Quit The Hero Party

EP.16 Entrance Ceremony

The road leading to Apuria Academy is lined with trees. The petals of the flowers blooming on either side of the path are a soft pink. They are cherry blossoms.

The wind blows, scattering the cherry blossoms.

As I gaze at the petals strewn along the tree-lined road, I suddenly notice my shoes.

Shiny, dark blue dress shoes.

The shoes that my Master inexplicably bought for me while I was going to the Academy. I felt uneasy about them, constantly glancing at my feet.

Worry wurries…

“It feels like I shouldn’t get them dirty.”

Originally, I wore military boots.

To cross the swamp of the demon realm, dozens of spells were embedded into them, and I reinforced the boots with metal plates to gain any advantage in battle.

Compared to those military boots, these dress shoes…

Step step…

“…You don’t have to walk so carefully; they won’t wrinkle or wear out. Hurry up and walk normally.”

“Ahaha…”

I forced a smile and followed my Master. Something felt off. It’s as if the peaceful atmosphere was making the back of my neck itch.

Itchy itchy…

“Why do I feel like the Demon Lord’s Army will pop up any second now?”

Such thoughts kept creeping into my mind. Those lunatics seemed to destroy anything beautiful just to relieve their frustration, raiding during festivals.

Of course, I mentally assured myself that such a thing wouldn’t happen.

I was right in the middle of the royal capital.

Countless knights were on standby.

There was no way the Demon Lord’s Army would appear here. And yet, I was gripped by this unnecessary tension.

As a habit, I fiddled with the spells stored in my fingers. By rubbing my fingers together, I needed to confirm that the amount of stored spells was sufficient to feel somewhat at ease.

Fidget fidget…

“This is truly a sickness.”

I chuckled bitterly.

It had been about five years since I wandered the battlefield.

A mere fifth of my life.

But those five years had embedded a sense that made me feel strange about what I should be accustomed to.

Hmm…

“I have a feeling that something shouldn’t be here.”

With a sigh, I shifted my steps and soon arrived at the academy’s main gate.

“Hold on for a moment.”

My Master, standing at the main gate, turned around.

I met his gaze. Then, my Master opened his mouth.

“You will stand on the podium with me, so go wait in the waiting room. Come out when your name is called.”

“Yes.”

“I will be preparing with the dean, so…”

He paused, stroking his chin.

Then he looked at me and blurted out.

“Your neck looks bare.”

“Pardon?”

“And your robe seems messy.”

“Is that so? I thought I had it all sorted out.”

Regardless, my Master didn’t seem entirely satisfied. He beckoned me closer.

“Come here.”

As I took a step closer, my Master reached out.

“Raniel.”

“Yes.”

“Once you cross that door, I won’t call your name for a while. I’ll be calling you Rania, and you will be treated accordingly.”

He smooths out his wrinkled fingers on his crumpled collar. He loosens the string of his loosely tied robe and ties it again.

“So, Rania.”

My Master looks at me.

“Straighten your shoulders. Why are you already hunching like that?”

Tap…

His hand poked my shoulder, and I chuckled bitterly.

“Master, your language has become rough.”

“I was always rough.”

“Well, who else would I learn from?”

“You still refuse to say a word, huh?”

My Master chuckled darkly.

Soon, he took something out of his pocket and placed it in my hand.

“You forgot this.”

“……..”

“Since your neck looks bare, why not wear that?”

I silently stared at what was held in my palm.

A familiar texture, a familiar weight, a familiar size.

It was the sash I had snatched back from Refe.

“Just keep your shoulders straight, you foolish disciple.”

Grip…

Is it true?

I chuckled bitterly and squeezed the sash tightly.

“Yes, Master.”

2.

The cradle of stars, Apuria Academy.

Apuria buzzed with individuals gathered to admire the geniuses of the era who were enrolling there.

– Is that someone from the North…?
– I can see the twilight child who the dean recommended actively…

In a spot slightly removed from that noise.

– Look over there.
– The Master of the Red Tower, the Blue Tower… They are all gathered?
– That means this year’s new students must be exceptional.

The VIP seats prepared for high-ranking officials. It was no surprise that attention turned to those seated there, considering who they were.

Red, Blue, White, Green, Black.

The masters of each tower, bestowed with colors by the royal family.

