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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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Neydia Academy had an early graduation system.
Talented first-year students were selected to skip their second year and join the third-year program.
These students, though technically second-years, participated in practical, real-world missions, just like the third-years.
They were called “2.5-year students.” Arthur and most of the main characters had participated in this program.
It was a strange system.
When I first read “The Strongest of the Dragon Academy,” I had wondered why the author had created such a convoluted system instead of just promoting the students to the third year.
I had even commented about it, and the author had replied that it was to create a sense of “differentiation.”
I later realized that it was a ploy to introduce Arianna during Arthur’s 2.5-year.
The author had established that third-year students were busy with practical missions, so it would have been strange for a transfer student to join their class.
So, he had created the 2.5-year system to put Arthur and Arianna in the same classroom.
That’s what they call “adult circumstances.”
And it was probably a way to keep the main characters in the same class, even after they were promoted to the third year.
The academy was set up like a university, with students choosing their own classes, but it also had a high school-like homeroom system…
It was all to keep Anya, Reus, Sonny, Sepia, Tia, and Tesha in the same class.
Anyway,
Like the other main characters, I applied for the 2.5-year program.
And winter break arrived.
The temperature dropped, the sky turned a dull gray, and the days grew shorter. The campus was deserted.
―Ethan, are you going to the year-end awards ceremony?
I stared at the message from Sepia.
The year-end awards ceremony.
Neydia Academy held an annual ceremony to recognize the top students in various fields.
Magic, combat, archery, academics…
Sepia, a magical prodigy, was sure to win the award for magic.
The winter break started immediately after the final exams, but many students still attended the ceremony for various reasons.
Some were curious about who would win the awards.
Others were trying to curry favor with the professors.
And sometimes, large guilds would send scouts to the ceremony.
Arthur had received offers from five major guilds during the awards ceremony in the original story.
And I had to be there to support my friends.
Sepia was a genius mage.
And all the main characters were talented in their respective fields.
Arthur and Tesha were hardworking geniuses.
Tia was meticulous and well-organized.
Anya was a powerhouse, capable of releasing her mana at will.
And Reus?
He was a demigod. It was unfair to even compare him to humans.
It was only natural that my friends from Class 1 would dominate the awards ceremony.
Me?
I wouldn’t win anything. My written exam scores were terrible.
“Ethan, are you going out again…?”
Hessia pouted. It was a habit of hers when she was upset.
“I’ll play with you when the break starts.”
“It’s already break.”
“But I have to go to the academy today.”
I patted her head and got ready to leave. Hessia had grown. She looked like she was seven or eight now.
I was glad I had moved to a secluded house on the outskirts of Eastvan.
There were no neighbors, so I could hide her rapid growth.
“Okay. Come back early.”
“I will.”
I left the house, shivering in the cold.
After this year, strange phenomena would start occurring all over the continent.
Fog would appear in places where there had never been fog before. The days would grow shorter in the summer.
It was a sign that the Demon King’s arrival was imminent.
The demons’ invasion of the Logness territory, the rise of the demon cult, Tesha’s ascension to the throne…
The thought of all the things that were about to happen made me feel suffocated.
I was the only one who knew what was coming.
And with the original plot already derailed, I had no idea what to expect.
It was too late to back out now.
But I had managed to survive so far. I would find a way. I was a transmigrator. I had to believe I could do something.
I walked towards the stadium.
The awards ceremony was being held in the stadium.
A wooden stage was set up in the center of the arena. I sat down in the stands, waiting for my friends.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was Vivian.
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“Long time no see, Ethan…”
“Vivian. It’s been a while.”
A month?
It was the first time we had seen each other alone since Arianna’s arrival.
We hadn’t run into each other on campus.
Vivian lived in the servants’ quarters, and I went straight home after class to take care of Hessia.
“Ethan, did you know?”
Vivian smiled.
“I’m your junior now.”
“Junior? Ah…”
It took me a moment to understand.
“You got in? To Neydia Academy?”
“Yes, Ethan… Senior.”
It felt strange, being called “senior” by Vivian. She seemed more mature than before.
She had always been mature.
“Congratulations, Vivian. You’ll be getting your Hero Candidate mark soon. Where’s Sepia?”
“She’s running a little late. She asked me to save her a seat.”
She wanted to look her best for Ethan. But he was oblivious, lost in thought.
