Chapter 389: A Month of Free Meals

"Arthur, this is the most important day of your life."

Arthur stared at Kong, who was standing on the table with a menu held between his hands.

"Really? More important than winning One Above All?"

Kong nodded solemnly. "Much more important."

Sun covered his face. "We haven’t even ordered anything yet!"

"Exactly. The possibilities are endless."

Melo floated closer and examined the menu. "You’ve been reading that for ten minutes. Do you intend to eat everything available?"

Kong looked offended. "I’m evaluating the options."

"By ordering all of them?"

"Thorough evaluations require sufficient samples."

Arthur burst into laughter.

The group had arrived at a popular restaurant in the Academy district shortly after opening. Sun had insisted that they should celebrate Arthur’s championship properly, although Kong had somehow convinced everyone to leave earlier than planned.

The restaurant was already filling with students preparing to watch the second-year competition.

Arthur looked around appreciatively. Sunlight poured through the tall windows, illuminating rows of polished wooden tables. The air smelled of freshly baked bread, roasted meat, and sweet pastries.

"This place looks amazing!"

Mithra smiled. "I’ve eaten here before. Their breakfast is wonderful."

Athena glanced toward the menu. "And their portions are reasonable."

Kong slowly turned toward her.

"Reasonable?"

Athy sighed. "Don’t encourage him."

Vedas sat beside Arthur, examining the menu with considerably more restraint.

"Perhaps we should confirm how the reward works before ordering."

Arthur nodded. "Good idea!"

A waitress approached their table.

"Good morning! Welcome to the Golden Hearth. What can I get for you?"

Arthur reached into his pocket and produced the champion’s dining pass.

"Hello! I won One Above All yesterday, and I wanted to try using this."

The waitress examined the pass.

Her eyes widened.

"Arthur Cronwall?"

Arthur smiled. "That’s me!"

"You’re the first-year champion!"

Several nearby customers turned toward their table.

A student immediately recognized him.

"Hey, that’s Arthur! I watched his final!"

Another student leaned forward. "The one who fought Mithra?"

Mithra smiled politely as the attention shifted toward her.

The waitress looked delighted. "Congratulations! We watched the championship on the Academy displays."

Arthur laughed. "Thank you! Mithra was really tough."

The waitress glanced toward Mithra. "You were wonderful too. That final illusion nearly won the match!"

Mithra blinked in surprise before smiling. "Thank you."

Melo puffed out her chest. "Naturally. We were magnificent."

Sun leaned forward. "And I participated in the competition too!"

The waitress smiled. "Congratulations on reaching the second stage."

Sun froze.

Kong patted his shoulder. "She remembers your defeat."

Arthur nearly fell out of his chair laughing.

...

The waitress explained that Arthur’s pass covered his eligible meals throughout the month at participating restaurants in the Academy district.

His companions would still pay for their own orders.

Kong stared at her.

Then he slowly turned toward Arthur.

"Arthur."

"Yeah?"

"Can you become champion again?"

Arthur blinked. "What?"

"Several times. Perhaps once for each of us."

Sun grabbed Kong by the shoulders. "That’s not how competitions work!"

Kong looked disappointed. "A poorly designed system."

Mithra giggled. "You can still order breakfast, Kong."

"Yes, but now Sun has to pay."

Sun sighed. "I always pay!"

Kong nodded. "And I appreciate your generosity."

"Then stop ordering enough food for three people!"

Arthur grinned as the waitress waited patiently.

"Actually, I’d like the champion’s breakfast platter."

"Certainly! Would you like the fruit pastries with that?"

Arthur’s eyes brightened. "Those are included?"

"They’re part of the platter."

"Then definitely!"

Kong looked devastated.

"Even the pastries..."

Arthur laughed. "I’ll buy an extra plate for everyone to share."

Kong immediately straightened.

"Arthur Cronwall, greatest champion in Academy history."

Athena shook her head. "Your loyalty is remarkably inexpensive."

Athy glanced toward the menu. "Not according to those prices."

...

Their food arrived a short while later.

