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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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The entrance ceremony proceeded in a solemn atmosphere.
Ellentia Academy was established to prepare for the Demon King, who would invade with beasts in the future.
The atmosphere was even more serious as it was the 100th anniversary of the academy’s founding.
“Next, we will have the new student oath taking ceremony.”
With those words, the surrounding students stirred slightly.
“Is it true that person is doing it this time?”
“Yes. Together with…”
“I’ve never seen them before. I wonder what they look like?”
“Will they join the student council right away?”
The students talked about another imperial prince who had survived the power struggle in the imperial family and escaped to the academy.
The small commotion stopped abruptly when a sharp-looking blonde boy named Baltan Rodmas with blue eyes took the stage.
There was a violent and rough impression remaining on the boy, contrasting with the dignified feeling given by the impression of the imperial family.
“He’s handsome, but somehow…”
“It’s… different from what I thought. Scary.”
The students whispered even more quietly than before, afraid of catching his rough-looking blue eyes.
Without my sensory expansion ability, I wouldn’t have been able to hear them, no matter how much I concentrated.
“Oath. We, the new students who have been granted admission…”
Baltan read the declaration as if he didn’t care how the students looked at him and turned his body.
The students naturally exhaled when Baltan went down, but it wasn’t time to relax yet.
“And next, we will have the welcoming speech from the representative of the current students.”
These words made it feel like a chill spread through the auditorium.
Most children had heard rumors about the academy from here and there.
Those who didn’t know were busy looking around, unable to adapt to this chilled atmosphere, trying to find the reason.
“Finally…?”
“I heard she’s really scary…”
“They say she’s been in charge for two years already, beating all the seniors, and everyone who opposed her…”
There was only one subject these voices were pointing to.
Yuria Rodmas.
The girl who reigned over Ellentia Academy as her kingdom through all sorts of dirty and cruel means.
Like her cold eyes, her cold governance became an object of fear for the students.
‘Even in the original work, she didn’t hesitate to kill in reality.’
Yuria, in the original work, was a thoroughly villainous character.
She committed countless evil deeds secretly or openly to maintain her kingdom in the original work.
However, there was no clear evidence, and even if there was, no one could touch her.
She was one of the most influential people in this academy until the protagonist entered.
Other powerful individuals were often dispatched for beast subjugation so frequently that they couldn’t pay attention to the school, so no one could put a brake on Yuria’s dictatorship.
‘But something… is different.’
I felt that way when I encountered Yuria earlier.
Yuria looked similar to the description in the original novel.
If there was a slight difference, it might be that she looked a little less cold than the description in the novel.
Of course, judging by the reactions, her cold and arrogant personality seemed to be the same as in the original novel.
Perhaps, maybe I was mistaken because of the sympathy I had for her.
However, the appearance of the student council executives looked quite different from the student council described in the novel.
Some I could recognize immediately, but some I couldn’t.
‘That gray-haired one definitely wasn’t there.’
I recalled the sharp-looking boy with gray hair assisting Yuria from behind.
Surely, Yuria’s assistant was supposed to be a freckled girl with green hair.
‘What is this…?’
It was while I was thinking that.
“Look over there.”
I came to my senses at the sound of someone whispering to their friend.
A girl with dazzling blonde hair was climbing onto the stage.
Yuria looked around at the new students with cold eyes that seemed to feel nothing except arrogance.
Wherever Yuria’s gaze touched, the new students flinched greatly as if they had touched ice so cold it would stick to their skin.
After looking around at the new students like that once, Yuria finally began to speak in a soft but somehow chilly voice.
“New students who have entered Ellentia Academy. Welcome!”
“I am Yuria Rodmas. As you all know, I am the Third Imperial Princess of the Empire.”
“For all you new students, I do not identify myself as a princess here. I am just a student of the academy.”
It was precisely like the beginning of the original novel.
“Until you entered here, each of you had your own journey in life.”
“Some of you will be nobles, and some will be commoners. There might even be those who are more lowly, or those who have come from far foreign lands.”
“Whatever your origins were, as hero candidates chosen by the constellations, you would have grown up being praised in your families, regions, and households, and thus you have been born as you are now.”
And suddenly,
Bang!
The sound of her striking the podium echoed through the auditorium.
Surprised students flinched and looked up at her.
“Now forget all those worm-like thoughts.”
“No matter what life you’ve lived, the students of Ellentia Academy are those who will hone their bodies and minds to face the great despair that the Demon King will bring.”
“Surely there are no fools who still think their worth is determined by status and fame?”
“The students of this academy can prove their worth in only one way.”
A colossal flame began flicking in Yuria’s hand as she stretched out her hand.
As the heat of that flame spread, even I, who was far away, felt like my cheeks would burn.
Those who were close must have been so overwhelmed that they couldn’t even think of moving.
Siege-class destruction magic, Ignis.
She had cast it in an instant without any special preparation.
Enormous magical power that could destroy one side of a castle wall swirled above her hand.
“Your worth is calculated simply based on your power.”
She looked down at the students, looking up at her proudly and arrogantly, tilting her head slightly upward to create a shadow.
A faint smile with a cruel sneer spread across her lips.
“Do you want to deny my words? If so, prove it with your own power. Try to defend against my magic right now.”
Of course, the new students were frozen.
Most of them must be thinking in front of this overwhelming force before their eyes.
That they absolutely cannot handle it.
They probably won’t achieve that power level even when they reach Yuria’s age.
“If anyone wants to deny my words later, prove it with power.”
Of course, I could do it, but I didn’t step forward.
