episode_0019

Under the soaring arched ceiling reminiscent of a cathedral, countless students were seated.

Is it because it’s a world within a game? Unrealistic hair colors were often visible. Blue, green, purple, and even two-toned hair made for a very colorful sight. Everyone also had weapons strapped to their waists or backs.

The entrance ceremony began shortly after everyone was seated.

‘What on earth is going to happen?’

It was a universal rule that a major incident would always occur during an academy’s entrance ceremony.

There was no basis for it, but as long as ‘I’ existed as a transmigator, anything could happen. In reality, there were cases like the Chinese general who died from being hit by a meteorite, or the European nobles who collectively fell into a latrine during a meeting and died.

‘If anything happens, I absolutely have to run.’

Usually, in novels, when a monster invades, the protagonist defeats the enemy using a known strategy and gains an advantage.

Unfortunately, I was a beautiful girl with only one unique ability. Creatures like Skullkits or wild animal mutations were the lowest-grade demonic beasts, and while they could be killed by physical force, anything from low-grade to mid-grade and above would be impossible without infusing magic into weapons.

Just in case, I checked the escape routes. Long, large windows lined both sides. It was a good thing I brought my hammer.

Everyone was seated. The entrance ceremony began.

“Welcome, new students of the 25th academic year! I am John Wilbur, the principal of this school.”

An old grandfather with a plump build stood on the platform and began to speak. So that was the principal.

“Before the opening address, I would first like to introduce Polaris Comprehensive Academy. Our academy is one of Rustrum’s proud and prestigious schools, and…”

The history of a school that only served as a background in a game? It was somewhat interesting. Should I listen?

“…thus, we have continuously produced outstanding graduates comparable to the three major prestigious institutions… Our employment rate in top clans alone boasts a remarkable 90%… The growth rate of Awakened students is…”

A presentation appeared on the giant screen behind, and graphs filled the entire display.

“Major Alfonso, our school’s first principal, stated… The origin of the name Polaris dates back to ancient times… The school’s spirit has been carried on for nearly ten years…”

It was quite long.

Were entrance ceremonies always like this? My seat became uncomfortable. The chair was too hard, and that principal’s voice was too sleepy.

“The region where Polaris is located was… due to the sacrifices of brave hunters… Therefore, the current board of directors purchased this area… The academy’s main building was built when… The construction method of the annex building is…”

I was going crazy. Why on earth were they listing the history of the school buildings at an entrance ceremony? Was that principal senile?

For thirty minutes now, they had only been rattling off the history of the school buildings, the number of graduates, and the employment rates.

“…and with that, I conclude the school introduction. Thank you.”

It was finally over.

Looking at the clock, the time, which had started at exactly 9 o’clock, was slowly approaching 10. It was over now, so I should leave.

“Next on the agenda, we will have congratulatory messages from the members of the local council…!”

No, it wasn’t over yet. They were having another speech.

“Daphne… do you happen to know what the next event after the entrance ceremony is…?”

I spoke to Daphne, who was staring blankly forward. Life returned to her startled eyes.

“…Oh? It was Ruzilin-ssi. Just a moment. It was on the pamphlet I received earlier…”

I unfolded the pamphlet she handed me and looked at it. A densely written schedule of the entrance ceremony events was visible.

“School introduction… greeting from a local council member… congratulatory remarks from sponsors… faculty introduction…?”

What kind of schedule is entirely filled with speeches, congratulatory remarks, and greetings? Is this really a school entrance ceremony?

And then, an unimaginable downpour of speeches continued endlessly.

“Our Cascade Clan offers new students… The internship dates are…”

“I’m James, the section chief from L&L Inc… Our company offers exclusive Awakened equipment… The Aether conductivity is…”

What kind of suit-wearing people from companies and clans were using congratulatory remarks as an excuse for company promotion?

“The professor who joined us this time… earned a degree and… published a thesis on the interaction between Aether and demonic beasts…”

“Greetings, everyone! I have… successfully cleared four otherworldly regions… and successfully conquered fifteen gates…”

“Greetings, students. I have… achieved a 90% clan employment rate for my students through… immersive classes…!”

During the faculty introduction, teachers and instructors came out one by one and elaborately listed their careers. They even had presentations running, detailing every single aspect of their professional experience.

This is insane. Is this really a school? Not a multi-level marketing company?

