The Unveiling

“Although it's called a freshman welcoming event, it's actually a carnival for the second-years. At night, they will do everything they can to snatch your school badges. Once your badge is taken, you're out.”

The freshmen who had just joined the Sparkfire Association instantly erupted into a clamor.

“What does that mean? What happens if our badges are taken?”

“The second-years are going to attack us? Is that fair?”

“How come I never heard of this!”

Ryan raised his hand to signal for quiet. “For the first-years, the academy will provide corresponding rewards and minor punishments based on how long you survive. As for the second-years, the academy and the student council will adjust the resources allocated to their respective clubs and individuals based on the number of badges they snatch.”

At these words, the freshmen's expressions turned even grimmer. Lorraine, who was sitting next to Irene, muttered in a low voice, “Doesn't this just make us prey?”

Irene did not reply. She was looking around, trying to spot a certain silver-haired figure in the crowd. Naturally, he was not there. Erich was not part of the Sparkfire Association at all.

Ryan continued, “Since you've already joined the Sparkfire Association, the second-year seniors from our association naturally won't target you. We hope that everyone in the Sparkfire Association can stand together and face the onslaught of other clubs, individuals, and our biggest rival, the Silver Circle Society. We hope you all survive to the end.”

“Um...” A girl sitting in the front row raised her hand. “What happens if someone hasn't joined any club?”

Amy, a senior standing nearby, answered on Ryan's behalf. “The rules of the 【Hunting Festival】 apply to everyone equally. Freshmen without the protection of a club... are usually the first to be eliminated.”

Irene's face turned slightly pale.

What followed was the so-called pre-battle preparation. The seniors led the freshmen to familiarize themselves with every corner of the campus, pointing out which areas were suitable for hiding, which were prone to ambushes, and where members of the Silver Circle Society usually operated. Afterward, they tried to teach some simple, basic magic, such as how to use the absolute minimum amount of mana to create light in the dark, or how to use mana to strengthen their legs to run faster.

But the results were mediocre at best.

Those with magical talent, like Irene, could barely manage to conjure a tiny splash of water, but most freshmen could not even figure out how to channel their mana. A few students from noble backgrounds had been exposed to magic beforehand, but they were barely at the same level as Irene.

“This is worse than I expected,” Amy sighed, rubbing her temples. “At least last year we had two who could light a spark.”

Lorraine said to Irene, “I heard that little princess could already use magic before she even enrolled. She's really amazing.”

Irene nodded, but her mind was entirely on Erich. She had been looking for him since the afternoon, but Erich did not have a communicator, his room was empty, and everyone she asked said they had not seen him.

“Don't worry about him so much,” Lorraine said, resting her chin on her hand. “He's a grown man. It's not like he's going to get lost.”

“You don't understand,” Irene shook her head. “That guy always gets inexplicably dragged into trouble.”

Lorraine felt that this was actually true. She had not forgotten how that bastard had threatened her.

Once night fell, all the Sparkfire Association freshmen were brought to a secluded courtyard. Overhead was a dense canopy of leaves that barely managed to obscure the glow of their school badges. Ryan had them disperse and hide behind the hedges, telling them to extinguish any light source that might give away their position.

“Remember,” he whispered, lowering his voice, “sticking together is your greatest advantage. A freshman on their own is a sitting duck. No matter what you hear, don't panic. Just wait for dawn.”

With that, the second-year seniors departed.

Irene crouched behind a hedge, peering through the gaps in the branches toward the distant dormitories. She wondered where Erich was right now and if anyone had told him about the 【Hunting Festival】.

Lorraine, on the other hand, was quite relaxed. “It's not like anyone's going to die anyway. Just treat it like a game.”

“But...”

Suddenly, four beams of light erupted from the direction of the dormitories, standing out in the darkness like four glowing targets.

“Who could be that stupid?” someone could not help but mutter.

Irene's heart leaped violently. The position of those four pillars of light was the rooftop of Sparkfire Hall.

“Erich...” she murmured, almost instinctively.

Lorraine, gloating in her heart, barely managed to suppress a laugh. Since no one was going to die anyway, that guy deserved to be taught a lesson!