A Small Chat

Inside the brightly lit room, several hot dishes were served on the dining table. It seemed the people of the Western Continent favored simple, hearty food, far removed from the meticulous craftsmanship of the Southern Continent. Bone-in steaks, simply grilled and served with a set of cutlery and several dipping sauces, were placed before them, without even a pre-meal appetizer.

“Ever since we exchanged those parting threats last time, the magic beasts have almost entirely cut off contact with us.” Hermes gestured with his knife toward the steak, seemingly unsure where to start.

“This is unprecedented. Even during the years when tensions with the Royal Court were at their peak, we never completely lost contact. At the very least, there were plenty of overt peace talks,” Hermes continued. He cut a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth; the flavor was rich and the texture smooth, yet it was somewhat difficult to chew.

“Miss Li was at the Royal Court back then; do you have any recollections of that period?” Hermes took a sip of water, finally managing to swallow the meat, before meticulously dividing the portion on his plate into smaller and smaller pieces.

“I wasn't at the Royal Court at that time. My consciousness was chaotic; I was likely wandering somewhere in the world,” Li Yue said calmly. She looked at the food before her without much appetite, eating only small bites out of courtesy.

“What's the difference between the two?” Clo asked, somewhat puzzled. She used her fork to swirl the meat slices on her plate before pushing the remaining steak toward Li Yue. The latter let out a helpless little sigh and doted on her by carefully cutting it into pieces.

“At the very least, both sides maintained basic decorum, so a fight to the death wouldn't suddenly break out one day.” Blizzard, the Southern Continent noble known as Bordote, looked at the food before him and offered a rare, helpless smile. “After securing their expected interests, they wouldn't do anything too extreme.”

“After all, the empires in the north weren't as weak then as they are now.”

“So what you fear is the so-called Dark Forest Law—the moment one side bares its fangs, it becomes a struggle until one race is exterminated,” Li Yue mused. She thought she might not be entirely correct, as the Academy's main forces, aside from those on the Western Continent, remained at the Royal Court.

“Not entirely. The current situation is difficult to read. The world beyond the walls hasn't been fully scouted, and we don't yet know how far the magic beasts have extended their battle lines.” Hermes took a sip of light beer and raised an eyebrow, seemingly finding the flavor to his liking.

“Then there’s no point in discussing this further for now.” Li Yue set down her knife and fork. She had finished early, leaving not even a bone behind. Her teeth were sharp enough to bite through steel; roasted meat was trivial for her.

“Is there any other agenda to discuss? For instance, why a large number of trainees were sent over.” Li Yue rested her cheek on her hand.

“Are you worried about unnecessary casualties? It’s not quite like that. We recruit trainees on a strictly voluntary basis, and their strength has already met the standards.” Hermes propped up his chin, having lost interest in the remaining meat. “More experience will help them develop their magic. After all, they can't always follow the paths laid out by their predecessors.”

“I just find them to be a nuisance; they aren't much different from beasts rushing to their deaths,” Li Yue said flatly. “I took a walk around last night, outside the walls.”

“Did you find anything?”

“I followed the coastline to its far reaches, but it seemed no magic beasts stepped forward to stop me,” Li Yue recalled. “On the western side of the continent, I caught a glimpse of a village.”

“Perhaps residents who detoured from the Northern Continent, or maybe the families of pirates.”

“Perhaps. I didn't see any men; there were only dismembered women and roasted children.” Li Yue recalled the scene as she watched Bordote’s fork pause halfway to his mouth. He slowly set it down, his expression clearly showing visceral revulsion.

“How cruel...” Hermes shrugged. “For you to go so deep without being intercepted by magic beasts, your luck is truly exceptional.”

“Perhaps it was fear. After all, the air was thick with that scent—I’m very familiar with it. Many people on the verge of death carry that smell.” Li Yue glanced at Clo, who had stood up to go get some water. One had to admit that the contrast between this crude food and the Ancient Roman-style decor and exquisite tableware of the West Academy created a sense of absurdity and incongruity.

“They didn't dare move against you?”

“Actually, I didn't go that far, only about a dozen kilometers outside the wall,” Li Yue thought for a moment. “I assume they just hadn't had time to migrate inside yet; I saw packed bags.”

“Oh, right... Hmm... Right, the head of the West Academy branch hasn't met you yet, has he? You can meet later; he’s also in this West District.”

“There’s a very large lake there, and that gentleman built a small house by it. We all like to call him the Professor; he’s quite the gentleman.” Hermes smiled, steering the conversation toward a lighter topic.

“I remember him. His teaching style is very relaxed. Last I heard, he gathered the trainees to go fishing with him by the lake.” Clo walked back in with the water. “Supposedly they went to the west side of the lake and even specifically baited the spot.”

“Now that place is the West Academy branch's famous ‘Air Force Base.’ The trainees who went there that day caught practically nothing all afternoon.”

“In the end, it seems the Professor went to the market and paid out of his own pocket for dozens of fish so everyone could cook and eat together.” Hermes laughed, and the atmosphere in the room instantly brightened.

“A gentleman, a professor...” Li Yue considered the terms. She didn't particularly enjoy dealing with people who were overly focused on etiquette. If she had to choose, she preferred that “Captain” from the Round Table Council—a man who was bold, forthright, and lived by his own code.

The council hadn't met in a long time. Perhaps most of them had already gathered at the Royal Court. The situation there was likely still complex, but it wasn't time for her to step in yet. At the very least, she hadn't felt that faint, inscrutable calling of fate.

“Alright, we finally managed to shift to a pleasant topic, so why don't you smile a bit too?” Clo pinched Li Yue’s soft cheeks from behind, kneading them while trying to force a smile onto her face.

“Mmph... Mmm... Clo... stop messing around.” Li Yue was quite helpless, left with no choice but to let the other girl have her way.

This sight left Hermes and Bordote utterly stunned.