At around 11:30 a.m., the senior students with silver badges entered the guardroom.
Gopi turned to me.
"Zeon, your exam has been scheduled. Come out."
"Yes!"
"I believe you'll do well. Stay confident."
"Thank you."
Other seniors with silver badges also offered words of encouragement.
"Go, Zeon!"
"Don't be too nervous, just relax."
I followed the seniors out of the clubroom and walked toward the square. Jazlyn was seated in the pavilion in the square.
My silver badge seniors and I bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle, as if we had rehearsed it.
"Greetings to the beautiful Jazlyn!"
Jazlyn glanced at us briefly before turning her attention back to the table.
"As I mentioned before, lunch is your test."
Phat!
Someone slapped me on the rear, and when I turned around, it was Joen.
"Hey. If you fail this test, you will be stuck in your 20s. If you pass, I'll treat you to some bread."
" What's that supposed to mean?"
"Are you feeling more relaxed now?"
I think Joen slapped me to ease my tension.
"Thanks to you, it's all gone."
"Glad to hear it. Want me to hit the other side too?"
"No, it's fine."
Before long, we arrived in front of Jazlyn.
Jazlyn gestured to the chair across from her with her fan.
"Zeon, please sit down."
From this moment on, I had to display perfect manners.
"Jazlyn, thank you for granting me the honor of sitting before you."
I gently pulled the chair out, making sure not to make any noise, and then sat down. Holding the seat with both hands, I slightly lifted the chair and pulled it closer to the table. The key is to avoid any sound of the chair scraping against the floor.
Jazlyn pointed to a copper badge with her fan.
"Bring the food."
The copper badges retrieved warm cream soup, tomato spaghetti, morning bread, spoons, forks, napkins, and other items from their subspace rings and placed them before Jazlyn.
"Eat."
"Thank you for inviting me to such a luxurious meal. I will enjoy it."
Jazlyn watched my every move with sharp eyes.
I first unfolded the napkin and placed it on my lap. The purpose of the napkin is to prevent food from falling on your lap and staining your clothes.
In Western dining, it's customary to start with the soup to warm the stomach. I picked up the wide soup spoon, scooped up a spoonful of soup, and gently brought it to my lips, testing the temperature. It was a bit hot, so I held the spoon and waited for it to cool. Blowing on the soup to cool it down is considered rude.
After waiting for about five seconds, I sipped the soup. The cream was rich and sweet, likely due to high-quality milk. I continued to eat the soup, one spoonful at a time, neither too fast nor too slow. The spoon and bowl did not make any clanging sounds.
Jazlyn ate her soup at the same pace, finishing just as I did.
At the same time Jazlyn took a sip of lemon water from her cup, I also took a sip. Lemon water refreshes the palate between courses and is a sign of consideration to fully appreciate the food that was carefully prepared.
Next up was the tomato spaghetti on the plate. Spaghetti can be tricky to eat since it requires only a fork. Most nobles learn how to eat spaghetti with a fork from a young age.
I twirled the noodles with the fork, gathering them at the edge of the plate before carefully spinning the fork to roll the noodles. If you collect too many noodles, they won't wind properly and won't fit in one bite, so you must gather them in moderation. Soon, I had a bite-sized portion of noodles rolled up on my fork.
I brought the fork to my mouth, tasting the tomato sauce-covered noodles and chewing. The rich aroma of tomatoes and basil filled my senses. When chewing, one must keep their lips closed and avoid showing their teeth.
Jazlyn, watching closely, pushed a small dish of cheese powder toward me.
"This is cheese powder. It pairs well with tomato spaghetti. Give it a try."
When a superior offers you food, it's impolite to refuse. Of course, you must eat according to proper etiquette.
"Thank you, Jazlyn."
On Earth, people might sprinkle cheese powder over the noodles with a fork. However, here, you scoop the cheese powder with a spoon and then transfer it to the fork that's already holding the rolled noodles before eating. The key is to only use the fork when bringing it to your mouth.
Following etiquette, I ate the noodles with the cheese powder. Since speaking while eating is discouraged, I chewed and swallowed everything before rinsing my mouth with lemon water and then shared my thoughts.
"The creaminess of the cheese and the freshness of the tomatoes harmonize beautifully, making the noodles even more delicious. It's like hearing a heavenly melody."
"Very good. Now, let's test your religious knowledge. Tell me about the Church of the Sun."
"Solarism is a religion that worships the Goddess of the Sun. It was chosen as the state religion by the Adrian Empire and has the largest number of followers on the continent."
"Correct. Where is the headquarters of the Church of the Sun?"
"It's located in the city of Berkon, north of Brisen City."
"Even though it's the largest religion, why is its headquarters in Berkon City instead of the capital, Brisen?"
