(Arin's POV)
If there was one thing in this world more satisfying than breaking a monster's neck or extorting money from a Duke, it was eating premium grilled meat without needing to glance at the price on the menu.
The Academy Cafeteria tonight was noisy as usual. The sound of forks clinking against plates, students' free laughter, and the buzz of conversation filled the warm air. However, amidst that hustle and bustle, our table was an isolated island of luxury.
Spread out before me was a large piece of low-grade Wyvern steak grilled medium rare. Its fine fat melted on the hot plate, sizzling tantalizingly, spreading a savory aroma that made salivary glands work overtime. Next to it, a bowl of Truffle mushroom cream soup billowed expensive earthy steam, accompanied by a glass of Starberry fruit juice sweating cold in a crystal glass.
"Let's eat!" Erika and I exclaimed simultaneously.
The silver knife in hand moved with surgical precision. The metal glided smoothly slicing through the tender meat fibers without resistance. The first piece entered the mouth.
Melted.
The taste exploded on the tongue. Savory, juicy, and a slight distinctive smoky flavor from being grilled with aromatic firewood.
My chewing was fast yet efficient. Not out of greed, but because of old habits hard to break. My body, radically modified by the Grizzly Serum and Piston Heart, required insane calorie intake to keep this biological machine running. Every bite was fuel. Every swallow was an energy investment for surviving tomorrow.
"Arin! This is so delicious!" squealed Erika with cheeks bulging full of food.
She looked exactly like a squirrel hoarding nuts for winter preparation. Mushroom sauce stuck a little to the corner of her lips, but she didn't care at all. Her eyes sparkled happily, as if that mushroom soup were the newly discovered eighth wonder of the world.
"Eat slowly, Erika. No one is going to take it from you," I said while wiping the corner of her lips with a tissue. "We have plenty of money now so we can eat like this every day. You don't need to eat as if this is your last day."
Erika swallowed her food with difficulty, then grinned widely until her eyes squinted. "It tastes different, Arin! Before we only ate hard bread that had to be soaked in watery soup to be bitten. Now? It feels like a dream! The meat melts!"
"You are right," I answered smiling thinly, staring at my own plate.
A month ago, we were trash counting copper coins in a dark corner. Now, we sat at the center table eating dishes whose price could feed a village family for a whole month.
"Enjoy it while you can," I muttered softly, stabbing the next piece of meat. "Because tomorrow in the Dungeon, the menu might just be dry rations, hard biscuits, and mine dust."
"Do not ruin the mood!" protested Erika, about to spoon mashed potatoes. "Let me be happy for a moment!"
Suddenly, the shadow of two figures fell over our table. The fragrance of expensive rose perfume and an elegant cold air wafted, overpowering the delicious smell of grilled meat.
I looked up.
Elena Rhyms stood there, wearing an academy uniform modified with a blue silk cape on her shoulders. Beside her, Rose Carlos stood with hands on hips, looking beautiful but somehow... her aura was slightly cloudy, like the sky before rain.
What was interesting was that this time Elena did not bring her ladies-in-waiting or personal guards. She came alone with Rose, as if showing she felt safe enough or wanted privacy with us.
"Good evening, Mr. Nouveau Riche and Miss Squirrel," greeted Rose with a flat tone, pulling an empty chair next to me without permission.
"Evening, Rose. Evening, Elena," I greeted warmly, shifting my plate slightly to make room. "Want to join? I can order more. The steak is amazing."
Elena smiled sweetly, then placed a long package wrapped in dark blue velvet cloth on the table. The object was heavy, producing a solid thud upon touching the wooden table.
"I have eaten, but thank you," answered Elena, her eyes sparkling looking at me. "My father sent this this afternoon. He said... consider this an additional investment so his asset doesn't break in the exam tomorrow."
My heart fluttered. I knew the shape of this package.
Hurriedly I wiped my slightly greasy hands on a napkin. I untied the velvet cloth.
A long sword was revealed.
Its blade was not silver or gray, but pitch black with a faint blue wave pattern at its core. The hilt was wrapped in rough black Drake leather, with a simple yet elegant silver pommel.
"Pure Adamantium Sword," whispered Elena proudly. "Reforged with a liquid Mithril core to reduce weight without reducing hardness. This is lighter, sharper, and more durable than the one you bent during training with Brook."
I touched the cold blade. It felt... perfect. The balance was extraordinary.
"Father also left a message," added Elena, mimicking her father's deep voice jokingly. "'Tell that brat, do not bend this one. Adamantium stock in the warehouse is running low because of him'."
