"All right, everyone. You may return to your dormitories or continue with your activities," Ronald said.

He then turned and walked down from the stage.

The students quickly dispersed, beginning their first morning at the academy.

Some returned to their dormitories, while others trained, visited the academy café, or went about other activities.

Merlin turned to Luna and asked, "You haven't had breakfast yet, right?"

"No," Luna replied, shaking her head.

"Then let's go to the academy cafeteria. Coincidentally, I want to try the breakfast there," Merlin said as he took her right hand.

In the novel, there were several scenes where the main character enjoyed meals in the academy cafeteria with the heroines.

Since Michiku-sensei was known for describing situations in great detail, the food eaten by the main character and the heroines was portrayed vividly.

Merlin wanted to try it for himself, to see whether it really tasted as good as described in Michiku-sensei's novel.

Luna didn't refuse. She wrapped herself around his right arm and said softly, "Let's go."

After the two left, a girl slowly emerged from behind the distant trees.

She stared in the direction Merlin had gone, her brows tightly furrowed.

'Merlin, you're really too much! Again and again, I see you with other girls. Just wait—I'll make you pay for this… Humph!'

***

"Is this the cafeteria area? Wow, it's huge!" Merlin muttered in amazement.

It was as large as two volleyball courts, with rows of food shops neatly lined up.

Each shop offered a variety of dishes, giving the students plenty of options to choose from.

"I heard you need contribution points to eat here. How are we supposed to pay for it?" Luna asked, puzzled.

Merlin chuckled softly and pulled out his ID card, showing it to her.

"As new students, we get contribution points when we receive this card. If I remember correctly, each student gets fifty thousand points—enough to last for three months," he explained.

He had learned this from the novel and also from what Linda had told him yesterday.

Luna's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected something like this to actually exist.

"Then let's go."

Without waiting for a reply, Merlin took Luna's hand and led her toward one of the shops on the right.

Despite being called shops, they were quite different from ordinary ones.

Each had an open front, allowing students to order directly without having to step inside.

The lines at most shops were long, but Merlin spotted one with no customers at all.

When he read the name above the shop, his eyes lit up.

"Found it!"

The signboard read clearly: "Thorn & Vine."

At first glance, the shop's name sounded elegant and beautiful, sure to catch anyone's attention.

But the shop itself looked a little different from the others.

While most shops were neat, clean, and inviting, this one, though tidy, had worn chairs and tables that made it appear shabby.

Merlin, of course, knew it wasn't due to neglect—it was simply the age of the building.

As a result, new students tended to overlook it, preferring the cleaner, more comfortable shops.

"Merlin, are we really going to eat here?" Luna asked hesitantly.

She glanced around, noting the stained tables and chairs that seemed as if they hadn't been cleaned in ages.

Merlin smiled softly, held her left hand, and said, "Yes, we'll eat here. Don't judge it by the worn furniture. The kitchen is spotless, and the food is delicious. I promise."

Hearing this, Luna's doubts gradually faded, replaced by trust.

Still, curiosity got the better of her. "How do you know? Isn't this your first time in the academy cafeteria?"

Merlin winked, pressing his right index finger to his lips. "It's a secret."

"Geesh…" Luna shot Merlin a dissatisfied look.

Without waiting for further protest, Merlin led her into the shop.

The shopkeeper was a middle-aged woman, around forty years old, with black hair tied in a ponytail. A few gray strands showed that time had quietly passed for her.

Even so, her face remained beautiful, despite showing signs of fatigue.

"Excuse me, may I order some food?"

The woman looked up in surprise, then turned toward the source of the voice—Merlin and Luna.

Her tired expression quickly melted into a warm, welcoming smile.

"Of course. Please have a seat."

She hurriedly tidied herself, then grabbed a small notebook and pen from the cashier's desk.

Merlin and Luna took the chairs on the left. Luna glanced at them and realized they weren't truly dirty—just worn and dull from years of use.

As they settled in, the woman approached. "What would you like to order?"

Luna looked at Merlin, silently asking him to make the choice.

Without hesitation, Merlin ordered ten dishes—six of them Luna's favorites from the novel.

After taking the order, the woman turned and headed toward the kitchen.

"Ten dishes? Are you sure we can finish all that?" Luna asked, a hint of doubt in her voice.

Merlin leaned back with a playful smile. "Don't worry—I'm sure you can handle it."

His teasing eyes made Luna both embarrassed and flustered.

About fifteen minutes later, their food arrived.

The ten dishes included six main courses, two desserts, and two plates of fruit.

"Wow! It looks amazing!" Luna murmured, eyes wide with awe.

Her appetite, which had seemed lost before, returned with full force.

The woman smiled. "Well then, enjoy your meal."

She turned and walked back toward the kitchen.

"Let's eat!" Merlin said.

Luna nodded, picked up a fork, and pierced a piece of roasted mountain pork glazed with honey sauce.

The moment she bit into it, her eyes sparkled like stars.

"It's so delicious!"

She picked up another piece of meat and ate it eagerly, again and again.

Merlin nodded in satisfaction at her reaction. Honey-glazed roast pork was one of Luna's favorite dishes.

In the novel, she could easily finish three servings in a single meal.

That was why he had ordered two dishes—so he could enjoy some himself.

Merlin dug into his own food. As he ate the chicken thighs seasoned with black spices, his eyes sparkled just like Luna's.

'It's so delicious! Damn! If I'd known, I would've come to the academy sooner just for this!'

He devoured the chicken thighs one after another with gusto. Thinking about it now, it wasn't surprising that the woman's cooking was so extraordinary.

After all, she wasn't an ordinary cook—she was a powerful figure on par with the Seventh Spirit Core.

And her specialty wasn't combat magic or offense—it was cooking.

It might sound strange, but in this world, not everyone excelled in magic or fighting.

Merlin glanced at her with a knowing look.

His visit wasn't just about enjoying a meal—it was also to connect with one of the most important supporting characters in his novel: Nivis Astrala.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.