“Surely no one is going to be late for graduation tomorrow, right?”
“Oh, of course not, Professor!”
At the scattered shouts, Harold’s eyes filled with disbelief—mostly because the ones shouting were the students who made a habit of being late.
“Still, I’m incredibly proud that everyone in our class managed to graduate safely. You all worked so hard over the last four years.”
At Harold’s words, the classroom grew somberly quiet.
Even though they had been excited about tomorrow’s ceremony, the weight of the end truly hit them just now.
Ruite absently turned his head to stare out the window.
The tree branches were bare and gaunt, swaying in the fierce wind.
The snow that had fallen a few days ago remained piled up, yet to melt.
The season was passing through a very cold winter.
And finally, tomorrow, the fourth-years of Whitmore Academy would graduate.
“It couldn’t have been easy studying and training for four years, so thank you for holding on until graduation. I’m sure there were many hardships and days you wanted to quit, but I hope that when you graduate, you leave all those bad memories here and take only the good ones with you.”
Eventually, the sound of sniffing broke the silence. Several classmates couldn’t hold back their tears.
“Oh? I didn’t say that to make you cry. Why are you crying already? Save the tears for tomorrow! If I keep going, I think I’ll turn this place into an ocean of tears, so that’s it for the announcements. Go back to the dorms, get some rest, and I’ll see you tomorrow!”
After tomorrow, there would be no more “See you tomorrow” from Harold, and no more “Yes, Professor!” in response.
Ruite packed his things slowly.
He stood amidst the bustling classroom, staring blankly at the interior.
He slowly left the main building and entered the dormitory.
A notice was posted in front of the proctor’s office, reminding graduates to check if they had submitted their move-out forms and to clear their rooms completely so nothing was left behind.
When he reached his room, a chilly, hollow air greeted him.
Perhaps it was because most of his belongings had already been cleared out.
He set the remaining items from the classroom on his desk.
Then, without even taking off his uniform, Ruite collapsed onto the bed.
“Tomorrow’s finally the day.”
Tomorrow was graduation.
His four-year life at the academy was ending.
He would no longer have reason to step foot on these grounds—the dorms, the main hall, the training grounds, the library, the monster mountain, or the infirmary.
He thought he would be ecstatic to graduate.
He wanted to get dumped quickly, remove the risk factors from his life, and live comfortably.
But now that the actual day was approaching, his heart felt strangely empty.
Having eaten, slept, and studied here for years since his possession, he had apparently grown attached.
He couldn’t ignore the memories made with his classmates and friends.
“Ah, no.”
Ruite gave his cheek a light slap.
Now wasn’t the time to get sentimental; he needed to think about how to act naturally when Chester brought up the annulment tomorrow.
“Hmm, accepting it too instantly might be a bit much, right?”
If he chirped “Let’s do it!” like a puppy lunging for food, Chester would definitely find it suspicious.
It seemed best to pretend to hold on once or twice before reluctantly agreeing.
Then, Chester would thank him for understanding, and they would agree to handle their respective families—it would be perfect.
While Chester handled his own father, Ruite would have to seek understanding from his parents.
Honestly, since they had chosen a political marriage for the sake of the family’s revival, he felt guilty, but he knew they were people who would listen if he spoke sincerely.
Of course, they would be flustered if he said he broke it off, but since the Callaway side was the one wanting to cancel, there wouldn’t be much choice.
Anyway, once both families met and formally agreed to the annulment, it would truly be over.
If things went according to plan, he could say goodbye to a future of being brutally killed.
And goodbye to Chester, too.
“…”
Once his thoughts settled, the room was incredibly quiet.
Ruite sat in a daze for a moment before getting up to wash and change.
He checked one last time for any missed luggage and went to bed early to ensure he wouldn’t be late.
Fortunately, sleep came easily.
However, that hollow feeling didn’t disappear until the moment he drifted off.
“Now, the graduation ceremony is about to begin, so students, please stand in orderly lines!”
A professor shouted from the podium.
