Chapter 11. Entrance Ceremony
After completing the hidden event, I got some sleep at the inn I had booked.
The next morning, as I stepped out, I saw Ria’s secretary and two merchants holding bags standing on the street.
Since Ria’s event ended yesterday, I figured they had no reason to look for me, so I tried to walk past them. But the secretary greeted me politely.
“Good morning, Van Astreya. I’m not sure if you remember, but I am Selina, the personal secretary to Ria Haylin, acting head of the Cosmo Trading Company.”
“I do remember, but… what’s this about?”
“When you visited our company yesterday, the acting head was so busy that she may have neglected you. As an apology, she has sent you a gift.”
At Selina’s snap of her fingers, the two merchants opened the bags.
“We’ve prepared a modest set of gifts: some of our most popular clothing and accessories that suit you, as well as dinnerware and high-quality tea leaves from the Ramel region in the East.”
She called it “modest,” but the bags were packed like a game of Tetris—no space wasted.
Given the Cosmo Trading Company was probably busy dealing with traitors, identifying the attackers, and repairing their building after yesterday’s chaos, it was suspicious that they went out of their way to send me this.
I wouldn’t refuse a gift offered as an apology, though.
They insisted I take it yesterday, too. Maybe the Ria I met wasn’t the real one, but a body double?
“What’s the real reason for this gift?” I asked.
“As I mentioned, it’s meant to be an apology—”
“No, I want the truth, not a cover story. Don’t tell me even the secretary doesn’t know her real intentions?”
Selina hesitated for a moment, then bowed her head politely.
“I apologize for being vague. The acting head hopes to maintain a friendly relationship with you.”
Among the empire’s five major trading companies, all but Cosmo are backed by one of the four imperial powers.
As a result, Cosmo often lost influence quickly, especially when it came to state-sponsored business.
In the midgame of the story, that problem worsens. Eventually, the company’s leader, cornered, grabs onto the rotten lifeline thrown by the villain and becomes an antagonist that gets in the player’s way.
I thought Cosmo’s desperation would come later, but apparently, they were already feeling the pressure and casting nets at anyone who might help.
With that in mind, the Ria I met really was the same Ria I remembered from the game.
If she wanted to use me, I had no reason not to accept the gift without guilt.
So I loaded the gifts onto the returning carriage. Before leaving, Selina bowed again.
“We hope you will continue to patronize Cosmo Trading Company. We will soon be opening a branch in Iris Academy, so please visit us—we’ll serve you with the utmost care.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
Being reincarnated as a scoundrel had felt like a handicap at first, but thanks to my noble family status, I was able to build these connections.
For the first time since arriving in this world, I was glad I ended up in this guy’s body.
A week had passed since I became Van Astreya. Finally, it was the day of the entrance ceremony.
Just six days after the results were announced, all administrative procedures were completed—truly worthy of the empire’s top academy.
Just like in the game, the ceremony was held in the central plaza of Iris Academy.
The large, circular plaza, centered around a beautiful fountain, was incredibly spacious.
Behind it stood the main building, the symbol of the academy—perfect for a grand event like this.
Around the temporary stage set up near the fountain, first-years stood in the center, second-years to the left, third-years to the right, and parents and VIPs sat on the outer edge.
Once preparations were complete, the ceremony began under the guidance of the emcee.
“We will now begin the 121st entrance ceremony of Iris Academy…”
The atmosphere wasn’t flashy, but it was majestic and restrained. Still, it was mind-numbingly boring.
Starting with a salute to the imperial flag, followed by endless speeches from dignitaries, even the school’s entire history had to be covered.
No wonder the entrance ceremony was always auto-skipped in the game.
I got a bit excited when a music video played showcasing the major characters to come, but living through the actual event was a different beast. It was the most boring entrance ceremony I’d ever attended—hands down.
I wished I had someone to chat with to kill time, but sadly, I couldn’t be with Reina. As the top student, she had to give a speech and was seated at the very front. And she was my only friend.
Trying to make a new friend now only earned me wary glances. Everyone quickly avoided eye contact.
The “Scoundrel” title was working overtime.
The only familiar face nearby was Drenar, so I quietly moved next to him and struck up a conversation.
“Hey. What’re you up to?”
“…”
“I know you can hear me.”
“As you know, I’m ignoring you. Please stop talking to me.”
“Don’t you find this boring?”
“Not at all.”
“Are you even human? This isn’t boring to you?”
Drenar sighed with clear annoyance.
“If you have business with me, get to the point.”
“Not really. Just bored and wanted to talk.”
“Then I suggest you go elsewhere. I can’t help you with that.”
Elsewhere, huh?
Now that I think about it, during the ceremony, Drenar swears vengeance against the emperor and vows to kill him.
He cloaks it in talk of justice and righteousness, but his uncontrollable rage betrays his immaturity.
