Academy (4)

Sitting at grand academy cafeteria, I eat my lunch at a single table. Don't ask why, I just don't have any friends to eat with.

Around me, many students are going about their activities. Most, of course, are here for lunch. Some others come to the cafeteria just to chat or to eat while studying. Of course, with their friends.

The academy has many cafeterias scattered across each department. So it's quite rare to encounter students from other departments. You can only meet students from other departments in the main cafeteria.

The main cafeteria is larger to accommodate many students from various departments. Not only that, it's not uncommon to see instructors and professors hanging out in the main cafeteria.

And here I sit alone at a single table amidst the hustle and bustle, enjoying the delicious monster meat. This meat is from a level E monster, the Herbaambulas Verdofurcatus, or commonly known as the Bisonas Meadowroamer.

This monster resembles a bison with circular horns. Its horns have some green ornamentation, and its fur also has a hint of green. Bisonas Meadowroamers usually live in groups with their herds and normal bison herds in high-fertility grasslands. And it is said that if you find a herd of these monsters in the grasslands, you'll surely find some herbal plants there.

Because the breeding cycle of Bisonas Meadowroamers is somewhat low, wild hunting in the grasslands is rare. The awareness of society here is high enough not to hunt monsters or animals with low breeding rates too often. They don't want to deplete high-quality food sources.

So, some wealthy nobles establish farms with the help of wizards. They establish farms in their names in several villages in the city and have the locals manage them. Of course, under the supervision of strong guards for security. Moreover, Bisonas Meadowroamers are level E monsters that ordinary citizens wouldn't be able to handle if accidents were to occur.

And these farms are not ordinary farms. These farms can enhance fertility and increase the breeding cycle of Bisonas Meadowroamers with the help of magical formations. It should be noted that these magical formations require periodic maintenance, which is not cheap. So ownership of such farms is quite impossible for ordinary citizens.

Besides sourcing from external farms, the academy itself has two farms in the academy's empty dungeons modified specifically for monsters as consumption needs. Those farms are the Bisonas Meadowroamer farm and the Cervus Silvanocantus farm, or commonly known as Dasosum Elkstride, which also has a low breeding rate. Dasosum Elkstride is a monster resembling the Megaloceros Giganteus that lived during the Pleistocene era on Earth. The difference lies in its fur, which has beautiful patterns.

Bisonas Meadowroamer and Dasosum Elkstride meat are provided twice a month in the academy cafeteria. And this luxury is enjoyed for free by academy residents.

"It seems I'm quite lucky this Monday."

As I peacefully eat and contemplate how the academy manages its luxurious farms, I notice a man running towards me from the corner of my eye.

My gaze falls on him. The man is slightly chubby and quite tall. His body proportions make him look normally chubby and not appear obese. His short hair is brown. He have face with chubby cheeks, and blue iris.

When he's in front of me, I focus on his anxious expression. Then suddenly he lowers his head.

"Good afternoon, Young Master! Please forgive me for being late!"

I recognize the man bowing in front of me. Not from the game, but from Edward's memory. This man is the second son of Baron Vetusarbor, Berkant Vetusarbor.

Berkant Vetusarbor is a student from the Knight department and is Edward's "servant" at the academy. Yes, Berkant is a victim of Edward's bullying.

- - -

[Berkant Vetusarbor]

Race: Human

Gender: Male

Age: 16

Familiarity: Acquainted, Bullied

Affiliation: Knight Department of Sveitmann Academy, Vetusarbor House, Yefilim Noble Club, ???, ???

Strength: 38

Defense: 42

Stamina: 51

Ability: ??

Mana: ??

General Stats Rating: ??? (±Skilled Warrior - Elite Warrior)

Trait: Coward, Stone Body, ???, ???

Note: Further approach needed to know stats in more detail and complete.

- - -

I grimace slightly when I see the Player's Eye, which isn't very useful if I don't know or rarely see the subject. Then I click my tongue.

At that moment, Berkant hears it and immediately prostrates himself.

"F-Forgive me, Young Master! P-Punish me as you wish!"

I'm taken aback by his reaction. Reflexively, I look around. Many students are watching me. But somehow, there's a satisfying feeling coursing through my body.

