Chapter 24: Freshman party (2)

“Now, now, please take a seat in the order you arrived! Freshmen over here, dormitory students over there!”

Staff members moved back and forth, guiding the students, who in turn took their seats according to their instructions.

The academy’s grand auditorium was packed with people gathered to attend the event.

Now that the freshmen’s placement tests were over, it was time for the celebration to begin.
It was a meaningful event where they would meet the classmates they would be seeing for the rest of their time at the academy.

Naturally, the students’ faces were flushed with excitement for various reasons.

However, there was another reason why today’s event was truly making everyone’s hearts pound.

“Hey, is it true? That the Hero herself entered the academy this year?”

“I heard it from the Group A kids, so it must be true. They said she came to take the test with the Saintess.”

“I heard the daughter of Chairman Forte is also among this year’s freshmen. They say she’s pretty and has a cool personality.”

“Hehe, should I try to hit on her? Who knows? Maybe if things go well, I could become the chairman’s son-in-law?”

“Wow, I heard the next Sword Saint, the princess of the Vǫlsunga Empire, also came. The term ‘golden generation’ really fits. To see such a sight before graduating.”

This year’s particularly splendid list of new students.
The impressive names on it were filling the students with both anticipation and tension.

Noble beings whom they would normally never even get to see up close.
They had manifested before their eyes, as if from a fantasy novel.

Therefore, the biggest topic of conversation was who would be publicly choosing their dormitory.
And which dormitory they would choose to enter.

Not only the seniors who would be living in the dormitories with them.
The professors in charge, whose fruits of labor were about to be harvested, were also busy chattering about this matter.

“Hohoho, the princess is already as good as a Carnelian student.”

The professors’ banquet seating, set up far away from the students.
The housemasters’ seats, located in the very front row, were already buzzing with the results.

Dolores, already confident of victory, glared at her rival and sneered sharply.

“What a shame, Professor Georgios. After shamelessly making all sorts of advances.”

“Hmph, you never know until the lid is opened, do you? Besides, let me tell you, the next Hero is already sniffing around Topaz. My sincere efforts have finally paid off.”

“Oh my, you two are quite excited. But the daughter of Chairman Forte is our Jade dormitory’s for the taking. We’ve had many discussions with the chairman even before her admission.”

Following Carnelian and Topaz, the housemaster of the Jade dormitory, Jabir, appeared.
An exotic magician from the distant Middle East, wearing a turban and a colorful thobe.

If Dolores was in charge of mystical zoology and Georgios was in charge of practical magic, Jabir was the professor in charge of alchemy, right?

Although his attitude was quite polite, it was very clear that he had no intention of meekly giving up the golden generation.

“Oh dear, look at me. Our Professor Anastasia won’t have anyone to take, but I’ve been making a fool of myself.”

Dolores, who had been engaged in a war of nerves, turned her arrows towards me.
She looked me up and down with condescending eyes and arrogantly raised her nose.

“But Obsidian can just aim for next year. For a rookie, it’s also an important skill to learn by watching the seniors. It’s best not to be too greedy, you know.”

“Hehehe, that’s right. When you’re inexperienced, it’s enough to just follow in the footsteps of your seniors.”

Professor Georgios chimed in, equally excited. He seemed tearfully happy that he had one less competitor.
As it was the year of the golden generation, he seemed unwilling to lose even a single one.

“So don’t take it too personally, Professor Anastasia. This is also a lesson that will be good for you. Understand?”

“Yes, yes. I’ll take it to heart.”

Although it was almost a provocation, I wasn’t particularly bothered.
It was their competition from the beginning, and I wasn’t interested. In fact, I would be grateful if they took all the troublemakers.

Besides…

“Well, well, you’re having a good time.”

There was also an authority figure sitting next to me who would speak my mind.

“I know it’s a happy day, but let’s all maintain our dignity. What are you two seniors doing to a junior? There’s a limit to publicly shaming someone.”

“Ahem, ahem. It’s just a bit of an exaggeration.”

“N-no… I didn’t say anything that harsh. It was just a joke…”

“Tsk. If you’re a senior, act like one. Don’t get a taste for teasing your juniors.”

The two professors, who were trying to make excuses at the legendary senior’s anger.

Professor Bishop, the former housemaster of Obsidian, frowned at them.
Although she was kind and gentle to me, she was definitely a scary grandmother when she got angry.

“Don’t worry too much about it, Professor Anastasia. The golden generation and all that, everyone’s just a bit overheated.”

She said in a calm tone, fiddling with her malachite monocle.

“Especially those two, they’re very ambitious as professors. Producing outstanding graduates is a great honor. It’ll be easier for you to just ignore them.”

“I’m fine. Thank you for always looking out for me, Professor.”