I chuckled, lifting the sword slightly to feel its weight. "Convey my thanks to the Duke. This... this is a second life for me. I will guard it."
"Save the thanks by staying alive," said Rose sharply. She poured water into an empty glass on the table and drank it as if it were hard vodka.
Elena sat in the remaining chair, right on my right. Erika on my left. Rose across from me. This table formation instantly became the center of attention for the entire cafeteria.
"So," Elena began, taking a piece of fruit from my plate with a fork, a very intimate act by noble standards. "What is your strategy for tomorrow? Have you studied the map I gave you?"
"Done," I answered, chewing meat while thinking. "Sector 9 is a labyrinth. But what worries me more is not the monsters."
I put down the fork, looking at the three of them seriously.
"Yesterday I met Elian in the library."
The table atmosphere went silent for a moment. Erika stopped chewing. Rose put down her glass a bit hard.
"Elian?" repeated Rose, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "That Snake talked to you? Did he threaten you?"
"More accurately threatened subtly," I corrected. "But there was something strange. He patted my shoulder. His mana pressure... was very heavy. It felt like being hit by a Golem. That was not apprentice-level mage pressure, but more like intermediate-level Mage."
"Impossible," refuted Elena quickly, shaking her head gracefully. "Elian is indeed a genius in the Delphine Faction, but his mana pool is not that large. Theoretically, to produce physical pressure that heavy without casting a spell, someone needs mana reserves equivalent to a Fourth Circle Mage."
Elena took a grape from my plate and twirled it with her fingers.
"He must be using a trick. The Delphine Family is famous for their ancient artifact collection. I bet he wore a Pressure Amplifier Artifact under his robe to bluff you. That is a classic psychological tactic to make enemies feel small before fighting."
"Fake mage," sneered Erika, scooping her soup aggressively again. "How dare he scare Arin with toys. I'll blow him up later."
"Coward," added Rose cynically. "Relying on tools to show off strength. Typical cunning Delphine."
The three of them agreed that Elian was just bluffing. Elena's logic made sense. Artifacts could indeed fake aura and pressure.
But... my instinct said otherwise.
Goosebumps rose remembering Elian's red eyes in the library. That was not the gaze of someone relying on tools, but the gaze of a bored predator. The Survival Instinct from the Grizzly Serum was rarely wrong. Elian was far more dangerous than they suspected.
However, I didn't say it. No point making them panic before the exam.
"Maybe you are right," I said lying for peace. "He is just a show-off."
The atmosphere became fluid again. But a new problem arose. A problem unrelated to life, but very dangerous for mental and social health.
I felt piercing stares from around the cafeteria.
Hundreds of pairs of male student eyes stared toward our table. Their gazes were full of envy, jealousy, and pure killing intent.
Just look at my position now.
I, Arin, the former "class C trash", now sat at the VVIP table, eating expensive meat, surrounded by the three most beautiful and strongest girls in this batch.
Elena Rhyms, the cold and elegant Duke's Daughter. Rose Carlos, the wild and deadly Marquis's Daughter. Erika, the sweet mage now rising as walking artillery.
And I sat in the middle of them like an arrogant oil king.
"Just die, Arin..." faint whispers were heard from the next table. "How can he get a harem like that? Did he use mushroom love spells?"
"Look at that fake innocent face. I really want to punch it."
I lowered my head, trying to shrink as small as possible in the chair. "Friends... can we not be too conspicuous? I can feel killing intent from their eyes. I do not want to die before the exam."
"Let them be jealous," said Elena casually, unconcerned.
Then, whatever devil possessed her, Elena cut a piece of steak from my plate. She pierced it with a fork, then offered it in front of my mouth.
"Say aah..." said Elena smiling sweetly. Very sweet. Too sweet.
This was not a feeding of affection, but a declaration of war. She deliberately did it to provoke other students and maybe provoke Erika.
"E-Elena... I have hands..." I refused in panic, my face starting to turn red.
"Your hands still hurt from yesterday's training, right? Let me help," forced Elena, advancing her fork until it touched my lips. "Come on, this is the best Wyvern meat. Pity if it gets cold. Open your mouth, Arin."
I glanced at Erika.
Sure enough. Erika's blue eyes widened. The soup spoon in her hand bent slightly due to her unconscious squeeze.
"Cheater!" exclaimed Erika.
Not wanting to lose, Erika scooped a full spoon of mushroom cream soup. She stood half-up, offering the spoon to my mouth from the left side, almost crashing into Elena's fork.
