Chapter 2: Entrance Ceremony
Being the top student at Liberion Academy holds great significance.
It signifies being the most powerful individual of that age in the Empire.
The academy was well aware of this and did not skimp on investing in the top student.
They provided the largest single room in the dormitory, as well as a personal research lab.
It seems they want to show other students the clear distinction between the top student and those with lower grades.
Of course, the second-place student and those ranked lower received preferential treatment compared to those with lower grades, but not to the extent of the top student.
"Hmm..."
I entered the dormitory room provided to me.
At first, I almost exclaimed in admiration but managed not to utter a pathetic sound.
My room at the Astria Duke's residence was quite large, but this room was even bigger.
It was so big that it might feel cold when using it alone.
As I looked around the room, the knight who had carried my luggage placed it in a corner and stood idly on one side of the room.
Why was he standing like that as if he were being punished?
He would have to return to the family after the entrance ceremony anyway, so I might as well send him off earlier.
"You may return to the family now."
Upon hearing my words, the knight looked slightly surprised.
"To the family...?"
"Yes, you have nothing else to do here."
After I spoke, the knight pondered for a moment and then bowed to me.
"Knight Bellium, I shall return to the family."
"Alright, go ahead."
I gestured for the knight to leave.
After bowing to me, the knight opened the door and tried to exit.
However, he couldn't leave and just bowed his waist.
"Presenting the Empire's Star, the First Princess."
There was a blonde woman standing at the door.
A woman with fair skin and radiant golden hair.
The elegant woman gently tapped the slightly opened door with a graceful gesture.
"May I come in?"
She wore a charming smile as she knocked.
This woman was someone I knew well.
One of the main heroines of 'The Academy's Top Wizard,' the First Princess of the Empire, Rie Von Ristonia.
If I had the nickname of 'perennial second-place,' Rie was the one who always ended up third.
She entered as the second-best student but continued to rank third, pushed down by me and the protagonist.
However, she was the most influential figure at the academy.
Her mysterious smile and charisma that appeared when needed always captivated the audience.
Since she had such charisma, she always had people around her, and the princess utilized them to wield her influence.
But was there a story in which the princess came to see me?
No matter how well-versed I was in this game, I didn't know every single detail of the story.
The narrative unfolded from the protagonist's perspective, so I couldn't know everything that happened outside of his sight.
"I am honored to meet the First Princess of the Empire."
For now, I calmly greeted the princess with proper etiquette.
"You don't need to greet me so formally. We are both students here, right?"
The princess replied playfully with a smile on her lips.
Her words were indeed true.
It was stated in the academy's regulations that everyone was equal regardless of their status.
However, that didn't mean conflicts due to status differences didn't exist.
Of course, such conflicts would all be shattered when the commoner protagonist became the top student...
"I understand. But why did you suddenly visit?"
"I came to visit a fellow student I will be seeing frequently."
Although she said that, it was unlikely to be such a simple reason.
The princess wasn't the type to act without thinking.
First of all, Rie despises the Astria family.
The reason Rie came to this academy was to strengthen her influence in the imperial court.
She aimed to create her own faction and use them as her loyal followers.
The academy is not only a place for learning but also a society.
Attending it alone could easily create numerous allies.
For Rie, who came to create a faction, 'Rudy Astria' is an obstacle.
The Astria family, a duke family, holds the greatest power aside from the royal family.
As Rudy Astria tries to build a faction around himself, he inevitably clashes with the princess.
Those conflicts are stories for later and have no relevance now.
However, from the beginning of the game, the princess showed a dislike for 'Rudy Astria.'
She appeared normal in public, but behind the scenes, she often frowned.
From those scenes, it was clear that the princess had disliked 'Rudy Astria' even before coming to the academy.
But why would she seek out someone she dislikes?
"It's fine. Please tell me why you came to see me."
"Oh my, I really came because I wanted to get closer. Do you doubt my sincerity?"
My words could be considered rude, but Princess Rie only wore a playful smile.
Seeing her reaction after asking so directly, it appeared she came simply out of curiosity.
Although I'm familiar with her from the game, strictly speaking, this is our first encounter in reality.
"Young master, I will take my leave for now."
The knight, who had been standing at the entrance, thought it rude to continue listening to our conversation and bowed to both of us before stepping outside.
Princess Rie looked around the room as the knight left.
"By the way, did the Duke and Duchess of Astria not come?"
"They both have pressing matters and couldn't make it."
"Ah... I see."
Princess Rie put on a disappointed expression.
I had a feeling that this was an act.
The Duke of Astria was not an ordinary figure and was responsible for supporting the empire.
If the duke had taken action, there was no way the princess wouldn't have known.
"Isn't the entrance ceremony starting soon? I should change into my school uniform."
It was a hint for her to leave.
There was no benefit to continuing the conversation with her.
Thankfully, this person, who probably hates me the most in the academy, has yet to discover any of my weaknesses.
"Yes, we should head to the entrance ceremony soon."
The princess grinned and opened the door.
