The opening ceremony of the Birth Festival followed a conventional procedure.
All the cadets gathered in one place to go through a sort of inspection ceremony, and the vice president representing Shio-ram recited a speech.
After that, the representatives from each grade took an oath to follow up with the speech, merely to announce the opening in a somewhat flashy manner.
Such a simple procedure, yet among those seated in the audience, hardly anyone felt bored. Instead, they were busy sparkling with excitement and scanning the center.
– Hey, look up front, is that Hong Yeon-hwa? From the Gop-hwa Clan, right?
– The news made her sound so fierce, but she looks different now… Oh, that scarf is pretty. Where did she get it?
– The cadet next to her is Baek Ahrin, and wow, with them sitting together, it’s quite a sight!
– I just saw them playing tag, and wow, they were super fast. If they collided, it’d be like getting hit by a dump truck!
– Do you think it’d just end up flying away after fighting against a monster that eats dump trucks?
When an ordinary person experiences the phenomenon of awakening, they become a superhuman capable of handling magical power. However, only a small percentage of the total population undergoes awakening. The overwhelming majority remain ordinary people who cannot wield magical power.
Because of this, superhumans often seem like beings from another world to regular folks.
To be more precise, they are like idols.
They crush metal with their bare hands, leap over buildings with a single bound, and utilize abilities that are hard to comprehend rationally.
Thanks to the continuous image management carried out by the association, superhumans, heroes, and hunters occupy the pedestal of aspiration and idolization.
– Wow, a day comes when I can see the Shio-ram cadets with my own eyes…
– Everyone’s hair is all colorful.
– Natural dyeing, huh? Plus, it’s said that becoming a superhuman improves skin and bones? So jealous…
Moreover, the ones under observation now weren’t just any superhumans; they were the cadets of Shio-ram.
Due to the strict security of Shio-ram, it had been hard to get news, so everyone, both ordinary folks and industry people, had their eyes wide open, gazing at the central stage.
– That cadet at the very front is…
– Haha, they really stand out, don’t they? You can’t help but look, even if you don’t want to.
– A special entry student.
The busy gazes of everyone eventually settled on a common spot.
Boys and girls stood in formation, separated by their grade around the round stage. At the forefront was Lee Ha-yul, symbolizing spring with a lot of green decor.
– Wow…
And as if drawn by gravity, those who turned their gaze to Lee Ha-yul all opened their mouths in awe.
From the audience, through a gigantic hologram floating in the air, or through a broadcasted video, no matter how they saw it, those who faced Lee Ha-yul’s changed appearance couldn’t close their mouths.
Lee Ha-yul’s official reveal was at the end of the tournament. Even then, his appearance had caught many eyes, but now, he was on another level.
Hair as white as if imbued with a gentle light. His eyes were softly shut, adding to his mystique, and even with his eyes closed, his features were flawless.
Behind him draped a sky-blue robe that looked like something a celestial being would wear, and his left arm, which peeked out between the arm sleeves, seemed to evoke pity as it didn’t belong to a human.
– Wow, he’s not just a figment of imagination; he’s real!
– Does he walk around with his eyes closed all the time? That’s fascinating. Is it some sort of sensing ability?
– Look how petite he is. He seems just the right size to carry.
– His hair is incredibly white… I’ve never seen that shade before.
– …Is he really a guy?
As a moment passed, and they snapped back to reality like waking from a dream, the audience began to murmur about Lee Ha-yul with lingering expressions.
Indeed, the image of Lee Ha-yul reflected in their retina was mystical and beautiful. Even his stillness, merely standing there with closed eyes and mouth, was worthy of being called a masterpiece.
Rather, the quiet and reserved atmosphere that surrounded Lee Ha-yul only amplified his aura of mystery.
‘Indeed, it is so.’
Hong Yeon-hwa thought similarly. Glancing slightly at the chatter that reached her ears, she spotted the still figure of Lee Ha-yul, like a doll.
His appearance seemed not of this world. No matter how much she looked at his slumbering face while getting up early, she couldn’t get used to it.
“Ha-yul, is something the matter?”
