In My Second Life, I Rule from the Shadows

Chapter 22: Entrance Ceremony (3)

"Since things turned out this way, why don't we try getting along? You can call me Maxim."

"I'm fine with Carl."

"Speak casually. We're classmates, after all."

"I'm used to formal speech, so this is more comfortable for me."

"Really? Then that's fine."

Maximilian gave a light nod and let out a small laugh.

According to NOX's report, he was the typical child of a noble household.

He liked to mingle with others, preferred flashy things, and admired exceptional people.

Choosing to join Carl's side was probably for those exact reasons.

"I'm Gale. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Carl."

Gale had a sturdy build.

Perhaps because he was from a southern territory, his slightly tanned skin stood out.

He was known for being taciturn, just like his thick hands, but despite his appearance, he surprisingly had high scores in theory, suggesting he possessed sharp insight.

"……."

Forzus, the only mage in the group, simply gave a light nod of acknowledgment.

He was said to be a typical scholar type who preferred rational discourse.

"Carl, you're from Leipzig, right? I've never been to that region. What's it known for?"

"It's barren land near the border, so there aren't any particular specialties. If I had to say, perhaps the hunting grounds."

"Hunting grounds? Are there a lot of monsters?"

"Yes. Since there's a large mountain range nearby, various monsters appear frequently."

"Hmm. Sounds perfect for gaining real combat experience. Can I visit sometime?"

Amy came across as a slightly confident young lady.

Maybe it was her natural sociability, or maybe she had taken a liking to Carl's appearance, but from her very first words, she closed the distance while staring intently at his face.

"Amy. Calm down a bit. I get that Carl’s your type, but being too forward isn’t a good look."

"Wh-Who's being forward!"

"Even Carl looks flustered."

"……It's fine."

The one who restrained Amy was Rien.

She was a short-haired woman with deep navy blue hair, who playfully poked her friend's shoulder with a cynical smile, suggesting a mischievous personality.

"You kept singing about wanting to experience romance once you got into the college division. So soon?"

"Rien!"

At Amy’s flushed face and fiery eyes, Rien raised both hands and backed off.

Watching the scene quietly for a moment, Carl opened his mouth with a faint smile.

"Did you all know each other already?"

"Well, yeah. Except for Forzus, we all came up from the high division of Bayern."

Maximilian shrugged.

Among the 500 new cadets, over 100 had advanced from the high division.

In other words, they were already familiar with each other from the start.

"That's enviable. I was only in my territory before this, so Bayern is my first experience with an educational institution like an academy."

"That's normal. Children of noble families usually get private tutoring. Still, I think this is better. It's rare to get the chance to mingle with peers."

Carl nodded at Maximilian’s words.

After all, that was precisely why he had chosen the academy.

'Secure the future elite while they are still seedlings.'

If he planted his people in various places, he could exert influence rivaling an emperor's even from the shadows.

Top-tier talents like Nerian, Yuria, and Laysis were important, but so were those like these in front of him—members of the mainstream class.

"You're brothers with Senior Carius and Senior Darius, right?"

"I've heard of Senior Carius even during the high division. People say he's a good person."

"I've heard of Senior Darius, too. Supposedly, he's outstanding in martial arts."

Gale seemed particularly interested in Darius, matching his appearance.

‘They do seem similar in temperament. They might get along well.’

If Carl introduced them later, they might become good friends.

Even if his older brother was a meathead who only knew how to fight, he might still prove useful in some way.

After that, the atmosphere stayed smooth.

No—rather, it was quite good.

Carl's initial goal of blending in with a different group had been easily achieved.

But that alone wouldn't be enough.

'It was the same when I was an assassin.'

When he infiltrated the royal guards to gather information, Carl had used a similar method.

The best way to establish his presence and make others see that he was different was—

"Carl."

A familiar voice cut through the group.

Maxim, who had been chatting with Carl, turned his head lightly to see who it was, then flinched and froze.

"Ah, Lady Laysis."

"Sorry to interrupt while you're with your friends. Do you have a moment?"

Laysis Alforam.

The princess of the Kingdom of Alforam approached with a gentle smile.

"……."

Yuria was with her.

The renowned Gray Lily’s reputation was well-known, especially to those who had also advanced from the high division.

Both of them had names too weighty for this group to handle.

"It's nothing big, but we're planning a small gathering among the new students after today's schedule ends."

"A gathering, you say?"

"Yes, Yuria, Nerian, a few others, and I were planning to join as well."

Laysis gestured to the side.

A group of cadets sitting across the way smiled as they looked in their direction.

They were all clearly notable figures from different regions.

Maxim gulped and looked between Carl and Laysis.

"It's the first day and all. I thought it’d be nice if you came, too."

"Thank you for the invitation. I’ll attend, then."

"I’m not a fan of these group hangouts."

As Carl responded, Yuria grumbled from behind.

She was already behind on her magic research, and being forced to attend a social gathering didn’t sit well with her.

"Yuria."

"……I didn’t say I wouldn’t go."

"Oh, how about the rest of you? The more the merrier, after all."

Having secured Carl’s agreement, Laysis asked the others nearby as well.

This was an important matter for her, too.

As someone from the distant Kingdom of Alforam, establishing a foundation within the academy was a crucial step.

