Chapter 43 – If You Mess with Little Ellie, You’re Absolutely Fucked

Pina kept smiling throughout the club explanation.

Though I wasn’t sure she understood anything, she agreed, so I didn’t stop her.

Stella glared at me like I was trash, while Yurasia watched with a deeply troubled expression.

I feel like a con artist, but I’m not. I told Pina everything truthfully and let her stamp the form herself.

Her tail curled and ears drooped whenever Gevihenum came up, but a simple “I’m asking as your friend” resolved everything.

No violence or coercion involved. So my conscience is clear.

Slurp—I sipped my sixth mint-chocolate drink, glancing at Pina, who’d grown even quieter than usual, if that was possible.

She dozed, hugging her tail.

Twilight painted the sky outside. The bustling crowd had thinned by half, and the café’s energetic music had softened to gentle melodies.

6:30 PM.

Eight hours since we’d arrived. Finally, dinner time.

“Let’s go.”

“Oh, shall we?”

Yurasia, schedule complete, stretched luxuriously. Her previously lifeless eyes sparkled again, her melted expression reforming into a smile.

She must have been bored stiff.

“Mmm… five more minutes.”

Meanwhile, Stella still worked on schedules—not just hers, but Pina’s too.

After Pina indicated—well, wrote—that she wanted magic classes, Stella had immediately taken charge, insisting on helping properly.

Oddly, she wasn’t arranging shared classes. Their schedules showed entirely different courses.

Did she really feel that connected to Pina? She’s helping quite enthusiastically.

“That should do it… Perfect. As expected of me.”

Stella grinned triumphantly with a smug “Hmph!” before shaking the dozing Pina awake, speaking in her characteristic blunt manner.

“How dare you sleep while I’m helping you?”

“Eek!” Pina startled awake, hastily wiping drool from her chin.

“Here, look. From what I can tell, you belong in the beginner class, right?”

Nod nod

“Good. Now, starting with Magic Theory—”

Confident in her assessment, Stella launched into a detailed explanation while Pina nodded along, clearly still half-asleep and comprehending little.

Ten minutes later, Stella finally finished her explanation, and we could leave the café.

I could have left them behind.

But… After watching Pina stamp the form with her own blood, my inner triangle of conscience threatened to sharpen into a blade if I abandoned her.

Maybe it’s growing up in a warm household. Or living seventeen years in this body. Or this damned peaceful era.

Compared to my previous life, I’ve definitely gotten softer.

“Nngh…!”

I stretched my stiff body thoroughly.

Having only eaten cake and light bread for lunch, I felt empty. Tonight I’d feast on rice in pork bone broth with huge beef ribs and chicken legs.

I’ll eat until I’m about to burst.

“Mmm… sounds delicious. Let’s hurry to dinner.”

Just as I took a step—

“Eliarness!”

A voice I’d forgotten about rang out.

“…Oh please.”

“Hmm?! Did you miss me that much? Nyahaha!”

Clutching my hungry stomach, I turned.

Leona.

The Vice Principal approached, wearing her playful smile.

“Ah, Vice Principal…! G-Good evening…!”

“Hi, Yurasia. Hello hello.”

“V-Vice Principal…?”

“You’re…”

Leona’s bright smile froze momentarily before returning. “Nyahaha!”

“Stella Verheigen. Second place!”

“Eep… Yes! Hello!”

Stella hurriedly bowed, and Leona patted her back before turning to the last person.

“Pina!”

She opened her arms wide, beaming. Surprisingly, Pina returned an equally bright smile and ran into her embrace.

“Hehehe! Already making friends! Well done. You’ve got good taste in friends, don’t you?”

Everyone stared in shock at this warm interaction between the usually timid Pina and Leona.

I was surprised too.

Did they know each other already?

“Listen up, everyone. Don’t you dare bully Pina, understand?”

“Y-Yes! Of course!”

Yurasia answered forcefully while Stella stood dazed.

