Chapter XCIX - Ceremonial Catastrophe (part 1)

Even though the ceremony was at six, a lot of the students had already gathered there. 

The ceremony will take place on the back field, the one in front of our dormitories. There, I can see the students already gathering on the students' side. They all grouped up with one another, chatting about whatever is going on.

Some of them fixed their eyes at me and Milly when we exited the dorm building. Milly led the way and headed to the middle building, where we headed up the stairs and went to the balcony on the second floor.

"... Why are we here?"

I asked her as she placed her hand on the balcony's railing. She breathed the air and let out a small smoke when she breathed out. 

Come to think of it, the air is surprisingly cold. Even our breaths are smoking. Xyphon is just so highly elevated, that the morning air felt like Mazino's winter.

"This is my favourite spot."

She uttered while staring in front of us, and I realized why it was so. 

Right in front of us is the middle park where students used to study and hang out. It's the place where I approached the couple yesterday night to ask for directions, and it is a nice park to look at from above. 

Right now it's empty because everyone else is either preparing or grouping in the back field for the ceremony. Now that it's empty, I noticed how the green scene is truly calming.

I followed and placed my elbow on the railing. The cold air took me by surprise, and I can feel my body freezing a little. I ended up using my magic energy for warmth.

"The ceremony will start at six... and most likely, the headmaster will make you speak in front of everyone."

Milly revealed so suddenly and surprised me.

"W-What?"

"This is just a guess. I talked with the headmaster, and he seemed to have an idea of what he wanted to do with you as he introduced you. It is a possibility, so just beware."

"Urggh..."

I quickly groaned from imagining it, and Milly realized my reaction. She saw my worried face and laughed, and I guess she is enjoying this as well.

"What can I even say...?"

"You can say anything you want. It's only to introduce yourself, after all."

I nodded at hearing her answer. But really, I'm not sure what I'm going to say.

Hmm…

Suddenly I got enlightened with a truly dumb idea. It was something I heard last night when Alame and her underlings gave me a tour guide, and there was something that they mentioned which seemed to be quite interesting.

"In this magic academy... there's a ranking based on our capabilities, right?"

.

The ceremony is finally starting. 

A loud trumpet can be heard coming all the way from the back court. Milly and I immediately headed to the court, and we arrived to find a lot of students already properly lining up. The lines are based on their classes, and since I still don't know which class I'll be in, Milly told me to come with her.

We stood not far from the court, but a little bit away from the crowd. The perk of being the head of the council is that you don't have to stand in the crowd, but this place seemed rather important.

In front of the court, there is a small square podium with stairs that was made with the same material as the floor. That podium was made for the ceremonies, for people who are going to speak using the speaking device that was setup to direct the ceremony.

And right now, the headmaster stood on top of that. His gaze looked around the students until it finally landed at me, who was away from the crowd.

A grin formed on his face, and I immediately shuddered in fear.

The headmaster starts off the ceremony with a greet, and then the announcements. When he mentioned about the student council recruitment next week, I turned to Milly, but she didn't seem to mind my gaze at all.

"I want to make today's event short, because we have a new guest coming today. I'd like to introduce all of you to her... A new student. 

Rize, if you please."

I turned my gaze to Milly, and I realized she was wearing a similar smile.

"Thank you for the warning."

I thanked her as I started heading towards the podium, and she gave me a thumbs up as I left her. As he got off the podium, the headmaster also gave me a thumbs up, but I just walked past him while shaking my head. He seemed to be pretty happy about it.

After getting to the top of the podium, I touched the mic to see if it's on. It bumps once, and I begin putting my face closer.

My gaze landed on the students waiting for me to speak, and instantly a sense of inferiority hit me. I always had trouble speaking in front of an audience before, and I can feel that anxiety creeping up again.

But, I reminded myself of the things I've achieved. The things I've done ever since coming to this world. The horrifying shit I've gone through.

Suddenly, speaking in front of a bunch of children my age doesn't sound so bad.

"Ehh… where do I start...? Ah, yes. My name is Rize Violet. Y'all can just call me Rize."

I introduced myself lightly, a bit too casual for an important ceremony such as this.

But, it's my ceremony. I'm the main character.

"I assumed most of you had already known about me being an adventurer. And if you don't know, then I'm telling you now.

I am indeed an adventurer from Mazino. A Green ranked adventurer, which is quite somewhere in the middle ranks."

As soon as I said that last bit, a lot of the students seemed to be showing a reaction. I don't need to enhance my ears to know what exactly they are saying, because my eyes can already catch on to their expressions.

'A Green ranked commoner like her can enter the academy? Green rank is not even that high!'

Heheheh...

"But, that doesn't mean I'm weak. I'm a commoner, sure. But, I can assure you that my combat talent and magic capabilities are way beyond anything that your 'Best' student is capable of.

Most of you must have thought that adventurers are stupid barbarians and a bunch of dirty commoners, then how about we'll take that to a test? I'll accept your challenges... at any time, any place, and I will beat you all!!"

Instantly, ravenous boo-ing came towards me. But, none of those voices are loud enough to stop me, because I'm the one with the speakers.

"Because you see... my plan coming here is not to become snorts such as all of you… but to become the strongest. To be the best.

Children like you must have come here and thought: 'This school is for nobles only, so I'm already the best!', or 'Now that I'm here, I will be living leisurely because I'll be safe anyway!'.

Let me tell you something... Ehh~, how about 'No'?

Just because you're in this overly overpriced school doesn't mean you're jack-shit. I plan to be the strongest, and I don't plan on giving anyone the top spot. 

I heard from somewhere that there will be a final semester test that involves a battle arena tournament. In that semester battle arena, I will take the number one spot, and there will be nothing any of you children can do about it.

Because I... am better than all of you."

I did the taunting on purpose, and as I gaze on the audience…

Yep. They all looked prettyyy pissed.