"Arin needs fluids! This soup is healthier!" shouted Erika competitively. "Come on Arin, drink this! Aah! Airplane coming!"
"Erika, that is hot!"
"Eat my meat first, Arin! This is protein!" urged Elena, pushing her fork closer.
"No! My soup first! This is nutrition!" argued Erika.
Meat on the right. Hot soup on the left. Two beautiful girls staring at me with demanding gazes that could not be denied. Around us, the murderous aura from single students grew thicker and darker. I was trapped between heaven and hell.
I looked forward, seeking the only sane help at this table.
"Rose," I called pleadingly. "Help me. They are crazy."
Usually, Rose would laugh out loud, mocking me as "Mr. Popular", then break them up with her relaxed style.
But this time... Rose did not laugh.
She sat silently, swirling her water glass with a blank gaze. Her eyes watched Elena and Erika's interaction with a gaze that was... cold and distant.
"Rose?" I called again, slightly worried.
Rose looked up slowly. No mischievous smile on her face. She looked at me, then looked at Elena who was still offering the fork aggressively.
"Handle it yourself," said Rose curtly.
She stabbed the remaining potato on her plate roughly. Thud!
"I am not your babysitter, Arin. If you want to be fed like a baby, go ahead. Do not involve me in your silly drama."
Silence.
Elena pulled her fork back slightly, realizing the change in Rose's tone. Erika lowered her spoon slowly.
The table atmosphere changed drastically in an instant. The laughter and silly competition earlier evaporated, replaced by thick and suffocating awkwardness.
Elena and Erika looked at each other. As fellow women, they immediately realized something I hadn't realized before.
Rose was in a bad mood. And the reason was not because the food wasn't good.
Rose's gaze implied feeling left out. A jealousy she herself might not want to admit. All this time she was always the "cool friend", but seeing Elena and Erika competing to spoil me... seemed to scratch something in her ego, or maybe her heart.
"Rose..." Elena tried to speak, her voice soft and careful. "Are you okay?"
"I am fine," cut Rose quickly, looking away toward the window. "Just... the food isn't tasty. My tongue is bitter. Just continue your feeding. Do not mind me."
I scratched my non-itchy head. "Did I say something wrong?"
Erika kicked my leg under the table hard. "Shut up, Fool," she whispered sharply.
The atmosphere became very uncomfortable. I hoped for an earthquake or monster attack that could save me from this awkward situation right now.
And as if the gods heard my prayer, a miracle happened.
Suddenly, the noise in the cafeteria died completely.
Not dimmed, but died. As if someone silenced the world's sound.
Forks clinking stopped. Laughter cut off. Conversations halted mid-sentence.
A cold air swept the room. An aura of authority so strong and absolute pressed on everyone's chest in the room until it was hard to breathe.
The cafeteria door opened.
Not kicked roughly like Karl's style, or opened quietly. The double doors opened slowly, yet every inch of movement felt heavy and important.
Footsteps were heard. Tap. Tap. Tap.
A young man stepped in.
He wore a Class S uniform, but the uniform was modified with a black cape bearing the Golden Lion emblem on his back. His body was perfectly sturdy, every step radiating high-level military discipline.
His red hair shone, combed neatly back without a single strand out of place. His face was handsome with a firm jaw, yet his expression was as cold as north pole ice. And his eyes...
A pair of sharp blue eyes swept the entire room. His eye color was similar to mine, but the depth was different. If my eyes were the eyes of someone surviving in the mud, his eyes were the eyes of someone born to rule on a throne.
Albert Hall.
Rank 1 Class S. Chairman of the First Year. And... The Fourth Prince of the Lion Kingdom.
Scrape!
All students in the cafeteria stood up simultaneously. Chairs screeched shifted in panic. Not a single one dared to remain seated when royal blood entered the room. Even the arrogant nobles from Class A bowed their heads deeply as a sign of respect.
At my table, Elena immediately stood tall, her face turning formal and stiff. Rose also stood, forgetting her annoyance momentarily, and bowed respectfully.
"Your Highness..." whispered Erika, standing up nervously too, almost dropping her spoon.
While me? My hand was still holding the fork with a piece of meat hanging in the air, in front of a mouth open halfway. My brain was still processing this drastic atmospheric change, late to realize the situation.
Albert did not walk toward the VIP area on the second floor. He did not walk to the food counter.
He walked straight splitting the crowd. Students parted the way like the Red Sea parting for Moses, giving a wide aisle for the Prince to pass.
And that aisle... led straight to my table.