episode_0270

The opening ceremony of the birth ceremony followed standard procedures.

All the cadets gather in one place and hold a sort of review ceremony, and the vice president representing the cadets recites a speech.

After that, the representative students of each grade come out and take the oath to continue the lecture, and it’s just a somewhat fancy ceremony to announce the opening.

It was such a simple procedure, but few of those sitting in the audience seemed bored. Instead, they were busy scanning the center with sparkling eyes.

– Hey, look up ahead, that person is Hong Yeon-hwa? Is that the Gyeop-hwa family member?

– It looked so gruesome in the breaking news, but it’s different now… Oh, that scarf is pretty. Where is it from?

– The student next to me is Baek A-rin. Wow~ The two of them are right next to each other so there’s no need to draw them separately.

– I just saw them playing tag and they were so fucking fast. If they hit each other, it’d be like they got hit by a dump truck.

– Are you going to end up flying away while fighting that dump truck-eating monster?

When an ordinary person experiences a phenomenon called awakening, they become a superhuman who can control magical powers. However, only a small number of the entire population experience awakening. The vast majority remain ordinary people who cannot control magical powers.

That’s why, to ordinary people, superhumans often feel like figures from another world.

More precisely, a kind of idol.

Beings who can crush metal with their bare hands, leap over buildings with a single leap, and use abilities that defy common sense.

Thanks to the image-making that the association has consistently implemented, superhumans, heroes, and hunters have become idols and objects of admiration.

– Oh, the day has come when I will see all the Shiyoram cadets with my own eyes…

– Everyone has colorful hair.

– It’s a natural dye. And they said that if you become a superhuman, your skin and bones will also improve? I’m so jealous…

Moreover, the ones they are watching right now are not ordinary superhumans, but the cadets of the Siyoram.

These are the people who will become the backbone of future generations brought in from around the world through rigorous procedures.

As it was usually difficult to get news due to the security of the city, not only the general public but also people in the industry watched the center stage with keen eyes.

– The cadet in the very front is…

– Haha, it really stands out. It’s so obvious that you can’t help but look at it even if you don’t want to.

– Special admission students

The gazes of these people moving so busily eventually stopped at one place.

Students lined up by grade level, surrounding a circular stage. Among them, the first-year formation is decorated with green, symbolizing spring.

To Lee Ha-yul, who is at the forefront.

– and…

And, as if drawn by gravity, those who turned their gaze to Lee Ha-yool all gaped in amazement.

From the audience, through a large hologram floating in the air, or through a broadcasted video.

Those who encountered the changed appearance of Lee Ha-yool in any way were speechless.

The last time Lee Ha-yul made an official appearance was during a tournament. Even back then, his appearance caught everyone’s attention, but his current appearance was different.

Pure white hair that seems to have a soft glow. Her two eyes are closed tightly, adding to her mysteriousness, and even when her eyes are closed, her facial features are not at all out of alignment.

Behind his back, he was wearing a sky-blue winged robe that a god would wear, and his left arm, which was not human and could be seen through the gap in his arm sleeves, gave people a sense of pity.

– Wow, it wasn’t a fictional character, it was a real person.

– Do you usually walk around with your eyes closed? That’s strange. Is that possible with your senses?

– Look at that cute thing. It’s just the right size to hold in your arms and sleep on.

– Your hair is so white… I’ve never seen such white hair before.

– Are you a man?

After a while, they came to their senses as if they had woken up from a dream and were busy gossiping about Lee Ha-yool with lingering expressions on their faces.

The image of Lee Ha-yool reflected on the retina was mysterious and beautiful. Even just standing still with his eyes and mouth closed was worthy of being called a painting.

Rather, the quiet and restrained atmosphere surrounding Lee Ha-yool only served to heighten his mystical awareness.

‘Certainly, that’s true.’

Hong Yeon-hwa thought similarly. When she turned her gaze to the noise that was coming into her ears, she saw Lee Ha-yool, who was still like a doll.

An appearance that seemed not of this world. No matter how much I looked at Lee Ha-yool’s face, who was sleeping soundly in my arms after waking up unexpectedly early in the morning, I couldn’t get used to it.

