Chapter 41

After leaving the Treatment Center.

During the remaining break period, I shuttled between the dormitory and the Training Grounds, hammering the newly ascended realm into my body. I clicked my tongue as I glanced at the calendar hanging on one wall of the Training Grounds.

“Classes start again tomorrow…”

No candidate likes the start of school, but the reason I felt so regretful wasn’t just because I had to attend classes again from tomorrow.

“Today’s the last day to rent this place.”

I sighed briefly as I looked around the empty Training Grounds.

Not many candidates came to the Training Grounds during the break to continue their personal training, so I could use it freely, as if I had rented it out.

‘But that ends today.’

Once classes start again, this Training Grounds will be bustling with many candidates.

The Reynaldo Hero School’s curriculum isn’t easy enough to keep up with if you slack off on personal training.

“Well, sharing is fine, but the stares are unavoidable…”

Especially since my notoriety has risen quite a bit due to recent incidents, so when I use the Public Training Grounds, eyes naturally turn toward me.

‘Maybe I should apply for a Private Training Grounds this time.’

The problem is, just like with the private recovery room, a certain amount of ‘donation’ is required to get a Private Training Grounds.

“Why does this school only think about squeezing money out of candidates?”

Of course, candidates ranked within the top 50 in the overall evaluation can apply for a Private Training Grounds regardless of donations.

“Haha, damn it.”

What can I say?

Ranked 472nd out of 472 candidates.

For Dale Han, the bottom-ranked hero candidate, there’s no way to apply for a Private Training Grounds without a hefty donation.

‘When’s the next overall evaluation exam?’

Who would have thought I’d ever wish for the overall evaluation exam to come sooner?

“Donations, huh…”

Hmm.

For some reason, when it comes to money, a certain ‘friend’ always comes to mind. As I was about to step out of the Training Grounds.

“Huh?”

“Eek!”

They say if you talk about a tiger, it will appear.

Well, in this case, it’s not appearing but running away.

Anyway.

As soon as he saw my face, my one and only friend, Juliet Kang, turned to flee, but I quickly grabbed him.

“Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

“Ah!”

Juliet, caught by the scruff of his neck.

I smiled warmly and slung my arm over his shoulder.

“Hey, long time no see?”

“Y-yeah. L-long time.”

“What did you do during the break?”

“I… went home for a bit…”

“Hmm. Went home, huh?”

I narrowed my eyes, and Juliet jumped in surprise.

“I-I didn’t say anything about you! I swear on the seven gods, not a word!”

“Hahaha! You little rascal, too embarrassed to tell your parents you made a friend?”

“Huh? Ah… y-yeah. That’s it.”

“Alright, alright. That’s understandable.”

At this age, it can be a bit embarrassing to talk to your parents about friends.

I get it.

“So… what’s up?”

Juliet asked in a timid voice.

I grinned and tightened my arm around his shoulder.

“Does there have to be a reason between friends?”

“Huh? N-no. Not really…”

“Let’s just grab a bite to eat.”

“…Can’t we just get bread and milk like usual?”

Save 5 gold there… no, wait.

“No. Let’s go to the candidate cafeteria today. My treat.”

“What…? You’re treating? Really?”

Juliet’s eyes widened at my offer.

I smirked as I watched Juliet blink in disbelief.

“Can’t always be the one getting treated. My turn to treat you.”

“R-really?”

“Of course, of course.”

After all, he’s about to lend me a hefty donation for the Private Training Grounds, right?

Treating him to a meal before borrowing money isn’t a big deal.

“Alright, let’s head to the cafeteria, friend!”

“Ah, okay.”

So, Juliet and I headed to the candidate cafeteria located in the Annex.

Unlike the high-end cafeteria in the main building, this one was filled with affordable yet nutritious meals.

“So this is the Annex cafeteria…”

“First time here?”

“Y-yeah. I usually go to the main building’s cafeteria.”

“Ah, right.”

Juliet was from one of the top five wealthiest families in the Republic.

Of course, he’d only used the eye-wateringly expensive main building cafeteria.

“Consider it an experience. There are dishes here you won’t find in the main building.”

I led Juliet to the entrance of the Annex cafeteria.

*Beep.*

[Hero Candidate ‘Dale Han’. Identity confirmed.]

As I held my Hero Watch to the recognition device at the entrance, the firmly locked cafeteria door opened.

Inside, candidates bustled about, moving around the cafeteria.

‘Not a single soul in the Training Grounds, but they’re all here.’

