Chapter 76 : Entrance Ceremony (1)

The carriage ran and ran until it finally arrived at the academy’s main gate.

In front of the academy, countless people were saying their goodbyes to students dressed in uniforms.

Among them, the most grandiose carriage was ours.

“…Unnie.”

“Minho, why are you crying again~”

“…Minho, don’t cry.”

As soon as I called out to them, tears streamed down my face.

Seeing me like that, my two older sisters smiled gently.

Yuri unnie wiped the tears flowing down my right cheek, while Emila unnie wiped the ones on my left.

My chubby cheeks stretched like glutinous rice cakes under their touch.

“Hee-ing… Hng… Don’t go…”

Clinging to Yuri unnie’s leg, I rubbed my face against her and pleaded.

Hearing this, both Yuri unnie and Emila unnie spoke in troubled voices.

“…Mi-Minho…”

“We’re sorry, Minho.”

If they were sorry, then they shouldn’t leave!

I wanted to shout that, but I couldn’t.

Even I knew that would be too selfish.

Despite knowing that, I still couldn’t bring myself to let go of Yuri unnie’s leg.

…But doesn’t this make it seem like I’m only holding onto Yuri unnie?

“…Wungni, Emiwa wungni too…”

“Hm?”

Because I was crying and had my face buried in Yuri unnie’s leg, my voice came out muffled.

Yuri unnie, who somehow managed to understand my jumbled words, moved closer to Emila unnie.

Only then was I able to reach out with my short arms and hug both of them tightly.

I clung to their legs, determined never to let go.

“…M-Minho.”

“What should we do?”

I could hear the distress in their voices.

I didn’t want to trouble them, but I hated the thought of parting even more.

I could feel the murmurs of the onlookers as they watched me cry my heart out, snot and all.

“Ssshh! Minho, come here.”

“No…!”

As my mother pulled me away, my body lifted into the air.

But my hands, tightly clutching my sisters, refused to let go.

“You can stay until the entrance ceremony. The royal family has to attend anyway, so we’ll be going in together.”

“…Really…?”

“So if you’re going to hold on, do it inside, okay?”

“…Okay…”

I had no choice but to stop throwing a fit.

‘…It’s not like crying will change anything anyway…’

There are school breaks, so it’ll be fine.

I’ll see them again soon.

As I wiped my tears away with both hands, I suddenly spotted a familiar face in the distance.

“…Ramir?”

It was Ramir, an elf with soft green hair and a gentle expression.

But right now, he looked quite lonely.

Coming to study abroad in a foreign land, he had no family here to see him off.

‘…I should go in with him.’

I have to take care of my friend.

At that moment, someone came running up behind us, panting heavily.

“P-Princess Yuri! Please let me see her!”

A familiar male voice—

It was Damian.

“D-Damian?!”

Yuri unnie, startled, quickly approached Damian.

The way they looked at each other was… strangely sentimental.

‘…Huh?’

Wait, could this be…? A green light?

Are they… flirting?!

My previously gloomy mood disappeared in an instant, replaced by excitement as I watched them with a pleased expression.

“…I’ll become a professor!”

“…!!”

“Please wait for me, Hero.”

“…Yes…!!”

Yuri unnie’s face showed a mixture of surprise and deep emotion.

Meanwhile, our father’s expression as he watched her was filled with nothing but turmoil.

“…To an Imperial…!!”

‘…Dad?!’

His entire body trembled with rage.

Mom, who had been smiling at Damian and Yuri unnie just moments ago, noticed Dad and flinched in shock.

It was obvious—Dad absolutely despised the Empire.

Well, it made sense.

Even if they were adopted, two of his daughters had suffered at the hands of the Empire.

Of course, he’d hate them.

…But wasn’t it thanks to Damian that Yuri unnie even managed to escape?

Well, whatever.

Unnie had been a total heartbreaker in her past life anyway.

Though, she was still single until the day I died.

She had planned to start dating in college but ended up focusing only on studying…

And then, because of me, she never even got the chance to experience love.

“…Uhhhk….”

“Minho? Are you crying again? You love your unnie that much?”

Before I realized it, my tears spilled over once more.

My poor Yuri unnie.

Mom looked down at me with a concerned expression as I cried endlessly.

She asked if I really loved my sisters that much, and in response, I hugged her tightly and nodded.

‘…I need to go to Ramir, though…’

As that thought crossed my mind, I turned to look at him.

Ramir was already approaching us.

