<Sunday Morning, Arcadia Hunter Academy>
Waking up early and starting training at midnight, I started my daily routine. First, I was running around the academy campus with weighted bracelets to increase my endurance.
And then, it was polishing my art and combat skills, increasing my understanding of [Lunar Enigma] as well as [Shadowborne]. That was normally the case. However, I planned a change now.
With the restrictions of my body raised, I started eating a lot more.
Gaining some muscle and weight was necessary for the future, though gaining too much would not be optimal. Thus, I started lifting weights and doing full-body workouts in my program.
Though I was already doing it, my focus was shifted a little more to that.
In any case, things were going in the same direction until it was noon. Around 12.30, I left the general combat area to get the second meal of the day. There, I met someone I was not expecting.
“Yo…..”
The wavy blue hair, slightly bulky body, insanely handsome face, innocent smile revealing the teeth, and clear hazel eyes. Looking from the side, you could see his broad shoulders, clearly resulting from intense training. His body was a little sweaty, indicating that he had just come out from an intense session. His t-shirt was tucked in, slightly showing his defined abs.
“What do you want?”
Yet, none of those gave me the reason for him to be there.
“Cold as usual.” He replied, widening his smile. It seemed that he had somehow already gotten used to my attitude. Well, even a turtle would end up adapting to the environment, so no wonder he was able to do too.
My stomach was already bulging, urging me to eat something to fill the calories the body desperately needed. And now, I was stopped by this guy before me, so I couldn’t help but get a bit angry.
“Don’t waste my time.” The words came out instantly, showing how I felt. But I already knew that this guy was too slow in taking hints like these.
“I know, I know. How about we grab lunch together? It had been a while since we talked.”
“Why do you have the impression that we are close?”
“We are not?”
“Of course not.”
“…..Hmm…..Then, if I say it is on me?”
Hearing him saying that he was going to buy the lunch, the bulging stomach growled, reminding me of how delicious eating a free meal right now would be.
“Just to remind. I have high standards.” I deliberately made the expression, showing that eating with me wouldn’t be cheap. If a guy wants to ask me out, he needs to satisfy some conditions!
“Haha….I am already used to those high standards….”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, so you are coming?”
“I won’t refuse your grace.”
As Ethan and I walked towards the most opulent restaurant on campus, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of irritation at his persistent invitation.
Nevertheless, I begrudgingly accepted, knowing that declining a free meal would be foolish, especially considering my heightened calorie intake for training purposes.
“How are the things going on your side recently?”
As we were walking, he suddenly tried to strike up a conversation, albeit more awkwardly than the silence itself.
“It’s none of your business.”
Ethan simply chuckled in response, his easygoing demeanor contrasting sharply with my own aloofness. “Ah, figured you’d say something like that,” he remarked casually, undeterred by my dismissive attitude.
‘I guess this is his strength?’ Considering how he had been behaving in the past, Ethan certainly possessed the necessary lack of pride against such answers.
In a sense, this was what made him Ethan. Well, if he were to be going to become the game’s protagonist, those kinds of traits were necessary.
“Well, you are probably wondering why I called you out of nowhere, right?”
“I figured you would be spilling the beans while eating.”
As we entered the grandiose restaurant, the opulent decor and elegant ambiance enveloped us, creating an atmosphere of sophistication and luxury.
‘This reminds me of that time. I guess I should ask Senior Maya out next time.’
Returning the grace received is something that was necessary for interpersonal relationships, and I disliked the idea of constantly receiving help from Senior Maya one-sidedly.
Seated comfortably, I looked around and noticed Ethan and the others seemed right at home, his easy smile never faltering as he scanned the menu.
Before we could delve into the conversation, the waiter approached our table, his polished demeanor exuding professionalism. As he greeted us, his eyes lit up with recognition upon seeing Ethan.
“Ah, Mister Ethan Hartley! It’s a pleasure to have you dine with us again,” the waiter exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm as he approached our table.
Ethan’s smile widened in response to the waiter’s recognition. “Good to see you too,” he replied warmly, his easy demeanor never faltering.
‘Well, the name Hartley alone should be enough to stir an enthusiasm. I guess he is trying to impress Ethan, knowing his good-natured personality. Out of all the people coming here, Ethan certainly has the highest possibility of talking about a random waiter.’
“Please take a look at our menu. As you know, once you determine the order, you may press the keys right beside the food you choose, and we will receive your order. You may customize it if you wish on the box that will appear here.”
Saying that the waiter had shown us the integrated menu.
‘Interesting. They assigned some mana circuits to the menu and used it as an interactive ordering device. Last time we came here, this thing wasn’t her; I guess it is a new product.’
I thought, looking at the menu.
“Of course, if you don’t wish to use the menu, you may directly call me as well. I will happily take your order.”
The waiter nodded in acknowledgment, his expression grateful for Ethan’s generosity. With a bow of respect, he excused himself, leaving Ethan and me to peruse the interactive menu.
“As I promised, you can order whatever you want,” Ethan said with a smile directed at me, fulfilling his earlier commitment to treat me to lunch.
‘Let me empty your pockets.’
