Chapter 7: Admission Welcome Party – 2

“Since I don’t want to ruin the party’s mood, I’d appreciate it if you could listen comfortably.”

I looked at Vice Chancellor Odd, who had started speaking from the platform with narrowed eyes.

The Hunter, described as the closest to the apex excluding Otinuus, who had quelled the great upheaval in the past.

Moreover, now that Otinuus had hidden from the public eye, he reigned as the practical strongest in the Hunter industry.

His speech began.

“In the 21st century, magic and monsters were treated as stories or myths in works of fiction.”

The low and mid-tones emanating from his throat spread throughout the banquet hall.

Even without using a microphone, the substantial magical power in his voice served its purpose.

Unlike a microphone that might have been disturbing, his voice resonated clearly and distinctly even from a distance.

“That era of upheaval was truly like hell on earth in the realm of Indomagic.”

Just a few moments ago, someone had said they didn’t want to ruin the excitement, but the atmosphere in the banquet hall sank heavily.

However, without paying any attention to that, Vice Chancellor Odd paused briefly and continued speaking.

“Ethics, order, morality, and law all collapsed in an instant. It was a time when the strong became the law, and the survivors changed the world.”

Reality sometimes surpasses fiction.

Moreover, now that the fictional world has become reality, the horrors are beyond prediction.

Dungeons emerged, monsters poured out.

The fantasies from stories broke through inviolable barriers and invaded reality.

In response, humanity also awakened to magic.

After the great upheaval, individuals with powerful magic began to surpass groups.

But that level of power was not enough.

It was impossible for a few individuals to save the whole.

Moreover, some hunters who gained power began to exploit the weak for their own gain instead of heading to dungeons.

“Eden.”

The clear voice echoed in my mind, shaking it as if with a tremor.

The atmosphere in the sinking banquet hall trembled as if writhing.

“Why did you come to Eden?”

Hunter academies on Earth are not unique to Eden.

Most countries currently existing on Earth establish hunter academies for training exceptional talents as hunters.

Nevertheless, Eden’s status is firm.

No matter which country’s hunter academy you bring, it is subordinate to Eden’s prestigious status.

“If you have come with such half-hearted intentions, now is the time to raise and correct your goals.”

Some of the attendees who seemed embarrassed by Vice Chancellor Odd’s words may have come here with such goals in mind.

“Special Gate – the Orchard of Paradise.”

This land where Eden currently exists.

A special designated gate that appeared in a place where the World Tree grew.

The name “special” is never taken lightly.

Even with just a Grade 1 designated gate, it causes national emergencies, and in the case of a special gate, priority is given to evacuation rather than direct response.

“As you all know, up until the 21st century, the African continent and polar regions, which were clearly human territories, were taken over by magic.”

The Amazon rainforest became a magic area due to its topographical features and unique flora, but the polar regions and Africa are different.

They became magic domains because of a series of special dungeon appearances that humanity gave up on.

“As you all know, Headmaster Otinuus conquered that gate.”

A disaster that was prayed not to come, and if it did, it would only be hoped to survive.

Headmaster Otinuus, a hunter who conquered a special gate that humanity thought it could never overcome.

“Though the details are kept secret by her… It is certain that she planted the World Tree and made it a counterattack stronghold to reclaim the lost land of humanity.”

She could reign as an absolute ruler transcending the legal systems of all countries throughout her lifetime.

Using her unprecedented exploits conquering the special dungeon, utilizing the phase to commit any deeds and be forgiven, she had gained legendary status.

“But, not Octinus.”

She conquered and planted the speculated World Tree in this land, constructing Eden.

“The special gates can be conquered. The Headmaster herself proved that fact and took herself as a precedent of hope for humanity.”

Humanity praised her myth of defeating disaster with her own body.

Regaining hope, people joined forces and gradually, the crumbling society began to recover.

The hope of resistance, exemplified by overcoming, moved humanity.

A paradise of modest learning, built to establish the paradise of legend.

“That’s Eden.”

As the shockwaves of the great upheaval subsided, the legendary hunters gathered around Otinuus and established an educational institution.

Eden nurtured hunters to reclaim the land of ancient humanity that has not yet been regained.

“So learn. Polish yourself and grow. We, Eden, exist for that purpose.”

The elaborate speech so far, narrated by Odd Spatium, is the background knowledge and past history of this world.

In short, it’s a world-building explanation made to help users immerse themselves in the main story.

Therefore, the contents of this speech were familiar stories I’ve heard several times.

Maybe even if this speech was a question on a written test, I could easily score a perfect mark.

However, that’s just my impression, but other students seemed deeply moved.

Some had proud expressions, while others trembled, holding back tears.

“Sob….”

‘Some are even crying.’

While pretending to be appropriately moved, I was lost in thought, when he smiled slightly and concluded his speech.

“…Oh, the festive atmosphere has been ruined. I’ll end it here. The actual academic schedule will start three days from now, so please take care of yourselves.”

With that, Odd, the vice chancellor, raised his staff low again.

As soon as the staff hit the podium, Odd disappeared through spatial movement.

Thinking about going to eat the food I was eyeing earlier, I turned my back.

‘I wonder who noticed. ‘

Just as I turned my back, I felt a strange gaze on the back of my head.

I didn’t directly confirm it, but I felt it instinctively.

Sighing inwardly, I turned around.

The owner of the revealed gaze was none other than Vice Chancellor Odd.

‘Could it be that he saw me?’

Anxious, when our eyes met, his lips curled.

His expression wasn’t one tainted with negative emotions, but rather resembled that of a child who had found an interesting toy.

In short, it was a facial expression that made the viewer feel uncomfortably uneasy.

“Ah, I almost forgot about this fact.”

Smiling, Vice Chancellor Odd quietly lowered the staff he had lifted from the ground.

Just when I thought his story was over, it started again, and all the students in the grand hall turned their heads towards him.

“The top entrance exam of this year is determined based on the exam scores and the spontaneous situation handling ability demonstrated in front of the gate the day before.”

The top entrance student.

As soon as the story came out, the faces of the students were filled with anticipation.

Rather than many students thinking they were the top, it was more like a debate among a few candidates about who the top student would be.

‘Something feels off.’

The expression on Vice Chancellor Odd’s face, which I saw when our eyes met, still lingered uncomfortably in my mind.

Glancing at the students who had started talking to each other, he smiled and spoke up.

“According to the professor’s meeting, Seria Alvhaim has been selected as this year’s top entrance student, but…”

Seria Alvhaim .

It’s a name that’s impossible not to know.

She’s a key figure in the main story Part 1, an elf born with innate vast magical power and exceptional charisma.

Born with the blessing of the World Tree, she is the first and only High Elf at the current moment.

Even when comparing her to the entirety of the Eden, there are only a handful of individuals who could threaten Seria Alveheim’s prestige.

‘But why trail off at the end?’

Suddenly, a sense of unease crept in.

Vice Chancellor Odd trailed off at the announcement of the top student.

For some reason, a chill ran down my spine, like being hit by a cold breeze in the dead of night.

…And sure enough, Vice Chancellor Odd didn’t hesitate to drop a bombshell at the grand ceremony.

“In a highly unusual move, this year’s top student has been personally selected by our Headmaster, who has been keeping her whereabouts hidden.”