"See you later."
I watched the princess leave the room.
See you later?
Absolutely not.
Although I don't want to get involved, it's bound to happen as time goes on, but there's no need to start now.
Besides, it wouldn't be easy to meet the princess among hundreds of new students.
***
Raei Translations
***
Cherry blossoms fluttered, filling the air with their fragrance.
The warm sunlight and scattering petals made it clear that spring had arrived.
The stiff school uniform I wore brought back memories of my high school entrance ceremony, a time filled with anticipation for new, albeit awkward, encounters.
However, the situation now was drastically different.
If I didn't pull myself together here, I could die.
Back then, studying was optional, but here it was mandatory.
If I tried to enjoy my youth without studying properly, I would end up with the annihilation ending.
I had to study as if my life depended on it.
As that pressure began to build, my excitement faded away.
I walked through the crowd towards the entrance ceremony venue.
Parents and other people were present, making the area quite lively.
As I approached the venue, I saw students who appeared to be checking identification and guiding new students.
They were also preventing non-students from entering.
It seemed like having parents and other people in the student area would make it too crowded.
I presented my identification to enter the ceremony.
"Here it is."
A black-haired female student wearing a uniform took my identification.
"Rudy... Astria?"
She looked back and forth between my ID card and me.
"Ah... You're the top of this year's class. You can sit over there."
"Over... there?"
Upon my inquiry, the student smiled and pointed to the front.
There were two seats next to the VIP area.
One of them was occupied by the First Princess I had met earlier, Rie von Ristonia.
The seats were reserved for the top and second place students.
It seemed that the princess's words about meeting later referred to these seats.
I had no choice but to sit next to the princess.
"We meet again."
The princess greeted me warmly.
I slightly bowed my head and sat down.
As soon as I did, the princess started a conversation.
"There seem to be many outstanding people among this year's new students. Locke Lucarion, the son of the Northern Marquis, or Serina Rinsburg, the daughter of the Royal Head Elementalist..."
I recognized the people the princess mentioned.
They weren't main characters but were frequently mentioned supporting characters.
I silently listened to her stories beyond that.
I didn't dislike talking with others.
However, the fact that my counterpart was a princess made this seat feel like a bed of nails.
She appeared light-hearted, but inside, she was probably sharpening her blade.
"Although there are famous people like them..."
The princess pointed at me.
"Actually, if we talk about fame, it would be you or me, who are the most famous."
With a sly smile, Rie's appearance was alluring enough to captivate any man.
It made me realize the importance of one's appearance.
Seeing the princess's stunning beauty and smile, my heart was drawn to her.
Still, I couldn't let my guard down.
After all, Rie von Ristonia was known for stabbing people in the back with that same smile.
As I listened to the princess's stories, it seemed the preparations for the entrance ceremony were complete.
"Ah, we will now begin the Liberion Academy entrance ceremony."
With the emcee's words, the ceremony started.
***
"That concludes the headmaster's welcoming speech for the new students."
The entrance ceremony was no different from an ordinary high school's.
We just had to endure dull speeches from the guests of honor.
At least now that the headmaster's speech was over, the ceremony seemed to be drawing to a close.
"Next, we will have the freshman representative deliver a word of thanks."
Freshman representative?
I hadn't heard anything about who was selected for this role.
Typically, the student with the best grades is chosen, right?
"Rudy Astria, please come forward."
That's right. I was the freshman representative.
I hadn't received the news due to being preoccupied with my recent transmigration.
Or perhaps I received it before my transmigration.
Regardless, I needed to deal with the current situation first.
I calmly moved to the podium without showing any panic.
As I ascended the platform, hundreds of people stared at me.
I hadn't had many opportunities to speak in front of a large crowd, let alone without a script.
I couldn't make a mistake.
I am 'Rudy Astria,' a noble and arrogant individual.
If someone like me were to make a mistake here, my image would be shattered.
I took a deep breath and began to speak.
"I would like to express my gratitude to the headmaster and the honorable guests for their kind words."
The best way to avoid making mistakes here was to avoid being verbose.
It was better to be concise and clear, but I shouldn't come across as overly arrogant.
My image was already bad enough, and starting off like that would only bring me closer to a bad ending.
"I hope that everyone will study hard and enjoy their youth while at the academy."
It was a clich statement that anyone could make.
After saying that, I stood silently as people stared at me with puzzled expressions.
There was nothing but a sudden, deafening silence.
The emcee was the one to break it.
"Is that all?"
I responded confidently to the emcee's question, with the arrogance and assertiveness characteristic of 'Rudy Astria.'
"Yes, that's all."
"Ahem, that was Rudy Astria, our freshman representative."
The emcee seemed slightly flustered, but he continued to lead the ceremony skillfully.
I stepped down from the podium along with the emcee's guidance. As I descended, I made eye contact with Princess Rie, and her gaze seemed to have changed.
The curious look in her eyes had transformed into a sharp, predatory one, as if she was hunting prey.
Unlike earlier, she didn't utter a single word.
***
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