Lunchtime at Lua Academy
The lunch break at Lua Academy began at noon and ended at two.
The busiest time was always between half past twelve and one o’clock. After that, most students had finished eating and left, leaving the place quiet.
For the chefs, this was the only moment of peace after everything was done. I had barely walked through the empty cafeteria before collapsing into the chair inside my booth with a heavy thud.
“Ugh… I’m beat.”
My body felt fine, but my mind was worn out.
Unlike the relaxed morning work at the temple, cooking in the academy cafeteria felt like a time-attack. Perfect results while keeping an eye on the clock drained a surprising amount of mental energy.
Fortunately I had Mu, so I only had to handle half of it. Still, it was tiring.
Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
I was about to settle in and rest when the sound of dishes drew my gaze. I turned my head toward the source.
“Mmm, it’s delicious.”
“Mimi… it’s literally heavenly.”
Seated at the table were Morgan and Isolde, half-finished plates of food still in front of them as they continued eating.
I hadn’t noticed earlier because I’d been too focused on cooking, but they had been at it the whole time.
Next to them, Mu in her Yeonha avatar was slicing ingredients and serving them, exactly like a chef serving her own creations. It was almost surreal—someone cooking and someone else eating in the same space.
I stared at the scene for a moment, then counted the plates stacked beside Morgan and Isolde. My tongue clicked in disbelief.
“You ate that much and you’re still hungry?”
Even a rough count showed forty plates on the table alone. Including everything below, it easily topped fifty.
Even if my cooking didn’t make people fat, the portion size was huge. I let out a long sigh.
Morgan, still elegantly holding her knife, replied with a graceful wave of her hand.
“Sorry, but we’re not full yet. We have no choice but to keep eating. So it’s not our fault—it’s the hand that made something this good.”
Isolde, blunt as always, added flatly, “If it had been ordinary delicious, we wouldn’t have eaten this much.”
“Exactly! It really is amazing, just like Yeonha Mama’s cooking!”
Morgan piled on the praise while Isolde agreed without expression. Mu puffed out her chest and declared proudly,
“That’s my mother!”
I sighed deeply and told Mu, who was still turning the wok,
“Mu, that’s enough. We’ll run out of leftover ingredients if you keep going.”
“As you wish, my mother!”
“Ah…”
“You’re so greedy.”
Mu grinned and nodded happily. Morgan and Isolde, however, looked at me with the same disappointed expression.
I frowned. “Stop eating, you pigs. You know when to quit when you’re full. Or is that a demon thing too?”
With Yeonha’s body, my usual mild scolding came out sharper than I expected. It struck Morgan and Isolde hard. They looked shocked, as if they hadn’t expected to be called pigs, but they didn’t stop eating the remaining food.
That desperate, huh? You didn’t even know you’d keep going after being called a pig?
I narrowed my eyes at their appetites, then closed my mouth and rested my chin on my hand.
There was no point in stopping them. They were eating because they liked it. Besides, I should be grateful they were enjoying my food.
While they continued, I figured I’d rest until the rest of lunch and think about tomorrow’s lessons. I closed my eyes, but the next words snapped me awake.
“By the way, what are you going to do about the royal side’s affairs?”
“Huh?”
“You’re being summoned by the king tomorrow, right? Those humans up top will swarm in the moment they hear it’s royal business. It’s going to be a pain.”
Morgan stabbed her steak with her fork and asked.
I leaned my head against the wall behind my chair with a groan.
“Hoo… nobles, huh…”
Exactly as Morgan had said. If the king summoned me tomorrow, nobles who had come this morning would likely swarm me, offering me their side like the fallen one had.
The conditions would probably be even better than this morning’s. My eyes were already calculating how much trouble that would cause.
“Yeah. The high nobles are going to stick like glue. It’s going to be exhausting.”
The really powerful nobles were out of reach anyway. The Count from this morning—Hailock or whatever—had been easy to dismiss since he was just a fallen noble, but the others I hadn’t caught would attach themselves even more stubbornly if I rejected them.
So avoiding the future trouble was impossible. Morgan grinned and casually lifted her sword.
“I’m a slave right now. If anyone tries to bother you, just say the word. I’ll kill them without leaving a trace.”
“You’ll kill them?”
“Of course. Just give the order and I’ll do it.”