Students were busy checking their lines while chatting away with friends.
Ruite, from Magic Class 3, stood in his designated spot.
Amidst the buzzing voices, he reflexively touched his right chest.
A flower brooch was pinned there.
This brooch, featuring the symbolic flower of Whitmore Academy, served as an invitation to today’s graduation ceremony.
“That’s a ‘Lomo’ flower.”
The one who told him the name was, of course, Rona.
“It has two meanings.”
“What are they?”
“Beautiful memories and good luck.”
“Hmm… wishing that the students leaving with beautiful memories made at the academy will have luck in their future?”
“Exactly.”
Thanks to Rona, he learned why they wore this specific flower at graduation.
“You know a lot about regular flowers, too, Rona.”
“Of course. I’m going to master every plant in this world.”
Ruite let out a small laugh at Rona’s bold ambition as she clenched her fist.
He felt that Rona really would achieve that dream someday, no matter how long it took.
“Ah. I think it’s starting.”
At Ruite’s voice, Rona looked forward.
The Academy Chancellor was just stepping onto the podium.
“Ruite.”
“Yeah?”
The two spoke while looking straight ahead to avoid getting caught chatting.
“Thank you so much for saving me back then. I’ll never forget that debt for the rest of my life.”
“A lifetime is a bit much; let’s make it thirty years. That’s plenty.”
As Rona let out a small laugh, the graduation ceremony officially began.
In truth, the ceremony wasn’t anything grand. Listening to the Chancellor’s boring farewell speech was just like the opening ceremony, but there was one thing that was different.
“Representatives, please come forward.”
Three students climbed onto the podium.
The top graduates from the Magic, Swordsmanship, and General departments received their diplomas directly from the Chancellor.
Ruite stared blankly at the stage.
He only realized he was staring at Chester when their eyes met.
Despite the distance, their gazes locked intensely.
Ruite clenched his fists.
For some reason, he felt like he couldn’t look away from those eyes.
Fortunately, the eye contact ended as the representatives stepped back down.
The ceremony continued for another thirty minutes before concluding.
Students holding their diplomas immediately gathered with their classes to share their regrets and congratulations.
“L-Ruite. Actually, I’m not sad at all about graduating, okay?”
“Magnus, shouldn’t you wipe your tears before saying that so I can believe you?”
“Ugh… I’m not sad because! It’s not like we’re never meeting again! You better not forget me just because we graduated!”
“Got it. I won’t. How could I forget someone as talkative as you?”
Ruite smiled and patted the shoulder of the sobbing Magnus.
However, unable to suppress his surging emotions, Magnus moved on to another classmate to shed a bucketload of tears.
“Rui, congratulations on graduating.”
“You too, Colin.”
“Well, since I want to keep seeing you, I won’t give a grand farewell.”
“Suit yourself.”
Ruite shook hands with Colin.
After that, he spent a long time exchanging greetings with his classmates—Lucia, who had been in the monster subjugation with him, and the comrades he had seen ghosts with during the camp.
“Hey! Ruite!”
Dylan ran over from somewhere and threw an arm around Ruite’s shoulder.
“My meal buddy. Today marks the end of our eating together.”
Dylan ruffled Ruite’s hair.
“We can just eat again. Are you planning on never seeing me again?”
“…Ruite, I’m seriously touched right now. Can I give you a hug?”
“I’ll pass.”
Ruite avoided the lunging Dylan and said his goodbyes to Rhea.
He even made eye contact with Harrison, with whom he had a bit of a bad history since the monster hunt, but Harrison just clicked his tongue.
“You know it was pure luck that you won back then, right?”
Harrison muttered before walking away.
Ruite didn’t feel particularly bad, so he didn’t chase him.
He stood in a corner of the Great Hall, taking in the bustling scene.
Just as he thought he had greeted everyone he needed to, he felt a presence behind him.
“Ruite.”
“…”
“Let’s talk. Somewhere quiet.”
As expected, the person speaking was Chester.
Ruite swallowed hard.
Finally, the moment had arrived.
