Procession

Two days before the Triathlon.

To prepare for the procession of participating academies, all the students of Transcendence Academy came out of the building and lined up in a straight line from the entrance of the academy, waiting for guests to arrive.

Meanwhile, the academy was quite busy preparing to welcome guests who came every year. Lican wasn’t able to participate in after-school training for the past few days because he was busy preparing to welcome guests.

Wherever I went in the academy for the past week, the Triathlon was the topic of conversation.

In particular, there are rumors that many new attractions that did not exist before will be added to this exam, so interest is increasing.

“Just bear with it, it will start soon.”

An unknown professor said in a voice amplified by magic. He must not know that he said that for the first time 30 minutes ago.

The freshmen, who were full of anticipation and motivation, gradually filled their faces with boredom and annoyance. The seniors had already given up, as if they had experienced it last year. Is this the difference a year makes?

The murmuring intensifies. Some people yawned, and some talked to their friends next to them.

Just as someone was saying strange things about seeing a giant octopus leg in the stadium set up outdoors last night, something like a drumbeat began to be heard from afar.

An unknown murmur was transmitted from the end of the line, and the person in front turned his head to the side and said something, as if doing a wave.

Only when it reached me did I realize what the murmur was about. It’s a sign that the boring wait is over. As if infected by the actions of the person next to me, I turned my head to the side and said to Lacar, who was explaining the history of the Triathlon.

“They’ve arrived.”

My short words were passed on to the back through Lacar. I could hear the seniors who were grumbling in the back cheering. I might be in that group in a few years.

Professors dressed smartly quickly checked the students and passed by, waving their canes. They adjusted the angle of the crooked ribbons or re-buttoned the school uniform buttons that had been unbuttoned because they were uncomfortable.

Professor Leora stopped walking as she passed by. She said to Aria, who was scratching her ear and yawning widely across from me, in a stern voice.

“I clearly told you that your mindset is revealed from your posture.”

Aria closed her mouth and opened her eyes wide, quickly correcting her posture. Even Aria seems to be afraid of her teacher-nim.

The booming drumbeat grew closer and closer. I could hear the citizens watching outside the academy shouting “Wow-“. Someone peeked out and was hit on the head with a cane by a passing professor.

Looking at the face of the person who was pulling his head out like a turtle again, it was a familiar face. It was Kane.

The sound can be heard, but the boredom does not go away because it cannot be seen. While I was loosening my stiff body, Lacar said.

“I heard they’re serving steak for lunch.”

I answered with a yawn, but I couldn’t close my mouth and watched the procession that had gotten closer.

Leading the students wearing black, active-looking uniforms, perhaps to make them more practical, was a giant reptile.

At first glance, it was a giant lizard that looked like a dragon, with a sleek face, long teeth, and armor-like scales, but unfortunately, it had no wings.

A small watchtower-like structure was installed on the back of the unknown reptile. A girl in a fancy outfit is waving her arms and playing the drums.

“It’s the Muzeion Academy of the East!”

Someone shouted excitedly.

I came to my senses and clapped hard as I had practiced, welcoming the passing Muzeion students.

To reciprocate our welcome, the Muzeion students each scattered flower petals that sparkled and faded from their pockets. Aria, who was excited by the sight, screamed so loudly that it could be heard on the other side.

The Muzeion students must have practiced the march hard, as the sound of their left and right feet matching each other reminded me of the drill training I had learned in the training camp. Left foot, left foot, left foot. I muttered to myself without realizing it.

The atmosphere heated up with the appearance of the Muzeion Academy. As the Muzeion students disappeared into the academy’s backyard, where mobile buildings were installed to stay during the Triathlon, with cheers and rhythmic footsteps, beautiful melodies and beautiful golden light poured down like rain from the sky.

I could hear the female students on the entrance side screaming.

“It’s the Elassium Academy!”

An unknown senior said. I have a connection with Elassium that started during the vacation. Professor Lotos, who is in charge of ancient languages. He was a more communicative person than I thought.

Students wearing clean-cut uniforms with white and gold colors, like formal wear, appeared.

