One day before the Inter-Academy Tournament, every student was ordered to return to their academy to prepare and select participants.
The moment candidates were chosen for each grade was always one of the most nerve-wracking and exciting scenes of the year. In fact, both in the past and now, large-scale betting events still happened over who would be chosen.
However, among the second years, the atmosphere felt... oddly gloomy. The reason? Well, me, of course.
"I've just sent you all the list of participants for this year. Go check it," said Professor Wellay.
The entire classroom erupted into chaos as everyone scrambled to open the academy's info page to look for their names.
Cries, cheers, complaints, and groans filled the room.As for me?I was still asleep.
"Hey, wake up, man!" Marcus shook my shoulder repeatedly, trying to get me up.
"...Go away, I'm sleeping," I mumbled, face buried in my desk.
Marcus grinned, said something I didn't bother to catch, and walked off.
…
Sizzle. Bubble.
The sound of boiling water and sizzling ingredients filled the air, accompanied by the rhythmic movements of a cook's hands.
'There were four reasons I acted the way I did during the practical test a few weeks ago.
First, obviously, to push certain characters back into their development arcs—to speed them up so they'd be ready for what's coming.
Honestly, it's not easy. I only know them from the novel, and trying to "guide" people you barely understand is… well, unrealistic. So, I had to give them a direction, a destination.
Second, to collect treasures. Each student could only claim one artifact, sure, but I made a deal with Jax and Marcus—a deal of mutual benefit.
Third, about Kale. If things went as I predicted, he's probably read the letter by now and understood my message. So that's one task checked off.
And fourth… I need to get into the tournament. But my combat and physical test scores were terrible. I had to do something.
Besides, gathering all eight treasures helped me analyze which items were useful for me. Better to have too many choices than too few.'
I thought to myself while holding a pan in one hand and a large spoon in the other, tasting the soup.
Thinking while doing mundane chores like cooking was my way to relax—and kill time.
I took a sip of the soup, frowned, and sprinkled in some salt. Then I pulled a loaf of bread from the mana "oven," grabbed cream and chocolate bars, and began crafting the topping.
My hands moved swiftly, effortlessly—like a seasoned chef. The others in the back kitchen stared in disbelief.
"Wait, the lazy guy can cook?""I thought he only knew how to eat!""Shh! He'll hear you!""Uh…"
I glanced at them with deadpan eyes. Their mouths were louder than frying pans, honestly.
"Get lost, you starving pigs."
Clack. Clack.
I carried out tray after tray of food, each dish steaming, fragrant, and beautiful.Cuisine from the East and the West, savory and sweet, sour and spicy—all kinds of dishes from my previous world.
It looked less like a casual meal and more like a royal feast. No—considering this world's culinary standards, it was a banquet worthy of the gods.
"Alright, here's your meal," I said flatly to the people gathered in the room.
My tiny dorm room—originally meant for one—was now packed with about ten people, all crammed around the table.
Jax, Marcus, Emma, Emma's two teammates, Licen, Octuv, Kale, Julien, Evelyn, Rack, and me.
Ten people in total, ready to devour the feast before them. Most of these dishes had probably never existed in this world.
And I decided to open the meal with one simple line:
"I have a few words for everyone gathered here today…"
Everyone turned to look at me, their eyes fixated on the 'handsome guy' in the room.
"Don't worry—it's going to be fun."
…
Over two thousand students of Blue Light Academy gathered inside a massive stadium.
All eyes were on the spatial gate at the center, where Headmaster Lloyd stood, directing groups of students through.Each group wore the standard navy-and-black academy uniform.
When the other groups had gone, only one team remained—those wearing white-and-blue uniforms.
"Attention!" Headmaster Lloyd shouted, drawing their focus.
"Today marks the day you represent our academy—Blue Light—in this year's Inter-Academy Tournament!"
"Every five years, the top twenty students from each of the five grades across all academies are chosen to compete in the tournament!"
He tapped his wooden staff on the ground, distorting the air in front of the students.
A 3D projection appeared—like a piece of futuristic technology—and Lloyd used his staff to point at the holographic display.
He explained everything: the tournament's significance, its rewards, its purpose… whether anyone cared or not.
While he was passionately lecturing hundreds of students, a sudden sound broke out.
"YEAHHHH!!"
Everyone turned toward the source—to find two people hugging and jumping up and down, while a third sat on the ground clutching his head in despair.
"I told you, man—it's obvious! The king must have his throne! Losers can't understand greatness!""And that's the sixth cup! The sixth star! Three years, six stars, baby!"
The two kept jumping like maniacs while the third muttered curses.
"Silence!!" Lloyd slammed his staff to the ground, snapping everyone's attention back to him.
"Students Marcus and Ron—who gave you permission to use your wristbands right now?! And who said you could disrupt the ceremony?!" he thundered, glaring furiously.
"And you, Professor Will! What on earth is going on here?!"
"...Sir," Professor Will stammered, "Team T-One... won again."
(Congratulations to T1 Faker — the only one capable of surpassing the unkillable demon king SKT Faker.)
A/N:I admit that I forgot to include some explanations in the previous chapters. My sincere apologies.