Chapter 316

Lily’s academy.

The entrance day for Eli Academy was approaching.

Amid the influx of numerous people into the Elbrit Principality where the academy was located, Yena, among the chosen few, had already turned on her broadcast.

Already, the number of viewers was rapidly increasing.

Looking at the number of viewers, which was more than three times the usual, Yena gave a satisfied nod and waved at the camera.

“Hey~ hey, everyone~”

[Yehi~]

[Yehi!]

[Yehi~]

[Yena land! Yena land! Yena land!]

[Wow, Yena came in second last time ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ]

[Third place Yena]

[Yena fever is going crazy]

[Geez~ I trusted Yena]

[hahahaha]

“Welcome, everyone. It seems most of you have heard the news.”

Yena nodded, humming slightly.

With all the entrance exams complete, the final number of students who cleared them was a total of 27.

However, while the positions below the top ones shuffled quite a bit, the rankings for first, second, and third remained the same as the first day.

“Well, I managed to secure third place. Everyone, give me a clap!”

[ZZZZZZ]

[ZZZ]

[ClapClapClapClap]

[Clap clap clap clap clap]

[Surely the dignity of the previous ranking third place holder ㄷㄷ]

[Yena is third place]

[YenaThirdPlace]

[hahahaha]

“…That’s right, third place is the correct rank.”

That was, literally speaking, in the past.

Anyway, isn’t the important thing that she participated?

Yena, rationalizing to herself like that, headed toward the academy.

While the number of those who passed was 27, the area around the academy was inundated with people.

There were people everywhere, especially a considerable number of those filming, to the point where it was hard to distinguish between a school and a film set.

It could very well be that most of the streamers on T-Twitch were currently broadcasting about the academy.

“People are really everywhere, huh.”

[Really]

[Really!]

[Want to use ultimate skills over there]

[Just great Lily]

[Accepting this much was crazy as well]

[How many users are there over there?]

[Isn’t there some event being held?]

[So, defeating the progenitor?]

“Progenitor? Of course, I couldn’t defeat it.”

Not even managing to cut half her stamina, and trying repeatedly, the time eventually ran out.

“Seriously, I thought I was going crazy. What kind of pattern was that?”

There’s no monster like that.

[hahahaha]

[Lasty is indeed powerful]

[Even Lily almost defeated it, right?]

[Progenitor…wow]

[Rankers await]

[A good number of new rankers this time]

Most of the qualifiers are ranked players.

Naturally, to clear the difficult tests prepared by Lily, one needs combat skills, and rankers are exceptionally talented in combat.

Moreover, lectures on mana have been ongoing, so almost everyone should be able to pass.

“Excuse me, is this Miss Yena?”

“Yes!”

“Just a moment~”

In front of the entrance to the academy, there was something akin to a checkpoint. The guides were fiddling with something, then handed over a blue crystal.

Placing her hand on the crystal, a ‘ting’ sound rang out, accompanied by an approval sign.

“Alright. This is indeed Miss Yena. We will also issue your student ID.”

“Oh.”

She received a neatly designed square badge.

Small enough to fit in one hand, and with her face clearly printed, probably captured recently.

Beneath it, her name “Yena” was written.

[Oh!]

[They’ve prepared thoroughly ㅋㅋㅋ]

[Great]

[Ranking third place, Yena]

[Impressive]

[Does that thing have any special functions?]

[No function?]

“Does this thing have any special functions?”

“The student ID is required for using most of the academy’s facilities. It can be used automatically for attendance, management, purchases, authentication, and more. Would you like to press the back of it?”

“Back?”

Yena pressed the ‘menu’ button printed at the back.

With a ‘ziiing’ sound, a holographic, three-dimensional map of the academy appeared.

“Wow, great!”

[Insane]

[kekkekkekkekkek]

[ㄷㄷㄷㄷ]

[What is Lily planning]

[3D map ㄷㄷ]

“With this button, you can utilize the academy’s system, and the 1720 points you collected during the entrance exam are all stored and can be used anytime.”

“Oh? Here, there’s a ‘Point Shop’. Is it open?”

“That’s right.”

“Wow!”

So sweet!

“Okay, is it alright if I check it out?”

“Of course. Any student of the academy can utilize it.”

“Good thing I collected points.”

Apparently, all that hard work paid off.

What could I buy with this?

“If you lose your student ID, you can visit the ‘Management Office’ within the academy for reissue within a short time.”

“Understood.”

“Lastly, the student ID is synchronized with the user, so lending it to others is prohibited. Please don’t lend it out.”

“What happens if I lend it?”

“If you lend it…”

The crystal emitted a red glow.

“You’ll find out later. Whatever happens.”

“[… The last part was chilly]

[If you’re caught lending, you’ll probably get hit with a hammer and fly away]

[??? If caught, then you’ll fly?]

[Could even get expelled?]

[Feels like there’s going to be some incident involving student IDs]

“Well then, enjoy your academy life.”

—

“Ah! Miss Yena!”

“Lord Leo?”

Yena, after wandering around a bit, arrived at the academy’s hall.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much available in the point shop yet.

