Chapter 329: Academy Exchange Diary (1)
cintzBeing selected as a representative of the academy was, without a doubt, an honor for any family.L8QR
F1m3FThe mere fact of having been accepted into Joaquin was already enough reason to gather all the relatives and hold a grand celebration.jY7
M9QskMEven more so in a noble society where honor is more valuable than money.d368
dxaGF7Being designated as a representative was something one could take pride in for a lifetime—in front of classmates, family, and oneself.vgM2x
MBTmfsIt was something that would be mentioned for years to come.dxj
MBjrk“Excuse me, today is the day of the event. Has His Majesty said anything…?”kJoVABb
Qnd9The princess held the phone weakly in one hand, but in her voice there was still a faint glimmer of hope.bB3Lc4
WwM6im[“He said to do your best.”]o5gUi
35wI2iDThe response immediately extinguished that tiny spark. It came from a deputy minister of the British Imperial House—the institution tasked with assisting the royal family.QVCX
dKlqxaThe Imperial House was the only body authorized to communicate among royal family members, by direct decree of the current emperor, Victoria VIII, who had declared that he would not speak to any of his children prior to the succession to the throne. Officially, it was to maintain impartiality.g6fR
QOC“…I see.”hCBBpgP
GanhuBut Victoria knew the truth. Some royal members still shared meals with the emperor. Deep down, she knew she was an outcast within the royal family itself.OIe
h7Rx9Gt[“He also said to always remember your purpose.”]3nqP9
jxpq“My purpose…”QHja
HAHmjoShe felt her strength fade, to the point that she nearly dropped the phone.qJlztj7
1G5[“Then, I wish you the best of luck, Your Highness.”]x6kkrQ
G5oNOdEThe call ended with a cold and emotionless farewell.trD
EcqTVictoria stood motionless in the dark room. Dawn was beginning to color the horizon, and the pale morning light slowly faded in.vc2aO
F1AvDcShe was a figure envied by all. And yet, no one had any expectations of her.ArUEPC
96M908The morning light reflected softly on her cheeks. Without using a handkerchief, she wiped her face with her elbow and began to get ready.wiZZ
tAvaCIt was the big day.SmiG
rhV1***lkzF
OvJIt wasn’t just a chance for glory. Ryozo had promised the three cadet representatives that they wouldn’t have to take midterms or final exams—practical or written—and would still be guaranteed outstanding grades.HESLe
ZoMlebIt was an opportunity to free themselves from the mental pressure caused by the mere words “written exam.”TJQngp
P8jAV3Except for special cases like Ryozo or Speedweapon, most avoided written exams altogether. That alone was enough to stir envy among many cadets.5VmY
yZMm6But no one voiced any discontent. The cadets’ trust in Leon, Abel, and me was stronger than expected. No one complained about the selected representatives.d9dhESg
vgx2In fact, some even said that if we were going to represent Joaquin, we should receive even more benefits.E3KTpb
x7UcciAnd I listened to them.DN6
nh5ZLVW“So… are you telling me there are more benefits?”oWlipK
aqtSpeedweapon looked uncomfortable. For this exchange, he had been assigned as the Association’s representative agent.xeMrFl8
X539fEven at Parsy Academy, our alumni network remained active.3ac
S397RfZ‘Looking at it that way, we sound like a corrupt institutional network.’18W7m
EHR8I brought the espresso cup to my lips with a bitter smile, moistened my tongue with the sharp liquid, and explained.siJSu
DvlcT“If you give a good performance during this exchange, you’ll get a meeting with Lancelot Company.”pS1
QH3ni17“As a cadet!?”JgaMNrI
BTlbiIt was a shocking offer. Right now, Lancelot Company was the dream employer for every hero.F4pp
