Chapter 54

### Chapter 54: Award Ceremony (3)

Thud, thud.

A young secretary in her mid-twenties appeared at the door of the dean's office.

She was the dean's secretary, whom I often saw in the game. It's nice to see her again after a while.

"Please come in, award recipients."

The five students entered the dean's office one by one.

As soon as we entered, the first thing that caught my eye was the luxurious carpet, the leather sofas lined up, and the wooden table placed between two rows of sofas.

A huge and ornate chandelier illuminated the room, and the sunlight streaming in from the windows added to the ambiance.

Overwhelmed by the luxurious atmosphere, I belatedly noticed the person sitting at the head of the room.

The dean, who had been sitting in his chair, made eye contact with each of the students entering the office, clapped his hands, and spoke.

"Wow, all the talents of Victoria Academy are gathered here! Haha!"

Clap, clap, clap.

The dean was clapping enthusiastically in the solemn atmosphere until the secretary nudged him, and then he stopped and continued speaking.

"Sorry, I got carried away. I called you here to see the faces of those who will receive awards today. I'll be presenting the awards myself."

The secretary distributed a piece of paper to each of us.

Lucy and I received two each.

The paper outlined the awards we would receive and the general movements on stage.

"The award ceremony is scheduled for 10:00. They should be preparing for the rehearsal now, so please go to the auditorium and conduct a light rehearsal. Oh, you two, stay behind for a moment."

The dean signaled to Lucy and me, and the secretary, who had been standing behind us, left the office.

"Please follow me."

Ellis, Moon Soo-rin, and the second-year male student followed the secretary, leaving Lucy and me alone.

"Lee Ho-yeon, what's going on? Why are we the only ones left?"

"It's fine, just stay calm."

Don't you get it yet? This should be enough to understand. We're receiving a separate award at the award ceremony. Of course, it's for defeating Felix.

If you can't figure this out, you're really slow.

Maybe the incident with Felix is something you're trying to avoid remembering as a defense mechanism.

You're trying not to think about it.

If that's the case, I feel really bad.

After the students' footsteps had completely faded away, the dean spoke.

"As you might have guessed, we plan to award you for your role in identifying and subduing Mind Felix."

Lucy's face suddenly turned pale.

"Wh-what? Wait a minute!"

Thud.

I tightly held Lucy's hand, which she was about to raise.

She looked at me with a startled expression, and I shook my head, signaling her to stay quiet.

Lucy bit her lip, wanting to speak, but eventually closed her mouth.

"Hmm, of course, it's understandable to be nervous. Unlike the outstanding students, you will be receiving awards alongside the hunters."

I see, that's why the printed movements didn't include the outstanding students. We're receiving a separate award. His words to calm us down are actually making us more nervous.

Lucy's trembling became more intense.

However, something felt off.

The award is too significant. While it's true that capturing a Mind who infiltrated the academy is a huge deal and deserves a significant award, it's not something Victoria Academy would want to publicize on such a large scale.

Considering how they covered up my accident last time, they are usually quite self-serving.

But I can't ask why the award is so significant, so I decided to stay quiet.

"So, we're still considering what rewards to give you. It's almost decided, but there's some opposition."

We also received a secret agreement form in addition to the movement check printout.

What kind of reward could be so significant that it requires a secret agreement form?

The dean smiled kindly, perhaps mistaking my tense expression for nervousness.

"Don't be nervous. Think of yourselves as the main characters and be confident. Once this award ceremony is over, all the false accusations against you will disappear."

"…Yes, thank you."

We left the dean's office after he told us to participate in the rehearsal, as we had nothing else to say.

"I, I can't accept this."

After we had moved away from the dean's office, Lucy suddenly grabbed me and said.

"Lucy."

"I didn't do anything. I was just captured by Mind, and when you came to rescue me, I fainted. When I came to, I was in a hospital room. Why should I receive an award? I can't accept it."

Lucy's eyes were trembling. Her reaction was more intense than I expected.

