"Surely, you can spare a portion of that, right?"

Ruvian’s expression did not change. Without a word, he drew the tray slightly closer to himself. His gaze met Arlok’s with intense coldness.

"No." (+20PP)

The refusal came flat and immediate. Whatever it may be, there was absolutely no chance he would surrender even a bite!

His stomach quietly grumbled again.

’If he still intends to take my food, then he may consider us enemies from now on.’

Silence lingered between them for a while.

Then Arlok smiled... and suddenly barked out a laugh.

"Relax, relax," he said, raising both hands in mock surrender.

"I’m not about to wrestle you for it. Geez."

The grin tugging at his lips made it clear he had been joking all along, though there was a certain roughness to his humor that could easily be mistaken for provocation.

"Still," he added, shaking his head with a chuckle, "that meal could start a small war in the lower classes. Don’t tell me some noble ended up misplaced in Class E?"

Horren moved uncomfortably beside him, not sure if laughing would be right, since the comment seemed a little rude, while Shima simply watched with no interest.

With a sigh, Ruvian picked up his utensils, he replied calmly.

"I’m not a noble. But this much is still within my means."

Arlok gave a short scoff, the sound rough and thick in his throat as he leaned back in his seat. His eyes flicked once more toward Ruvian’s face.

"So you’re rich, huh," he said, rolling his shoulders as if loosening tension from them. "Must be a good life. Eating like a lord."

’Rich, eh? Not so sure about that. But I have a strong backing. And having a strong backing... is a good life.’

Ruvian lightly smiled.

’I should have asked for her money way sooner.’

Shima, who had remained quiet until now, lifted a small spoon to her lips.

Resting on her tray was a simple bowl of warm barley porridge lightly sweetened with honey, accompanied by thin slices of stewed apple dusted with cinnamon.

Without lifting her gaze from the bowl, she spoke in a calm voice.

"You sound jealous. Are you that poor, Arlok? You haven’t ordered anything either. If you need some money, you can borrow it from this guy next to me."

Horren was shocked as Shima pointed her thumb at him.

"Huh? Me? Why me?"

Arlok snorted loudly at that, nearly choking on his own breath as he straightened in his seat.

"Jealous? Of that?"

He gestured toward Ruvian’s tray, then placed a hand against his own chest with exaggerated pride.

"You misunderstand, shorty. I am rich as well." He clenched his fist, then flexed his arm slowly. The muscles along his forearm tightened and shifted beneath his skin, the veins standing out clearly.

"I’m rich in muscle!"

"Also, I already had 15 eggs for breakfast, so I’m good," he declared confidently.

Arlok raised his other arm as well, giving a small pose as if presenting an achievement carved through effort alone.

Horren coughed softly into his hand.

"Wow, that’s a lot of eggs."

While Shima continued eating without showing any reaction at all.

Though she secretly said something.

"Muscle head."

Then, nonchalantly, she grabbed another bite.

"Hey, I can hear that." Arlok said.

Ruvian lowered his gaze toward his plate as he cut a slice of venison.

’Sometimes I forget that I’m still dealing with a bunch of teenagers...’

He brought the piece to his mouth, chewing slowly as the herb seasoning blended with the natural richness of the meat.

’But forget that... ah, this is so good.’

For a brief moment, the conversation faded into the background as he focused entirely on the meal before him.

He couldn’t deny it, the meal was heavenly!

Yerin, who had been quietly observing the exchange with interest, finally placed her cup down with a soft sound.

"I see, well then, Arlok... if you are so proud of those muscles," she said, her sharp eyes resting on Arlok with steady intent, "then we should spar. I also wish to know how strong you are."

Arlok’s brows lifted slightly, but the surprise quickly turned into a wide grin.

He leaned forward, resting both forearms on the table, clearly pleased by the suggestion.

"Bring it on," he replied without hesitation. "I am more than willing to fight someone from Class A."

Arlok lightly scoffed.

"The only reason I was pushed into Class B was because of those written examinations and all that troublesome nonsense. If it was only about strength... the result would be very different."

Horren lightly chuckled, he had been silent for a while, and seeing people talking, he wanted to talk as well, and out of the option... he weirdly felt that Ruvian was the easier one to go for.

"By the way, Ruvian... how was class in Class E? Eighty people in one class must be chaotic, right?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Shima shot him a look.

"Are you dense? Every class has eighty students."

"Oh, right," Horren said, backtracking. "I just meant... the environment’s probably different." He turned to Ruvian again. "So, how’s the teaching there? Any good?"

Arlok sighed, cutting in.

"You. Stop asking him pointless questions. You’re ruining the mood here."

Ruvian took a sip of his drink before responding.

"It’s not actually that bad."

Arlok pinched the bridge of his nose.

"And you. Don’t encourage him."

Shima replied. "And who are you to order people around?"

Yerin, noticing the conversation drifting toward a divide, smoothly redirected it.

"Anyway, I think we should use this as a chance to at least know each other a little. We don’t have to be best friends, but we’ll be teammates soon. It makes sense to understand each other a little, right?"

"Ah, that’s right."

"Sure. Fine by me."

"Sure."

’Not bad. As expected of someone from Class A...’

Seeing how Yerin managed to control the situation, Ruvian lightly smiled as he took another bite of his meal.

Finally, with her help the conversation gradually softened as they spoke about their schedules, their professors, and small daily occurrences.

The tension hadn’t entirely faded, but it was no longer suffocating.

However, it didn’t take long until a new tension descended, not between them, but descended upon the whole Dining Hall.

Clank!

A soft clatter and the quiet shuffle of a tray hitting the floor echoed.

Ruvian didn’t have to glance over.

His teammates’ reactions confirmed it before his eyes ever did. Yerin’s fingers had paused around her cup, grip tightening slightly.

Horren, normally carefree, had gone rigid, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. Arlok sat unnervingly still, his usual sharp-edged bravado dulled by the weight of the moment.

And Shima, always the most indifferent, had narrowed her eyes, a heavy tension settling in her shoulders.

As soon as the Dining Hall became quiet — so quiet... Ruvian knew what it was about.

’It seems like the dining hall event is finally taking place...’

Ruvian exhaled softly, putting his drink back on the table.

’I should get ready, as well.’

──────── ✦ ────────

[Chapter 134: Chaos in the Dining Hall (3)]

Plot Points= 18,450