Chapter 12
The continent's finest educational institution, Gallimar Academy.
As the season of winter passed and spring arrived, it was time for new winds to blow through the academy.
It was the day of the entrance ceremony.
In the auditorium where new students had gathered, the ceremony was in full swing.
Excitement was evident in the fresh eyes of the young students.
[Congratulations to everyone present on your admission.]
[I am Gaston Gallimar, the dean of this academy. Before I introduce myself...]
An old voice echoes widely.
A white-haired old man standing on the platform. Though it was just a ceremonial speech, it contained power that excited even the students.
Most of the children listened to the dean's speech, immersed in anticipation.
Of course, not everyone was like that.
There were also students whispering among themselves.
As if there was some interesting topic, they exchanged hushed conversations.
It was about a certain boy.
"Have you heard? About this year's valedictorian."
The rankings from the entrance exam were released a few days ago.
Due to the completely unexpected results, the students couldn't hide their bewilderment.
"To think Her Highness the Princess lost the top spot... I honestly can't believe it."
"Do you know anything about this year's valedictorian?"
"Well, I heard he's called the son of the snake..."
"The Snakers family? While they're undeniably prestigious, weren't they unrelated to martial arts?"
"That's what I find strange too."
The First Imperial Princess was called a once-in-a-century genius.
A reputation that wouldn't lose even when compared to most heroes.
It was hard to accept the news that such a girl had only placed second in the academy entrance exam.
Especially since the one who took first place was an unexpected figure.
"The young master of the Snakers family?"
"He's been veiled in mystery until now. He's never shown his face in social circles..."
"In fact, they haven't had any interactions with other families in recent years."
"What on earth is going on?"
"Oh, come to think of it, my friend said he saw the Snakers young master during the entrance exam."
"Really? What was he like?"
"Well..."
The topic became even hotter as eyewitness accounts spread.
Those who had watched him on the day of the entrance exam knew that the boy's performance wasn't that outstanding.
"I heard he was subpar?"
"Subpar is too harsh... maybe just barely middle-tier?"
"What? So he's far from being valedictorian level."
"How did he beat Her Highness the Princess? Was there really an error in the ranking assignment?"
"That's highly likely, isn't it? I heard there was a similar mistake once before."
"I'm not sure about anything else, but one thing I can say for certain is..."
Public opinion flows negatively.
"The current valedictorian is just a bubble."
The students quietly swallow their sneers.
A strangely rippling hostility.
Those who rise to high positions are bound to receive hatred from others.
Especially when someone unqualified sits on the throne, the degree intensifies even more.
"Ha, valedictorian. Preposterous."
"My father has always said he doesn't like the snake family. He says they're so cunning you can't see through them."
"To dare steal Her Highness the Princess's position."
The snake boy was also in such a situation.
Although it wasn't his intention, he ended up incurring the wrath of the students.
The children glare at the platform, each wearing their colored glasses.
[This concludes my words as dean.]
[Next, we'll have the new student representative speech from this year's valedictorian, student Judah.]
[Please come up now.]
Tap tap.
Following the sharp sound of shoe heels, a blonde boy ascends the platform.
Despite his somewhat relaxed gait, there's an air of nobility.
Unexpectedly, not a bad first impression.
[Hello. I'm Judah Snakers, tasked with giving the new student representative speech.]
Narrowly slit eyes.
The boy greets the students with a somewhat unsettling smile on his face.
It was a voice that gave an ominous feeling.
***
Unexpected accidents always happen in life.
A plan you thought was going smoothly suddenly gets overturned completely.
Unfortunately, that was my current situation.
-I'm the valedictorian?
The role of an inconspicuous extra.
My dream of quietly blending in with average grades had been spectacularly shattered.
To top it off, giving a speech as the new student representative.
A reality too difficult to accept gives me a headache.
What on earth is this situation?
Surely based on the entrance exam results, forget being valedictorian, I should barely be middle-tier.
No, more than that, if there was going to be a representative speech, the academy should have notified me in advance...
-We sent a letter to the Snakers family.
-We even received a reply confirming... Could it be that you didn't receive the related information?
I had nothing to say. Damn it.
The academy probably didn't expect this situation either.
That a talent who placed first in the entrance exam would be treated as a non-existent person by his family.
'Ah, you bastard father.'
Even if you're not interested in your son, there should be limits.
This is why Judah becomes twisted in the original work. I really feel like giving a golden child counseling strike.
-Student Judah, it's almost your turn to go on stage. Please get ready.
