Chapter 355: The Award Ceremony (3)

[Ruvian’s POV]

’Haha, what a show-off.’

Watching Silvena rise before the host had even finished announcing her squad through Ophelia’s [Clairvoyant], Ruvian could not help but laugh inwardly at her brazen display.

He shook his head, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. The entire hall might have been stunned by her audacity, but he was not. Knowing Silvena, he should have expected her to pull something like that.

At the moment, Ruvian was watching everything from a secluded corner of the upper galleries. Ophelia had brought him there shortly before the ceremony began, keeping his presence concealed beneath one of her spells so none of the scholars or instructors would notice him.

Although she had already revealed the list of winners to him beforehand, Ruvian had still wanted to witness the ceremony unfold with his own eyes.

Regardless, from what he could see, he was thoroughly satisfied with how the results had played out. Every squad he had wanted to enter the Top10 had finished within those ranks exactly as he had hoped.

Therefore, his objective had more or less been accomplished.

Then, after Silvena returned to her seat, the host remained standing at the center of the stage.

Yet this time, he did not immediately raise the result card.

Instead, his gaze wandered across the packed hall, lingering on the scholars whose anticipation had already reached its breaking point.

"And now..."

His voice dropped, compelling the remaining whispers to die beneath the weight of those two words.

"We have finally arrived at the squad that stands above every other contender in this year’s Island Test."

He paused deliberately.

"This squad did not merely claim first place. Nor did they merely surpass the other seventy-nine squads that entered the test."

His expression gradually sharpened as he raised the result card.

"In fact... they have become the very first to shatter an academy record that has remained untouched for the past two years!"

A restless murmur swept through the hall.

Then, the host drew one final breath before his voice thundered through the Grand Magisterial Hall.

"With an unprecedented final score of 22,385 points, the squad that has claimed first place is—"

He thrust one hand toward the scholars’ tables.

"Ladies and gentlemen... I present to you — Squad 69, led by Yerin Solder!" (+5,000Pts)

The hall erupted.

At that moment, the host no longer bothered maintaining his practiced formality. Genuine exhilaration burned across his face as he continued over the deafening applause.

Ruvian smiled with quiet pride.

A brilliant beam of light descended upon Squad 69’s table, illuminating every member seated around it.

Arlok immediately rose and struck a shameless pose, proudly flexing his muscles for the entire hall to admire. Beside him, Shima covered her face and shook her head, having already expected him to do precisely that.

Meanwhile, Horren was desperately attempting to conceal his towering frame beneath the tablecloth, as though such an absurd feat were remotely possible.

Yerin merely smiled as her name and squad were announced.

Then, wearing an expression of composed delight, she rose from her chair and made her way toward the podium.

Then, Ophelia’s voice quietly entered his mind through telepathy.

—’You appear even prouder than the scholar whose name was announced.’

Ruvian’s smile deepened slightly.

—’Well... they are my squad, after all.’

—’True. Though, enjoy the moment while it lasts, Scholar Ruvian, but do not allow yourself to become too comfortable. Once your squad has received its awards and returned to their table, the host will proceed with the Individual Excellence Awards.’

Her tone became firmer.

—’When your name is announced, I will dispel the concealment surrounding you and transport you into the hall with my spell. Whatever happens, maintain your composure and conduct yourself as a respectable scholar of this academy.’

Ruvian answered with unruffled calm.

—’Don’t worry, Chancellor. I’ll conduct myself to the best of my ability.’

*****

[Yerin’s POV]

Yerin returned to her seat, her heart still thumping from the excitement — and the sheer nervousness of standing alone beneath the center spotlight.

The moment she sat down, Arlok leaned across the table with an enormous grin. "That was incredible, Yerin! Did you hear them? The entire hall was cheering for us!"

"Just to make sure — it’s for the squad," Shima corrected him. "Not for you and that ridiculous display."

Arlok glanced down at his flexed arm.

"Huh? What was ridiculous about it? The light descended upon our table. Obviously, the academy wanted everyone to witness the physique that played a role for our victory."

Shima stared at him in silence.

Then, she slowly turned toward Yerin.

"Can we exchange him for another reward?"

Yerin could not suppress her laughter.

Across the table, Horren remained hunched in his chair, his broad shoulders drawn inward as though he were still attempting to disappear.

Arlok looked at him incredulously.

"And what were you doing? Why did you crawl beneath the table, Horren?"

"T-There were too many people looking at us..." Horren muttered. "I didn’t know what else to do."

"You could have flexed with me."

"Ah, that would have made it worse."

"Indeed," Shima agreed.

Yerin’s nervousness gradually subsided as she listened to them bicker. The lingering tension in her shoulders finally loosened, replaced by a warmth she could not quite conceal.

Horren glanced toward her.

"By the way, you did well up there, Yerin."

She blinked.

"You looked composed," he continued. "I might have fainted if I was you. Were you nervous? Well, even if... I don’t think anyone noticed how nervous you were."

"Haha, no. They probably did," Yerin admitted, touching her fingers to her still-warm cheeks. "My heart felt as though it was about to burst from my chest."

Yerin looked at the three of them, her smile softening. Then, her gaze briefly shifted toward the empty chair at their table.

"Anyway... we did it."

She repeated those words quietly.

"All of us. Including Ruvian."

The others exchanged brief glances before nodding in silent agreement.

Then, once the awards for the squad rankings had concluded, the host proceeded to the Individual Excellence Awards.

A fresh wave of excitement swept through the hall. Beyond their curiosity over which scholars had earned the distinction, everyone was equally eager to discover what rewards the academy had prepared for such an achievement.

Yerin simply remained in her seat, waiting and listening attentively.

After that, the host stepped forward again and allowed the applause to gradually subside.

"With that, the presentation for this year’s squad rankings has officially concluded. However, our ceremony is far from over. We will now proceed to one of the final segments of tonight’s ceremony — the Individual Excellence Awards."

"Anyway, when your name is called, please step forward and approach the podium to receive your award."

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[Chapter 355: The Award Ceremony (3)]

Plot Points = 289,000