sdmXNot only did they offer sky-high salaries, but their popularity would make a Hollywood star blush.Ws5
SNpkicNow that demons were no longer humanity’s main enemy, the top career choice for cadets was to join Lancelot Company.OGIfO
bsEJust a personal comment, but I really feel the generational shift.RWw2x
2pgCEfIn my day, only the greedy wanted to be heroes. It’s like when kids started listing “YouTuber” instead of “President” or “CEO” under “future career.”lphM
D82“That’s implicitly forbidden!”jlzQe
IBUluSpeedweapon’s reaction was understandable.Dt4mg
mS1The Hero Association was already facing a severe manpower shortage, and losing talented individuals to Lancelot would only deepen its despair.jTagvbc
sit2DIS“Whose idea was this!?”bQzNz3
ULVZurN“Mine.”52sQ7qk
0yZZybYThat’s why I called All Mute.9UH
YzMVVhW“…”j9a
Oj1OC“I know this isn’t great news for the Association. But we also need to motivate the cadets, don’t you think?”78s
5nKGYOCAt my words, Speedweapon muttered,3WtR
t9O8Ep“If it were your cousin Chaerina or second-year Ji Changhyuk, I’d get it. But I don’t think that’ll motivate Princess Victoria. I mean, she’s a princess. She already has one of the highest-ranking positions.”WF4KOx
Ces“It’s not just about the representatives. It’s also to motivate the rest of the cadets.”7oXO
YAXdI responded calmly.ruf
myd“There’s no guarantee this exchange will be the last. After this, Parsy will definitely demand more. Again and again. And if they keep pushing, Ryozo will eventually cave under the pressure.”Cxm
NL9“…That’s possible.”q7K
gmq8EW5“In that case, it’s better to start planning a second and third edition now. You know from experience that precedent is everything.”hgswj
1CSCcOI subtly alluded to the matter of Joaquin’s Council of Elders.sOSR3PO
WImHearing that, Speedweapon seemed resigned.L4k0E
fXcrP3hHe tried to calm himself with a sip of his iced coffee.86C
0zGT‘This is the crucial moment.’zkEH53
ZckIt’s the core of gaslighting.ddNILpA
7K5“This time we signed with Lancelot, but next year, let’s work with the Association. Being a public institution, it’ll take you more time to prepare a benefits proposal, right? You have a whole year to think it over.”L2q5Kf5
SrfD“President… you really…”bO4
wkxFrU“And while we’re at it.”adnG
scDI moved the empty espresso cup aside.gK5d
dgENof“The test events for this exchange… were they decided by the Association?”FFek
gZlUi“Hey, no! That would be cheating!”T5lvWg
pFMY0I leaned in, shoulder to shoulder.TwnJ
2dye“Really… I just want to know. I won’t tell the cadets.”cgQ
aF6“Hey! President! I didn’t expect this from you!”Gqd9qEU
An3YifIt’s nothing. I’m just curious.uAL
iMel2I still struggle to shake off my habits from the days I was possessed—the kind of impatient possession that always died to have prior knowledge.bKxTh
oOg2y39Speedweapon tried his best to shake me off. He really was a straight shooter.PAK
2ZPTKncGiven how talkative he usually was, he must’ve been dying to spill the beans. But his professional ethics were unusually strong.LCaA
sx7Md5O“Really, I’ll be the only one who knows.”mPD
xNspSo I played my trump card.2jweZz
12hHPU“I swear to God.”EFl4G7R
idu“Hmph…”Qq3Tf
yQavnSorry for lying, Speedweapon. I made a silent vow to myself.jWAY888
6qt“…Haah.”MvP
G0EuOsSpeedweapon’s sigh was as good as consent.6kKVm
VPG75“Fine. The first event isn’t a big deal even if you know it, so I’ll give you a hint for just that…”EtAro
e0G“That’s more than enough.”5NhrZw
57moHL3Speedweapon looked around suspiciously—dramatically—then leaned in and whispered the test in my ear. When he finished, I let out a short nasal breath.75jq
PPawmLs‘What the heck?’HyQuRq
7pK1Really? It wasn’t even worth knowing?rNvB9L
