Chapter 63

Chapter 13: Enrollment Ceremony

After stepping inside the main gate.

"Wow!"

Manuel opened his mouth wide at the sight of the vast grounds and buildings visible through the window.

'This is no joke.'

Even to me, who had seen massive university buildings in my previous life, the Royal Academy was quite astonishing.

The beautifully landscaped maze garden, the wide training grounds, the facilities hidden behind walls, and the buildings that seemed to be more than five stories tall, including the dozens of-story-high central tower.

Compared to the buildings in the capital, which rarely exceeded five stories, this was even more astonishing.

"I heard that the magic ability users put in a lot of effort, but I didn't expect it to be this impressive."

"When the central tower was built, they even invited a Great Mage, so I've heard."

As Manuel and the butler spoke, I looked at the towering tower in the distance.

The round high-rise tower I had seen in my previous life stood tall under the name of a tower.

No matter how I looked at it, it was a building that didn't fit in with this world, towering so high.

A Great Mage... Could they be talking about one of the heroes from the Great War?

While thinking about the heroes of the Great War, the carriage passed various facilities and arrived in front of a large building.

It was a massive marble building that looked like a temple.

However, this building was not a religious one but the central auditorium of the Academy where the new student enrollment ceremony would take place.

It was used for large events, and all the people entering the Academy were heading towards this building.

The carriage stopped, and after the butler got out, I stepped out first.

All eyes turned to me.

"The Duke of Gresia's family."

"I heard that their second son is enrolling this time."

"So, the one who just got out is the second prince?"

"No, I don't think so. I heard the second prince didn't have a physical awakening. He looks more like a physical ability user or a knight."

"Then who is he?"

I could hear the murmurs around me clearly without even gathering mana in my ears.

Indeed, it was fitting for a family with a high reputation in the kingdom. No one was unfamiliar with them.

Moreover, while everyone knew about Manuel's enrollment, no one knew about mine.

The capital was said to be more discriminatory, and I felt the reality of it as soon as I entered the Academy, a bitter smile forming on my face.

'I don't need to attract attention from the start.'

I subtly moved behind the butler standing next to the carriage door.

It looked like I was waiting for Manuel to get out next. The butler seemed satisfied with my appearance, and people's gazes shifted from me back to the carriage.

Then Manuel got out of the carriage.

"It's Prince Manuel!"

"He's the second prince, right?"

The murmurs of the crowd.

Although not the heir, as the second son of a duke and with his mother being from a renowned marquis family, it was natural for people's gazes to be drawn to him.

'Simon must have caused quite a stir when he entered.'

If the second son could cause this much attention, I could only imagine what it was like when the heir arrived.

As Manuel got out of the carriage, the crowd's murmurs turned into exclamations of admiration.

Manuel's appearance as he got out of the carriage was not much different from a prince in a shoujo manga.

His elegant attire, restrained smile, and graceful movements. Even without the background of a duke's family, it was clear he was a high-ranking noble.

Indeed, the education of the duke's family was impressive.

Even the annoying Manuel could look like this. I wanted to clap for him in my heart.

Manuel looked around and then smiled slightly when he saw me.

'Oh, it's good.'

No matter how the packaging changed, Manuel was still Manuel.

"Let's go in."

As the carriage left, Manuel composed himself and walked towards the auditorium.

I followed behind him, and the butler followed me.

The people who had been looking at Manuel were curious about my identity but turned their heads when they heard the next sound.

Manuel and I, who were heading to the auditorium, did the same.

"It's Princess Aisha de Carlos' carriage! Everyone, bow in respect to the authority of the royal family!"

For the first time, I saw the scene from my previous life where cars parted to the sides and stopped.

The carriages that had been following us split to the sides and stopped abruptly.

Then, a magnificent carriage approached, cutting through the center.

A man in court attire sitting next to the driver was shouting the same words at the top of his lungs.

People moved and lowered their bodies.

Commoners knelt on both knees and bowed, and nobles stood on the sides of the road and bowed their heads.

I also bowed my head.

Although I was a bastard, I had awakened, so I didn't need to prostrate myself like the commoners.

The different treatment from my previous life made me feel uncomfortable, but at least I didn't have to get my knees dirty.

However, my heart was pounding.

I should have left earlier or later. To meet like this...

While bowing and waiting, I heard the carriage stop and people getting out.

"Princess Aisha de Carlos is passing! Everyone, show respect!"

The same voice rang out again.

The first king who founded the Academy issued a royal decree that all students, whether royal or noble, were the same Academy students.