They only sold a few simple snacks and books needed for classes.

When she asked the shop owner, who looked like a desert soldier, he said more items would be added gradually.

Though it was frustrating not to be able to use it right away, the owner assured Yena that students admitted with excellent grades would receive additional rewards, so there was nothing to worry about.

Oh well. Still, ranking third isn’t bad!

With this, surely she’d receive good rewards.

“Hello!”

“It’s been a while!”

Leo waved his hands energetically.

Always the same as ever.

[Leo is cute]

[Leo is Leo]

[hahahahah]

[First rank Leo]

“Congrats on first place.”

“Huh? Thank you! Miss Yena also placed third, right?”

“Yes.”

“Hehe. I’m looking forward to what you’ll teach me.”

Leo then started eating some strange candy, smiling all the while.

For some reason, he looked even younger than usual.

‘Seeing this kind of behavior makes you realize how scary penalties can be.’

Occasionally, you see people in the community treating penalties that rankers have as trivial, but it’s more terrifying than expected.

How does playing a game mess with your mind to that extent?

It even affects reality…

There’s no way to ignore it.

Yena turned away from Leo and looked around.

There were a lot of comfortable chairs, but there were only exactly 27 seats available.

More than half were already occupied, and she recognized quite a few familiar faces.

[Let’s approach the rankers]

[Check out the rankers ㄱㄱㄱㄱㄱ]

[There’s Geono over there]

[Yena! Yena! Yena! Yena! Yena!]

“Alright, alright. I’ll go say hi.”

The closest person she approached first was…

“Hello?”

“…! Uh, hello.”

The person with pink hair that sparkled like stars and shimmering outfits was unmistakably shouting: “I am a magical girl!”

The lollipop in her hand was emitting flashy starlight.

“CandyStar?”

“…We haven’t seen each other in a while.”

“It’s been since the last lecture, haven’t we? Were you alright back then?”

“Yes. I was fine.”

CandyStar replied stiffly.

Come to think of it, there was a sense of familiarity about her.

Not just from the lectures but from much further back, when they’d first met.

Where have I seen her?

[Magic Girl!]

[Magic Punch! Magic Punch! Magic Punch! Magic Punch! Magic Punch!]

[Why is she in transformation form?]

[Probably embarrassed and wants us to let it go ㅋㅋ]

[Should ask her to chant ‘Magical Transformation’ once]

[Magic Girl is a legend]

“Ah, did you challenge the progenitor? I did, but it was impossible.”

“Progenitor…”

“Yes. I’ve seen everyone try at least once.”

“……”

CandyStar turned her head away.

It seemed she found it difficult to talk about.

Yena felt a bit frustrated but understood and left the seat out of consideration.

“I’ll see you later!”

“Yes…”

[Seems like a hit ㅋㅋ]

[Magic Girl keke]

[That voice feels familiar somehow]

—

Alright everyone, please take your seats.

A pretty voice echoed throughout the hall.

Once the wandering students took their seats, the lights in the auditorium were turned off, leaving the podium the only light source.

[It’s Lily! Lily!!]

[Lily! Lily! Lily!]

[Okay!]

[Impressive!]

Of course, the voice’s owner was Lily.

Clad in radiant white robes, she held a magical microphone and stepped into view.

Behind her stood the progenitor and Uncle Geono, in strange adult-like attire.

“Everyone, nice to meet you. Some of you I’ve met before, and some are new. First, I’d like to introduce myself as Lily, the magic professor and head of Eli Academy.”

ClapClapClapClap.

As Lily bowed her head, the hall erupted in applause.

After bowing once more, she continued.

“Welcome to the first incoming class! Hmm, it seems things are getting a bit bigger. But honestly, it’s pretty simple. Just think of it as learning some tricks and methods.”

‘This is far from simple.’

[Of course!]

[hahahahah]

[RightRight]

[Lily’s lessons are definitely not simple]

“Yena student?”

“Umm?”

“Please avoid talking.”

Ah, caught.

Even though I covered my mouth, how did she hear?

[ㄷㄷㄷ]

[How did Yena’s whisper get caught? keke]

[Curse of silence kekeke]

[But no cliches happened?]

[Why is nothing happening?]

[Ugh no drama]

[What’s wrong? Yena:?? What’s going on?]

[hahahahah]

[When talking about academy-style stories, someone always invades the enrollment ceremony]

[kekeke]

[They’re talking about invasion events]

[Whenever you read academy stories, they always invade the enrollment ceremony]

[Right kekeke]

Yena couldn’t help but smirk after silently chatting with the viewers.

Too much reading, huh?

This is a game world and an academy created by users where many top 100 rankers are present.

Without abnormally powerful forces like an empire, no sane person would dare invade—

“An unauthorized person…”

“Stop them!”

“I don’t understand why you’re stopping me.”

SWOOOSH!

“?”

[?]

[?]

[Really?]

BOOM!

With the sound of the wall breaking, the auditorium’s main door burst open.

“…”

Not through the regular entrance, but through a freshly ‘created’ door.

“Sorry I’m late.”

—

[End of translation]

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