I nodded my head in gratitude and quietly picked up my utensils.

All sorts of dishes and drinks prepared for the banquet were spread out on the table.
It was a feast of delicacies that the chefs had prepared with great care for this day.

Nom, I muttered, taking a bite of the tender beef steak.

‘I’m more interested in the food anyway.’

A delicacy I could never have dreamed of in my poor Crowley Altra days.
Although it was a banquet spread, the meat that melted in my mouth made my taste buds tremble.

My heart swelled with pride at the thought that the meals provided for the faculty would be similar.

‘I’ll have three meals a day and even a late-night snack.’

I made a firm resolution as I speared a shrimp stir-fry next to the steak.
The painful memory of having to appease my hunger with soup without any ingredients every day. I planned to get proper compensation this time.

“Now, let the freshman celebration officially begin!”

As I was chewing on the spicy shrimp, the staff member’s announcement was heard.
It was a bell that signaled the start of the main event.

Hearing this, I put down my fork, and the staff member pointed to the center of the faculty and requested.

“First, we will have a congratulatory speech from Dean Roakan! Everyone, please pay attention!”

“Welcome, freshmen. I am Bardon Wolfred van Roakan, the dean of the academy where you will be studying from today.”

At the staff member’s introduction, the dean stood up with a benevolent smile.
As the applause subsided, the dean opened his arms wide and spoke.

“…As you all know, the Klomes Academy is a prestigious institution founded with the support of the first Hero.”

After a brief pause, he concisely recited the origin of the academy with a certain weight.

“It is a monumental place built on the battlefield where the ancient witch, Altra, was defeated. To commemorate the end of the evil that had plunged the world into fear.”

“…”

The ancient witch, Altra.
The portrait of evil that had plunged the world into fear.
I bit my lip at the name of my ancestor that came up again.

An unsuppressible feeling quietly flowed through my clenched teeth.

“Annoying.”

“Huh? What did you say, Professor Anastasia?”

“It’s nothing, Professor Bishop.”

As Dean Roakan mentioned, the academy was a place built to commemorate the fall of the witch.
The founding principle was to cultivate talent to counter similar evils when they overflowed.

Wasn’t that why they were so passionate about martial arts, magic, and practical training?
And wasn’t that also the reason why dungeons where magical beasts roamed were installed everywhere?

Of course, I knew the history of the academy well.
I had expected that a related story would come up during the congratulatory speech, but…

‘Just how long are you going to hold me back?’

The yoke that had tormented me until I died, but an ancestor who had helped me in an unknown way just before I died.
I had become a witch and saved my life, but thanks to that, I had to hide my identity. I smiled bitterly, reflecting on my situation.

‘I didn’t want to hear that name here.’

“But I won’t go on and on with complicated or dark stories. You are all fresh sprouts who will be responsible for the future of the world. It’s a time when you’re too busy to listen to and see only enjoyable things.”

The dean smiled broadly and concluded his story.

“So, without any unnecessary rhetoric, I will end my speech with just one necessary word. I sincerely congratulate you on your admission to the Klomes Academy, freshmen.”

The dean finished his speech and sat down, and a thunderous round of applause erupted.
As a person who valued a free academic atmosphere, his speech was short and to the point.

“Next… as has been previously announced, Professor Kamala Bishop, who has been in charge of black magic defense, will be retiring.”

As the dean’s turn ended, the staff member pointed to me and Professor Bishop and spoke.

“From now on, her successor, Professor Anastasia, will be in charge of that subject. This also applies to the position of housemaster of the Obsidian dormitory. Both of you, please stand up.”

At the staff member’s request, Professor Bishop and I stood up at the same time.
Then, he smiled brightly and shouted to the students.

“Please give a round of applause to the one who will be stepping down from the podium this year and the one who will be newly stepping up, everyone.”

Clap, clap, clap!

The grand auditorium erupted with another round of applause.
In particular, the students belonging to the Obsidian dormitory were cheering eagerly.

However, unlike their playful attitude, every word of their loud shouts was filled with sincerity.

“You’ve worked hard, Professor! Now that you’ve retired, please be less scary!”

“I love you, Kamala Bishop! The all-around professor, Kamala Bishop!”

“Thank you for everything, Professor! Wooo!”

“Tsk, you troublemakers. You break every rule in the book, but you’re only excited at times like this.”

Professor Bishop muttered to herself, seemingly displeased with the students’ response.

But as if she couldn’t hide her true feelings, she wiped her reddened eyes and pretended to be fine.
Even the notoriously strict old woman seemed to be moved at the last moment.

Is this what it feels like when a person’s twilight descends?

‘She may have been strict, but she seems to have been a fundamentally good professor.’