It was a command to promote education and unify the kingdom, but as time passed, I heard that the power structure within the Academy had become complex.

However, the royal decree was generally followed. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for royals, nobles, and commoners to attend the same classes.

But since it was before the enrollment, everyone had to bow to the princess's procession.

I could feel people passing in front of me while I was bowing.

I could have known who was passing by spreading mana around, but in this place where royals, nobles, and knights were gathered, such an action would not have gone unnoticed.

So, I kept praying in my heart.

'Please pass by. Please just pass by. Don't talk to me, don't pretend to know me, just pass by.'

But the footsteps stopped in front of me.

'Damn!'

"Lord Alex?"

A girl's voice I had heard recently came from right in front of me.

"Is that you? Look up."

It's over. It's definitely over. Everyone's head was bowed, but I could feel everyone's gaze on me.

I wanted to run away, but I couldn't disobey the princess.

I cautiously lifted my head.

"Lord Alex! That's great. I was worried about entering the enrollment ceremony without knowing anyone, so let's go in together."

The young princess was looking at me with sparkling eyes.

Behind her, I could see royal knights, the royal butler and maids I had seen at the palace, and Catherine, who was looking at me with an apologetic face.

And the innocent-looking princess, but her eyes were strangely curved.

It was intentional. Definitely intentional.

She didn't say it out of ignorance; she said it on purpose.

When we first met, I had a vague feeling, but this young princess was clearly very cunning despite her age.

"Everyone, look up. We'll be classmates from now on, so I won't accept such formalities anymore."

The princess loudly addressed everyone.

Everyone lifted their heads and looked at me and the princess with question marks above their heads.

I was completely cornered. My peaceful Academy life was over.

No, for a bastard, the princess suggesting we move together would inevitably plunge me into the rough political waters of the capital.

"Hurry up."

At the princess's words, I looked around awkwardly.

Manuel's eyes were twitching, and the butler also looked uncomfortable.

"Oh, you're Prince Manuel, right? Nice to meet you."

At the princess's words, Manuel fumbled with his greeting.

It was a moment when the excellent education of the duke's family crumbled.

"Would you like to come with us? I've heard a lot about you from Lord Alex."

I've never said a word to her...

Anyway, Manuel's expression brightened at the princess's words, and our group headed to the auditorium with the princess's group.

Ugh, the gazes are burning. It feels like being stabbed by a sharp sword.

This way, I would definitely become the most popular star on the first day of school.

'Damn, suicide. That's the only way.'

I couldn't continue my Academy life like this.

I had never committed suicide before, and the pain of death was terrifying, but I couldn't endure this turmoil.

I decided to commit suicide at night after the enrollment ceremony.

With the sound of Manuel and the princess talking in the background, I entered the enrollment ceremony hall.

At that moment, a message appeared in front of my eyes.

What?!

* * *

It was a strangely similar yet different enrollment ceremony from the one I had experienced in my previous life.

The large hall, which exuded a temple-like atmosphere, was filled with many people.

Lights that looked like magic lamps hung from the ceiling, illuminating the hall, and famous paintings and sculptures hung on the walls, enhancing the hall's dignity.

Several long tables were lined up in the center of the hall, and new students of various ages and backgrounds sat on both sides.

From young girls to young men, from princesses to commoners.

And at the back of the hall, people who had come with the students, such as family and attendants, were gathered.

I was sitting in front of the long tables with the new students.

Ideally, I wanted to sit in a corner where no one would notice me, but I was sitting at the table right in front of the teachers.

Naturally, it was because of the princess sitting next to me.

Moreover, it was because of the teacher I knew, who was waving at the princess and me from the front.

Catherine, the princess's aunt and a former mercenary, was sitting with other teachers and waving at us.

Grinding my teeth.

The princess and her aunt were ganging up on me.

Moreover, the ability that had been helping me had just betrayed me.

Setting a 'save point' upon entering the Academy was the first time a 'save point' had been created without dying since the awakening day.

Including the awakening day, it was the second time in my life.

Perhaps the ability that allowed me to revive from a 'save point' after death was different from what I had thought.

Until now, I had thought it was similar to the 'inherited ability' and that the 'save point' created on the awakening day was due to the interference of the inherited ability.

However, the 'save point' just created had nothing to do with the ability. It was triggered by a specific event, the enrollment in the Academy.

'Does it happen by events or triggers? Is dying also a kind of event?'

Although nothing was certain yet, the different result from my previous thoughts deepened my contemplation.