Chapter 70 - Entrance Ceremony of Blood (5)

I walked around campus briefly. It was still too early to go to the labyrinth.

Since this festival only happened once a year, I planned to look around campus for a while in good spirits.

I wouldn't attend the entrance ceremony. Even if I did, there was no seat for me and my name wouldn't be called. After the ceremony began, I would need to head to the labyrinth.

Walking along, I bumped shoulders with someone every two or three steps. Being the only person alone on campus gave me a strange feeling.

For some reason, whenever I crossed through crowds, some people would glance at me as if looking at a mysterious animal.

Though I was also an Eternia student, I somehow felt like an outsider.

"Hey! Hey! Wait a moment!"

Someone called out, pushing through the crowd to approach. Until my wrist was grabbed, I hadn't expected they were looking for me.

Two girls suddenly appeared before me. Five young, strong men followed behind them.

"You're Damian, right?"

I looked carefully at the two girls' faces. They seemed familiar but I couldn't remember their names.

When I hesitated, one girl smiled shyly and said her name.

"We knew it was you, Damian. We're Nancy and Bologna. Remember? We were together at the Wiesel Knights' social gathering a few months ago."

The faces flashed through my mind. Old Man Popper from the knights had sponsored me, and Nancy and Bologna were his niece and daughter. These girls had offered to teach me dancing, but I had run away.

I greeted them warmly.

"Ah, yes. Of course, I remember. What brings you all this way?"

Nancy and Bologna exchanged glances and smiled saying, "Two students from the Wiesel Knights were admitted. We knew you would pass, of course. We couldn't miss such a celebration."

"Then these men behind you..."

"No, they're just friends who came with us."

They all looked clean-cut and neat. Nancy pointed to each one as she spoke, "That friend knows Prince Franz, and that one runs the Sauvignon vineyard. You've heard of Sauvignon wine, right? They all wanted to see the entrance ceremony so we brought them."

They were impressive in their own way, traveling a month's journey just to see an entrance ceremony.

Nancy said with a smile, "Hehe, we kept following you after seeing your back, wondering if it was you, and it really was Damian!"

"It's really good to see you."

Bologna also added, "But are you alone, Damian? Where's your family?"

Now, I remembered more. These girls thought I was from some prestigious swordsmanship family. I didn't know what fantasies they had about me, but this was good timing. Better to break their illusions before misunderstandings grew.

I didn't bother sugar-coating it.

"I have no family."

The two girls' faces stiffened slightly.

"Ah, is it... because your domain is too far?"

I shook my head.

"Then..."

"I grew up in an orphanage."

"Ah, I see..."

Bologna trailed off. Her brow furrowed slightly and her expression darkened. Whatever they had been expecting, they were clearly disappointed.

"Then... what about the Archmage?"

"She's gone far away and won't be back for months."

"Ah, that's too bad..."

Nancy and Bologna exchanged glances with looks that said they'd made a mistake. The further from big cities, the more rigid society became and the more distinct class divisions were. Wiesel was no exception. Their expressions showed they just realized they had been showing respect, sending letters, and following around an orphan with no family or class.

Nancy tried to sound casual, artificially raising her voice as she asked me, "Damian! Will you go on stage at the entrance ceremony? As a department representative! You are the Archmage's disciple after all."

Her eyes held calculating expectations and vanity.

"Why... do you ask?"

"Oh, haven't you heard the rumor? They say Prince Franz will invite the first and second-place students from each department to a celebration ball in Rigbed."

Bologna added, "They say relatives and family are all invited too."

The two girls' voices were tinged with subtle expectations. Did they think they could get invited too if I went on stage? Well, I had no family, and they were my sponsor's daughters, so there was some justification.

Though it was a vague feeling, I couldn't shake the sense that they saw me as a stepping stone or rope to climb. I understood. Having traveled a month just to see the entrance ceremony, an ordinary student wouldn't satisfy them. They must be ambitious. They wanted to see the prince's face and feel everyone's attention and superiority by attaching themselves to someone exceptional.

"...That has nothing to do with me. My grades are in the middle."

Clear disappointment showed in their eyes. They must have thought I didn't meet their expectations for the Archmage's disciple.

"Ah... I see. Like Joyce then. That's still amazing..."

"Perhaps you know Varianne..."

Bologna jabbed Nancy as if telling her to stop. The two girls fell quiet.

Staying here would only make things difficult for everyone. I politely bid farewell.

"I have something to attend to, so I'll go ahead. It was really good to see you both. Please congratulate the two friends from the knights. I'll write to Commander Popper directly soon."

"Ah, yes..."

They seemed to have more to say, but I fled the scene. I leaned against a wall in a deserted corner to catch my breath.

I reached into my chest and took out my mask to put on.

This was the first time the mask felt so comfortable and welcoming. As if I had found my true self.

