"Kylen, wake up."
A girl's voice reached my ears at the same time I felt someone shaking my shoulder.
I forced my eyelids open—and found myself staring at none other than Ji-Hyun.
"Ji-Hyun? What time is it?" I mumbled, rubbing at my eyes.
"4:33 p.m.," he answered flatly.
"Yawn… then let's head back to the dorm." I stood up from my seat, slinging my backpack over my shoulder.
"Wait." Ji-Hyun stepped in front of me, blocking my path. "There's a meeting at the Culinary Club today."
"Oh, really? And how exactly do you know I joined the Culinary Club?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The club president told me. He said to remind you. You haven't joined the Culinary Club's message group yet, have you?"
"…I haven't," I admitted.
Ji-Hyun sighed, already turning toward the door. "Figures. Come on then. Let's get you to the meeting."
"Alright, alright." I followed after him, adjusting my bag. "To the Culinary Club it is."
◇◇◇
I entered the clubroom and was met with a low buzz of chatter.
The place wasn't anything impressive—more like a small auditorium with rows of chairs and a podium at the front. Still, compared to the chamber where I first woke up as Jake, it felt almost cramped.
Ji-Hyun and I headed toward some empty seats, but a voice called out before we got far.
"Ji-Hyun!"
We turned. A girl was waving energetically.
"Oh—Seora," Ji-Hyun greeted.
"Sit here! There's plenty of space."
Ji-Hyun glanced at me. "Kylen, let's go over there."
"Sure."
We started down the row, but someone brushed past me hard enough to make me stumble.
"What—! Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you were there."
"It's fine," I muttered.
Not like it's the first time today someone's acted like I'm invisible… but it's starting to piss me off.
We reached Seora's row, and I dropped into the seat beside them.
She tilted her head, blinking at me. "Wait, Kylen? Since when did you get here? I didn't sense your presence at all."
"Right?" Ji-Hyun added with a small laugh. "It was a hassle just finding him in class earlier."
I gave them a flat look. "You two should really stop joking like that. It's not funny."
"But it's true," Seora shot back.
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. "Whatever. Just wake me up when the meeting starts."
"Okay," Ji-Hyun said without hesitation.
◆
"Kylen, wake up. It's starting."
"Hm… is it?"
I sat up straight, blinking away the haze just as the chatter in the room died down.
The clubroom, nearly empty when I first walked in, was now packed with over a hundred cadets.
At the podium stood a broad-shouldered, round-faced cadet with a beaming smile. His uniform strained a little at the stomach, and his flushed cheeks shone with excitement as he raised both hands for silence.
"Good evening, everyone! Thank you for coming to the Culinary Club's second meeting of the year." His voice was warm, enthusiastic—the kind that explained exactly why this club even existed.
The president was, in a word—chubby. But it wasn't the kind of weight people mocked. On him, it fit. His presence carried the same warmth as a full meal. He was the Culinary Club personified.
"As you all know, this club was founded for one simple reason: to share our love for food, and to experience the flavors of the world together." His grin widened. "Which brings us to today's announcement."
He gestured dramatically at the projector screen behind him. A map of Europe popped up, zooming in on a single country.
"Our first food trip of the year will be…" he paused for effect, pointing at the glowing screen.
"France," the president and I said at the same time.
I leaned back in my seat.
It's finally starting.
In the game's storyline, the France arc was supposed to be just sightseeing and food-tasting. I mean, who wouldn't want to eat in the land of pasta and pizza?
But things didn't stay simple for long.
The real highlight wasn't the restaurants. It was the auction house.
There, the cadets would dress up in glamorous suits and gowns, masks on their faces, trying to buy as many rare and useful items as they could.
And in the middle of it all—an ambush.
The Laughing House. A villain association infamous for their painted clown faces and for leaving only after their "main course" had been taken. Their laughter always echoed long after the blood stopped spilling.
That was the students' first real encounter with villains.
The president's voice pulled me back. "And so, our first food trip will be held this weekend! Prepare the best clothes you've got since we'll be visiting the auction house. And don't forget to bring money. The club will cover your travel, but food is on you!"
The room immediately erupted with chatter.
"Ji-Hyun? What food do you want to try first?" Seora asked.
"Probably pasta. And you want pizza, right?"
"YES! I mean, pizza here in Korea isn't bad, but I want to taste the real thing!"
"Right, right!"
These guys really do love food, huh?
…Wait. Speaking of food.
"How much money do I even have?"
◇◇◇
Back at the dorm—
Ji-Hyun, who had just arrived, went straight to his desk and started preparing all the stuff he thought he'd need for France.
"Ji-Hyun, why are you already packing? It's still Monday. We can prepare later, you know."
He shot me a glare sharp enough to cut glass.
"Kylen, do you know the number one rule of life?"
"…No?" I tilted my head.
"It's better to be prepared than not at all."
"Wow. What amazing wisdom," I said flatly, dripping sarcasm.
"Heh. Of course." He puffed his chest out, smug.
"Yeah, yeah… You do that. I still have some boxes to open."
"Okay. Don't regret it later."
I crouched down by the pile of unopened boxes near my bed and began tearing through them.
"Trash… trash… trash…" I muttered, tossing aside useless junk. "Seriously, who the hell thought gluing an eyeball to a rock counts as a gift?"
Finally, I reached the last unopened box.
"This better not be another rock."
I tore it open—only to be blinded by the gleam of the item inside.
"…No way."
My hands froze, my jaw going slack.
"It's… an appraisal monocle!!!"
My mouth hung open. Who in their right mind would give such an expensive item to some nobody like me?
I checked the sender's tag.
"…Instructor Kaelen?"
For a moment, I just stared. Then I chuckled under my breath.
"He's way too generous. Wishing you luck too, Instructor."
Still, even with this… nothing changed.
I pulled out my wallet. The digital balance blinked back at me.
[127.40 USD]
That was it. My entire fortune. Barely enough for pocket change in the academy, let alone an overseas trip and an auction house.
Sure, I could sell the monocle for a mountain of cash. But it was far too valuable to part with.
Which meant I had only one option left.
I clenched my fist, determination settling in.
"I guess I'll have to do… that."
To be Continued.
※Note:
I have been told to make my chapter premium for a while now. But I think that 21 chapters is too little to make the reader invested in my story. So I think I will try to make as much chapter as possible before I make it premium.
What you guys think.