The jams brought by Professor Thunderstep had the power to restore one's spirit and soul.
Strawberry jam, raspberry jam, fig jam—students slathered these generously on bread and ate with expressions as if they were drunk.
"Tsk tsk," Professor Thunderstep looked at the first-year students with pity.
As a professor of this magic school, he knew well how tough it was for the newcomers.
While the upperclassmen could go out, the freshmen had to endure within these walls...
"Eat as much as you can now. You won’t be able to eat like this for a while."
"Thank you, Professor!"
Thick, well-cooked meat, sweet jams, and buttered bread.
The scenery of a flowing spring and good friends added to the joy.
Everyone ate and drank happily.
While the freshmen ate their fill and caught their breath, Professor Thunderstep busied himself with cleaning up.
"... Wait. Why is one jar of jam missing?"
"Sorry, Professor."
"......"
Seeing Yi Han shamelessly pull out a jar of jam from his cloak, Thunderstep was at a loss for words. 'These freshmen are truly something else!'
The size of the pig, enlarged by magic, was more impressive than expected.
Even after eating their fill and smoking as much as possible, there was still a lot of meat left.
Professor Thunderstep even took a few pieces to hang in his cabin.
"What should we do with this?"
"Professor, is there a way to preserve this?"
Yi Han asked Thunderstep, who nodded in response.
"There is."
"!"
"Use ice magic to freeze it."
"......"
"......"
The freshmen glared at Thunderstep.
They couldn’t even properly cast <Light Creation> and had to practice with the troll professor next time.
How were they supposed to use ice magic strong enough to freeze meat?
"Is there any other way?"
"There is."
"What is it?"
"Summon an ice spirit for help. By the way, I can do both."
"......"
"......"
The freshmen exchanged glances and silently agreed. 'Let’s not ask that professor anymore.'
'Agreed.'
Thunderstep seemed to notice and cleared his throat.
"Sorry, but at your level, you won’t be able to preserve all this meat."
"Could you cast the magic for us, Professor...?"
At Nylia’s words, the dwarf professor flatly refused.
"That wouldn’t be fair."
"Hmm... Can I share it with friends?"
Nylia asked, looking at Yi Han and Yonell.
Since they had caught the pig together, she needed their permission.
"It’s your share, so do as you please."
"Right."
"Th-thank you."
Nylia blushed slightly, touched by their consideration.
Though she hadn’t yet become close with the other students, giving such a gift of meat to hungry friends would be a great opportunity to bond.
As the saying goes, 'The one who shares food when you’re hungry is your friend.'
Nylia suggested, trying to hide her awkwardness.
"How about you two share as well?"
"Oh... for money?"
"That’s actually a great idea!"
Yi Han and Yonell were impressed by Nylia’s suggestion.
Nylia panicked and waved her hands.
"No, I didn’t mean money..."
"Exactly. Most students in the Blue Dragon Tower are wealthy. Sharing food with them and getting a little money in return wouldn’t hurt."
"Right! We’re just being kind to our friends."
Yonell nodded in agreement with Yi Han.
Some noble students might react with, 'How disgraceful! What kind of behavior is that?' But the two nobles here were very practical people.
Yi Han, who believed in 'Work hard, eat well, and live well.'
Yonell, who wanted to 'Save every coin for his alchemy workshop.'
The two shook hands with a shared understanding.
Of course, there was still someone sane.
Nylia asked in disbelief.
"... Are you really going to sell food to your friends for money?"
"Want to join?"
"No!"
At Yi Han’s question, Nylia stomped her feet.
"That’s just... not right!"
"Nylia, think about it. If they just take it without giving anything, wouldn’t their pride be hurt?"
"Right. We’re just looking out for our friends."
"......"
Though the two nobles made it sound noble, Nylia wasn’t fooled.
"... I’ll just give it as a gift."
"Do as you please, Nylia. But you might regret it."
"Right, Nylia. Friendship might fade, but gold coins remain."
"Do you really think they’ll consider you friends?"
"Of course they might. But there’s a better way. Gold coins..."
"I’m not listening, so both of you be quiet!"
Professor Thunderstep, sitting on a chair in front of the cabin sipping coffee, shook his head as he listened to their conversation.
'Those three are going to be a handful if they stick together.'
The freshmen had come from all over the empire, so there were all kinds of students.
These three were talented and passionate, but... they also had the makings of troublemakers.
The arrogant Blue Dragon Tower.
Located far from the main building of Einrogard, the dormitory greeted the freshmen with the refreshing scent of a forest that seemed to be inhabited by spirits.
Even students who had grown weary of the dry and barren meals softened their expressions upon breathing in this air.
"...?"
But today, the air was different.
The sizzling sound and the mouth-watering smell of roasting meat filled the air.
"Hey, everyone, did you eat well?"
"What a great dinner!"
"...???"
"????"
The students who came out were startled to see a tall boy and a red-haired girl waving at them.
They were the freshmen from the Wodanaz and Meikin families.
And what they held in their hands were meat tongs.