IAhwjkl‘What a letdown.’SGi8gF
ZY24Even knowing it, I had no plans to share it with the other Joaquin reps. I told you, it was just curiosity.V9bjq
YtgX7v9“The test itself sounds fun.”hJYfc9K
DM9Tl“Yu Sein gave some suggestions.”9tW
2PGGI was genuinely surprised by the name he mentioned.0M7V
QoIr“Her? Why?”PpKwX
PDTGMc“She’s a game addict, right? Really into this kind of stuff. Lately, the Association has been interacting a lot with the Outer Cult Order. So we took the chance to ask her for input.”CRwugAT
PNvcBy that logic, it made sense.BPS
mvqV6‘If Yu Sein had a hand in the test, there’s definitely some hidden twist.’LNm
efSO5pjI was a bit uneasy because of the background only she and I shared. Even though she hadn’t warned me directly, she must’ve had her reasons.pSX6Dy
vBwEven as a Saint, she takes the apocalypse seriously.uHxh
TfnX“Oh.”Dh1K
7eXqGISuddenly, Speedweapon snapped his fingers as if he’d remembered something, then rummaged through his backpack and pulled out a long wooden box, placing it on the café table.0iPx09
rNj“Almost forgot.”2nnRGP
HNDasSHe wore a satisfied smile.iGSJFbx
xwV“Old man Volundr told me to give this to you.”8mMtv
5QFPI also felt a surge of pride in my chest.4YL
3QVu“He said it’s the masterpiece of his entire life.”llZOeIc
wjyWhen the box lid opened, a radiant light filled the café.n6VfSZj
LOBs***zeuFiyM
s39W“Something good happening?”v2JF69
SAf“Oh, is it that obvious?”YMIYErc
ROLopTp“…We’re family, of course I notice. You’re about to head out. Take care of that face, Geom-Ma.”iJfqai
5RjnjrL“Do I really need to hear that from you, Director?”lnR
PA1VI relaxed the corners of my lips that were threatening to lift into a smile. My amused reaction seemed to amuse Ryozo as well, who chuckled before turning her gaze forward again.qJ06PT
c9Wf8e9In front of us stood the grand main gate of the academy’s main building. We were just about to exit the grounds.mt7x
CPWTBeyond that door, a crowd would be waiting. On either side of a red carpet, walls of people would be formed—offering their blessings to those proudly representing Joaquin.OEugRzs
99zAt least for today, the internal divisions within Joaquin Academy meant nothing.HYj
j9nGCI7It was the day when everyone—teachers and students alike—cheered with one heart for the three cadets standing behind us.zpQBcgF
RVcAs soon as Ryozo, leading the group, opened her mouth.IIzqr3
6Dqh7f“Let’s go.”0j2Cn
498k9The double doors swung wide open and light flooded in. Though it was still a chilly spring, the warmth of the atmosphere wrapped around us instantly.dgn1G
rxde“Let’s go, Joaquin! Show them what you’re made of out there!”KAs
4pGBc“How did Parsy get strong? How did Parsy get strong? How did Parsy get strong?”jMN
IBe“I bet my whole fortune on the favorite!”BSgOt
VdSzr“There won’t be any annoying underdog rebellion! The glory of Joaquin is eternaaaal!”zE6rQ
hiuCadets and professors shouted, tossed flowers at our feet, and pushed us forward with fervent cheers.HXaVV
X8FHLLeaving behind them all—and Joaquin Academy—we stepped into the subspace warp.u9qxwM
gQ8vfThe curtain of subspace began to swallow our group, one by one.Dr00JDD
AaYWfto***MZb
ppwopDark violet began to creep into the edges of our vision, and soon after, the glow of the setting sun dyed our faces.tmp
3mzlF8Ji Changhyeok, eyes slightly irritated, squeezed them shut before opening them again. His eyes widened instantly.Z0ug
X4ufUdnA tunnel unfurled before us. Like a braided rope, the tunnel extended in a continuous circular structure.WtHbh
hbbAguOn the floor lay a golden carpet—perhaps even more luxurious than the last one—stretching far into the distance.69gZp
wIfJmvOn either side, a crowd of reporters fired their camera flashes incessantly. They looked like hyenas.xFnwjI
