The lights in the auditorium went out, and only a single beam of light shone upon the man standing on the dais.
He was a young gentleman who looked to be in his thirties, dressed in a neat, immaculate black suit like our family’s butler, his gray hair slicked back with oil.
The only unusual thing was that, unlike ordinary hair colors, his was gray, somewhere between black and white.
Even if one dyed it, it seemed difficult to achieve such a subtle, mysterious shade.
“That is President Den Brown.”
Perhaps she had seen the puzzled look on my face as I looked at the man who had ascended the dais.
Rin Edinburgh, who had been sitting demurely beside me, began quietly explaining to me.
“Lord Jin, you must have heard what sort of person Den Brown is, haven’t you? He is so famous that even in our territory, which is not the Holy Capital, there are quite a few people who admire him.”
“He certainly is famous. Though this is my first time seeing him in person.”
Den Brown.
He was one of the disciples of the Alchemy Star, one of the Four Stars who had assisted the emperor in founding the empire.
And not only that, he was the ultimate example of a self-made man, born a commoner rather than a noble.
“His life story is so dramatic that it has been made into plays countless times. Among them, my favorite is the play performed by the troupe called The Fortunate Ones Chosen by the River Spirit.”
“Ah, a traveling troupe with that name once came to our territory as well. It was certainly a feast for the eyes.”
“You saw it too, Lord Jin! Well, it is the most famous troupe in the west, so Count Prach would naturally have invited them! As far as I know, there is a rumor that the troupe’s leader was actually gifted with a talent for acting by the river spirit…”
Chatter, chatter.
Who the most popular actor in that troupe was, how there was a rumor that their skill was so extraordinary that the emperor himself intended to summon them to the Holy Capital, and so on.
Rin Edinburgh sat beside me, prattling on in a gentle voice about all sorts of useless things.
Was she that pleased to have found a point of connection with me?
Even though Den Brown’s speech was already about to begin, she showed no sign of stopping.
“—So, in my opinion, perhaps…”
“Miss Rin, it seems the president’s speech is about to begin.”
“Ah! I apologize. I nearly committed a discourtesy.”
I gently cautioned her, as she seemed to have no intention of finishing.
At that, she immediately understood and showed signs of closing her mouth.
“Ahem. Now that the surroundings have grown quiet, let us begin.”
Was it a coincidence? As soon as Rin Edinburgh finished speaking, the president opened his mouth.
There was no way he could hear us talking from this distance, so the timing must simply have matched.
Surely, among this many students, he could not have singled out only us to watch.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Den Brown, the president, the person responsible for and master of Academia, where you will spend the next four years shedding sweat and tears as you learn and cultivate your studies.”
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
No sooner had he finished his greeting than applause rang out from all directions.
I rolled my eyes slightly and looked around. Even in the dark auditorium, the students were divided between those who applauded him fervently and those who merely pretended to clap.
And for some reason, every single one of those applauding enthusiastically was sending sparkling gazes toward the president, bright enough to pierce through the dark curtain.
“As those of you who have enrolled already know, Academia is the finest educational institution in the empire. Of course, if you wish to go beyond being a student and become a professor or acquire other specialized knowledge, you will have to enroll again in another institution of higher learning located in the Third District. However, for most occupations, if you take Academia’s diploma with you, you will be able to obtain the qualifications and sit in the position you desire faster and more easily than others. That is how much weight our school’s name carries.”
President Den Brown’s words were so rational, and in a way so slightly vulgar for someone who had risen to such a position, that it was hard to believe they were the words of the head of an educational institution.
It was almost like the way a merchant would speak.
“…For someone who is the head of an educational institution to speak in such vulgar terms like a merchant. As expected, those of common birth cannot help their vulgarity. Wouldn’t you agree, Lord Jin?”
“You could see it as rational, Miss Rin. In the end, Academia is an educational institution that trains the empire’s workers. Is he not speaking about what Academia students desire most?”
“To think you are looking at it from such a broad perspective! As expected, a member of the Count Prach family, who possesses such vast lands, is truly different!”
“Mm.”
The formulaic flattery was getting a little tiresome.
This person was not particularly good with words.
“Therefore, I ask that you all please not give up your studies midway and that you follow the curriculum our Academia provides as fully as possible. Well, now that you have enrolled, you will not be able to leave easily as you please anyway.”
President Den Brown paused for a moment and clapped twice.
Clap, clap!
As if the clapping served as a signal, the darkened auditorium was brightly lit once more, and the professors who had been seated behind the dais slowly walked out one by one and stood in a line behind the president.
“The five professors standing behind me now are the faculty advisors who will be responsible for you for the next year. First, Professor Osil of the Faculty of Law.”
At the president’s gesture, the slender male professor standing on the far left stepped forward to the front of the dais.