However, that mysteriousness gradually peeled away the closer she got, or more precisely, it was about savoring the essence within.
To Hong Yeon-hwa, Lee Ha-yul wasn’t an ethereal being, but rather an endearingly affectionate little kid.
So, she noticed right away that something was off with his aura.
As the small whisper escaped her lips, Lee Ha-yul gently turned his head. Simultaneously, his tightly shut eyes opened slightly, revealing dreamy gray irises.
He hadn’t spoken, nor had his collar chimed. However, Hong Yeon-hwa could read a question in his eyes, wondering what was wrong.
A brief commotion arose in the audience, but Hong Yeon-hwa didn’t mind, leaning her head closer.
“I was just curious because your aura seemed strange. Are you uncomfortable?”
As Lee Ha-yul’s expression shifted slightly to indicate his puzzlement, his eyes curved as if he was in a dilemma.
‘Doesn’t seem like he’s hurt.’
Hong Yeon-hwa nodded inwardly at that reaction.
If he were hiding an injury, he would’ve avoided eye contact. This was definitely a response filled with uncertainty about how to answer.
Hong Yeon-hwa, confident in her skills as Lee Ha-yul’s tutor, waited patiently for a response.
– The head of the Taesan Clan…? What’s he doing here?
“Hmm?”
Soon, a faint voice echoed in her mind. A very precise manipulation of magical power was required for the telepathy.
Hong Yeon-hwa felt a sense of disappointment for not being able to whisper directly into her ear, but blinked in surprise at the content transmitted to her mind.
‘I didn’t hear anything about Aunt Ji-yeon coming?’
Basically, the heads of the three major clans are all quite busy individuals.
The head of the Chang-hae Clan was currently busy dealing with a dungeon surge in their territory.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s parents, the head of the Gop-hwa Clan, had been holed up in the demon realm since last year and just zipped off somewhere the moment they came out.
Then, the head of the Taesan Clan was someone equally busy. Why take extra time to visit the Birth Festival?
‘She didn’t seem like the type to dote on her daughter…’
In Hong Yeon-hwa’s memory, the head of the Taesan Clan, Lee Ji-a, wasn’t a very affectionate person. In fact, one could think she was the actual Awakener of the Chang-hae Clan due to her emotional state being rather stoic and unexpressive.
‘Well, I don’t know her too well anyway.’
Inside, she thought that maybe her daughter’s affection ran deeper than it appeared. As she shrugged her shoulders, the telepathy came in again.
– Also, Grandpa… No, um, Yeon-hwa’s grandfather is here as well?
“Eh? Grandpa?”
Hong Yeon-hwa muttered in a daze.
*
After that, the opening ceremony proceeded without any trouble.
The vice president recited the speech, and the cadets who came up in the capacity of representatives pledged to contribute to peace and the survival of humanity.
“─ Thus, based on the skills we have honed, we promise to carry out the duties bestowed upon us to contribute to world peace and survival.”
– Clap clap clap clap clap─!
As soon as the representatives’ oath ended, applause erupted inside the auditorium.
Those seated in the audience, of course, as well as the cadets maintaining their positions, clapped their hands.
Fortunately, I was in the state of wielding my prosthetic arm, so I avoided the embarrassment of awkwardly standing on stage as one of the representatives.
Though the sound was a bit different, it certainly didn’t stand out at all.
The applause continued for a while. The vice president, who had been clearing his throat during that time, only opened his mouth again after the applause completely died down.
“With this, we have reached the end of the long opening ceremony. Next, we will proceed to the final procedure.”
This was a segment directly conducted by the vice president, not the guide. I took a deep breath as I stood on stage.
‘That was short.’
Although it was called a lengthy ceremony, in reality, it didn’t take long at all. Thanks to cutting out unnecessary formalities and appropriately conducting only the necessary parts.
“Cadets and staff, please raise one hand towards the sky and manifest your magical power.”
The final procedure of the opening ceremony. At the vice president’s words, the cadets raised their hands towards the sky.
The representative cadets on stage did the same. As Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Ahrin on either side raised their hands, I also lifted my rightful arm, my right hand, up.
