Chapter 155: Nobody Eats Today

Haru didn’t really have anything important to say to Isabela.

What he actually wanted was mana.

And, at that moment, the only excuse he could think of was asking what it would take to convince her father to accept a marriage proposal.

After all, in the dramas, TV shows, anime, webtoons, manga, and all kinds of stories he’d consumed in his previous life, all a man had to do was bring up marriage while alone with a girl to make her flustered.

Especially when he got close to her like that.

Haru had learned a lot from watching images. Understanding the context was another matter entirely.

And it’s not like I don’t want to marry Isabela. I’m determined to build my harem.

The thing was, this time, it had all been a cover to get more time in contact with her.

And it had worked.

Haru looked at the hand he’d used to touch Isabela.

Worth it.

After everything that had happened, the mana he’d recovered had made the effort worthwhile.

He’d do it again.

Without a single regret, he finished what he’d started and, some time later, let himself collapse onto the straw, wishing he could simply lie there and rest.

He wanted to stretch. He wanted to eat. He wanted to take a bath. Above all, he wanted to do anything that didn’t involve manure.

Unfortunately, he had a punishment to complete.

The stable wasn’t going to clean itself.

A Gamer’s life really is difficult…

Haru got to his feet with a sigh.

He started by gathering the dirty straw and separating it from the straw that could still be used. Then he removed the manure that had accumulated in the stalls, carrying it to the designated waste disposal area. He cleaned the spaces where the horses rested, scrubbed the dirtiest parts of the floor, and replaced the old straw with fresh bedding.

He also had to check the water containers, remove the leftover food, and organize the tools scattered around the stable.

The workload seemed to multiply every time he looked at a new area.

If he had enough mana, he could speed everything up with his abilities.

But he didn’t.

And after his recent experiences, he’d learned that running completely out of mana was a terrible idea.

You never knew when a hired assassin might show up to kill you.

Or when some absurd event might force you to die three hundred times in a row.

Wait. Why did I specifically think of three hundred times?

Haru shook his head.

He kept working.

The explanation for his punishment was plausible enough. Not showing up for work would require another excuse.

And considering the atmosphere at the Academy, it was better not to accumulate unnecessary problems.

The boarding school was starting to heat up. Haru had already learned that even his stupidest actions could have very real consequences there.

Next time he decided to drink, he’d do things differently.

He’d drink, go to work, and sleep on the job.

Yes. A perfect plan.

By the time he finished cleaning the stable, it was already nighttime.

Haru placed his hands on his hips and admired the results of his work.

The floor was clean, the straw had been replaced, and the tools were back in their proper places. Even the smell seemed slightly less offensive.

Slightly.

“Finally.”

It was time to head back.

And find out what the System actually wanted to tell him.

I wonder if it’s back.

Haru focused and summoned it.

[Awaiting Gamer’s decision.]

He stared at the message. Apparently, the System had no intention of giving him any more information until he accepted the update.

Haru crossed his arms.

So now I have to accept it to find out what’s on the other side.

He’d already decided what he wanted to do in this world. He needed to get stronger, understand the System, and figure out how to survive the game he’d been thrown into.

Just as he was about to tap the System, the bell rang.

Haru raised his head.

Dinner.

The System could wait. He needed to eat, take a bath, hear the latest Academy gossip, and organize his thoughts. If there was one thing he’d learned from recent events, it was that acting hastily didn’t always pay off.

Besides, he’d rather analyze the situation calmly than make another stupid decision out of anxiety.

He left the stable and headed toward the main building.

On his way to the boys’ dormitory wing, Haru noticed a considerable number of students moving in the same direction.

Their destination was obvious.

The cafeteria.

And with so many first- and second-year students gathering for dinner, the line was bound to be monstrous.

Haru smiled.

“Hehehe. But I’ve got connections.”

Kira was now the head of the cafeteria.

That meant he wouldn’t have to worry so much about the lines anymore. There was only one truly important question.

I hope they don’t run out of food before I get there.

He kept walking.

This time, he didn’t walk through walls, climb across ceilings, or use shadows to move around. He walked like a normal person, climbed the stairs like a normal person, and made his way down the hallway like a normal person.

It felt almost strange.

When he reached the boys’ dormitory wing, he noticed that some students had left their rooms to head to dinner. Others were leaning against their doorways, chatting before joining the rest.

