Opening Ceremony

The day of the opening ceremony, which felt so far away, had arrived. The Transcendence Academy’s banquet hall was filled with students, as always noisy, buzzing, and full of human warmth.

Taking out the school uniform that I had put in the closet for two months gave me a different feeling. It wasn’t just because of the special day of the opening ceremony.

My body, which had changed noticeably during the vacation, boasted a clear presence of muscles even without doing any pumping. Thanks to my muscular body, I had to change into a smaller-sized dress shirt.

I sat at the table designated for each department and waited for the opening ceremony to begin. As I attended the academy, I knew more faces, even if I didn’t know their names.

However, that didn’t mean I was close to them or remembered who they were. I only had the recognition that they were students of the same academy, and most of the time, we just passed by without greeting each other.

Still, I saw some familiar faces. Everyone seemed to have changed a little during the vacation.

I felt a little strange. They were definitely adults, so they shouldn’t be in their growth period.

As I was having such unproductive thoughts, I suddenly remembered the entrance ceremony I had here.

Like the saying that time is relative, the entrance ceremony, which felt like it was just a few weeks ago, was already half a year ago. The unfamiliar academy had now become as familiar as my own home.

No, it had really become my home now. The club members had made a really great home for me. It was a home where I sincerely wanted to live with Luna forever.

When I first entered the academy, I couldn’t sleep properly because my stomach ached as if it were being stabbed every night due to my nervous breakdown, but now I can sleep comfortably even on the sofa in the club room. I guess people are animals of adaptation after all.

“Long time no see, everyone. There are many faces I’ve missed.”

The noisy banquet hall fell silent at the voice that was clearly heard as if whispering in my ear. I smiled at the pleasant surprise.

“Did you all work hard to get some sun during this summer? But people can’t grow like plants. If there’s anyone who has grown taller, be careful. It might be a plant in human form…!”

I burst into laughter at the sight of everyone making awkward faces and giving embarrassed smiles, “Haha…”. Nelson was indeed a lecherous old man with a sense of humor.

“The second semester will begin tomorrow. Classes will proceed the same as in the first semester, but next month, the academy triathlon that everyone is looking forward to is scheduled.”

The banquet hall became noisy again at Nelson’s words. I glanced around and felt the gazes of the people around me staring at my face. I pretended to be calm and ignored the attention focused on me, fixing my gaze on Nelson.

I already knew why the attention was focused on me. The condition for participating in the triathlon was being the top and runner-up of the grade. And since I was the runner-up in the first grade, it was only natural that the attention of those around me would be focused on me. Raikan, who was standing behind Nelson, gave me a sly smile, so I quickly avoided his gaze.

I know what kind of image my first-year classmates have of me. A crazy bastard who burned down an island in the grade test, or a dangerous guy. I guess that’s about it. Well, it could be worse.

“Ah, and in this triathlon, a reward will be given to the entire grade that records particularly excellent results.”

The table next to me became noisy at Nelson’s words. As if trying to erase their mistakes from the first semester with cheers, they enthusiastically shouted the name of the top student of the grade and the top student of the magic department.

“””Ellie, Ellie, Ellie!!!!!”””

Not to be outdone, a classmate from my class next to me suddenly shouted my name in a loud voice.

“Roosss!!!”

Before I could even ask him not to shout someone else’s name so desperately, all the first-year combat department students sitting at the table started calling my name, as if fire had spread to oil.

“””Ross, Ross, Ross!!!!!”””

Watching my combat department classmates shouting so loudly that the veins in their necks were popping out, as if they were competing with the magic department, I scratched my cheek with a strange embarrassment. I felt good, but the fact that it was my name being called was quite embarrassing.

Not to be outdone by the enthusiasm of the first-year students, the second-year students even stood up from their seats and shouted the names of Roel and Ilia. Everyone laughed at Roel’s cheeky appearance as he waved his hand like a candidate in a campaign.

The third-year students even climbed onto the table and shouted their names, and the fourth-year students pounded the table with their palms, shouting their names. Except for Roel, everyone else had their heads bowed, so it seemed that I wasn’t the only one who was embarrassed.

“Good, good. It’s a very hot opening ceremony.”

As Nelson clapped his hands, the overheated atmosphere began to calm down in an instant. I guess anyone can’t be a principal. Or maybe Nelson is just outstanding.

“During the three days of the triathlon, mobile buildings where students from each academy can stay will be installed in the academy’s backyard and the vacant lot next to the training ground. I hope you will kindly welcome them as befits the students of the best academy on the continent.”

