Chapter 19: Opening Ceremony (3)
Then after a moment of silence he faking cough.
"Anyway senior... I apologized for my rude behavior either in the past or right now."
This is the first time he got an honest face... Which meant he never planned to harm me? I guess he only saving Silva sister because that a traits of hero! Ah, what a troublesome fellow. I shook my head slightly before I opening my mouth.
"No, I should thanks you for that. Because your timely intervention, I didn't crossing my bottom line."
When I said that he look dumbfounded for the first time and he smile genuinely. I could see a little tear at the edge of his eye. I guess he is relieved that I didn't put charge on him, while also forgiving him. Now this is a win-win situation. I better show him my honesty if I want to live. Yes, I should hug his thick thigh! I am not vilain anymore, I am just a lazy noble which want to make small business and live a cozy life with my wife.
"It wasn't a problems as that the only way I could do that. I am really sorry if I put any harm to you, I never meant it. Also my apology to the person beside you for showing hostility. My name is Dapper, as you can see I am a commoner."
"Ah, Dapper what a wonderful name. As expected from someone like you after all. My name is Zein Dageraad although I am sure you have heard my name, and this is my personal butler Rum."
"Indeed, I already know your name senior. Your notorious is far wide known. It really nice to meet you, seems like it correct to not judge book by it cover and not to judge a person by their rumors."
"No, you're too kind junior. I only turn over new leaf. All those rumors is correct."
"Pardon me?"
"Yes, after those events with Hana I already turn over a new page in my life."
"Really?! That is a great news!"
Somehow hearing my explanation he gotten excited and happy to the roof... Seriously this hero definitely got a some loose screw in his brain! He suddenly hug me making Rum wary, I stopping him at once. He finally realized what have he done as he released me from his bear hug. This guy got a super strength, it definitely on the same level as father or even more?! Yep, I won't got in his bad side, I would die for sure even with my magic... He look at me embarrassed as he scratching his own head. Now I completely sure, it either he got reincarnated before or he already know this world story. Since it pretty abnormal action coming from a stranger. Now which one is it? Is it reincarnator? Or a transported person which known the story line of this world.
"M-my apologies, I've done something rude again. You just remind me of someone that I know before."
"Someone that you know?"
"Yes he is a friend that—"
Then before he could finish his story the 4th bells rung through the academy.
"Damn, I got a speech to make."
"Ah... Then I would guide you, I know a shortcut to the auditorium from here."
"You're really a life saver. You have my gratitude."
With that Rum guiding us, as we follow him from behind. I am running slowly while acting desperate since he definitely know I am a failure. It would be weird if I suddenly could catch up with him. But something unexpected happen, he carried me in princess carry. What the fuck dude?! Are you a gay? I am sorry I definitely straight! I could only stare at him dumbfounded.
"My apology, senior. But now, we could goes faster."
Looking at us Rum frown before moving faster... And yeah we arrive at the auditorium under 2 minutes, which usually took 40 minutes by foot from the normal route, while around 20 min by the short cut... So they definitely moving as fast as a car before... He put me down as we nearing the auditorium, my hair is messy because of him. Rum come to my side and fixing it right away... Making me uncomfortable, because the hero staring at us. Okay this definitely feel weird! Why are they seems like jealous wife?! I am faking cough, as I braiding my hair to ponytail.
"Anyway this is where we part ways. Also if that guide of yours making a trouble, just said to him that I took the cone away, and holding you back to play with you. Do give undertones in the play word, if it as you said before. That guy definitely know me."
"I understand senior. Thank you for guiding me back."
He took a last glance at me with complicated gaze which seems happy, before going inside. I am waiting for a moment before I made my stride inside. Rum didn't said anything as usual, but his wariness disappeared once that guy got inside.
When I got inside the procession still going as right now it the welcoming speech from the junior upperclassmen. So it means it Lein turn after him. This is a completely boring occasion for me. Since what they said is always in template, and too good to be true. Like what he said right now, the worst part is it too long!
"It feel like yesterday I was a freshman like you, now I am already a junior. My journey this past 2 years in our academy taught me many things. The academy and teacher not only teaching my major study, they also teach me how to be responsible, and sensible for our academy. My senior and junior student also taught me to love and took care each other. I learn so many things here just in 2 years, my mastery in broad sword increasing by day. What more my magic getting stronger, I could use advance magic. I was really barely able to used beginner magic when I was freshman. But our teacher never give up on me, while my friends, the senior keep encouraging me in my circle."
