My Roommate Was the Sub-Male Lead 2
"4-Circle?."
4-Circle? Did that scrawny commoner kid just say he's a 4-Circle mage?
Reaching 4-Circle at just thirteen years old would shatter the realm of regular mages and etch his name into history as a legend. Even Asrion, hailed as the continent's greatest genius, was still struggling against the wall of 3-Circle.
And this no-name commoner—who knew where he'd crawled out from—claimed to be 4-Circle? Lies had their limits.
"You... you just spouted that ridiculous—!"
Asrion started to snap but clamped his mouth shut. Rian had already drifted into a deep sleep, offering no response whatsoever.
"Hah... ha... haaa..."
He was so flabbergasted that Asrion let out a hollow laugh, sucking in a sharp breath. He wanted to grab the kid by the collar, shake him awake, and demand answers right then and there. But waking a sleeping roommate would be utterly undignified.
It's got to be a lie. Hah! What an absurd joke. Spouting such blatant nonsense without a shred of shame.
Asrion's gray eyes burned with cold fury. Sure, the claim had startled him. But rationally, it made zero sense. The kid must've just blurted out some sleepy brag to end the conversation faster.
Even if he's dead tired and desperate for sleep—how could anyone lie about something as sacred as a mage's circle? A circle count, no less!
Asrion couldn't forgive it. This was an insult to a mage's pride.
Fine. Tomorrow, in first period, I'll make him pay for that brazen lie.
He vowed as much, shoving his anger aside to bury himself back in his book. Hours passed like that.
"Ah, dinner time already?"
As sunset painted the sky, Rian stirred on his bed and cracked his eyes open.
"Yawn~."
Stretching languidly, he sat up. His lunch had mostly digested. But with dinner hour approaching, hunger gnawed at him anew. The energy from that barbecue had gone toward mending his long-starved body.
"Dinner already, huh."
Muttering to himself, he rolled out of bed. Asrion, who'd been watching, scoffed derisively.
Vulgar. Braggart, lazy, and obsessed with food. Commoner traits through and through.
He glared at Rian with utter contempt. But Rian didn't spare him a glance. Instead, he closed his eyes the moment his feet hit the floor.
"Hmm, where's the cafeteria around here?"
Rian's senses sharpened—not his physical ones, but the mana-detection unique to mages. Something pinged on his radar.
"There. Mana signatures clustering over that way."
A gathering of mana users. Among them, he even picked up Ardelia de Solarrium's and Vesperia von Edelgart's distinct auras. He'd noted them briefly at lunch, committing them to memory. That had to be the cafeteria.
Creeeak—
Without hesitation, Rian flung open the door and strode into the hallway. His steps led unerringly toward the southeast building housing the Magic Division Diamond Class exclusive cafeteria.
Asrion, left behind, followed suit. Seeing Rian's direction, his gray eyes trembled faintly.
What did he just say?
Rian had clearly admitted he didn't know where the cafeteria was. Yet he'd mumbled about sensing mana concentrations and now bee-lined straight for it.
Asrion focused intently, straining to detect mana in that direction himself. But as a 3-Circle mage, pinpointing faint clusters outside the dorm from this distance was beyond him.
Sensing mana? Another lie. He must've already known the location and pretended otherwise!
Asrion ground his teeth.
Everything out of his mouth is a lie!
Convinced, he stood and headed out too. He needed dinner anyway.
Rian arrived precisely at the Magic Division Diamond Class grand dining hall, its majestic archway entrance impossible to miss. As a shared facility for the class, it brimmed with students of all genders.
"Whoa, they said Diamond Class food was top-tier, but this...!"
The interior shattered any notion of a standard student cafeteria. A massive chandelier bathed the ceiling in soft, elegant light, evoking a high-end restaurant. The floor was carpeted in premium rugs that muffled every footfall.
No lines for buffet trays here. Students lounged at individual tables with plush velvet chairs. It was full-service ordering.
Rian plopped into an empty seat. A dedicated server approached the table.
Proof of Diamond Class status? Just flash the metallic Magic Authentication Key to the dorm—its subtle blue glow did the trick.
