In My Second Life, I Rule from the Shadows

Chapter 21: Entrance Ceremony (2)

The entrance ceremony came to a grand close with the emperor’s departure.

Seeing His Majesty with my own eyes was unbelievable.

“Really?”

“Is it true?”

“Isn’t it unprecedented for His Majesty to attend the entrance ceremony in person?”

The new cadets kept glancing at the door through which the emperor had exited, still charged with excitement.

Amid that chaotic atmosphere, a instructor climbed onto the podium and addressed the audience.

“From now on, the schedule will proceed as planned. Cadets except for the new students, please move to your assigned sectors.”

At that instruction, the current students from Bayern filed out like a receding tide and exited the ceremony hall.

Remaining in the seats were now only the new cadets who had just completed the entrance ceremony.

Once the distinguished guests and seniors who had filled the surroundings disappeared, the atmosphere relaxed and they began to converse.

Step.

At that moment, a new face ascended to the podium.

She was a sharp‑featured woman dressed in a pristine suit.

With impeccable gait she stood before the new cadets and slowly opened her mouth.

“Greetings. I am Ganesha, the head of dormitory supervision for the Millennium dormitory of the new cadets.”

Bayern Academy was generally organized on a full‑boarding basis.

Boarding was mandatory for first, second, and third years, while fourth years could choose based on their career plans.

While there were exceptions for commuters, most chose to stay in the dormitory to fit the academy atmosphere.

Head supervisor Ganesha adjusted her round glasses and continued in a voice as precise as a blade.

“Originally, after the entrance ceremony there were various events scheduled, but as you know, due to regrettable and unfortunate incidents, all were scaled down. Therefore, the new cadet orientation will be conducted via an efficient procedure.”

Carlos touched his chin and cast a slightly disappointed expression.

‘I heard that originally there were various events like determining the strongest among the new cadets, or a ritual of introduction with senior cadets.’

That was said to be a long‑standing tradition of Bayern, but because of the terrorism incident during the admission exam, they all got canceled.

“We will first assign dormitories and give you time to unpack. After that, there will be a lecture orientation. Please keep that in mind.”

Ganesha then called out the cadets’ names one by one and notified them of the dorm rooms they would occupy for the year.

As names were called in order, it came time for Carlos.

“Carlos, Lilac Room 307.”

“Yes.”

He followed staff guidance and moved toward the dormitory building.

The collective name for the entire first‑year cadet dormitories was Millennium.

Within it there were multiple buildings.

To accommodate some 500 people must require a fairly large scale.

The exterior of the dormitory had an antique air, similar to the vibe of Bayern.

But the moment he stepped inside, his thoughts completely reversed.

“Oh.”

Carlos looked around.

True to its name Lilac, the interior was decorated in pale purple marble in a trendy style.

Managed by magic, the temperature and other environmental conditions felt perfect to the skin.

It was a facility befitting the claim of being the empire’s premier academy.

“This facility is amazing.”

“I really made the right choice coming to Bayern.”

Other cadets shared similar reactions.

Carlos passed them and moved to his own room.

Room 307, on the third floor, room 7.

Standing before the door, a message floated ahead.

“Please authenticate.”

As he brought his palm forward, as he had been told by Ganesha, the dormitory system scanned his hand.

“Cadet Carlos.”

“Authentication completed.”

The door opened automatically.

Inside was a spacious living room, two attached rooms, and a bathroom.

There was also a kitchen where one could cook, and outside, there was even a small terrace.

“Huh.”

Carlos let out a dry laugh.

It was a scene that renewed his awareness of the cultural gap between the Central Plains and here.

At Heavenly Righteousness Academy, the academy of the righteous martial world, getting a modest single room was the extent of what they gave.

The presence or absence of magic clearly created a difference in life.

By then his belongings had already arrived and were placed in a corner of the living room.

Carlos finished organizing in under five minutes and slowly wandered through the living space.

It was slightly large for living alone.

…I had heard that there were several who lived together.

In arranged partnerships or even just among friends.

Despite being an academy, it seemed fairly lenient in those respects.

Buzz buzz.

Then again a message surfaced before Carlos.

Of course, he was not surprised, since he had been told by Ganesha.

In fact, he had known even before entering the academy.

After all, it was one of the factors that helped Bayern gain the title of the empire’s top academy.

“So this is that archive.”

Carlos slowly extended his hand.

Then, clusters of light appeared floating in the air, emitting a pale glow and inscribed themselves around his wrist.

It was the internal network of Bayern, commonly called the ‘Archive.’

It handled everything from lecture and assignment management to cadet self‑governance activities, community, messaging, and more…

It was a colossal system embodying Bayern’s technology and wisdom.

Cadets could access a virtual space via the Archive and freely connect with each other.

From what NOX had discovered, a policy was being implemented to activate systems like this Archive across the entire empire within 100 years.

At least enabling lords or bureaucrats to connect.

“If that happens…”

Perhaps the world would change once again.

From the capital to the provinces, information could be transmitted in an instant.

Even considering it lightly, the value was beyond measure.

Of course, in the Central Plains, such a system was unimaginable.