The triathlon was held at the academy that won the previous year. And Transcendence Academy had never missed a single victory since the triathlon was held.

The game held at the winner’s home was bound to be advantageous. As long-distance portal magic became popular, not only the triathlon participants came to the academy, but all the students took the portal to the capital to cheer.

It was not an event organized by Transcendence Academy like the grade top student competition, but an official festival that gathered the famous academies of the continent in one place with the power of the imperial family.

It was a festival for everyone, showing the power and wealth of the imperial family to everyone, giving nobles the opportunity to keep an eye on young talents, a long-awaited bonanza for merchants, the joy of the festival for citizens, and competition, growth, and experience for students.

“The triathlon is attended by the top and runner-up of each grade, and they will receive high bonus points in the promotion exam at the end of the semester according to the results obtained in the triathlon.”

This was why the grade test at the beginning of the semester was important. You must get good grades in the grade test to participate in the duel, and you can participate in the duel. Even only students who have advanced to the finals of the duel can participate in the triathlon. This was why everyone risked their lives in the grade test in the first semester.

After the triathlon, the promotion exam to evaluate what you have learned for a year awaits. Students who do not participate in the triathlon had to study hard to avoid failing a grade.

Unlike the grade test, which is a relative evaluation, the promotion exam is an absolute evaluation. Those who do not meet the minimum standards will have to take the retake exam once again, and if they fail there, they will be expelled. The setting was that about 5 people were expelled every year.

Even if Ross, who was specially admitted to the academy thanks to Roel, continued to attend the academy without dying, wouldn’t he eventually fail the retake exam and be expelled? It was a problem that didn’t matter because Ross was going to leave before that anyway.

Nelson took out his cane from his pocket. I heard the sound of the unknown classmate sitting next to me swallowing his saliva in anticipation.

“Well, let’s end the opening ceremony speech here… Let’s start the banquet you’ve been waiting for!”

When Nelson waved his cane at the ceiling, the marble ceiling turned into a clear blue sky without a single cloud. Maids began to pile mountains of food with all kinds of delicious smells on the tables, and the paintings on the walls of the banquet hall began to move and play beautiful music.

***

After the banquet, Lacar and I waited for the club members next to the entrance of the banquet hall. As I was looking at the people coming out of the banquet hall, someone suddenly pulled my clothes from behind.

“C-can we talk for a second…?”

When I turned around, Estelle, whose face was red for some reason, let go of my clothes that she was holding. It was Estelle who never even thought of meeting me without a mask. I wondered if something urgent had happened, so I bent down and brought my face closer to hers.

“Is something wrong?”

I whispered in Estelle’s ear, which was dyed red, so that the people around us wouldn’t hear. Estelle, who trembled for a moment, said in a small voice as if whispering.

“E-Ember’s back. With her sister…”

Ember, who had left for Ludwig, must have returned. I was a little worried because I hadn’t heard from her, but I was glad she returned safely.

“I’ll go to Modest at night.”

“O-okay…!”

Estelle smiled brightly as if she was happy at my words. I watched Estelle’s back as she disappeared into the crowd with her short height, and then turned around again.

Lacar, who had been crossing his arms, was looking at me with strange eyes, but when our eyes met, he turned his head back to the people coming out of the entrance.

It was a strange situation to explain something, so I was looking at the entrance without saying anything. Then someone greeted me.

“Ross!”

It was Navia, a beauty who suited the word innocent silver hair. I reflexively raised my hand and greeted her.

“Long time no see.”

Navia smiled and replied.

“A month isn’t that long. More than that, I’ll cheer you on hard at the triathlon! If you need my help like last time, feel free to ask me anytime. It seems like it would be fun with you.”

I welcome any help without conditions. When I smiled and said thank you, Navia waved her hand and disappeared with an unknown friend.

I feel like I’m meeting a lot of people because I decided to stand here. As I was sighing at the wrong choice, I saw a female student passing by in front of me. She was someone I knew, but I didn’t have to worry about her talking to me.

That’s because we were no longer even making eye contact. As I turned my head away from Ellie, who left a sweet strawberry scent as she passed by me, I met Lacar’s eyes.

Lacar made a hesitant expression for a moment, but eventually avoided my gaze without saying anything.

I hurriedly made an excuse because I thought he was misunderstanding something, but Lacar patted me on the shoulder without saying anything.

Along with the reasonless words that he was tight-lipped.