Unlike Muzeion, Elassium unfortunately did not have reptiles, so they placed handsome men and beautiful women at the forefront.

The students at the front held their canes high and sprinkled golden powder. While giving a round of applause to the Elassium students who were playing instruments and passing by, I looked for someone I didn’t know in the faces of the marching students.

Thanks to her striking feature of orange curly hair, it wasn’t long before I found the girl in the middle of the line.

Her name is Eunice. She was a freshman participant from Elassium Academy who will appear in this Triathlon story.

She failed to enter Transcendence Academy, but later bloomed her talent and became the top freshman at Elassium.

She is not Roel’s heroine. Strictly speaking, she should be seen as closer to the villain side who will be corrupted because of Roel.

I should be used to it by now, but I was still amazed to see the characters in the novel I had imagined come to life. That’s why the first meeting with the characters remains so vivid in my memory.

Perhaps sensing my gaze, Eunice looked at me once and then turned her head forward again. I only intended to check her face from the beginning. It will be enough to talk at the Triathlon.

The procession of Elassium Academy was over, but the last Arcadia Academy had not yet arrived. The heated atmosphere slowly began to cool down.

Just as everyone was grumbling and cursing the latecomers, I heard a “Wow-” from the front. It’s the last guest. Everyone started clapping hard.

Giant golems wave their hands, and behind them, students in green uniforms pass by with disciplined steps, looking only ahead like soldiers. As expected of an academy in the north, they had a cold appearance.

When all the processions were over and the professor’s order to dismiss was heard, everyone broke down the order they had maintained and ran to the cafeteria.

I slipped to the side so as not to be swept away and waited for the club members.

***

Thanks to the procession, there are no afternoon classes. In fact, there were no classes tomorrow either, thanks to the guests who came to the academy.

For the first time in a long time, all the members of the club gathered and decided to spend a lazy afternoon. While eating snacks and drinks and talking about the Triathlon, someone knocked on the door of the club room.

Knock knock――

The club members who were eating snacks glanced at me. Unfortunately, I was the closest to the door. I had no choice but to get up and head to the door. A guest coming on a day like this doesn’t feel particularly welcome.

When I opened the door, Bella’s face, shining with beautiful golden eyes, was even less welcome. I asked in a blunt voice.

“What’s the matter?”

“I was wondering if we could have a little chat. Can you spare some time?”

The last time I met Bella was at the Modest meeting. Could she have noticed my identity? Whatever the case, I couldn’t talk to Bella where the club members were.

I closed the door of the club room and came out. It was the corridor on the 2nd basement floor, where no one was passing by unless they had a purpose. There was no need to move the conversation location.

“You clearly said last time that you were a joint destiny with the Modest Guild Master, right?”

I nodded at Bella, who started with a nonsensical remark. I did say that. Bella narrowed her eyes and gave me a suspicious look.

“Are you sure? Are you sure that the Guild Master of Modest won’t betray you?”

“I am sure.”

I don’t know what she’s trying to say, but I can be sure that we are a joint destiny. We need each other for each other’s goals.

Bella sighed deeply as if she was pathetic, and then slightly raised the corners of her lips. She looked like she was mocking me for some reason.

What is it? I don’t think she came to me suspecting me of being a lesbian.

“Are you aware that there was a Modest meeting this time?”

“…I heard about it.”

Bella gave a snake-like smile to my weak answer that sounded like a murmur.

“Have you ever heard the Guild Master say anything about lesbians?”

“To some extent…?”

I answered carefully because I didn’t know what Bella was going to say.

“Didn’t she warn you separately to be careful of lesbians?”

Would Estelle have a reason to warn me to be careful of me? I’ve heard her call me an arrogant pig, but that doesn’t seem to be the correct answer to Bella’s question.

Bella sighed deeply when I shook my head stupidly because I couldn’t keep up with the topic of conversation.

“Haa, you idiot….”

Bella, who was muttering as if she wanted me to hear, twisted one corner of her lips and said in a low voice.

“A lesbian might be targeting you. The Guild Master may have already betrayed you.”

I swallowed without realizing it at Bella’s serious face.

What the fuck…?