Arthur’s platter contained golden eggs, roasted potatoes, warm bread, grilled meat, and a generous assortment of fruit pastries.

He stared at it in delight.

"Whoa! This is incredible!"

Sun examined his own breakfast. "Mine looks pretty good too."

Kong had already begun eating.

Melo watched him with fascination. "Does he even taste anything?"

Sun sighed. "Unfortunately, yes. He describes it afterward."

Kong swallowed and pointed toward his plate. "The seasoning is excellent. The meat is tender. The potatoes could use more butter."

Athena blinked. "That’s surprisingly specific."

Kong nodded proudly. "I’m a professional."

Vedas tasted his breakfast and smiled faintly. "He does have a point about the potatoes."

Sun stared at him. "Don’t take his side!"

Arthur laughed before offering Star a small piece of fruit.

The little slime accepted it happily, bouncing on the table beside him.

Eden briefly appeared from her Mana Realm, settling near Arthur’s shoulder.

Arthur smiled. "Feeling better?"

Eden nodded gently.

"Good. You can enjoy breakfast with us, but we’re taking it easy today."

She accepted a piece of fruit and remained beside him.

Mithra watched the exchange with a warm smile.

"She’s looking much better."

Arthur nodded. "Yeah. I’m glad she’s recovering."

Before they could continue, a waiter carrying several drinks passed their table.

One glass began sliding off his tray.

Star immediately sprang upward.

The little slime caught the falling glass against its soft body and landed on the table without spilling anything.

The waiter froze.

"Oh! Thank you!"

Star bounced proudly.

A nearby customer laughed in delight. "That’s the slime from yesterday’s championship!"

Arthur gently patted Star. "Nice catch!"

The waiter smiled. "I was certain that glass was going to break."

Star wiggled happily before returning to its fruit.

Melo crossed her arms. "Now even breakfast is becoming a performance."

Arthur grinned. "Star’s just being helpful."

...

As they finished eating, the restaurant’s owner approached their table carrying a small wooden board.

"Excuse me, Arthur. Would you mind signing this?"

Arthur blinked. "What’s that?"

"We keep a board with the names of Academy competition champions who’ve visited us. I’d be delighted to add yours."

Arthur’s eyes widened.

"Really? That’s awesome!"

The owner handed him a pen.

Arthur signed carefully beneath several older names.

Then he paused.

"Can I add Vedas and Star too? They helped me win."

The owner smiled. "Of course."

Arthur added their names beneath his own.

Vedas looked at the board for a moment.

"You didn’t need to do that."

Arthur smiled. "Why wouldn’t I? We won together."

Star bounced against his arm.

The owner placed the board near the restaurant entrance.

A few students immediately gathered to examine it.

Sun folded his arms. "I suppose being friends with a champion has certain advantages."

Mithra smiled mischievously. "You could always win next year."

Sun pointed toward her. "Exactly! That’s the plan!"

Kong raised his hand. "Can I have my name on the board too?"

Athena looked at him. "For what achievement?"

Kong considered the question.

"Finishing breakfast."

Melo burst into laughter.

...

After leaving the restaurant, the group stopped beside a fountain near the Academy’s main avenue.

Students hurried past carrying banners and refreshments for the day’s competition.

Arthur sat on the fountain’s edge and examined the reward information on his Academy pass.

"Oh, right! I still have the examination exemption."

Sun immediately leaned over his shoulder.

"Now that’s a reward worth celebrating. Imagine skipping an examination while everyone else suffers!"

Athena gave him a disapproving look. "You could also use that time to study something useful."

Sun blinked. "That defeats the entire purpose!"

Arthur laughed. "I actually want to think about which examination to skip."

Mithra sat beside him. "You haven’t decided?"

"Not yet. I don’t want to waste it."

Athena nodded approvingly. "You should review the remaining examination schedule. Some assessments are more valuable for your development than others."

Athy adjusted her position on Athena’s shoulder. "And the exemption cannot replace mandatory safety qualifications."

Arthur nodded. "Right. I definitely wouldn’t want to skip those anyway."