“Ha-yul, what’s wrong?”

But as I got closer to it, that mysteriousness slowly came off. To be exact, it was closer to enjoying the reality inside.

To Hong Yeon-hwa, Lee Ha-yool was not a mysterious immortal, but rather a lovable child who was particularly mischievous.

So now I could tell that Lee Ha-yool’s expression was strange.

At the small whisper, Lee Ha-yool also turned his head slightly. At the same time, his eyes that had been tightly shut opened halfway, revealing dreamy gray pupils.

He didn’t say anything, and the necklace didn’t ring. But Hong Yeon-hwa could read the question in Lee Ha-yool’s eyes.

For a moment, a small commotion arose in the audience, but Hong Yeon-hwa tilted her head without paying any attention.

“Your expression was strange, so I was wondering if something was wrong. Are you uncomfortable?”

At the slightly more precise question, the corners of Lee Ha-yool’s eyes curved as if in embarrassment.

‘I guess you’re not sick.’

Hong Yeon-hwa nodded inwardly at that reaction.

If he was hiding something that hurt, he would have avoided eye contact. This was a reaction of hesitation, not really knowing how to respond.

Hong Yeon-hwa, who prides herself on being a top instructor, waited patiently for the answer.

– The Lord of Taesan…? He’s here

“Huh?”

Soon a thin voice rang in my head. It was a transmission that required extremely precise magical manipulation.

Hong Yeon-ha, who had secretly hoped that he would whisper in her ear, felt a bit of regret for a moment, but then blinked at the information that had come to her mind.

‘I didn’t hear from Unnie Jiyeon that you were coming?’

Basically, the heads of the three major families are all busy.

Right now, the lord of Changhae is busy running around trying to stop the dungeon rampage that occurred in the territory.

Hong Yeon-hwa’s parents, the head of the Gyeop-hwa family, had been locked in the Demon Realm since last year, and as soon as they came out, they flew away somewhere again.

The head of the Taesan family is also a busy person. But he took the time to visit the birth ceremony?

‘That lady didn’t seem to love her daughter very much…’

In Hong Yeon-hwa’s memory, Lee Ji-ah, the head of the Taesan family, was not a very affectionate person. Rather, she was so emotionless and blunt that it made one wonder if she was actually the manifestation of Changhae.

‘Well, I don’t know him very well.’

In fact, deep down, he might be really loving his daughter. As he shrugged his shoulders, the sound came again.

– And grandpa… no, that… Yeonhwa’s grandfather came too?

“Huh? Grandpa?”

Hong Yeon-hwa let out a stupid sound.

* * *

After that, the opening ceremony was held without any problems.

A procedure in which the Vice President recites a speech and the cadets who have come forward as representatives pledge to contribute to peace and the survival of humanity.

“─We pledge to fulfill our assigned duties based on our honed capabilities and contribute to world peace and survival.”

– Clap clap clap clap clap─!

The moment the representative’s oath was finished, applause echoed throughout the auditorium.

Not only those sitting in the audience, but also the cadets who were still in their seats clapped their hands.

Fortunately, I also had a prosthetic arm, so the disaster of standing on stage as one of the representatives and looking embarrassed did not happen.

Of course the sound was a little different, but it wasn’t noticeable at all.

The applause continued for a while. The vice president, who had been clearing his throat, opened his mouth again only after the applause had completely stopped.

“This brings us to the end of the long, long opening ceremony. Next, we will proceed with the final procedure.”

The order was conducted by the vice president himself, not a guide. As I stood on stage, I let out a deep breath.

‘It ended quickly.’

Although it was said to be a long and drawn-out opening ceremony, in fact, time did not pass by long. This was because unnecessary formalities were cut out and only the necessary parts were carried out appropriately.

“Students and faculty, please raise one hand toward the sky and unleash your magical power.”

The final procedure of the opening ceremony. The cadets raised their hands toward the sky at the Vice President’s words.

The same was true for the representative students who came up on stage. Seeing Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek A-rin standing on the left and right raise their hands, I also raised my right hand, which was my natural arm.

At the same time, he tapped on the magical power that had been dormant in his core and woke it up. The magical power circulated through the circuits of his entire body. The vice president, who had been looking around for a moment, pulled out his staff from the air and held it.