“Congratulations, Professor Bishop. You’ve worked hard.”

As I sat back down, I also offered a sincere, quiet word of congratulation.

My damn mother and father, whom I didn’t even want to call parents.
Thanks to them, I knew very well how difficult it was to become a respectable adult.

“Hehe, thank you. From now on, please lead our Obsidian students well in my place, Professor Anastasia.”

Kamala Bishop replied with a benevolent smile.
After that, various other secondary procedures followed in order.

The introduction of Saintess Antiopea, who would be observing the academy lectures as the Hero’s guardian.
A brief explanation of student life, which had also been given at the entrance ceremony.
And an introduction to the four types of dormitories that the students would be assigned to by lottery.

But compared to the event that would be held from now on, those were just minor side dishes.

“Now, finally, the highlight of the celebration that everyone has been waiting for! The dormitory selection of the three students who recorded the highest scores in this year’s placement test!”

The staff member who was the MC raised one arm high.
Then, he shouted cheerfully, like a circus ringmaster.

“Student Alber Cornelian Tarrasque, student Silvia de Garcia, and student Kriemhild von Hohenlaufen! Please come up to the stage!”

‘As expected.’

I clicked my tongue briefly as I heard the names that were called out one after another.

As I had expected, the three most troublesome people had taken the top ranks.
The next Hero was in first place, Silvia was in second, and the princess was in third.

Coincidentally, it was a lineup that perfectly matched what the dormitory housemasters had been betting on.

“Ahem, finally. The new student who will brighten our Topaz has appeared. I thought my neck would break from waiting.”

“Oh-ho-ho, who knows? All three of them might want to come to our Carnelian dormitory. If you’re not a fool, you wouldn’t refuse a dormitory as elegant and graceful as Carnelian.”

“Tsk, the one that’s full of substance is our Topaz dormitory. Have you already forgotten? The winner of last year’s empire martial arts tournament was also from our dormitory…”

“C-Carnelian graduates are also excellent in practical skills! How long are you going to keep milking that one person, Professor Georgios? It’s unsightly.”

The housemasters of Carnelian and Topaz, still engaged in a war of words.
And surprisingly, the housemaster of Jade was quietly observing the progress of the event.

Glancing at them, I quietly reached for a glass of wine.

It didn’t matter where those three chose. It was none of my business.
As long as they didn’t come to Obsidian, which I would be in charge of.

I hadn’t sent any bribes, nor had I flattered them.
In fact, I even had a bad run-in with the Hero and the chairman’s daughter, so I could rest assured in that regard.

“Now, we’ll start with the number one ranked student, Alber.”

As I was thinking that and bringing the glass to my lips, the staff member asked the next Hero a question.

“Please decide carefully, student Alber. Jade, Carnelian, Topaz, and Obsidian. Which of the four dormitories would you like to choose?”

“…”

Alber, however, had a thoughtful expression and didn’t open her mouth.
She seemed to have something to contemplate before making her choice.

“I have a question before that, human!”

After a few seconds had passed, Alber, having finished her thoughts, asked the staff member in a loud voice.

“If I choose a dormitory and enter it, will the housemaster spar with me? Whenever I request it?”

“Uh, ahem, ahem. I didn’t expect you to ask so bluntly… heh heh, this is something.”

At Alber’s question, Georgios coughed awkwardly.

As a professor of practical magic, he was also a magician with extensive practical experience and an excellent combat instructor.
Therefore, he was certain that the sudden inquiry was aimed at him.

Perhaps provoked by this, Professor Dolores also snorted and gave a light rebuttal.

“Hmph, I’m not lacking in combat ability either. I hope you’re not counting your chickens before they hatch, Professor Georgios. The decision hasn’t even been made yet.”

They’re having a good time.
If they knew what a handful that half-dragon was, they wouldn’t be so eager to have her.

As I was muttering to myself, the staff member nodded and affirmed Alber’s question.

“Of course! It depends on the professor’s schedule, but it’s a rule to accept a student’s request for a duel whenever possible!”

“Kihihi, is that so?”

Alber, with a sudden mischievous smile, looked around at the housemasters’ seats.
I could see her sharp fangs glittering under her raised lips.

Her brilliant emerald eyes were directed at…

…me?

‘What are you looking at?’

I frowned at the strange feeling and took a sip of my wine.
She should just choose her dormitory quickly. It was somehow unsettling that she was suddenly looking at me and grinning.

“I, the Hero Alber Cornelian Tarrasque, declare!”

As I was swallowing the wine, Alber raised her right arm as if to show off.

Then, point!
She pointed at the seat of the Obsidian housemaster where I was sitting and declared publicly.

“I will go to the Obsidian dormitory!”

“Pffft-!!”

What the f*ck?