NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43
While listening to the explanation about the club, Pina couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.
I didn’t know if she understood or not, but since she said she would do it, I didn’t stop her.
During this time, Stella glared at me as if I were garbage, and Eurasia looked at me with a rather complex expression.
I felt like I was some kind of fraud.
I didn’t cheat anyone. I simply told Pina the truth and made her stamp her hand.
After that, every time Gebihenum came up in conversation, Pina’s tail drooped and her ears wilted, yet just one request as a friend ended up solving everything.
There was no violence or coercion involved.
So, I felt proud.
Slurp– As I sipped my sixth mint chocolate.
I glanced at Pina, who had become quiet—well, she was always quiet, but now her presence had seemingly vanished.
Drowsy– She was curled up with her tail and dozing off.
Outside the window, the sunset was deepening.
The bustling students had dwindled to more than half, and the lively music that once played in the café had turned into soft melodies.
Time had flown by to 6:30 PM.
It had been eight hours since we arrived at the café.
And at last, it was time to eat.
“Let’s head out soon.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Eurasia, who had already set her class schedule, stretched out and then straightened her back.
Her previously dull eyes sparkled, and the melted expression turned into a smile.
Eurasia was apparently just as bored as ever.
“Hmm… Just five more minutes.”
Meanwhile, Stella was still working on her schedule.
She was even planning Pina’s schedule with her.
When Pina expressed her desire to take magic classes…
No, seeing Pina’s handwriting, Stella stubbornly began to help, claiming that if she just followed her lead, it would work out.
Glancing over, it didn’t seem like she was helping in order to attend the same classes together.
Pina and Stella had entirely different classes written down.
Did she really feel some kinship?
She was being exceptionally helpful.
“This is pretty good… Of course, it’s me.”
With that, Stella completed the schedule, grinning with pride and letting out a humph!
Then, she shook Pina, who was still sound asleep, and spoke in her usual condescending tone.
“Are you really going to sleep while I’m helping you?”
Eek, yikes! Pina shook off her sleepiness and wiped away drool from under her chin.
“Okay, check it out. From what I saw, it looks like you should take the basics, right?”
Nod, nod
“Then that’s about right. Here, let’s start with magic theory—”
Gaining confidence that her eyes weren’t deceiving her, Stella launched into a detailed explanation for Pina, who still looked groggy.
However, Pina merely nodded with a blank expression, not seeming to comprehend.
About ten more minutes passed.
Only after Stella’s explanation was fully over could we finally get out of the café.
To be honest, I could have left first without Stella and Pina.
However…
Leaving Pina behind, who had already stamped her hand in fatigue, felt like a blade piercing my heart, so I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Having grown up in a warm household, or maybe because I’ve lived 17 years with this body, or perhaps it was because of this damn peaceful era…
When I compare it to my previous life, I definitely feel softer in personality.
Huff…!
I stretched out, easing my stiff body.
Having only had cake or simple bread for lunch made me feel empty. Today, I was going to have rice in pork bone broth and devour large beef short ribs and chicken legs.
I was going to eat until my belly was stuffed to bursting.
“Gulp… It’s going to be delicious. Let’s hurry up and eat.”
Just as I stepped forward with my mouth watering, a voice I had almost forgotten rang out.
“Eliaernes!”
“…Oh, please no.”
“Huh?! Did you miss me that much? Nyehehe!”
I turned my head, clutching my hungry belly.
It was Leona.
With a playful smile, Leona approached with cheerful strides.
“Ah, Vice Headmaster…! Um, hello…!”
“Yep, Eurasia. Hello, hello.”
“Vice, Vice Headmaster…?”
“You’re…”
Leona, who had been smiling brightly, suddenly froze, and then her face morphed back into her usual smile as she laughed, “Nyehehe! It’s Stella. Stella Behrhaigen. Vice-President!”
“Gasp… Yes…! Hello.”
Stella hurriedly bowed, and Leona gave her a friendly pat on the back, turning her attention to the last person.
“Pina!”
With a bright smile and open arms.
Seeing Leona like that, Pina couldn’t help but beam a heartwarming smile and stepped into the Vice Headmaster’s embrace.
“Nyehehe! Already making friends, huh? You’re doing great. Pina has good judgment in friends, it seems?”
Everyone present was astonished by how affectionately Leona treated Pina, and Pina’s bold act after being so timid made us all surprised.
Even I was shocked.
Have they known each other from before?
“You all better not bully Pina or do anything bad to her, okay?”
“Sure, we won’t do that.”
Eurasia answered with utmost seriousness while Stella retained her blank expression.
Leona looked at them both once and then shot a glare at me.
“Especially you, Eliaernes. Don’t bully our Pina. Got it?”
“Why would I bully Pina?”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Right, Pina? We’re friends, right?”
With a bright smile, Pina nodded.