I couldn’t possibly keep my wits about me during this agonizing time. Just as I was about to close my eyes, Daphne shook my shoulder.

“Ruzilin-ssi? Wake up!”

When I whined, Daphne shook her head firmly, stopping me. It was sad. I thought she was just a kind person, but it seemed she had a strange bossy streak.

Give me back my right to sleep!

“Open your eyes. And over there…”

Daphne stopped speaking and subtly pointed her hand towards the upper part of the auditorium. I turned my gaze there and flinched after a quick glance. I immediately straightened my posture and faced forward.

“I’ve been feeling strange gazes since earlier. When I subtly turned around, those people were there.”

From the railing on the upper floor, faculty members held clipboards with fluttering papers, looking down and checking various things.

Were they perhaps even grading the students’ attitudes?

No, why on earth are they checking such things while holding such a ridiculously boring entrance ceremony? I’m going crazy.

I felt stinging gazes pouring down my back. Amidst the uncomfortable chair and boring time, I lost consciousness with my eyes open.

***

“…With that, the entrance ceremony concludes.”

“Ugh… It’s finally over.”

In the end, nothing happened during the entrance ceremony. I had expected a blockbuster battle, but reality was merely a dinner gathering adorned with the empty advice of an old middle-aged manager.

With a bustling sound, students stood up and walked towards the door. I looked next to me and saw people, half-dead and swaying as they woke up from sleep, just like me.

The students heading towards the entrance looked somewhat like a horde of zombies.

‘Now I know why the monsters of this school are ghouls.’

Still, whenever it got too boring or I felt sleepy, Daphne used her healing ability on my head. Thanks to her, I was able to endure. Long live the healer!

“Still, it’s a relief that the last speech ended quickly. That person who was the chairman earlier, right? He finished in just five minutes.”

The very end of the entrance ceremony was the congratulatory address from the Polaris Academy Chairman. Though he was said to be the chairman, he was a person with surprisingly youthful looks and long black hair. He finished his speech quickly.

I don’t know who he is, but he must be a good person, right?

“Ugh… what time is it now?”

“Just a moment? It’s 12:43.”

“What?”

When I took out my smartphone, the numbers on the screen clearly read 12:44. This was the first time I’d seen a school hold an entrance ceremony for nearly four hours.

When I tried to stand, my legs wobbled. I must have been sitting for so long that the blood wasn’t circulating properly in my legs.

“Oh dear! Just a moment. I’ll relieve your discomfort.”

Daphne’s green-glowing touch brushed against my legs a few times, and the numbness faded. Only then could we walk towards the exit.

“That feels great! My legs are much more comfortable now. Thank you so much for earlier too!”

“Don’t mention it. Just tell me if you’re uncomfortable next time.”

She replied with a gentle smile.

My roommate really seems like a truly kind person after all.

In front of the entrance, students wearing name tag necklaces, who appeared to be staff or upperclassmen, urged us on.

“Alright, alright! New students, please follow the guidance and move this way! We’re going to the small auditorium! There will be a freshman welcoming event!”

A freshman welcoming event? If the entrance ceremony was like this, the welcoming event would definitely be terrible too.

I pulled Daphne and cautiously tried to slip out of the line.

“Hey! You there! Come this way! Not a single freshman is allowed to miss the welcoming event! No absences!”

Ah, I got caught just as I was trying to make my move. I returned to the line and followed the guidance of the upperclassmen.

A dome-shaped building, smaller than the earlier grand auditorium, came into view.

A good idea suddenly popped into my head. I temporarily stepped out of the line. The upperclassmen who were guiding us called out to me.

“Hey! Freshie! Where are you going!”

“I’m just going to the restroom!”

Those guys even followed me to the restroom.

After going inside, I quickly created Clone Unit 2 and sent it out.

“I should have done this during the entrance ceremony too…”

I hid in a toilet stall and controlled my clone.

The upperclassmen waiting outside the door, seeing me emerge, led me directly to the small auditorium. Sorry, Daphne!

A moment later, as the commotion outside died down, I cautiously came out. It seemed everyone had gone into the small auditorium.

I lay flat on a bench near the small auditorium. The unusual cold snap from a few weeks ago was gone, and warm sunlight and a gentle breeze welcomed me.

“Sleepy…”

I was about to just sleep, but curiosity about the welcoming ceremony’s progress made me peer inside.

