The Luxurious Cafeteria

The moment Itozawa stepped into the cafeteria, it was as if he had entered a magnificent palace.

The entire floor was paved with Energy Stones. That alone wasn't especially surprising; after all, the dormitory was paved with them too.

But what shocked him most was that, in this cafeteria alone, he could see at least a hundred magic arrays with his ability.

Magic arrays were densely layered all around the cafeteria. To conceal their traces, they had even been made to follow the patterns of the Energy Stone tiles. If his ability weren't so unusual, he probably wouldn't have noticed them at all.

He had also more or less figured out that he could see through to the nature of these energies most likely because of his ability.

Still, he hadn't detected any Energy Fluctuation at the school gate. Was the school really that confident?

Putting aside his curiosity about the school for now, Itozawa looked around the cafeteria again.

Magic arrays were carved into every dining table, and they glimmered faintly in the light of the Energy Stones, as if they were alive.

What's more, the closer the tables were to the serving counters, the more effective their arrays seemed to be. The air around those tables seemed to contain more energy particles, allowing people to feel the nourishment of energy as they ate.

However, as his gaze swept across the cafeteria, he noticed that upperclassmen had already claimed the tables in the best spots.

Some of them were chatting, others enjoying their meals. They all looked confident and at ease.

Itozawa realized that these upperclassmen were clearly familiar with everything at the school, including how to use the cafeteria's magic arrays to enhance their abilities.

He found a table a little farther from the serving counters and sat down, secretly deciding that next time he would arrive earlier and try to get one of the tables with the most effective arrays.

At the same time, he wondered if there was any way to improve the magic array in his room, or if he could learn how to set up and use these arrays himself.

Only after Itozawa sat down did he remember that he hadn't ordered anything. But he wasn't willing to give up his seat.

After all, more and more people were coming into the cafeteria. Even if some couldn't figure out the secret of the seats, he couldn't bear the thought of someone claiming his spot by accident.

Fortunately, he soon spotted a solution.

At the edge of the table was not only a menu, but also an antique-looking Order Bell. The bell seemed unusual. It had no clapper, and its surface was covered in intricate runes, as if concealing some kind of magic.

Itozawa selected a Deluxe Set Meal from the menu, then cautiously tapped the Order Bell.

However, it made no sound at all, as if it were merely a decoration.

But the moment he touched the bell, he felt a subtle Energy Fluctuation ripple outward from its center like waves on water.

His gaze remained fixed on the Order Bell as he waited for something to happen.

Suddenly, it seemed as if something in the air warped, and a phantom slowly took shape beside him.

The Phantom Waiter wore a black uniform, its features indistinct, as if it were made of shadows. It appeared without a sound, preceded only by the ripples of energy.

The Phantom Waiter's appearance caught Itozawa by surprise. His eyebrows lifted slightly, and a glimmer of astonishment flashed in his eyes.

He watched as the Phantom Waiter extended an almost transparent hand, gently picked up the menu, and then vanished into the air like a wisp of smoke.

Before long, the Phantom Waiter appeared again. This time, it carried not only the menu but also a fragrant Deluxe Set Meal.

The Phantom Waiter gently set the meal on his table, its movements graceful and silent, then vanished again as if it had never been there.

Itozawa curiously tasted the Deluxe Set Meal and immediately sensed that it contained abundant energy. The meat and vegetables seemed unlike ordinary ingredients; the energy they gave off made him feel invigorated, though he couldn't immediately tell why.

Just then, a voice suddenly sounded beside him.

"You seem pretty pleased with that meal," Kanzaki said, his keen gaze seeming to see right through Itozawa's thoughts.

Itozawa looked up and saw Kanzaki sitting in the seat beside him. He was a little surprised; he didn't remember seeing him there just now. But he quickly regained his composure.

"Actually, this meal is rich in energy, but I haven't figured out what makes these ingredients different from ordinary ones."

Kanzaki nodded, seemingly pleased by Itozawa's observation. "These ingredients are all grown in special environments. They've absorbed the essence of the Energy Stones, so they're rich in energy." He explained, apparently not minding sharing the information.

Curious about Kanzaki's explanation, Itozawa pressed him. "Special environments? How do you know all this?"

Kanzaki smiled faintly, a sly glint in his eyes. "I know more about this school's secrets than you might think." He paused, then continued, "But I'm just as interested in your secrets. For instance, why does my Mental Probe Stone come up empty when I use it on you?"

Kanzaki hadn't sat down beside him by chance. He had already been using his Mental Power to cloak himself and conceal his presence.

Just as he'd expected, Itozawa hadn't noticed him at all. His Mental Power defense didn't extend beyond his body; it existed only within his Mind Sea. That was nearly impossible.

That was why he wanted so badly to know the reason—not only because he was curious about Itozawa's ability, but also because knowing the cause would help him conceal himself better.

Itozawa fell silent for a while, then slowly replied, "My ability may be somewhat different from your Mind-Type Ability. It's more focused on defense and self-protection." He didn't reveal many details, but gave Kanzaki a reasonable explanation.

Kanzaki looked at him steadily, then nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer.

He stood up to leave. "Good. Itozawa, I hope we can become friends. After all, at this school, understanding each other's abilities would benefit us both."

Itozawa found it a little strange. Why had Kanzaki come over so suddenly, only to leave just as suddenly?