2M8ePaAmong them, a few clearly belonged to Parsi’s inner circle. Their expressions, full of hostility, gave them away completely.NCc
s0YSJgp“If they’re going to show hostility, they should do it openly.”z5XbHha
rQy19AAbel clicked his tongue.naanDl
yvjDLeon, with a calm smile, winked at me.i4nWMr
wjfgh“How could they, with you here?”H7oIa
JavzJ“…”feVG53
AnsAbel muttered something under his breath and quickened his pace.DVp
PpWtnA sharp pressure pounded against our skin relentlessly. The cadets followed behind us, a bit hunched, trailing the adults. It was only natural to feel nervous—we were in the heart of enemy territory.XLA
gzr‘That odd one must be Chaerina.’ekQXV9z
QRrShe was watching everything with a curious expression, as if every detail fascinated her.r2GA8vN
gZgzI glanced away and fixed my eyes on the vanishing point. In front of us, just before the opening ceremony, a platform had been set up for a press conference.wNd3w
gFBsnZThe director and staff from Parsi had already taken their places on the left side of the long stage.aI2
ZcQOtl0Naturally, we settled on the right. From Ryozo to Chaerina, everyone took their seats.bnB4
1xelThe reporters swarmed forward like bees, closing in. It was a standard press conference.hRwdN
gZXLPQThe first to speak was a neatly dressed female reporter.4uwozCT
dNDg“This is a historic exchange! I’d like to hear a few words from the director of the host academy, Parsi.”PDb1ID
cQdwMKMicrophone in hand, Parsi’s director lifted his chin with arrogance.hR5S8X
KRE“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with Joaquin, an academy of great prestige and tradition. I’d like to take this moment to thank Sword Master Abel, who was the direct cause behind this encounter…”RcpWG
uq1tpWVZing.SCeKiV
ge3W8“…And also the Joaquin Academy and other collaborators. However, the most important part of this event is that, by opening our doors, Parsi has now become an academy capable of standing on equal footing with Joaquin after ten years…”iHVz
APTuWith the attention of the entire world on us, the microphone passed from hand to hand, guided by mechanical gestures and carefully measured words.AXiL
6BfY3pMParsi was doing its best to praise Joaquin, but subtly insisted they were now equals.4LUqnyL
lVGAWith billions watching, they couldn’t say just anything. They knew how to weigh their words.ajIe1
MLdMnq“We, the Joaquin Academy…”1vpq
rb0bRyozo began his remarks with composure. Joaquin had to exude dignity. It was the image the world expected from the favorite.uxPgN44
J4KVlWeThe microphone became damp from saliva, but the eyes of the journalists were drying out. There wasn’t enough provocation.PixiUsp
3ACThen, when the microphone finally reached me, those dull eyes regained their spark. Even among legends, the difference in attention was palpable.iNE5ulZ
OAm7jqfIt had been a while since I felt so clearly the weight of my presence. I wiped the microphone with a handkerchief and brought it to my lips.jyU9x5
TbQJL“Mutual respect is important, but I believe this event is also, clearly, a competition.”WtCRXim
zVcIt was a warning.NxJ
RBVTFD“Joaquin will not lose to Parsi.”UtDjxd
XymAnd with that, I threw the bait the reporters, the people, the whole world was waiting for.Bte80PK
xf6“That’s all.”7pWGF
hXi12YF“……”CgNU
kkrWNT“……”8al
n4lm2“……”agu
3bm“……”eMv
t2baROsThe silence lasted just a moment.4hQ
LsctdY9Click, click, click, click!LNuT5v
vDT2The reporters responded with a storm of camera flashes.qd1w4
ASdTaThe cheers from the crowd seemed to pierce even the lenses.Jp21PxP
8wpThe stage was set.nOZUfy
rd1EjaLet the world go wild.RYPw
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