I had no intention of denying Yuria’s words.
They were somewhat correct.
But more than that, I needed to join the student council she led to achieve my accomplishment, so there was no need to unnecessarily damage Yuria’s face.
Yuria’s eyes met mine for a moment.
When she met my gaze, Yuria seemed flustered, somehow shrinking her shoulders and making a shy expression.
However, that expression was momentary and too faint, and she soon returned to her original arrogant attitude.
“That is all for now, you are dismissed.”
Yuria extinguished the powerful magical light flickering above her palm and came down from the podium.
Only then did the new students sitting like goldfish who had forgotten to breathe, exhale.
“…That was scary.”
“That just now was… definitely siege-class magic, right? She cast something like that?”
“They said she was a monster… even though she’s from a low-ranking constellation..”
“Do you want to die? What if someone hears you?”
No matter how much it was Yuria, it didn’t seem like she would go around massacring ordinary students.
‘No, is this sympathy too? Is it because I spent time with her in childhood?’
Well, not all memories were good ones.
After Yuria’s speech, the entrance ceremony ended surprisingly quietly.
The academy’s teachers began to guide the students, but I quietly slipped away.
I had a place to go.
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Behind the auditorium.
The auditorium without students was a quiet place far from the bustle.
I checked what I was going to say while waiting for Yuria.
Yuria had now grown into a cold and ruthless dictator.
While some gentleness was left in her childhood, now it might be hard to find even that appearance.
So, simply asking wouldn’t mean anything.
Blackmail, using the point that she mistakenly thought she had magic insensitivity, was a last resort.
First, I’ll ask how she’s been doing.
If I observe basic courtesy towards the imperial family, it would be easier to ask her to accept me, wouldn’t it?
‘First, how have you been lately, I wanted to see you since I haven’t seen you since we were young.’
Start with something like this…
And then maybe…
‘Say that there’s something I really want to ask.’
Of course, I didn’t intend to say it just like that.
Recalling the novel’s setting and Yuria from childhood, she greatly loved decorative items.
This time, I prepared earrings decorated with the same gem to match the blue sapphire necklace I had given her before.
I put a small illusion magic on the earrings so that beautiful butterflies would fly around when they entered Yuria’s field of vision.
‘And then…’
Now for the main request.
‘Ask her to accept me into the student council.’
This much should be enough to get into the student council.
After checking my plan, I held the small box and waited for her.
And soon, she walked into the back of the quiet auditorium.
I had already used soundproofing magic to prevent our conversation from leaking out.
“It’s been a long time, Your Imperial Highness. Or should I call you senior now?”
I opened my mouth with a sly smile.
Yuria’s eyes instantly became fierce.
Seeing her cold gaze, perhaps I have miscalculated the changes in her temperament?
“Call me senior. When it’s just the two of us… you can call me anything.”
Yuria coldly cut off my words.
I nodded and opened my mouth to Yuria.
“I will do so.”
As I said that, I carefully approached to not threaten Yuria, speaking as if to calm her.
“Your Highness. I understand that you’ve been through many confusing events. I’ve been worried all along. That’s why I’ve been wanting to see you, as your knight who made an oath with you.”
At my words, Yuria’s eyes wavered.
She seemed angry, after all.
“Did you call me here to say such shallow words? Calling yourself my knight, yet never once looking for me!”
She glared at me, furrowing her brows.
I didn’t expect her to react like this.
Yuria was speaking as if she had been waiting for me to come find her.
This was unexpected, so I was momentarily flustered before racking my brain to devise an excuse.
“I couldn’t come. Though it may not compare to what Your Imperial Highness has been through, it was a hectic time for me as well.”
I lightly bowed my head in apology before opening my mouth.
“Of course, I didn’t call Your Highness here to make such apologies. There’s something I really want to ask.”
“Something you want to ask?”
“Yes. But it’s not just a verbal request.”
Considering Yuria’s personality of liking flashy performances and jewels, this one gift should immediately soothe her anger.
I showed Yuria the box I was holding and gave a friendly smile.
And then I opened the box.
Beautiful butterflies flew up from the box into the sky at that moment, scattering light.
Yuria was momentarily mesmerized by the beautiful sight before looking at me with her blue eyes.
I got down on one knee, as I recall all knights did, and told her, “Will you accept my gift, Your Highness?”
I couldn’t tell for sure if Yuria was moved or not.
She just looked surprised.
But the next moment, I didn’t miss the moisture welling up in Yuria’s eyes.
Looking like that, she was definitely moved.
It looks like phase one was a success.
It is time to bring up the request to accept me into the student council.
“Would you accept me… into Your Highness’s student council?”
Huh?
Why was her expression contorting so rapidly? Did I do something wrong?
I thought the achievement would be completed with ease.
However, the next moment,
“… You’re cruel. Leonhart Deinhart.”
Transparent tears that had welled up in Yuria’s eyes flowed down her white cheeks.
“Your Highness?”
Just as I approached in confusion, Yuria took a step back.
I was perplexed.
“I’m different from before. You’ll surely be disappointed. I’m sorry, Leonhart.”
Yuria squeezed her eyes shut.
The tears that had been fully welling up fell down with a plop.
“I can’t accept you.”
And before I could grab her, Yuria scurried away.
Huh? What? Why?
I looked at the place Yuria had run off to with a confused and empty feeling, then slowly lowered my head to look at the blue sapphire earrings and then threw my gaze back to the corner where Yuria had disappeared.
What’s going on?
I was absolutely flabbergasted by her reaction.
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