Chapter 13: Becoming an Apprentice

Mapel looked at Lin Yue, who had stepped in to help, a trace of surprise appearing on her face.

She had thought this guy was just as bad as Charles, but never expected him to stand up for her.

At this moment, Lin Yue was speechless as well.

He never imagined such a classic routine would play out right beside him.

Guess that’s just how games are when you haven’t even cleared the newbie tutorial.

Those thugs harassing Airella earlier, and now these guys—they’re all just full with nothing better to do, huh?

We’ve really disgraced the villains’ reputation.

“You think you’re something? Get lost!”

The man didn’t bother with words and reached straight for Lin Yue’s head, seemingly wanting to grab his hair.

“Hmm? A wig?”

The moment he yanked off Lin Yue’s wig, that black hair symbolizing the Hawk Family’s bloodline was revealed.

“You are… Lin Yue Hawk?”

He hadn’t expected this ‘living father’ to actually be working here.

“You, damn…”

Lin Yue had no time to react before his wig was pulled off and left scattered on the floor.

Now it’s over, no more part-time job…

The thug in front took two stunned steps back, but then thought about it—he didn’t really need to fear Lin Yue, had he not already been kicked out of his family?

“Aren’t you just a good-for-nothing who’s been expelled from your family? What are you acting all arrogant for?”

Damn it, if I ever end up starving on the streets after today, I’ll make sure to bury him with me…

Lin Yue narrowed his eyes, a crease appearing on his brow, and said word by word: “If you’re really willing to believe that a family would expel their heir over some petty matter, I have to wonder how someone with your intelligence ended up as Charles’ lackey.”

Hmm…

It’s true, actually.

No one really believes Lin Yue was kicked out of the family so simply—most think the Hawk Family is playing a long game.

But honestly, there’s nothing to it—he was just kicked out.

“Tch, just you wait.”

The thug turned to leave, throwing down a threat.

The shop finally returned to calm.

Lin Yue turned to Mapel, only to see her staring at him in a daze, a hint of surprise in her gaze.

The bell behind them chimed urgently, yet the shop remained deathly still.

“Sigh…”

Seeing everyone’s reaction, Lin Yue sighed.

Sure enough, he couldn’t stay here any longer.

Mapel’s friends exchanged glances, and finally, the bravest girl spoke in a small voice, “Mapel, is he… is he really Lin Yue?”

Mapel finally snapped out of it.

She looked at Lin Yue, her eyes complicated.

There was surprise, confusion, and a hint of curiosity she herself hadn’t noticed.

“What is it?”

Is it so strange for a villain to act cool?

“Thank you, Lin Yue,” she said softly, her voice much more natural than when they’d spoken earlier.

She hadn’t expected things to turn out like this.

Staring at Lin Yue, whose identity had just been exposed, Mapel realized her own plans had been thrown off.

Still, Lin Yue had actually helped her out of a jam; if the uncle hadn’t come back, her secret probably couldn’t have been hidden much longer.

Mapel’s gaze on Lin Yue seemed to change in some subtle, decisive way.

Lin Yue waved his hand, picked up his wig from the floor, and put it back on, covering up that striking black hair.

“Mm… It’s nothing.”

His tone was casual, as if he hadn’t just revealed his identity.

As if it was really nothing…

But the atmosphere in the shop could never return to what it had been.

Mapel’s friends now looked at Lin Yue with awe and suspicion, not daring to joke as they had before.

They hurriedly finished their coffee and, each making an excuse, left the café one by one.

It had to be said, the name Lin Yue Hawk was truly handy.

Sure, his reputation was terrible, but at least he could easily solve trouble with it.

Might as well use it a few more times before being completely exposed.

After all this, even Mapel didn’t know how to start a conversation—she could only watch as Lin Yue continued working under everyone’s shocked gaze.

He finally made it through to the end of the shift.

The sun was nearly set.

Lin Yue checked the time, took off his apron, placed it on the table, and headed for the door.

“That’s it for today. I’ll be heading home now.”

He looked back as he spoke, just like he used to when working at a restaurant in the real world.

“Oh, and I won’t be coming tomorrow.”

“Actually, I probably won’t be coming anymore…”

Seeing Lin Yue act as if he were making a getaway, Mapel hurriedly called after him: “Lin Yue, what do you mean?”

Lin Yue turned and chuckled lightly, “That guy’s going to run around bragging that Lin Yue Hawk was working here. After that, I doubt many people will dare to come…”

He stretched lazily and continued, “So there’s no point in me staying, or else you’ll end up having to kick me out yourselves.”

With that, he coolly took off his wig and walked out, closing the door behind him and leaving a stunned Mapel.

…

Lin Yue poked at the campfire that was burning ever more fiercely, letting out a deep sigh.

He’d been so caught up pretending to be cool that he’d forgotten to collect his wages.

After today, he was completely broke…

Looking at the chicken wings in the pot, he sighed again.

Learning from yesterday’s mistake of only cooking dishes without any staple food, Lin Yue had bought some rice this time.

That way, it wouldn’t be so greasy and hard to eat like yesterday—though it seemed nothing was left over anyway.

Lin Yue sprinkled some soulful scallions and opened the other pot of rice, scooping two bowls for the pair in front of him.

But there was something he couldn’t help but complain about.

“I get why Liya is here, but you… why are you here too?”

Why else—because the food’s delicious!

Airella’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at the brown chicken wings.

Looking at this girl who, once she dropped her guard, had no sense of distance at all, Lin Yue sighed.

“Let me be clear—I’m not planning on interacting much with you at the Academy. Never mind my reputation; if everyone finds out about your abilities, things will get messy…”

“Ah… but we’re in a forest, so it doesn’t really count as being on campus, right?”

