Chapter 65

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The next day, the day of the entrance ceremony.

The grand arena of the Royal Academy, a source of pride. Over a hundred successful applicants had gathered in its vast space. The air was filled with a mix of tension and anticipation.

(Well...)

I suddenly looked around.

The expressions of the new students varied. Some had their faces contorted with tension, others had their eyes shining with excitement, and still others were nervously glancing around. Everyone was probably thinking about their upcoming school life.

Then, I turned my gaze to the audience. I saw the figures of servants, some parents, and upperclassmen who had come out of interest in the new students. They were looking at us new students with a relaxed expression, as if evaluating us.

"Zeros! Over here!"

"That voice..."

At the sudden sound, I turned reflexively. There, I saw Reina and Shuna sitting next to each other.

Reina was waving her arms widely, calling my name with a childlike joy. Her appearance was out of place in the solemn atmosphere and she was clearly drawing attention. On the other hand, Shuna, while bewildered by Reina's bold actions, was waving at me with a small hand, her cheeks slightly flushed, perhaps aware of the surrounding gazes.

(Reina, as always...)

I was thinking this when—

"There you are, Zeros Sylphid."

Another voice called out to me. I turned to see a young man with ash-colored hair—Noel Fanatis—standing there. His red eyes held the same challenging look as yesterday.

"Good to see you didn't run away."

Noel said this as if he had forgotten yesterday's incident. His attitude made me frown.

(No, it's natural to come to the entrance ceremony, and I was the one who left yesterday...)

While inwardly pointing this out, I decided to ignore him. I didn't want any trouble right now.

"Hmph, why don't you say something?"

Noel said, sounding displeased, but I ignored him and turned my gaze back to the front.

---

Right after that.

The sound of light footsteps, *tap, tap*, echoed. Guided by this sound, the entire audience turned their attention to the stage.

Then, a girl appeared from the back of the stage. She was slightly shorter than average, with long silver hair that shimmered like moonlight in the wind. Her appearance was that of a cute, childlike face, but her azure eyes held an unfathomable depth. Most notably, her slightly elongated ears were her most distinctive feature.

I knew her well.

Her name was Noah WhiteMoon. An elf who had suddenly appeared on the public stage 150 years ago and founded the Royal Academy. She was famous not only for her background but also for her overwhelming power.

A murmur spread through the audience.

"Hey, who's that kid? She just appeared on the stage..."

"Idiot, how can you not know her when you're taking the Academy exam?"

"She's the headmistress. A great presence."

While some of the new students, who seemed to be commoners, didn't know Noah, most of them held her in high respect and awe. Amidst this, I continued to observe her calmly. She was dressed in a manner befitting a mage, with her left hand covered by a pure white glove. Despite her small stature, the aura she exuded was overwhelming, unmatched by anyone else.

When Noah stood at the center of the stage, the entire venue fell silent as if struck by water.

"Hello, everyone. I am Noah WhiteMoon, the headmistress of the Royal Academy. Let's begin the entrance ceremony."

Her voice, clear and powerful, instantly tightened the atmosphere. After a brief smile at the new students, Noah continued.

"Today, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and welcome to all of you who have stepped through the doors of the Royal Academy. You have overcome rigorous exams to stand here. First and foremost, be proud of that. The Royal Academy is a place where only those with proven talent and ability are admitted. You have already taken a wonderful first step."

Each word carried a mysterious weight. It was as if Noah's words themselves were imbued with magic. As evidence, the expressions of the new students, upon hearing her words, became filled with confidence and hope.

Noah continued.

"This year is particularly special. We have a renowned swordsman, a miraculous holy maiden, and, at the examination stage, a prodigy who surpasses even them."

The moment Noah announced this, the surrounding area began to buzz with excitement. She smiled slightly and then said something astonishing.

"Their abilities are of interest not only to the new students but also to the current students. Therefore, we have prepared a special event this year. As an entertainment, we will have a mock battle between the two top performers in the sword test—Zeros Sylphid and Noel Fanatis."

...

"Huh?"

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