“Welcome to the Imperial Royal Magic Academy!”
Sacred hymns echoed through the magnificent hall as thousands of flowers bloomed in midair.
The freshman welcoming banquet had already begun.
Inside the welcoming hall of the main magic building, four magnificent long tables were laid out, illuminated by thousands of floating lanterns. As the velvet curtains parted, a solemn figure slowly appeared on the podium—
It was, of all things, a pitch-black kitty!
It elegantly licked its paw and spoke in a slow, measured tone.
“I am Anz, the headmaster of this academy. It is my honor to meet all of you at a time like this.”
As the endless stream of pleasantries continued, Lynn, who had arrived at the welcoming hall just in the nick of time, couldn't help but curl his lips.
‘I already saw this in the game, but still...’
“Seeing a black kitty seriously speaking in official jargon is really hard to keep a straight face!”
“Its fur is so well-maintained, I wonder how it feels to pet it...”
Don't get him wrong, Lynn only wanted to satisfy the physical contact requirement to see what kind of stat panel this big-shot headmaster had. He absolutely did not want to pet a cat that could speak human tongue, seriously.
Lilian pouted jealously. Grabbing Lynn's hand, which had risen to gently pet the empty air, she placed it on top of her own head.
Specifically, right onto her small ponytail, which was adorned with a brand-new hairpin.
“Hehehe~” She giggled, hugging Lynn's arm.
Honestly, Young Master had rushed to buy Lilian a gift the moment they entered the academy... Did he really like Lilian that much?
“You're even getting jealous over a cat...”
Lynn didn't spoil her either. He immediately gave her a vigorous, thunderous head pat, completely messing up the pink-haired dumpling's hair into a bird's nest.
Suddenly, the cherry-blossom-like girl furrowed her brows and leaned her nose close to Lynn's wrist, sniffing twice.
Lilian's enemy-detection radar was blaring wildly!
There was the scent of a wild woman!
Unable to withstand his little maid's resentful gaze, Lynn detailed everything that had happened this afternoon, reporting it all honestly.
He put special emphasis on the series of background stories Anna had fabricated for her disguised identity, “Sasha.”
The only daughter of a merchant family from the borderlands, who was dissatisfied with the marriage arrangement made by her elders. Thus, she sneaked out of her home alone, never expecting to luckily pass the selection of the Royal Magic Academy.
Cliché little stories like that.
“Miss Sasha is really amazing!”
Lilian's temper came and went quickly, and her eyes had already completely turned into stars.
Counting on her fingers, she said, “Even though she's only a year older than me, she was able to leave home and venture out all on her own.”
Waku waku, she was practically her ideal self.
Although the truth of the story was highly questionable, the silly pink-haired dumpling seemed to completely buy into it. She even pestered Lynn, wanting him to introduce her to Sasha.
The playfulness with Lilian quickly subsided, and Lynn looked around with a hint of nostalgia.
“Even though this is an incredibly familiar scene, seeing it in reality feels so novel...”
That's right. In truth, Lynn had already experienced this welcoming banquet exclusive to freshmen dozens or even hundreds of times.
For no other reason than—
“This is the opening cinematic of the game Dawn.”
Not only was the cinematic notoriously long and tedious, but there was also no skip button. This meant Lynn had to sit through and critique it every single time he started a new save file. How could he not be familiar with this old friend?
He snatched the cake Lilian was about to stuff into her mouth and ate it with relish.
Ignoring the girl's fiercely adorable glare, Lynn cheerfully started a conversation.
“Lilian, do you believe that I can predict every single word the headmaster is about to say next?”
“Blehh, I don't believe a Young Master who steals someone's beloved cake!”
“Honestly, just watch. The first name he is going to read out next is—”
“Grete Raphael!” x2
The elegant black cat nimbly jumped down from the podium and pulled out a floating scroll from somewhere.
The scroll was curled up into a roll, with human facial features on its blank surface. Its eyes were tightly shut, and it appeared to be fast asleep.
The black cat annoyedly popped the scroll's snot bubble. It jolted awake.
“Grete Raphael, please step forward. Undergo your sorting ceremony.”
A short, freckled boy walked up to the podium from the Eastern Territory's dining table amidst the encouraging cheers of his companions.
He gently placed his hands on the scroll and then nervously closed his eyes.
The scroll's facial features seemed to sink into deep thought. “Hmm... I can see a burning passion hidden deep in your heart, an unstoppable courage.”
“Though your talent is not outstanding, with tempering, you can still achieve great things...”
Finally, it cackled and delivered its judgment.
“Grete Raphael! Knight Department!”
From the Knight Department's round table not far away, a burst of enthusiastic cheering instantly erupted.
“See? I was right, wasn't I~” Triumphant, Lynn pinched Lilian's dumbfounded round face and crossed his legs.
The Imperial Royal Magic Academy had four departments in total.
The Regal Department, primarily composed of elite children with royal or noble bloodlines.
The Knight Department, whose members were characterized by passion and sincerity, possessing a fighting spirit that feared no failure. It was a prolific producer of magic swordsmen who trained in both magic and martial arts.
The Arcane Department, whose members were mostly calm and restrained, possessing a terrifying thirst for knowledge and willing to spend half their lives researching for the advancement of magic.
The Primordial Department, which admitted members without adhering to any rigid patterns, involving people from all walks of life. It was a department that nurtured possibilities.
