Chapter 294
Belium Academy was bustling since dawn. Countless people, regardless of their social status, gathered at the Academy to celebrate or be celebrated for their graduation.
Especially for the parents and relatives of the Academy’s students, dimensional doors were provided to allow them to attend the ceremony comfortably.
It was believed that if their child graduated from the Empire’s top Academy, they too deserved to be treated with the same honor.
Although there weren’t many students from commoner backgrounds, seeing their families marvel at the dimensional doors made one feel proud and further solidified their loyalty to the Empire—a twofold benefit.
Compared to the entrance ceremony, the number of attendees was about 0.5% less. This was because there were a few humans who had been expelled after failing thrice.
To be admitted into the Academy, one had to be an elite among elites; hence, a 2% failure rate was historically the highest, usually remaining in the decimal range. Nonetheless, the fact that there were students who didn’t graduate boosted the pride of those who did.
“Mira!”
Someone called out and hugged me from behind while I was taking one last look around the campus, deep in my thoughts. I felt a soft, plump sensation near my shoulder.
An arm tightened around my neck, and a heavy sensation pressed down on my left shoulder. Pink hair fluttered at the corner of my vision, and warm breath tickled my ear.
“What’s the matter, Nika?”
“Just… I wanted to give you a hug like this.”
Although I had allowed her to speak casually like a friend during the graduation ceremony, it still felt quite refreshing.
Nika hugged me and rubbed her cheeks against my shoulders before letting go. I turned around to face her. She was not in her usual maid outfit nor the Queen’s attire, but in the Belium Academy uniform.
Even though the uniform didn’t particularly accentuate one’s figure, a certain body part blatantly drew attention.
The buttons on her chest were stretched to their limit, and her skirt was so short that the flesh beneath her hips was exposed, revealing her full hips and buttocks. Yet, her waist and sides were slightly loose, with some room to spare.
If it weren’t for the perception-inhibiting magic, she would have undoubtedly drawn all eyes on her. Despite no alterations to make it shorter or tighter, she still managed to do so.
“What are the two of you up to? Just so you know, doing anything weird outside is prohibited.”
Karna approached soon after. She, too, had changed a lot compared to before. The calluses on her palms had mostly disappeared, and the muscles in her legs, visible beneath her skirt, had reduced significantly.
Now, her thighs jiggled slightly with each step she took. Initially, Karna had been dissatisfied with these changes, but after Nika told her that having some meat on her made her more comfortable in bed, she accepted it with a flushed face.
Not only that, but Nika had also been the one to impart all kinds of knowledge about relationships to Karna, who had been awkward with the opposite sex. Of course, the fact that this knowledge came from a succubus was a problem.
“We weren’t doing anything weird. It’s just that her breasts are so big that any slight movement makes it look weird.”
“…”
Nika deliberately emphasized her chest by crossing her arms and slightly bending her waist. Her slightly arched waist, characteristic of a succubus, was exceedingly alluring. Karna’s eyes twitched slightly.
“Don’t do that here. What’s the matter with both of you?”
“I came to pick you up, Mira! Everyone’s waiting, so let’s go quickly!”
Already? I thought, but since they had come all the way to pick me up, I couldn’t very well say no. I replied that I understood and headed towards the Colosseum with the two of them.
People automatically made way for us as we walked in our Belium Academy uniforms. Only the third-year students, who were scheduled to graduate, were allowed to wear the uniforms today. Hence, everyone else gave way.
Among them was a good-natured person who congratulated me even though I wasn’t their child. I replied in the same friendly manner and quickened my steps.
When we arrived at the Colosseum, it was overflowing with people. If it weren’t for magic, it would have taken ages just to enter.
We passed through the magic barrier with our prearranged fake identities and entered the inner area. There, I spotted three people gathered near the entrance.
“Mira!”
“You’re late.”
“Indeed, you are late.”
Priscilla smiled brightly and jumped into my arms. Elysier and Laura each said a word. I lightly supported her body and looked around. They were the only people I vaguely recognized.
“Is it just the three of you? Where are the others?”
“The others have already gone inside and are waiting. We’re the last.”
