The Difference Between Having a Powerful Backer and Not
It seemed the agony of the coarse black bread had not yet carved itself deep into their bones.
The students of the academy would need more time before the true misery of that foul staple truly sank in. I’ll have to adjust my plans. Better to wait a few days instead of revealing everything tomorrow.
After all, if the professors kept their mouths shut, Kael had no intention of unveiling the shop window ability just yet. Should they prove unexpectedly loyal to their word, the reveal could be delayed anywhere from a week to an entire month. And even if the professors spread the rumor the very next day, he could simply play ignorant for a few more days and that would be that.
Of course, the suffering of the other students meant nothing to Kael. The longer their pain fermented, the more devastating the impact when he finally revealed his power. Besides, he had no need to touch the coarse black bread himself. He had eaten a hearty lunch, and while he had yet to have dinner, he could simply return to his quarters and summon whatever he desired.
With that relaxed air, Kael observed the dining hall’s atmosphere when a murmur reached his ears. Focusing on the whispers, he realized the students—sharpened to a razor’s edge by hunger and the vile taste of the bread—were now directing their venom straight at him.
“That guy isn’t even looking at the black bread.”
“Hmph! Acting all refined just because he’s from a duke’s family. What a pathetic, talentless disgrace.”
“If the Aberwin Duchy wasn’t shielding him, he’d be nothing but a laughingstock, yet here he is putting on airs.”
“Even a useless fool like him can strut around just because he was born into the right house. Pathetic.”
Their voices were deliberately loud, clearly meant for him to hear. In the distance, he spotted Marina of the Forte Viscount family and Juliana of the Illid Count family whispering as well. As Irina’s followers, their hostility had grown even sharper than that morning. Hunger had only added fuel to their spite.
“Can’t use a sword or magic, yet he sits there pretending to be so elegant.”
“Looks like he’s trying to endure without eating the black bread.”
“Right? It’s actually hilarious!”
At that moment, Principal Albert, seated at the head table, rose from his chair, descended the dais, and walked straight toward Kael. A rare, broad smile covered the old man’s face.
“Kael, my boy, I have high expectations for you from now on. Heh heh. If you ever face any difficulties, you must tell me at once. Should anyone dare to harass you, I will mobilize every ounce of my authority as principal to make them regret it!”
Albert even used amplification magic so his voice echoed throughout the entire dining hall. Though his five centuries of confinement had somewhat obscured his reputation, he was the greatest archmage of his era. Five hundred years was more than enough time for a mage of his caliber to reach the absolute pinnacle. If he ever stepped back into the outside world, he would undoubtedly be revered as the continent’s supreme mage.
In particular, once another fifty years—five years in outside time—passed, he would finally leave the academy. The students graduating in four outside years would reunite with him in just one. No one could predict just how overwhelming his authority and status would become.
And now that same man had openly declared his favoritism and protection of Kael.
The students erupted into agitated murmurs, stealing glances at him.
“Why is the principal treating that guy so well?”
“Is it because of the Aberwin Duchy? Or does he actually possess incredible abilities?”
“Just… what is he?”
The students who had been mocking Kael moments ago now wore stiff, bewildered expressions. They had assumed he was nothing without his family’s backing—an easy target for ridicule. But now he possessed another powerful backer: Principal Albert.
Marina stared at Irina with her mouth slightly agape, while Juliana chewed her nails, eyes darting with unease. Irina set down her fork and fixed Kael with a stunned gaze. Her green eyes swirled with confusion.
“Why…?”
Starting with Irina’s bewildered question, similar murmurs of doubt spilled from every corner of the hall.
“Why is the principal siding with someone like him?”
“Is it the Aberwin name? Or is his ability actually special?”
“Just who is that guy?”
The buzz filled the entire hall. Kael inwardly sneered at the students who had been happily using him as an outlet for their frustration, now thrown into panic. This is only the beginning.
With that thought, Kael calmly lowered his head in a show of gratitude toward Principal Albert.
“Thank you for your concern, Principal. I will visit you again tomorrow.”
“Heh heh, good. I’ll make sure to accommodate you as much as possible during tomorrow’s classes as well.”
Albert made no effort to hide his blatant favoritism and special treatment before returning to the head table. Kael smiled inwardly at the display. The strawberry jam’s effect is undeniable. Haha!
