Storm Wolf: Tranquil waters - 42. Chapter 9 - Academy 9.5

The cafeteria was very plain, nothing special about it. Where exactly was all the council's budget going?

"What are you having?" Kotetsu senpai sat down and asked us, "I'll go place the order."

"Angus ribeye, medium rare," I blurted out, not realizing just how much I missed the taste.

The border collie snorted with laughter, quickly covering his snout with his paws, though he still couldn't suppress the occasional gasping sound. Kotetsu senpai shot him an annoyed glance before turning his attention to Tadao.

"Your command phrase is quite unique..." Tadao muttered, glancing my way. "'Anything green will do,' huh?"

Hemp senpai couldn't hold back anymore. He collapsed onto the table, pounding it with his fists as he laughed. Kotetsu senpai sighed, got up, and walked over to a platform in the center of the room, which was equipped with a conveyor belt, tapping away at his terminal.

"Oh, my Rationalism..." Hemp senpai finally sat up again, wiping away tears of laughter. "Why'd you order that?"

"The ribeye?" I tilted my head, not quite understanding his question. "I had it once at the Colosseo, thought it was amazing."

"So you know the Academy doesn't use food synthesizers, right?" Hemp senpai gave me a knowing look, to which I nodded in confirmation. "Then don't you think it's a bit... controversial to eat meat in front of herbivores?" He tilted his head slightly.

"Oh," I glanced at Tadao, who didn't seem to be reacting much, but then again, I wasn't an expert at reading the room. "But it's just printed food. It's not really connected to the original thing anymore, is it? It's more of a simulacrum at best."

The thought of eating someone else's body made me feel nauseous. I couldn't imagine how people dealt with this before food synthesizers were invented. Suddenly, I understood what Hemp senpai meant by "controversial," and a shiver ran down my spine. I was relieved to have been born after the invention of the food synthesizer, even if I never got to order exactly what I wanted.

"The postmodernists would have a field day hearing you say that, but please, I beg you--don't join them." Hemp senpai held up his hands as if calling for Rationalism judgment. I nodded in confusing agreement. "What about you?" He raised his snout slightly, gesturing toward Tadao.

"I thought we were supposed to use command phrases for the synthesizer," Tadao replied, glancing around the room. "Most of the time, I just end up with some kind of salad. I'm not too picky." His eyes finally landed on me. "What's a ribeye?"

"It's mainly the longissimus and some surrounding muscle groups, including--" I started to explain but stopped when I noticed Tadao's face contorting in discomfort. "Uh... I know it sounds like I'm spouting jargon, but you did ask me what a ribeye is."

"Oh, for Rationalism's sake. If I'd known, I would've agreed to take a Junior Mentee. How can you be this adorable?" Hemp senpai placed his paws over his eyes and chuckled again, making my ears burn with embarrassment. "This is what I meant by 'controversial.'" He shook his head and placed his paws back on the table, locking eyes with me. "Don't eat meat in front of herbivores, even if they say it's fine--it's rude."

"Oh..." I glanced at Tadao, sitting to my left. He seemed a bit more uncomfortable now. "Sorry, I'll be more careful in the future."

"It's fine." Tadao waved his hand dismissively, trying to show he didn't mind, though even I could tell it wasn't very convincing. "It's just cultural shock. I've never eaten with carnivores before..."

"Same here." I glanced around the cafeteria at the variety of species eating together. "I guess it's a good chance to understand everyone's differences."

Hemp senpai raised his right eyebrow, tilting his head slightly and folding one ear down as he looked at me. I wasn't quite sure what that meant. Does body language change the message when combined with an eyebrow raise?

"Anyway," Tadao cleared his throat, probably trying to break the awkward silence, "How do we pay for the food? Do they accept Federation credits here?"

"Oh, don't worry about that. At first, your Senior Mentor will cover you." Hemp senpai raised a thumb and gestured behind him. "This one's on Kotetsu." He gave us a sly grin.

"What does 'cover you' mean?" I'd already been struggling to keep up with the conversation but felt too embarrassed to interrupt earlier.

"Oh, my bad." Hemp senpai clicked his tongue and tilted his head. "I always forget that wolves from the Senate don't use credits."

"They don't use credits?" Tadao glanced curiously at me. "Then how do they...?"

"They just don't." Hemp senpai waved his hand nonchalantly.

