Cadet Cafeteria on a Shoestring Budget

Cadet cafeteria set meal: ten thousand won per serving. With my thirty thousand won, buy her one... and I'd be left with instant ramen for myself. The remaining ten thousand could tide me over as living expenses until I start earning. I heard the monthly living stipend for cadets comes out on the 10th... so survive on ten thousand for the rest of the period? Hell, let's give it a shot!

"Yeah. Sure. No problem."

Her nape was still flushed, but Elizabeth responded with perfect poise, and we headed to the restaurant under Gwaneumsa without much chatter.

"What do you want? Oh, they say the set meal here's good."

"Set meal... oh. Yes, that sounds fine. The hamburger steak set, perhaps..."

Hamburger steak set. Ten thousand ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠won.

I bought the meal ticket and used the remaining five thousand on a cost-effective ramen set that came with a bowl of rice.

"You sure that's enough? No meat in that."

"Nah, I eat light anyway."

True, it's because I'm broke, but admitting that would be embarrassing. Once I get the stipend and join the academy's dungeon raid curriculum, things should ease up. Just tighten the belt until then.

"Refusing a person's kindness is also a noble's duty!! I won't refuse your kindness!!"

How long had we been sitting at the table after handing over the ticket? My pager buzzed. As Elizabeth and I got up to grab the food, I felt eyes on us.

Elizabeth was the top freshman. Near-perfect scores in both written and practical exams, from a prestigious noble family. Her talent had made her the object of admiration even before enrollment... or so the setting went. And it was true in reality too.

Proving it, I caught some cadets muttering jealously.

"Why's she with a guy like that...?"

Harsh much? 'A guy like that'?

"Let's dig in!"

With elegant, refined grace, Elizabeth sliced into her hamburger steak and began eating demurely. Watching her, I divided my ramen into an empty bowl.

"Ramen, right? Here, have some of this too."

"Oh my. Won't you go short?"

"You barely ate lunch anyway, right? Better eat your fill while you can."

"Ahem. You saw through me?"

"You were right in front of me—how could I miss it..."

A bona fide carnivore like Elizabeth wouldn't be satisfied with a veggie-packed temple meal.

"I... won't refuse your kindness. But if I accept, I must return the favor. Here."

She smiled leisurely, took the ramen bowl I offered, and gave me a slice of her hamburger in return. Then she started eating the ramen with impeccable dignity.

No one's ever made ramen look that pretty before.

......

"That was delicious!!"

"No problem. I'll enjoy mine too."

After the meal, Elizabeth insisted on buying coffee and handed me two cups—two thousand won each, no less. Even in the game, it had cold resistance and stamina recovery effects, but what kind of coffee cost more than a full meal? Maxim's still the best.

Anyway, the pricey coffee warmed me against the early spring evening breeze. My body, worn out from the prostrations, was recovering bit by bit.

"By the way, why did you want to learn Diamond Protection?"

"Me? Didn't you hear earlier?"

While we ate, I'd overheard the whispers around us. Low-mana healer. Booted from student council. Useless. And so on. Mostly trash-talk about me—and not entirely wrong.

"I have no interest in others' gossip. You should tell your own story, no?"

"Nothing much. My heal amount is low, so I'm trying a different path."

"Oh? Is that so?"

She smiled brightly, staring at me before speaking.

"Grandmere said it: 'Miracles reach out only to those who never give up.' Despite the scorn, you worked so hard for Diamond Protection. That means... you didn't give up, right?"

If I had, I'd have quit the Academy ages ago.

"I pray miracles find you too! Ohohohoho!!"

Hand over her mouth like a proper lady, her laugh matched the confident girl from the game. It was a sight to behold.

"See you around, then."

"Yes!! If fate wills it!!"

To grow as a buffer, parties are essential. In that sense, teaming with Elizabeth—top-tier frontline in Hero Academia—would be ideal. But I couldn't reach out to her now. The gap between us was heaven and earth, as the gossips said. Plus, who knew if we'd even be in the same class.

Right now, priority was mastering Diamond Protection.

I bid her a quick farewell, returned to the dorm, sat at my desk, and opened the Diamond Protection skillbook.

In the game, just reading it thoroughly granted the skill.

Hm... Buddha's life story? Thick book, tiny print—this would take time...

But combine my past life's slacker vibes with this one's? I could finish tonight.

After poring over Buddha's biography three times, I finally mastered Diamond Protection. Simple defense boost, but nothing to sneeze at. Considering the stats I gained from meditation and prostrations at Gwaneumsa, plus the growth bonuses each character had in the game, mine was definitely Mental Power. Since Diamond Protection scaled with it, I could probably shrug off low-rank monster attacks. Meet Azazel later, switch aptitude to Enhancement, max proficiency, and evolve it via quests into a superior skill. Time to train hard.

Shing.

I drew my combat knife—one of the basics issued to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cadets. Targeting myself, I activated Diamond Protection.

And then.

"Hup!!"

I slammed the dagger down on my hand with all my might.

Clang!!

My Strength was low, and it was standard gear, but no damage, no pain. Solid stuff. Gotta test it properly once classes ramp up.

Alright. Training time. Even a string of pearls is worthless unstrung. Skills need proficiency for full ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠effect—especially Diamond Protection, which evolves to Diamond Indestructibility at max. Grind whenever possible.

Wonder if this works? Normal way to raise proficiency is repeated use. In theory, self-casting should count... Game limited it to combat, but reality has no such restriction.

Shouldn't, anyway.

It works. Tonight's the night, then.

I kept casting on myself until Mental Power ran dry, passing out around 3 a.m.

But that wasn't enough. Woke up, washed, headed out—still casting. Awkward at first multitasking, but got the hang of it. Humans adapt to anything!

Training en route, I reached the cathedral—my goal for the day—and locked eyes with a girl: shoulder-length deep orange bob, green eyes.

"Choa! Hurry up!"

"Huh? Coming."

Brief eye contact, then she grinned at me and entered with other girls.

Owner of the 'Zero' aptitude—learns any skill without restrictions. Hero Academia's female protagonist: Yoo Choa.

In the game, only one protagonist appeared, male or female... so this world has the heroine route?

Doesn't change a thing. My path was clear; protagonist didn't matter.

"Welcome."

Reading the placard at the entrance, I saw cadets filing in, greeting the nun. I joined the line, signed the form.

"Thank you sincerely for volunteering. Fill your service points, and we'll provide a modest reward."

Just like the game: failure, success, or great success determined points, with extras on great success. Others probably aimed for holy relics.

But not me. Even the starter reward, Blessing of the Holy Spirit, was prime buffer fodder. Can't pass up free bread-and-butter skills when I need every edge.

"Cadet Kim Yohan... Hm. Please handle warehouse sorting in the back."

The clerk knew my rep. Normally, a healer like me would tend the sick or fatigued, but warehouse duty? Fine by me—better than grinding heals while solo-sorting and boosting Diamond Protection proficiency.

"Got it."

Nodding, I headed back amid more whispers. They were background noise now—like hitting skip.

In, one ear out the other, to the back—where a lone nun reviewed papers.

"Oh, a volunteer cadet?"

"Yes. Kim Yohan."

"Pleased to meet you, Cadet Kim Yohan. You're solo on warehouse duty today. Let's get started—I'll show you the way."

Me, alone? Means I hog all the contribution if I nail it...

What a steal.