The first-years followed the teaching assistants to the Grand Auditorium, where they would change into their new Kizen uniforms for the entrance ceremony.
Simon stayed behind to speak with the TAs. The event had been slightly delayed, but they assured him it wasn’t a major issue.
"So, what should I do now?" Simon asked, finding himself with a moment of free time.
"Hmm, let’s see. If you could just patrol the area and send any first-years you find sneaking away back to the auditorium, we would appreciate it. The ceremony will be starting soon."
"Understood."
After parting with the TAs, Simon took a leisurely stroll through the first-year campus. It was quiet, with no students in sight. He was about to finish his patrol when he turned a corner.
"You can’t do that! Got it?"
A familiar voice. ’Kami?’
Simon immediately ran toward the sound. A girl with light purple hair, wearing a student council armband, was raising her voice at three male students in crisp, new Kizen uniforms. They were clearly first-years, and they were holding cigars.
"You can’t smoke on campus! And besides, we’re all minors, so you shouldn’t be smoking at all!"
Watching Kamibarez lecture her juniors, her little bat wings fluttering with indignation, Simon felt his heart swell with pride. ’You go, Kami!’
The once-shy girl was now bravely standing up to these large male students. Anyone who knew her from the beginning of the semester would have been moved.
Simon then turned his attention to the three first-years. They seemed more flustered than intimidated, holding their cigars awkwardly as the cute senior nagging them on her tiptoes. They were blushing and scratching their heads, clearly not taking the scolding seriously.
"Are you listening to me?" she demanded, her voice rising. As she put her hands on her hips, the two boys in front flinched and glanced at the one behind them.
He was a tall, dark-brown-haired student, bigger than most second-year boys, and he was staring at Kamibarez with cold, dismissive eyes.
"...Sh-Should we go back?" one of his friends whispered.
"Y-Yeah, let’s. She’s a senior, after all."
But the dark-brown-haired student just smirked and put a cigar to his lips. "We’ll just have a quick smoke and then leave quietly." His voice was a low, domineering rumble, a clear warning to back off.
But Kamibarez didn’t yield. "No! Go back to the Grand Auditorium right now. The entrance ceremony is about to start!"
She stepped forward to snatch the cigar from his mouth, but he simply tilted his head back, easily dodging her reach.
’Annoying little thing,’ he thought, his expression turning defiant. "Look, I said we’d just smoke a little and then—!"
He froze.
Kamibarez, thinking her anger was finally getting through to him, pressed on with even more vigor. But his gaze wasn’t on her. It was fixed on something behind her.
A black-haired student was hiding behind the wall, staring at him with a completely blank expression. But the hand he had placed on the building was trembling violently.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the stone where his hand rested, sending a shower of dust to the ground.
’Wh-What is with that guy?’
The dark-brown-haired first-year felt every instinct scream at him. The boy’s eyes held a chilling, predatory light, like a monster glaring from the shadows. Cold sweat trickled down his neck. Back home, he’d been the craziest guy around, but Kizen was on another level entirely.
’Th-That guy is genuinely insane.’
Seized by terror, his mouth fell open, and the cigar dropped to the ground. Kamibarez quickly snatched it up and shrieked, "Get back to the Grand Auditorium! Now!"
"Y-Yes, ma’am!"
"We’re sorry!!"
The delinquent first-years scrambled away. After watching them disappear inside, Kamibarez placed her hands on her chest and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Hey, Kami."
A friendly voice came from behind her.
"Oh, Simon!"
She turned to see him waving, the gentlest smile on his face. She trotted over like a happy puppy, the bat wings on her back fluttering with delight.
"Did you see? Did you see? I sent them back!"
"Yeah! You were amazing, Kami."
Relief washed over her at the sight of him, and she let out another soft sigh. "Actually, I was so scared they wouldn’t listen to me. They’re the same age as me, after all... B-But I’m in the student council now! I have to manage the underclassmen, so I’ve been practicing scary faces in my dorm room mirror!"
"Scary faces?"
"Yes!" She demonstrated, putting her hands on her hips and glaring fiercely. "You can’t do that!"
Simon’s mind went blank for a second. It wasn’t scary in the slightest, but it was so cute his heart nearly stopped. He blushed and nodded emphatically. "That’s our Kami! No wonder they ran away."
"Really? Thanks, Simon. Oh!" Her head snapped around. This time, two female first-years were trying to sneak out of the auditorium. "Simon! I’ll be right back!"
She dashed over and shooed them back inside. When they were gone, she trotted back to Simon, her eyes shining like a puppy expecting praise. "Simon! I did it!"
This was seriously putting a strain on his heart. He barely suppressed the overwhelming urge to pat her head. He finally understood why Meirin was always hugging Kamibarez and sticking to her like glue. But he knew she was hoping to be praised for her authority as a senior, not for being cute.
"I think you’ll be a better senior than anyone, Kami."
At his words, her face lit up like a blooming flower. "Thank you, Simon!"
With time to spare before the ceremony, they patrolled the area together, chatting happily. Simon recounted the kidnapping incident in Langerstine, and she listened, completely engrossed.
"Ah." Kamibarez’s ears twitched. "Someone else is skipping! I hear voices from over there!"
"Let’s go check it out."
"Hahahaha! Ha-ha-ha!"
The laughter of one boy and two girls drifted toward them. One of the laughs was disturbingly familiar. Simon peeked around the corner of a building, with Kamibarez peeking out from just below him.
Three people were sitting on a bench. A second-year boy with a red badge on his collar was flanked by two first-year girls who were laughing uproariously. The boy was, of course, Dick.
