Lunch

Suye glanced at the other students at the table. Rolon walked out carrying his battle spear, while Albert, who rarely spoke, slowly made his way toward the exit along the wall.

Only Pallas, the Blue-Eyed Girl, was still studying earnestly.

Suye had originally intended to leave directly, but then remembered that this poor girl might not be able to speak. He pressed his middle and index fingers together, lightly tapped the edge of the table, and said, "It's time to eat. Take proper breaks and relax appropriately. Your study efficiency will improve if you manage your energy well. If you're unfamiliar with the academy, you can send a Magic Letter to ask a teacher or another female student."

Suye had always practiced Energy Management back on Blue Star, which was why he had given up reading without hesitation just now.

Before Pallas could look up, Suye picked up his Magic Book and left the classroom with Hote.

Pallas fell into deep thought.

"What does Energy Management mean?"

After thinking it over, Pallas realized that she had risen to her feet without even noticing.

The classroom was already empty. Only a female mage stood at the doorway.

The mage smiled and said, "Your Highness Pallas, I'll accompany you while you familiarize yourself with the academy."

Pallas nodded lightly. She still said nothing as she tucked her Magic Book under her arm and walked toward the female mage.

The cafeteria of Plato Academy was bustling with noise.

The entire cafeteria was a marble building nearly half the size of a stadium. There were no ornate decorations inside; countless long tables and chairs were arranged in neat rows, and students from every year, along with the teachers, ate there.

As soon as Hote and Suye entered, they were greeted by countless gazes.

"Hey, Hote!"

"Good afternoon, big guy!"

"Don't forget about the Private Tournament in a few days!"

Hote grinned and nodded at everyone.

Suye finally felt how popular Hote was. Repeating a year for five years really did have its benefits.

The two found a pair of empty seats and each began flipping through a Magic Book.

Suye suddenly felt an indescribable sense of familiarity, then raised his head and swept his gaze across the cafeteria.

Everyone was staring at the Magic Book in front of them.

"I feel like I've seen this scene somewhere before. A bunch of... Magic-Addicted Youth?"

Suye smiled. With a thought, today's cafeteria menu appeared on the page.

Suye had not expected Plato Academy's food to be so good.

Even a wealthy family in Athens City could only eat non-seafood meat once or twice a month. Here, aside from beef, pork, mutton, chicken, and all kinds of other meat were available without limit.

From the corner of his eye, Suye saw Hote swipe his finger from top to bottom across the menu.

Suye turned his head and saw that Hote had ordered every dish—at least enough food for ten ordinary people.

Suye helplessly shook his head. Drawing on his experience from Blue Star, he sensibly chose a lunch suitable for himself.

People tended to get sleepy at noon, so they had to eat less staple food containing large amounts of carbohydrates, while eating somewhat more meat, fish, and vegetables to avoid their blood sugar rising too quickly.

After ordering his meal, Suye suddenly heard a commotion outside.

"Damn humans! Not only do you enslave us, you also make us watch helplessly as our people's corpses are sent to the dining tables!"

"Pig Goblins will never submit!"

"Overthrow Plato Academy!"

"Defeat the evil mages!"

Suye turned to look and saw Pig Goblins entering through the doorway in a line, each balancing a tray on its head and grunting as it walked. There were more than thirty of them.

These goblins were only half a meter tall. Their outlines resembled humans, but they were covered in coarse black hair.

However, their heads were completely different from those of ordinary humanoid goblins. They had pig-like faces and brains, resembling hybrids of Magic Pigs and goblins.

Hearing the goblins' chants, the first-year students panicked.

"Hahahaha..." The older students burst out laughing.

"You don't need to be afraid. Pig Goblins just like to brag. If it really came to a fight, they'd be more frightened than anyone."

"After they finish delivering the food, you can find a Pig Goblin and try scaring it. Just don't try it now, or they'll drop their trays and run away."

Suye noticed that a few Pig Goblins did not chant slogans. Instead, they secretly sized up the students, ready to flee at any moment.

The Pig Goblins continued forward with the trays on their heads. Whenever they approached someone who had ordered food, the Magic Tray would emit a beeping sound.

Then the Pig Goblin would let go. The Magic Tray suddenly extended four long legs downward, climbed onto the table like a mutated crane, and settled in front of the person who had ordered it. Finally, the legs retracted beneath the tray.

Curiosity gleamed in the eyes of the first-year students.

After delivering the meals, the Pig Goblins hurried outside, complaining as they ran.

"Humans can eat way too much!"

"We have to take them down!"

"Right, take them down."

Suye watched the little tails swishing behind the Pig Goblins and shook his head with a smile.

Before long, this batch of Pig Goblins came trotting back with new trays balanced on their heads.

"Damn, this is exhausting!"

"These damned humans—we haven't even had lunch yet."

"I really want to sneak a bite..."

A teacher's expression darkened as he shouted, "Don't use foul language in front of the new students!"

The more than thirty Pig Goblins immediately bent over, shut their mouths, and continued forward in silence, without a trace of their earlier spirit.

Even their pig tails drooped limply.

The cafeteria finally grew much quieter, and the students chatted while eating.

"I wonder when the second-years' Demon Hunting Trial will begin."

"For the next City-state Tournament, someone from our academy should participate. I wonder which nobles will compete for first place."

"Next year won't be easy. I heard Persia has already sent out its troops."

"I heard Lord Heracles defeated another powerful Demigod Magic Beast. He really is incredible. When he was merely a hero, he slew Hero Beasts; now that he is only a hero, he can kill Demigod Magic Beasts. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll be granted the title of Hero King before advancing to demigodhood."

"Do you think Hote can advance to Warrior Apprentice this year?"

"I think it'll be difficult."

"I think there's a chance!"

Suye was stunned to discover that the entire cafeteria's conversation instantly converged when Hote was mentioned.

Almost everyone was speculating about whether Hote could advance to Warrior Apprentice that year.

Hote looked completely carefree as he listened with a grin.

"Big guy, yours is here!" a Pig Goblin shouted loudly, making no attempt to conceal its resentment.

Then Suye witnessed a spectacular sight. Ten trays extended long legs, leaped onto the table in front of Hote, and filled it completely.

Only then did Suye understand why no one sat beside or across from Hote.

Next, Suye's tray jumped up, retracted its legs, and settled neatly in front of him.

Slurp, gulp, crunch...

Hote had already begun eating and drinking ravenously.

Suye looked at the dishes in front of him: a serving of fried eel, a braised chicken leg, a palm-sized roasted pork chop, a mulberry sausage, a bowl of thick vegetable soup, a serving of fried mushrooms, a boiled egg, and a slice of wheat bread.

Suye normally could not eat this much, but after discovering that his body had grown stronger, he had deliberately ordered a little extra to test his current appetite.

Suye followed local customs and ate directly with his hands, but inwardly he kept reminding himself that he had to invent tableware as soon as possible.