Not long after dawn, Aika and I left the inn and made our way to a nearby train station leading to the central city. Though along the way, we did stop to buy a few things.
For one, I needed proper clothes. I was not about to head over to the academy wearing nothing but just a buttoned up trench coat and not even shoes.
I ended up buying a proper elegant outfit with a more fitting long jacket, and some shoes. And after putting them on, I looked more like a noble. As for Aika, she got herself a kimono-looking dress, some cigarettes, and a hip flask filled with really strong liquor.
Made me wonder a bit about her personality.
That aside…
Thanks to my attribute, I was able to use the map, which appeared as a large screen in front of me, marking various locations and making navigating this part of the city much easier. When we finally reached the station, it wasn't very packed. Maybe it was because it was still so early, or perhaps the expensive tickets meant that most residents here simply couldn't afford to use the trains.
We boarded a train, and after only a few minutes, it began on its way toward the central city.
It was going to be a really long journey so I began getting in position to sleep when I heard Aika, who sat beside me, chugging down alcohol like it was water.
I turned to face her with a stunned expression. 'Who drinks like this at this hour of the day?'
Aika lowered the bottle slightly, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She then reached out, offering the hip flask. "...You want some?"
At first, I wanted to refuse it. But my motto, right from when I was in Seoul, had always been, "Life is too tough to go through it sober."
As a twenty-five-year-old then, I used to drink a lot. What was stopping me from drinking here when my life had just gotten a lot crazier?
"Thanks." I took the flask and drank deeply. I then shook my head as the alcohol hit the spot.
'Gosh… this is good stuff. Better than Soju.'
I took a few more swigs, then gave the flask back to Aika, who took her own swig.
After which, the train ride continued on in silence…
Over two hours later, we finally got to the central city.
The central city was more developed and gave off a modern medieval vibe with large and more elegant buildings. It was a complete contrast to the outskirts we came from.
Since I was sitting by the window, I couldn't help but take in the scenery. Though despite how beautiful and prestigious looking it was, I wasn't fascinated. To me, except for the magic and other benefits of being in a fantasy world, it all felt like a downgrade. Just the thought of not being able to use Wi-Fi, or the internet ever again put me in a depressing mood.
"Tsk. How do all these isekai protagonists do it? How do they just suddenly adapt to a change from tech and all the good stuff Earth has to offer, to a world that looks like it's been flung back into a pre-industrial age?"
I took the flask from Aika and took a few more gulps…
A few minutes later, we got off the train at the station, then walked for over twenty minutes before finally arriving at the Academy.
As soon as we reached the gates, Aika returned to her tattoo form on my right arm, saying she was exhausted and planned to sleep for the remainder of the day.
I stared at the large gates alone for a bit, then after a moment, sighed and finally walked in.
***
First order of business… food.
I yawned as I quickly made my way to the cafeteria. Not only had I not eaten for almost three days before my transmigration, Cedric had not been treated properly and so was not given proper food even before being sold as a slave.
The only reason I wasn't looking severely malnourished right now was that Chrysalis didn't just bring me back to life; it also completely recovered my physical body.
When I finally arrived at the cafeteria, I took a look around the spacious hall that was filled with long tables, noisy cadets, and the scent of freshly prepared food.
Not long after I stepped in, I noticed that everyone seemed to be looking at me. I could even hear some people begin to murmur among themselves.
Ignoring them all, I made my way to the serving area. Once served, I carried my tray of food and water to an empty table, sat down alone, and immediately began eating greedily.
Maybe it was because I was really hungry, but right now, the pottage tasted so good that I almost cried.
Then, just as I was still eating, a dead cockroach fell from above into my food.
I paused, then looked up to see two boys giggling. One was a short, skinny boy with brown hair and glasses. He had what looked like a small red salamander resting on his shoulder. The other, who was clearly the one who had put the cockroach in my food, was a muscular boy with black hair and brown eyes with a scar running across his face.
Looking at the duo, I could recognize them due to seeing them a couple of times in passing during the time I was playing the game.
They were irrelevant NPCs, the kind who used to bully weaker cadets, most especially Cedric.
If I could remember correctly, the skinny boy was Gareth while the muscular boy was called Damon.
They both stopped giggling, and Damon then spoke: "Look who's back, eh? To be honest, when you suddenly vanished a week ago, I thought I'd never see your annoying face back in this academy. So tell me… what brings you back here, bondless?"
I didn't answer. Instead, my gaze returned to my pottage, which was now unfit to eat. I could feel my rage slowly rising within me.
Why? Why do that? I really, really needed that meal.
In the heat of my burning rage, I imagined getting up, grabbing Damon by the hair, and smashing his head down on the table, again, and again, and again until the bastard was a smear of bone and blood on the wood.
But I didn't do it, because right now, I knew that I was weak and Damon was stronger, both in level and experience. And so any attempt to grab him would be impossible, ending only in my humiliation.
However...
Was I going to let this slide just because I was weaker than him?
Never!
"Hey… can't you see I'm talking to you?" Damon spat angrily when he saw that I was ignoring him.
Still, I didn't answer. Instead, I gritted my teeth, stood up from my chair and picked up my tray of food. Then, with all the strength I could muster, I raised the tray and smashed it, hard, into Damon's face.
"Fuck off. You irrelevant NPC!"