Butter-Roasted Pork and a New Skill
Today's menu featured butter-roasted pork loin, warm bread, savory sausages, and a hearty soup.
The cafeteria in the main dormitory should have been bustling with typical mealtime chatter. Instead, every eye in the room was fixed on a single table. It was a sight no one expected.
"Mmm. This is actually quite good."
Kalen was busy. He sliced the pork with his knife while skewering a sausage with his fork. He devoured the meal with pure gusto. He didn't seem to notice the silence around him.
I sat directly across from him. The stares prickling at my back were scorching. I could feel the confusion in the air. A noble sharing a table with another noble was rare enough in this place.
But this was different. It was Kalen, the famously diligent 'practice bug' from the Knight Department. And he was eating with me. The Magic Department's most notorious scoundrel. The sub-marquess himself.
"......"
I slowly cut my meat. I brought a small piece to my mouth. My stomach was roiling with hunger. I was on the verge of starvation. But I couldn't just shovel it in. Bloodline Dignity wouldn't allow it.
The cafeteria remained silent. The only sounds were the precise, rhythmic clinks of my silverware. I chewed thoroughly and swallowed. Then, I murmured softly.
"......The standard here is not bad at all."
Kalen gave a sly little smile. He didn't slow down his pace.
"Right?"
To be honest, it was delicious. I could have died happy right there. Everything tastes like heaven when you're starving. Five minutes ago, I was ready to gnaw on rocks. But this cursed mouth wouldn't say the word "delicious." The skill was a burden. Even my speech felt weirdly forced.
"I'll head to the training grounds now."
Kalen finished his plate. He stood up and gathered his things. He paused for a moment and looked back at me.
"I won't be back until late tonight. Feel free to sleep. I'll have my dinner with the Knight Department."
He melted into the crowd. He vanished quickly. I set my silverware down with a light tap. My meal was finished too.
"......He's gone, then."
I rose slowly. I headed for the opposite exit. It was perfect. He wouldn't be back for hours. I had my own business to attend to. I had things to find.
I returned to the room. I opened my trunk. I began to sort through the items. I found a hand mirror and a grooming kit. There were a few books and a bottle of perfume. It bore the family crest.
I pulled out the perfume and the mirror. Finally, I grabbed the book from this morning. Basic Elemental Theory and Elemental Application. It was a first-year textbook. It looked brand new. It had never been used.
I flipped through the pages. There were no notes. There were no doodles. Adrian was a true bastard. He bought the book and never cracked it open. I skimmed the chapters until I found the spot.
Chapter 4. Low Tier Elemental Magic. Page 248.
This was the spot. I knew it from my previous playthroughs. I knew exactly how to use this. The moment I opened that specific page...
Acquire one Low Tier Elemental Magic skill from the five elements.
The choice was mine. I could learn one magic from the five elements. This was the "skill rune" mechanic. Freshmen usually picked their first skill in class. But the trigger was simple. You just had to open the book and speak.
"Page 248. Low Tier Elemental Magic."
I said the words aloud. The air seemed to hum.
Choose your Low Tier Elemental Magic:
[Water: Create Water] - Shaping a blob of water.
[Fire: Fireball] - Summoning a ball of flame.
[Earth: Ground Lock] - Raising stone from the earth.
[Wind: Wind Blade] - Releasing sharp gusts of wind.
[Lightning: Summon Lightning] - Calling a single bolt.
Most strategy sites recommended "Fireball." It was powerful. But those guides were for the protagonist. Adrian was different. He didn't have balanced stats. He had specific weaknesses. I needed a spell I could handle.
"This one is perfect."
I chose Wind Blade. It had a low mana cost. It had a decent effect. Low Tier magic didn't care much about elemental affinity anyway. It was the safest choice for my pathetic mana pool.
Skills cannot be unlearned. Do you proceed?
The text fragments looked glitchy. I didn't have time to worry about it. I wasn't the "protagonist," so things were bound to be messy.
"I choose it."
A soft light enveloped me.
Wind Blade
Think the name to activate. Details are in Character Info.
The letters dispersed. I closed the book. The first step was complete. I couldn't test it here. I'd trash the room. I needed an open space. I knew exactly where to go.
I arrived at the Magic Department. The main building was shuttered for the break. Only the self-study room was accessible. It was more like a library. It was packed with desks.
It had been a long time. I cleared the Magic Department route once. That was back in my noob days. I felt a wave of nostalgia. I was revisiting all the old haunts. This place was her haunt too.
"That's rare. Adrian in the lecture halls?"
I turned around. A familiar voice reached me.
"Reina?"
"Who else would it be?"
Her black hair swayed in the breeze. Her jade eyes were fixed on me. I pulled off my hood. I didn't want to hide.
"Are you here to study?"
"Yes. The dorm has its limits."
She was clutching a stack of books. She looked genuinely surprised. Reina didn't show much emotion. But seeing me here was a shock to her.
"But what about you? Are you actually using the study room?"
"I'm just wandering."
"I see. You always lied when you were embarrassed."
She took a step forward. She was bold. I took a step back immediately. I knew what was coming next. I didn't want the drama.
"Reina. You're aiming for the top. Work hard. I'll cheer you on. I have to go now."
I quickened my pace. She called out to me. I didn't look back. It was too early. Getting tangled with her would ruin my plans. I bolted from the building. I ended up in a clearing.
It was a grassy field. A cool breeze was blowing. It was a good spot. No one was there. I rolled up my sleeve. I extended my hand. I would practice right here.
I closed my eyes. I focused on the mana. I called the spell in my mind.
"Low Tier Elemental Magic: Wind Blade."
My mana drained instantly. It was a rush. Wind gathered at my fingertips. It compressed into a sharp sphere. Then, it burst.
Boom!
Slashes of wind fanned out. They sheared the grass around me. I wiped sweat from my forehead. Three times was my limit. My mana pool was pathetic. I needed to work on it.
Three times today. Tomorrow it would be four. Eventually, I'd cast it without effort. I gazed at the starry sky. It was vivid and beautiful. It was a packed day. It was grueling. But I was making progress.
I grabbed my trunk. It was time to head back. The freshman welcome party was starting. I needed to see Erhan. I needed to see the protagonist.
Dinner was over.
Merin Hall was abuzz. The party was starting on the second floor. It wasn't official. It was just student-run. The real party came later.
Kalen was outside. He was behind the dorm. He was swinging a wooden sword at a scarecrow. He had turned down every invite. He wanted to practice.
He thought about lunch. I should have waited for the sub-marquess. It felt more comfortable that way. He didn't know why. He just wanted to finish his quota and head up.
He needed to shower first. He had a secret to keep. One more slip and it was over. He cleared his mind. He needed 300 swings. He wasn't there yet.
"Hup......!"
He raised the sword. A voice stopped him.
"Kalen. Practicing again?"
It was Senior Lumen. He was from the Knight Department. He was with a few others. There was a new boy in the center. He had black hair. He had a massive sword on his back.
"This is the runner-up for the freshmen. I wanted to introduce him."
"Hello! I'm Erhan! I'm from Mersh Village! It's an honor!"
He had dark, earnest eyes. He looked excited.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kalen Snowwhite."
Kalen extended his hand. Then he saw a figure under a tree. It was a person in a hood. He recognized him instantly. It was the sub-marquess.
Why was he hiding there? What was he watching?
"I'm looking forward to training!" Erhan said. He was beaming.
"...Yeah. Me too."
Kalen looked back at the tree. Adrian was gone. He had vanished into the shadows. Was he watching me? Or was he watching Erhan? He didn't know. He just shook his head and went back to his sword.