Even though Stella and Eurasia shot scorching glares at that sight, I stood my ground and spoke confidently.
“See?”
“If Pina says so, then okay. But is this all settled?”
“No.”
“Hmm? It’s all settled now, right?”
“Not yet. We haven’t eaten yet.”
“Let’s eat together!”
“…No thanks.”
“Why?!”
“Because you’re going to have noodles again. If I eat that, I’ll be so hungry I won’t be able to move.”
Noodles. They’re not bad.
In fact, the noodles Leona brought were tasty, and they filled me up when I ate them.
But they digest way too fast.
Three hours, no, two hours after that, I’m left hungry and unable to function properly.
So today, I’m absolutely going to eat meat.
“Hmm? Is that so? Then let’s have something else today.”
“…I’m going to eat meat.”
“Let’s eat meat!”
“…I’m also going to have chicken legs.”
“Sure!”
“I’ll have four.”
“Any amount is fine!”
With a shrug of her shoulders as if to say “trust me,” Leona beamed at me.
Staring at her for a moment, I finally agreed.
“…Understood.”
I handed a card to Eurasia.
“Let’s all eat with this, and please leave the card at Signia Hall’s front desk.”
To avoid another incident where I couldn’t eat breakfast due to my card being gone, I thought of a solution.
Leaving it with the maids stationed at the front desk.
That way, they could feed the others when I wasn’t around, and I could eat too the next morning!
“Oh, um… Yes, understood. Thank you…!”
Eurasia looked hesitant to accept but bowed her head when I glared at her, taking the card.
Excited about the idea of eating for free again, Stella kept swallowing with a gulp-.
Meanwhile, Pina, who seemed to be experiencing dining with several others for the first time, sparkled her eyes and tightly clenched her hands.
*
Slurp- Slurp-
Damn noodles.
Slurp- Slurp-
Does that guy, no, that Beastman never get tired of noodles?
Slurp- Slurp-
He’s eating so delightfully.
Of course, it’s not that they’re tasteless.
Sigh.
I let out a sigh as I looked down at my portion of noodles lying on the floor of the training grounds for professors…
Just as I said, the bowl was piled high with meat and chicken legs.
They were hidden within the noodles.
Leona had ordered it for me.
In the Professor-Only Restaurant, she had added beef and chicken legs to the same noodles from yesterday.
Such kindness.
Well, at least there’s meat in it, so I thought it would be better than yesterday and picked up my chopsticks.
“How did you become friends with Pina?”
Slurp- Slurp-
Right before Leonas dove into her fifth bowl of noodles, she asked a question.
“On the first day, we wandered around in the Illusion Magic, then met this morning, chatted a bit, and that’s how we become friends.”
Slurp.
Definitely much tastier with the meat.
Chew- Chew I devoured the tender beef and then posed a question back.
“Seems like you two knew each other from the start.”
Leona shook her head while stuffing her mouth full of noodles.
“Mm. Just met her.”
“For someone who just met, you sure seem very close, don’t you?”
Buying her food, letting her join the club, sharing numbers, and yet, she couldn’t even look me in the eye.
“Yeah, things just ended up that way due to the situation.”
Leona smiled a heh-heh and gave off a vibe of “don’t ask me any further”, so I started to eat my noodles.
Nom-nom-nom.
There was no need to struggle to eat the chicken legs; they practically fell off the bone as I used my chopsticks.
Unlike typical chicken legs, they didn’t have any foul smell, and yet they maintained a delightful chewiness.
Along with that, the deep flavor of broth made from beef and chicken, paired with the thin yet springy noodles, stuck to my tongue and gums, ensuring it wasn’t boring to eat.
…Is the Professor-Only Restaurant a noodle haven?
I wonder if the Student Restaurant serves the same quality.
Slurp.
With thoughts of grabbing more noodles tomorrow, I wolfed down the remaining strands in one go.
“Huff… That was good.”
Just then, Leona also cleared her seventh bowl with a flourish.
As she patted her round belly with a thud, she promptly stood up.
“Alright, today I’ll teach Eliaernes the basics!”
Seeing Leona’s outstretched hand, I stood up too.
“What is this?”
“It’s a hand.”
“Right. Then what about this?”
As she held out her fist, I responded earnestly.
“It’s a fist.”
“Correct. It’s a fist. When your hand is open like this, and you clench it tightly, it becomes a fist.”
Then, Leona walked closer and began to giggle.
“Today, we’ll practice avoiding this fist.”
“…Huh?”
“Be careful, or it’ll break your bones if it hits!”
“What do you mea—”
From Leona’s fist, golden Mana erupted.
At that moment, I held my breath and lifted my arms.
Clenching my teeth, I channeled my Mana and enveloped my arms.
“Hey. I told you to dodge.”
At the same time.
Crash!
The guard I had raised crumbled helplessly away.
And in front of my eyes, stars exploded.