All the tower masters except the Ashen Mage sat in the VIP seats, watching the new students standing on the podium with great interest.

– Four students representing the new students…

Only four students stood on the podium.

They were the legendary geniuses, their names having spread far and wide even before enrollment.

The North’s Confucius, the Battle Mage Lac.

The Ashen Mage’s successor, the Summoner Resti.

The Nightmare of the Slums, the Shaman Belnoa.

And, standing at the forefront, representing them all, the princess of this country. Stella Ayla.

The gazes of the tower masters observing them were brimming with interest. Each talent they possessed appeared to them like beautiful flowers.

While admiring these talents, the Red Tower Master suddenly spoke up.

“Is that the North’s Confucius they speak of?”

“Yes, indeed. He has been playing in the snowy mountains with the duke’s knights since childhood. He won’t fall behind even the veteran knights in combat sense, I bet.”

The White Tower Master, Selly, smiled.

Due to the nature of the White Tower located in the North, she often had opportunities to meet Lac, the duke’s only son. Thus, it was only natural for her to become Lac’s magic instructor.

Smile, smile…

“Of course, initially it was a means to get on the good side of the Northern Duke, but…”

“That’s no longer the case.”

Lac had become the most formidable mage among those nurtured by her.

“Fufu.”

Looking at Lac on the podium, Selly felt pride swelling within her. She had raised that once barbaric Confucius to such heights.

Selly straightened up and opened her mouth.

“Dare I say, if thrown into actual combat, I believe the most outstanding among those four would be Prince Lac.”

“Well, I beg to differ, White.”

Selly frowned.

The Black Tower Master sitting next to her chuckled lightly and pointed to one side of the podium.

“You haven’t witnessed that child who annihilated the Nightmare of the Slums, have you?”

“What do you mean by that, Black?”

“Just as I say. No matter how good one’s combat sense may be, can they top someone who’s actually killed?”

The Black Tower Master, Yetual, shrugged.

“Belnoa is a monster, a monster. It’s the first time I’ve felt such discomfort while teaching someone.”

“Hmm? Is that so?”

“He has a completely different wildness than the warriors of the North.”

A strange tension flowed between Selly and Yetual.

As their gazes clashed in the air, an uneasy atmosphere was created. The masters nearby sighed inwardly.

Another round has begun…

Was it due to the difference of the colors Black and White, or was it because of their opposing dispositions? These two would always engage in such subtle mind games whenever they gathered in such places.

If Ashen were here, this wouldn’t happen…

The Red Tower Master, Rurian, clicked his tongue briefly.

In the middle of the battle of Black and White.

If the owner of that now-empty Ashen seat had been present, neither Black nor White would have dared to speak; all the tower masters would have fallen silent as well.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that’s a good thing…

Seeing them squabble so disgracefully, I thought it was much better to remain silent like a mute.

“Now, we know your students are exceptional, so let’s keep quiet and continue watching. After all, we didn’t gather here just to brag about our students, did we?”

“Yes… that is true.”

The Red Tower Master’s words prompted the Black and White to shut their mouths.

“Don’t forget the main purpose.”

Although the tower masters had come to witness the talents, the main goal was something else.

The Ashen Elder, Rosel van Trias.

His vehemently guarded adopted daughter.

Rania van Trias.

Hearing that she had been appointed as an assistant professor at Apuria Academy, the tower masters decided to witness the entrance ceremony.

It was a chance to see that girl who had never made a public appearance before.

And, an opportunity to verify her potential.

Moreover, if by any chance, her potential was deemed comparable to the Ashen Mage, Raniel…

No matter what happened.

Even if it means making her a cripple, she must not be allowed to go to another tower.

Rurian thought that way.

And he was sure that the other tower masters were thinking similarly. After all, they would remember how the gap between the towers had uncontrollably widened because of Raniel in the past.

The black and white that used to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ashen crumbled.

The red, which had always been at the highest point, fell.

Regardless of the differences in height, an absolute superiority never existed among the towers, and a hierarchy was formed.

All of that was thanks to the Ashen Mage, Raniel. This all happened within the two years during which he took on the role of the next tower master.

If only he had stayed a little longer in the Ashen Tower after joining the Hero Party, he could have potentially made another tower vanish…

Had he stayed in the Ashen Tower a bit longer, one of the five towers, excluding Ashen, might have disappeared.

So, I must never let such a tragedy happen again.