Leona glanced at each of them before fixing me with a sharp look.

“Especially you, Eliarness. Don’t you dare mess with our Pina, got it?”

“Why would I bully Pina?”

“You sure about that?”

“Of course. Right, Pina? We’re friends?”

Pina beamed and nodded vigorously. Despite Stella and Yurasia’s burning glares, I stood firm.

“See?”

“Well, if Pina says so. Anyway, all done here?”

“No.”

“Huh? What’s left?”

“Haven’t eaten dinner.”

“Let’s eat together!”

“…No.”

“Why not?!”

“You’ll just get noodles again. I can’t function when I’m hungry two hours later.”

Noodles weren’t bad. Actually, the ones Leona brought were delicious and filling at first.

But they digested too fast. Within two—no, three hours, I’d be weak with hunger.

Tonight, I absolutely needed meat.

“Oh? Then let’s get something else!”

“…I want meat.”

“Let’s get meat!”

“And chicken legs.”

“Sure!”

“Four of them.”

“As many as you want!”

Leona shrugged confidently.

After studying her for a moment—

“…Fine.”

I handed my card to Yurasia.

“Use this for dinner, then leave it at the Signia Hall front desk.”

A solution to avoid missing breakfast like this morning. The front desk maid could hold it, letting others eat when I’m absent and ensuring my breakfast access.

“Oh, um… yes, thank you…!”

Yurasia hesitated until I glared, then bowed and accepted the card.

Stella swallowed eagerly, excited for another free meal. Pina clasped her hands, eyes sparkling—perhaps her first group dinner.

***

Slurp-slurp

Damn noodles.

Slurp-slurp

Does this beastkin never tire of noodles?

Slurp-slurp

She’s eating with such gusto. Not that they taste bad, but still.

“…Haah.”

I sighed, staring at my noodles on the faculty training hall floor.

True to request, loaded with meat and chicken legs.

All submerged in the broth.

Leona’s order from the faculty dining hall—yesterday’s noodles plus beef and chicken.

How considerate.

Well, with meat added, it should be better than yesterday. I picked up my chopsticks.

“How’d you befriend Pina?”

Leona asked between her fourth and fifth bowls.

“Met in the illusion first day, ran into her this morning, talked a bit, became friends.”

Slurp

The meat definitely improved it.

Chewing the tender beef, I asked my own question.

“You two seem close. Known each other long?”

Mouth full of noodles, Leona shook her head.

“Nuh-uh. Jus’ met ‘er.”

“Awful friendly for new acquaintances.”

Buying her food, getting her in clubs, exchanging numbers—meanwhile she can barely look at me even as “friends.”

“Well, circumstances brought us together.”

Grinning “hehehe,” Leona signaled the topic closed and returned to her noodles.

I followed suit.

Nom nom

The chicken fell off the bone at a chopstick’s touch. No gamey taste, yet perfectly chewy. The beef-chicken broth’s depth and springy noodles clung pleasantly to tongue and gums.

Is the faculty dining hall secretly famous for noodles? Wonder if the student cafeteria’s are similar?

Slurp

Planning to try them tomorrow, I finished my bowl.

“Ahh… good meal.”

Leona finished her seventh bowl too. Patting her stomach, she stood immediately.

“Now, Student Eliarness, we’ll cover basics!”

I stood, watching her spread her hands.

“What’s this?”

“A hand.”

“Correct! And this?”

Her open palm clenched tight.

“A fist.”

“Right! When you close your hand like this, it becomes a fist.”

Walking within arm’s reach, she giggled.

“Today we practice dodging this fist.”

“…What?”

“Be careful—hit wrong and bones break!”

“What do you—”

Golden mana erupted from Leona’s fist. I instantly tightened my breath, raised my arms. Gritting teeth, I wrapped my arms in mana.

“Hey now. I said dodge.”

Then—

CRACK!

My guard shattered helplessly.

Stars exploded before my eyes.