I continued my walk toward the dining hall, a satisfied smirk still plastered on my face. Barely an hour in this world, and I had already successfully peeked at the underwear of two girls, one of them even a main character. In my old life, my biggest achievement was not falling asleep during a meeting. This was clearly an upgrade.
[Don't get ahead of yourself, Host. You just provoked a woman who can turn you into ashes with a flick of her finger. Beginner's luck won't last forever.]
'You're seriously a buzzkill,' I shot back mentally. 'Besides, I didn't provoke her. I just didn't give her the reaction she wanted. That makes her more curious, right? Basics of conquering a tsundere.'
[An interesting piece of logic from a man who died a virgin. I shall log it for research purposes.]
I chose not to respond to the sharp sarcasm. Soon after, I arrived in front of two gigantic, intricately carved wooden doors. From inside, the low drone of hundreds of students chatting could be heard. This must be the place.
I pushed one of the doors open, and the sight inside almost made my jaw drop.
This dining hall was more like a cathedral banquet hall than a school cafeteria. The ceilings vaulted high, so high it looked like an artificial night sky, complete with softly twinkling magical stars. Long oak tables stretched across the room, filled with students of various races.
At one table, a group of Dwarves were laughing loudly and pounding the table, their braided beards swaying. At another, several Elf students ate with almost inhuman grace, their posture perfectly straight. Then there were the Beastkin, some with twitching cat ears, others with wolf tails wagging under the benches, eating with a wild fervor. And of course, the majority were humans from various places.
This truly was a fantasy world.
And the food... Damn, the food. On one side of the hall, there was a long counter where magical plates automatically refilled with various mouth-watering dishes. The aroma of roast meat, fresh-baked bread, and spiced soup filled the air, making my empty stomach rumble even louder.
I grabbed a tray and a plate, then walked along the counter, my eyes wide. There were steaks as thick as my arm, glistening roasted chicken legs, stacks of sausages, various cheeses and breads, and even some dishes I didn't recognize. This was heaven. Compared to the instant noodles and boxed rice that had been my staple for years, this was a feast of the gods.
I piled my plate as high as possible, ignoring the odd stares from a few other students. After getting a glass of purple fruit juice, I looked for a seat. As a self-aware extra, I instinctively sought the least conspicuous corner. I found an empty table near a large pillar at the back of the hall. Perfect for eating quietly while observing.
I was just about to devour my first bite of steak when a soft, slightly hesitant voice sounded beside me.
"Excuse me... is this seat taken?"
I turned. Standing there was an Elf girl. Her hair was emerald green, long and straight, cascading gracefully down to her waist. Her large, green eyes looked at me with a shy gaze. She hugged several thick books to her chest, as if the books were a shield protecting her from the outside world. And of course, her body... Though covered by a slightly loose mage's robe, I could see a perfect hourglass figure. Her large tits pressed against the books, creating a very tempting sight.
I recognized her instantly. Lyra Valeriana. The shy librarian-type heroine. A nature-type magic genius who preferred talking to plants than people.
"Yeah, it's empty," I replied curtly.
"Th-thank you," she whispered, then sat down with a very graceful motion across from me. She placed her books on the table, then took out a piece of bread and an apple from her small bag. She began eating in silence, her eyes focused on her food, avoiding eye contact with me.
This was another opportunity. An A-Rank Target right in front of me.
I swallowed my steak, pretending to focus on my food, while secretly channeling mana into my eyes.
'Eagle Eye, activate.'
Her loose robe became transparent. Underneath, her uniform also faded. And beneath all that... I saw it. In total contrast to Isolde, Lyra was wearing a set of simple, white cotton underwear. Her bra was plain without lace, and her panties were standard cut. Pure, simple, and somehow incredibly erotic on her. It perfectly matched her shy, innocent image.
[Analysis: Lyra Valeriana. A-Rank Target. Conquest Difficulty: High (due to her extremely reclusive nature). Expected Reward: Rare. Current Underwear: Plain white cotton set. Information stored.]
I cut off my skill before she noticed my overly prolonged stare. I was just about to go back to enjoying my meal when the System, without warning, popped up a new panel with a loud ding sound inside my head.
Ding!
[First Main Mission Issued!]
Title: The Extra's Trophy Collection
Description: The Welcoming Ceremony is a show-off event for the elites. But for you, it is a hunting ground. Prove your worth as the Host of the [Hentai System] by obtaining 'trophies' from the main heroines before the ceremony ends.
Objectives:
* Obtain a strand of hair from Isolde von Brandt.
* Obtain a handkerchief belonging to Lyra Valeriana.
* Obtain one uniform button from Kira, the Beastkin senior.
Time Limit: End of the Welcoming Ceremony tomorrow.
Reward: 500 HP, Item [Aura Concealment Ring (Common)], Random Attribute Increase.
Failure Penalty: A permanent title [The Impotent Coward] will appear above your head, visible only to all female characters.
I choked on my piece of steak.
Cough! Cough!
I coughed violently, hitting my chest. Lyra, the Elf girl across from me, jumped in surprise and looked at me anxiously.
"A-are you alright?" she asked.
I could only nod while still coughing. But inside my head, I was screaming.
'PERMANENT TITLE?! ARE YOU SERIOUS, YOU BASTARD?!'
[Of course, I am serious. High risk, high reward. Welcome to the real game, Host. Time to stop being an extra and start becoming the main character.]
I looked at Lyra, who was still looking at me worriedly, then my mind flashed to the arrogant Isolde, and Kira the senior whom I hadn't even met yet. Getting personal items from the three most popular and powerful girls in the academy in less than 24 hours?
This wasn't just a mission anymore. This was a death sentence.