Chapter 7: Entrance ceremony

“Academy…”

As with all entrance ceremonies, it was boring and lacking substance at first.

Why do they even make things like school anthems that are only used at entrance and graduation ceremonies?

I was very curious about the face of the person who first created the school anthem.

I was in hell trying to sing the school anthem for the first time in my life, while my side was constantly bothering me because of Adel right next to me.

And is that it?
It wasn’t.

There was still the principal’s words of wisdom, which all students hated the most.

I dredged up the memories of this world, which didn’t have much time left, and somehow recalled the memory of the academy’s principal.

‘Her name was… Lapis Lazuli, wasn’t it?’

Just like the name that reminded me of a blue gemstone, she was a person who was blue from her hair to her attire.

‘One of the few 6th circle grand mages… and I think her main magic was water.’

As if the academy’s principal wasn’t someone anyone could do, Principal Lapis was one of the few 6th circle grand mages that currently exist.

“Oh my, it’s really Lapis.”
“She’s so cool…”

Unlike other 6th circle grand mages who don’t do much, she was a grand mage who actively worked as the principal of the Selenium Academy, and accordingly, she had quite a lot of fans among the students.

There were even people who enrolled just to see Lapis, the principal, so I could feel how popular she was.

However, even she, who seemed so perfect, had a huge flaw.

“Hello! Everyone! I’m so happy to meet you all!
I’m Lapis Lazuli, the principal of this academy, and as for our academy…”

It’s that she was a very talkative and chatty person.

‘I remember she only gave the words of wisdom for 1 hour on the entrance ceremony day.’

“Haa.”

Only sighs came out at the impending disaster of her talking.

“······Then, let’s put aside the academy for now, and go into the main topic?”

It was after 1 hour and 30 minutes since the entrance ceremony started that she actually started to tell us information needed to attend the academy.

“It’s so boring…”
“Speak quietly, don’t you see there are other teachers here?”

Only when other students began to fidget and couldn’t bear the boredom did the hint of finally getting to the main topic appear.

It’s not like she was trying to brush off the students on the first day of school, is she?

‘Adel… is fine?’

I expected her not to be able to stand this even if she was the protagonist, but I glanced at the seat next to me and saw that she looked very energetic.

She’s the protagonist, after all.
She can even endure such a boring speech.

It’s not like anyone can be the academy’s principal, and it’s not like anyone can be the protagonist either.

Actually, she wasn’t listening to the speech and was looking at Rian, so I didn’t know.
I wasn’t listening to the speech and was looking at Rian, so I didn’t know.
However, Rian, who was trying to concentrate, as if to hear the important information about the academy, knew nothing about it.

“As you all know, our academy is composed of a total of 10 classes.”
“Your first class will be determined by the entrance exam, which will be held after the entrance ceremony.”
“And the classes you are assigned will change every time the academy semesters change, so don’t be disappointed if you’re assigned to a lower class and I hope you’ll work hard in your academy life.”

As the principal’s explanation ended, a student who had become eager raised his hand and asked a question.

“How is the entrance exam conducted?”
“Don’t be in such a hurry, I’ll tell you soon, Hector Divine.”

The student named Hector seemed a little surprised that the principal knew his name.

“Were you surprised?
As the principal, it’s natural for me to memorize the students’ names.”

Of course, there are a few people who are famous enough to have their names memorized even before entering. As the principal added that, the eyes of the students nearby turned to me and Adel.

No, why me, even if Adel is understandable.

‘······Or, am I worth looking at?’

I felt a little unfair when the gaze was first focused on me, but thinking again, it was worth looking at.

I had done a lot of things as a good-for-nothing before I regained my memories.

Unlike Adel, who was rumored to be a genius from a young age, I was rumored to be a good-for-nothing from a young age.

“Ah, it’s not that I pointed out a specific student or something.”

‘······Isn’t it too late?’

I felt like I was stripped naked because I was already exposed to numerous gazes.

Whether she knew how I felt or not, the principal continued her explanation.

“Then, I’ll tell you about the entrance exam that Hector student asked about.
······The entrance exam is a measurement of your magical power.”

As soon as the principal finished speaking, the students’ murmurs were heard.

“Magical power measurement?
I’m only 1st circle…”
“I’m 2nd circle, but… It hasn’t been long since I reached 2nd circle.”

