[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Side Story Chapter 15: Enrollment Ceremony (2)

Time flowed on, and the day I was to enroll in the Academy finally arrived.

From early in the morning, I prepared to leave the castle amidst the warm farewells of my family.

"We won't be able to see Theo for a while."

"What will we do? We'll miss you so."

Grandpa and Grandma were very sad to see me go.

They were even fiddling with my hands constantly.

"Theo, you can do it, right?"

"Don't let them intimidate you over there."

Younger Uncle and Auntie patted my shoulders and encouraged me.

"Theo..."

Mom and Dad simply hugged me tightly without a word.

It seemed that even though they had decided to send me to the Academy, it still pained their hearts to let me go.

Seeing Mom and Dad like this made my own heart feel heavy.

"It's okay, Mom, Dad. I'll be back for the holidays."

I tried my best to console them.

It seemed to have an effect, as they both smiled quietly.

Finally, Uncle Damien approached me.

He patted my head with his large hand.

"I won't say much. I know you'll do just fine."

His words were packed with meaning.

In preparation for my enrollment, I had learned many things from my uncle.

How to seize the initiative in a fight.

Vital spots to kill a person in one blow.

Submission techniques to easily break bones, and so on.

Right now, I was filled to the brim with confidence.

Confidence that I wouldn't lose a fight to anyone!

Except for Uncle, of course.

"Take Munchi with you. He'll be a great help."

A large wolf emerged from Uncle's shadow.

Munchi rubbed his head against my hand.

"Ahaha, that tickles."

I grabbed Munchi's head with both hands and ruffled his fur all over.

After thoroughly enjoying the petting, Munchi seeped back into my shadow.

"Oh, right. His Majesty said he would send someone to help you adjust to the Academy."

"Really? Then I can worry a little less."

I've traveled to foreign countries many times, but I've never lived in one.

I was quite worried, so hearing that His Majesty had made arrangements was a relief.

The time had finally come to leave for the Empire.

Before heading out the castle gate, I turned to look back at my family one last time.

"Theo, go and learn a lot."

"Take care of yourself."

"You are a member of the Haksen Ducal House. Never forget that."

Receiving everyone's worries and expectations, I was about to set off...

"Don't worry too much. I'll take good care of Theo oppa!"

...when Hazel, who had been waiting outside, came running up and said.

"Hey, hey, I told you to wait outside."

"If we leave just like that, I won't get to see Mother and Father for a long time either. At least let me say my greetings."

Surprisingly, Hazel was also enrolling in the Academy, just like me.

She said that as soon as she heard I was leaving for the Academy, she pestered Marquis Ryan Bloom until he agreed.

From what I know, a Marquis's family from another country can't just enroll in the Academy so easily.

But the Ryan Blooms aren't just any Marquisate.

The family head is a Grandmaster and a longtime loyal retainer of my uncle.

That's probably why it was decided so easily.

Wait, but what did Hazel just say?

"What? Mother? Father?"

Hazel used to call my parents Lady Louise and Lord Ballad.

Since when did she change how she addresses them?

"Hey, why are you calling my mom and dad that?"

"Mother~ Please don't worry too much."

I was so flabbergasted I had to ask, but Hazel was already clinging to my mom.

"I'll take good care of Theo oppa!"

"I'll be at ease with you there. Please look after Theo."

"You can count on me! I'm confident in my ability to provide domestic support."

Domestic support?

What on earth is this audacious girl talking about?

I felt a shiver run down my entire body.

"Theo, let's get going now."

Hazel wrapped her arms around my arm and pulled me toward the carriage.

And just like that, as if swept away by a wave, I departed for the Empire.

"..."

Sitting inside the carriage, I stared out the window with a sullen expression.

Hazel was humming to herself as she peeled an apple.

Her skill was so clumsy that chunks of flesh were stuck to the peel.

"Ah~"

Hazel speared the entire apple with a fork and held it out to me.

