NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6
Chapter 6: The Entrance Ceremony
“Is it really alright for a 25-year-old to be here at a high school entrance ceremony?” you might ask, but believe me, this moment was anything but simple.
An unachieved goal isn’t easy to forget.
After all, the fact that Shar chose this moment as a regression point, which happened to be my entrance into the academy, probably meant something significant even for a 25-year-old like me.
Thinking about it that way, I realized that being 25 didn’t matter much at all.
Right now, I was a 15-year-old aspiring hunter. So shouldn’t I act accordingly?
Maybe it was because I had finally gained the mana I had longed for, that I felt a newfound ease in my heart.
Having always had a somewhat mischievous temperament, Yeon-woo felt like he had just loosened a screw in his brain.
While lost in thought, I received a signal from Shar perched above my head, conveying a sense of disbelief. Is this what the dragons mean by understanding through the heart…?
But in reality, it was simply a mental connection. We had promised to respect each other’s privacy and not eavesdrop, but sometimes, our thoughts would connect like this.
As I entered the grand auditorium where the entrance ceremony was taking place, Yeon-woo’s jaw dropped.
“Whoa, it’s huge!”
The size was enough to fit an entire soccer field inside, leaving Yeon-woo speechless.
I had seen the exterior during my security duty, but this was my first time inside. Somehow, it felt even bigger inside than outside.
The Harmony Festival, held once a year, utilizes various architectural gimmicks of this grand auditorium, which I was looking forward to.
After all, with such a grand scale, anything you do here would be half the success!
However, it wasn’t just the size that surprised Yeon-woo.
There was a rough sensation against his skin. An electrifying energy resonated in the air, thick with the presence of the gathered crowd.
“Unbelievable.”
[The level here is definitely high. No offense, but everyone is a step above your dad. Quite impressive for such young ages, right?]
Shar commented with an evaluative gaze.
Ironically, the one evaluating with such confidence was the youngest among us, and that made Yeon-woo uneasy.
“So my half a day of struggle yesterday is the minimum standard here…”
It meant that you couldn’t even enter this place without a decent grasp of mana.
In that respect, I might have been below standard during the interviews, but the sheer purity of mana emanating from Dragon Heart could cover that deficiency.
Clearly, it wasn’t a bad condition.
Looking around, there were so many different races present that I couldn’t even begin to count.
Yellow Lizardmen, Joins, Orcs… These aren’t exactly rare these days, but it was my first time seeing such diverse races in one place.
Everyone was undoubtedly a prodigy in their own right. The Harmony Academy wouldn’t admit anyone below that caliber.
The passionate emotions bursting from the young people were manifesting into colorful mana, painting the atmosphere with vibrant hues. The sight was like a palette, beautiful yet dizzying, capturing Yeon-woo’s attention.
Wow…
…
In the highest audience seats of the grand auditorium, there were three individuals, positioned such that one had to tilt their head back to see them.
“Magnificent, isn’t it?”
A boy with completely white hair remarked.
Despite looking the youngest, his tone held an odd sense of maturity, as if he were older than he appeared.
His appearance was utterly mundane, to the point where one might wonder if they had met him before, and his presence felt foggy.
Although the three had already finished their silent assessment of one another, they all felt hesitant to judge the boy.
The boy, fiddling with a jet-black scabbard, smiled a fresh smile.
“Yup, you won’t find this many talented kids gathered anywhere else in the world.”
The young man with jet-black hair agreed cheerfully. It was indeed a pleasing sight to see such talented gems come together.
He genuinely believed that among them, there would be monsters that could surpass him. His attitude reflected that belief without a doubt.
The Demon King, Kim Hyun-soo, was as refreshing as a breeze across wide open fields.
With his character, skills, and personal history, this young man was perhaps the most suspicious figure among them.
Everyone believed without a doubt that the entire nation regarded him as the future of South Korea, despite his young age.
“The Dragon Academy wasn’t this impressive! This is going to be an interesting year!”
The hulking redhead, who looked like the oldest, was also no one to overlook.
The Demon King Hyuk Mu-ryeon. His muscles, bulging as if ready to burst, bore scars that hinted at the life he had lived. The prideful demeanor of a martial artist and overflowed passion were evident in his presence.
Perhaps among the three, he was the most diligent as an educator.
Though his methods might be rough and practical, watching the young boys and girls below, he would think of how to beat them up, each in their respective way.
If they heard this, they would probably be shocked to death by the Demon King.
It was getting hotter and hotter. Despite the adequate air conditioning, the auditorium was increasingly warm.
The young blood, overwhelmed by their soaring emotions, failed to control their mana, heating the space up. Reactions varied.
The boy clicked his tongue while the young man looked troubled, and the hulk nodded, as if this was as it should be. Their tendencies were apparent even in small things.
“But it is just as I thought. Among them, there are certainly a few with high potential. This year should be worthwhile.”
“Yep, especially looking forward to the lady from the Ice Palace. She’s maintaining her composure and seizing her surroundings, even in this atmosphere. It’d be fun to observe her through a thermal camera.”
“Haha! Kim Hyun-soo knows a thing or two! Yep! Even if we’re short on numbers, the martial artists here definitely have talent!”
Hyuk Mu-ryeon patted Kim Hyun-soo on the back. Even with his mana shielding him, that impact was substantial.
Indeed, the name Demon King was not just a title… Thought that, Kim Hyun-soo focused on enduring the pain.