I was just as confused.

That’s because I had no memory of what the entrance exam was.

‘I’ve only used my unique magic once since I awakened it.’

You can strengthen your circle, the level of your magical power, the more you use your magic, and you can advance to the next level.

It can’t be said that the protagonist, Adel, was influenced by her talent to reach 3rd circle at a young age, but it was a result she achieved because she put in as much effort as her talent.

I had seen Adel practicing and studying from a young age, so I knew Adel’s efforts.

In contrast, me?
I haven’t used magic once since I absorbed Adel’s illness.

If I were to make an excuse, it would be, ‘I don’t know how to use it properly,’ but in reality, I just didn’t put in the effort, so… I had nothing to say.

‘At this rate, it’s a level where it’s fortunate that my circle hasn’t regressed, let alone grown.’

I heard that if you don’t use magic for a long time, the circle can go down.
Is it not that way yet?

Glance-

I looked to see what Adel was doing, and our eyes met.

Why is she looking at me?
Is it because she doesn’t want to be in the same class?

‘Well, even if I was Adel, it would be uncomfortable to be in the same class.’

I understood.

Even if she hates it personally, she would have to keep acting like a couple in a good relationship in front of others.

There was nothing as annoying as doing things you didn’t want to do, so it was understandable that she didn’t want to be in the same class as me.

It was a heartbreaking thing for a fiancé to be hated by such a beautiful fiancée, but what could I do, it’s my karma.

Having finished my thoughts, I reassured Adel, who was presumed to not want to be in the same class as me.

“Don’t worry, you and I have a big circle difference, so we won’t be in the same class.”
“······Huh?
No, Rian.
I’m rather you and…”
“Me?”

Why did she suddenly stop talking?
I was curious.

However, Adel used a method of speech that made people go crazy, making my wish to wait for her next words useless(?).

“You and… No, never mind, forget you heard that.”
“…?”

The most annoying method of speech in the world, stopping mid-sentence.

Really, why is Adel like this today?
Adel wasn’t usually like this.

‘Maybe it’s because of the aftereffects of her illness disappearing or something.’

If that’s the case, I’ll feel sorry even though I took away her illness.

In reality, Undine hastily stopped Adel’s words, fearing that Rian might notice that.
Since Adel had made Undine only visible to her from the entrance ceremony to avoid drawing attention, Rian had to have all sorts of delusions about why Adel was doing this.

“Anyway, as I said before, the class that will be determined this time isn’t the class you will always be in, so I hope you won’t be too disappointed if you’re assigned to a lower class.”

Are there any more students with questions?
At the principal’s words, a sharp-looking female student raised her hand.

“Oh, yes.
Miss Karina.
Do you have any questions?”
“I met a senior who called herself a mentor before coming to the auditorium, what kind of system is this mentor?”

Hearing the question from the student named Karina, Principal Lapis spoke as if she was truly disappointed.

“Oh dear, did the mentor not explain well?
Miss Karina’s mentor… is it Alfred?
I’ve checked it.”

‘······Oh dear.’

Is the senior called Alfred already losing points?

I felt sorry for the senior, whose face I didn’t even know.

“The mentor system is a custom of the academy that contains the hope that you all will adapt to the academy as quickly as possible.
As it says, for about a month, the mentor seniors will be with you, explaining various things and helping you adapt to school.”

As soon as the principal’s answer ended, questions came in succession.

“If the mentor senior doesn’t help properly, what should we do?”
“Mr. Clide.
Didn’t your mentor help you properly?”

That would be a bit of a problem.
The principal’s appearance, muttering, was frightening, even though she hadn’t had her class yet.

Fortunately(?), unlike Senior Alfred, the student named Clide’s mentor wasn’t losing points.

“That’s not it, but I was worried that there might be seniors like that.”
“Don’t worry.
The mentor seniors will do their best for you, even for their own scores.”

I think I was right to see people properly.

That principal… she’s not an ordinary person.
You can’t just be a 6th circle.

“Then, let’s finish the question time around this, and now shall we go to take the entrance exam?”

Following the principal who went ahead, we moved to the entrance exam venue.

‘I don’t have confidence to do well… But I’ll probably get an average score.’

For reference, I wasn’t worried at this time.

I just had to relax and do things as usual.

Without knowing what would happen in the entrance exam.