I walked toward the elevator, still in my patient clothes, still dragging my luggage behind me like a lost tourist. Behind me, Nagi hummed cheerfully, practically skipping with every step.
Well… technically, Nagi isn't her real name.
Her true name is Hinagiku Koshitsu. A dead giveaway that she wasn't from this kingdom. She came from the kingdom of Taiyo, where royalty was treated like living deities and wrapped in stories so absurd you could confuse them for fairytales.
Nagi was an illegitimate daughter of that divine bloodline. Also, why does she crossdress? No one ever got the answer. She died before revealing it, and only on her deathbed was the truth about her origin dropped, and even that was vague.
I looked at her as she happily hopped along.
That black choker around her neck was the reason her body appeared masculine.How it worked? Not even the novel readers know. Readers had thrown out every theory imaginable: illusion magic, hormone suppression, divine artifact, even "it's just plot convenience."Honestly, everyone was just throwing spaghetti at the wall.
The elevator dinged."Fifteenth floor," a voice announced.
The doors slid open to a long hallway with only five rooms, but each door was massive enough to belong to a noble's estate.
Nagi hopped out first, bouncing like a bunny that just got handed its favorite carrot.
I paused by the glass wall of the hallway and stared down at the school grounds. The sprawling courtyards, the training fields, all enclosed by the colossal outer barrier. Beyond that, my gaze drifted toward the enormous castle far in the distance.
My stomach tightened.
It looked exactly like that iconic wallpaper scene, the ruined castle burning, frozen over with gigantic ice pillars piercing through it. A wallpaper scene I downloaded, yet never used.
A scene from the second arc.
I shook my head violently."One step at a time… Focus. First, I need to save Finster's master."
With renewed determination, I walked toward the last door in the hallway, the one marked 05.
Nagi was already there, crouched beside my luggage, poking at it like a curious cat.
"Oh! Is this yours?" she asked.
"Yeah."
"Good! I thought someone had lost their belongings, so I was deciding whether to drag it to the lost and found." She beamed. "Anyway, let's go in!"
She swiped her card on a small terminal beside the door.
So that's how it's used.
I didn't need to swipe mine, I just dragged my luggage inside after her.
Nagi bolted toward the center of the room and spun on a wide, luxurious rug.
"Tada! How is it?"
I took a long look and almost choked.
The room was absurdly lavish.
Two royal-sized beds sat on opposite sides of the room, each with a personal desk and empty bookshelves ready to be filled. Warm golden lights traced the ceiling, and the polished floor gleamed like something out of a luxury hotel catalog.
To the left, separated by a partial wall, was a modern kitchen with wide countertops, deep sinks, and a central island desk. A round table sat in the corner, perfect for late-night study snacks or existential crises.
I opened the refrigerator and stared.
It was stuffed. Meats, pastries, vegetables, and poultry ingredients.
Every shelf I checked was stocked as well. Spices, oils, grains, snacks. It was like a five-star Airbnb hosted by a generous grandma.
On the right side of the room, a full glass wall displayed a breathtaking view of the city stretching into the horizon. Opposite that was the bathroom, which is spacious, modern, and pristine. A washing machine sat near the entrance, while the inner section held a large bathtub and a separate shower stall. A toilet room was tucked beside the bathroom door, also fully supplied in its cabinet.
"Color me impressed…"I exhaled."They really do treat us like kings here."
When I returned to the living room, Nagi was still on the rug, striking a dramatic pose with arms wide, expectant grin sparkling.
She clearly wanted praise for a room that belonged to both of us.
I did feel like praising her, but I was in such a good mood from the room that I couldn't resist teasing.
I crossed my arms thoughtfully.
"It's not bad," I said. "Honestly, the fact that there's only one bathroom is going to be a problem."
Nagi looked disappointed with my reply, so I changed the subject before her energy could dip any lower.
"Have you had dinner yet?"
She shook her head.
"Then I'll cook something."
Her eyes instantly brightened.
I grabbed clothes, took a quick shower, changed, and came out in a fresh shirt and wore an apron tied around my waist. Nagi was already sitting at the island counter, legs swinging eagerly and eyes glued to me.
"Alright," I said, rolling up my sleeves. "Chicken pasta."
The fridge was fully stocked, absurdly so. I pulled out chicken breast, tomatoes, onion, garlic, cream, and butter. Pasta was waiting neatly in the pantry. I set everything on the counter in a line, and Nagi followed each movement with wide-eyed curiosity, like she was watching a master chef at work.
The only reason I know how to cook is that I've been living alone, and I need to take care of myself. Living with instant noodles and canned food can be severely unhealthy and boring, so I treat myself sometimes with dishes like this.
I filled a pot with water and set it on the stove. The burner ignited with a soft flame, and I sprinkled salt into the water. While it warmed, I sliced the chicken into thin strips, seasoning each piece lightly before letting them fall into a hot pan with sizzling butter. The aroma rose immediately, filling the room with a warm, savory scent.
Nagi leaned in, nose twitching. "That smells amazing!"
"Good food should smell good long before it tastes good," I said.
With the chicken cooking, I pulled a cutting board toward me and started chopping an onion. The knife rhythmically tapped against the wood. Garlic followed, crushed, peeled,and minced. Then, tomatoes, diced into juicy, uneven chunks that would melt into the sauce.
"So…" Nagi rested her chin on her palms. "What's your name? You never told me."
"Matthew Pier Salinin, but you can call me Matt." I scraped chopped onion into a small bowl. "I was basically a couch potato until I awakened my thrum capacity and got into the academy."
"That's so humble," she laughed. "What about where you're from?"
"Small town. Nothing worth bragging about. What about you?"
She straightened a little."Nagi Satou. From the Taiyo Kingdom and lives in Totori City, specifically. Also, I'm an ichor weaver and my sta-."
I stopped chopping.
Slowly, still looking down at the tomatoes, I pointed the knife in her general direction.
"Don't say your stats."
She blinked. "Eh?"
"Not out loud," I said, resuming the slicing. "Rankings are everything in this place. The only reason we're getting five-star treatment right now is because both of us scored well."
Her shoulders dropped slightly. "They let you fill out the paper to fill out your information, so I didn't know it mattered yet."
"It does. Keep your Weaver type and stats to yourself unless it's absolutely required. Private evaluations were private for a reason during the entrance exam after all."
She nodded, chastened. "Okay… I'll be careful."
I moved back to the stove. The chicken pieces were perfectly golden, so I lifted them out of the pan and set them aside. Into the same pan went a small pat of butter, melting instantly, followed by the chopped onion and garlic. They sizzled together, releasing a sweet aroma. When they softened, I added the tomatoes, letting them cook down until their juices blended into the butter and formed a bright base.
Cream followed, swirling into a velvety sauce. I stirred it gently until it thickened, then returned the chicken to the pan. Everything began to look and smell like actual food instead of the cup noodles I'm used to.
Behind me, the water started boiling. I added the pasta, stirring so it wouldn't stick.
The kitchen filled with steam and warmth. Nagi watched everything with her chin on the counter, eyes sparkling like she was witnessing sorcery.
"Are you sure you're not secretly a chef?" she asked softly.
"No," I said, tasting the sauce for seasoning, "I'm just starving. Besides, they gave us all of these ingredients, it would be a shame not to use them."
When the pasta was cooked, I drained it and tossed it directly into the creamy sauce, letting everything meld together. A few herbs from the pantry scattered over the top added color and fragrance.
Finally, I plated two generous servings.
Nagi practically vibrated in her seat."It looks perfect! Thank you, Matt!"
I set hers in front of her."Eat. Before you drool into it."