‘Vivian is a Hero Candidate now, as planned. Then maybe Arthur will be able to obtain Excalibur?’
Vivian sighed inwardly, watching Ethan.
‘He’s thinking about Sepia…’
Just then, Tesha, Arthur, and Arianna arrived. Arianna avoided Ethan’s gaze.
She was still intimidated by his sharp eyes.
Arthur, on the other hand, was oblivious.
“Arthur! This is Vivian! Remember her?”
“Huh? Oh…”
“She got into Neydia Academy!”
“Really? Congratulations, Vivian.”
Vivian sighed again.
‘Ethan-senior, you’re so clueless.’
The summer incident had created an awkward atmosphere between Arthur and Vivian.
And they hadn’t made any progress since then.
It seemed like Ethan, in his attempt to get Arthur Excalibur, was oblivious to their strained relationship.
“Congratulations, Vivian! You’re Sepia’s maid, right?”
Tesha, thankfully, intervened. Otherwise, the atmosphere would have been even more awkward.
“Yes, and you’re miss Tesha, right?”
“Just call me Tesha. Vivian, right?”
“Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Arianna, noticing Ethan’s gaze, looked at Vivian. Her jealousy flared.
“Arthur, who is this woman?”
“Um… she’s a friend.”
“Hello, Arianna Teria. I’ve heard a lot about you from Sepia.”
Tia arrived, wearing a red dress. She was dressed to the nines for the awards ceremony.
“Wow, Tia, that dress looks good on you. Is that the one you wore to the social gathering?”
Tia smiled enigmatically. It wasn’t the same dress. It was a new one.
“It’s a new dress.”
“Oh… I see.”
Ethan smiled awkwardly. Sepia arrived, also wearing a dress.
Hers was blue, with a corset that exposed a hint of her cleavage.
She had done her makeup and curled her hair. She looked at Tia and Tesha and smirked.
‘I’m the star of the show tonight.’
She had even asked Tia what she was wearing, so they wouldn’t be wearing the same color.
Tia, of course, had said she was wearing a red dress.
‘A red dress… how predictable, Tia. And Tesha… you look… different.’
Sepia looked Tesha up and down. Her breasts seemed… bigger.
“Sepia, what’s wrong?”
“You look different today, Tesha.”
“I do? Maybe it’s because I’m dressed up.”
Tesha giggled and shrugged.
‘That sly fox… she’s definitely trying to show off. Why is Ethan surrounded by such cunning women?’
While Sepia and Tesha were having a silent battle, Ethan was lost in thought.
‘Sepia in blue, Tia in red… like yin and yang… like the Taegeuk symbol…’
Sepia and Vivian exchanged glances.
Sepia had sent Vivian ahead to save her a seat next to Ethan.
“My lady, I’ll be taking my leave now.”
Vivian bowed and left. Sepia quickly sat down next to Ethan.
‘She used Vivian to get a seat next to Ethan.’
Tia, ever the perceptive one, noticed. There was only one empty seat left. Tia and Tesha were about to engage in a silent battle for the seat.
But then, Anya appeared.
“Ethan, is this seat taken?”
“No, go ahead.”
Ah.
Anya, oblivious to the tense atmosphere, sat down. The last empty seat was taken.
Reus and Sonny arrived, a sullen expression on Reus’s face.
“Reus! Over here!”
Arthur waved at him. Reus, however, sat down a seat away from Arthur.
“Arthur! That was a great match yesterday.”
Sonny said, sitting down in the empty seat.
The awards ceremony began. A spotlight shone on the stage, and the emcee appeared. The audience murmured.
It was Sylvia.
She was known for her mysterious, reclusive nature.
“Welcome, Hero Candidates. I am Sylvia von Linchester. Another year has passed. Let the awards ceremony begin.”
The awards were presented one by one.
Everything unfolded as I had expected.
Sepia won the award for magic, Tia for spirit summoning, Tesha for being a model student, Reus for combat, and Arthur for weaponry.
Sepia, as if she had expected to win, gave a long and rambling acceptance speech.
“And now, for the award for this year’s top Hero Candidate.”
I was surprised that Arthur had won the award for weaponry. Anya was supposed to have won that award.
‘Arthur? For weaponry?’
Sylvia chuckled. She seemed to know something.
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