Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: A Hearty Breakfast
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The Esterro Academy's student cafeteria buzzed with activity from early morning.
There were students rushing to fill their stomachs before first period lectures, those wrapping up their early morning self-training sessions, and others who'd pulled all-nighters on assignments, desperate to grab a bite before crashing.
I slipped through the crowd of students and found an empty seat.
My tray was piled high with what looked like a picture-perfect English breakfast.
Thick pancakes, baked to a mouthwatering golden brown, had bright yellow butter melting over them.
When I drizzled on the thick maple syrup, it mingled with the melted butter and soaked into the pancakes.
Right beside them, perfectly grilled sausages asserted their presence.
The quality was so high that juices glistened from the slits in the sausages.
Those juices dripped straight down and were absorbed by the hash browns underneath.
And the sunny-side-up eggs and thick bacon paired with the sausages were already perfection incarnate.
Topped off with grilled tomatoes and mushrooms.
To me, someone who'd skipped breakfast every day just to survive, this was a feast fit for a king.
"Eight hours of sleep and a breakfast like this..."
Was this heaven?
No, it was too soon for exclamations.
After all, food was about taste over looks.
I carefully sliced into a sausage with my knife.
The blade met a springy resistance, and juices burst forth.
I brought the piece to my mouth, expectations high... and the flavor exceeded them.
A rich meaty aroma and juices exploded across my tongue.
Everything I'd eaten before this wasn't sausage—it was sausage-adjacent.
The thought hit me naturally, and I closed my eyes to savor it.
I'd always thought it looked delicious watching through the monitor.
In Broken World, food models got the most polygons invested.
I could declare it tasted as good as it looked.
As I moved on to slice the bacon, Choco—who'd followed me all the way to the cafeteria—climbed onto my lap.
He glanced at my tray, then at me, before raising a front paw high.
"You want some too?"
Choco nodded vigorously.
He pointed a tiny paw at the grilled tomato.
What do raccoons eat?
Omnivores, probably...
"You already had feed this morning, so one piece should satisfy you."
I offered him a slice of grilled tomato, and Choco took it with both paws.
His eyes sparkled as he devoured it with his minuscule mouth.
"Eat slowly so you don't choke."
Unhearing, Choco buried his face in the tomato.
He made crunching sounds without spilling a single drop of juice, clearly relishing it.
Sitting on my lap with his back against my stomach like a person, he looked pretty cute.
They say don't bother dogs while they're eating, so I didn't mess with him and focused on my own meal.
I sliced the bacon and paired it with the fried egg before popping it into my mouth.
As I savored the tender, salty flavor, someone sat down in front of me.
The protagonist.
I opened my eyes.
There, for some reason, sat Leon Hilfenberg.
"Good morning."
"Uh, good morning. That's all you're eating?"
"I keep my meals light."
Leon's tray held just a small salad.
It really was light.
"And that one?"
Drizzling dressing over his salad, Leon pointed at Choco.
"My live-in raccoon."
"You're raising one? I had no idea."
"They're usually kept in the dorms, so it makes sense you wouldn't know."
Dorms allowed pets.
Most people didn't bring them to lectures, and with single rooms, it wasn't something that spread around much.
Truth be told, I hadn't planned to bring Choco to the cafeteria either.
He'd just waddled after me, so I let him tag along.
Choco seemed smart enough to find his way back to the dorm alone, which put my mind at ease.
"Sorry about yesterday."
Leon suddenly broached the topic.
I stared at him blankly, wondering what he meant, and he met my gaze with a serious expression.
"What're you talking about all of a sudden?"
"Yesterday, I was rude. I should have gone all-out from the start, but I only gave my full effort at the end."
"You're talking about the sparring match, right?"
Leon nodded emphatically, as if to say yes.
He'd apologized again while walking me to the infirmary yesterday, and now this.
What a ridiculously good-guy protagonist.
Still, that was Leon Hilfenberg's personality.
So kind and earnest that he couldn't accept the world's contradictions and injustices—an idealist.
That's why he apologized sincerely even for things others would brush off.
"It's fine. That last attack wasn't even your full power."
No matter how much they said I had no aegis yet, my opponent was Leon Hilfenberg.
If he'd gone all-out, I wouldn't have gotten off with just flying through the air.
I'd probably be holed up in my room popping painkillers instead of eating breakfast.
I knew he'd held back on purpose.
As I sliced into my pancakes in reply, Leon gave a wry smile.
"You knew, huh."
"Something like that. I figured you wouldn't go full throttle in a spar anyway."
With Leon's skills, full power would retire most students in one hit.
Plus, his personality meant he wouldn't show off unnecessarily.
That's why the protagonist hides his abilities.
Our conversation lulled.
In the meantime, I savored the fluffy pancakes still infused with maple syrup and butter.
As I melted over the refined sweetness, Leon started on his salad.
"Thanks."
"For what?"
I questioned the sudden gratitude, but Leon just smiled.
Well, being grateful for everything was Leon's way.
Whatever.
I topped a pancake with bacon, fried egg, and grilled mushroom before savoring the harmony.
Letting out a satisfied sigh amid the flavors, I noticed Leon standing first.
"I'll head out. First period is Understanding Runes."
"You too? Same class for me, so I should get going soon."
"You've got time."
See you.
Leon left the cafeteria ahead of me.
I hadn't realized our schedules overlapped...
But like he said, I could enjoy the rest of my breakfast.
I picked up my fork and knife again to finish the English breakfast.
5
Peleo Hall, 3rd floor, room 304.
This was where Understanding Runes took place.
It looked quite different from the classrooms I remembered well.
Instead of a blackboard, there was a vast glass window with long desks lined up before it.
Less like a typical lecture hall and more like something from a famous British magic school.
I entered through the back door. About twenty students were visible at a glance.
Considering a class had fifty spots, that was decent attendance.
I took a seat around the middle.
Plenty of time before the lecture started.
I pulled out my textbook and skimmed it.
It might've looked incomprehensible, but no big issue.
I'd seen runes everywhere wandering around, so they were familiar.
I'd parsed every document in Broken World and memorized the setting collection, making it easy to understand.
No need for heavy studying.
Relieved, someone approached me.
A woman with soft, light beige hair cascading down.
Wearing a wide-brimmed witch hat indoors, Merrill blinked her bright green eyes at me.
"You're here today? I thought you might skip. Glad you made it."
Merrill smiled lightly.
The classic class rep type in the game, and apparently here too.
As I reminisced about Broken World for a moment, she extended her hand.
I stared at it blankly, and she added knowingly,
"Homework's due. You're the last one."
"...Homework?"
Homework? There was homework?
I'd never heard about it.
Of course not—I'd only possessed this body yesterday. No way I'd know about last week's assignment.
Besides, failing student Theo Agrit wouldn't have done it ahead anyway.
"...Can the one on my lap count?"
I pointed at Choco, who'd claimed my lap.
Choco shook his head vigorously as if to say he hadn't done it either, and Merrill let out a quiet sigh.
"You know Professor Clayton's personality. Miss today's deadline, and he'll fail you for sure."
Clayton, Clayton...
Edmund Clayton, right?
The professor with the wrinkle-free suit, impeccably combed hair, and a personality to match—strict to a fault.
Given his temperament, late submission alone would earn a fail.
And one more failing grade meant expulsion for me.
"...As long as it's in by today?"
"Yeah, submit to TA Clara at Professor Clayton's research office by end of day."
"Thanks for the heads-up."
"It's my job."
Merrill turned to head back.
I called her back.
"Merrill. Sorry, but... what was the assignment?"
She turned, looking mildly stunned.
Well, who expects someone to ask what the homework is on due day.
What can you do? I really hadn't heard.
"Present the effects of the runes discovered in the Schumartel Ruins, the period they were recorded, and explain the reasoning."
The answer came not from Merrill, but a third party.
The owner of the voice: the guy who appears whenever someone's in trouble—Leon.
Same class, so he'd overheard from afar?
"Yeah? Thanks for telling me."
Leon shook his head.
"Tough assignment. Cutting it close to do alone after classes."
"What can I do? I'll do what I can."
Interpreting the runes wasn't hard.
I'd explored the Schumartel Ruins myself.
The recorded period wasn't specified, though.
I'd have to cross-reference materials for that.
In Broken World, it was just a mentioned setting, but official lore noted rune characteristics by era.
And this wasn't just the game.
Settings only referenced in the story would be implemented here.
Library research on era-specific rune traits, find matches to Schumartel runes, and slot in the period.
Skip the hard interpretation, grind the references for the timeline.
Time was tight, like Leon said...
"Need help?"
"...What?"
"I remember the materials needed. I can find them if you want."
He was offering to help?
This guy—was he actually an angel?
Or the Giving Tree.
"I'd appreciate it."
"We help each other. Don't worry about it."
"Hard not to. I'll buy you a meal next time."
Once? I could do twice.
Just then, the bell signaling the start of class rang out.
Leon sat in the seat next to me.
Right on time, the front door opened.
In walked a middle-aged man in a suit.
Hair combed back as impeccably as his wrinkle-free suit.
Edmund Clayton, armed with icy precision, took the podium.
"Let's begin."
Everyone opened their textbooks.
In the meantime, Leon whispered to me.
"When does your last class end today?"
"6 PM. You?"
"5 PM. Library then."
I nodded, and our small talk ended.
Things were working out better than expected.
...I had no idea.
That evening, the library would be occupied by an illegal circle.
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