"Oh." Tadao seemed to grasp something. "I guess the Empire doesn't work the way I imagined?"

"Not exactly... It's hard to explain." The border collie opened his mouth as if to elaborate, then thought better of it. "I shouldn't be telling you all this now. There's a class tomorrow that will explain the basic truths you need to know."

"'Basic' truths?" Tadao seemed only to have more questions.

I understood his confusion. If there were "basic" truths, what were the "advanced" ones? But Hemp senpai simply waved his hands in dismissal, signaling that we'd find out in due time and had no intention of explaining further right now.

"Back to what we were saying, in simple terms, everything in the Academy has a price." Hemp senpai looked at me. "Aside from your first set of printed essentials, after that, everything costs points--so make sure to keep a list." He pointed at each of us in turn, and I nodded, mentally reminding myself not to forget. "Meals, miscellaneous expenses, materials, trades with other cadets, and even certain courses will require points."

Hemp senpai tapped his nails on the table to emphasize his point, and I was busy digesting this concept. It seemed like some kind of quantifiable exchange system. Not too hard to grasp.

"Then doesn't that make it even more awkward to have Kotetsu senpai cover us?" Tadao glanced at the Altai wapiti with a slight shift in his posture, clearly feeling uneasy.

"Cadets who agree to take on mentees are given points by the Academy to support your initial expenses." Hemp senpai suddenly pointed at Tadao, baring the tips of his fangs just slightly. "You're Donald's, right? The rottweiler?" Tadao nodded, shrinking a bit. Maybe I shouldn't flash my fangs at herbivores either? "I'll have a 'talk' with him." Hemp senpai's tone alone was enough to make him intimidate, even without any actual threat behind it.

"Is there any way to... earn points?" For some reason, I felt a surge of excitement. How strange. Was I really interested in a system that required constant negotiation?

"Oh, don't worry about that." Hemp senpai clapped his hands with a chuckle. "One of you is a Ture Seer, and the other is an Alpha-class beast. Earning points is the least of your worries."

I tilted my head, lowering my right ear. That sounded... reassuring? Unless I misunderstood, and he meant, "You'll have bigger problems to deal with." I recalled some of the things Qana had mentioned earlier.

"Alpha-level psychics are... uh... what exactly?" Tadao glanced at me, asking hesitantly. "I'm not too familiar with these things..."

Hemp senpai waved his hand, signaling that Tadao shouldn't worry, then turned his gaze toward me.

"Richter, what does it mean to be an Alpha-level psychic?" He raised his paw toward me, signaling that he was giving me the floor to explain.

"It refers to having a consciousness circle large enough to envelop an entire planet and being capable of suppressing the consciousness union of all the planet's inhabitants without the involvement of other psychics." I recited what Qana had taught me.

"I still don't quite understand..." Tadao glanced between me and the border collie.

"It means that if Richter ever decided to do so, and without any psychics to stop him, our seemingly harmless, adorable gray wolf could crush Ares with just a thought." Hemp senpai snapped his fingers for emphasis, causing Tadao to nearly jump out of his seat.

I didn't quite understand why Hemp senpai felt the need to say all that to Tadao. Some sort of... geopolitical issue?

"I'm not the type to sugarcoat things. Pretending that the conflict between the Federation and the Empire isn't on the brink of exploding while we all play house in the Academy serves no purpose." The border collie gestured in the air. "Understanding the truth, making decisions, bearing the risks, and paying the price--this is what it means to be psychic." He looked at the two of us in turn, speaking slowly. "If you don't realize that you're an extraordinary being, one among millions, with the responsibility that comes with it, then I'm certain you'll be on your way home by tomorrow." Hemp senpai didn't make any strong physical gestures, but his words alone carried intense pressure.

Wait... I felt it. He... was influencing us with his waves. So... natural, I almost thought it was my own feelings.

I raised an eyebrow, questioning him with a look. He responded with a small smile, showing his right canine tooth.

"Hey, hey, I thought you preferred playing the good guy." Kotetsu senpai returned with our meals, four plates floating around him.

I stood up to take my steak, along with a plate of alfalfa salad, which I placed in front of Tadao. He seemed like he was about to stand as well but, for some reason, paused and stared at his hands, slowly clenching and unclenching his fists.

With a faint smile, Kotetsu senpai observed Tadao's confused expression before sitting down and placing a fish in front of the border collie.

