Ch.196195. Graduation (4)

# 195. Graduation (4)

Some might call it pretentious, but Aline was speaking those words with genuine sincerity.

“Raicle, who seems cold on the outside but has a warmer heart than anyone else. Chris, who’s usually playful but infinitely serious when needed. Rachel, who always welcomed us with a warm smile. Reina, who reached out first whenever we were struggling. And…”

I felt a bit disappointed not being mentioned there.

It seemed she was just writing whatever came to mind…

‘She could have at least mentioned me…’

Fortunately, that modest wish of mine seemed to reach Aline.

“Albert… senior, who stood at the front and led everyone better than anyone else. We had so much to learn from all our seniors, and we diligently followed the path you paved. But now…”

With those words, Aline’s voice began to tremble.

She seemed to be on the verge of tears.

‘At least she mentioned me…’

Hearing those words made me feel choked up for a moment.

Graduation hadn’t felt real until now, but thanks to her words, it finally sank in.

“The time has come to bid farewell to our seniors, and they will shine their light elsewhere, beyond the academy.”

Aline continued speaking while trying her best to hold back the tears welling up in her bright eyes.

“We will continue to watch and support you from here. So… please continue to work hard wherever you go, so we can follow in your footsteps. That is all…”

It was an amusing speech.

If she hadn’t looked like that, it might have been quite impressive.

But with an expression that looked ready to burst into tears at any moment… it was hard not to laugh.

“Interesting.”

After Aline finished her farewell address, I went up to the platform with Reina.

Then, with Gloria’s introduction, I began my response.

“Around this time last year, it feels like just yesterday that we said goodbye to our seniors, and now it’s already our turn. It’s been three years since we all took the Imperial Academy entrance exam with different goals in mind.”

I remembered competing against Raicle for the first time back then.

I was so frantic then, but now I felt more composed.

“Over these three years, each of us has achieved our goals in our own ways.”

Some might not have, but it seemed like more had succeeded.

At least from my perspective.

“And now, as the student representative said earlier, we must move on to broader horizons. To do so, we need to prepare ourselves mentally.”

These words might sound pretentious to some.

But no one here seemed to be taking them that way.

“Most of the time, things don’t go as planned and can even head toward the worst-case scenario, so you need to maintain your mental fortitude and continuously develop yourself to avoid falling behind. It will be difficult, but I hope you all persevere. And to the students who will remain here for another year.”

As I said those words, I noticed that person who had gone down from the platform.

Aline was wiping around her eyes with a handkerchief.

Looking at her, I continued speaking.

“Unlike us, you probably haven’t reached your goals yet. During the remaining year, make sure to achieve those goals and follow us as if to prove yourselves, even though it will be difficult.”

With those final words, I immediately came down from the platform.

Aline looked at me with a strange expression, and while pretending to listen to Reina’s speech, who seemed somewhat flustered, I asked Aline:

“What’s wrong?”

“Why did you come down…? You were supposed to stay up there until after Reina’s turn.”

“Ah… really?”

I forgot.

But judging by people’s reactions, it wasn’t all bad.

“Do people usually come down right after like that?”

“No, last year they all came down together after finishing.”

“He really is different…”

“Of course, he’s the student who passed that trial…”

Conversations that seemed to misunderstand something.

But I didn’t mind.

Unable to hide my upturned lips, I asked Aline:

“Wasn’t it pretty good?”

“I guess so…”

“Why are you crying anyway? You’re not a child.”

“Well… it’s sad…”

“Because I’ll be gone?”

“What are you saying…”

Aline turned her head away from my gaze with an incredulous expression.

But the fact that she didn’t outright deny it suggested there was some truth to it.

“You don’t need me anymore, right?”

“Huh…?”

Aline looked at me, startled by those words.

Her face clearly showed her confusion.

“You seem to be misunderstanding… I meant right now, there’s nothing more to do.”