Airella mumbled around a mouthful of greasy food, not a trace of her usual beauty to be seen.

Are you even listening to me?

Also, how are you so quick to find a loophole in my words whenever I try to distance myself from you?

If only you used that cleverness on something else.

“Next time you come, I’m charging. One gold coin per meal.”

“Ah…”

One gold coin!

A whole semester in the dorm only cost fifteen gold coins…

Though, to be fair, the dorm was luxurious and came with a dedicated maid, so the value was actually decent.

By normal expenses, even forty gold coins wouldn’t be too much.

If Lin Yue knew what Airella was thinking right now, he’d be shocked she was still focused on food.

Wasn’t this just blatant price gouging?

“Here.”

As she spoke, a shiny gold coin flicked from Liya’s delicate fingers.

“Big sis—wait, wrong, boss… If it’s not enough, I have more.”

Lin Yue nearly dropped to one knee as he served the wooden plate to Liya.

A whole day of work only earned him two silver coins.

One meal, one gold coin—I’m being bribed, plain and simple.

To be able to get along this well with a sixth-rank Magister… must be a one-of-a-kind situation in the world.

“Hmph, cheapskate.”

Airella gnawed the last bit of chicken off the bone, then tossed it to Riel.

The girl and the wolf disappeared together into the evening shadows of the Avelina Forest.

You come here to eat and drink for free and still call me stingy…

If you hadn’t given me a ride that time, I wouldn’t be letting you mooch off my food.

Though that’s how he thought, Lin Yue didn’t really mind.

The campfire quieted instantly, leaving only the soft clatter of Lin Yue cleaning up the dishes.

Liya sat unmoving on the grass, her long purple hair draping over her shoulders, fingers absently stroking the rim of her empty wooden bowl, gaze fixed silently on Lin Yue’s busy figure.

Halfway through cleaning, Lin Yue turned and met Liya’s stare, unsure what she was thinking.

“What is it? If you’re still hungry, there’s rice in the pot. If you don’t mind, I can make some soup for you to eat with it.”

Lin Yue thought she might still be hungry, so he decided to be thorough.

Liya suddenly spoke, her tone so calm it sounded dismissive: “You’re so weak. Why not just become my cook for life?”

She didn’t mean it as mockery.

For Liya, no matter how great someone’s talent or strength, it was insignificant before her.

Let alone Lin Yue, whose magical presence was so faint it was almost negligible.

He really didn’t seem like someone who could even stand his ground at the Academy.

But though Liya spoke so, every time she saw Lin Yue, an utterly ridiculous thought would arise from deep inside her heart.

A thought she’d always longed for, yet never considered.

Death.

Lin Yue froze for a moment, then chuckled: “No thanks on being a full-time cook. I’ve still got school.”

He assumed Liya was teasing him, and bent to continue cleaning up the mess.

Hearing his reply, that strange impulse inside Liya was suddenly triggered.

“I’ll teach you magic.”

Liya’s voice grew half a tone sharper, as if she’d made some firm decision.

“Aren’t you going to school just to learn magic? If a sixth-rank Magister teaches you personally, and your only payment is food, I’ll take it—I’m not picky.”

Lin Yue’s movements stopped abruptly.

He looked up at Liya seriously.

Her eyes were clear and determined—she was definitely not joking.

You have to know, Liya was not only the Academy’s, but the entire continent’s youngest sixth-rank Magister, bar none.

Countless nobles and influential people would do anything to become her apprentice, but never even got the chance.

Yet she was actually offering to teach him magic, and all she wanted was a few dishes as payment?

“Why?”

Lin Yue couldn’t help but ask.

He might be a noble, and his family strong, but even among them only the founder had ever reached the sixth rank.

The Hawk Family hadn’t produced a sixth-rank powerhouse in almost a century.

And he really couldn’t figure it out—just what could possibly interest the rebellious, genius-of-geniuses from the game in him?

Liya turned away, looking at the slightly dim moon on the horizon, her voice as soft as leaves in the wind.

“Your cooking… suits my taste even better than the palace chef’s. Also…”

She paused, then turned to look at Lin Yue again.

“You are the most special person I’ve ever met.”

Special, huh…

Lin Yue took a deep breath, feelings complicated.

Well, I am someone who transmigrated here.

My body might be from this world, but maybe my soul’s flavor really doesn’t belong.

He truly did need to grow stronger.

Whether to shake off the label of being a useless villain, Or to have some ability to do something in this world he knew so well.

And Liya’s invitation was undoubtedly a golden opportunity.

But having frequent contact with such an important character also brought massive risks to the few countermeasures he had.

You win some, you lose some…

Lin Yue shook his head, thinking this broken game really was a mess of conflicting emotions.

There were some compromise solutions, like having her just give him some magical insights and items, keeping their distance and avoiding deep contact, but…If he did that, Liya would definitely get mad.

Thinking of how Liya had been in the game, Lin Yue gave a wry smile.

“So, what should I call you now, Teacher Liya?”

Was that a yes?

Liya raised an eyebrow at Lin Yue, who looked reluctant, but since he hadn’t refused, she decided to forgive him.

“Just call me as before. Being called teacher by someone older than myself feels weird.”

Sigh, looks like Liya doesn’t understand the wisdom of ancient China—”A teacher need not be wiser than the student, nor the student inferior to the teacher.”

“Alright.”

Lin Yue wasn’t the type to pretend like the other nobles, insisting on being reserved.

Their relationship was always one of equals anyway.

“But let me ask, what kind of magic are you planning to teach me?”

He figured it would be some cost-effective magic, low on mana and with a wide range of uses.

“Space magic.”

“?”