And the overall strength of the departments followed the order of their introduction: the Regal Department dominated the academy, the Knight Department followed closely behind, the Arcane Department was not to be underestimated, and the Primordial Department was also in a league of its own... well, a league of its own in terms of being weaklings.
Although it sounded nice on paper, covering the widest scope and possessing the greatest possibilities, in reality, everyone knew the truth—wasn't it just a dumping ground for leftovers who weren't proficient in anything and had been rejected by the first three departments?
In the game, with his noble bloodline as the son of a Duke, Lynn was sorted into the Regal Department without any controversy.
Surely it would be the same this time.
He thought, bored.
The sorting of students continued.
“Levi Sah, Regal Department!”
“Veronica Pera, Arcane Department!”
“Salan Ariel, Knight Department!”
The elegant black cat paused for a moment and said softly:
“Next, Anna Via!”
Suddenly, a mountain-shaking, ocean-tsunami-like cheer erupted from all corners of the banquet.
A gorgeously dressed purple-haired woman slowly rose from her table and performed an elegant curtsy to the crowd.
“...That is some truly exaggerated popularity,” Lynn remarked with some emotion.
That was indeed Anna, having removed her disguise.
Completely different from her disguised persona, the young girl “Sasha,” what she displayed now was pure confidence. Her face was no longer delicate and plain as it had been during her disguise, but indescribably gorgeous.
Anna and Sasha, whether in temperament or figure, were truly worlds apart...
Lynn felt quite emotional. No wonder these two faces could coexist in the academy for so long in the original story, with only the protagonist, Irene, eventually discovering that the two were actually the same person.
Ignoring the gazes of the crowd, Anna held her swan-like neck high and walked confidently onto the podium.
Animated discussions instantly broke out from the tables of the four departments.
“Hey, hey, which department do you think Her Highness Anna will be sorted into?”
“Is that even a question? She's the second princess of the imperial family. Where else could she go besides the Regal Department?”
“True... but can't our Knight Department welcome such a stunning beauty?” The rough men of the Knight Department beat their chests in frustration.
“You're not even asleep yet, and you're already dreaming?”
As the scroll announced loudly, “Anna Via, Regal Department!”, deafening cheers immediately erupted from the Regal Department's round table, while the students of the other departments sighed in disappointment.
“With another major figure joining the Regal Department, what are we going to do for the next Grail Tournament...”
“It's fine, brother. I'm from the Primordial Department. We just go through the motions every year anyway. I'm already used to it.”
“Next, Irene Durandal!”
At first, this name did not attract anyone's attention.
But when that dazzling woman stepped onto the stage, everyone's breath hitched.
“...Strange.”
Lynn narrowed his eyes, studying the completely different girl on the stage.
“Compared to how she was on the train, she really seems like a completely different person...”
Did her hidden second personality take over? There shouldn't be this segment in the original plot...
Her falling silver-white hair looked like precious glass. Unlike her deer-like enthusiasm on the train, her light purple pupils now showed no emotional fluctuation whatsoever.
Sharp.
Elegant.
Powerful.
She was the undisputed protagonist of the game Dawn, a terrifying monster renowned for her talent.
Like a swan that had accidentally wandered into a flock of ducks, the light she radiated was impossible to ignore.
The bustling venue quieted down, to the point where one could even hear the breathing of those around them.
It was Headmaster Anz who broke the silence. Licking its paw with a smile, it casually dropped a bombshell.
“As expected of the only student in the last thirty years to be assigned to the 'White Garden' upon enrollment.”
“Miss Irene, based on your bearing alone, you are more than worthy of the title of 'First Seat'.”
“...” As if she hadn't heard a thing, the girl standing straight on the stage made no reaction whatsoever.
Or perhaps, she disdained to acknowledge such an obvious fact.
In stark contrast to the silence on the stage, the freshmen below had already boiled over with excitement, and even some faculty members couldn't resist joining the heated discussion.
“Assigned to the White Garden right upon admission... Even Her Highness the Princess and Her Holiness the Saintess didn't have this honor...”
“Which family is this child from? She looks very unfamiliar...”
Even the goofy scroll on the stage turned serious. It stared at the indifferent girl and muttered thoughtfully:
“I can feel the passion hidden beneath your snow-like, indifferent face.”
“O natural-born powerhouse, beneath that stunning talent lies effort forged through endless tempering.”
“A messy thing like bloodline is of no value to you. You are destined to be born a king!”
“Hmm... I have decided!”
“Irene Durandal—Regal Department!”
Applause erupted like fireworks.
The surging crowd, like a tide, spread this shocking news far and wide.
Sitting there dazed, Lynn was somewhat stunned.
“As expected of the game's protagonist, this grand display is on a whole different level...”
The noisy, cheering atmosphere did not seem to affect the silver-haired girl in the slightest. She simply stood straight on the stage, her head slightly lowered, her gaze empty.
What exactly was Irene's secret second personality thinking at this moment?
Lynn couldn't help but feel a little curious.
“Next, Lynn von Reinhardt!”
Irene, who was slowly walking down the stage, paused in her tracks.
Those pupils, which had lacked focus from beginning to end, slightly lifted.
Tapping Lilian, who was cheering and clapping, Lynn slowly stood up.
On and off the stage.
Pale purple and gilded eyes locked onto each other at this moment.
Rate on N.U.