“Oh…! You should have said it that way…!!”

“You should have understood properly.”

I left Aline behind, her face turning bright red from embarrassment, and tried to exit the auditorium.

But Aline grabbed me.

“Where are you going…? You should listen to what she’s saying…”

“I can hear it from here, and besides, I’m not particularly interested.”

It was just an elaboration of what I had already said, so I wasn’t really interested.

Of course, I wouldn’t have been interested even if it was different content…

“So where are you going?”

“I feel like I haven’t quite achieved my goal yet.”

“After saying all that earlier?”

“That’s just what you say in front of everyone, like you’re somebody. That way, people will believe and follow me.”

I left those words behind and escaped from the auditorium, even though the graduation ceremony wasn’t over yet.

The cold winter wind brushed against my cheeks.

“Not much time left now…”

The Special Forces recruitment that happens maybe once every five years.

Apparently, it will be held next April, which is coming up soon.

The timing was so perfect that I wondered if they had planned it, but they said it was always going to happen.

‘Well… Merlin did die.’

They say they plan to recruit at least two people to fill Merlin’s vacancy.

“This should be interesting.”

Of course, given the timing, cowards who value their lives won’t participate, but there are still plenty of people who want to join the Special Forces.

As always, the more thorough the preparation, the better.

“I have my pride.”

Today, too, I’m going to work toward fulfilling the purpose for which I entered this place.

Just like the current students who will start training frantically after this graduation ceremony ends.

“At the very least, I shouldn’t be called a parachute hire.”

***

News of the Special Forces recruitment had already spread throughout the country.

Today, a meeting about that matter was in full swing at the Imperial Palace.

There were about 20 participants in the meeting.

The Emperor and Empress, the current six Special Forces members, and the rest were knight commanders and court officials.

“Just two people? Shouldn’t we recruit more? There seem to be plenty of people who want to join.”

The Emperor’s words.

If it were someone else, they would have to accept it without question, but the person hearing those words had enough authority not to do so.

Andres Origin.

The real power in the current Special Forces and the one constantly tasked with the important duty of guarding the Empress.

“Your Majesty isn’t wrong, but there are plenty of people who want to join. That doesn’t mean there are plenty of people we should recruit.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Light, who had been listening carefully to the conversation, casually threw out a question.

“Wouldn’t it be better to recruit about three people? One position is already decided anyway, isn’t it?”

“I agree with that statement.”

“Me too.”

The Emperor and Seir agreed with Light’s words.

Andres was taken aback by Seir’s response, which was quite different from usual, but continued in a calm voice.

“Didn’t you clearly say that if they don’t have the skills, they won’t be recruited?”

“I certainly did, but I think they will have the skills.”

The Emperor said this while looking at Marco.

“Come to think of it… this child won, right? I’m asking just in case… you didn’t let him win, did you, Lord Marco?”

“On the contrary, I desperately tried to win… quite shamefully…”

“Judging by your expression, it seems true, but… is that even possible?”

No matter how excellent one’s skills are, they’re still just a student.

How could a mere student defeat a hero without using skills?

It was truly unbelievable.

“What do you mean? It actually happened.”

“Then… it seems we don’t need to worry about skills.”

“Of course not, considering who chose this person.”

“Then we need to decide on the examiners for this test… Who will do it? We’ll need about three people this time…”

When Andres asked this, no one volunteered to answer his question.

Everyone was busy and tired because of the war, which was understandable.

But necessary things must be done.

“I’ll do it first, so we need two more. Anyone?”

Second question.

Fortunately, now there were people raising their hands, two of them.

“I’ll do it.”

“Me too.”

Marco and Seir.

Not a bad combination.

It wasn’t great because Seir was there, but it wasn’t bad because Marco was there.

“Then the three of us will do it.”

And so the examiners for this test were decided.

And Marco, one of those examiners, made a request to Andres.

“If that child comes, could you let me handle the personal test?”