Chapter 290: Factions
"Haah, this is going to be one heck of a meal," Kyle muttered as he carried his tray toward an empty table.
The meal was surprisingly lavish. A generous serving of white rice sat beside pan grilled chicken and a colourful mix of sauteed vegetables. A bowl of thick, rich soup steamed gently, packed with tender chunks of meat. To finish it off, there was a small pudding for dessert and a glass of juice he had specifically requested.
There was more than enough to satisfy even his appetite.
’Three credits for all this? That’s practically robbery.’
Then again, perhaps it only felt that way because hardly anyone on campus possessed as many points as he did.
Whether those points would be enough to last the next six months was a problem for another day. Right now, all he wanted was to enjoy his first proper meal on campus.
"Hmm?"
His brows knit together.
A boy sitting nearby subtly shifted in his chair, stretching out a leg directly into Kyle’s path.
The attempt didn’t escape him. God’s Eye was still active.
Kyle merely shook his head.
Instead of tripping, he lifted his foot and brought it down squarely on the boy’s exposed toes.
"Gaah! Fuck! Can’t you watch where you’re going?" the boy yelled.
Kyle didn’t even slow down. If anything, he deliberately twisted his heel before stepping past, making the boy’s scream echo through the cafeteria.
Kyle stopped and glanced at the boy.
"Then stop trying to trip people."
With that, he turned and resumed walking.
"Hey! Get back here!" the boy bellowed, springing to his feet.
The three boys seated with him rose as well, their expressions making it clear they had every intention of turning the cafeteria into a spectacle.
By now, the surrounding students had abandoned their own conversations. Curious gazes converged on the unfolding scene, eager to see how the confrontation would end.
Kyle paid them no mind.
He calmly walked across the hall in search of a quiet table where he could finally enjoy his lunch.
He had expected the four to chase after him, which was why he wanted to put his tray down first.
Surprisingly, they didn’t.
After taking his seat, he looked back toward the growing crowd.
It wasn’t surrounding the boys.
Its attention had shifted elsewhere.
Kyle’s gaze swept past the cluster of girls who had entered the common hall earlier while he was collecting his meal. Hidden within them was the same person he had ignored before.
"Wait a second..."
His eyes narrowed.
"I know him."
A memory surfaced.
He hadn’t met the boy personally.
But he had seen him fight.
As Kyle was recalling the memory, the boy suddenly turned and looked straight at him.
Their eyes met.
The four boys who had been ready to pick a fight immediately froze. Whatever courage they had gathered vanished as they quietly returned to their seats, pretending nothing had happened.
The newcomer began walking toward Kyle.
The girls instinctively moved to follow, but he raised a hand without looking back.
They halted at once, though the reluctance on their faces was obvious.
Kyle had already started eating. Between mouthfuls of rice and chicken, he occasionally glanced at the approaching boy, only to find the latter’s gaze fixed on him.
’Please don’t talk to me...’
He was thoroughly enjoying his meal and had no desire to interrupt it.
Unfortunately, his silent plea went unanswered.
The boy stopped beside the table.
"I believe you don’t recognize me."
Kyle swallowed his food before replying, "I do. I just can’t remember your name." He gave an apologetic nod. "Still, you seem like a decent guy, so it’s nice to meet you."
The boy let out a quiet sigh and sat across from him.
"All this time, I’ve considered you my greatest rival, yet you don’t even remember me." He smiled wryly and shook his head. "Then again, if you did, perhaps you wouldn’t have been worthy of my respect."
Kyle nearly choked on his lime juice as the boy finally introduced himself.
"My name is Charles Malandock."
Recognition flashed across Kyle’s face.
"Ah, the Headmaster’s grandson. Now I remember."
A faint smile appeared on Charles’ lips.
"That’s a little insulting. You remember me because of my grandfather, not because of the battle we fought back then."
Kyle shrugged.
"You fought the Majins. I remember that much. You were impressive."
A teenager standing his ground against multiple Majins and emerging victorious was no ordinary feat. Even now, the memory remained vivid enough to earn Kyle’s genuine admiration.
"Yeah... and what happened afterward must have left a much deeper impression on you," Charles said with a self-deprecating smile.
Kyle paused mid-chew, tilting his head.
"What do you mean? I don’t really remember what happened to you after the Headmaster ordered you to fall back."
Charles leaned against his chair and quietly studied the man across from him.
Not once had he forgotten that day.
His own helplessness.
The fear that had robbed his legs of all strength.
The humiliation of being unable to stand while he continued fighting.
Above all else, he remembered Kyle.
A man who had awakened less than ten days earlier yet had overwhelmed the Ghoul with a ferocity that bordered on monstrous.
The terror Charles had felt toward that creature had long since faded, replaced by something far stronger.
Respect.
No, admiration.
Now, hearing Kyle casually admit that he barely remembered anything beyond the mission itself, Charles understood why.
Kyle had never been paying attention to him in the first place.
His entire focus had been locked onto the hunt, on eliminating the Ghoul and fulfilling the responsibility he had taken upon himself. Everything else had simply become background noise.
Realizing that only deepened Charles’ admiration.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"I’ve heard some students have been trying to pick on you. Three separate incidents already, and you’ve barely stepped through the academy gates."
Kyle gave a helpless smile.
"What, have you been stalking me or something?"
Charles shrugged.
"Word travels fast around here, especially to the leader of a faction."
"Faction?" Kyle echoed. "The academy has those?"
"Not officially," Charles replied. "But yes, there are several unofficial factions. Some are formed by students who plan to establish their own organisations after graduation. Others consist of those aiming to join the PSC. Then there are people who simply band together until they find their place in the world."
Kyle nodded thoughtfully before asking, "What about Ethan and his goons?"
"They belong to a rebellious faction," Charles answered evenly. "With Ethan’s family backing him, they’ll most likely build an organisation of their own after graduation."
After a brief pause, he added, "You don’t need to worry, though. As long as you’re on my side, Ethan won’t dare cause you any trouble."
Kyle immediately gave him a thumbs-up.
"I like the sound of that."
He flashed an easy smile.
"So go ahead and sign me up."
Charles faintly smiled, "Not so easily. To join our faction there is a small trial one must pass. But don’t worry, since it’s you, it won’t be a problem."
Kyle hummed, what was this now about?
°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading.