Chapter 15

The academy’s garden was decked out like a giant arboretum with countless types of plants and flowers.

From the crystal orbs hanging from the round, cage-like ceiling, a soft melody flowed through the air, thanks to magic.

The refreshing scent of greenery mingled in the air, with tiny birds created by students majoring in sorcery flitting freely between the tall trees.

Scattered among the trees and bushes were dozens of metal tables, perfect spots for students to hold tea parties or meals.

In the center of the massive, lofted space was an artificial waterfall hill, where several tables were reserved for only the highest-ranking nobles.

It seemed that the strong had claimed those spots simply because the view was good, and it had turned into an unwritten rule over time.

Regardless, the important thing was this:

The garden was a place equally open to all students, regardless of commoners or nobles, but once inside, it was inevitable that students would compete for better seats.

Normally, Tirisia and I sat wherever there were empty tables, so we hadn’t paid much attention to this hierarchy. But today, returning to the garden, the atmosphere definitely felt more noticeable.

Seldienne brought me to the highest table, right in front of the cascading water.

“Oh—hohohoho! A lowly commoner should be grateful to even sit at this table!”

Sitting down with her subordinates, she happily rested her chin in her black feather fan, grinning with delight.

I quietly settled into a chair opposite her, glancing around.

“Heh… so this is how it looks. Nice, huh?”

“Not enough awe! Commoner!”

“This is what happens when a flavorless peasant is around!”

“…”

We weren’t actually on top of a waterfall, just sitting on a small artificial pond created in a lofted building, but they sure had high expectations.

It seemed like they wanted me to praise Seldienne’s generosity for bringing me here rather than marvel at the scenery.

For now, I needed to make a good impression on those picky girls to complete my plan, so I acted as they wished.

“Thanks to Seldienne, I get to eat here, and I really feel like I was born lucky.”

“Oh—hohohoho! What a admirable remark!”

“I’ve never been here when I was with Tirisia… it’s definitely different.”

At that, her crimson eyes widened for a moment before she quickly regained her relaxed smile.

“O-of course! Did you realize that your presence is bigger than Bruerd’s now?”

“Oh! I just realized! Thanks, Seldienne!”

“Oh—hohohoho! You flatter me!”

As Seldienne laughed loudly, her subordinates chimed in, finally loosening up.

“Hmph, I see you’ve figured it out now, commoner.”

“Surely, you’ve changed your mind after experiencing Elconja’s authority firsthand.”

Right, right, chat away as you wish.

With a smile, I opened the zipper of my thermal bag.

“By the way, ladies, did you all bring food?”

“Of course! Inside the academy, servants are forbidden! It’s the noble way to handle your own lunch!”

Seldienne declared as she placed a small container wrapped in cloth on the table.

The other two also proudly laid out their prepared meals.

“Today, I prepared a fresh vegetable salad.”

“I brought beans and fruits.”

“Heh.”

As expected.

Unlike lower-ranking nobles, who often indulge in superficial extravagance, the true daughters of well-bred families seemed to manage their diets rigorously at home.

For academy students, being highly rated came down to both academics and practical skills.

Among them, practical skills like magic and swordsmanship required physical ability, so it was only natural that they focused on their diets to maintain top-notch growth and condition as sorcerers.

That’s why I usually made healthy, nutritious bento lunches for Tirisia, but… this situation was a bit different.

“Ah, but I happened to make too much food today.”

I pretended to act innocent as I placed a three-tiered giant bento box on the table.

“W-what kind of bento is that big?”

Seldienne’s eyes widened at the sight of the enormous box.

“I was just thinking about how to eat this all, and this is perfect.”

“How does one even fail so spectacularly at portion control?”

“Well, that’s just how commoners operate.”

Miu snickered. After briefly looking at Jury, I then asked the three of them with a cheerful expression.

“If it’s alright, could you eat this with me?”

“What…?”

“Huh?”

“Hah?”

Shock, confusion, shame, and aversion flickered simultaneously in their eyes.

“Why would we eat commoner food?!”

“Just because we’re sitting at the same table doesn’t mean you can overstep your bounds!”

I hadn’t expected them to just accept, so I stubbornly decided to push for this meal.

“It’d be a shame to waste all this food. It’s definitely delicious, so please, just a little, okay? Miu, Jury, Seldienne.”

“Eek…! You called us by name! How vulgar!”

“How rude! Who do you think you are!”

“…”

I gauged Seldienne, who was the only one covering her mouth with her fan, staring intently at the bento.

What’s she thinking?

Logically, she should be the one reacting the most strongly against this.

“Hmph.”

Finally finishing her thoughts, Seldienne snapped her fan closed with a satisfied huff.

“Calm down, everyone.”

“E-Elconja, you should refuse!”

“How could I allow such disgusting food to touch my precious lips!”

Seldienne disregarded the anxious girls beside her and locked her crimson gaze on me.

“I have one question for you, commoner.”

“What is it?”

“Is this bento the same as what I usually offer to Bruerd’s children?”

“Yeah.”

Though the contents were entirely different, I couldn’t say I specially made it just to get one over on them, so I played it cool and nodded.

“Hehe,”

At my immediate reply, Seldienne’s lips curled up into a smirk.

Then she let out a high-pitched laugh that echoed through the garden.

“Oh—hohohoho!”

“Elconja?”

“What’s wrong?”

Sledienne, grinning ear to ear, nodded while clutching her fan tightly.

“Then I’m curious! What offering did you bring to earn Bruerd’s favor? I’ll determine if it’s worthy enough!”

“Oh, that’s exactly what I wanted.”

“Come on then, open that lid! Miu, Jury, you should join in evaluating this commoner’s food!”

“Y-yes, Elconja!”

“If it’s for you, Elconja, I’ll gladly do it!”

“Here—everyone, eat up.”

With a grin, I opened the lid of the bento, and then—

“W-what’s this…?”

“Huh?”

“Oh?”

All three girls’ eyes widened simultaneously.

*

Ten minutes later,

“Phew—ha—phew—”

“Hek, hek,”

“Hwaaah… huh…”

The sounds of three girls gasping for air filled the table atop the waterfall.

“Just one more bite…!”

Seldienne speared some food with her fork and brought it to her mouth.

At first, she had eaten with the grace befitting a noble, but now she wore a tortured expression sweating buckets, her fists planted firmly on the table as she wriggled.

Gulp, gulp.

As Seldienne swallowed another bite, she squeezed her eyes shut, shouting towards the birds on the ceiling of the garden.

“S-sweet! It’s too spicy!”

“Haha, I’m glad you like it.”

As I nodded with a satisfied smile, Seldienne looked at the contents of the bento with a puzzled expression.

“It’s too spicy, too salty, and too sweet! C-are commoners seriously living off this?!”

“Well, it’s not a staple, but we eat it often, right?”

“What an odd dish… this food, it’s definitely terrible…! But why can’t I stop eating?!”

“Aah! Elconja! It’s painful, but I can’t stop!”

“This shock…! That cunning commoner must have poisoned the food!”

Seldienne’s sidekicks, Miu and Jury, were now pitifully moaning beside her.

Both of them had lost all their previous elegance, wiping sweat, tears, and snot with their handkerchiefs, unable to stop shoveling food in their mouths.

The scene garnered whispers from the surrounding students, creating an unusual spectacle taking place at the table.

What a shame; if I were at a lower seat, I’d be more visible to other students.

Watching noble girls pouring out their bodily fluids in agony was quite the rare spectacle.

“Miu, Jury! Are you two okay?”

Seldienne looked at them with the concern of a weary soldier comforting his comrades.

“Hah… hah… Elconja! I can’t fall now!”

“Huff… huff… I feel like if I leave this food, I’ll lose!”

“Alright, this Elconja stands firm! You dare to test my resolve, huh? I’ll show you what I got!”

“Haha, I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

“By the way, this unfamiliar dish… what is it called? I’ve completely forgotten in a haze!”

She lifted a piece of food with her fork and asked.

A piece of soft, elongated food, perfect for a single bite, soaked in fiery red sauce.

I reiterated the name of that dish commonly found among commoners to the nobles.

“This? Tteokbokki.”

Specifically, it was spicy tteokbokki made with the fire of industry.

And accompanying it was various fried items and sundae bought from a shop. Together, you call it tteok-twi-sun.

“Tteokbokki…! This is a tough foe!”

Even though Seldienne looked down with a disgusted expression, it was clear she was already entranced by the addictive flavor that stimulated a commoner’s palate.

For her, who usually only ate bland, healthy food, this must have been a significant taste shock.

Truly a new frontier.

When I shared this plan with Rusika, who was used to tteok-twi-sun, she expressed a bit of worry.

She wondered if that cheap food would suit her snobby friends’ tastes.

But I had absolute confidence.

Regardless of nobility, as long as they were young and living it up at the academy, they couldn’t defy the laws of the universe.

No girl hated tteok-tw-sun.

Taking a breath, the girls continued their battle against the crimson demon.

“Charge! Tteokbokki!”

“I’ll follow you! Elconja!”

“For my life, I will fight!”

*

After quite a struggle,

“Hwaa—swe—haah—”

“Huh, heeek! Haaah,”

“Hah… hah…”

The spicy tteokbokki was fully consumed.

“I—I did it… it’s your victory!”

Seldienne, slumping heavily in her seat, barely held her fan up high.

“It was an honor fighting together, Elconja…”

“My mouth is still burning…”

“Wow, I’m glad you enjoyed it so much. Thank you, friends!”

“Hah… heehee… if this Elconja is involved, this pain is nothing…”

“Oh, but there’s still dessert left.”

“Dess—ert?”

With a bright smile, I pulled out a magic heating plate, rice, and seaweed from my thermal bag as I revealed the name of the dessert.

“Fried rice with tteokbokki sauce.”

“Eh…”

As the faces of the three noble daughters turned pale,

---