Well.

Even during the break, you gotta eat.

“Let’s see, today’s recommended menu… Oh, stir-fried pork?”

Stir-fried pork, along with ramen, is one of the soul foods of the Republic.

“…Stir-fried pork?”

“What? Don’t tell me you don’t know stir-fried pork?”

“I’ve heard of it… but never tried it.”

“What? You’ve never had stir-fried pork?”

I gaped at Juliet.

“Are you even from the Republic? How have you never had stir-fried pork?”

“My father said not to eat such commoner junk food…”

“Well, well.”

How noble of him.

“Come on, follow me. I’ll show you what stir-fried pork tastes like.”

“O-okay.”

Juliet hesitantly followed.

I grabbed two servings of stir-fried pork set meals and headed to a table.

“…So this is stir-fried pork.”

Juliet looked down at the stir-fried pork with sparkling eyes.

He carefully picked up a piece of glistening, red-seasoned pork with his chopsticks.

Placing it on the white rice, he took a bite.

“…!”

His eyes widened, and he stomped his feet.

“How is it? Good?”

“Y-yeah! It’s amazing!”

Juliet nodded vigorously and quickly devoured the stir-fried pork.

“Whew. That was the best…”

“Finished?”

“Ah, yeah. That was great.”

“Just take your dishes over to the return area.”

“Huh? Don’t the staff clean up after us?”

“Not in the Annex cafeteria, buddy.”

This is why you can’t talk sense to rich kids.

“Let’s head out after eating.”

As I was about to lead Juliet out of the candidate cafeteria.

“Huh?”

“What’s that?”

A group of candidates was gathered around the exit.

“What are they all doing, not leaving?”

Curious, I approached the entrance and quickly found out why.

“What’s this? Why isn’t the Hero Watch recognition working?”

“Is your Hero Watch broken?”

“Move aside. Let me try.”

One candidate stepped forward and held his Hero Watch to the recognition device at the entrance.

Normally, just holding the Hero Watch to it would automatically open the door.

But for some reason, the recognition device, which had worked fine when we entered, was now unresponsive.

“Is it broken?”

“Seems like it.”

“W-what if it’s like during the Sealing Festival? What if monsters attacked again? Or maybe a Mine…”

A candidate turned pale and stepped back.

Others clicked their tongues, telling him not to spout nonsense.

“Come on, don’t talk nonsense.”

“Would Mines be crazy enough to invade the school?”

“But no one expected the monster incident during the Sealing Festival either, right?”

“True. Come to think of it, they never caught the culprit…”

Perhaps because the monster incident hadn’t been long ago.

What would normally be dismissed as a simple malfunction had the candidates on edge, reacting sensitively.

“It’s just a malfunction…”

“Someone contact the professors!”

“Step back from the door!”

Fear spread like a disease, quickly infecting the candidates.

As the commotion grew.

“Hahaha! Don’t worry, everyone! I’ll open the door with my ‘Unlock’ magic!”

A booming voice, as if he’d swallowed a megaphone, echoed.

All eyes turned to the source.

At the end of their gaze was a muscular candidate, his uniform straining as if it might tear any second, stomping toward the entrance.

“…Isn’t that the Magic Department emblem?”

“No way, that guy’s in the Magic Department?”

“Come on, that’s ridiculous…”

“Isn’t he that ‘Ryu’ family’s troublemaker?”

“Ah, I’ve heard rumors. Definitely a second-year…”

Short black hair and a beard.

Broad shoulders and a height nearing two meters.

His left chest bore the emblem of the Magic Department, not the Warrior Department, despite his axe-or-mace-wielding appearance.

“…You.”

My eyes widened as I recognized the candidate stepping forward.

“Step aside, everyone!”

The giant candidate pushed through the crowd and grabbed the firmly locked door handle.

“HUAAAAH!”

With a rough shout, he yanked the handle with all his might.

*Crack! Bang! Crash!*

The steel door crumpled like paper as cracks spread across the wall.

“UNLOOOOOCK!!!”

With a roar.

*Creak!*

The firmly shut door opened.

The giant candidate held the crumpled door in one hand and grinned.

“See? That’s the ‘Unlock’ magic!”

“……”

“……”

Silence fell over the cafeteria.

The candidates stared at the crumpled door in shock.

“…Ha.”

I swallowed a dry laugh as I looked at the candidate who had ripped the door off its hinges.

“Same as ever, you idiot.”

Long time no see.

Berald Ryu.