“Okay, let’s get started.”

An antique black wooden cane. The Vice Chancellor nodded and tapped the floor with the cane.

– Woof woof…

A gentle vibration ran down from the crown of their heads to the tips of their toes. Several cadets shivered at the unfamiliar sensation.

That too was fleeting.

– Woof woof woof…!

Soon, a huge vibration rang out, and the magical power inside my body was pulled out through my fingertips. I could easily resist this level of interference, but I couldn’t ruin the event, so I obediently surrendered my magical power.

– Paaah!

At the same time, magical power poured from my fingertips as if I had turned on a faucet and shot up into the sky.

“Ohhh… ”

Hong Yeon-hwa wiggled her hands with an unfamiliar expression. Bright red magic energy was pouring out of her hands, and the pillars were very thick and clear.

This phenomenon occurred not only for me but also for all the cadets. The color of the magical power that surged was different depending on the nature of the magical power, and the thickness and clarity of the pillar also varied depending on the quality and capacity of the magical power.

‘I am…’

White. And it was overwhelmingly thicker and clearer than the other cadets. The surrounding area, which was flooded with all sorts of colors, was mostly dyed white.

Not only in the audience seats, but also from all over the stadium, people were observed admiring the various pillars.

A kind of performance held at the end of the opening ceremony. It was one of the representative attractions of the birth festival.

They say that a lot of people come in on the first day to see this.

‘Is this how you replenish your horsepower every year?’

Hundreds of towering pillars of magical power reached the sky at one point and spread out in all directions.

What was hit was the barrier protecting the cradle that Ariel had painstakingly created.

It’s a great barrier that doesn’t cause any problems even if left alone, but it seems like it’s replenished in this way every year.

It was a function I discovered by consistently reading the interpretation in the mansion’s study. It’s still not up to my level, but I’m not saying that I’m not gaining anything if I keep looking into it.

– Woof woof…

As time passed, the pillars that had risen up so vigorously disappeared one by one. Starting from the outer periphery, they began to scatter one by one, and eventually, the pillars of the representative students standing on the stage also fell apart.

‘…?’

“Ha-yul, how long are you going to keep picking…?”

But I won’t stop. Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek A-rin, who were standing nearby, blinked.

Not only those two, but many eyes were turned towards me. The cadets who came out as representatives, the cadets who stood below the stage, and the eyes pouring in from the numerous audience seats…

[I, I see…?]

I also blinked in embarrassment. When I glanced at the Vice President, she was staring at the pure white pillar of magic with a calm expression.

‘I heard about it in advance, but isn’t it too much to take?’

It’s not an unexpected turn of events. I had previously received the Vice President’s understanding that I would be able to bring in a lot of horsepower in this process.

‘But there are quite a lot…’

The amount is simply more than you can imagine. My magical power capacity is already unusually large. Since I have never neglected my magical power training, my magical power has steadily increased in quantity.

That kind of magic power is gradually running out.

I was startled and quickly pulled in the magical power scattered around me, observing the path of the magical power shooting up into the sky.

‘Where does all that go?’

The magical power of the other cadets was absorbed into the barrier spread across the cradle.

My magic power was not absorbed by the barrier. I was puzzled by this and followed where the magic power was directed.

‘Over there…’

I tilted my head. The place where my magic power was being consumed was an unexpected place.

Here, near the main auditorium… an ivory tower rising in the center of the city.

It was a tower of growth.

* * *

One of the spaces inside the Tower of Growth.

A space with a blue sky where it is hard to find even a single cloud and a wide grassland spread out beneath it.

Boom! A pillar of pure white magic power descended into the middle.

Thicker than an average high-rise building. The space around the pillar was distorted. The external pressure containing the will interfered with the pure white magic.

Interference from the outside. Normally, I would laugh it off and shake it off.

However, the magical power received with the consent of the owner soon changed into a gentle puppy-like attitude and changed according to external guidance.

Pure white with no added color, and therefore highly likely to get dirty.

Also, the nature of the possibility of change into anything.

– Thud…!

Something was stirring within the pure white pillars.