Chapter Thirty-Four: Lunch

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At lunchtime, Lu Mingfei sat beneath the arched dome of Kassel College’s dining hall.

The college dining hall resembled a cathedral from the age of chivalry. A massive tree-shaped chandelier hung at the very center of the dome, every leaf a tiny crystal lamp. Latin inscriptions welcoming new students adorned the granite walls.

Students dressed in Kassel College’s dark green uniforms sat around the dining tables. At the head of each table sat the student responsible for it, and Fingel occupied that seat at theirs.

“I never would have guessed that even a useless senior like you could be a class officer,” Lu Mingfei said, somewhat surprised.

Fingel sighed.

“I’m only the table head. Since there was no place for an eighth-year student, I was exiled here to sit with the freshmen.”

“Pass it down in order.” A waiter set a lunch tray in front of Fingel.

“The same menu again?” Fingel sighed. “At this welcome luncheon, do we really have nothing besides roast pork knuckles, mashed potatoes, and sauerkraut? I’ve eaten this exact meal eight times already.”

Having subsisted on dog food for years, Lu Mingfei thought the set meal was quite good. The pork knuckle was roasted to a golden brown, and when he lightly scraped it with his fork, it made a sizzling sound. The mashed potatoes were covered in fragrant gravy, while the sauerkraut whetted the appetite and cut through the richness. Together, they complemented one another perfectly.

While Fingel chatted with the waiter, a beautiful black-haired woman with delicate features approached, swaying her hips as she walked. She placed a bottle of imported soda on Lu Mingfei’s table.

His newly acquired girlfriend, Susie.

Although her eyes looked exactly like those of someone who had spotted a disgusting insect beneath the bed, the rules were the rules. Reluctant though she was, Susie had accepted Lu Mingfei’s confession and agreed to maintain the relationship for at least three months.

Since today was the freshman welcome luncheon, she had changed into the Kassel College uniform: a dark green jacket, a spotless white shirt, a skirt that fell above the knees, a bright red neckerchief, black leather shoes, and white cotton socks.

She had evidently just taken a shower. A rosy flush brought on by the steam lingered on her fair little face, and her smooth, shoulder-length black hair still carried a trace of moisture. In a chilly voice, she reminded him, “The German-style food served by the college is rather salty, so drink more water. Since today is the welcome luncheon, the seating is fixed. I won’t be eating with you.

“Also, I checked your schedule. I don’t have class at eight tomorrow morning, so I can accompany you to Magic-Powered Mechanical Design I.”

With that, she turned and left without waiting for Lu Mingfei to reply. Her steps were slightly hurried, as though something were chasing her from behind.

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Fingel stared incredulously at Susie’s graceful retreat, then looked at Lu Mingfei, who was wrestling with the roast pork knuckle, fork in his left hand and knife in his right. His mouth fell open unconsciously.

“Seriously, man, how did you manage that?”

Lu Mingfei shot him a glance.

“How did I manage what? It’s simply the winner’s privilege from Freedom Day.”

“She doesn’t have to act like your housekeeper, does she?”

“Maybe Susie is just a rather old-fashioned girl,” Lu Mingfei speculated.

As a member of the Lionheart Society, Susie was probably a little rigid. Once she agreed to something, she would carry it out precisely and without fail.

Activities between couples—eating together, attending classes together, watching movies, going shopping, and so on—she would perform all of them conscientiously. If she were a girl from the Student Union, she would probably go through the motions for three months and let the relationship end. If Nono were replaced by someone she disliked, she might even add something extra to that person’s water when bringing them a drink.

Susie had a graceful figure and lovely features. It would have been a lie for Lu Mingfei to claim he was not tempted. But his primary reason for dating her was to ensure that his secret with Nono remained undisclosed. So even though Susie treated him coldly, he did not care very much.

Fingel rubbed his iron-blue chin, freshly shaved, and his expression turned rather strange.

“Junior, you don’t happen to have a fondness for Cao Cao’s tastes, do you? First the red-haired witch who’s the Student Union president’s girlfriend, and now the Lionheart president’s rumored girlfriend.”

“Oh? If I’m Cao Cao, then which of Chu Zihang and Caesar is Liu Bei, and which is Sun Quan?”

Fingel’s expression grew solemn. He lightly slapped the dining table.

“Chu Zihang inherited the Lionheart Society, an old-established organization at Kassel College. After years of development, it possesses deep foundations and commands favorable terrain. He must be Sun Quan.

“As for Caesar, the Student Union is united behind him, and his own leadership ability is exceptional. In just a few years, he has developed the Student Union into a major organization capable of suppressing Lionheart. He commands the allegiance of the people and must therefore be Liu Bei.”

Lu Mingfei was amused by the Chinese heart concealed beneath Fingel’s Aryan appearance. After cutting the pork knuckle into small pieces, he set down his knife. Continuing to make idle conversation, he pulled his N96 from the pocket of his uniform trousers and replied to Qilan’s message.

Qilan had already made it clear that he wanted Lu Mingfei, this “S-rank” newcomer, to become the leader of the freshman fellowship. Naturally, Lu Mingfei had no reason to refuse. But Qilan was a newcomer himself and had not yet managed to recruit all the students in his year. Even counting those planning to join Lionheart or the Student Union, the freshman fellowship currently had only a little over a dozen members.

It was better than nothing.

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“By the way, why does the college serve German food at the freshman welcome luncheon every year? Is the principal German?”

“Kassel is the surname of a German family—the most famous dragon-slaying family in history. Every generation produced several formidable dragon slayers. Supposedly, the principal was only a second-tier member of the Kassel family back then,” Fingel said. “The Kassel family is the college’s chief board of trustees, which is why everything here has a German flavor. But they’re all dead now.”

“Then where are they buried?”

“That’s a strange thing to focus on. Probably at the old Kassel family estate?”

“In Germany?” Lu Mingfei pressed.

Fingel was just about to answer when Norma’s voice suddenly rang through the dining hall.

“Attention, first-year students. Attention, first-year students. The Magic-Powered Mechanical Design I class originally scheduled for tomorrow morning has been canceled. Professor Longde-Stadt will send the lecture notes for Chapter One to your email inboxes.”

“You don’t have to attend your eight o’clock class tomorrow. Professor Longde-Stadt must be on an assignment in China.” Without even lifting his head, Fingel continued gnawing at his pork knuckle. “Classes are often suspended for several weeks because professors have to leave on missions for the Executive Department. Quite a few professors also hold positions there.

“If a class is canceled at such short notice, they must have discovered some clues related to dragons.”

“Dragons?” Lu Mingfei showed little interest in the news. He tapped out a message on his N96 and sent it to Qilan.

“Qilan, gather every member of the fellowship at Norton Hall for our first group activity. It begins at one in the morning.”

His church—no, his society—had rather few participants at present. But did not all great powers begin small?

There was no time to lose. At present, external demons surrounded Lu Mingfei while inner demons multiplied within his sea of consciousness. He had to begin the first Register-Conferral Ceremony as soon as possible.

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