Morgan flashed a thumbs-up and sliced her own neck with it. She looked far too obedient.
I had never seen her act like this right after joining me. Asking for a command to commit murder? That could only mean one thing.
Isolde, quietly cutting chicken beside her, frowned and muttered,
“Murderer.”
Morgan’s smile grew wider. I straightened up and continued.
“Even though you were altered with demon blood, you still want to kill living things. That’s just how you are, right?”
“Oh? You noticed already?”
“Of course. I understand, though. Five days without tasting blood is a long time.”
“Hehe, you’re right. I haven’t killed anyone in a while. My body feels so restless.”
According to her file, Morgan had been a battle maniac before she became a demon, fighting every day. Being unable to kill even once after joining me must have been driving her crazy.
It was like a smoker who hadn’t touched a cigarette for five days.
Since I wanted the original Morgan, I answered while popping a piece of steak into my mouth.
“Soon… within three days or so, something will come up. Just wait for it.”
“That sounds exciting.”
Morgan’s cheeks flushed faintly with pleasure.
Yeah. At least ten or so people will probably die by then.
That should include the two nobles who were already approaching.
Maybe?
***
There were five great families that could be called the pillars of the Fhara Kingdom.
In order: Petra Duchy, Hilstin Duchy, Imptia Duchy, Fairina Marquisate, Kilma Marquisate.
Each one was the largest and most powerful noble house in the kingdom. Their influence reached everywhere, as if every corner of the Fhara Kingdom was inside their mouths.
At a massive mansion near the royal palace, the Duke Petra sat in the study, flipping through documents.
His report’s latest words suddenly made him lift his head.
“What did you say?”
“I’m sorry? Ah, the Imptia Duchy has been attempting to contact Professor Aria and Professor Meiel, who destroyed the Sky Island five days ago. We believe it would be wise to move cautiously ourselves.”
“I see… So the Imptia Duchy has moved first…”
Duke Petra stroked his chin in thought.
His report quietly moved the teacup from the side table and whispered,
“If the Imptia Duchy reaches them first, it will be difficult for us to intervene. We need to reach them as quickly as possible.”
Professors at Lua Academy. With the Pope of the temple behind them, their future with the king was obvious.
At the very least, the king, who had saved the kingdom, would reward them handsomely. He might even grant them the title of baron.
Once they had proven themselves, their fame would spread like wildfire. If we brought those two to our side, the Petra Duchy could stand far above the other four pillars.
That was why the report had already consulted with the main members of the duchy.
Duke Petra laughed softly. “Listen. Do you know what I heard from my daughter yesterday?”
“My lady’s third daughter, Shaty?”
“Yes. Shaty. The only successor to our family.”
The report’s eyes widened at the name.
Shaty… She was the legendary genius who had surpassed her father, the Magic Empire’s pinnacle.
She had jumped over the eldest daughter, Sharon—the original successor— and taken the throne for herself at ten years old. He could never forget it.
The report nodded. Duke Petra slowly set the documents down.
“That girl told me yesterday at dinner. She said it would be better not to touch Aria and Meiel.”
“What? That’s…”
“Do you know what she said next? She wants to inherit a healthy family, not one ruined by those two. Heh heh heh!”
Duke Petra laughed loudly, recalling the scene.
Unlike her usual peaceful face, Shaty had sat at the table with a serious expression.
“Father. The king will summon Professors Aria and Meiel in a few days, won’t he? For your sake, I advise you not to touch them.”
“Hmm? What are you talking about, Shaty?”
“If you touch them, our family will disappear from the five pillars. Especially Meiel—do not touch her. I’d rather inherit the healthy Petra Duchy than one that has fallen because of them.”
Duke Petra had no choice but to laugh. He had almost called out to Sharon to calm his daughter, but Shaty’s warning stayed burned into his mind.
Knowing she was never one to joke, he smiled bitterly and told the report,
“We won’t lay a finger on them. If it’s possible, I want to give Shaty a healthy family.”
“What?! But Your Grace! If the Imptia Duchy completely moves, we…”
The report panicked. Missing this chance would mean no more chances. He shouted urgently, but Duke Petra cut him off sharply.
“Leave the Imptia Duchy to their own devices. We will simply watch.”
If they died of stomachaches, it would prove Shaty’s words were right.