also a villain.
To begin with, no one who sneaks prospective cadets in through back channels could be a hero.
...I hadn't expected this kind of backstory.
It was a moment that made me feel all over again just how rotten the Esperand organization was.
Birds of a feather flock together, after all. Villains had their own networks.
Exion the assistant professor wasn't prominent in the original story, but he was surely steeped in Professor Biern's ideology.
I suppressed the reaction from my honed Sense.
Smiling without showing it, I followed behind Exion.
While staying at Esperand, I'd seen villains aplenty. And since I was one of them—a member of that villainous group—I needed to get used to dealing with this sort of thing from now on.
"This way."
We climbed damp stairs. Midway, Exion offered a hand, but I pretended not to notice and didn't take it.
I just didn't feel like holding it, and it felt like shaking hands with a villain.
Exion withdrew his hand with an awkward smile.
"Here we are. The professor should be inside."
Before entering, Exion straightened his collar. I grabbed the doorknob instead and turned it.
A small indoor cafe with the AC blasting. A chubby, bespectacled male professor sat there.
"Ah, you made it! I've been waiting!"
An empty teacup sat haphazardly on the gray table. It looked like there had been one more person, but they were gone now.
"Pleased to meet you, Professor."
"Yeah, first time seeing you in person. Nice to meet you."
Professor Biern grinned.
This man was a villain on a whole other level from Camille Esperand.
If Camille's antics were childish pranks, Professor Biern was the type to commit actual terrorism.
In the end, Biern's villainy got him taken down by the protagonist's party.
It was still far in the future, but knowing his fate, I couldn't return a pure smile.
"I've heard the story. You're entering Arsen this time, right?"
"Yes. That's the plan."
"No big deal. Sneaking in one or two cadets is easy."
He spoke of illicit admissions like it was nothing, so apparently, I was the only one feeling guilty.
"Your name's, uh, Shion...."
Just before the "Esperand" slipped out, I corrected him.
"Sion Illeionhart."
"My memory's shot. Right, Illeionhart. That's the name."
Thwack—the professor patted my back.
"Well then, let's go. They're already waiting over there."
...Wait, we're moving again?
I glanced at Exion, who scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed smile.
"Something urgent came up, so they went ahead. They're probably waiting at Arsen by now."
The other person who had been here. I had a pretty good guess who it was.
Our group of two—me and Exion—became three.
I thought we'd have to walk again, but fortunately, no.
"This way. Pull up here."
At Professor Biern's gesture, a limousine parked across the street pulled up.
It deftly U-turned and stopped in front of us.
"Hop in. Assistant Professor, and Sion."
"Yes, then... excuse me."
"......"
Exion opened the door, and I slid into the limousine.
But the interior was anything but ordinary.
The exterior looked like a standard limo, but inside? Extravagant.
The plush-cushioned seats were gold-painted. In the center of the seatback was an Oriental-style dragon clutching a yeouiju orb in its mouth.
It suited Professor Biern perfectly. In the original story, the demon beast he summoned at the end was a azure dragon.
As I stared in fascination, Exion smiled.
"Ah, the professor's car is a bit flashy. I had trouble getting used to it at first too."
I didn't respond.
I gave a silent nod with my eyes and turned to look out the window.
Professor Biern, sitting across from me, unfolded a newspaper.
The analog sight was intriguing in its own way.
"Want a look?"
Noticing my gaze, Professor Biern handed over the paper.
The page was covered in indecipherable magic incantations.
The mana flow visible through Watcher's Eye was intricate and systematic. The puzzle-like formula was even beautiful.
"...Impressive."
"You wouldn't get it yet. I remember you're not a magic major."
"No. Combat track."
"Too bad, then. You won't be in my class. How about a double major later if you get the chance?"
Not a bad offer. Even as a villain, he seemed like he'd take good care of me already.
Still, I couldn't just accept an unplanned commitment.
Taking Professor Biern's class was a gamble.
Biased evaluations were a given, and that would draw attention from other cadets. I had no interest in getting dragged into hassle.
"Thank you for the kind offer, but I'll focus on one major this semester."
"Shame. What a shame."
Professor Biern clicked his tongue at my line in the sand.
He'd probably wanted me under his thumb.
I left the professor to his newspaper and gazed out the window.
Skyscrapers pierced the sky between high-rises. A temple of some order mimicking Greek architecture. And far beyond the city limits.
...Arsen Academy.
The full view of Arsen Academy came into sight.
The limousine passed through Arsen's main gate and headed to the back entrance.
The parking lot was filled with flashy vehicles. Sports cars resembling Lamborghinis and Ferraris. Even antique models straight out of the 19th century.
The limo wove through them toward the faculty-only parking area.
It was near Arsen's annex building.
"We've arrived."
The driver opened the door, and we got out.
The first building in view was the guesthouse, for visiting guests.
"Well then, let's head in."
"No need to be nervous. It's just a simple greeting."
Exion led the way, Professor Biern following. Their phrasing felt almost rehearsed.
I ended up walking side by side with Professor Biern.
The air was awkward, but no one acknowledged it.
Before entering, Professor Biern glanced my way.
"Any foods you avoid? Or requests? Speak now."
"Nothing in particular."
"Good, then."
I used to be picky. Nobody likes everything.
But Esperand's training—days of starvation—had changed my tastes.
The guesthouse door opened. Staff stared curiously, but I was used to such looks.
We climbed the first-floor stairs to the second floor.
Exion stopped in front of a room in the hallway.
"Then I'll head down first! Professor Biern!"
"Yeah, be right there. Assistant Professor."
Exion turned away. His retreating footsteps broke the silence.
"...Right, Sion. You go on in. I need to step down for a bit too."
With that, Professor Biern personally opened the door for me.
Click—the doorknob turned.
In that instant, an inexplicable fruity aroma wafted from the gap in the door.