The new student representative speech I ended up with unexpectedly.
It was enough to make me go crazy, but there was no paradise to escape to. It was just a moment to comply.
I move my steps stiffly.
As I get closer to the platform, I feel gazes converging on me.
"......"
Eyes now focused on me.
From the original characters to the dean, faculty members, and other students, everyone was staring at me.
It was too burdensome a situation for an introvert, but...
What can I do? If they tell me to do it, I have to do it.
I can't hypnotize the entire auditorium. I swallowed tears of sorrow and opened my mouth.
"Hello. I'm Judah Snakers, tasked with giving the new student representative speech."
Thankfully, I had the 'Smiling Mask' trait.
At least I didn't have to worry about stuttering or making mistakes.
As I finished that not-so-comforting thought and turned my eyes to the students... I noticed something strange.
""......"
"Hmm?"
The students are unusually quiet.
A chilling silence lingers. I tilt my head at this, raising a question mark above it.
"Why is everyone like this?"
What's this, why are they so well-behaved?
Aren't young children usually chatty wherever they go?
Could it be that they're nervous because it's the entrance ceremony?
As that thought occurred to me, I felt a bit relieved.
I guess children are still children after all. They have unexpectedly gentle sides.
"Huhu... Seeing you all so stiff, it seems you're nervous because of the entrance ceremony."
=How cute, so cute.
I didn't intend to stand out particularly in the speech.
I should just say pleasant things.
A typical protagonist might make a declaration of war to the entire school here, but I didn't have that kind of capacity.
I don't intend to stay in the valedictorian position for long.
I was planning to just make an impression on the original characters and then return it to its rightful owner.
The valedictorian position is as troublesome as it is prestigious.
I wasn't the type to covet unnecessary fame.
'I just want to see the ending.'
There's no meaning in me forcibly clearing it.
I'm just one player who loves the game.
I simply wanted to see our protagonists break through their limits and reach the end of the world.
It was enough for me to play the role of an extra giving subtle help.
Yes, I am a shadow.
I hope to be an inconspicuous supporting character.
Reaffirming my aim once again, I continue speaking with a smile.
"I think you've all heard about me. I've risen to the valedictorian position, which is beyond my qualifications."
=I don't know why I'm valedictorian either, but I'm asking for your support.
"I was worried it might be boring... but, well well, expectations never fail, do they?"
=I was worried, but... I'm glad everyone seems excellent as expected.
"So this is the continent's best academy."
=So this is the continent's best academy. Expressing pure admiration.
"I'm really looking forward to our future life here."
=I'm genuinely looking forward to it.
As I offer these good wishes, I hear murmuring among the students.
They must be impressed by the valedictorian showing such an attitude.
Oh, big bro. Yes, that's right, that's true.
Big bro always remains humble because he received K-etiquette education.
"I look forward to it."
=I look forward to it.
"My position is always open, so those who are interested are welcome to challenge. I'll accept it anytime."
=My position (as a friend) is always open, so those who want to get close are always welcome.
"I hope you'll all satisfy me."
=I hope we all become good friends.
Warm lines about getting along well.
It was a part that made one recall a scene from a youth slice-of-life story.
"This should be enough."
The given speech has finally reached its end.
I wrap up what I was saying.
Just before stepping down from the platform, I left one last thing I belatedly remembered.
"Ah, right. I'm not a villain. Please don't hate me."
=Although I have slit eyes, I'm not a bad person.
A satisfying time in its own way.
This should have given a sufficiently positive image to the students.
I exit the platform with a benevolent smile.
'Perfect.'
There were some hurdles, but I overcame them splendidly.
With this, I've surely made an impression.
Even if I step down from the valedictorian position later, I should be able to get an evaluation like 'That guy. His skills might not be great, but his personality was decent.'
I returned to my seat while running a happy circuit.
***
[Hello. I'm Judah Snakers, tasked with giving the new student representative speech.]
The moment the boy's first words echoed, all the students in the auditorium couldn't help but freeze.
They close their mouths as if by agreement.
They don't know the reason. It was just instinct.
It felt like something terrible would happen if they didn't shut up right now.
""......"
A chilling silence flows down.
An inexplicable sense of discomfort licks the nape of their necks stickily.
Even as an unpleasant sensation colors their entire bodies, the children couldn't move a finger.
What on earth is this ominousness?
Clearly no mana, no aura, no killing intent is felt, yet what is this foreboding intuition?
Creeak-.
Even the simple sound of a board makes them feel like their necks might be cut off.