When I transferred my senses to Unit 2, I saw an auditorium filled with students. This looked just like a normal gymnasium.

-The freshman welcoming event will now begin. First, there will be an oath by the top-ranked new student and the second-ranked new student.

Now this felt more like a school entrance ceremony. If it were a proper school, they would have done this during the actual entrance ceremony.

-Top-ranked new student, Irene Solstis. Second-ranked new student, Lucian Blackveil. Please come forward!

Before my eyes, two students with very familiar appearances walked onto the platform.

Those guys, if my memory served me right, were among the playable characters. And not just any characters, but four-star and five-star ones at that.

‘They were also transfer students from Polaris, weren’t they?’

A girl with a haughty expression and long purple hair tied in a half-updo came forward. The braided hair running across the top of her head was striking.

Beside her, a dark-blue haired boy with a “I’m a cool guy” expression stood with his arms crossed.

-We hereby pledge. All of us, the Polaris freshmen of the 25th year, shall deeply engrave the sole purpose of service and protection in our hearts…

Ugh, boring. It’s probably just about doing something diligently and faithfully.

I looked around. The upperclassmen who had guided us earlier quietly walked out the door. It seemed they weren’t really monitoring us.

-Our abilities, baptized by Aether, shall not be private tools but beacons of hope for the innocent, and shields for the defenseless…

Daphne was two seats away. She was looking straight ahead with a serious expression. She seemed somewhat impressed.

I roughly instructed my clone to stay put, then cut off my senses and closed my eyes.

However, a strange sound reached Unit 2’s ears.

-Whirrrrrrr…

A bizarre sound, like a vacuum cleaner sucking something in, was heard.

“Huh?”

“Wait, what on earth is that…”

“Hm?”

In the center of the auditorium, a multicolored sphere formed in mid-air.

“Crazy! It’s a gate!”

“Why here, all of a sudden?”

“What did you say?”

From within it, a bus-sized dinosaur with a pointed head burst out.

“K-Kranos?”

“Insane! It’s Kranos! A mid-grade demonic beast!”

“Screeching! A demonic beast!!”

That’s Kranos, a mid-grade demonic beast! Why did it pop out?

Isn’t this too intense for an entrance ceremony event?

“Shit! Get out of the way!”

“Aaaah! Mom!!!”

“Call security!!”

Students in a panic began to flee.

A wise choice. Rookies can’t handle that thing.

“Ruzilin-ssi! Hurry, evacuate…? Ah!”

First, I pulled Daphne and subtly retreated to the window I had noted. I immediately took out my alloy hammer and struck the window.

-Crackling!

A yellow flash sparked, and the hammer bounced off! Oh no, is it a barrier? I struck it repeatedly, but it wouldn’t even dent!

“The door! The door won’t open!”

“Break it quickly!”

Now that I looked, the door was in a similar state. Students were screaming and hitting the door with their weapons, but it wouldn’t budge.

Bang! A sound rang out, and students hit by Kranos’s tail shot up towards the auditorium ceiling.

“Everyone, calm down! If you want to live, you have no choice but to fight. Disperse for now!”

“This is why rookies are like this. Tsk…”

Meanwhile, Irene and Lucian had pulled out their weapons and were facing off against the demonic beast. About ten students beside them, though trembling, were also preparing to fight. Truly, they were like an awl in a sack [a proverb meaning outstanding talent will inevitably show itself].

Could there also be a barrier outside? I ran hard and then transferred the alloy hammer from Unit 2.

-Clang! Clang!

When I hit it from outside, the glass broke. It seemed the barrier only applied from the inside. The spiderweb-like yellow light on the window I broke crackled and then died out.

“It finally broke!… What is this? Two Ruzilin-ssis…”

“Explanation later! It’s my unique ability! Come out quickly!”

I quickly pulled Daphne out the window. I couldn’t let my roommate get hurt.

“Thank you, Ruzilin-ssi! You go ahead first. And could you lend me the hammer for a moment?”

“Huh? Here. What are you going to use it for…?”

I threw the hammer to Unit 2 and ran a good distance away.

-Smash!

Daphne, receiving the hammer from the clone, shattered the remaining window to create a larger opening. After tapping and breaking even the glass shards left on the window frame, she took off her blazer and draped it over the window frame.

“Everyone! This way! Evacuate here!”

