The cafeteria was bustling with students.

  "Those who are here for the meal, please come this way and line up," a voice rang out.

  Seneca, Maiol, Gaia, and Prautia approached, curious, as it seemed an uppercssman was expining how to navigate the cafeteria.

  "I’m Secunda, a second-year student. I’m in charge of assisting the new students, so if you need any help, feel free to ask me. Now, let me expin the meal arrangements," the uppercssman began. "Both breakfast and dinner are served in this cafeteria. Seating is free, though do keep in mind that some uppercssmen have a strong territorial sense, so be cautious.

  "When you go to get your meal, pick up one of those wooden boards stacked over there, and line up at the designated spot. Students in Css B or higher receive their meals for free, while others can get refills at a very low cost—just show your student ID when asked. For those who need boxed lunches, you can request them at a low price, but be sure to pce your order by the morning. If you need it by morning, it’s best to order it the night before.

  "Also, it’s the responsibility of the person who uses the cafeteria to clean up afterward, so please be diligent. In fact, there are some people who can trace magical residue to identify who didn’t clean properly, so be mindful.

  "Adventurers live free-spirited lives, but that also means if you don’t follow the basic rules, things can become chaotic. You should already know this by coming to this school, but you’ll realise just how challenging it can be as you experience it for yourselves."

  With that, she finished her briefing. "Well, that’s all for now. Let’s all enjoy our time here! If you understand, please head to the dinner line!"

  Seneca and Maiol raised their hands, calling out a cheerful, "Alright!" and confidently went to collect their meals.

  Gaia followed quietly, while Prautia, looking somewhat unsure, looked around before trailing behind them.

  ...

  The four of them gathered at the far side of the cafeteria to eat together.

  "So, Prautia, you're an adventurer specialising in pnt gathering, right?" Seneca asked with a friendly smile.

  "That's right. I'm not good with combat, but I passed the exam by demonstrating my scouting skills," Prautia replied.

  Prautia had achieved a commendably high standard, earning her a pce in Css A.

  "I’m also familiar with gathering materials, but I doubt I can compare to you," Seneca said thoughtfully.

  "Oh, not at all. Besides, I’ve seen how Gaia ranks at the top of the css," Prautia added, with a shy smile.

  They had decided to speak casually with each other, as adventurers do, though Prautia seemed hesitant to drop the formalities. Still, they quickly found their rhythm.

  Initially quiet, Prautia had begun to open up more and more.

  "...That’s true," Gaia began. "I was top of my css in academics, but my practical skills are so cking that I ended up in Css B."

  "Oh!" Prautia excimed in surprise before she quickly covered her mouth, realising she’d said too much. Her face flushed red.

  "Don’t worry about it," Gaia reassured her. "I’m well aware of my own limitations, and it'll be obvious soon enough. Besides, I came here to improve my practical skills."

  "Wait, what do you mean by that?" Maiol asked, her curiosity piqued.

  "I’m a mage," Gaia began. "But my skillset is very specialised. It’s not the most versatile, and it's difficult to use effectively. However, I believe that with the right approach, I could make it work and use my skills to my advantage as an adventurer."

  Seneca listened intently, her face full of admiration. "That’s such a lovely story," she murmured.

  Meanwhile, Prautia was munching on grilled big boar meat, enjoying her meal. The academy bought materials gathered by students and prepared fresh dishes at low prices, which made for a delicious, affordable meal in the dorms.

  Maiol was sipping on a vegetable-den soup, her eyes sparkling with enjoyment despite the soup being slightly salty—just part of its charm.

  "By the way, the two of you are special students, right?" Gaia asked, her voice filled with genuine interest. "How did you manage to become Copper-ranked adventurers?"

  Maiol answered with a grin. "We defeated two mutated apes and reached level 2. That’s how we became Copper-ranked adventurers, and we applied to the school right after."

  "Wow," Gaia said, her expression awestruck. "You two were just twelve and thirteen, weren’t you? Reaching level 2 in your first and second years… you must be true prodigies."

  She looked up at the ceiling as though contempting the magnitude of their achievements, while Prautia stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

  Seneca, unsure of what to make of Gaia’s words, was about to ask for crification. However, she sensed the conversation might take an awkward turn, so she decided to save her questions for ter and would ask Maiol instead.

  ...

  After finishing their meals, the four of them moved to Maiol and Prautia's room to continue their conversation.

  Prautia, eager to learn more, asked Seneca a question.

  "So, you two really defeated two mutated monkeys together?" Prautia asked, eyes wide.

  "Yeah," Seneca answered casually.

  "Wow! Even if you hadn’t levelled up, defeating those creatures would have been enough to earn you a Copper-ranked status. That’s incredible!"

  "I think your achievement of gathering Tricodermia Grass is even more impressive, though! I’ve seen it in the forest before but never managed to gather any," Seneca responded.

  "Hehe. It’s because I have the right skills," Prautia said modestly.

  "You have the [Pnt Gathering] skill, right? It’s a specialised skill, but it’s incredibly powerful. I bet you’ve been assigned some special requests for it, haven’t you?" Seneca said, her excitement evident.

  "I hope so. It’s not just the gathering method that’s important; knowing the right locations to harvest from is key too, so I need to keep learning other techniques," Prautia expined, brushing her red hair back thoughtfully.

  Maiol shifted the conversation towards Gaia. "I still can’t quite believe you defeated a bronze duck. How could you defeat such a monster but still struggle with practical magic?"

  Gaia nodded and expined, "It’s all about compatibility. I have a magic skill called [Artillery Magic], which is extremely powerful. It can even penetrate tough enemies. However, the magic consumes a lot of energy, and with my current mana capacity, I can only cast one spell per day."

  "Such a skill exists?" Maiol asked, slightly stunned.

  "I know, right?" Gaia replied with a wry smile. Prautia, astonished, added, "Wow. With such a limitation, it must be hard to level up your skill."

  "That’s right," Gaia said. "Even though I can only cast one spell a day, the power of that spell is so great that I can’t even use it in the city. So, I have to travel to more remote areas to practice, which means I’ve gotten pretty good at camping out."

  Gaia chuckled dryly, her eyes distant as she recalled her experiences.

  "When I heard that this school has facilities that can withstand even the most powerful magic, I was eager to apply. I knew my skills were cking, but I studied desperately to get better. It might not seem very adventurer-like, but that’s what I did."

  Seneca leaned in, her eyes glowing with admiration. "That’s not true! Working towards your goal, step by step, is so important, and you’ve achieved so much already. You’re amazing."

  Gaia blushed, her voice barely audible. "Thanks."

  Maiol, observing the warm exchange, felt an unexpected surge of happiness in her chest.

  "Well, we’ve been talking for quite a while. I think it’s time for me to get some exercise," Maiol said, standing up.

  "I’ll join you," Seneca said, rising as well. "Where shall we go?"

  "Probably somewhere around here," Maiol suggested casually.

  Gaia and Prautia, still a bit confused by their sudden change of focus, looked at each other.

  "Are you two seriously pnning to train now?" Prautia asked, clearly surprised.

  "Of course," Maiol replied, her tone nonchant.

  Seneca and Maiol both tilted their heads as if it were the most natural thing in the world. With that, they headed out of the room, leaving Gaia and Prautia behind.

  "People don’t usually start training at this hour, do they?" Prautia said, looking at Gaia, who nodded slowly.

  "Those are the special students…" she murmured, gazing thoughtfully at the door long after they had left.