If this were a novel, attending lectures would mark the true beginning of the academy story.
The subtitle probably would have changed to something related, too.
However, I wasn’t in a lecture hall right now—I was at the campus cafeteria.
‘I should have at least eaten something at the party yesterday…’
Thanks to Tridric doing things beside me that killed my appetite, I just wasn’t in the mood to eat.
As a result, since I had some bread around noon yesterday, all that’s passed through my throat has been water and coffee. What I ate was so lacking it’s almost funny.
No matter how little of an appetite I usually have, this is a situation where even I can’t help but feel hungry.
It’s really fortunate the campus cafeteria opens early in the morning.
If not, I would have had to attend morning classes on an empty stomach.
Especially considering that the first class is four straight hours of physical training, calling it a Nearly Dead Servant situation wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
‘Since I have to take that kind of class right now, if I don’t eat properly, my body won’t hold up, right?’
As I debated what to eat, I scanned the wall of the cafeteria packed full of food menus.
They said you could choose from dishes all over the world, and sure enough, there were plenty of names I’d never even heard of.
I was marveling at it, clicking my tongue in awe, when I spotted a dish name that seemed out of place on this menu.
‘Tom Yum Goong…? Isn’t that Thai food?!’
Even if this is a fictional world where historical accuracy doesn’t matter—
Even if it’s a ‘pseudo’-medieval fantasy with a European vibe, what’s a Southeast Asian dish doing on the academy cafeteria menu?
If this were a martial arts novel, it’d be like Artichoke Quesadilla showing up as Shaolin Temple food.
‘Don’t tell me that “all over the world” doesn’t refer to countries in this world, but to every country in the world I used to live in… Meaning, every country the original author knows about?!’
I doubt Senna, the author, set it up that way on purpose.
It probably turned out like this because they didn’t bother fleshing out the details.
Just like how people here use Korean and Hangul.
‘This is… not just a little, but incredibly confusing, but for me, it actually works out well, doesn’t it? I was starting to get sick of the food here anyway!’
I stopped carefully reading the text on the menu board and just rolled my eyes quickly.
And finally, I found it—a Korean meal.
There were actually quite a few options, but the one I picked was…
“I’ll order. The menu… Today’s Set Meal, please.”
Even as I said it, I wondered if this was really okay.
This isn’t some knights’ canteen, so why is a menu like that even here?
Even as I held the number tag the staff gave me and waited for my food, I couldn’t shake my dazed feeling.
“It actually comes out…?”
White rice, Bean Sprout Soup, Beef Bulgogi. And a tray loaded with Kkakdugi and all kinds of Namul Side Dishes.
As I received it, I muttered to myself without thinking.
Even though I was staring at such familiar, realistic food—
Because of the novel’s setting, it all felt so surreal.
I set the tray down on an empty table, sat down, and picked up my chopsticks.
It was only then that I realized, startled, that they’d given me chopsticks instead of a fork.
‘Is there anywhere outside the academy that serves Korean food? Or is this the only place you can get it?’
When I first found my novel in the library, I wondered if that was somehow connected to me coming to this world.
But now, I’m not sure. I’m starting to get confused.
Maybe there’s no connection or reason at all. Maybe things just exist in this world ‘just because.’
‘…Let’s not jump to conclusions without any evidence!’
No need to rush. I engraved that thought in my mind as I brought Korean food to my lips for the first time in two months.
It was a taste so familiar and welcome.
Maybe it was because I was tasting the flavors of home after so long.
As they say, even Mount Geumgang is best after a meal—maybe it’s okay to put off complicated worries for later.
“G-Good morning.”
Just as I was thinking I hadn’t had such a satisfying meal in ages, a nuisance showed up.
I didn’t even need to look up to know who it was, given the distinctive way he spoke.
“…Mm.”
From my analysis, Karbaldr is not the type of character to say “good morning.”
So I just picked up a bean side dish with my chopsticks, put it in my mouth, and nodded lightly.
Liolikin, taking my attitude as a matter of course, sat down in the seat across from me.
The tray he brought invaded my field of vision without permission.
Pulled Pork Club Sandwich, Buffalo Sticks, Wedge Potatoes, Frank Sausage, Macaroni Salad.
It was way too greasy and way too much for breakfast, and it didn’t even look particularly healthy from a nutritional standpoint.
‘But it’s none of my business.’
So I ignored it and focused on my own meal for a few minutes.
Maybe he couldn’t stand the silence or awkwardness, but Liolikin quietly started a conversation.