***

A man approached the special designated seats. The three women who had been staring at the empty seat turned their attention to him. They sighed in disappointment after examining his appearance.

He was an Eternia secretary.

"The entrance ceremony will begin soon. There's still time, so please greet your family and relatives first. You cannot leave your seats freely after the ceremony begins."

The three women glared at the secretary with frustrated expressions. As Sion's mood turned sour, looking ready to grab his collar, Iris quickly responded, "Yes, understood!"

Before the secretary left, Cecil stopped him and asked, "One seat is empty, why hasn't anyone come yet?"

"They'll be here soon. Ah, there they come now."

The women all turned their heads in the direction the secretary pointed.

A neat, aristocratic-looking man approached them. He revealed white teeth in a smile as he introduced himself.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Rupert Lowy, who will represent the Combat Department at this entrance ceremony."

Then he offered handshakes to each person in turn.

Sion ignored the handshake with a cold gaze. Cecil did the same.

Lilith looked him up and down with an uncertain gaze before reluctantly accepting the handshake.

Iris' mouth smiled broadly but her eyes looked ready to cry as she returned the greeting.

"Really nice to meet you!"

When Rupert sat in the designated seat, the atmosphere became impossibly cold. Iris, completely unable to understand what was happening, bit her lip slightly and just watched everyone's reactions.

Sion left her seat with an irritated face. Iris, seemingly unable to handle the strange atmosphere, also briefly excused herself.

Only Rupert, Lilith, and Cecil remained at the table.

Lilith stared intently at Rupert's face and build, comparing him to that man in her memory.

Noticing her gaze, Rupert revealed his white teeth and spoke, "It's Lilith, right? I heard about you. You're really... pretty, just as they said."

"Um... have we... met before?"

"Uh... hmm? Well, we might have crossed paths at some Rigbed social gatherings?"

"No... during the entrance exam..."

Rupert crossed his arms, thought for a moment, and said, "I don't think we met?"

"Are you really sure?"

Cecil, who had been casually brushing her hair, heard their conversation and snickered. It was clearly mockery.

"Pfft, hehehe."

Lilith frowned and looked at Cecil. Rude behavior needed to be addressed firmly.

"If something's bothering you—"

Cecil immediately cut off Lilith's words.

"How ridiculous. You can't even recognize who got you that second-place seat in the Magic Department?"

"...What?"

"You received all kinds of help from him, used him for everything you could, and you can't even recognize who he is, holding onto the wrong person instead. Not only lacking in conscience but you’re stupid as well."

Rupert's eyes widened like a rabbit's at the hostile atmosphere. He looked back and forth between the two women and said,

"Uh... well, I'll step out for a bit. Continue your talk."

Then he slipped away, leaving the two alone.

Lilith felt like she'd been hit in the head with a hammer.

Her mind went increasingly blank and she couldn't speak.

"..."

"Why are you looking for him? Looking to squeeze every ounce of value you can out of him? Do you Need him to maintain your second seat?"

"How can you say such things when you don't know—"

"Isn't that what you always do? Flirting with boys, using them for everything you can, then throwing them away when you're done with them."

Lilith's hands on her knees trembled.

"...That's not it."

"What's not? It's really funny. Have you ever had a single serious relationship with any of the boys you've used?"

She knew very well about Lilith. So well it seemed she must have deliberately investigated.

Lilith's focus grew increasingly blurry.

"...What do you know?"

Cecil spoke with contempt, "It's obvious. What would you do if there was a face scarred by burns behind his mask? What if he was an orphan without family, connections, or a single coin? You'd calculate everything and ghost him the moment a better toy came along, or when it became embarrassing to be seen with him. Isn't that what you so-called 'noble elites' always do?"

"..."

When Lilith gave no response, Cecil left her seat with some parting words, "I really hate people like you."

Lilith remained alone in the special seat. She stared into space with lifeless eyes. What should have been the best day had become the worst.

She took out a bloodstained handkerchief from her pocket. It was the one she had used to wipe that man's wounds during the entrance exam. Though it was her favorite handkerchief, she hadn't washed it.

She looked at the handkerchief weakly.

Everything Cecil said was right. She had used her looks to seduce men, used them, and discarded them when they crossed lines or got too close.

That was why saying. "This time is different," had no persuasive power, and Lilith's sincerity carried no weight.

That was why she couldn't say anything.

In truth, she had never seriously considered it. What might be behind the mask? What status he might have? What family background he might have? The feelings that had bloomed in Lilith didn't come from materialistic calculations.

She just kept thinking about him.

She thought about when he saved her from the Plantera, when she wiped his wounds, when they camped together, and when he firmly placed candy in her hand while she pretended to sleep.

While eating, bathing, and lying in bed, she kept thinking about him. That was why she wanted to see him again. Those were her true feelings.

Tears fell drop by drop from Lilith's eyes.