FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

I felt a bit weak, as if something inside me was physically missing.

So this is what it means to have an incomplete soul?

But...

I gently clenched my fist, sensing the connection with the "Heart." Compared to the Gray Snow, this feeling was far more intense.

Maybe it was related to the "Awakening" process. According to Master Field, the "Heart" is in a default awakened state, but Gray Snow is not. Or perhaps being viewed as a weapon or tool subjects it to different rules?

I wasn’t sure.

The exhaustion and fatigue following the forging process left me too preoccupied to consider asking. Besides, Master Field was clearly not in a state to deliver in-depth lessons.

I relaxed my hand, letting the steady rhythm of the pulse fade into the background noise, deciding to explore it later.

"Richter senpai, what a coincidence meeting you here!" The chocolate Labrador plopped down in the empty seat across from me.

"I imagine it's the irresistible will of biological needs that brings us to the cafeteria," I replied lazily, finding myself too lethargic to even satirize him. "Hunter."

"Since such coincidences have brought us together, might you be interested in hearing some insider information?" After I folded down my right ear, Hunter seemed to realize I was not following his intent, so he added, "A guaranteed, risk-free investment!"

"A guaranteed, risk-free investment?" Do people really fall for such things?

"Don’t mind him." Tadao set his tray on the table beside me and sat down as well. "Someone just need a lesson."

I noticed the shield Tadao activated, resembling Hamp senpai's structure but lacking its refinement. It piqued my curiosity, though at the moment, I was more interested in learning what Hunter had done this time.

"What happened?" I glanced at the Labrador, who had both ears folded flat against his head in a pitiful display. Oddly, I felt an urge to console Hunter, which unsettled me—what was the source of this reaction?

"The beach party betting pool ended with both Kotetsu senpai and the newcomer Nyx passing out simultaneously, so the house took all the winnings."

Halfway through Tadao's explanation, I averted my gaze, staring at my plate in an attempt to erase the mental image.

"What’s the issue?" I poked at my food, hoping to look less awkward. "Surely no one’s upset and trying to back out of their bets?"

"No." Tadao sighed before continuing, "This idiot took all the points he earned and shorted mithril, thinking it was a 'risk-free investment' he heard about somewhere."

"Shorted?" I looked up at the Labrador’s smug face.

"Essentially, betting the price of an asset will drop to profit from the price difference," Tadao explained the financial concept, leaving me even more confused. "Long story short, due to unpredictable public sentiment—or sheer bad luck—or maybe a butterfly in South America flapping its wings a bit too hard, mithril’s price soared, and this guy lost everything." The red deer glared at Hunter, who shrugged nonchalantly. "So his solution is to convince others about his 'risk-free investment' idea and use their money to pay off his debts!"

"Hey, it's not my fault; capitalism made the rules!" Hunter raised his paws defensively.

"How much do you need?" Part of me was just curious, while another part wasn’t.

"Richter!" Tadao exclaimed, looking utterly stunned.

"Three hundred thousand," Hunter replied without hesitation.

"Wait a second," Tadao interrupted as I placed my terminal on the table. "You told me two hundred thousand earlier."

"I need some startup capital for a comeback." Hunter flashed me a toothy grin.

"I don’t even know what to say anymore," Tadao muttered, burying his face in his hands.

"Give me your creditors' names," I sighed. Hunter reluctantly listed three names unfamiliar to me. "It’s done—all debts are settled." After securing my terminal back onto my arm, I looked Hunter in the eye and said sternly, "The Academy ensures effort matches rewards. Instead of chasing shortcuts, focus on honing your abilities."

"And how would you understand?" Hunter scoffed. "You, born into wealth and privilege, who’ve never known want and don’t even have the concept of trading—how dare you lecture me?"

Caught off guard, I have no idea how to response. But in that moment, I recognized something—his cold, blade-sharp tone was likely the first time I encountered the real Hunter, the one usually hidden behind grins and flamboyant antics.

The Labrador quickly finished his meal and left without another word.

"Don’t overthink it," Tadao said, raising his head. "He’s a pedigree from an elite House; how bad could things really be?"

"I…" I’m not so sure about that. If I had to name the most profound lesson I’d learned in recent years, it was that the world often defies what we take for granted.

"Regardless, you just paid off Hunter’s debt," Tadao continued, making a few hand gestures I didn’t quite recognize. "Even as one of the Academy's top ten wealthiest, that’s still quite extravagant."

"What was I supposed to do—just leave him be?" I checked the terminal to see a few polite messages from the creditors. "It only cost me ten percent of my credit flow; it’s really not a big deal."

"You used ten percent of your savings to clean up after someone you don’t even like?" I tried to deny my dislike for Hunter but quickly realized it was pointless, so I just shrugged. Tadao sighed, as though he had more to say, but instead scratched the skin between his antlers and returned to his meal.

The red deer’s emotions were turbulent, but since he chose not to share, I didn’t press. At that moment, I sensed Kotetsu’s waveform approaching.

"’You’re embarrassing me.’" the Altai Wapiti said as he sat in Hunter’s vacant seat.

"I wasn’t thinking that!" Tadao’s sudden, defensive reaction made me fold my right ear, glancing between the two.

"Oh, please," Kotetsu snorted, gesturing with a hand that unfolded from a fist. "Even with double vision and echoes ringing in my head, I can still read your emotional waveforms."

"Did I do something wrong?" My ears drooped involuntarily as I sought an explanation.

The red deer opened his mouth as if to speak, but seemed unsure where to begin, frozen in a peculiar tableau.

"Did you forget that Tadao is that chocolate dog’s senior mentor?" Kotetsu remarked, rubbing his temple. "By stepping in, you undermined his authority and implied he couldn’t handle something you resolved in three seconds."

I glanced at Tadao. The red deer had his head lowered, mechanically shoveling food into his mouth. The tips of his lowered ears were faintly flushed.

"Sorry, I didn’t…" I murmured, shifting uncomfortably.

"Didn’t think it through," Kotetsu said, twirling his chopsticks midair. "Yeah, we know."

"I’ll be more mindful next time," I replied, my ears pressed flat, heat radiating from the blood rushing into them.

"It’s no big deal; don’t worry about it." Tadao waved dismissively. "Besides, I honestly didn’t know how to handle Hunter. He’s just… beyond reason."

"That’s an apt description," Kotetsu chuckled.

"I think that’s a bit much," I mumbled softly, trying not to sound impolite.

"Don’t be so sensitive. That chocolate dog’s brand of beyond reason is entirely different from yours," Kotetsu snorted before turning to Tadao. "If you need tips, when Richter doesn’t behave, I ensure he gets properly disciplined. Clear rewards and punishments can—"

"I don’t want to know!" Tadao groaned, burying his face in his hands.

For the remainder of the lunch, amid the Altai Wapiti’s laughter, I tried to finish my meal as quickly as possible, bypassing the chewing step altogether.