Fortunately, Natasha quickly stepped in, smoothing over Grace's surprise before things could turn awkward or before Grace could ask too many questions that Elric didn't want to answer.
"Grace, it's okay," she said with a small, reassuring smile. "I can't finish a whole roast lamb shank by myself anyway. Here—share it with me."
She broke the tender meat in half with her hands, the cooked flesh separating easily, and offered the larger portion over to Grace with what seemed like genuine generosity.
Then, with a faintly smug glance directed specifically toward Jenna, Natasha took a deliberate bite, making sure the younger woman saw her enjoyment.
The message was clear: I have privileges. I have favor. Remember your place.
Jenna's lips tightened, the corner of her mouth twitching with barely suppressed irritation. Her hands clenched slightly under the table where she thought no one could see.
That look said everything, really.
Alright, Natasha… we'll see how smug you are once my best friend shows up. Once I have my own ally in this group.
Meanwhile, Grace took a cautious bite of the meat, unsure what to expect—and her eyes widened dramatically with genuine surprise.
"Oh my god… this is incredible. I've never had anything like this before."
She wasn't exaggerating or trying to flatter anyone. The taste was genuinely extraordinary—rich and smoky, perfectly roasted with spices that seemed impossible to acquire now. The meat was tender enough to fall apart in her mouth, the fat rendering perfectly to provide flavor without greasiness.
It was something that felt almost divine after days of bland rations and instant noodles that all tasted vaguely the same.
The System's products were clearly operating on a different level than anything achievable through normal cooking methods.
When breakfast ended, after the plates had been cleared and set aside, Elric leaned back slightly in his chair and finally spoke up with the decision he'd been contemplating.
"Pack what you need," he said, his voice calm but carrying undeniable authority. "We're leaving campus tomorrow."
The words froze the room like someone had cast a spell of paralysis.
Natasha blinked rapidly, her composure cracking. Jenna stopped mid-stretch, her arms suspended awkwardly in the air. Grace's face went pale, the color draining completely.
"Wait—what? Leave campus?" Natasha asked, startled into speaking without thinking first. "But… after what happened yesterday, after that tentacle attack, this place is still safer than outside, right?"
It was true from a certain perspective. The university had survived last night's "tentacle incident" thanks primarily to Elric's intervention and abilities. They had shelter, they had defensible positions, they had some sense of the threats.
The fog outside was thick and unpredictable, crawling with god-knows-what kind of mutated horrors. Out there was complete chaos, unknown variables. Here, at least, they had walls and some understanding of the territory.
Elric's expression didn't change at all. His face remained impassive, unreadable. "I'm not asking for opinions. I'm telling you."
His tone was cold, steady, final—the kind of voice that left no room for debate or negotiation.
"Tomorrow afternoon, we're leaving on schedule. I haven't decided where we'll stay yet—so within the next twenty-four hours, you three will each recommend a possible location. Something defensible, with good supply potential. Think carefully about your suggestions."
The girls exchanged uneasy glances, the silent communication between them clear: there was no room for negotiation or pleading. When Elric made a decision like this, it was absolute.
Elric stood up, brushing off his jacket with casual gestures. "I'm going out today for reconnaissance and supply gathering. While I'm gone, keep the doors locked, stay away from the windows, and do not go outside for any reason whatsoever. I'll still be on campus, so if something happens, message me through the communication app immediately."
They all nodded silently, no one daring to object. Natasha was the first to find her voice after processing his words.
"Elric, are you sure it's safe to go alone? Maybe one of us should—"
He gave her a faint smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm stronger than you think. Much stronger."
And it wasn't arrogance—it was simple fact, mathematical certainty.
Ever since he'd absorbed the Physical Enhancement Crystal from the Azure Sparrow, his strength, endurance, and reflexes had multiplied tenfold compared to a normal human. His body could now withstand impacts that would shatter bones, could run for hours without tiring, could react to threats with superhuman speed.
Combined with his Devil Fruit abilities—the spatial manipulation of ROOM, the teleportation through position swapping, the enhanced perception of Thousand Eyes, and the emotional reading of his Staring Fruit—Elric could handle himself against almost anything still wandering the school grounds.
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