Most of the students were sweating cold sweat, and some were breathing roughly as if they couldn't breathe.
[Hmm? Why is everyone like this?]
Trembling gazes are focused on the platform.
Faint tremors rippled over the thin surface.
Goosebumps standing as if about to spill over seemed to capture the students' fear perfectly.
It was a sensation difficult to explain.
Clearly, the boy's power was pathetic.
His mana doesn't reach average, and even that is faint in density. Nor is his body trained in martial arts.
All visible information points to the boy being weak. But...
'Why on earth is this happening?'
'He clearly looks like a weakling... but I can't carelessly relax.'
'It feels like my limbs are freezing.'
'It's not magic, not an illusion, not pressure. Then what is this terrible sense of discomfort...?'
'Damn. For a bubble valedictorian...!'
For some reason, their senses rang alarm bells.
There's no basis at all.
Reason asserts that they could trample him right now, but instinct warns the opposite.
To be careful of that boy.
Most students are full of bewildered looks.
Only a few top-tier students maintain a detached attitude, watching the platform with interested eyes.
Does he know about this atmosphere?
The slit-eyed boy starts his speech with a glib smile.
[Huhu... Seeing you all so stiff, it seems you're nervous because of the entrance ceremony.]
The opening is a blatant provocation.
It was a nasty greeting mocking the students who had been frozen until just now.
"Such an arrogant...!"
"A bastard who'd fly away with one punch...!"
Some students glare at this. Regardless, the boy continues speaking.
[I think you've all heard about me. I've risen to the valedictorian position, which is beyond my qualifications.]
Words with a strange edge to them.
The boy sneers as if he knows all the gossip circulating among the students about him.
[I was worried it might be boring... but, well well, expectations never fail, do they?]
[So this is the continent's best academy.]
[I'm really looking forward to our future life here.]
Slit eyes slowly scanning the students.
A meaningful part.
It felt like he was treating the students as insignificant creatures. Contempt was contained in the boy's tongue.
[I look forward to it.]
[My position is always open, so those who are interested are welcome to challenge. I'll accept it anytime.]
[I hope you'll all satisfy me.]
Furthermore, the boy shows an arrogant attitude.
If you have complaints about the valedictorian position, don't mutter behind my back, come out. I'll face you directly.
Words containing pressure, though calm.
It melts into the boy, forming an unsettling atmosphere.
[This should be enough.]
The given time has finally reached its end.
The boy roughly wraps up the speech.
He, who had been giving unpleasant eye-smiles, leaves one last word just before stepping down from the platform.
[Ah right, that's right.]
[I'm not a villain. Please don't hate me.]
Echoes resound in the quiet auditorium.
The students could only wipe the cold sweat from their foreheads and watch his retreating back.
***
"Remarkable."
"......"
The white-haired old man mutters as if in admiration.
Selena came to her senses at that voice.
Though her consciousness wasn't fully there, perhaps due to the effects of alcohol, she tries hard to focus her eyes. Her purple hair hangs down long.
Another call is heard.
"Selena."
"Yes, Dean."
This time she answers without missing it.
Sitting next to her is Selena's master and the dean of Gallimar Academy, Gaston Gallimar.
He was expressing interest in a certain boy.
"You've picked an interesting child."
"Thank you."
"Although no strong power is felt, to have such charisma that overwhelms the audience nonetheless..."
The old man's mouth corners draw a curve.
Though not valedictorian material, he was a flower that could bloom beautifully if polished and nurtured.
"It's a pity. The fact that a child with such potential is suffering because of your stubbornness."
"......"
"Do you know? Because of the crown you forcibly put on him, that child is being hated by many students."
"...I know."
"If you know, that's all the more vexing."
The dean lightly smacks Selena's head.
As she silently accepts that touch, the old man quietly asks his disciple.
It was a question filled with worry.
"I won't help you this time. Are you confident?"
"What do you mean..."
"The class assignment test."
The faculty meeting from a few days ago.
There was a condition imposed as a punishment of sorts on Selena, who had arbitrarily decided the valedictorian.
"Do you really think that child can maintain the valedictorian position?"
It was a question, but not really a question.
The dean had already concluded that the boy's ranking would plummet in the class assignment test, and other faculty members felt the same.
Some were even snickering among themselves.
Ignoring these childish reactions, Selena opened her mouth slightly.
"Well..."
Red eyes wet with indifference.
Selena remembered.
The pressure she felt from the boy during the entrance exam, and the unknown fear that had crushed her.
"We'll find out soon."
The woman answered plainly and turned her head.