"Ever since the first warrior chosen by the Sun Goddess founded the Adrian Empire, the Church of the Sun grew in power. The headquarters was originally in Brisen City. But when the 8th Emperor ascended the throne, the Church of the Sun reached its peak power and became corrupt, amassing wealth and manipulating power rather than serving the Goddess. The Pope of the Church of the Sun planned a rebellion to overthrow the emperor and turn the Adrian Empire into a theocracy. Fortunately, the 8th Emperor was wise and acted first, mobilizing his army to capture the Church leaders and their supporters, executing them for treason. Afterward, the 8th Emperor enacted laws separating politics from religion and moved the headquarters of the Church of the Sun to Berkon City in the north."
"Why did they choose Berkon City?"
"The Church of the Sun has its own powerful force to enforce its faith, including priests, paladins, and inquisitors, all concentrated at the headquarters. To the north lies the Demon Kingdom, and Berkon City is just above Brisen. If demons from the Demon Kingdom were to invade, they would have to pass through Berkon City before reaching Brisen. The 8th Emperor moved the Church's headquarters to Berkon City to use it as a shield, protecting Brisen from the Demon Kingdom."
Clap, clap, clap.
Jazlyn clapped her hands and praised me with a satisfied tone.
"Very precise. Excellent."
"Thank you for your guidance, Jazlyn."
"You've passed the religious test. Now, let's finish the spaghetti."
"Thank you."
After finishing the noodles, only the pasta sauce remained on the plate. I tore the morning bread with my hands, lightly spread it with the sauce on the plate, and put it in my mouth. The buttery flavor of the bread combined with the tomato sauce created a savory taste. Bread should only be eaten with your hands, and you should ensure the plate is clean, with no trace of food left behind.
Before I knew it, I had finished everything, including the sauce and bread. I placed my fork and spoon neatly on the plate in an 11-shaped pattern and then placed both hands on my knees.
"It was a delightful meal."
This is the proper etiquette for eating tomato spaghetti. For someone from Earth, particularly Korea, the complexity might seem overwhelming. But in this world, noble etiquette is ingrained from childhood, and those from noble families are well-versed in it.
Jazlyn smiled, satisfied.
"You've passed the dining etiquette as well. Ho ho ho. You've earned your silver badge with pride. As a reward, I shall grant you the honor of dining with me."
"I am deeply honored."
"SS, give Zeon a round of applause."
Following Jazlyn's order, the entire SS clapped for me.
Clap, clap, clap!
Gopi and Joen smiled at me, their expressions full of trust.
Jazlyn then said, "Now, let's rise."
I stood up slowly, ensuring the chair didn't scrape the floor.
Once everyone was standing, Jazlyn pointed her fan at me.
"You must have been preparing tirelessly for this test. I command you to rest until Sunday."
In this situation, it's customary to refuse at least once.
"It's alright! Serving Jazlyn brings me joy and relaxation!"
"Hehe. I know that, too. But both your mind and body need rest. Go and take a break. That's an order."
"I am overwhelmed by Jazlyn's consideration! Thank you!"
"Good. You may go now."
I bowed at a 90-degree angle with a regretful expression, then walked away from Jazlyn, trying my hardest to suppress my laughter.
'Uhehehe! Freedom! I'm a free man!'
I ran until I reached a spot where Jazlyn couldn't see me.
'Let's get out of here before they call me back! Puhehehe!'
Having passed the test on my own, I felt proud and happy. Today, I want to enjoy myself as much as I can.
"Maybe I'll take a walk outside today."
I passed through the main gate of the Academy and ventured onto the streets of Brisen City.
"It's been a while since I've gone for a walk alone. Not bad at all. Sometimes, a man needs some time to himself."
As I strolled down the bustling streets, I found myself drawn to a large magic tool store. Curiosity piqued, I stepped inside.
"Welcome!" The employee greeted me with a deep bow.
"Is there something specific you're looking for?"
"I'm interested in adult magic tools."
"Ah... those can be found on the third floor."
I made my way upstairs, where an array of adult magic tools was on display-everything from dildos of various shapes and sizes, to onaholes, urethral tubes, and anal plugs.
The employee began explaining, "This store boasts the finest adult magic tools in all of Brisen City. We can cater to any desire."
"Do you have a magic tool that emits a weak medicine from... you know, down there?"
"Ah! That's a popular request among noble men. We do have weak condoms that fulfill that function."
"I'm not a fan of condoms."
"Unfortunately, we don't have a magic tool that ejects a weak medicine from a bare... well, but we do have potions that can achieve that effect. Would you like one?"
"Give me ten of the best quality."
"Understood!"
While the employee went to retrieve the potions, I browsed the shelves, my shopping cart gradually filling up.
"A weak urinary catheter? That could be interesting. A vibrating dildo? I can work with that. Oh, what's this? An elongated vibrating anal plug? Definitely possible. A flexible urethral plug? This... could be fun with a partner. An enema syringe? Wow... intriguing. A medical anal speculum? This is for, well... examination purposes. And they even have a urethral speculum? The possibilities... endless!"
As I continued adding items to my cart, the employee returned with a box containing the potions.
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