“S-So, Karbaldr-nim, w-what are you eating…?”
Looks like this is the only place where you can get Korean food. Judging by that question.
Since he gave me information, it’s only fair I return the favor with equivalent information. But going through each soup and side dish would be an act of kindness Karbaldr wouldn’t do.
So as a compromise, I just told him the name of the menu.
“Today’s Set Meal.”
“O-Oh, I didn’t know they had food like that. I always just eat what I’m used to…”
‘Is Liolikin just not interested in trying different foods?’
‘Or maybe, because he’s a novel character, he instinctively eats dishes that fit the world’s setting?’
I was curious for a moment, but it wasn’t something I could ask. It’s not like Liolikin would know the answer.
‘If I keep eating at the cafeteria and observing what other students eat, I’ll figure it out naturally!’
That’s the conclusion I came to as I quietly kept moving my chopsticks.
***
About a minute after the conversation stopped, Liolikin spoke up again.
“T-The tool you’re holding also looks r-really interesting. Do they give you that instead of a fork when you order that menu?”
“Ah! S-Speaking of which, Karbaldr-nim, after you finish eating, what class are you going to? F-For reference, I’m taking, uh, Basic Physical Training.”
I ignored the comment about chopsticks, but what followed was something I couldn’t ignore.
Because the “four straight hours of physical training” class I mentioned earlier was, in fact, the Basic Physical Training course.
No matter how I looked at it, Liolikin’s burly physique looked like he’d graduated from the basics long ago.
‘So why was he taking that class?’
“Don’t you not need to take that class? It looks like you’ve already mastered the basics.”
“T-Thank you for the compliment…! But, uh, the basics are the foundation, and physical training never really ends…”
Judging from his answer, persuading him to take another class with a few words was out of the question.
If I threatened him, he’d probably listen, but—
Even though I’m acting out the possessed character’s speech and personality, I don’t actually want to become someone like that for real.
So, I resigned myself to the reality that I’d be taking the same class as Liolikin.
“I signed up for that class too.”
“R-Really?! K-Karbaldr-nim, you did…?!”
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Y-You always said you hated sweating and all that. That it wasn’t elegant at all…”
“That’s why I signed up. I haven’t done any physical training up until now, so my stamina is pretty terrible. It’s better to be seen sweating while working out than to be seen exhausted and sweaty just from daily life, don’t you think?”
Truthfully, I debated it.
I thought maybe I could just do physical training alone during my own time—was it really worth using up a class slot for this?
But the conflict didn’t last long.
As soon as I picked up a pen to try and make my own training plan, I realized—
The only things I really know how to do by myself are running, squats, and burpees.
And maybe it’s because I’m still a first-year, but there weren’t many useful combat-related classes I could sign up for.
So, I decided it’d be better to take Basic Physical Training now and learn professional training methods, and then start self-guided workouts during my own time next year.
“Y-You look tired today too… If you’re worried about your stamina dropping, c-couldn’t it be from lack of sleep, not lack of exercise?”
“Maybe I’m not sleeping because I’m not getting enough exercise.”
“A-Ah…!! T-That makes sense.”
“……”
I might be going along with the conversation, but honestly, I have no intention of getting close to Liolikin.
So there’s nothing I really want to talk to him about.
Since the conversation had died and I was getting full, it was about time to get up.
“S-Since we’re going to the same class anyway, c-could you wait for me…?!”
“……”
I stood up and looked down at Liolikin.
‘Should I explain that I’m planning to stop by my room before heading to the lecture hall, or should I just snap at him and ask why I should wait for him?’
If I’m thinking like the possessed character, the latter is the obvious choice.
‘But he looks so pitiful, and he’s asking so meekly, it’s hard to be harsh… It just makes me feel like the bad guy.’
‘Maybe it’s because I saw him getting chewed out by Tridric yesterday.’
Even though Liolikin’s on the same side as the guys who bully others, so in the end, he’s no better.
He got on my nerves in a different way from Tridric, so I found myself frowning.
The moment a wrinkle formed between my brows—
“S-Sorry. I was being presumptuous… I’ll see you in class later.”
Liolikin quickly realized and apologized.
He immediately withdrew his request for me to wait.
‘Asking me to wait until I finish eating isn’t exactly presumptuous…’
But if I said that out loud, Karbaldr’s character would collapse.
And I don’t want to give this character in front of me any hope that we might become friends.
So I simply picked up my tray and left without a word.