And it goes on and on. All of it about how was him in the freshman year, then how much gratitude he felt for the teachers, afterwards he talk about his circle and friends which he felt another gratitude. Then it finally ended with his real welcoming speech.
"—that why all I wanted to say is, now is your chance to start something here in our academy. You could be anything in here, and we your senior from the Junior years would always help and welcoming you with open arms. Welcome to Magic Academy, your future is bright!"
The teacher and Junior years, give him applause and made the other following up with applause. Some even cheering his name as he walk off the podium. Then the mc of the opening ceremony step up back to the podium. Surprisingly it Elsa which I met this morning.
"Thank you senior Kane for your wonderful welcoming speech for our freshman. Please give senior Kane another applause."
With that another round of applause happen once again... I could see the figure of Kane nodding his head. When it finally quiet down, Elsa opening her mouth again
"Now, the next one would be an opening speech from my year. Which unfortunately it not this beautiful me."
The audience laugh a little.
"But don't be disappointed, because this one definitely not a single strain ugliest than me. Please welcome, the first rank of sophomore year, Lein Dageraad!"
When her name got called Lein stand up from her seat which near the front. All around her are from Artemis, he look around then our gaze meet with each other. Her smile suddenly change to mischievous... I got a bad feeling about it. She made her stride slowly and gracefully, as she goes to the podium. Every step she make, made an ice mark on the ground... What are you planning to do twin?? My anxious raising, as I could feel her excited emotion... No, seriously what are you planning?!
At the podium she bow gracefully in curtsy to Elsa.
"Thank you Elsa, for your lovely introduction."
Then she turn back to the audience.
"Today, I won't said too much as I am sure most of you already bored to death from the inspirational speech which seems like template from time to time."
The audience hold their laugh as she make her opening.
"But hey, I can't just end it like that since I would got in trouble with our respectful headmaster, teacher and my friend in the same years."
I could tell the freshman definitely holding their laugh. Okay twin did you want to do a stand up comedy or something. She then make a relaxed stance on the podium like she definitely telling a joke.
"Well at least I wasn't like you right now, I could stand up here and relieved my lower body from sitting for too long. I seriously thankful and feeling honored to our teacher for this moment up here. At least I doesn't need to give a reason using the restroom to just stand up and walking around."
I could see the teacher already sweating right now on the podium, as Elsa tried her best to keep her silence. While I could tell our student year definitely dumbfounded so do those from Artemis. I could see Zack opening his mouth wide open on the edge of my eyes.
"Okay, okay I'll stop jesting now, since I would be killed by our senior if I keep ruining their wonderful speech. Anyway as per tradition, I would stick up to it. My freshman could be called hell. Maybe you guys wondering why I said it was hell. It not because the academy or the senior but it because someone. You guys might have figure it out who is he, since he pretty famous in this academy for his notorious. But do you know why he doing those?"
The audience murmur not only the freshman, but the entire auditorium.
Okay now this is definitely going to be worst day ever! She definitely planning to spill everything on the podium... What is wrong with today. Did I sleep the wrong way yesterday so I meet with so many trouble? I look at her furiously. No presents for your birthday this year! She still smiling mischievously.
"It all because he is— oh, whoops he is there, in angry face over there. Hey twin! Guys don't tell him what I was saying from before, his marshmallow heart won't be able to hold it together."
She waving at me as said those. The audience finally couldn't hold it anymore and laugh for real this time as they looking at me... Damned twin you want to shame in front of everyone?! Fine, I'll take it as your revenge. Hmm, but someone got a funny face, it the hero. He got a complete dumbfounded face as his mouth and eyes wide open.
"Anyway, my twin aside. I know he is labeled as incompetence, shitty, bastard, idiot and many other. But at least he got the same title as me!"
The audience suddenly murmur as they asking around what is that.
"He is rank first! From the bottom."
Hearing her joke once again the audience laugh out holding their stomach. Even Rum is smiling as his body tremble. Seriously would you just make fun of me the entire speech?! Look the teacher already sweating while being dumbfounded.
"Whelp, let put a joke about my brother aside from now since it won't never end. See even the teacher already sweating so much because they holding their laugh. Let's stop tormenting them."