Though I knew Ethan was the heir of a high-ranking family like the Hartleys, money was still money.
Taking a moment to familiarize myself with the enchanted device, I scanned through the array of tantalizing options available. Each dish was described in intricate detail, highlighting the exotic ingredients and elaborate cooking techniques used to create them.
After a brief moment of consideration, I made my selections, customizing each dish to my liking with the touch of a button.
As I pressed the third dish, I saw Ethan’s mouth twitching.
“Do you wish to say something?” I asked, knowing that he didn’t have the personality to tell me what he thought.
“No, no. Nothing.”
With the press of a key, my order was submitted, and I handed the menu back to the waiter as he returned to our table.
With a gracious smile, the waiter accepted the menu and bowed once again before disappearing into the bustling kitchen. Meanwhile, Ethan leaned back in his chair, his easy smile slightly turning stiff, yet after a bunch of seconds, it returned to normal. It seemed like he had already strengthened his resolve.
True to form, the waiter returned shortly thereafter, carrying a tray laden with four exquisite dishes. Each plate was a masterpiece in its own right, showcasing the culinary prowess of the chefs who had crafted them.
As I dug into my meal, savoring the delectable flavors and unique textures, I couldn’t help but marvel at the ingenuity of this fantasy world. In this realm, even the simplest of meals were transformed into extraordinary culinary experiences, thanks to the use of mutated animals and enchanted ingredients.
“How is it?”
“It is certainly on the top of the spectrum.”
“Isn’t it? The chefs here are all Awakened people.”
“I know.”
“I see.”
As we were eating, I noticed that Ethan was having a little hard time asking what was on his mind.
“Now, what did you want to talk about?”
Since we were now in the restaurant, I decided to not beat the bush no longer and asked directly.
“Actually, I wanted your opinion on something,” Ethan replied, his expression turning serious as he raised his head to meet my gaze.
Intrigued by his sudden change in demeanor, I set down my fork and gave him my full attention. “Elaborate,” I prompted, eager to hear what was on his mind.
Ethan cleared his throat, his hazel eyes clouded with uncertainty as he began to speak. “Imagine you’re in a situation where you want to help someone. At first, it seems like a simple matter, something you can handle without much trouble. But as you get involved, you realize it’s not as straightforward as you thought. Suddenly, you’re caught in a web of complications and uncertainties, unsure of how to proceed.”
I nodded, understanding what he meant by that.
‘I guess he noticed that Emily’s situation is not as simple as it was before.’
“Go on,” I urged.
Ethan hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering away before returning to meet mine. “You try to do what you believe is right, but at every turn, you’re faced with obstacles and dilemmas. And no matter how hard you try to untangle yourself from the mess, it only seems to grow more tangled.”
“It sounds like you’re facing quite the challenge,” I remarked, my tone sympathetic.
Ethan nodded, a weary sigh escaping his lips. “Yeah, you could say that. It’s like… no matter what I do, I can’t seem to find a solution that could solve the case. And now, I’m stuck in a position where I don’t know what the right thing to do is.”
At that moment, he stopped looking at me clearly. “I wonder, how would you deal with such situations?” Then he asked.
This whole progress wasn’t in my mind before, as I didn’t expect Ethan to consult me directly on the matter regarding Emily. But it is also understandable that he feels lost. After all, Ethan, no matter how talented he is, is still a naïve guy who has yet to see how the world works.
‘But you will see it soon. Your father won’t be able to stay idle any longer, as he can’t tolerate any threat made to his family.’
“I see.” Leaning forward slightly, I met Ethan’s gaze. “Though from your words, it is difficult to infer the exact situation you’re facing, in general, there is a clear way to deal with such cases,” I began, speaking with conviction.
“When you find yourself entangled in a web from all sides, what you just need to do is to burn those webs,” I advised, drawing on a metaphorical analogy to illustrate my point. “And if you find yourself unable to deal with the spider that is weaving those webs, then you simply need to bring a bigger one.”
Ethan listened intently to my words, his brow furrowing slightly as he processed my advice.
“Sometimes, you won’t be able to deal with the enemy alone. In those times, you will need your allies, someone you can trust.”
After a moment of contemplation, he nodded in understanding, a sense of determination flickering in his hazel eyes.
“I see what you mean,” he replied, his voice tinged with newfound resolve. “But, can I take you as one of those allies too?”
“Allies to trust?”
“Yeah.”
Hearing this, I shook my head inwardly. He was still too naïve, but gaining the trust of the protagonist would never be bad.
This was precisely why I had directed this conversation like this, after all.
“As long as you pay me enough, you can expect my trust.”
“…..Certainly, an answer like this is expected from you….” He said, his face a bit deadpanned. Yet, he seemed more reassured.
“But….Thanks…I feel a lot more at ease now.”
“Is that so?”
Just like that, we continued to eat, but suddenly something bugged me.
‘Considering Lucas is Ethan’s best friend, it is weird that he came to me. Is there a reason for him not to look for Lucas?’
I thought and decided to ask.
“But, why did you not ask Lucas this? Aren’t you guys best friends?”
“Ah….About that….I don’t know why, but something about Lucas is off recently….”