I looked at the lumpy apple, now two-thirds its original size, and asked.

"Why do you keep trying to get close to my family? And I told you not to call me Oppa."

It gives me the creeps every time Hazel calls me Oppa.

Besides, wasn't this the same girl who was screaming that she didn't want to call me Oppa just a short while ago?

Why the sudden change in attitude?

Just then, Hazel's face suddenly shot forward. Startled, I leaned back.

"You don't like it?"

Hazel asked, staring intently at me.

It was the first time in my life I'd seen Hazel's face this close.

Without realizing it, my gaze was fixed on her eyelashes.

It was a sudden thought, but she really has a pretty face.

Distracted for a moment, I ended up blurting out nonsense.

"It's not... that I dislike it."

"Then it's settled."

Hazel giggled and personally placed the apple in my mouth.

Feeling bewildered, I took a bite of the apple.

It was crisp and sweet.

* * *

The carriage arrived in the Empire in just one week.

How did we arrive so early when the distance between the two countries is so great, you ask?

The carriage I was riding in was no ordinary object.

It was something made by the dwarfs who work under my uncle.

Why travel by carriage when my uncle is around, you ask?

I specifically asked him for it. Warp gates are convenient, but you don't get the feeling of traveling.

"Oppa! Look over there, it's the Academy!"

Hazel shouted, sticking her head out the window. I did the same.

"Woooow..."

An exclamation of awe escaped my lips without me realizing it.

Uncle had described how big the Academy was, but I never imagined it would be on this scale.

It truly befits its reputation as the continent's greatest educational institution.

After arriving at the Academy, we were guided inside.

The interior of the Academy was far more beautiful and magnificent than the outside.

"Oppa, look at that!"

Hazel was delighted, constantly pointing here and there.

I was just as excited.

But Hazel's joy didn't last long.

"Ah, your seat is over here, right Oppa? They said my seat is over there."

We had to part ways in the auditorium where the entrance ceremony was being held.

Hazel headed to her seat with a gloomy expression.

Phew, I feel bad for Hazel, but thanks to her, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

She had been trying to stick to me the entire way here, and it was getting burdensome.

I sat in my designated seat and waited for the ceremony to begin.

Just then, the conversation of the students sitting right in front of me caught my ear.

"Lord Geisel, have you seen this month's issue of 'Monthly Damien Haksen'?"

"You call that a question? I acquired it from the printing house before it was even published and have read it from start to finish ten times."

The red-haired boy said, flicking his hair with his fingertips.

The two students sitting on either side of him gasped in admiration.

"I heard he captured the Grand Dark Mage that appeared in the southern part of the Empire."

"They say it was a monster that commanded an army of tens of thousands as if they were its own limbs."

"The number of enemies means nothing to Lord Damien Haksen."

I found myself concentrating on their conversation.

To be honest, Uncle never tells me what he's been up to.

Something about it being too grim for me to know.

"Just how strong is Lord Damien Haksen? Didn't he cut down even a Grandmaster with a single slash last time?"

"You mean Alchenko Frens? That filthy traitor who reached the supreme state of Grandmaster only to join hands with the dark mages."

The red-haired boy boasted as they talked.

"How could the likes of us possibly fathom Lord Damien's strength? We should simply be grateful. To be alive in the same era as such a great man."

The three of them nodded repeatedly at the red-haired boy's words.

Boundless reverence was pouring from their eyes.

The three continued to chatter about Uncle's achievements.

Since it was all new to me, I had no choice but to focus on their stories.

"Excuse me."

Eventually, I spoke to the three of them.

They stopped talking and turned to look at me.

"What's this 'Bloody Battle of the Genpri River' you were talking about? Can you tell me more about it?"

We're strangers, but since we're sitting here, we must all be freshmen, right?

So I asked without much thought. It's not too much to ask, is it?

"Among Lord Damien Haksen's undead, Sir Dominico is the strongest."