With a tired-looking face, he rubbed once at the dark circles under his eyes and opened his mouth.
“…It is a pleasure to meet you, everyone. I am Osil Shane, the professor in charge of the first year of the Faculty of Law. Though I am lacking, I have some history serving as an inquisitor.”
“Professor Osil here is your senior, with five years of experience working at the empire’s foremost interrogation office. He is the youngest among the professors, but I can confidently tell you that his experience is second to none.”
“…You praise me too highly, President.”
“Ahem. Therefore, if any students in the Faculty of Law aim to become inquisitors, it will be helpful to receive various guidance and instruction from Professor Osil Shane.”
“…If you wish it, I will do my utmost to help you to the best of my ability.”
“Excellent. Next, Professor Jan.”
“Yes.”
Once Professor Osil finished his introduction and returned to his place, Professor Jan, who had been standing beside him, stepped forward with light steps.
“It is a pleasure to meet you all. I am Jan, the professor in charge of the first year of the Faculty of Theology, one who, however feebly, claims to be a servant of Him. As I am a priest, I have cast aside my family name, so please feel free to call me Professor Jan.”
“As the students of the Faculty of Theology may already know, Professor Jan is a theologian of very high renown for her new interpretation of theology. And before taking on the position of professor, she was also the person responsible for overseeing the treatment of the wounded on the northern front bordering the Black Forest.”
“…It is merely the past now. I am only one of the professors in charge, so please treat me comfortably.”
Professor Jan smiled warmly, gave a light bow, and returned to her place.
Then, this time, a middle-aged man half the height of the others walked briskly forward, showing off his mustache.
“It is a pleasure to meet you! Everyone, I am Jian Appel, the professor in charge of the first year of the Faculty of Relic Studies! I am a humble researcher of relics!”
“As you can all see, Professor Jian is not human.”
“That is correct! No matter who looks at me, I am not as tall as you humans! It is truly a matter of great regret!”
“However, Professor Jian is the most influential relic researcher and explorer in the empire. The ruins he has excavated alone number over twenty.”
“Ah! If one wishes to study relics, one inevitably has no choice but to explore ruins! All the interesting relics are buried deep within ruins, after all. To be honest, it is lucky that I still have all four limbs intact and nothing has been cut off so far!”
“That is precisely how exceptional Professor Jian is at gathering information. After all, he has broken through the deadly traps of ruins and excavated many relics.”
“Haha, since it is the entrance ceremony, the president is gilding my face today!”
“Therefore, Professor Jian is a capable person who can satisfy all students who aim to become researchers who study relics or explorers who explore ruins.”
“Those who wish to do both, like me, are welcome as well! Of course, it will be twice as difficult as it is for the other students!”
Professor Jian returned to his place with a lively smile.
Then Professor Ran, who had been standing beside him, stepped forward.
“It is a pleasure to meet you all. I am Professor Ran Tiyu, in charge of the first year of the Faculty of Mysticism.”
“As you may have expected from the name Faculty of Mysticism, Professor Ran is a mage.”
“Yes. Among the students here, very few of you will meet with me. For students who are not in the Faculty of Mysticism, meeting me will likely mean a situation that is not especially pleasant.”
“As you all know, there are matters only mages can handle. Namely, mystical disasters and mystical beasts.”
At President Den Brown’s words, Professor Ran nodded and said,
“If any of you experience strange animals or occurrences, or if you possess an item you believe to be cursed, do not hesitate to come to me. Academia places the safety of its students as its highest priority. So please feel no burden and come to me for consultation.”
“In particular, if ordinary people who are not mages possess such items, the situation can grow irreversibly serious. Do not, out of a moment’s greed, wager not only your own life but the lives of those nearby as stakes to death.”
“And if I am not present, please seek help from Professor Jian or Professor Jan instead. Though neither of them is a mage, in certain fields they display abilities greater than mine. In the case of relics, consult Professor Jian. Regarding demons, consult Professor Jan.”
Professor Ran finished speaking and returned to her place.
Murmur, murmur.
Even after Professor Ran returned to her place, perhaps because her warning had been shocking, the once-quiet auditorium instantly grew noisy.
Most of what the students were saying consisted of conversations like, Demons actually exist? I thought it was just something adults said to scare us when I was young!
“…How noisy.”
Thud!!
But that commotion was silenced entirely by the stomp of the professor who came out after Professor Ran.
“This is not your time for idle chatter. If you make a racket one more time from now on, I will give the entire first year disciplinary drills.”
“Professor Jugin.”
“Mm. Understood.”
At the president’s gesture, Professor Jugin cleared his throat once and opened his mouth.
“It is good to meet you, cadets. I am Jugin Laden, the professor in charge of the first year of the Faculty of Combat. Feel free to call me Professor Jugin.”
The medals attached to Professor Jugin’s formal uniform scattered the light, flaunting their presence.