As I walked to the stage, a strange feeling entered my head.

/CLAP/ /CLAP/ /CLAP/

While hearing the crowd clapping, some people booing….

A feeling of having all the attention on me.

To be honest, if asked, I would not rate myself as an attention seeker since, most of the time I would like to be alone outside of other eyes and do my own thing.

But now that I feel this feeling, I can understand why others would get addicted to such a thing and go to such lengths to maintain this.

Since it feels like everyone is underneath you and you are the main character here….

Stepping onto the scene, I could see everyone looking at me from the auditorium.

Some people had their gaze filled with ambition; some people were just sitting there and chilling, while some were looking at me with hatred.

'They should be the ones that tasted my magic.'

I thought while looking down on those.

This speech thing was basically forced without any prior notification to catch the person ranked first off guard and also to test their socialization skills while setting the target for others; that was not the case for me.

Since I knew this would happen from the game.

"Please, give new students a bunch of words."

Seeing the student council president analyzing me with her eyes, I nodded my head in response and turned my attention to the crowd.

"I won't waste any more time giving a speech about everyone being equal or how great this academy is since everyone must have been bored already."

"Hmm?"

As I had started my speech with such a sentence, Jasmine, who was standing me, made a slightly surprised sound that, if not for my high senses, I wouldn't catch.

"For some of you, my face may be familiar from the entrance exam, or for some others, from the past."

Saying this, I briefly locked my eyes with the main cast that was standing in the front row.

Alicia had a smile on her face that was looking at me with a relaxed expression, Emma, whose expression could be said as slightly irritated, and Arthur was trying his best to manage his expression.

"Some of you may have felt angry after getting eliminated from the exam thanks to my magic. Some of you may have thought of revenge against me since I didn't spare those who had already surrendered. Some of you may have thought I had cheated on the exam since you hadn't seen my scores."

This time, turning my face to the three boys that were in the second row, I said.

They were the ones that lasted to the last four and got burned alive.

"This is the world's best academy Ark, and I am now a student belonging to such an academy, so I am better than others. This is also probably what you think after your results."

As I said those words, I scanned the crowd while also releasing the trait that I had been trying so hard to suppress for a while.

<Trait [Tyrant's Aura] is active.>

"Those who confine themselves to their pathetic results should leave this academy. Because this is not a place for such those."

"This Academy is for those who want to reach greater heights, and I am here standing on top of every one of you, looking down at each of you from above. It doesn't matter if you are noble, if you are the princess of some random kingdom, or if you are the most talented person that everyone praised."

"Your past, your situation does not matter to me."

"I am here to be the best."

"Just as I had done before in the entrance exam, those who stand in my way will be crushed without any mercy; if you still want to take the risk, challenge me to a life-and-death duel. I won't ever take my words back."

"Those are my words for the new students."

I finished my talk with one last glare at the student council president, that was looking at me with a smile(?).

/SWOOSH/

"Wow, that was a very nice speech. I guess, only a student like you could give a speech like this."

'!'

Before Jasmine could even say anything, a man with a bulky build appeared right beside me with a smirk on his face and asked.

Though, he didn't use spatial magic but just used his normal speed to do that.

"Does that mean I can challenge you as well?"

And added with his signature smile.

'Rowan Peters. Dean of the Knight Faculty.'

I thought, seeing the man. Since he was a named character in the game, I didn't even use my All-Seeing Eye.

He was an easygoing man from the outside, but once you get to know him, you would be surprised how strict he was with his training.

/SWOOSH/

Just as I was about to answer him, this time, I sensed spatial mana moving for a partial second.

And a woman appeared beside.

"Old man, what are you talking about? How dare you challenge a student?"

'Seraphina Riftwind. The Vice headmaster of the academy and the Dean of the Magic Faculty.'

Since she was a character that frequently appeared in the game and also after the exam, of course, I knew who she was.

She was a woman that had a strict personality outside, but pretty soft when you get to know her.

"Ahahaha!… I was just joking. Why do you need to take everything seriously?"

As Rowan responded with a hearty laugh, the atmosphere that got just tense from my speech had disappeared, thanks to two deans appearing suddenly.

"You can sit, Student Callius."

As she gestured to me, I followed her words and sat down.

"That was a nice speech." 

But, before that, I heard her whisper and thumbs up.

After that, both of them turned their attention to the crowd again.

"Now, everyone. Thanks for attending the ceremony. Now, we will conduct the orientation and a tour for everyone to get familiar with the environment. Even though it is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended since it is essential to know the facilities our academy offers. You will be able to see the instructors and seniors that are waiting outside to guide you."

Seraphina said as she looked at the crowd.

"Classes will start tomorrow morning, and you will be able to see your assigned classes from the notice that will be delivered to you via your bracelets. That is all for today."

As she finished her words with that she waved her hands.

"Wishing you a pleasant day and a healthy new semester."

And disappeared.

This is how the entrance ceremony ended, marking the start of my academy life.