It was cool in the game, but imagining a real person thinking like that made it feel… cringey.
Feeling mischievous, I decided to play dumb.
“Interfering? With what, exactly?”
“…That…”
He couldn’t bring himself to say it, which was pretty funny.
He probably knew how embarrassing the line was.
I grinned and mimicked his dramatic voice.
“Enjoying solitude… or something like that?”
Pretty close—maybe 8 out of 10?
But Drenar didn’t seem pleased. He frowned.
“Wasn’t that close?”
“Not even slightly.”
“Strong denial is a strong affirmation, you know.”
“I said it wasn’t, didn’t I?”
“…Tch.”
He was being so serious I couldn’t keep teasing him.
As we fell silent and returned to watching the ceremony, boredom crept back in.
“Seriously, this doesn’t bore you?”
“Entrance ceremonies are boring by nature. Feeling bored at something inherently dull isn’t worth noting.”
“Why do you talk like that?”
“…In short, I’m not bored.”
Cold and stiff, but still willing to respond—what a nice guy.
“I’m totally bored.”
“Don’t you usually hang around someone? Go find them.”
“Reina’s busy. You were the closest, so I came to you.”
“…I picked the wrong spot and got bitten by a mad dog.”
“Exactly. Once a dog bites, it doesn’t let go. Too bad—you’re stuck with me for the ceremony.”
Drenar let out a short snort.
“You’re not denying the ‘mad dog’ label.”
“Why bother? It’s better than being alone. Bet you’re enjoying talking to me a little.”
“Not at all. I don’t need friends, so I never made any.”
“…Huh?”
What’s that supposed to mean?
No one in the game ever asked him that, but doesn’t that contradict his setting?
Establishing a foundation at Iris Academy includes building friendships. There’s only so much you can do alone against the royal family.
This reaction must be hiding something…
“Is it that you want friends, but don’t know how to make them?”
“…If you want to die, keep talking.”
Judging by his fierce glare, I hit the nail on the head.
“Can’t you kill my boredom instead?”
“If I killed you, you wouldn’t feel bored anymore.”
“Yikes, that’s brutal.”
As I killed time chatting with Drenar, the moment I’d been waiting for arrived.
“We will now proceed with the freshman pledge and declaration of acceptance. First-year top student, Cadet Reina Serenia, please come forward.”
From the front row, Reina stepped onto the platform and stood at the podium, reading the paper before her.
“I-I hereby swear! I, Reina Serenia, as the representative of the 210 new students of the 121st class…”
The pledge was pretty generic, but Reina herself was anything but—so it wasn’t boring.
And she was nervous! A rare sight!
Her voice trembled, eyes glued to the paper instead of the principal. But despite her nerves, her voice rang loud and clear.
She was showing her clumsy side, and I couldn’t help but smile.
Then Drenar suddenly clicked his tongue.
“So she was the top student.”
“Got a problem with that?”
When I glared at him, he looked a bit startled, then cleared his throat.
“I suppose I do. I lost by a hair.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Reina split the testing stone.”
“That’s exactly why. I cracked it.”
I gave him a skeptical look, but he brushed me off.
“Believe it or not, facts don’t change.”
Wait… was he serious?
He didn’t insist like he usually would if it were a bluff. Maybe it was true?
“And how is whether I’m telling the truth any of your concern? Reina Serenia is the top student, not you. She’s the only one who could challenge my score.”
“In short?”
“…You’re not Reina, so stop whining about my score.”
“Because I’m her friend.”
“Did she say that herself?”
“Not in so many words, but she’d agree.”
Drenar gave a crooked grin.
“So you just declared it yourself? Now I see—when you asked about friends earlier, it was because you don’t have any.”
“W-Wait, you were holding that against me? Sorry…”
Drenar went silent for a moment.
“…Don’t speak to me again.”
Then he moved away.
Maybe I teased him too much. I should be nicer next time.
Meanwhile, Reina finished her pledge.
“…Freshman Representative, Reina Serenia.”
The young headmaster with a sleepy expression responded.
“I hereby accept your admission into Iris Academy.”
After the applause faded, it was time for the principal’s speech.
The surrounding students murmured in admiration.
One of the three heroes of the East-West War twenty years ago. A genius mage who mastered nearly all known magic. A former contender for both the Tower Lord and head of House Astreya. A man of extraordinary passion for education.
The Black Comet, Castro Astreya.
But if they knew the truth, they’d be disappointed.
He was dragged here against his will.
Still, thanks to his intimidating face, no one suspected he was just sleepy.
“Don’t cause trouble. Study hard. That is all.”
His lightning-fast speech ended, and he stepped down.
Most first-years were left stunned.
Then a nearby priestess stopped him and scolded him. With a sigh, he returned to the podium.
“And first-years—”
His next words delivered a cruel blow: classes would begin immediately with no orientation. Missing even one would not be tolerated.
