I’m Not Becoming a Graduate Student! – Chapter 11

“Isn’t this the opening assembly?”

“Yep, that’s right.”

The opening assembly held at the social hall.

Yeah, to be honest, I completely forgot.

The fact that this was a medieval fantasy world, not modern times.

‘No matter how you look at it, who has an opening assembly like a social gathering… well, it’s kind of similar…’

Sion felt dizzy.

In terms of new students making connections, it was somewhat similar to a social gathering.

Still, it was utterly unexpected, making it even more bewildering.

Just as the confusion hadn’t settled, Geivolg appeared.

Dressed not in the academy uniform but in a splendid white outfit.

He wore a golden brooch with a symbol he had never seen before on his chest, probably the emblem of his home kingdom, Rodenburg.

“Good to see you, Sion and Patrick!”

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Haha! No need to worry about my royal attire. I simply had nothing else to wear for the occasion. Otherwise, I would’ve worn a uniform like you, Sion.”

“…It would’ve been nice to have a fellow uniformed student.”

Sion shrugged his shoulders.

He felt nervous, like someone who had mistakenly gone to the wrong event due to a different dress code.

It felt like everyone was looking at him.

“Sion, don’t worry! That over there, Serenne, is also in a uniform.”

“…Serenne?”

“It’s true.”

Patrick pointed in a direction.

There, enjoying some dessert, sat Serenne Camillea.

She really was in a uniform, just like Sion.

“Interesting. You’d think the Camillea family, being nobility, would have a proper outfit for this.”

“They’re a famous knight family, you know? The Camilleas.”

“Mm! We in Rodenburg also know that name well!”

“A knight family? Wait….”

Sion tilted his head.

Serenne Camillea was the top student in the Magic Department of the Byzantine Academy.

For someone who was the top student to come from a family of knights seems… out of the ordinary.

“If you’re curious, it’s best to ask her directly! Come on, go ahead, Sion!”

“Wait? No, hold on… Whoa!”

Boom, boom!

Geivolg’s powerful pat on Sion’s back sent him stumbling forward.

His heart raced, fearing he might fall awkwardly.

Luckily, that didn’t happen, but just as he regained his balance—

There stood Serenne Camillea.

“…”

“Uh, Se-Serenne? Ah, hello.”

Sion cursed Geivolg in his mind as he tried to speak to Serenne.

How was it that the moment he stopped walking, he ended up right in front of Serenne? The timing was impeccable.

She set down the dessert she was holding and began to stare at Sion intently.

And she kept getting closer.

“U-Um, excuse me?”

“…….”

“Serenne, you’re a little too close? Uh, just a moment… Serenne!”

Sion tried to step back, but she moved even quicker.

Though he was shorter than the average boy, Serenne’s height was only about a head shorter than his own.

With that, Sion found himself looking up at her.

In a panic of almost running away, Serenne held onto the hem of his clothes and finally spoke.

“…It’s fascinating.”

“Yeah?”

“Your eyes, they’re fascinating.”

Serenne was looking deeply into Sion’s eyes.

“My… eyes?”

“Yeah, those eyes. There’s magic in them. Also, some high-level magic that I can’t understand.”

“What does that…?”

Suddenly, Serenne stepped away from Sion.

Then she crouched down and poked at something on the ground.

What was she doing? She was playing with Sion’s spirit.

“Did you contract with this spirit?”

“Uh? …Oh, yes.”

“Good, take care of it.”

“…?”

“Do you want some dessert? It’s delicious.”

Before Sion knew it, Serenne had gotten back to her feet and was offering him dessert.

The conversation was completely nonsensical.

Was that just how Serenne was?

‘Still… we’re able to communicate just fine.’

Though she seemed a bit of a quirky girl, it felt like their conversation was flowing.

Although Serenne’s topics kept shifting around.

“I have a question…”

“Feel free to speak informally. We’re the same age, after all.”

“Ah, okay. Uh, is there a reason you’re wearing a uniform?”

In an instant, Serenne’s eyes shifted.

From half-closed sleepy eyes to fierce, angry ones.

The swift change made Sion wonder if he was seeing things.

“…Just because.”

“R-Right?”

“What about you?”