As Haru passed, several pairs of eyes followed him.

Some students greeted him.

“Mazukashu!”

“Mazukashu!”

Haru slowed down.

…Huh?

He looked at the first student who’d greeted him.

Then at the second.

Mazukashu? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

The word sounded vaguely Japanese, but he didn’t remember hearing it before.

Are they trying to speak Japanese? Who even told them I’m Japanese?

Haru had no idea where they’d learned that. Maybe some student had heard one of his expressions and tried to imitate him.

Or maybe it was just another one of those absurd Academy mysteries.

He decided not to think too hard about it.

“Mazukashu!” he replied, raising a hand.

The students seemed pleased.

Haru kept walking.

I have no idea what I just said.

When he reached his room, he found it empty. Golden had already left.

The first thing Haru did was take a bath.

He needed to wash off the sweat, dust, and smell of the stable. After that, he took care of his personal hygiene as thoroughly as the situation demanded. Only when he was finished did he remember something else.

The bottle of alcohol… He went looking for it, found it, and discovered it was empty.

Haru stared at the bottle for a few seconds.

Then he closed his eyes.

Golden…

He didn’t need any further explanation.

His roommate had found the bottle and taken care of its contents.

He got dressed and prepared to leave.

The problem was that Haru didn’t exactly have a respectable wardrobe.

In fact, he barely had any clothes at all.

Between fights, explosions, drunken binges, and other circumstances he’d rather not remember, his clothes had developed a worrying tendency to disappear, get destroyed, or become unusable.

As a result, he almost always ended up wearing the cleaners’ uniform.

An orange jumpsuit, practical and durable.

Haru zipped it up to his chest.

Then he headed out to dinner.

The first thing Haru noticed when he entered the cafeteria was the line. It was enormous.

First- and second-year students stretched from the serving counter to an area near the entrance. With so many people gathered, the line seemed endless.

Nearby, numerous tables were occupied by students eating, chatting, and discussing everything from their classes to the results of various activities.

There was laughter, raised voices, cutlery clinking against plates, and the constant noise of dozens of overlapping conversations.

It was a school cafeteria.

A school cafeteria full of teenagers from noble families, future warriors, and people capable of summoning magic to solve their problems.

A potentially dangerous combination.

Haru studied the line.

Some students waited patiently for their turn. Others tried to take advantage of a gap, cutting in while pretending they were looking for someone or had suddenly remembered something urgent.

Some got caught, while others managed to get away with it. Everyone had their own strategy.

Haru, however, didn’t need such primitive strategies.

He picked up a plate and walked straight to the counter, completely ignoring the line.

Some second-year students looked at him.

It was rare to see a first-year student walk up like that, with such confidence.

Especially one wearing the orange uniform of the cleaning staff.

Haru reached the front and placed his plate on the counter beside the containers where the food was being served.

On the other side stood the students responsible for serving the food.

They wore work uniforms, aprons, and hairnets that concealed their hair. Some had masks covering their noses and mouths, a hygiene measure that also helped protect the food from contamination.

It was a job that required constant attention. They had to keep the utensils clean, control the portions, and ensure the food was distributed in an orderly fashion.

Naturally, that didn’t mean everyone was happy with their duties.

The second-year student standing in front of Haru looked at the plate.

Then he looked at Haru.

Finally, he shook his head.

“Again?!”

Haru blinked.

“Again what?”

The guy ignored the question and turned to his coworkers.

“I’m sick of this! Everyone thinks they can cut in line whenever they feel like it. I’m not serving anyone else until you people learn to respect the line!”

And before Haru could say anything, he closed the container holding the food.

Silence lasted for only a moment.

Then the cafeteria exploded.

“WHAT?!”

“Are you serious?!”

“I’ve been standing here for almost half an hour!” one student complained.

“Then serve us first!” another shouted.

“He just got here, and he wants to cut in line too!” another student called him out.

“I didn’t cut in line! I have an important reason!”

“Everyone has an important reason, you idiot!”

The complaints multiplied.

The students who’d tried to cut in line protested because the service had been interrupted. Those who’d waited patiently protested because they were being punished for something they hadn’t done.

The student in charge of serving the food stood motionless, his arms crossed.

He didn’t seem willing to give in.

Some students began threatening to file complaints. Others conjured small displays of magic, sparks appearing between their fingers. There were even a few who rested their hands on the hilts of their swords.