There, the fastest means of communication were things like courier post, whisper messages, or beacon signals at best.

What would happen if magic were introduced to the Central Plains?

“The old‑timers would dismiss it as trickery.”

Perhaps the heretic or demonic path would accept magic more quickly.

Given its tremendous utility, it would instantly transform Central Plains culture.

If the righteous martial world could not adapt to that change, it would simply be left behind and disappear.

“This is going to be interesting.”

Carlos murmured as he reclined against the sofa.

If upon returning to the Central Plains wielding magic, it would be quite a spectacle.

“……”

Alone, he suddenly felt like drinking.

The scenery here was pleasant enough, so enjoying a drink alone wouldn’t be bad.

Later, he thought he could tell Nineteen to install a wine cellar in a corner of the living room.

‘NOX has stabilized. The members are fine, and it’s just a matter of nurturing it further.’

It had already been fifteen years since he arrived in this world called Artenia.

By now, perhaps he could say he was reasonably adapted.

But he had not the slightest intention of resting on his laurels.

Just as in the Central Plains, he had no plan to stop even in Artenia.

Of course, the goal was different.

His objective in the Central Plains had been the Greatest Assassin of the Central Plains.

In the end, he gained the title Unkillable because there was no one he could not kill.

In Artenia, his goal was…

“Absolute shadow sovereign.”

Perhaps calling him the Mastermind would be appropriate.

He would not be the blade that cuts, but the owner of the hand that held the blade.

To that end, expanding influence in both shadow and light was important.

Bayern Academy was the first step toward going into the light.

Now he would slowly infiltrate among the cadets and imprint his existence.

‘Naturally, I have no intention of standing out from the start.’

Whenever placed in a new environment, some idiots get overexcited and act out.

He would filter out such worthless people and build relationships with those who would be helpful in the coming future.

Having already earned the title theoretical top scorer would serve as an advantage.

Ding‑dong.

While Carlos was sorting his thoughts in his head, a notification arrived via the Archive.

“New cadets, please report to the lecture hall for the lecture orientation.”

Reading the message, Carlos rose from the sofa and lightly stretched.

Bayern Academy was composed of a general faculty and a magic faculty.

In the first year, without distinction by faculty, they were divided into classes to take common lectures.

Of course, within allowed credit limits, it was also possible to add elective lectures they wished to take besides the common lectures.

From the second year, depending on the faculty and major, free course selection was possible, so building as many connections as possible in first year when forced into classes was important.

“I’ll need to pay attention to academics too.”

His basic stats had been proven by achieving top written exam score.

But fitting for its stature, Bayern’s academic level skyrocketed with each year.

Once into advanced courses, even Carlos could not afford to be careless and would need to keep pace.

Carlos tidied his appearance and moved to the lecture hall.

The total number of new cadets was 500.

According to the reformed educational system due to the terrorism during the entrance exam, from this year classes were divided into groups of fifty by grade ranking.

Unintentionally, Carlos ranked exactly fiftieth.

‘If I’d messed up slightly, I might have been pushed out.’

This was information NOX had failed to identify, so the plan might have gone awry.

Being part of the top tier group within Bayern society was a major matter.

“Oh, there’s a mountain of research to do—what orientation?”

“Right? Seniors said orientation lectures usually didn’t last the full length anyway.”

By the window at the edge of the room, Yuria and Laysis caught his eye.

They stood out among the cadets.

Not only Carlos, many others kept stealing glances at them.

Nerian, sitting aloof without forming a group, did the same.

Perhaps due to the higher prestige after the medal ceremony, she exuded an aura that deterred others from approaching.

Within the lecture hall, other cadets of significant presence were seated in factions or alone.

Tap.

Carlos, without trying to acknowledge them, sat at a distant spot on the opposite side.

‘Start building networks from the periphery.’

Of course, directly approaching the top tier to quickly ascend to the mainstream might also be a strategy.

But that would leave some areas out of reach.

Better to slowly build branches outward and then, by demonstrating relationship with them, naturally position oneself as the group leader.

“Huh?”

Perhaps thanks to sitting in an intentionally empty area, a group of cadets looking for seats approached Carlos.

“You’re the theoretical top scorer, right?”

“Carlos, is that your name?”

“That’s correct.”

Carlos nodded and looked at them.

There were three guys and two girls in the group.

The male cadet who seemed to be the leader approached and extended his hand.

“I’m Maximilian. Mind if we sit nearby? As you can see, our group is a bit large and this is the only suitable spot.”

“No party, so it’s fine.”

“Thanks. Heard us? Let’s sit.”

“Okay. Perfect spot for us.”

“You’ll be sleeping anyway.”

“That’s right. At least sit through the orientation.”

“It’s probably stale content anyway.”

The five seemed to already know each other, showing natural comfort.

Carlos’s gaze quickly scanned among them.

They were the cadets listed in NOX’s report.

The male names were Maximilian, Gale, Forbes. The female names were Amy and Lien.

‘All children of prominent nobles.’

Faces not unworthy of proximity.

By the time Carlos finished his swift assessment, the cadet who introduced himself as Maximilian turned his gaze to him.