Kisaki led us into a large room with a grand round table. Now that I think about it, didn’t she say she would host an extravagant feast?

As she entered the room, the waiting members of Hyunryongmun stepped forward, pulling out chairs for her. Seeing Kisaki naturally take her seat and then offer a place to her right, it must be the seat of honor.

“My dear, I hope that during this opportunity you can fully enjoy the hospitality unique to Sanhaegyeong… No, to Hyunryongmun!”

As soon as Kisaki finished her words and lightly clapped her hands, the feast of Hyunryongmun welcomed me.

While there were many familiar types of dishes, most of them were new to me. The steam rising from the dishes suggested that they had timed the cooking perfectly for my arrival.

Thinking that this truly was VIP treatment, I felt surprisingly unburdened by it. I had indeed changed a lot, having fallen from an ordinary citizen to a person of power.

By the way, I know the motif of Sanhaegyeong is China, but since the Sanhaegyeong itself isn’t a large academy, I was a bit puzzled. The absurd diversity of Chinese cuisine comes from its vast land, which manages to combine specialty dishes from various regions, yet Sanhaegyeong does not fit that bill.

…Could it be that it’s a cooking academy for that reason?

Anyway, along with familiar dishes like Eight Treasures Porridge, Hot Pot, Dim Sum, Sweet and Sour Pork, and Dongpo Pork, there were plenty of dishes I didn’t recognize filling the table.

“Umm, Kisaki-chan. Did I mention in the letter that I’m a bit of a foodie?”

“Hehe. My dear, set aside your meaningless worries and focus on tasting as many dishes as you can. If you find something you like, it’s not a bad idea to stick to that. I too enjoy good food, so you don’t have to worry about that. Just save some room for the main dish.”

“Okay, that’s a relief. But can I take some pictures?”

“Of course. Feel free to do so.”

Honestly, I just can’t hold back from taking pictures before eating. This is one of those shots I can only take here.

“This is Xiang Wuguo, a dish I personally recommend. The cooking process is somewhat complicated, but the harmony of taro and pork belly is fantastic, making it quite popular in Sanhaegyeong.”

“Where… Mmm. Not bad… actually, it’s really delicious. Especially the texture of the meat is outstanding.”

“Do you enjoy spicy food?”

“Well… I can handle it reasonably well.”

I’ve mostly been able to eat spicy food without any issues. However, ever since I was possessed, my tolerance has dropped significantly. For example, I used to eat Nuclear Spicy Chicken Noodles without changing my expression, but now that’s been downgraded to just regular Spicy Chicken.

“Then how about trying some Dan Dan Noodles or Mapo Tofu occasionally?”

“Oh, as for the others, I’m not too sure about Mapo Tofu…”

While I know Mapo Tofu can be palatable, one mustn’t forget the clichés of creative works. In an instant, it can become a perilous opponent, just like the Mapo Tofu from a story.

As I nibbled on the dishes recommended by Kisaki, a child from Hyunryongmun approached and placed a soup dish in front of me.

“This dish is indeed the main event of today. It’s called Buddha Jumps Over the Wall… a rare dish made with various precious ingredients. Have you heard of it?”

“Wow—oh…”

Of course, I had heard of it. As far as I know, there’s no soup in China esteemed more than Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. I think it meant that even Buddha would jump over the wall to eat it? I’ve heard it isn’t even served at state banquets that often.

“I’ve heard that the ingredients in this Buddha Jumps Over the Wall are rather extraordinary. Shark fin, wild mushrooms, dried abalone, ginseng, black-boned chicken, and several other rare and top-grade ingredients. Even I have only tasted this dish a few times.”

As I listened to Kisaki’s explanation, two thoughts flashed through my mind.

First, it seems our accompanying attendants are truly in for a treat, having come all the way to Sanhaegyeong; they’re eating something amazing.

Second, I felt a bit guilty for not bringing Haruna along today…

But, since it wasn’t for personal business and there was an official schedule, how could I bring Haruna with me? Although I didn’t need to feel too guilty, it’s hard not to feel a bit of warmth hearing about how much Fuka is bothering Haruna to cook something good for her sake.

When Haruna hears that I’ve tasted an SSS-grade Buddha Jumps Over the Wall at Sanhaegyeong, she’ll probably act cutely jealous and ask if I enjoyed it.

As I scooped some broth and mushrooms into my mouth, I realized what delicious, healthy flavors were like. The broth was clear yet rich in the essence of the ingredients, and the moment I chewed the mushroom, it seemed to vanish down my throat, sending me into a trance-like state.

I must admit, shark fin isn’t really my thing, but the black-boned chicken made me go “wow!” So, I’m sorry, Haruna.

In summary, it was excellent, but it didn’t quite match the level of flavor that would make even Buddha jump over the wall.

…No, if Buddha wanted to nourish himself, he’d probably jump over it.

“Truly, it was a wonderful taste. Did it suit your palate?”

“I feel sorry for not bringing my foodie friend over, as it was exquisite. Thanks to that, I might not be able to enjoy the other dishes…”

“Is that so? You’re just like me. In that case, shall we leave the others to enjoy their meal and take a walk for a bit? To make room for dessert, we can’t say you fully enjoyed Hyunryongmun’s hospitality without it… I’d also like to have a chat with you.”

“Haha, sounds good☆ After you, leader!”

“No, if we’re talking, it would be better for us to walk side by side. There’s no need for me to lead.”

