The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL] novel Chapter 562

Chapter 562: The Ceremony

Luca did not expect that kind of reception.

While he’d been excited to see his family and friends, he definitely didn’t expect a crowd waiting for him the moment he stepped out of the arena proper.

"!!!"

A swarm of elderly people surrounded Luca like he was the key to the fountain of youth.

He blinked.

They blinked back.

No one moved.

Until Instructor Moore, bless his soul, descended like a divine intervention and reminded the excited elders that Luca still had to deal with the mecha pilot.

"!!!"

That’s when it hit him.

Luca slapped his forehead.

He’d forgotten all about the pilot he stashed away!

Inside the cockpit, Deputy Officer Curtis thought he had died. The light had been so blinding, he assumed this was it. A hero’s sendoff. A clean death, even. But no—unfortunately for Curtis, the light cleared up to reveal something far more horrifying.

Old people. So many old people.

And one very familiar woman.

Curtis inwardly groaned. If this was heaven, then maybe hell wasn’t such a bad deal after all. He’d rather be roasted than spend eternity with this lot.

"Cadet Kyros, maybe leave him in there for a while longer," Eden said, arms crossed as she narrowed her eyes at Curtis, who looked personally offended to see her face in the afterlife.

"It seems like he’d enjoy that."

Curtis grumbled something unintelligible as he stood up—partially because he felt guilty, but mostly because the obedient child might actually listen to the witch.

"What happened to you, Curtis?"

"Marshal, it’s fine. I just didn’t expect to be in there for a good while. Motion sickness isn’t so bad when you’re the one driving, but as a passenger? It’s a whole different beast."

Luca’s shoulders hunched as he apologized. "Sir, I’m really sorry. I’ve been meaning to add the comfort upgrades. I just... didn’t think we’d actually need them today."

He really hadn’t expected things to escalate so much. The mecha he built yesterday wasn’t supposed to need an emergency cockpit extraction. And while the structural compartment had been fixed, Luca had prioritized functional components over interior comfort. Because—well, who would’ve guessed the Marshal would reverse the exam by volunteering everyone else for the demonstration?

Certainly not Luca.

And definitely not the Marshal.

Not until a certain mastermind planted the idea, anyway.

Still, Curtis wasn’t mad. He was more curious than anything else. And maybe just a bit dizzy.

"No need to apologize. If anything, I want to know more about this mecha... especially after experiencing its full glory. And horror. Firsthand."

Heads nodded around him like bobbleheads, all hungry for details.

The young builder hesitated. The last time he gave his opinion too freely, he ended up causing a scene.

But then he looked up.

And saw something.

Across the way, Xavier sat beside Jax, Kyle, and Ollie. What caught Luca’s attention wasn’t just the familiar faces—it was Xavier. Looking right at him. Calm and steady. Then, the Crown Prince gave him a tiny nod.

Just that.

A single nod.

But it was enough.

Luca’s eyes lit up, and a bright grin spread across his face.

If his husband said it was okay, then it must be okay.

With renewed confidence, Luca turned back to the eager crowd, ready to speak.

And just like that, what began as a gathering turned into the start of a suspiciously well-organized cult of elderly fanatics.

__

The oath and licensing ceremony might as well have been timed with a stopwatch.

It was the fastest one they had ever held.

Mostly because there was only one person being licensed, but also because everyone looked like they were holding back an explosion’s worth of questions. They’d waited since yesterday. They weren’t about to wait another minute.

Advisor Arlow, bless her optimism, made the mistake of asking if anyone wanted to give a short speech.

The moment the words left her mouth, the air changed.

Several master mechanics turned their heads so sharply it sounded like necks might snap. Their eyes said one thing: if she so much as tried to delay this any longer, they would riot.

Even Arlow paled a little and took a half-step back.

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