The audience can't control their laugh anymore as she keep making a joke.
"No, no, no this time is serious. My freshman might be hell because of someone, but the teaching from our teacher and senior helping me to keep up with it. I am becoming more cheerful than ever for a long time. I become a serious person which completely sensible and responsible."
The freshman stunned, when they heard that and laugh again as they thought it a joke. But they get quiet at once when they see the sophomore student keeping their silence and someone from Artemis having a streak of tear. It Kaitlyn, she indeed loving her ey...
"The freshman might not know I am being serious before but that is the truth. Honestly I might be jesting before but that just because someone finally opening his heart again after giving me a cold shoulder for entire three years. going here that might be different. Look he is here today, last year he wasn't even here. I don't know why is he here, but I threw all those I write for days because he finally make his appearance here. I don't want to make him bored with the template speech from before, since he might leave right away if he wasn't amused."
Sigh... I guess if it only this much I will let it slide. But I still need to keep up the illusion of being shitty person. So I started to walk to the door, but suddenly an icicles stabbing the door. It definitely her!
"Hey, where are you going, my speech isn't over yet! See he wanted to go right away when it was not amusing!"
No, I am sure you know how I would act either way! I make a grumpy face as everyone looking at me again.
"Anyway before he run away, I wanted to say. The future is unknown for you guys freshman, and I hope you could find it here. We from the sophomore would always welcome you if you got any questions from us. Thank you for being here today and listening to my speech."
With that applause of appreciation rang out loud as many freshman standing up. She walk off the podium and back to her seat.
"Thank you Lein, for your uncommon speech which making freshman found a reason to stand up and relieved their tiredness. Give another round of applause to Lein Dageraad."
The freshman laugh so do those people that standing up stretching their body. They applause at her once again.
"Up next the last opening speech which wasn't least than the others. The perfect scorer of the freshman Dapper."
With that Dapper in a wry smile come up the podium. It finally his turn, as expected from hero I guess. He got a perfect score.
"Thank you senior Elsa for this occasion and your superb introduction. Honestly I was confident before to send my opening speech. Until I heard the senior warm welcoming speech, what more after senior Lein speech I kinda discourage to stand here. I feel like what ever I said won't be as wonderful as her."
The freshman nodding their head as few of them still trying to stop their laugh.
"At first I thought that a speech should be formal and rigid. But senior Lein completely change my mind, she make me realize what important in speech is what do you want to convey. Not how you convey it, after all there is no used in it if the audience wasn't listening to you."
Then he shred a paper in his hands apart before sending glance to Lein... Oh my God, that a complete lovestruck glance. No, this can't be... Even if I hug his thick thighs he and Lein won't work! Someone going to be heart broken. Would he become like those Chinese main character that got their heart broken by a girl, then raising to heaven like a meteor before come back to shaming the girl family?! No... This is a complete scam! God trust me when you appeared I won't kill you just once!
"With this I completely losing my speech, but I know for sure all I need to do is convey my feeling. For the first time in years I could confidentially said I feel welcomed. As you could see I am a commoner, you could find someone like me anywhere."
No, no, no if you could be found anywhere this world must be crazy! Just think a million people as good looking as you, with power to be hero. That definitely a crazy world! But the audience laugh while some scoffing at him
"You might not believe me, but my perfect score come from hard work. I keep training until my nose bleeding, sometimes I could feel my head aching really bad when I am studying. But those hard work definitely paid off."
At that time couple of eyes looking at me, they are my childhood friends. Zack, and many other scoffing at it, only Rick and Fransisca keep looking at me.... Well Elsa and Reiya also watching me with gleaming eyes. Hmmm, the hero somehow look surprised as they look at them. He smile brightly when he saw me... Dude, you should give your, thousand of white gold, smile to your fans not me. Even if you smiling like that, I can't help you with Lein. He then move back his gaze to the audience.
"It indeed seems like a lie, but that is the truth. All I want to say is there are nothing we couldn't do! We might be a freshman today, but we got entire 4 years to improve ourselves, we got a wonderful facilities, a great teacher and also a caring senior. I am sure by the time we graduate we could achieve our goal and make our family, our country proud to have us!"
The freshman standing in rush as he giving his speech they starting to cheer.