It seemed like he had wanted to run over the moment he saw our carriage, but because I was too busy clinging to my sisters and bawling my eyes out, he had hesitated.

“H-Hey, Minho.”

“…Uuuh… Ramir…”

Even you’re leaving now.

“You have to be happy over there.”

“W-What?!”

“Goodbye…”

As I weakly waved my hand, I could see Ramir panicking.

“M-Minho? I’m not dying, okay?! I still have like 500 or 700 years to live!”

“…Hic… So what… We won’t see each other…”

Ugh, I’m getting sad again.

I don’t even know why I’ve become so emotional lately.

[The king says you’re pure-hearted and is absolutely smitten with your cuteness.]

[The king informs you that your soul regressing into a baby is what’s making you so emotional.]

[Now that you’re adorable, everyone around you is satisfied and gives you a thumbs-up.]

What did you do to me?!

[The king shrugs and says, “If I’m the only one who turned into a baby, then just accept it.”]

‘I never agreed to this!’

[The king snickers and says, “Whatever.”]

Even the gods are teasing me now.

I’m going to die of frustration.

As I wiped away my tears, I looked up at Ramir, who was gazing at me with a worried expression.

‘…He dressed up nicely.’

Guess he wanted to look good for the entrance ceremony.

He finally looks like a noble now.

“…Ramir…”

“Minho, don’t worry. I’ll visit the castle every break.”

“Please do.”

“Y-Your Majesty! I-I should have greeted you first…”

Had he only been focused on me?

Ramir hurriedly bowed his head to my mother.

Mom chuckled and gestured for him to relax.

“You’re Minho’s friend. Dragons don’t particularly care for formalities in private settings.”

“Is that so…?”

Dragons valued equality, after all.

You might wonder why royalty even exists in such a society, but in reality, the royal family is just a means to protect the dragons.

They don’t interfere in their lives much.

Laws and policies are created by the elders, while the king either approves or discusses them.

Even disciples under the elders get to participate in discussions, and anyone who wishes to become a disciple can.

In other words, anyone can take part in politics.

The dragons’ political system is a mix of absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy.

‘I read about it in a book not too long ago.’

[The king praises you for being a good child who even reads books.]

[He says, as expected of his apostle, you’re truly exceptional.]

‘Heh.’

Feeling a little better thanks to my golden unnie’s praise, I turned my attention to the booming voice of an instructor.

“The entrance ceremony will begin soon! Freshmen and their guardians, please prepare!”

After that, the enormous stone doors groaned as they parted, opening to reveal the academy.

The sight that greeted me was breathtaking—if beauty itself were given form, it would look like this academy.

And standing in the open plaza was a young girl, arms crossed, a cocky smirk on her face.

“Welcome, you brats!!”

Her voice was lively, but her aura was far from childlike.

The controlled, disciplined magic swirling around her hinted at a veteran mage, not a kid.

[The king is shocked to find the Apostle of Knowledge here.]

[He insists that you should befriend her later.]

Oh, she’s an apostle?

That’s unexpected.

As I tilted my head in curiosity, my parents looked at her with nostalgic expressions.

“…Professor Unio is still here?”

“…I got a letter last time saying she became headmaster… Also, she told me not to let her bother me…”

Dad looked exhausted just thinking about her, while Mom, clearly delighted, kept smiling.

“I am the headmaster of this academy and the Apostle of Knowledge, Unio Rina!”

The headmaster grinned mischievously like a teasing older sister.

The ceremony went on without much else of note.

They explained the different classes, introduced the professors, and emphasized how terrifying the upperclassmen from Year 2 to Year 10 were.

I should have paid attention, but… I just dozed off.

At some point, my sister Emila, who had entered as the top student, went up to give the student representative’s oath.

“…We shall always grow through cooperation and competition, and one day, we will shine upon the world. In the name of the first queen, Grandmother Fluer— I mean, Queen Flare, we swear it.”

She slipped up midway but recovered well.

Next was the royal family’s congratulatory speech.

After Mom and Dad spoke, the microphone was handed to me.

“Listen well! Princess Minho will now speak!”

Even the headmaster was putting pressure on me!

She grinned at me like an aunt watching her adorable niece.

“Uh… um… E-Everyone, do your best! Big sisters and brothers!”

Since I had no idea how to give a speech, I just wrapped it up quickly.

The audience smiled warmly at me, making me feel so embarrassed I nearly died on the spot.

Sensing my distress, Mom hugged me to calm me down.

Meanwhile, in the corner, Headmaster Unio was giggling to herself as if she found it all too amusing.