Chapter 138
Chapter 138.1. The Third Year at the Academy - Graduation (1)
The interior of the spacious auditorium was illuminated by countless magical lanterns, Fixlights, hung on the walls, and by the sunlight streaming through the stained glass.
Despite the amount of light, it was cold.
In previous years, the seats would have been filled, making it a bit warmer.
In the deserted auditorium, I was attending the academy's final event, the graduation ceremony.
The majority of the third-year students, a few fourth and fifth-year students, the instructors conducting the ceremony, the guests, and the parents who had come to pick up the graduates were gathered in the auditorium.
In total, there were about a hundred people.
If not for the cold wave, the grounds would have been filled with carriages, and nobles dressed in their finest would have been strutting about as if they owned the place.
Since I had declined to have anyone pick me up, naturally, none of my relatives were present.
Seeing how poorly attended this gathering was, I realized I hadn't needed to decline after all. Cormis Harikal, who had transitioned from gardener to academy headmaster, read out the congratulatory message sent by His Majesty the Emperor.
After bowing respectfully to the parchment, he delivered his own speech as the headmaster, followed by the chairman of the council, Ravi Bartinkan, who represented the guests.
Whether it was due to tradition or the cold wave, only these two gave speeches.
Nobles love such occasions, so it was probably tradition.
After that, the diplomas and the chest ornaments symbolizing graduation from Cartilard were awarded.
The diplomas were neatly bound in leather, and the chest ornaments were simply made with a silver base.
Names were called one after another, and the graduates took the stage.
Occasionally, there was applause from the guests, but the ceremony proceeded quietly.
Just like the entrance ceremony, this one was quite businesslike.
After all the graduates, including me, had received their awards, the ceremony concluded without much fanfare.
At the direction of the host, Hval, the graduates exited the auditorium.
Following the flow, I left the school building and finally saw a familiar scene.
Graduates were shedding tears as they said goodbye to their friends, while others were laughing and joking around.
Including my past life, this was my third time. For those experiencing it for the first time, it must be quite a painful experience.
As I was watching my classmates, someone called out to me from behind.
"When are you leaving?"
I turned around to see Elphimia and Lola standing there.
Lola was clinging to Elphimia's arm, crying profusely.
"The day after tomorrow."
"He was so eager to see you off, but it seems my father won't make it in time. He'll probably be upset."
"He's not a child anymore, is he?"
"He's still a child at heart. Well, see you the day after tomorrow. I'll see you off in his place."
"Alright."
As I nodded, Lola, still sobbing, said something.
It was incomprehensible, but it seemed to be words of farewell.
Just as I was about to laugh and say something,
"My, my, Alter, making a girl cry."
An unwelcome comment was suddenly thrown my way.
I turned and bowed my head.
"You shouldn't make her cry."
"My apologies. I'm just a country bumpkin, after all."
As I apologized, Lola, who should have been defended, instead looked embarrassed.
She somehow managed to bow her head and quickly hid behind Elphimia.
Regardless of her nervousness, the person she was clinging to was of the same rank.
Doris, who was rarely at a loss, seemed troubled by Lola.
If Rize had been here, she would have smoothly come to the rescue, but now only Carmal and Nejikin were present, and the blonde drill was nowhere to be seen.
Doris smiled at the still-frozen Lola, saying, "It's just a joke," and then turned that same smile towards me.
"If there's any regret from these three years, it's that I couldn't welcome you properly."
"Such kind words."
"It's not too late to change that, you know?"
"I must decline."
In this familiar exchange, Doris and I laughed together.
"I owe you a great deal. If it weren't for your help, I don't know what would have become of me."
"You would have managed on your own. Maybe caused some trouble?"
"You still seem to misunderstand me. Speaking of which, where is the source of that misunderstanding?"
"Rize and Siricia went to deliver the invitations to the celebration party."
"Celebration party—is it?"
Tilting my head, Elphimia waved a piece of parchment.
"I won't be attending. I'm not good with these things."
"That's a shame."
As if she had expected it, Doris responded calmly, contrary to her words.
The academy thoroughly excludes any extravagant events. It's unlikely to be an official one.
It must be hosted by Count Diolt.
As I was pondering this, Doris looked at me apologetically.
"I thought it might trouble you, Alter."
"Well, yes... I suppose so."
It was a difficult statement to agree with, so I hesitated slightly.
For nobles, celebrations are as natural as breathing.
If Count Diolt invites you, it's almost impossible to decline. It's not the same as official duties.
And when it comes to celebration parties, there's dancing. I can't afford to embarrass myself in public.
As I trembled with trauma,
"Perhaps—you're misunderstanding?"
Elphimia peered at me.
Doris must have been considerate and left me out of the invitations.
What is there to misunderstand?
Seeing my confusion, Elphimia shook her head.
"You don't seem to understand. You're the overall winner of the martial arts tournament, and you're in the spotlight. Moreover, you won overwhelmingly in your third year. It would be strange if you weren't noticed. What do you think would happen if you jumped into a crowd of nobles? That's why Doris was considerate and didn't invite you."
"Well, even if I'm noticed, it's not like I've ever caused a commotion."
"It's because of the heavy snow. In a normal year, your house would be surrounded by nobles."
"My father has been pressuring me, you know? To bring you in, Alter."
As she said this, Doris smiled, but her eyes weren't laughing.
It was a bit scary.
"And you should thank me too. A court magician is equivalent to a count. If the daughter of such a person is nearby, the children of lower nobles wouldn't dare approach. The students, I mean."
At her meaningful words, I glanced around and noticed countless presences watching us.
These guys... are they targeting me?
I couldn't help but feel a chill run down my spine.
After that, I subtly used Elphimia and Doris as shields, and as I made my way through the crowd, Rize and the blonde drill returned. They seemed to have finished delivering the invitations.
After hearing their report, Doris gracefully bowed.
"Well then, everyone, I hope we meet again someday."
"I look forward to the day we meet again. And if you ever need anything, please call on me. I'll come running."
"Yes. I'll count on you then."
With those words and a smile, Doris left.
After a bow, Carmal and Nejikin followed, and the blonde drill bowed only to Elphimia.
Finally, Rize, who had stayed behind, stood in front of me.
"I may have caused you trouble, but I also took care of you."
"Likewise. The outdoor training was fun."
"Yeah. At that time, I thought about killing you."
Uttering words unbecoming of a noble lady, Rize laughed.
"If fate allows, let's meet again."
"Yeah, take care."
Rize nodded, then bowed to Elphimia and gave a nod to Lola.
As the top students of the year left, Lambert, Felix, Elliot, and Nils arrived. They seemed to have been waiting for them to leave.
Lola, perhaps relieved of her tension, clung to Elphimia's arm as if remembering something.
With a wry smile at the sight, I spoke to Lambert.
"Early morning, the day after tomorrow, at the south gate."
"Got it."
As we exchanged these words, our eyes met, and Lambert responded with his gaze.
Until departure, Lambert was supposed to stay holed up in the dorm.
Although the number of people in the dorm decreased after graduation, many students were unable to move due to the cold wave. Staying in the dorm was safer than finding lodgings elsewhere.
Seeing that everything was fine, I said a few words to everyone.
Finally, I smiled at Lola and said, "I'll write you a letter," before parting ways with everyone.
Two days remained.
Surprisingly, there was still a lot to do.
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