"Ah, you guys have it easy. Back in my day, the curriculum was practically a warzone!"
"Oh my, a warzone?"
"Did something happen?"
"You don’t know about the Saintess who infiltrated Kizen last year?"
The two first-years gasped, covering their mouths. "Th-That’s terrifying! D-Did you see her, Senior?"
"Of course!" Dick boasted. "She was horrifying. Disheveled white hair flying everywhere, eyes like slits, and a mouth that opened wide like a monster’s, like, ’RAWR!"
"Hehehe!"
"The other kids ran for their lives, but I didn’t back down! The Saintess’s goal was the fall of Kizen and the death of every first-year. I approached her, drew my sword, and shouted...!"
Dick froze mid-sentence.
Simon and Kamibarez were glaring at him with ice-cold eyes. Sweat trickled down the back of his neck.
"Ah, Simon! Kami! You’re here? Hahaha! This is, well..."
Simon simply pointed toward the Grand Auditorium. "First-years, return to the auditorium. Immediately."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
"We’re sorry!"
The startled girls scurried away. After they had gone, Kamibarez narrowed her eyes. "Dick! I’m so disappointed in you! Making up stories to trick the underclassmen!"
Dick scratched his head sheepishly. "Ahem, sorry. I was just trying to act like a senior and got a little carried away..."
"Forget that," Simon said with a slight smirk. "Even if other second-years were doing it, ’we’ in the student council should be sending them back."
"I know, I know. I apologize!" Dick said, hopping up from the bench. "Alright, alright! More importantly, the ceremony is about to start. Let’s hurry up and get ready!"
He pushed Simon and Kamibarez by their backs, urging them forward.
When Simon returned to the Grand Auditorium, it was packed to the rafters, with people filling the seats all the way up to the third floor. It was truly one of Kizen’s grandest events.
On the first floor, the first-years sat in their crisp new uniforms, looking around with wide, excited eyes. Simon understood the feeling perfectly and smiled to himself.
The student council’s seats were in the very front row. Meirin, already there, waved them over. "Over here!"
"How are the preparations?" Simon asked as he sat down.
"Perfect! Who do you think I am?" she said, flipping her hair boastfully. She then placed her hands on her knees, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the stage. "I’m so excited. The first event planned by our student council is about to begin!"
"I hope everyone likes it!" added Kamibarez.
Just then, the auditorium lights began to dim. Subordinates under Meirin’s command swiftly drew the curtains, plunging the hall into pitch-black darkness. The murmuring of the crowd died down.
A moment later, a cluster of lights bloomed on the stage. They danced and assembled into various shapes, creating a fantastic show reminiscent of fireworks.
A crimson flame shot up in the center of the stage. Embers like scraps of paper rained down from the flames, gathering in mid-air to form words.
「Welcome to Kizen!」
The first-years, already in high spirits, let out a collective gasp of awe. Meirin clapped and giggled. "Honestly, that old man. He just loves this kind of stuff."
Soon, the lights brightened, and as the stage curtains swayed, a man appeared.
’Ahem.’
A tall man in a suit and a high-crowned hat bowed like a gentleman. "A pleasure to meet you all! I am the one who has the honor of hosting Kizen’s entrance ceremony! My name is Seiwyr Grizmann!"
"It’s Seiwyr!!"
As one of the hottest stars in Ranggerstin, he was met with a massive cheer from the first-years. Seiwyr spread his arms, and with a flourish, flower bombs exploded in the direction he gestured, showering the stage with petals.
"WHOAAA!!"
Seiwyr reveled in the moment, overwhelmed with emotion. It was ironic to receive cheers he had never gotten as a necromancer, here in Kizen, the very heart of necromancy, and as a host no less.
His gaze fell on Simon and the student council members, who were clapping enthusiastically. He intended to give this stage his all, if only to repay them for forgiving his past transgressions and giving him another chance.
"And now, let us begin Kizen’s entrance ceremony!"
Seiwyr’s hosting exceeded all expectations. He turned a potentially stiff event into a delightful one with his smooth wit and humor, using his abilities to create special effects that left no room for boredom. The first-years were thrilled to have such a famous star as their host.
"Simon, you should get ready for the investiture," Dick said, standing up. "It’s two turns after the first-year oath. I’ll head up to the second floor now."
"Got it."
The guest speeches ended quickly, and soon it was time for the oath.
"Thank you for your wise words, Elder! I hope you all take them to heart! Next up is the first-year representative’s oath! Will all first-years please rise."
As the first-years stood, Simon slipped away to prepare.
’Oh, right,’ he thought, pausing. ’I should at least see who Special Admission No. 1 is before I go.’
"Now then! Will the male and female students I call please come up to the stage!" Seiwyr announced.
Simon could hear the first-years murmuring around him.
"Special Admission No. 1 has to be the ’Mercenary King’, right?"
"Yeah, no doubt."
"I wonder who No. 2 is. There’s the Kagreg family, and Princess Molly, too."
Seiwyr opened the list and spoke into the crystal. "Special Admission No. 2, Arthur Bleman!"
A wave of whispers spread through the hall. The Mercenary King, who everyone had assumed would be No. 1, was No. 2. Then who on earth was No. 1?
"Ah."
Just then, Simon saw a familiar brown-haired girl already rising from her seat. She was looking right at him.
Her eyes, which curved into smiling crescents, seemed to say, ’Hi, Simon.’
A moment later, Seiwyr’s voice boomed through the auditorium.
"Special Admission No. 1, Sasha Andrasil! Please come up to the stage!!"

Comments

Loading...