Episode 101. Entrance Ceremony (2)
The ‘Serenade Hall’ was one of the places where important events of the Capotini School of Magic were held. Its special features were that it was a very large hall and that the principal’s office was located at the top of the tower.
Normally, it was rare for magic students to come here. The only times they did were for entrance and graduation ceremonies.
Since other smaller events were held in other towers, entering here usually meant being summoned to the principal’s office at the top.
“Luden, will we ever come here again?”
In the middle of the hall, crowded with this year’s freshmen, Oscar, who was looking for his seat, suddenly asked.
“Maybe at graduation?”
“Is that really all? I won’t have to meet with the principal or anything… right? I really don’t think I’d like that.”
“That depends on what you do.”
“Phew. By the way, this place is really big, isn’t it?”
The Serenade Hall, where the entrance ceremony was held, had a semicircular theater structure.
The principal’s podium is at the very bottom, and the seats are spread out in a wide tiered manner around it. Most of the seats are already filled with new students and their associates.
“Rubin, do you see that?”
The place Oscar was pointing to was the wall behind the stage. Upon closer inspection, it was no ordinary wall.
“See that transparent wall? That’s a sesquiterpene wall.”
From the outside of the tower, it looks like just a stone wall, but in reality, it is a wall made of quartzite, a material only available in the mining city of Splendock. That is why the outside is transparent like glass.
“Wow. Nice view. Right?”
Rubin nodded.
‘It was a good thing I left Tina behind.’
Oscar had a reason to be excited.
The surface of Lake Capotin, shining softly due to the mana stones that were placed in the water. And the combination of the sunlight pouring down. The dazzling halo of light passed through the crystal stones and illuminated the entire hall.
“Where is our place… … .”
Oscar, who had been absorbed in the scenery outside, soon shook his head and looked around. At that moment, Rubin realized something new.
“Oscar, you don’t have to look for it yourself.”
“Yeah, what are you talking about?”
“Just follow the key bug.”
After leaving the dormitory room, the key bug that had been sitting on their shoulder guided the cadets. The destination was the assigned seat for each incoming student.
Pipipiping.
Rubin and Oscar’s key bug landed on one of the chairs and connected with the keyhole in the chair. Then, the bottom of the chair, which was attached to the backrest, came down with a clanking sound.
“I really don’t understand why these technologies are kept only in schools.”
It was just as Oscar was grumbling and moving the chair next to Rubin.
“oh!”
Oscar, who was sitting right next to me in the aisle, hit something head-on. The impact almost sent him rolling down the stairs.
“who is this!”
“Hey, are you okay?”
A thick voice came from above. A large shadow fell over the two men’s heads. When he raised his head, he saw a large old man looking down at him.
Oscar muttered as if he was possessed by something.
“Lulu… … ?”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Oh, no. Haha. The Uldin bear raised by Master Srehim… … .”
Rubin quickly intervened in response to Oscar’s inadequate excuse.
“Oh, my friend had a bit of fun today. I think he was humming.”
“Hmm.”
The large old man looked down at the two with a suspicious face. Only then were the two able to see the old man’s face properly.
‘She really looks like Lulu.’
He was large in stature, and his bushy beard grew fiercely. He was dressed lightly, as if he had worked out, but his thick muscles were about to burst out through his clothes.
“Yeah. Everyone gets excited before the entrance ceremony.”
“Oh, that’s right. I’m so excited right now!”
The old man smiled at Oscar, who was acting cute. Then he looked around the hall.
“There’s still a lot of time left, but everyone came out early.”
“We are a bit diligent, Grandpa.”
“Yeah, that’s right. If you don’t want to get kicked out. By the way, you two are a bit of an odd pair.”
“Huh? What is it?”
When Oscar, now a little annoyed, asked dryly, the old man stroked his chin as if he found it interesting.
“One of them is from noble birth, the other from commoner birth. It’s rare to see such a relationship even before the entrance ceremony.”
“Oh, is that so?”
at that time.
‘hmm?’
Rubin felt a small ripple in his inner world. It was Haneke. He was interested in Rubin’s vision.