The tower masters glared at the podium with fiery eyes as the introductions of the students concluded and the faculty began to ascend the podium.

The professors in charge of specific classes, such as Combat Magic, Alchemy, Magical Engineering, and Summoning Magic, took turns stepping up.

Following them, the name of the professor responsible for the most fundamental subjects was called.

– Professor Rosel van Trias.

The subject in charge was the fundamentals of mana and transactions.

The foundational subject for all magical sciences.

An elderly man in his fifties walked out from one side of the podium. Although he was over 50, the deep lines of age still felt sharp. Several mages held their breath in the face of that sharp gaze.

– The associate professor, Miss Rania van Trias.

As the audience held their breath, a woman followed Rosel onto the podium. Her ash-colored hair swayed with every movement. The edges of her slightly long robe fluttered in the wind.

A graceful and beautiful girl.

A girl who seemed to be standing between youth and maturity.

Silence…

The eyes of the tower masters narrowed.

Their mana-enhanced gazes pierced through the girl standing on the podium. They scrutinized her mana, her potential, everything about her.

Just for a moment.

…There’s nothing.

The Red Tower Master blinked.

The amount of mana is minimal. There’s no sign of her having frequently used specific spells either.

A completely mediocre potential.

Finding that fact strange, the Red Tower glanced to his side. The White, Green, and Blue Towers all showed the same reaction.

“Cough, cough. Ahem.”

Only the Black Tower showed a different reaction.

The Black Tower Master seemed to choke and hastily averted his gaze. The Red Tower tilted his head at that reaction.

“What… did you see? I felt nothing.”

“Me too. She seems to have a strong ability to control mana, but… the quantity is insignificant.”

“I concur.”

“From my view, it’s not much different.”

As other tower masters chimed in, the Black still remained silent. Sweat even beaded on his forehead.

“…It’s nothing.”

The Black Tower Master only kept that to himself.

“…Well, I suppose we don’t need to worry about her for now.”

“That seems to be the case. Since Rosel has brought her on as an adopted daughter, we should keep an eye on her for a bit longer…”

“She isn’t standing out immediately, so it’s nothing to be cautious about, I suppose.”

Thus, the discussion was wrapped up.

As the other tower masters continued to chatter, the Black lowered his head.

Am I the only one who saw it?

The Black Tower Master’s eyes trembled.

Though these folks always dismissed the stock, they likely would not have seen it.

Before the Ashen Mage, Raniel, redefined the concept of spell stock, the only tower that studied spell stock was the Black Tower.

As such…

The owner of the Black Tower, Yetual, had seen it.

Only he could realize it.

The stock spell.

Since nothing could be felt, Yetual verified it one last time and had to stop there.

Couldn’t see it.

He could not even estimate how many there were.

Chaotic, tangled spells filled his mind, and Yetual couldn’t begin to make sense of them.

“Black?”

“…What do you want?”

“Just so you know, the discussion has come to that conclusion. For the time being, let’s keep an eye on her.”

“…”

“No matter how much Rosel has partially retired from the Ashen Tower, he is still an elder. His reputation is not to be underestimated. It wouldn’t be wise to provoke his disciple hastily just yet.”

The Red Tower stated that and nodded.

“Moreover, it doesn’t seem necessary to provoke her. She doesn’t appear to have promising potential.”

Ha…

Yetual couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

Just a room full of blind men.

“…What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. Just thought you might be squinting a bit.”

“What on earth does that reaction mean? What did you see, Yetual?”

He saw something, of course.

But Yetual had no intention of revealing it carelessly. It seemed that only he had noticed that girl’s true potential.

“I will take my leave first.”

“…Well, off you go.”

Leaving behind the reluctant responses of the tower masters, Yetual rose from his seat.

Rania van Trias.

The Black Tower Master remembered that name.

Author’s Note

Surprise! Ba-ba-boom!

After stacking up 15 chapters, we went Plus!

Thank you for such a great response after just 15 chapters, and for having fun reading!

So, where’s the commemoration for the transition, you ask?

I’m sorry…

But Monday is a regular day off!

I needed a day to heal my weary soul on Sunday, which has become more than just a holiday; it’s now a deadline day…

Thank you always, and I hope for your continued support!

*04/07 Changed subtitle (Start of Term Ceremony -> Entrance Ceremony.)