But now, I can't say that I caught Mind alone, and we can't cancel the award ceremony.

★ Heroine Status Window

- [Affection: 93]

- [Lust: 40]

- [Hunger: 30]

- [Fatigue: 35]

Current Status: I can't accept an award after making such a big mistake.

Fortunately, the reason she doesn't want the award is because she feels guilty towards me.

If it was because she disliked anything related to Felix, I would have had to consider canceling the award ceremony for her mental health. But this is a relief.

This gives us a way forward.

"Lucy…."

"I'm sorry, really sorry, but this is too much…."

"Lucy, do this for me."

"…."

"If I say I caught Mind alone, the attention on me will be too much. There might be threats from people who are jealous of me."

Actually, when I'm trying to seduce heroines, I don't care about attention. I don't know if attention will lead to threats.

But Lucy doesn't know that.

"…Alright."

"Thank you. For thinking of me."

"No, it's good for me too. It will look good on my resume later!"

Lucy was convinced by my argument and seemed a bit more at ease knowing that receiving the award would help me.

*

"The next part will be a moment of silence to honor the hunters who sacrificed themselves in the gate suppression."

A solemn background music played as the audience began their moment of silence.

"Wow, I'm so nervous."

"Don't be nervous. It's not a big deal."

Lucy and I were waiting backstage for our turn to receive the awards.

"Not a big deal? We're next, aren't we? Ugh…."

"True."

After the hunters who contributed to the gate suppression receive their awards, it will be our turn.

But why aren't they here yet? It should be their turn soon.

"Ayoung, wait a moment. It's just a meal with colleagues. Why are you so prickly?"

"I'm sorry, I've been busy lately."

"Ayoung, wait!"

At that moment, voices of people entering the waiting area were heard.

Familiar names and voices.

Soon, a woman with black hair and fair skin entered the waiting room.

"Phew, really. Oh? Ho-yeon?"

"Ayoung, hello."

"Oh, right! They said the students who caught Mind would be at today's award ceremony! Why didn't I remember that?!"

It seems this damn academy didn't give us any information.

They really did a terrible job.

"Ayoung! Hmm?"

The man who entered later frowned when he saw me talking to Baek Ayoung and approached with a displeased look.

He scanned me up and down and then smiled, seemingly relieved.

"Ah, the students who caught Mind… I mean, the stars?"

"…."

How can someone be so unpleasant on first meeting? He's completely ignoring us just because we're students, which I don't like.

"I'm Kang Ye-chan, and I'll be receiving an award with Ayoung. I'm an A-rank hunter and work at the association."

"Nice to meet you. Ayoung, you didn't tell me you were receiving an award today."

"Well, they asked me to keep it a secret. No one outside will know, right?"

"Didn't all the association people come? It will be noticeable if only you and he are missing."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Baek Ayoung muttered, and I couldn't help but laugh.

She's surprisingly innocent. Except for her love for rape.

"Haha, you seem to know Ayoung? Where did you meet…."

"Next, please prepare!"

"Ah, I have to go. See you later!"

"Sure, good luck!"

Baek Ayoung and Kang Ye-chan followed the usher onto the stage.

I didn't see them during the rehearsal, but I hope they do well.

"Lucy, let's get ready. It's almost our turn."

"Okay. But… how do you know the Saint?"

I'm a bit scared that Lucy is starting to figure out my relationships.

"I met her while volunteering on the weekend. I'll tell you later."

"Volunteering…? You really work hard…."

"It's just a hobby, a hobby."

Everything I do is to seduce women, but Lucy looks at me as if I'm some great person.

I'll let her keep this good impression.

"Next, students, please come in!"

"Let's go."

"…Okay!"

She seems very nervous. I hope she'll be alright.

"Ugh!"

Seeing how nervous Lucy was, I gently massaged her shoulder.

"Relax. It'll be over soon."

"Ugh… okay."

- Next, we will present awards to the students who defeated Mind.

We slowly walked onto the stage.