Due to his status, it was difficult to command the Empire’s nobles under him, but increasing his influence by being among them was entirely possible.

"……We will."

Maximilian, the de facto leader of the group, responded instead.

After briefly looking around to seek approval, the other cadets gave short nods as well.

They had no reason not to go, after all.

Soon, Maximilian tapped his chest with a slightly trembling hand and nodded firmly.

"Of course. We'd be happy to go."

"Thank you."

Laysis gave him a light smile with her eyes.

In terms of looks, she was easily among the top within the cadets.

Even though her actions clearly held intent, Maximilian already seemed taken in as he stared at her blankly.

"As classmates, let’s get along this year. ……See you later, Carl."

Laysis left with a small smile.

"……."

A brief silence passed through the group.

The first to speak was Maximilian, who had been staring blankly at Laysis as she left.

"Ca-Carl. Are you close with Princess Laysis?"

"We were in the same party during the entrance exam."

"That didn't look like just that kind of familiarity. You've met since then too, right?"

"Yes, well. A few times here and there before the entrance ceremony……"

Carl nodded, answering as if it was nothing significant.

"The Kingdom of Alforam holds considerable weight even within the Empire. When it was announced that the princess would be taking Bayern’s entrance exam, it was quite the hot topic."

"No wonder. Enough to make someone like Maxim fall for her at first sight."

"Wha-What! Who fell for who!"

At Rien’s words, Maximilian hurriedly shook his head in denial.

"When Laysis left just now, you were dripping with longing from both eyes. It’s already obvious. Denial is pointless."

"Gale, not you too……"

Even Gale, who had been silent, joined in, and Maximilian’s voice gradually faded.

"Ahem."

Just then, Forzus, who hadn’t said a word until now, cleared his throat lightly to catch Carl’s attention.

Wondering why, Carl turned to look at him, and Forzus hesitated a bit before pointing toward Yuria.

"Carl. Are you close with Miss Yuria, by any chance?"

"We’ve only had a few conversations."

"If there’s an opportunity later, could you introduce me? I’ll make sure to return the favor."

"That’s a bit much."

Seeing how seriously Forzus asked, Maximilian chuckled and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, he’s aiming for the Gray Magic Tower."

"Ahh."

So that’s why he had been sneaking glances at Yuria earlier.

This hadn’t been in the reports, so Carl made a mental note of it.

"Anyway, about the gathering. Should we wear dresses or something?"

"You’re getting too excited. Uniforms are fine. Internal academy events usually go like that."

"Rien’s the one who never dresses up enough."

"I like it that way. Better than dressing up all fancy. Uniforms are enough."

She had a laid-back demeanor not typical of a noble lady.

Just as Carl was observing their conversation with interest, the lecture hall door opened, revealing a figure with a markedly different aura.

Tap, tap.

The intentionally loud footsteps echoed clearly throughout the lecture hall.

The man who entered was a lean instructor who appeared to be in his 40s.

He walked in, his black Bayern robe billowing, and turned to face the crowd.

"Attention."

A low command.

With that word, the previously noisy room quieted down.

Fifty pairs of eyes gathered toward the podium.

But the instructor looked down on them without a hint of hesitation.

"I am Andreas, a Level 1 instructor at Bayern. I’ll be in charge of this orientation and this class."

Instructor Andreas, Level 1.

Everyone’s eyes sparkled at the name.

He was a battle mage well-known even within the Empire.

After retiring from the front lines, he had been serving as an instructor at Bayern.

Most cadets who entered Bayern hoped to be taught by him.

But to have him as their class instructor—no one had expected that.

"Let me say one thing first."

Everyone focused their eyes on his mouth.

What kind of teachings would a famous battle mage from the Empire offer?

Anticipation soared and then—

"You are all trash."

"……."

At the completely unexpected words, everyone blinked in confusion.

Did ‘trash’ have a different meaning than they knew?

"You must have come to Bayern with high hopes. But right now, you are nothing more than ignoramuses. Pitiful talents mean nothing in the face of the world. The recent terrorism proves that. Can you say you're superior to the cadet candidates who died in that attack?"

"……What the hell."

Sitting next to Carl, Maximilian furrowed his brows and muttered in complaint.

Calling cadets trash?

Wasn’t that going too far?

Not to mention, bringing up the terror incident—many students began showing signs of dissatisfaction.

Now that they were Bayern cadets, it felt like he was insulting their very identities.

But wasn’t the failure to prepare properly the fault of the entrance exam organizers?

"Prove that you’re not trash. Entering Bayern isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning. If you rest on your laurels, you won’t even be considered unpolished gems."

A bitter smile curled on Andreas’ lips.

He could feel the growing resentment in the cadets’ gazes toward him.

But that resistance was what he wanted.

It was all part of his plan from the start.

"Nobles, commoners, rich, poor—there are no exceptions. At Bayern, you're judged by one thing only: talent. In that regard, you're the best among the trash. But that alone isn’t enough."

Andreas raised his hand.

At that moment, overwhelming pressure surged through the lecture hall and weighed down on the cadets.

"Ugh!"

"Ahh!"

It was a sudden, suffocating force.

The cadets flailed, each overwhelmed and writhing to escape the crushing sensation in their lungs.

"This is your first proof. Prove that you are worthy uncut gems deserving of the name Bayern."