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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Ramieli Academy's Entrance Ceremony (4)
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'This is... an entrance ceremony?'
Zeke had imagined an academy entrance ceremony would be something like students gathering in a large auditorium, standing in neat rows.
He'd even roughly planned out what to say on the podium when it was time for introductions.
No, even if it wasn't exactly that, he'd had a certain image in mind.
But this scene was not among them.
A place a short distance from the main building.
An open space where various types of trees and flowers bloomed, clearly tended with meticulous care by gardeners.
Musicians, likely hired by the academy, were playing instruments like a grand piano, violins, and flutes.
Tables covered in white cloths were arranged throughout the open space,
and on them, buffet-style food was continuously replaced with fresh dishes as the old ones grew cold.
People in butler attire moved about with wine bottles, refilling the students' glasses as they emptied.
"Here! More wine!"
"Yes, sir."
The students, each holding a glass, moved around, scanning their surroundings as if searching for prey.
Attendants trailed behind them, assisting them.
'Are they playing follow the leader or something? Like a string of sausages... You should have told me the academy entrance ceremony was like this, Serena.'
Zeke had heard from Serena's lessons what noble banquets were like,
but having never seen one himself, he couldn't quite picture it.
One student would bump into another,
chat for a moment, then part ways to meet someone else...
'Hmm, so this is about making connections.'
Zeke's gaze shifted to a table where the older-looking individuals had gathered.
"I hear two young ladies from ducal families have enrolled this year."
"I know about the Justia girl, but who is the other...?"
"Johaiden, they say."
"Hah! Johaiden! So their young lady came to Ramieli as well. Do you happen to know her major?"
"The Knight Division, I'm told."
"The Knight Division? Why would a duke's daughter...?"
One of the professors, hearing that Serena's major was the Knight Division, widened his eyes.
"I don't know either. I just assume it's a hobby. In any case, the instructors for that course will have to be on their toes."
"Haha, a duke's daughter majoring in the Knight Division... Hmm? Ah, you're from the Cloud County. Right, have a drink. Is the family head doing well? I recall we went for massages together ten years ago in Ellei! So, back then in Ellei, I..."
And so, the faculty sat at the central table, holding court,
laughing heartily and discussing the academy's affairs.
Occasionally accepting drinks offered by students and giving words of encouragement.
While they were enjoying this amicable gathering of nobles,
Zeke stood alone in a corner, like an isolated island.
Of course, as someone who'd been privately tutored by the number one romance fantasy instructor,
Serena, Zeke had received a crash course,
so he could have managed to mingle with them to some extent,
but remembering how Serena always sighed at his body's lack of etiquette and his blunt words,
he figured it was better to just stay put.
'Besides, I can gather more information by listening from the sidelines than by joining the conversation.'
As he stood there with an expressionless, imposing air, some nobles who had been glancing his way
and had considered approaching him a few times, kept their distance.
'Hmm, has the 2nd Prince not arrived yet? She did say the higher the rank, the later they arrive... So, who could the female lead be?'
With that thought, Zeke scanned the faces of the female students one by one.
Just then, the academy's principal approached Zeke.
He too was dressed in a formal suit for the ceremony, but he looked somewhat relieved, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
"What are you doing over here?"
"Well, I'm not used to places like this."
"Is that so."
Zeke glanced around. Then, he suddenly noticed something odd.
"I have a question."
"What is it?"
"Are all the new students here? The number seems too small for an entire year."
Of course, the number was quite large if you included the servants trailing after each noble,
but they couldn't all be students.
"Ah, only the nobles are here."
"I see... Then where are the commoners?"
"Hmm... You're a bit unusual, aren't you?"
The principal stared at Zeke, as if analyzing him.
"I know you have ties to a ducal family. Why would you be curious about that?"
"I just thought it was strange."
"Strange...? Well, I suppose that's something you might say if you don't know much about the academy."
The principal nodded.
Zeke hadn't received the month-long faculty training he was supposed to have before the entrance ceremony.
So, his words were understandable to a degree, but...
The principal glanced around at the entrance ceremony he had spent a month preparing.
The memory of his hard work almost brought a tear to his eye.
Hmm. The principal sized Zeke up.
'He's under the protection of a ducal family, yet he's concerned about commoners. Why? What's his motive...? I should test him a little.'
"Do you know what rule Ramieli Academy emphasizes the most?"
"Yes. Equality."
"Correct. Ironic, isn't it? Considering the Empire is a society with a strong class system."