Simultaneously, I roused the magical power dormant in my core. The magical power coursed throughout my body’s circuits. As the vice president scanned the surroundings, he pulled out a staff from thin air.
“Then, let us begin.”
A classical black wooden staff, the vice president nodded and tapped the floor lightly with the staff.
– Woooooooong…
A subtle vibration swept down from my head to my toes. Some cadets shuddered due to the unfamiliar sensation.
But that was merely a fleeting moment.
– Woooooong…!
Soon, a massive vibration erupted as the magical power within me was drawn out from my fingertips. Though such interference was a level I could effortlessly resist, I smoothly complied and offered my magical power, so as not to spoil the event.
– Fwoosh!
Simultaneously, the magical power that spilled from my fingertips shot upwards into the sky like turning a faucet on.
“Oooh…”
Hong Yeon-hwa’s fingers wriggled in fascination. Bright red magical power flowed from her hands, and that column was exceptionally thick and vibrant.
Such phenomena occurred not just with me but with all the cadets. The color of the rising magical power differed based on the nature of the magical power, and each column’s thickness and clarity depended on the quality and quantity of their magical power.
‘For me…’
White. And, overwhelmingly thick and clear compared to the other cadets. The surrounding area was gradually becoming overwhelmingly white, tinged with various colors.
The audience members, as well as many observers in Shio-ram, were seen gasping in admiration at the sight of the colorful pillars.
It was a sort of performance at the end of the opening ceremony. One of the representative attractions of the Birth Festival.
I heard that many people flock to see this on the first day.
‘Is this how they recharge their magical power every year?’
The hundreds of magical pillars shot up and, at some point, touched the sky, spreading out in all directions.
What collided with them were the protective barriers crafted by Lady Ariel, which had been carefully constructed to shield Shio-ram.
Even left alone, they were splendid barriers, but it seemed they also were replenished like this every year.
Through consistent reading of the interpretations in the mansion’s study, I learned about such functions. Although it wasn’t quite to my level yet, continuously observing it had indeed brought some insights.
– Wooooooong…
As time passed, the robust columns gradually disappeared one by one. They began to disperse from the outer edges, until ultimately, the representative cadets’ columns scattered as well.
‘…?’
“Ha-yul, how long are you going to keep this up…?”
But I couldn’t stop. Both Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Ahrin at my side blinked in disbelief.
Not just them, but countless gazes fell upon me. From the representatives on stage, the cadets standing below, and the multitude in the audience…
[W-well, indeed…?]
I also faltered awkwardly and blinked. Scanning over to the vice president, she was calmly staring at the pillar of white magical power.
‘I did hear beforehand, but isn’t this a bit excessive…?’
It wasn’t an unexpected situation. The vice president had preliminarily informed me that I could gather an exceptionally large amount of magical power during this procedure.
‘But this is quite a bit…’
This amount surpassed wild imaginations. My magical power capacity was remarkably vast. Having never slacked in training, my magical power had steadily increased over time.
That magical power seemed to be on the verge of running low.
I panicked and rapidly drew in the scattered magical power around me, observing the path of magic soaring skyward.
‘Where is all that going?’
Other cadets’ magical power was absorbed by the protective barrier spread out in Shio-ram.
However, mine was not absorbed by the barrier. I followed the path of where my magical power was headed, puzzled.
‘That place is…’
I tilted my head. The place where my magical power seemed to be devoured was unexpectedly where it was headed.
Here, in the vicinity of the auditorium… the ivory tower towering at the very center of Shio-ram.
The Tower of Growth.
*
Inside a certain part of the Tower of Growth, where clouds were a rare sight, a green sky spread beneath showcasing vast pastures.
Thud! A column of white magical power pierced straight down into that very center.
Thicker than an average high-rise, the space surrounding that column twisted. The external pressure infused with will interfered with the pure white magical power.
Interference from the outside. Normally, one would snicker and shake it off easily.
However, with the magical power bestowed by the owner’s consent, it transformed into a submissive puppy, molding itself according to external guidance.
Untainted pure white, hence, highly likely to soil it with dirt.
Moreover, a property of potentiality, capable of transforming into anything.
– Thud…!
Something wriggled within the white column.
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