"But I heard Munchi is no slouch either. They say he's a wolf so massive his nose can touch the moon."

"And the mysterious beauty, Miya, is said to wield terrifying abilities as well."

But I was cleanly ignored.

"Um, excuse me..."

I mustered my courage and asked again, but the three didn't even glance my way.

Huh? Why is everyone ignoring me?

"Does everyone know this? I heard Lord Damien Haksen's nephew is enrolling in the Academy."

"What? Really? Lord Damien Haksen's nephew is enrolling?"

"It's certain. I secretly overheard my father speaking with His Majesty."

At the red-haired boy's words, the mouths of the other two slowly fell open.

"A conversation between the Duke and His Majesty... then it must be true?"

The red-haired boy preened.

Overhearing the conversation, I couldn't help but be surprised.

If his father is a Duke... that means this boy belongs to a Ducal family.

The Ducal families of the Empire hold immense power.

It's said that even the Emperor lends an ear to their words.

"If he's Lord Damien Haksen's nephew, he must be someone incredible, right?"

"Of course! Sharing the same blood as Lord Damien, he must be a prodigious genius. Even if he's not on Lord Damien's level."

Ooh, I never thought I'd hear people talking about me.

But the three of them had it completely wrong.

"Lord Damien is incredibly tall. So his nephew must be tall too."

"And he must be incredibly muscular, right? Lord Damien Haksen has a huge build."

"Plus, having been taught by Lord Damien Haksen, he'd have to be muscular."

"His presence must be overwhelming too. Ordinary people might pass out just by getting near him."

Hmm, it seems I need to correct this misunderstanding.

"You've got it all wrong. Damien Haksen's nephew doesn't look like that."

This time, I wasn't ignored.

All three of them turned to look at me.

But it wasn't for a friendly reason.

"Hey, country bumpkin."

The boy sitting to the left of the red-haired boy spoke.

He wore a very unpleasant expression.

"Country bumpkin?"

"I can tell by your clothes. That's not the style that's popular in the Empire. Which means you're from a foreign country."

Oh, an accurate deduction.

"Since you don't seem to know, I'll tell you in advance. In our Empire, nobles from other countries like you aren't recognized. You're considered commoners just pretending to be nobles."

"Uh... I've heard as much."

"Then this will be quick. The three of us are from prestigious families, even within the Empire. That means we're not people that someone like you can casually talk to."

Although only one was speaking, the other two seemed to agree.

Wow, Uncle warned me beforehand, but their superiority complex really is something else.

"If you understand, then shut your mouth. Don't be impertinent."

Instead of arguing, I carefully observed the faces of these three.

Why, you ask?

So I can carry out Uncle's words later.

If I had my way, I'd stomp on these three right now, but there are too many eyes here, aren't there?

Uncle told me not to think about the consequences, but how can a person really do that?

I should make a rational judgment and handle it cleanly.

-Sprouts of infinite potential have gathered in one place.

Just then, a solemn voice echoed.

The entrance ceremony had begun at some point, and a white-haired old man was standing on the stage.

-It seems the heavens too are welcoming your enrollment. To see the sky so clear today...

But it wasn't very interesting. It was incredibly boring.

I passed the time half-listening to the headmaster's speech.

-I shall now introduce the glorious new student who will grace this occasion. Theodore Haksen. Please come up to the stage.

My mind snapped to attention.

I lifted my head and looked at the headmaster.

Chillingly, the headmaster was looking directly at where I was seated.

-Theodore Haksen.

The headmaster called my name once more.

I had no choice but to walk up to the stage.

-Everyone, please give him a warm welcome. This is Theodore Haksen, nephew of the Hero of the Continent and Transcendent of the Age, Damien Haksen.

The moment the headmaster finished speaking, a thunderous applause erupted.

Amidst the wave of sound, I could see them.

The faces of the three boys, frozen in shock and astonishment.

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]