Equality. He'd heard it from Serena.
That all students at Ramieli Academy are treated as equals, regardless of their status.
But he also knew it was ultimately a rule in name only.
"The first principal established that rule, but I don't know why. Various reasons have been tacked on since then... but frankly, it's a ridiculous situation. Even now, the proposal to establish a class system within the academy is brought up every year."
"You mean they act as friends until graduation, but the moment they enter society, their status matters again?"
"Exactly. In the end, the wall of status cannot be overcome. So, what do you think a commoner student feels when, after being treated as an equal to nobles during their time at the academy, they are suddenly bound by their status again the moment they receive their diploma?"
Zeke recalled words from Earth like 'civil revolution'.
He didn't remember the specifics, but he knew for a fact that a lot of blood had been shed to overthrow feudalism.
It didn't seem likely that people who had tasted freedom would find it easy to submit and bow their heads again.
"They would... harbor resentment."
"Precisely. That's why we make them feel the class disparity from the very beginning. The freedom here is just a fleeting, sweet illusion. 'Don't be mistaken. You were different people from the moment you walked in.'"
A bitter laugh escaped Zeke.
"It's like trying to cover the sky with your palm."
"That's an interesting expression. You're right. It's just a temporary fix, in the end."
Listening to the principal, Zeke suddenly felt as if he'd been struck by lightning.
'Don't tell me... the female lead is a commoner!?'
As one could see, the Empire in this romance fantasy world was a nation where the class system was quite rigidly enforced.
But what if, amidst all that, there was a poor commoner girl with extraordinary talent and looks, but a low social standing?
A story where such a girl gets involved with a prince or men of unimaginably high rank and climbs the social ladder
is a classic romance fantasy plot, isn't it?
It's extremely difficult for a commoner from a shabby back alley to get involved with such people in their daily life.
But what about an academy where, at least in name, there is no class system?
And the fact that equality is a rule for no particular reason? That's a classic setup to boost the protagonist.
'And the villainess is Iriel Justia of the ducal family...'
A novel woven from all the clichés he'd ever seen materialized in his mind.
'A high-ranking noble villainess is in love with the male lead, who gets involved with a commoner! She gets jealous, pulls all sorts of schemes, and then gets her just deserts... It's... plausible!'
He didn't know when another event like this, where all the new students gathered, would happen again.
This might be the only chance to find the female lead early on in this vast academy.
No, first, I need to confirm.
"Principal."
"Hmm?"
"Will there be another event where all the new students gather like this at once?"
"Hmm, let's see... There are a few major events, but attendance is optional... I suppose the graduation ceremony would be it."
"Then do the nobles' and commoners' entrance ceremonies end at the same time?"
"No. The nobles' ceremony is a bit longer."
'I think I need to go now.'
Identifying the villainess, Iriel Justia, or the 2nd Prince here and now was also important.
But he already knew they existed and knew their names.
Rather than just waiting around until the 2nd Prince started stalking the protagonist,
what if he could identify her at the entrance ceremony, get to her first, and bring her into his class?
Then helping the female lead would naturally become much easier.
The problem was that Zeke didn't know her face or her name.
'If she's a commoner, she's bound to stand out. If you give a character a negative trait like that, you have to give them an overwhelming positive to compensate for her to qualify as a female lead.'
Zeke felt a sense of urgency.
"Where are the commoners?"
"There's a separate banquet hall behind the academy's main building."
"Would it be alright for me to go there?"
"Hmm?"
The principal furrowed his brow.
The young ladies from the Johaiden and Justia ducal families hadn't even arrived yet.
'He wants to leave before they've even arrived? What is with this guy? Did he receive orders to find a commoner beforehand?'
The principal couldn't just let Zeke go.
He didn't even know which of the two families had pushed this guy in,
and everyone in the Empire knew the two were on bad terms.
Before he arrived, one side had told them not to announce anything about Zeke, while the other had been searching for him,
causing such a fuss, and now this!
If the Johaiden young lady hadn't come in person, the academy might have had to give up on making a choice at all.
Caught between the two powerful families, he felt like a shrimp whose back was about to break.
The stress was even causing his once-luscious hair to fall out in clumps.
'On top of that, a professor leaving the entrance ceremony without even giving his greetings? Is that even conceivable?!'
The principal's expression hardened, and he spoke to Zeke in a serious tone.
'No matter what orders he's received, if he knows anything about etiquette and decorum, he'll at least respect the principal's authority.'