Crackle, crackle—
Yi Han added firewood to the bonfire under the iron plate.
The thickly sliced meat sizzled as it cooked.
The sound and smell made someone’s stomach growl.
Gulp—
"Come on, everyone, eat up. We caught this for you."
"R-really?! Is that true?!"
The freshmen’s eyes widened as they exclaimed.
Though they were from prestigious noble families, they were still just boys and girls.
A barbecue party like this was too tempting when they were on the verge of starvation.
"Sure. Just one imperial silver coin each."
"One imperial silver coin?"
In the villages outside, such grilled meat could be had for two or three copper coins.
But here, in this isolated school, there was no competition, so even charging three times the price was acceptable.
"That’s it?! Isn’t that too cheap?"
"Haha. Do you think we’re doing this to make money off you? We just thought it’d be awkward if you ate for free."
"Right, right."
Yi Han and Yonell spoke with kind smiles.
The students were moved.
Truly, nobles from great families were different.
Who would have thought they’d be so generous? In such a hungry and tough situation, most would eat alone, but these two had prepared an iron plate and a bonfire to share with their friends!
"Wodanaz...!"
"Meikin...!"
"Come on, the meat’s going to burn. Hurry up and pay, then eat."
"Wait, I don’t have any silver coins."
"Me neither."
The Blue Dragon Tower students hesitated.
They had entered the school with almost nothing, so how could they have money? Yi Han, with a reassuring expression, handed out paper and quill pens.
"Just write down the amount and your name, then sign. No need to bother paying now; we’ll settle it all at once."
"Really...! Wodanaz, you’re a genius!"
"Such a convenient method!"
Scribble, scribble—
The students, driven by hunger, were a bit less intelligent.
They hastily signed and rushed to the iron plate.
Chomp, chomp!
Yi Han rolled up the papers and tucked them into his pocket, then looked at the scene with satisfaction.
'I didn’t think business would go this well.'
Some might ask why he’d go to such lengths for a few coins, but money was something you had to earn when you could.
Besides, a silver coin wasn’t exactly small change.
If you dug the ground, you wouldn’t even find a copper coin, let alone a silver one.
If the freshmen remained unable to go outside, Yi Han’s pockets would grow fat.
"Palliek, instead of forcing yourself to eat cold rice balls, you can stir-fry rice with meat grease on this iron plate..."
"You... you’re a genius, Wodanaz?"
"Just a bit of life wisdom."
Yi Han patted the students’ shoulders.
Having received silver coins, this much was a service he could provide.
The students, stuffing their mouths with cooked meat, looked so grateful that if there were an election for first-year representative, they’d unanimously vote for Yi Han.
"Wodanaz! Wodanaz! Wodanaz!"
"Meikin! Meikin! Meikin!"
The noble students chanted their family names with mouths full.
Hearing the cheers, Gainando, who had come down late, asked with wide eyes.
"Wh-what’s going on??"
"Ah, Gainando. You’re here? Want some meat?"
"What?! There’s meat?? Really??"
Gainando was about to rush out, but Yi Han grabbed his shoulder.
"Why?!"
"One silver coin."
"... You’re charging money?"
"If we give it for free, everyone’s pride would be hurt."
"That’s true. But I don’t have any money right now..."
"Just write down the amount and your name, then sign."
"Yi Han...!"
Gainando looked touched.
Who knew he could be so kind? True friendship really was found in school.
Thanks to the sudden barbecue party, the students of the Blue Dragon Tower looked a bit healthier.
But that didn’t make the boring lectures any more enjoyable.
Seeing the title of the required course, <Basic Magical Ethics Education>, the students frowned.
"Ethics education? What do they take us for?"
"Isn’t this something the lower classes should learn? Do nobles like us, who know honor, really need to learn this?"
"Exactly. I can’t believe this."
'These guys really have a knack for complaining in the most annoying way,' Yi Han thought to himself.
If students from other dorms were here, a fight might have broken out over such remarks.
The surprising thing was that they weren’t saying this out of malice.
It was pure, innocent nonsense!
"......"
"......"
The telepathic magic drilling into their heads made everyone’s faces turn cold.
It wasn’t the magic—the voice was all too familiar.
'No way...'
"Hello, you iron-headed fools!"
"......"
The classroom door didn’t open.
Instead, a giant skeleton appeared with a poof from the ceiling.
It was the academy’s headmaster, Osso Gonadaltes.
"Isn’t life at the new academy fun? Living within the walls of your family, then trying things out on your own—it’s thrilling, isn’t it?"
Of course, no one answered.
The lich headmaster looked around and seemed surprised.
"Look at this. You must’ve eaten something. I thought it’d take over a month for you to move around!"
"What do you mean? Were we supposed to find food on our own?"
"Yes. I told you to figure it out, didn’t I?"
"Was that what you meant? Why do we have to do this...?"
"—Silence!"
"Eek!"
The student who raised their hand fell silent.
The lich headmaster nodded his skull with satisfaction, the eerie clattering sound echoing.