“You’re going in awfully early. There’s still quite some time left.”
Although Laura and Elysier told us off for being late, in truth, there were more than thirty minutes until the graduation ceremony began. There was no point in going in early and just standing around until it started.
“Regardless, there’s nothing to do alone, so it’s better to wait together.”
“Alright. Since everyone else is already inside, let’s go, Priscilla.”
“Yes. Hehe.”
Soon, we blended in with the other students and found the remaining three people not long after.
The seating arrangement for the graduation ceremony was completely random, excluding the top five graduates who would go on stage to receive their graduation certificates. However, we were an exception.
“Ah, they’re coming.”
“Hurry up! It’s starting soon!”
“There’s still more than thirty minutes left, Rosalia.”
In the distance, Rosalia, dressed in the Academy uniform just like Nika, was waving her hands at us. Leona and Latina were also waiting with her. Latina, too, was wearing the Academy uniform.
“Over here!”
As she waved her hands, her plump breasts jiggled along, and Latina, who had been staring at that sight, spoke up.
“Can’t I just grab and shake them? It’s maddening.”
“Grabbing and shaking them would be even more maddening, wouldn’t it? Ah, you wouldn’t know since you don’t have any.”
Latina, who had lightly jabbed and then taken a full-powered punch, wore a dazed expression. Elysier, Laura, and Nika simultaneously snickered.
On the other hand, Leona and Karna only slightly raised the corners of their mouths. Perhaps it didn’t feel like someone else’s problem.
“Why are you saying that here—”
“Are you planning to bicker even on this auspicious day?”
Just as Latina was about to launch into a nerve war, Beatrice cut in. Latina, who had reflexively turned her head, wore an expression of shock.
The rest of us, who had turned our heads to see what was going on, did so as well. Except for Nika, whose eyes were sparkling, our expressions were successively dyed with shock and astonishment.
“…”
I probably wore the same expression. This was because Beatrice was wearing the Academy uniform.
Although we had heard that she would be coming, we had no idea that she would be wearing the uniform. Compared to a few years ago, when she wore skirts that barely showed her shoes, it was a world-changing event.
Beatrice, seeing us dyed in astonishment, wore a smug smile and took out her smartphone from her pocket. With the shutter sound, my senses somewhat returned.
“It seems I’ve successfully surprised you, young master.”
“Th-that… no, what is that? A school uniform?”
“I obtained it by personally trading with Erestika. The terms of the trade are for you to ask her.”
“Really? Can’t you just tell me?”
Nika’s voice sounded right behind Beatrice. Before Beatrice could turn around in surprise, Nika grabbed the hem of her skirt.
“You used to say that short skirts are vulgar, so what’s this? Are you trying to be vulgar now? You’ve shown Mira everything there is to see, haven’t you?”
“Wh, what are you doing?!”
Nika started moving her hand up and down the skirt hem. Beatrice frantically tried to hold it down, and a black strap seemed to peek out from underneath, but it was probably just my imagination.
“Ei, ei.”
“St, stop…!”
“You’ve shown me worse than this.”
“Yes. You’ve already shown us your naked body. There’s no reason to be shy now.”
“You didn’t even tell us your age. How about we just assume you’re the same age as us and keep speaking casually?”
“That sounds good.”
“Wow… Just now, was that a strap…?”
“Y, yes, I think so…”
“Then the top should be about the same size, right?”
The relentless attacks continued. Beatrice’s face turned bright red as she frantically held down her skirt. The fact that they could say and do such things without hesitation showed how much their relationship had grown closer over the past two years.
After a while, Nika let go. Beatrice ran behind me and hid, still holding down her skirt.
“Mira, where’s Aria?”
Priscilla, who had been giggling in my arms, tilted her head. As she said, one person was missing. To be precise, two, but Erestika was excluded as she was busy with the graduation preparations.
“There’s still a lot of time until the graduation ceremony, so she’ll probably be here soon.”
“She’s late, then. Let’s punish her.”
Priscilla, who was about to tease Aria with her usual nonsensical reasoning, suddenly stopped as someone ran towards us from a distance. The distinctive golden hair fluttered in the wind.
“There she comes.”