"Give your greetings before you go."
"It's urgent."
"Just give your greetings before you go."
"It's urgent."
"No, I'm just telling you to say hello before you leave!"
"It's urgent."
'Th-this guy, it's impossible to reason with him!'
The principal's eyes shook as if an earthquake had struck.
Just then, a handsome, middle-aged blond man with a sturdy build approached from the side.
He had green eyes and was dressed in colorful, flashy attire, but it lacked the refined taste of Zeke's clothing.
In fact, it was so haphazard and lacking in cohesion that it looked cheap.
'This guy's a real walking joke.'
Zeke suppressed a chuckle. Nice one, body.
"Principal, is something the matter?"
"Ah, Sir Dios."
"Yes, the academy's entrance ceremony is about to begin. But what are you doing here...? Hmm? And this gentleman is?"
Dios turned to the side.
Black hair, sharp eyes, and well-tailored clothes—he looked like one of the high nobles.
'He looks young, is he a student? Black hair is rare... Who is he?'
Zeke stepped forward and introduced himself.
"Zeke Kleiman. Swordsmanship instructor."
"Ah? Ah! The one!"
Hearing the name, fire flashed in Dios's eyes.
This is the guy. I've finally met him!
Because of this bastard, he'd had to do twice the work he shouldn't have had to for the past month.
Just some commoner from the military! And he found out he wasn't even a general.
He, the former commander of the Redwood County's Black Dragon Knights, had been forced to clean up after someone like that.
He had grudgingly accepted it because the academy said they couldn't do anything about it, given the guy's connections to a ducal family,
but he had been grinding his teeth in frustration all this time.
A surge of anger rose within him, but Dios assessed the situation.
'Now is not the time. Later. I'll get you back later, you damn bastard.'
"So, you're the Zeke Kleiman. I am Dios Redwood. Swordsmanship instructor."
Dios extended his hand. Zeke frowned.
Judging by the forced smile on his lips, it seemed like something bad had happened at home.
Ah, that's not important right now.
"Anyway, I'll be leaving now."
"Wait!"
The principal, startled, grabbed Zeke.
Dios, who still had one hand awkwardly extended, felt a vein pop on his forehead.
'This son of a bitch! He's ignoring me?!'
He retracted his outstretched hand as if nothing had happened and asked,
"What's going on?"
"Dios, you have to stop him too. Instructor Zeke Kleiman says he's leaving the entrance ceremony without giving his greetings."
"He said he won't... give his greetings?"
'What the hell is this guy...? Does he have no sense? He's going to leave with royalty and ducal families here?'
By Dios's standards, it was an utterly incomprehensible act.
'But if that's the case... all the better. The 2nd Prince and the ducal young ladies haven't arrived yet. If this guy disappears now, I can redirect their attention to myself. Plus, he'll be seen as a presumptuous fool with no common sense.'
He thought the guy might be someone special because of his ducal connections, but it seemed he was just a lucky idiot.
Having quickly finished his thoughts, Dios smiled brightly and said,
"Ah, you must have urgent business! Then of course you must go! I'll handle your introduction!"
"Sir Dios! You!"
The principal looked at Dios, startled.
Zeke nodded.
'Oh, this bastard's got some sense. +1 point.'
Zeke gave the principal a cursory greeting and quickly left the ceremony.
'Female lead. Take my class!!!!'
* * *
By now, the noble students had mostly eaten their fill and finished their greetings.
Just before the first part of the entrance ceremony was about to begin.
"Announcing the arrival of Lady Serena Johaiden, daughter of the Johaiden ducal family!"
"Announcing the arrival of Lady Iriel Justia, daughter of the Justia ducal family!"
The two voices rang out, overlapping. Everyone in the venue turned their heads.
"What?"
"Who was that? Gasp, Johaiden! And Justia!"
"Johaiden and Justia, together?!"
The students, unable to hear clearly due to the overlapping voices,
looked toward the entrance and gasped in shock.
However, the academy had chosen to announce both families at the same time,
even if it sounded strange, rather than make the mistake of calling one before the other.
They would rather be told they were lacking in etiquette
than earn the resentment of one of the families over something so trivial.
'Why, why... did those two have to arrive at the same time!! Zeke, Zeke Kleiman!!!'
Of course, the one who had given that order was none other than the principal. Clutching his throbbing stomach, he screamed Zeke's name in his head.
And weren't they, upon entering, immediately scanning the faculty section as if looking for someone!
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