Students heard her shouts and rushed over.

“We’re saved!”

“An escape route opened here!”

“Hooray!”

Seeing the students exit, Daphne ran towards me with Unit 2.

“The idea was good, but what about your school uniform?”

“Let’s think about that later!”

I ran hard and got far away from the small auditorium. I leaned against the wall of a nearby unnamed building for a moment to catch my breath.

“For now, we’re safe…”

-Boom!

Suddenly, the wall of the small auditorium exploded.

“What?! Why is it coming this way?”

Kranos escaped in the direction of the very window we had escaped through!

-Aargh!

-Screech!

Fleeing students were knocked into the air again by its head. But Kranos’s condition was strange.

“No, those guys. They’re catching it…?”

-Rooaaarrrr!

Now that I looked, Kranos was covered in blood. It had escaped. The group of students led by Irene and Lucian had pursued it.

“Everyone! Well done! If we just do a little better, we can take it down!”

“Stop showing off, you top student! I’ll be the one to get it!”

The beast was brutally beaten by attacks flying from all directions. The demonic beast, struggling and shaking its head wildly, opened its mouth wide.

-Groooowl!

“Damn it! It’s thrashing!”

“Dodge! Breath attack!”

A glittering mass of Aether coalesced in Kranos’s wide-open maw. As the students scattered, Lucian stepped forward in front of the beast and extended one hand.

“You stupid demonic beast. Do you think I’ll let you fire?”

A complex magic circle appeared from Lucian’s hand, and a bolt of lightning struck Kranos’s head.

-Crackling and thundering!

-Groooowl!

Kranos’s head twisted around. The beast fell with the impact.

Wait, why is its head turning in this direction?

The demonic beast’s mouth gaped open. The half-formed Aether mass was aimed towards me.

I froze when I saw the breath attack about to be fired. What an absurd thing to happen.

“Uh…”

“Step back.”

Daphne stepped forward in front of me and Unit 2.

The moment the beam flew, a translucent, light-green shield appeared in front of her. As the beam hit the shield, she gritted her teeth and groaned.

Soon, the beam split into several strands and then vanished.

The shield dissipated. She looked back at me, looking exhausted.

“Haa… haa… That’s a relief. I was able to block it.”

“Wow… you blocked that?”

I was impressed. I knew what her unique ability was, but I hadn’t realized it was this powerful. My roommate is amazing after all!

“More importantly, it’s a relief. The demonic beast has fallen.”

“Yeah.”

In the distance, Kranos’s corpse, with students climbing on it, was visible. They just beat it down.

“Ruzilin-ssi, excuse me, but can I go ahead for a moment? I see some injured students over there.”

“Do you even need to ask about something like that? I’ll follow too.”

I watched her walk forward for a moment.

-Thwack!

“Gah!”

I felt a strong impact on the back of my head and fell forward. What? Why?

Unit 2 was lying on the ground, having been hit by a large brick on the back of its head. My body wouldn’t move. What, what was happening?

Looking behind, the cracked exterior wall of the building was swaying this way and that. Bricks, large and small, began to fall one by one with a patter.

Was it the effect of the breath attack earlier?

Hearing my scream, I saw Daphne turn around and run towards me.

“Ruzilin-ssi!”

I struggled to stand. As I turned my body, I saw a white object attached to the exterior of the wall creak and fall.

It was an air conditioner outdoor unit. It was about to fall directly in front of me.

I thrashed. I stood up, I struggled on the floor. I couldn’t move. I moved. Two perspectives overlapped. My senses overlapped. Unit 2 staggered. I also struggled.

“What the f-ck…”

“Screeeeeaaaaam!”

-Thud!

My vision went black.

On September 2nd, 25th year of the Federal Calendar, Violet, struck by an air conditioner outdoor unit—her long-standing ailment—collapsed.

What a fool.

— Congratulations! You have met the conditions.

Unique Ability: LV4 Clone Technique has met certain conditions and will transform.

└Condition: Upon death under specific conditions – when the clone’s self-awareness has grown – transforms into Unique Ability: .

▼▼▼

Unique Ability: has transformed!

Unique Ability: ■■■■ has met specific conditions and been unlocked.

▼▼▼

Unique Ability: has been unlocked!

└Condition: Obtainable upon transformation to Fluid – Consciousness/Self-Linked Clone Technique.