Laura slightly raised her hand. The running speed gradually increased, and the person stopped right in front of us, panting. Aria looked around, catching her breath.
“Why are you all here already?! There’s still a lot of time left?!”
Indeed, there were almost twenty minutes left until the graduation ceremony. It was understandable that she would be surprised to see everyone already gathered and waiting. Priscilla spoke in a firm voice.
“You’re late.”
“Hiiing…”
Aria pouted.
After that, we chatted about this and that, and when the surroundings became quiet, we all fell silent and lined up. Far away, Erestika was walking onto the stage.
Her tight skirt clung to her hips and thighs, a sleeveless white shirt with a deep neckline, and breasts that were still overwhelmingly large.
As she smiled gently, it seemed like nothing had changed about her since the day we met.
“I sincerely congratulate you on becoming the 140th graduating class of Belium Academy.”
Thunderous applause erupted. In the audience, the gods and demons were also clapping with ice cream in their mouths. Ibrante was taking care of the two of them.
“When you spent half a year here after enrolling, a lot of things happened. Our Academy has also changed a lot. I am truly grateful that you followed along despite the turmoil.”
The congratulatory speech continued. In this world, students did not suffer through boring lectures. Everyone listened intently to Erestika’s speech with sparkling eyes.
“The script is similar to the last time.”
“You’re saying that after just one time? This is Mira’s third time, you know.”
“It’s true that graduating three times is quite a rare experience.”
“This is my first time, though?”
“Well, it’s better to listen together, isn’t it?”
“Yes. That’s why our hero prefers to have everyone together in bed as well.”
“Ah, yes. That time was truly amazing. You were more like a succubus queen than me.”
“Th, that… well… isn’t it…?”
“…”
Everyone was whispering except for us, who had cast perception-inhibiting magic.
Beatrice, who had been teased relentlessly, and Karna, who had been listening intently to the speech from the beginning, were the only ones not joining in.
Aria was also chatting away. She still felt awkward, but she was definitely participating in the conversation. I smiled fondly as I watched her.
“Everyone looks happy.”
“Yes. They do.”
Over the past two years, so many things had happened. Aria had been accepted by my girlfriends, and she had worked hard to earn their recognition.
The Demon World had also found some stability. It had been over two years since the war with the humans ended, and the demons were not particularly unhappy. With the help of the Goddess and the Demon God, the source of the gates was set in the Demon World.
The demons could freely express their instincts on the countless monsters that poured out, and the humans enjoyed a more peaceful life with the reduced frequency of the gates. It was a win-win situation for both sides.
“…I guess there’s no need to bring up the past anymore.”
One notable event was when Laura burned her diary, which contained her past.
It wasn’t just because she didn’t want to suffer from the memories of her past. There was another reason. It meant that she would no longer hold onto the past and that she would accept Aria as Aria.
Priscilla and Elysier, with the help of the two goddesses, had also erased parts of their memories of the regression. They repeatedly emphasized that it wasn’t because the memories were painful.
They had made the same decision as Laura. They would accept Aria as Aria.
That day, Aria sat on the floor and cried for a long time. They were tears of gratitude.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Thank you!”
On stage, the top five graduates were receiving their diplomas. The ceremony was almost over.
As if realizing that it was inappropriate to chat during this part, the girls fell silent. Beatrice also left my side and returned to her own seat.
“I hope you will remember that today is not the end of your life but the beginning of a new path. The road ahead of you is endless and vast.”
As she said those words, I knew that this was just the beginning of a new path for us as well.
But we wouldn’t be walking this path alone anymore. No matter how vast and wide the road ahead, we wouldn’t be alone.
“But before that, I think it’s fine to receive some more congratulations, don’t you?”
As she said this, a dimensional door opened in front of each of us, and a graduation certificate was handed to us. We solemnly received the certificates.
I opened it to the middle and saw three golden letters on the paper, adorned with real gold.
It said Mira Crete, but it also said Kang Sung-ah.
“I, Dragon Erestika, swear in my name, to all the students who have been with me until now…”
Erestika smiled gently, her eyes clearly fixed on me.
“Congratulations on your graduation.”