‘What’s wrong, Haneke?’
-Hoo… … .
Meanwhile, the old man spoke again.
“What are your names?”
“What’s your name? Why?”
“I really want to make sure that our relationship remains the same even after graduation.”
Oscar was indifferent. He thought he was giving too much attention to this old man, who at first glance seemed to be the building manager or perhaps an assistant to the headmaster of the Srehim household.
“Hmm… I’m not sure if it’s okay to just tell the building manager my name.”
“Huh?”
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At Oscar’s words, the large man burst into laughter and straightened up. His already large body seemed even bigger. Oscar swallowed without realizing it.
And at that time, Haneke’s laughter could also be heard in Rubin’s inner world.
-Heh heh heh.
‘Why are you laughing, Haneke?’
Although he didn’t answer, Rubin guessed that Haneke and the old man knew each other.
The old man, who had been laughing for a long time, finally turned around.
“No, I asked you something you didn’t mean to ask. This old manager should just leave now. There are many places to look around.”
“Oh, yes. Goodbye.”
The old man strode down the stairs and headed toward the lower platform.
“Whew. Why does that old man talk so much? I thought it was the real Lulu.”
“no way.”
“You wouldn’t know it. You really look a lot like that old man. I know because we used to practice dancing together all the time. If you saw him right in front of you, you would know how much he and Lulu look alike.”
Then, Haneke burst out laughing louder than before.
-Haha! What an interesting roommate. Did that old man look like the building manager to you too?
‘Well, that old man, isn’t he someone Haneke knows?’
-I know. It’s a guy named Keegan.
‘… What if it’s Keegan?’
-Your principal. It’s nice to see you again.
Rubin was surprised. Although he had gathered information about the Capotini principal in advance, he had no idea what he looked like.
All Rubin knows is that he became the principal of this school 20 years ago, and that he is very well-received by the citizens of Capotini.
-When I was a general, he was a wizard belonging to the Magic Brigade. He was even recommended as a candidate for the brigade commander. Well, in the end, he ended up leaving school and returning to his hometown.
It was a brief explanation, but it gave us some idea of Principal Keegan’s level.
In fact, even if Keegan had remained in the Wizard Brigade, he would never have been promoted to brigade commander. The position was passed down through the Witherspoon family.
However, the fact that he was recommended as a candidate was important. It was proof that he was recognized solely for his abilities, not his status or birth.
-Rubin, I don’t know much about magic, but I do know that Samhwi specializes in offensive magic. That big wizard taught me this himself.
He said the last time he saw Keegan was 20 years ago. Keegan, who was in his fifties at the time, was approaching the age when Haneke died.
– Keegan is getting old now. Hmm, how is it that the guy who said he would go back to Capotini and run a butcher shop is now the headmaster of a magic school?
When Haneke’s voice becomes steeped in memories.
There was a man approaching Principal Keegan, who was looking around on the stage. It was Professor Benitez. Rubin amplified his hearing in the dark and focused on the conversation between the two.
“Principal Keegan, you should put on your uniform.”
“Come on, Benitez. But there’s something I’m curious about.”
“Go ahead.”
“Hey, do you know Lulu?”
“Isn’t that the Uldin bear raised by the Srehim family?”
“… Does that guy look like me?”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Judging from your expression, it seems like you’ve always thought that way, too? Do you see those freshmen over there? They called me Lulu.”
Following Keegan’s fingers, Benitez’s gaze turned to Rubin. Rubin and Benitez’s eyes met unexpectedly.
Soon a faint smile spread across the professor’s face. It had been two months since the day they had met as a hidden merchant.
“Hmm, those are some cheeky guys. I’m going to have to give them a good beating.”
“Very good. Make sure to wipe away all the tears. This is an order from me as the principal.”
Benitez, who had laughed at Keegan’s joke, came over immediately. He looked interested. He looked back and forth between Rubin and Oscar.
“Are you two roommates?”
“Yes, that’s right, Professor. It’s been a while!”
“Nice to meet you, Cadet Oscar.”
Are they both familiar with each other? Rubin was secretly surprised.
