Volume 7 Chapter 3 The Age Difference of Two Years in Middle and High School Is Really Big. But as an Old Man, Peers Are the Same Age
The preparation for the entrance ceremony was finished in no time, barely taking an hour.
The tasks were simple, like changing the curtains at the back of the stage, decorating with flowers, and cleaning around the auditorium.
The third-year students, along with the instructors, finished the preparations with a people's war tactic, but that's not the end of it for this entrance ceremony.
Randy and the others, being third-year students, were assigned roles to ensure the smooth progress of the entrance ceremony.
The roles were clear, like reception and guiding, but also included guiding carriages, patrolling the area, guiding guests, and even medical assistance.
And they were also in charge of preparing for the standing buffet party after the entrance ceremony, with a wide range of tasks assigned.
Normally, in a prestigious academy filled with territorial nobles and Central Nobility offspring, such behind-the-scenes help would be unimaginable.
This was a special case for this year's entrance ceremony.
It's because the turmoil outside the academy still lingers, big and small, even now that those events have passed.
For example, there's the reshuffling of bureaucrats representing the Central Nobility, and the reorganization of government structures.
For example, the reformation of knight regiments and guard defense organizations.
Particularly among the former Kingdom Knights and guards, there's a certain number who quit their posts due to their repulsion towards the Empire.
With the whole city's security stretched thin, temporarily extending to the academy, they're undoubtedly understaffed in the current situation.
In exchange for the unprecedented speed of reopening the academy, you could say that the entire third-year class assisting with the entrance ceremony is a necessary compromise.
Anyway, among those special measures, our Randy...
"Guess it can't be helped."
Was assigned to guard the entrance of the auditorium.
Let's say it again.
The entrance of the auditorium.
He was supposed to guard the back gate, but he received sudden orders and was appointed as the doorman and guard at the entrance of the auditorium.
"Why do I have to..."
Randy grumbled in a low voice, unaware.
He doesn't know that this reassignment is the intention of the Governor of the Gustav Autonomous Region (Administrator).
He's simply expected to cause trouble.
In the most conspicuous place, if he causes even a little trouble, they'll use it as an excuse to give him a light jab – it's a shamelessly opportunistic scheme.
All 3 years' worth of students were stunned by the ridiculous order──"Randolph Victor, guard the front hall entrance." That just showed how important this spot was.
Randy felt like someone had dumped trouble on him.
But really, it wasn't all bad.
What saved him was that Liz and Ellie were stationed inside, helping at the first aid station set up in the main hall.
If he'd been stuck alone at the back gate with no one around, guarding in silence... yeah, this was better.
After all, Liz had come over, bored out of her mind, just to check up on him.
Liz popped her head through the door, her grin silly. "You're not sleeping, are you?"
"I'm awake. If I zoned out here, they'd kick me out for sure."
Randy forced a weak smile.
He didn't know she was almost hoping he'd mess up.
"It's starting soon, huh? Feels like the Harvest Festival. Kind of fun, actually."
Liz came out fully, still smiling. Randy nodded back. "Yeah, I get what you mean."
These uptight ceremonies were a pain, but prepping with everyone like this──maybe it wasn't so bad.
Thinking that, Randy leaned his weight into the door and stared down the tree-lined road spreading out before him.
Maybe this wasn't the worst post after all.
Two years ago, he'd walked that path too.
Soon, new students would flood in.
"Guess I should act like an upperclassman for once."
Liz nodded at his mutter, her smile bright. "Yeah."
That same lovely smile caught the eye of a passing student on guard duty. The guy stopped to gawk, but spotted Randy by her side──and scurried away fast.
"Guess I'm the guard dog now..."
Liz's voice turned teasing. "Not a bad deal. You're my bodyguard... and basically my boss, too."
Randy laughed, remembering. "Right, I am."
So much had changed since her broken engagement.
He was just thinking that when the door behind him creaked open.
"Oh──"
Randy straightened, pulling himself away from the door. "Sorry."
Dario walked out.
He shot Randy a quick look, then hurried off down the path without a word.
Randy watched him go, and out of nowhere, another face came to mind.
"Wait, where did that prince run off to?"
Randy scrunched his eyebrows together.
Even after thinking back, he realized he hadn't seen Edgar anywhere today.
For entrance ceremony prep and all the assistant work, not just the instructors but even the student council had big roles──yet not a trace of Edgar, who should be the student council president, in face or even name.
"No idea. There's a rumor he's locked up somewhere, though."
Liz tilted her head as she spoke, sounding completely uninterested.
"Huh. Even being a prince's a pain, huh."
Randy shrugged his shoulders.
Truth was, he didn't really care either.
All that stuck in his mind was how Dario, who used to orbit around the prince, had been barking out orders with way too much energy during the prep just now.
Dario snapped out orders, sharp and efficient.
Arthur's face stayed grumpy, but at least he was helping out.
And then...
"Wait? Wasn't there one more with them...?"
What popped into Randy's head was Chris, spreading out the venue's layout diagrams with Dario.
"...Feels like I've seen him somewhere."
"Isn't that Sir Chris Row?"
Liz retraced her memory too, giving a "you know, from back then" look, and explained he was that student who'd gotten brainwashed in the whole Church mess.
"Ah. That guy──"
As Randy remembered, smacking his palm with a little "oh right," he spotted a student running in from the front courtyard.
"Hey! Gates are opening soon, everybody!"
Randy shot back a lazy thanks, raising his hand at the messenger.
If things were about to start, then Dario, who'd just gone down the tree-lined path, must be off guiding guests around.
"So all the prince's crew is back... but the prince himself's missing?"
Right as Randy let out a sigh, the door creaked open behind him──again.
Livia popped her face in. "Hey, Betty! Elirin and Cathy say it's best if you get ready soon."
Liz met Livia's eyes, smiled, and told her she understood, then waved at Randy.
"See you later, then."
Liz put her hand on the door.
Randy waved back with a casual "yeah," watching her leave.
"...Wait, Livia. Is she talking down to me?"
His shocked retort never made it to anyone's ears.
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