"You guys are finally here!"
Counselor Cao rushed forward the moment Lucas and his friends arrived at the entrance of the auditorium, his expression a mix of relief and anxiety. He had called their phones multiple times, pacing nervously in the corridor. As the organizer responsible for their class, if something went wrong—especially with one of the freshman representatives—he would be held partially accountable.
The entire hall was already filled. Students had taken their seats according to their departments, and Lucas was one of the last four missing, despite being the main speaker for the night.
Thankfully, he'd made it. There were still a few minutes before the event officially started.
"Lucas, take this!" Counselor Cao shoved a laminated sign into his hand. "Get backstage now. They're about to call you up. Hurry!"
"Got it."
Lucas didn't waste time arguing. If only they'd given me more notice... I had to sprint after writing that speech in under an hour!
He rushed backstage, where a makeup artist gave him a quick tidy-up. A little powder, a quick fix of his hair.
Lucas looked at his reflection in the mirror and grinned smugly.
"Still handsome," he said to himself.
But as he turned, he spotted someone else already waiting backstage—Amelia Su.
She had changed into a long, elegant dress, and though she still looked timid and small, there was something ethereal about her in that outfit. The soft glow from the vanity lights gave her an almost angelic aura.
When she saw Lucas, her shoulders dropped slightly in relief.
She was terrified. Not because of him, but because if he hadn't shown up, she might have been forced to go on stage alone—or worse, deliver the speech herself.
"Lucas..." she whispered.
It was the first time he heard her say his name. Her voice was almost inaudible—like a breeze that barely reached the ear.
He smiled warmly. "Sorry I'm late. The clock was against me."
She shook her head, still saying nothing, but there was gratitude in her eyes.
Meanwhile, the auditorium was buzzing. Students filed in by class and section, taking their assigned seats. The welcome party was about to begin.
Lucas peeked out from backstage and quickly spotted the familiar faces of Zach, Leon, and Noah among the crowd.
Turning to Amelia, he asked gently, "Hey, what class are you in for the Defense Department?"
"...Class Three," she said, almost whispering again.
"Nice," Lucas nodded. "We'll be close, at least."
He kept talking to her—not just to make small talk, but to calm her nerves. Her hands were trembling slightly, and her breaths were shallow. He figured conversation might anchor her a bit.
Soon, the auditorium lights dimmed.
The show began.
The opening acts were performed by senior students—colorful, energetic performances that ranged from singing to martial demonstrations. The crowd cheered, clapped, and settled into a festive mood.
Then came the host—a poised senior in high heels, who walked gracefully to the center of the stage.
"Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the official Kyoto University Freshman Welcome Party!"
The students roared with excitement.
Next, the host introduced the school leadership sitting in the front row, including the university's principal and the dean of students.
They all stood briefly and nodded at the crowd, earning another wave of applause.
Then, the principal stepped up for a brief but powerful speech. Though in his sixties, his voice was strong and his words inspiring. He spoke about the values of courage, honor, and growth, setting a hopeful tone for the night.
Applause echoed through the auditorium.
Finally, the host called the next event.
"Now, please welcome our two selected freshman representatives—Lucas from the Damage Department, and Amelia Su from the Defense Department—to share a few words on behalf of the new students!"
Backstage, Lucas turned to Amelia and offered his hand.
"Let's go. You've got this."
She nodded stiffly, her face pale. Lucas could tell she was close to a panic attack.
Still, together, they stepped onto the stage.
From the crowd, excited whispers rose.
"Isn't that the guy who ranked first in the national assessment?"
"And her—that's the rumored SS-Level Shield Knight!"
Lucas strode forward confidently to the podium. He placed his manuscript neatly in front of him—not because he needed it, but to use as a visual guide.
He had memorized the whole thing.
"Dear faculty, honored guests, and fellow students—good evening!" Lucas began, his voice clear and charismatic.
His opening line drew polite applause. He smiled as he continued.
"First of all, I'd like to express my deepest gratitude on behalf of all freshmen. Thank you for welcoming us into this community..."
Lucas's confidence was unshakable. He barely glanced at the paper. The words flowed effortlessly, and his tone was calm and sincere.
Meanwhile, Amelia stood beside him, frozen in place.
She didn't look at the crowd.
She didn't move.
She focused on a bright ceiling light above the audience, pretending the nearly 1,000 students didn't exist.
But even that tactic was failing.
Her legs were shaking slightly. Her posture became rigid. Cold sweat began to form on her forehead.
Lucas, noticing her condition from the corner of his eye, sped up his delivery. He quietly cut a few lines out of his speech and moved toward the closing remarks.
In the crowd, people were starting to whisper.
"Is she okay?"
"She's just standing there… not blinking."
Among the sharp-eyed, the change in Amelia's demeanor was obvious.
Back in the Class 1 section, Zach, Leon, and Noah all looked tense.
"This isn't good," Leon whispered.
"If she collapses, it'll be a disaster," Zach muttered, watching nervously.
It wasn't just about embarrassment—it would reflect badly on the university and on Amelia, whose SS-Level reputation was already drawing attention.
---
Meanwhile, hidden in a back corner of the auditorium, sat another familiar figure—Leon Cross.
He was in Class 5 of the Damage Department, and though he tried to look inconspicuous, his sharp eyes were locked on the stage.
He clenched his fists.
Lucas.
The guy who beat him in every category. The one who got the spotlight. The one who was now standing under stage lights while Leon sat in the dark.
Just lucky, Leon told himself. He got a hidden profession and an S-Level talent. That's all. I've worked harder. I've earned more. And soon, I'll rise above him.
Leon's father—the president of a major adventurer's guild—had recently wired him a huge fund. He planned to use it to recruit top freshmen, form his own elite squad, and eventually establish a formal guild at Kyoto University.
In high school, Leon had fooled everyone with a fake personality. As class president, he'd manipulated situations, pulled strings, and masked his ambition. That wouldn't change now.
He already had a target list of students to recruit.
And Lucas? Lucas wasn't on that list.
Because Lucas is a lone wolf. No team, no backing. He'll shine for a moment, then fade.
Leon Cross was sure of one thing:
No matter how strong you are alone, you can't take on the world by yourself.
Tonight, let him have his moment.
"Soon," Leon thought, "it'll be me standing there."
Then, from his seat, Leon noticed Amelia swaying slightly. A thin grin formed on his lips.
"Something's about to go wrong," he whispered to himself.
He leaned back in his chair, eyes gleaming with quiet satisfaction.
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