"What?" Hemp senpai grinned widely, baring his teeth in response to my puzzled expression.

"Do you usually keep your inherent consciousness circle withdrawn?" Kotetsu senpai asked while pouring dressing over his salad. The strong smell made me wrinkle my nose.

"Yeah." I rubbed my nose and picked up my knife and fork. "I'm used to it."

"So that's..." Tadao continued trying to move his hands, probably realizing that once Kotetsu senpai released his circle, he could move freely again. "Domination, right?"

"Yes." Hemp senpai elbowed the Altai wapiti. "Kotetsu is really impressive, you know. One of the top three in our cohort."

"Ugh, hearing that from a carnivore doesn't sit well with me." Kotetsu senpai jokingly pushed back. "Besides, there are a lot of nuances. Don't listen to Hemp; strength isn't that simple."

The border collie shrugged, then somehow managed to break the fish's head and cleanly pull out its spine, leaving even the tail fin intact.

"Show-off," Kotetsu senpai muttered while chewing on his salad.

I consciously closed my mouth, planning to study how he did that later.

"Back to the topic of heading home. Tomorrow morning, there will be another evaluation." Hemp senpai stared at Tadao, emphasizing in a serious tone. "Though I may have been a bit too intense earlier, you don't need to worry. No one has been eliminated at this stage in over ten years. Just stay calm. But in a way, being eliminated at this point might actually be a blessing." Hemp senpai said this as he speared a piece of fish and ate it.

"Eliminated? What does that mean?" This didn't sound good at all, and I could feel my fur bristle. Qana had never mentioned anything about this.

"Besides tomorrow's evaluation, starting in the third year, there will be an exam at the end of each Academic year. Failing certain parts will result in elimination." Kotetsu senpai circled his fork in the air next to his head. "Memories sealed, and expulsion from the Academy."

"Memory... sealing?" Tadao looked a bit worried. "Is that even possible?"

"Yes." Kotetsu senpai answered simply.

"But Richter, you don't need to worry about tomorrow's evaluation. Being a wolf from the Senate means you'll automatically pass." The way Hemp senpai sliced the fish on his plate made me suspect he had some swordsmanship skills. "Congratulations, you get an extra half-day off."

"Why?" Tadao lowered his head, poking at his salad. I could smell his dissatisfaction.

"It's understandable that you feel this way. I thought it was unfair too at first," Kotetsu senpai sighed. "But I think after tomorrow's evaluation, you'll realize you owe Richter an apology."

Tadao continued prodding his alfalfa, waiting for a more detailed explanation, but neither of the seniors said anything more.

"Oh, right." To ease the awkwardness of being the topic of discussion, I pulled out my personal terminal and placed it on the table. "Does the Academy have an internal terminal system? I need to contact someone." Well, just one person. I was sure Qana would be fine on his own.

Unexpectedly, both seniors exchanged glances. Even Tadao looked at me with a somewhat puzzled expression.

"Didn't they explain this to you during the test?" Tadao asked. I shook my head.

"Freshmen are prohibited from contacting the outside world. To prevent you from..." Kotetsu senpai paused. "Saying something you shouldn't."

"Oh." I responded in a bit of a daze, unsure how to react.

"I guess you didn't get the full briefing because you are... unexpected surprise," Kotetsu senpai said as the border collie shot him a questioning glance. "I'll ask around, see if there's any workaround."

"Thanks, I appreciate it," I mumbled, lowering my gaze and continuing with my meal.

Suddenly, my terminal buzzed twice. I unlocked the screen with faint hope of seeing a message about external contact, but I knew that wasn't possible. I heard Tadao's terminal buzz too.

"It's time," Hemp senpai said, pulling a napkin from the drawer beside the table and wiping his mouth. "Fill it out early, it's important." He pointed to our terminals.

I opened the document, which contained dozens of pages, filled with blanks, dropdown menus, and checkboxes.

"Especially you, Richter." Kotetsu senpai said as he gathered the last leaves of his salad onto his fork. "I'm sure by tomorrow--or maybe even tonight--a master will try to recruit you." He finished the last bite of his salad and placed the fork on his empty plate. "The sooner you fill it out, the better it'll be for you."

I thanked the seniors and hurried through the rest of my meal, not wanting to make them wait too long. For the remainder of the time, with my mouth full of food, I just listened to them chat about various topics, making sure not to let my teeth show.