So it was, just as we were about to step away from our attendants who were busy eating and the head of Hyunryongmun’s execute, a girl named Mina who served as Kisaki’s escort suddenly spoke up.

“Leader, are you really going to step away with such a beastly individual without any guards? I should accompany you—”

“A beastly individual…? What kind of nonsense is that? Cancel that right now.”

“Wait, for a moment. That’s not what I meant.”

As Mina suddenly referred to me as a beastly individual, I was torn between whether I should be angry or not.

“Mina, step back. It’s only right to seek forgiveness for such rudeness before making excuses.”

“…S-sorry. I meant to say that your aura, which is a little intimidating, might make people think of a beastly figure, but I said it in haste.”

“Hmm… It seems like no big deal after all.”

“Mina, can you not set aside the worry that a leader of a different academy might harm me? And it seems like the presence or absence of guards has no real significance. My dear, would my suspicions be correct?”

“Well, if I affirm it, wouldn’t that be a bit rude…?”

“That’s right. Most importantly, I’ve been observing people for quite some time. It’s evident that there’s no reason to act violently without cause. So, Mina, I would state that your previous worry was unnecessary.”

Mina, having her concerns dismissed as unnecessary by Kisaki, nodded with a somewhat sour expression, clearly troubled by the implication that she was being told she couldn’t handle me.

After moving to a spot outside, Kisaki led me somewhere and began speaking to me.

“It’s about time we discuss the true reason for your visit to Sanhaegyeong. I can tell you’re busy by the little I’ve come to know about you, so it wouldn’t be polite to hold you for too long.”

“Is that so? How interesting. Well, since we’ve had enough ice-breaking, I suppose it’s fine☆”

As we turned a corner and passed through a corridor leading to the building’s exterior, a beautiful garden appeared, complete with a small pond.

As Kisaki approached the railing overlooking the pond, she turned to me and began to address the core reason for my visit to Sanhaegyeong.

“Sanhaegyeong has expressed concerns regarding the de facto alliance you and Gehenna Academy are pursuing under the protection of the Student Council President. However… do you truly believe there’s a reason for Sanhaegyeong to feel apprehensive about that?”

“…To be honest, I think there’s no reason at all. Ultimately, the influential group pulling the strings is none other than SRT Special Academy, which relies heavily on the Student Council President.”

“That’s right. If it was proposed by the Student Council, it would be odd for Sanhaegyeong to feel the need to get involved, even if the two academies were to form an official alliance. In other situations, perhaps, but especially because it’s being pushed forward by the current Student Council President. Such a person wouldn’t have initiated this treaty without considering the possibility of such a united force posing a risk to the outside.”

That was indeed the case. If Trinity and Gehenna were to pursue an alliance independently, it couldn’t help but be seen as a threat by other academies. But with the Student Council President involved, there’s an expectation that there would be at least some safety measures in place for other academies.

“Ah.”

It suddenly struck me. Even though I saw that the relationship between the two academies was progressing smoothly, the Student Council President was still pushing for the Eden Treaty.

If Trinity and Gehenna were to form an alliance, other academies wouldn’t just stand still watching. They wouldn’t understand our motivations for improving relations, and even if we unveiled them sincerely, it would be difficult for them to easily believe it.

The framework of the Eden Treaty, initiated by the ‘Student Council President’, acted as a sort of barrier to protect the two academies from unnecessary suspicions.

“Student Council President… no, Student Council Leader. I’ve only just realized how you’ve lived…”

So then, why on earth did Sanhaegyeong raise concerns? According to Kisaki, there seemed to be no reason for them to do so.

“I have been deeply moved by the process of two academies, long-time rivals, overcoming their hatred toward each other over the past few centuries. How could I not be? What was once deemed impossible… Although we’ve just taken our first step, I’ve witnessed their determined progress. Because of this, as a leader for my academy currently struggling with a similar issue, I’ve felt so much.”

“…You’re talking about the opposition between Hyunryongmun and Hyeonmusanghoe.”

“Since you seem to already be aware, I won’t need to explain that part. It’s now known to everyone that you and Gehenna’s leader are… involved. Whether you’ve had a secret relationship from the start or progressed into one while aiming for improvement isn’t my concern; that detail doesn’t matter.”

Kisaki’s eyes pierced through mine as though she were trying to see into my very soul. Beyond that gaze flickered a glimmer of wisdom and intelligence, making me question whether I could still regard her as just a child.

“Unlike the relationship between Hyunryongmun and Hyeonmusanghoe, there’s no ill will between Rumi and I. As a member of Hyunryongmun, I value tradition, but that doesn’t mean I believe the methods of Hyeonmusanghoe are wrong at their core. The circumstances and conditions… don’t they seem remarkably similar to what you have overcome?”

Kisaki slowly bowed her head. For someone like her, a mere student council president, to bow her head is not an act of light importance.

Thus, this serves as a sign that the matter at hand is weighty beyond compare for her.

“I hold similar thoughts toward Hyeonmusanghoe as I do toward Sanhaegyeong. As the student council president of Sanhaegyeong, I would like to embrace them. Therefore, I wonder if I could seek your counsel on how to dismantle the current state of affairs between Hyunryongmun and Hyeonmusanghoe?”

Ryuuge Kisaki. She was a more mature child than any student council president I knew.

With such a request from her, I found that I had no choice but to comply.