Chapter 19 - Let the Ceremony Begin

(1st Saga - Greater Magius, The Balance | Snow Guild Entrance Exams Arc)

- The Next Day

The Synoria Stadium.

Constructed just to the north of the Central District and under the ownership of the Snow Guild, these were the grounds where the entrance exams would begin.

A constant flow of applicants filtered in through the gates and into the seemingly endless rows of seats, which wrapped around the massive field at their center.

Even with the applicant pool numbering in the thousands, we didn’t even manage to fill a quarter of the seats.

The very moment the last person took their seat, each and every applicant received the same system message.

[ You have been connected to the Synoria Stadium Broadcast ]

Murmurs of confusion rose throughout the crowd.

Then, silence fell again.

Everyone’s eyes were directed straight ahead, focused on a single man who stood atop a platform on the other end of the stadium.

Messy turquoise hair. Dark circles under his eyes. A large, somewhat oversized, white coat worn over a plain, potentially stained shirt, and baggy pants.

Just who exactly was this disheveled man?

[ < Prelude Ability | Announcer (Lv. 3) > has been activated ]

Oh.

This guy was the one that had been sending Seika and I messages…?

[ WELCOME, APPLICANTS, TO THE THIRD SNOW GUILD ENTRANCE EXAMS!!! ]

His voice reverberated throughout the stadium, echoing from each of our own system windows.

As soon as he finished speaking, a deafening cheer roared back from our side of the stadium.

I leaned over towards Aria, cupping my hands over her ear before asking, “Are the entrance exams usually like this..?”

“Dunno. I’ve never been to the Snow Guild’s before, but the Shadow Guild certainly doesn’t do things this way though–”

[ Alright, alright, settle down. Looks like everything’s about ready, so without further ado, let’s get this opening ceremony started! ]

He paused for another round of cheering.

[ My name is Tenshi, and I’ll be your announcer for the next week or so as we conduct the entrance exams. However, before we get started, our very own guildmaster has some important news to deliver. ]

He stepped off of the elevated stage and retreated into the unlit passageway behind it.

From those shadows emerged a man I had gotten to know back in Synoria Outlook– A man draped in a familiar luxury of white and gold.

[ Thank you, Tenshi, for the opening introductions. As you all are likely aware, my name is Setsuya, and I currently act as the guildmaster of Synoria’s very own Snow Guild. In previous years, our exams have taken on the form of a “certification exam,” in which each applicant’s qualifications have been tested in both practical experience and knowledge. However, this year, given the opportunity of this audience, I would like to introduce a restructuring of the Snow Guild’s role distribution. ]

It was at about this point that I noticed masses of people flocking in to occupy the empty seats in the stadium.

They definitely weren’t applicants– No, these people were simply the citizens of Synoria–

“Are those people–”

“Just how big of a change is the guildmaster planning?”

“What’s going to happen to the entrance exams…?”

The growing questions from those around me mirrored my inner concerns.

A “restructuring” significant enough to warrant the audience of this much of Synoria’s population had to be revolutionary at the least.

[ Times are changing. Developing. And so are the forces that oppose us as individuals of Synoria, and individuals of humanity. These forces– Nightfall and the corruption– may very well soon grow beyond the usual threats the Snow Guild was formed to suppress. ]

At those two mentions, the crowd fell silent once again.

[ Two years ago, Nightfall’s activity in the area noticeably increased, suggesting they may even have been ready for a head on confrontation. However, shortly after the conflict with Seraphim in Synoria Outlook, they went silent again. One year after that, some of our allies engaged in combat with an executive member of Nightfall, during which a completed form of corrupted magetech was revealed. ]

That was the mission Seika and I were given a year ago…

[ We will not be idly waiting for their next move. For the safety of Synoria and Orientalis as a whole, the Snow Guild has taken the initiative of forming four combat divisions tasked specifically with defending any and all citizens at risk from hostile organizations and individuals. ]

We all waited with bated breath.

[ After several months of careful selection and training, I am now proud to announce the captains of the Snow Guild’s first four combat divisions. ]

On cue, spotlights illuminated four doors adjacent to the main stage, split evenly on either side of Setsuya.

[ From the first door, please welcome the Captain of the First Division, Yukiko! ]

All livelihood and excitement returned to the audience as applause and cheers greeted the previous vice-guildmaster.

So this was how far she had come in the past two years.

Her face had significantly matured since the last time I saw her, and her now shorter hair was fashioned in a ponytail.

She didn’t seem to acknowledge the audience as a whole, and instead seemed to be scanning through the rows.

“If she’s looking for me, she’s going to have to wait a little longer,” I mused.

Our proper reunion would have to wait until after I became a proper member of the Snow guild.

[ From the second door, we have the Captain of the Second Division, Ryugo! ]

A noticeably muscular, shirtless man emerged next.

Despite his bold frame and tattoo-like markings, it was his hairstyle that seemed most memorable to me.

Almost all of his hair had been cut extremely short, and whether natural or dyed, it carried a sea-blue shade. On the left and right sides of his head, just above his eyebrows, were two strips of much longer, darker, uncut hair that trailed to the back of his head.

The entire time, an excited grin was plastered across his face.

[ From the third door, your very own announcer and the Captain of the Third Division, Tenshi! ]

That guy was a captain too?

I was growing more and more impressed with how many roles he held within the Snow Guild.

Upon hearing his name, he quickly leapt out the door and onto his own platform, cheerily smiling and waving back at the crowd.

On second thought, maybe he just really liked being in the spotlight–

[ And last but certainly not least, from the fourth door, the Captain of the Fourth Division, Siyol! ]

The receptionist I had seen yesterday stepped out onto the last platform.

Immediately, she began scanning through the crowd, almost instantly locking her eyes onto my exact spot.

And just like before, she narrowed her eyes, squinting at me like I had never seen anyone squint before.

I seriously needed to ask her what was going on– The way she kept staring at me was beginning to scare me a little–

As the crowd’s excitement simmered down, Setsuya began to speak again.

[ And now, to address the question you all have been waiting for, how will this impact this year’s and future entrance exams? Fortunately for some, the previously held certification exams will still be available. However, for those who wish to try to join under one of our captains, a new form of examination is in order. I’ll leave its explanation to Tenshi.  ]

With a bow, he retreated from the main stage with three captains following shortly after.

Once again, Tenshi was the only one occupying the stage.

[ Now, to elaborate on this new form of examination the guildmaster mentioned. Simply put, those of you who wish to join one of our divisions will enter in a team-based tournament. If you choose to take this exam, you will be randomly assigned to a team, in which you and your allies will compete in an elimination-style tournament against other teams. Other details will be expanded upon later, but for now, let’s get into this ceremony’s main event! ]

He stepped to the side of the stage before continuing.

[ To demonstrate how the tournament’s battles will be scored, we will now be holding a friendly match between two of our very own captains! ]

With thundering footsteps, Ryugo returned to the stage.

[ And your opponent? ]

As if he had been eagerly awaiting this question, he boldly pushed Tenshi aside and made a declaration with his voice alone.

“YUKIKO! I CHALLENGE YOU FOR THE TITLE OF CAPTAIN OF THE FIRST DIVISION!!”

In a white flash, she appeared beside him.

[ Hmph. I’ll accept your challenge. ]

[ And there we have it! After a brief 10 minute intermission, the exhibition match between First Division Captain, Yukiko, and Second Division Captain, Ryugo, will begin! ]