I quickly calm myself, stop eating, and approach Berkant, who is still prostrating. His body trembles uncontrollably. As I'm about to touch Berkant's shoulder, my hand becomes slightly heavy.

"Get up, I won't punish you," I say.

Berkant's face slowly lifts, and our eyes meet. Immediately, Berkant lowers his head again to the ground.

"F-Forgive me, Young Master!"

My eyelids twitch unconsciously. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, then exhale calmly. Convincing Berkant, who trembles in fear like this, seems to be quite troublesome.

I glance around. I can see us becoming the center of attention. And attention like this is truly unpleasant. What can I do? Being kind and showing my gentleness won't work. So, I'll use Edward's charm, firm and dominating.

"Get up and sit down!"

Berkant lifts his head again.

"B-But I-"

I interrupt Berkant's words firmly and loosen Arkium's restraint on the Arrogant Aristocrat trait slightly.

"You've made me lower my body, and you still continue to make a disgusting scene? Get up and sit down!"

Berkant's face hardens, and he quickly moves his body to stand up. He doesn't sit immediately, seemingly waiting for me to sit first. Seeing his body language, I sit back in my chair so he can sit down immediately and ease the attention around us.

As I sit, I don't see Berkant moving his body to sit in front of me. So, I glance at him, and he immediately obeys my command.

I sigh. People like this are somewhat difficult if not ordered firmly. Well, that's my fault in the first place, but whatever.

"Aren't you eating?"

I ask casually, pointing my fork at Berkant. As my question is thrown, Berkant looks at me with surprise.

"Y-Yes?"

Berkant asks again with an unsure tone, as if confirming my question. I sigh once again, and the hand and fork I aimed at Berkant slowly lower.

"I said, aren't you eating?"

I point the fork at Berkant again, squinting my eyes.

"Ah, n-no, Young Master," Berkant answers nervously.

My hand holding the fork hangs again. Then I continue eating.

"Why not? Have you had lunch?" I ask while cutting the meat.

"N-No," Berkant answers.

After Berkant answers, the atmosphere at our table becomes silent because I don't respond, and I continue eating.

'He's very afraid of me and seems to obey whatever I command. Well, no wonder. After all, I mean, Edward once threatened him.'

I get this from Edward's memories. The reason why Berkant is so afraid, besides being a coward and his low noble rank, is that I once threatened him using his younger sister. Yes, once again, it wasn't me, but Edward, ah whatever.

Berkant's sister, Linley, is a sweet and beautiful 14-year-old girl. Once, the Vetusarbor family visited the city of Sciendufer early last semester for some business that I don't know about.

When Linley visited the academy and Berkant brought his sister for a tour of the academy, unfortunately, Edward happened to find them together. Seeing Linley's beautiful appearance, Edward was interested in making Linley his 'collection'.

Even though Berkant was already a victim of my bullying at that time, Berkant remained silent while I talked to his sister. Because at that time, my rumors hadn't spread to the Vetusarbor area yet, and Linley, as an innocent young girl, was also interested in Edward's handsome appearance and fell for Edward's sweet words. And when Edward's words started to cross the line, Berkant immediately protected his sister from Edward's advances.

At that time, Edward just smiled, ended the conversation, and said sweet parting words. From then on, Edward bullied Berkant while threatening him with Linley.

'Although 14 years old is the legal age for official engagement here, and the age gap between Edward and Linley is only two years, I feel a little strange recalling that memory.'

Berkant remains silent and bows his head.

"If you haven't had lunch, why don't you just get it?"

My question breaks the silence. Berkant flinches slightly and answers nervously.

"I-I'm not hung-"

I interrupt the sentence he's about to say and stare sharply at Berkant.

"I don't care if you're hungry or not, just take your food."

Berkant immediately shuts his mouth and slowly rises to get his lunch at the counter. Before Berkant walks away, I speak to him.

"Oh, and don't forget to come back here. There's something I want to ask you."

Berkant stops and bows.

"O-Okay, Young Master!"

I nod and motion for him to go on with a raised hand.

As Berkant leaves, I look around once again. There are a few lingering stares of disgust directed at me. I glare back at them sharply and ignore them.

'This is annoying!'