“But what about you, old man? What about your ‘apprentice’? I’ve got one prepared, and Hyun-soo here has his sister, but what about you?”
The hulking man asked the boy. While addressing a boy that looked no older than 20 with such formalities seemed excessive, the boy simply laughed it off.
“…Well, I think I won’t need one.”
“Huh? You’re passing on that? If you’re not using it, can’t you give it to me?”
“Tsk. After bringing one apprentice in, learn to be satisfied. I just happened to find someone when I’d lost all hope.”
“Eh? Here? Who, who is it?”
Both Hyun-soo and the Demon King couldn’t help but lean in closer. This old man, having seen countless geniuses, found someone at the entrance ceremony? Just how exceptional could they be?
The boy, with a glint of mischief in his eye, pointed in one direction.
There, amidst a monotonous speech from the elderly principal, was a bright brown-haired boy gazing up into the air with sparkling eyes.
And knowing who that boy was, Hyun-soo couldn’t help but doubt his eyes.
“Are you talking about that brown-haired kid… Yeon-woo?”
“Oh? You know him?”
“Yeah, but he just awakened his mana yesterday. His talent isn’t that exceptional. He’s starting quite late. Although his mana purity is strangely high…”
“Really? Perfect! Alright, decided! That kid, Yeon-woo, you’re mine! Since an old guy has his eye on him, don’t you dare touch him. Got it?”
At those words, the two hesitantly nodded.
Thinking a genius had appeared, only to find a rather ordinary-looking kid diminished their interest. The Demon King began scanning the rest of the children, while Kim Hyun-soo tilted his head in confusion.
However, the sword prodigy Yuri couldn’t help but contemplate as she looked at the boy staring into the air.
According to the young one’s statement, he was indeed a rookie.
However, if this kid, who had just awakened his mana the day before, had perfectly condensed a minuscule amount of mana within him, while also staring blankly into space, then that interpretation shifted somewhat.
“Either Kim Hyun-soo’s words were false, or he possesses perfect senses.”
Only one day since awakening. It meant he had utilized enough mana during that time to be comfortable with it.
“How interesting, this is gonna be fun.”
Either way, it was truly an interesting scenario.
It was a secret that he almost messed with his now-receded beard as he pondered this.
*
“Yay, it’s finally over!”
[Look, Dad! Over there!]
There wasn’t time to savor the victory.
Yeon-woo hurried toward the direction Shar was flitting about. The entrance ceremony was over, but today’s agenda was far from complete.
A class orientation was taking place. A simple hour of explanations and getting to know classmates.
Fortunately, there was about thirty minutes until the orientation began. I had enough time to breathe, but it seemed Shar wanted to go check out the classroom.
Yeon-woo grabbed the flitting Shar, placing her atop his head as he headed that way.
“Isn’t it useless to check out other places?”
[Nope! I want to see the classroom where Dad will be living!]
The hall leading to the classroom wasn’t very crowded.
Perhaps it was because, after the entrance ceremony, a girl had been shouting, “Exploration time! Yay!” as she left the auditorium.
No matter how much they pretended to be aloof, these were still young, energetic kids. It seems the excitement leaked out.
Despite the vast premises, it would be a stretch to cover everything in thirty minutes, but let the joyful ones be joyful. It just meant they were happy…
[What about you? Are you not going to check around?]
“Well, I already have a rough idea…”
No matter how hard I tried to act my age, the awareness of being 25 still lingered. Since I already had a vague understanding of the layout, I didn’t feel like running around in excitement.
Originally, when I had time, sitting still to relax was the best.
[You sound like an old man….]
Ouch…
“Is this it?”
I spotted a nameplate saying 1-5. It was the last class of the Hunter department.
I remembered they said classes would be balanced based on the professors’ rigorous evaluations. It was a long time ago, so I couldn’t quite recall, but that should be the case. Of course, being in class 5 didn’t mean it was made up of weak students…
It likely meant I was the lowest among them.
With a slight sadness in my heart, Yeon-woo pushed open the door to the classroom, expecting it to be empty. To his surprising realization, a shadow was indeed present.
The breeze rushed through the windows, gently swaying the beautiful silver hair. The beautiful, reflective, blue eyes glimmered as they followed the chaotic movements of the students.
Through the beige school uniform, a physique that one couldn’t possibly believe belonged to a mere 15-year-old was revealed. The scent of mint tickled Yeon-woo’s nose as if carried by the wind.
‘Ah.’
I knew who it was. Recognizing her wasn’t the problem, but realizing it at such an awkward timing didn’t sit well with me. Yeon-woo quickly scrambled to clarify in his mind to Shar.
I didn’t notice her figure, Shar. You know Dad’s heart, right?
[You’d be better off not trying to explain.]
As Shar sighed softly, Yeon-woo recalled her name. Just remembering it triggered a memory from the past; this wasn’t mere coincidence.
Baek In-hwa.
The second daughter of the North Sea Ice Palace, located in Siberia.
In a few months, she would become a tragic victim due to the gate overflow.
In a way, she represented the fall of the Hunter community that followed thereafter.
Having felt my presence, she slowly turned around with a cool motion, almost as if she were a statue coming to life.
Her delicate brow furrowed as Baek In-hwa opened her lips.
“…Who?”
Yeah, she certainly wouldn’t know me.
(To be continued in the next episode)