"Roast beef, extra large. Mashed potatoes with extra butter. And add some stir-fried veggies."
"Right away, sir. It'll be out shortly."
Easy enough—mimic what others ordered. And the wait was brief. Soon, steaming slabs of thick roast beef hit the table.
The moment he sliced into the perfect pink center and popped a piece in his mouth, a smile crept across Rian's face.
Yes. Low-temp slow-cooked to lock in juices. Every protein fiber intact and bursting.
Lost in gourmet bliss, Rian devoured the roast beef with reverent focus. That's when Asrion entered.
His sharp gray eyes swept the vast hall before locking onto Rian. He deliberately claimed a table diagonally across, keeping some distance.
"A light salad and soup will suffice."
After his refined order, Asrion propped his chin and side-eyed Rian.
Utterly crass. Devouring a mountain of meat like some beast.
The fork and knife work was surprisingly graceful, but to Asrion—who already despised him—everything reeked of vulgarity.
Wasting time on trash like him is beneath a genius mage like me. Time to ignore the fool.
His resolve lasted seconds. Two girls rose from a nearby table. Asrion recognized them instantly. He'd only glimpsed them leaving the entrance exam, but they were unforgettable: Princess Ardelia de Solarrium, who'd made her public debut today, and Lady Vesperia von Edelgart.
Why are they standing so suddenly?
Asrion paused mid-spoonful of soup.
Coming to greet me?
Even the arrogant genius tensed inwardly, preparing to rise. Mage society valued skill above all, but etiquette demanded respect for an imperial princess and a duke's daughter.
But the girls breezed right past his table.
"...?"
Asrion's gray eyes flickered with confusion. They stopped at... Rian's table.
"Rian! Eating already?"
Vesperia asked, her black hair swaying as she bounded over.
"Yeah."
She plopped casually into the seat beside him. Asrion's eyes bulged.
A high noble lady sitting next to a commoner boy without a care? Impossible.
"Oppa got into the academy too, but Swordsmanship Division means a different cafeteria. I was worried you'd eat alone and feel lonely. Glad you're here! Hehe~."
Vesperia beamed. The Edelgart lady calling a commoner a friend—and relieved about it, no less.
"Yeah. Sure."
Rian mumbled around a mouthful of beef, too busy slicing more to care. Asrion braced for her outrage.
But Vesperia just giggled like it was the most natural thing.
The absurdity didn't end there.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Ardelia de Solarrium settled gracefully opposite Rian. The imperial princess sharing a table with a commoner.
Forks froze across the dining hall. Shocked stares converged. Murmurs rippled through the room.
Ardelia ignored them all. With careful warmth, she addressed Rian.
"Rian. We agreed I'd treat you to imperial chef cuisine earlier, yes?"
A faint smile played on her lips.
"What meats do you prefer? Beef? Or pork, lamb? We can do chicken or turkey too. Tell me your tastes, and I'll have it prepared accordingly."
Asrion doubted his ears. The princess using honorifics on a commoner—asking his meat preferences, no less.
Rian's eyes lit up at "meat."
"Beef first. From a cut with good marbling for steak."
He set down his fork, utterly serious.
"Aged at least a month—breaks down proteins for max umami. Medium-rare. Sear the outside hot to seal in juices."
Expert, demanding criteria. But Ardelia showed no displeasure. She nodded earnestly, memorizing every detail.
"Understood. I'll arrange the finest aged beef."
"Looking forward to it. Oh, lamb's fine if the gaminess is handled right. Special spices for that would be even better."
"Yes. I'll ensure top-grade spices too."
Ardelia smiled back.
Watching it all from the next table over, Asrion reeled in chaos.
What...? What the hell is this? Why... why them with him?
His gray eyes churned with bewilderment. Noblewomen of supreme status, ignoring even the Mage Tower Lord's grandson—fixated solely on this meat-munching braggart commoner.
It defied Asrion's entire worldview.
Just who the hell is that commoner?
Utterly incomprehensible. Dazed, he stared blankly at the trio in turn.