With a single jar of strawberry jam, he had turned the legendary archmage who had been trapped in the academy for five hundred years into a staunch ally. Right now, that archmage’s mind was probably happily debating whether to ask for butter or cheese tomorrow.
Now then, let’s see how this plays out.
Kael decided to sit back and leisurely observe how the situation would unfold. Perhaps the shock of Albert’s open support had been too great; the students no longer dared to chatter.
They’re actually eating that stuff?
At a nearby table, two brown-haired girls who appeared to be sisters were eating the coarse black bread. Their expressions made it clear how terrible it tasted. Yet unlike the others, they cleaned their plates completely before finishing their meal.
“Damn it. I really can’t eat this anymore!”
“I can’t stay here any longer. I’m going back.”
Students who could no longer endure the black bread began leaving their seats one by one. Kael also stood and headed back to his quarters. The principal taking my side must have been a shock. But he isn’t the only one on my side now.
Classes would begin tomorrow, so he decided to eat a proper dinner and rest well tonight. Should I have this today?
Kael purchased a convenience store bento consisting of rice, pork cutlet, broccoli, radish and beet pickles, wedge potatoes, and cream garlic spaghetti, along with a bottle of water.
Even while he ate, scattered praises from the professors who were experiencing the taste of strawberry jam continued to trickle in. As he ate, Kael checked the shop window’s newly expanded functions.
Points Held: 3011 (2000 points supplied daily)
Experience: 38/100
Restrictions: Level 1 allows only convenience store items. Level 2 adds items typically found in supermarkets.
“Oh.”
Kael let out a soft exclamation as he examined the upgraded functions and available goods. He could now purchase items found in supermarkets—fresh fruits and vegetables, various meats, and all kinds of seafood. The selection of frozen foods had also expanded significantly.
Unlike the convenience store bentos that come pre-heated, these will need to be cooked.
While they required preparation, the shop sold frying pans, pots, portable gas burners, and even cooking oil. The prospect of making his own dishes seemed rather enjoyable.
Two thousand points per day. The level increase must have added another two thousand to the daily allowance.
The daily point supply had increased, and with the steady stream of points gained from the professors’ praise, he would accumulate far more than he could spend.
“I should raise the shop window’s level even further.”
With anticipation for the shop’s future capabilities, Kael finished his meal.
The next morning, Kael headed to the dining hall. The atmosphere remained heavy with despair, even sharper than the previous evening. Students who had suffered through hunger all night, or those who had tried to stave it off with the coarse black bread only to face yet another meal of the same misery, wore clear expressions of hopelessness.
What a shame.
Kael watched their suffering with a smile. In truth, he had already enjoyed a banana milk on his way, followed by a light breakfast of milk and cereal. If he grew hungry later, he could simply return to his room and summon more food from the shop.
Watching this is genuinely entertaining. I wonder how far the professors have spread the rumors by now?
Kael was curious just how much the professors had circulated the news. While they might not have favorites among the first-years, they surely had favored students among the second through fourth years. Even though those students lived in separate dormitories, movement and interaction between years wasn’t completely impossible.
I’ve heard that noble families often maintain deep connections with one another.
Lesser noble houses frequently served as vassals to more powerful ones. Upperclassmen from those vassal families would occasionally come to check on their underclassmen. In fact, many might have already visited yesterday.
Kael’s situation was unique—having broken his engagement with Irina of the Rosengart Duchy while receiving only minimal protection from the Aberwin Duchy, his influence remained weak. Had he possessed even a little talent, upperclassmen from baronial or viscount families would have approached him on their own.
What about Irina?
Kael glanced toward her table. She sat with her followers just as she had the day before, but her elegant demeanor had frayed further. The way her hand trembled as she tore off tiny pieces of black bread and forced them between her lips was more noticeable than yesterday. Swallowing it clearly caused her pain. Marina and Juliana, seated beside her like guards, also wore discontented expressions as they struggled to choke down the bread.
At that moment, three male students rose from their seats and approached Kael’s table. However, they walked right past him and stopped in front of the two brown-haired girls.
“Hey, you commoner bitches.”
One of them—Cad, the second son of the Radwin Barony—spoke in a deliberately provocative tone. The two brown-haired girls visibly stiffened with tension at his words.