Chapter 9

The commotion about the “demon” quickly died down.

Since no real demon had appeared, there was no reason for further chaos.

The professor and students were immediately taken to the infirmary.

But Bell, who was completely unharmed, was released after a brief questioning.

“Do you remember anything? Anything at all.”

“…Hmm, I’m not sure.”

He consistently answered that he remembered nothing.

If he tried to explain—

He might reveal that he was a regressor.

And if he made something up, it could contradict the others’ testimonies later.

For now, it was better to stay vague.

“Don’t pressure him too much. Let him rest first.”

“Do you want someone to walk you to the dorm?”

“That won’t be necessary. I’m old enough.”

“…Ah. Right.”

In March, the sun sets quickly.

By the time he left the healing chamber, it was already dark.

‘This way.’

He arrived at the dormitory.

Three tall four-story buildings with a classic design—

All for freshmen.

The right building with the dark red roof was for the Magic Knight department.

The left blue-toned one was for the Magic Studies department.

So his dorm—

Was on the left.

“This is the girls’ dorm.”

“Bell Tempus… he should be on the list.”

“Oh—he’s a boy?”

After a familiar exchange with the dorm supervisor, he received his student ID and basic instructions.

Due to the demon incident—

All students were forbidden from leaving the dorm.

“Don’t cause trouble. Especially today.”

He headed to his assigned room.

A single room.

A bed, curtains, and a small desk.

He sat down quietly.

Moonlight fell across the table.

It felt a bit cold.

‘I can’t even go to the library.’

9 PM.

Too early to sleep.

He decided to spend time meditating.

And organizing what he had gained today.

[Recovered Knowledge]

• Classical Mana Dynamics
• Classical Analytical Magic

Memory and knowledge—

They sound similar, but they are completely different.

Memory is fragmented and trivial.

Knowledge is a structured tower.

Because of this—

Memories are mostly preserved after regression.

But knowledge collapses with time distortion.

Knowledge itself is history.

And history cannot flow backward.

In future quantum magic—

Knowledge and time are treated as non-commutative quantities.

[Current knowledge level: Year 1726 (53 years ahead)]

53 years—

Recovered in just one day.

An unbelievable stroke of luck.

Perhaps the best start in a million years.

But—

‘How ironic.’

The life he had given up on—

Had the best luck.

Even if he recovered 1,000 years of knowledge—

It wouldn’t be enough to defeat the final demon.

‘It doesn’t change anything.’

Would that man be different?

A genius could change history.

But Bell—

Without memory—

Couldn’t achieve a major breakthrough even in ten thousand years.

‘The end cannot be stopped.’

A suffocating emptiness filled him.

He opened the window.

Cold air flowed in—

But didn’t help.

This peaceful life—

Was unfamiliar.

“….”

Grrr—

His stomach growled.

Only then did he realize—

He had forgotten something important.

His wallet.

His original goal.

‘…I haven’t eaten anything.’

He was starving.

He had effectively gone two days without food.

‘Let’s find something to eat.’

The dorm cafeteria should have something.

Even without money—

Maybe leftovers.

Right now—

Food mattered more than magic.

* * *

Dormitory central building.

The tall corridor was still lit by lanterns.

Even at night—

Students were active.

Training.

Studying.

Even today—

After the incident.

‘It’s quite grand.’

Bell looked around.

The layout was similar—

But slightly different.

Due to randomness in minor events,

Each regression caused small changes—

Walls, decorations, lighting.

But—

Important things—

Remained the same.

Like the cafeteria.

‘There it is.’

He found it quickly.

The structure was familiar.

Long central tables.

Various food stalls around.

Students bought food—

And ate at the center.

The wooden tables symbolized equality—

But reality was different.

================

Royal Crown Steak Set – 5 gold

Leviathan Tomato Pasta – 35 silver

Garlic Bread – 2 silver

1 gold = 100 silver.

The price difference—

Was extreme.

‘5 gold for one meal…’

He had about 10 gold before.

Enough for a month—

If used wisely.

Now—

Two meals.

Gone.

‘Luxurious.’

Only one student was eating steak.

A girl—

Sitting alone.

‘…That girl?’

Black bob hair.

He recognized her.

The girl from the train.

‘A noble… perhaps?’

Not impossible.

The academy had students from many nations.

Some were royalty.

‘Not my concern.’

He looked away.

Then checked the pasta.

Reasonable price.

Still expensive—

But normal.

Most students were eating similar meals.

But—

He couldn’t afford it.

Begging was not an option.

‘Something else…’

Garlic bread.

2 silver.

Cheap.

And—

He had a plan.

<Open 10:00 ~ Close 22:00>

Unsold food—

Would be thrown away.

So—

He could take it.

‘Three pieces left.’

9:45 PM.

15 minutes to closing.

Surely—

They wouldn’t sell out.

Even two pieces—

Would be enough.

‘I’ll come back later.’

But standing there for 15 minutes under the vendor’s gaze—

Was too awkward.

So he left.

‘Let’s grab a seat first.’

He sat at a table.

Watching others eat.

Making sure no one bought the bread.

‘I’m starving…’

The smell.

The sight.

It was unbearable.

Then—

‘…What?’

His eyes widened.

A steak—

Left unfinished.

More than half.

‘They left this?’

He stood up.

Looked around.

No one noticed.

He sat down at the table.

‘That princess is wasteful.’

But—

It made sense.

A 15-year-old girl—

Couldn’t finish such a meal.

‘Still… lucky for me.’

The steak was still warm.

Side dishes untouched.

‘Let’s eat.’

He resisted the urge to devour it.

Instead—

He started with the salad.

Gracefully.

Even now—

He kept his dignity.

Then—

A voice.

“…What are you doing?”

He froze.

Slowly—

He looked up.

The girl stood there.

Holding lemon juice.

And—

A plate stacked with three garlic breads.

“…Who are you? Why are you eating my food?”