Benitez continued:
“Did you know that roommate assignments are purely based on luck? They only consider the ratio of nobles to commoners, and leave the rest up to luck. But it’s funny how out of all those students, two of them ended up being roommates.”
What does this mean?
When Rubin and Oscar, who did not understand, turned their heads and looked at each other’s faces.
“Oh, so you two didn’t know yet?”
“Huh? Wait a minute, Professor! Hey, Luden, do you understand what I’m saying?”
“well.”
Professor Benitez just shrugged his shoulders and smiled happily, but he didn’t immediately answer my question.
“I think it’s about time we started.”
Just then, students who had left the dormitory began to enter the second floor hall one by one. Before leaving, Professor Benitez gave them a clue.
“Tell me how you first met each other.”
What if it was our first time meeting?
“no way?”
Compared to the surprised Oscar, Rubin was calm.
That meant that Chloe and Rubin weren’t the only students Benitez met that day while acting as a hidden merchant.
After Rubin left, the professor met the commoner cadet he had been waiting for, and that was Oscar. A commoner cadet who had crossed over into the realm of the noble cadets without hesitation.
“They say that even those of noble birth can receive a special item if they are the first to find it, and that was you.”
“That’s unexpected.”
Actually, if you think about it, the only commoner who was fearless and had outstanding magical skills was Oscar. It was a natural result.
“Oscar, what did you get?”
“Hmm, that’s what I wanted to ask. What on earth did you get from the professor? I told you that it felt like your subspace was completely empty!”
“If you don’t tell me, it’s a secret for me too.”
“What? I’m not curious at all. Really, not at all… … .”
“Shh. Be quiet.”
at that time.
I felt the eyes of the cadets present at the entrance ceremony being focused on one place.
This was because, behind the lower platform, through the transparent wall of the slab, dozens of gondolas could be seen crossing the lake.
That meant that the distinguished guests attending the entrance ceremony and banquet had just arrived.
But then, dozens of gondolas that had been slowly approaching suddenly stopped in the middle of the lake.
“Hmm? Why did it suddenly stop?”
“Maybe they can’t cross the entire lake. It must be because of the barrier.”
“But Luden, that old manager, what are you doing in front of me right now?”
The place Oscar was pointing to was on the podium.
Keegan stood near the podium, looking out the window. He had changed into the formal attire befitting a principal conducting an entrance ceremony, and waved his hand fiercely.
It’s about working magic.
Only Rubin noticed it. Thanks to Glayton’s bracelet, the mana line of Samhwi floating next to Keegan’s face was clearly visible.
‘It’s ice magic.’
Ssuddudduk.
A moment later, with the sound of ice crystals rising, an ice path for the guests began to unfold across the lake.
“wow!”
“What is that, an ice staircase?”
“What is that old man doing? Why is he standing on the stage?”
There was a commotion here and there.
The students still didn’t know that the headmaster was casting a spell. They just watched in amazement as the ice path was created on a massive scale.
Rubin was the same.
‘This is truly amazing.’
The magic itself, such as freezing a lake, is simple, but if the caster is the headmaster of the Capotini School of Magic, its power is worlds apart.
It was so enormous that the distance between the lake and the tower was easily ignored.
Moreover, the shape of the ice road was not just a simple passageway.
“Wow, look at that. It looks like some kind of palace staircase.”
“Have you ever actually seen it?”
“Shut up.”
As the cadets said, the ice road was embroidered with beautiful patterns, just like the main street of the palace. There were even illustrations of historical events in Capotini engraved on both sides of the road.
“But why has that old manager been like that? Why is he the only one commanding things over there? Has he lost his mind?”
Oscar is the same. He still hasn’t found the connection between the two. I guess it’s better to tell him now. He’ll find out soon anyway.
“Oscar, that old man is the headmaster of Capotini School of Magic.”
“huh?”
“The principal. Principal Keegan.”
“… What, what did you say!”
At the outburst, Principal Keegan turned his head in this direction. The headmaster with the face of the Uldin bear, Lulu, winked sweetly.
“From the day of the entrance ceremony, there is an interview with the principal… … .”
Oscar just smiled awkwardly.