"We would prove to our senior that we won't let them down. We would prove to our teacher that we listening to their teaching. We would prove to the academy that we the proud student of their become someone useful, inspirational and caring to our kingdom and citizen. We would prove them that we didn't forget our root, which is Hearthstone Magic Academy and we would make all of them proud! I want to thanks the head master, all the teachers and everyone of our senior for excepting us in this wonderful and warm Academy. I want to thank you for this chance to standing up here. Thank you, and please take care of us your freshman."
"""""Please take care of us teacher, and seniors""""
The freshman shouting out of their lung and following suit with Dapper as they bow down to everyone of us. Most of the senior stand up, and then clapping their hand slowly before going harder each time.
"Way to go freshman!"
"You guys really know how to make us proud."
"Now, seems like you guys got a lot of future to be seen."
"Hearthstone Academy!!"
Then suddenly the student president come to the front and shout.
"""We protect, guard and loyal to our country!! We are the cornerstone of the kingdom!! As long we alive the kingdom future would stand strong!!"""
A yell can be heard from the senior... That is the official acceptance from the senior. As expected from the hero. He could unify people easily. I leave the auditorium right away as the commotion goes higher... Or that what I am planning to do until I see a figure standing on the podium.
"What an amazing sight from my junior."
All I could think is when shit happen it happen like a snow ball... It momentum goes higher as it got huger and denser... What the heck are you doing up there?! It not like I don't have my assumption, I just hoping I am wrong. The commotion and cheering could be heard again.
"Hello junior, my name is Ramza van Rames. I was graduating from magic academy around 6 years ago. I am one of the court magician of our country."
At that moment I could heard the girls cheering. While those fire magicians got their eyes glimmering with light, while some shouting predecessor. The last group definitely his junior from his circle.
"You guys maybe wondering why I am standing up here. From today onwards I would teach a intermediate magic class also I am coming here not just because of that. In the past few years, not just years but centuries. We have been wrong about something and someone. Maybe not many people know the his name or even his theories about magic. This person is turn out to be a genius of age. He got called as a jester of magician on his generation. His name was famous for his book that full of sarcastic title and sarcastic remarks. When you reading it and you didn't understand his explanation you would want to curse out loud when you read his footnotes."
The students murmur by themselves as they guess whose the person is...
"But then I found out all those explanation of him is correct, I found out about it not by an accident, nor my own experiment. I found about it from someone that studying here."
At that time the auditorium got more murmur... Most of them is the students which majoring in magic.
"Who is he talking about? What kind of theories?"
"Jester of magician world. There only one person got those nickname, Grand Magus Enricho."
"What? You said he is a jester of the magician world, how could it become a Grand Magus??"
"He is a real deal Grand Magus, with 6 attributed legendary magic aptitude. But his book always seems like a joke."
The murmur keep going as Ramza looking around.
"Then with that as my main reason, I come to this academy to do the magic research. At first I was asking the person to come help me in the magic court laboratory. But he said he can't do that since it would took too much time. He said he needs to prepare for a special assignment so he could continue studying here."
At that time a couple familiar faces looking at me.
"Then I thought, hey why I am not the one that coming there? I could also teach something to my juniors. So I decided to take the headmaster offer from year ago to teach here while doing my research in the academy. Then with the headmaster agreement, we decided to make that student as my personal assistance in research. So right now I would like to call the person up here to accept the headmaster assignment, also to change the agreement for his expulsion from reaching the annual competition main event to become my assistant. For Zein Dageraad please come up stage."
When my name called all the students goes silence. Many of them gaping their mouth wide open. Before it changed back to commotion. Only those that there at the Rames manor that night keep their cool and of course my roommate Silva. With all eyes staring at me, I walk to the podium reluctantly. I stare at brother Ramza with grumpy face.
"I decline."
Then I left right away, make people dumbfounded even more. I dash as fast as I could then when I reach the door, I teleport away. At that time, I never knew today event would be called as the great escape, as my face goes over in headline news of our academy. It become one of mystery for my junior, it even become a discussion about how I was escaping in class. But I never knew those until I was senior.
I go teleport to one of hotel in the capital as I immediately check in, and took a bath. I need to wash away this unluckiness! What the fuck is wrong today, I keep got in trouble! From Reiya, Elsa, the hero, Lein then Ramza... Fuck, three of it because of the Rames siblings! Indeed there is nothing good happen by associating myself with them... Good griefs...
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