Vedas folded his arms. "Your practical training has improved considerably, but there are still academic subjects you need to strengthen."

Arthur scratched his cheek. "Yeah. Professor Rowan would probably have something to say if I stopped studying."

Mithra laughed. "He’d have several things to say."

Arthur considered his options.

"I think I’ll save the exemption for a written examination covering material I’ve already mastered. I’d rather attend the practical assessments."

Athena smiled. "That’s a sensible choice. You should confirm which examination is eligible before submitting anything."

Arthur nodded. "I’ll check the schedule after One Above All week."

Sun stared at him.

"You won the right to skip an exam, and you’re planning to study anyway?"

Arthur grinned. "Of course. I still want to learn."

Kong sighed. "He’s impossible."

Vedas glanced toward Arthur’s pass. "And I suspect you’ll use the extra time for more training."

Arthur smiled innocently.

Vedas closed his eyes. "Naturally."

...

A short while later, Sun and Athena headed toward the arena to locate their reserved observation section.

Kong accompanied them, insisting that someone needed to inspect the available refreshments.

Melo followed after Mithra asked her to help check the seats.

Arthur remained near the fountain with Mithra.

For a moment, neither spoke.

The morning breeze carried the distant sounds of students gathering around the arena.

Mithra looked toward him. "So, Arthur. Are you satisfied with yesterday?"

Arthur smiled. "Definitely. That final was amazing."

"You enjoyed nearly losing?"

He laughed. "Maybe not that part. But you made me work harder than I expected."

Mithra smiled proudly. "Good."

Arthur glanced toward the Academy buildings.

"And I’m glad everyone did so well. Sun and Kong improved their coordination. Athena and Athy were incredible. And you and Melo almost beat us."

Mithra tilted her head. "Almost?"

Arthur grinned. "Well, I did win."

She laughed and gently nudged his shoulder.

"Enjoy that while you can."

Arthur looked toward her with a softer smile.

"But the best part was seeing what everyone could do. I didn’t have to come up with every answer."

Mithra studied him thoughtfully.

"You seem more comfortable trusting other people than you used to be."

Arthur considered her words.

"Maybe I’ve finally learned that I don’t have to do everything myself."

"Maybe," Mithra replied, smiling. "I’ll believe it when you stop volunteering for everything."

Arthur laughed. "That’s going to be difficult."

"I know."

She glanced toward his championship medal, which he had brought along in his bag.

"Still, I’m happy you won."

Arthur turned toward her.

"Thanks, Mithra."

She smiled. "And for the record, I intend to beat you next time."

Arthur’s eyes brightened. "Then we’d better keep training!"

Mithra immediately pointed at him.

"After we finish enjoying this week."

Arthur paused.

Then he laughed. "Right. Sorry."

Mithra shook her head, smiling.

...

A clear bell rang across the Academy district.

The floating announcement screens above the main avenue suddenly illuminated.

"Attention, students and spectators! The second-year One Above All competition will begin shortly. All guests with reserved viewing privileges should proceed to the central arena."

Arthur immediately stood.

"Oh! It’s starting!"

Mithra rose beside him. "Then we’d better hurry."

As they approached the arena, the enormous entrance gates opened, revealing the spectator stands beyond.

Sun was already waving from an elevated section.

"Arthur! Over here! These seats are incredible!"

Kong leaned over the railing beside him.

"And there’s a refreshment counter!"

Arthur laughed and hurried toward them.

From their reserved seats, the entire battlefield was visible.

The arena floor had been transformed again, this time into a much larger combat field with towering stone structures and broad platforms.

Arthur stopped at the railing.

"Whoa..."

Vedas examined the battlefield with interest. "The second-years will face a considerably different challenge."

Athena looked toward the entrance where the first competitors were gathering.

"Good. I’ve been curious about the difference in their abilities."

Mithra stood beside Arthur as the announcement screens displayed the opening match.

Then the gates at opposite ends of the arena began to rise.

Arthur leaned forward, his eyes shining.

"Alright! Let’s see what the second-years can do!"