First, bright lights greeted us, followed by a massive crowd.

The crowd was so large that I couldn't understand why we were receiving an award here.

Among them were all the academy students, high-ranking officials from the association, and leaders from major guilds. It seemed like everyone who could be sent was here.

We slowly walked to the front and stood before the dean.

"These students have set an example for society by subduing the Mind who infiltrated the academy, demonstrating responsibility and righteousness… Therefore, we present this award. Student Lee Ho-yean."

"Thank you."

I received the award from the dean as respectfully and gracefully as possible and placed it under my left arm.

"Lucy. The content is the same."

"Thank. You."

"…?"

"Kuk."

A snicker was heard from somewhere in the audience.

Lucy's face and ears turned red as she received the award.

Is being in a large crowd that nerve-wracking?

"This concludes the award ceremony."

The dean's declaration and the applause marked the end of the ceremony.

It was only about a minute for me, but how boring must it have been for the academy students sitting there? I feel for them.

Clap, clap, clap

The students' enthusiastic applause filled the auditorium.

As the thunderous applause died down, the dean spoke again.

"As the dean of Victoria Academy, I am in awe of the spirit of these two students."

Suddenly? Wasn't it over?

"I take full responsibility for the incident that occurred at the academy, where we should have safely nurtured students, and for entrusting the resolution to the students."

The dean's sudden actions left Lucy and me bewildered, and the audience looked confused.

"However, I want to reward these two students first."

The dean took a deep breath and continued.

"We will open the academy's treasure vault and donate one treasure to each of these students."

Murmurs began in the audience.

The academy's treasure vault. Honestly, I've only heard about it; I've never been there.

It's said to be filled with various artifacts and valuables collected over the ages, but that's just a rumor.

"Victoria Academy always stands on the side of the students and upholds the truth. False rumors have been attached to the heroes who defeated Mind. I want to make it clear here that Victoria Academy does not engage in star-making. That's all."

I see, that's why he said all the false rumors would disappear after the award ceremony.

If the dean says it, most of the rumors will likely disappear.

Of course, there will be some who won't believe it, but they are the same people who would call it a lie even if they saw me kill Mind.

After the dean's speech, we were called back to the dean's office.

"Well done. Lucy, you were very nervous."

"I'm sorry."

"Haha, it's fine. I was the same at your age."

The atmosphere became more relaxed after the award ceremony.

Unable to contain my curiosity about the question I had been pondering, I asked.

"Dean, may I ask a question?"

"Of course. Ask anything."

"Why are you going to such lengths? It doesn't seem to benefit the academy at all."

The question I had been holding in. The dean raised an eyebrow and sighed.

"Why are you threatening your students with such nonsense…."

"Huh?"

"Professor Im Sol has been taking care of you. I've never seen her like that before."

The dean looked very tired.

"Ah…."

Finally, I understood the secret behind the large award and the award ceremony.

*

"Here is the academy's treasure vault."

The dean drew a magic circle next to the bookshelf in his office.

With a rumbling sound, the bookshelf moved aside, revealing a secret space.

"Given its location, we had to have you sign a secret agreement. I hope you understand."

Indeed, I never imagined such a place existed.

"Okay, Ho-yeon, you go first."

I slowly entered the vault.

Inside, various weapons were displayed.

.

.

.

"I don't need any weapons…."

My goal is to fight from a safe place, even though it never works out that way.

I moved further into the vault, where various artifacts and spellbooks were kept.

"Wow… this is a must. The treasure is hidden here."

Treasure vault rule.

The best thing is usually the one that looks like trash and no one touches.

Moreover, since this isn't a treasure but trash, it would be even better if I could take one more.

"By the way, what's with the professor's support?"

Im Sol has been taking care of me, and I feel guilty for only trying to satisfy my lust.

'I should bring her good information next time without any sex,' I resolved.

As I meticulously searched through the artifacts, I found a spellbook rolling around in a corner.

"I found it. The hidden gem."

The gem I had been looking for finally revealed itself.