“Um… I didn’t expect this kind of event. It’s a bit embarrassing…”

“Yeah, it’s fine. The uniform is a sufficiently respectful outfit. At the student level, at least. Hm.”

“….”

As she said that, Serenne let out a little snort, as if she was proud of herself for knowing that.

Sion could only manage an awkward smile.

While he was having this oddly pleasant conversation with Serenne, suddenly all the lights in the chandelier went out.

The social hall plunged into darkness.

While everyone was looking around in confusion, the lights came back on.

Like a spotlight, it illuminated the center of the hall, at the staircase.

There, an old man appeared.

Dressed like some magical wizard from a painting, in a gray robe and a wide-brimmed hat, he gave off a strong vibe of a wise old wizard with his impressive white beard.

“Ah, new students of the Magic Department at the Byzantine Academy. I’m glad to meet you. My name is Noias Betan. This year, I will be the chief professor of the Magic Department. Please take care of me.”

Clap, clap, clap!

Noias took off his hat and bowed gracefully, receiving enthusiastic applause from the students.

With the perfect spotlight theatrics, it felt like watching a play.

And he took it a step further.

Trudging forward, Noias wasn’t descending the stairs; instead, he seemed to be ascending them.

Like he was walking up an invisible staircase.

“Look, look at that!”

“He’s flying…!”

“Is there something on the floor?”

“Idiot, it’s obviously magic!”

Murmurs erupted.

The awed whispers of the students echoed all around.

Noias smiled, as if savoring their astonished looks, and began his speech.

“Students, you are now enrolled in this empire’s top academy. I wager most of you will either become court mages after graduation or join the mage tower to hold high positions. However, enrolling here is not the end, but a new beginning!”

Thump.

As he stepped on the air, a projection appeared beneath him.

It was the image of students in uniforms using magic.

The scene they depicted was horrifying.

One student, casting magic, lost control of their mana, vomiting blood and collapsing.

Before a spell could even be cast, another was attacked by a monstrosity.

And some fell from the sky, mana cut off mid-flight, crashing down.

“Magicians often meet their end. It takes a lot of time, money, and talent to raise a single promising magician… but it’s heart-wrenching when such ‘talents’ perish so easily. This holds true here at the academy as well.”

The terrifying image dispersed into the air.

In its place, projections of academy graduates took their place.

What had started as a single graduate multiplied into two, three, and soon grew to the point of being uncountable.

“So I will do my best. So that you won’t die in vain. So be at ease in your pursuit of knowledge. Enjoy learning and mastering magic. We will support your growth with all our strength!”

The moment he finished speaking, the illusions transformed into little flames, glimmering in the air.

It was a small fireworks display made possible only in the lofty heights.

The dazzled eyes of the students turned colorful as they gazed vacantly at the sky.

‘…What an incredible speech.’

Even without the use of magic, it was a powerful and impressive address.

To be putting in utmost effort to protect students from danger.

‘Wait, conversely, doesn’t that mean it’s that dangerous…?’

The earlier illusions flashed through Sion’s mind like a stray thought.

Students in academy uniforms meeting their demise for various reasons.

Was that merely an illusory image created with magic, or was it a reenactment of actual events?

…Sion decided not to dwell on it too deeply.

“The detailed information about the department can be checked through the student ID app. Club activities will have a welcoming week for new club members soon, so look for that… Enjoy today! With only about twenty of you being admitted this year, just being classmates will be enough to bond us! Hehe!”

Boom!

He transformed into a pink smoke and eventually disappeared completely.

From start to finish, it was the epitome of extravagance.

…Perhaps Professor Noias was a bit of a show-off in his youth.

‘Enjoy today… huh.’

Sion glanced around.

Serenne had become engrossed in her dessert again.

Patrick and Geivolg had already vanished somewhere.

It seemed they had already gathered in little groups, chatting away.

Thinking about butting in on that felt exhausting already.

What to do, caught in a position where he couldn’t do either?

Then, a strange voice echoed in his mind.

[Sion.]

“?!”

[Stop looking around, young man. It’s me, Noias. I’m directly speaking to you in your mind right now.]

The voice was undoubtedly Noias, who had just been speaking.

Sion couldn’t quite grasp why he was calling him out like that.

Noias explained the reason immediately.

[I have something to say about your father.]

“…!”

Sion’s eyes widened in surprise.