Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 5] Chapter 174
[Vol. 5] Chapter 174: Hunger
“Home, huh…”
Miss White Fox nodded ambiguously, not continuing the conversation further. Instead, she gently patted the little girl’s head beside her and asked with a smile.
“And you, Eudora? What do you think of this place?”
Although Edwina, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow slightly as if she had noticed something, the young and naive little girl naturally didn’t catch the undertone of the adults’ conversation. She simply thought for a moment before nodding earnestly.
“It’s amazing! The ground is so clean, and the air smells like fresh grass and flowers. It always reminds me of how I felt when I was with Sister Theresa. There are many little birds in the trees… The people here must all be very kind, right?”
The little girl took a few steps to the side, pointing to the small pond surrounded by white stone railings, and then turned back with a bright smile, revealing her pearly white teeth, the pure smile of a child.
“Look, even the fish in the water aren’t afraid of me.”
“Fish…?”
Seemingly surprised by this, Miss White Fox and Edwina exchanged glances before shifting their gaze toward the water where Eudora was pointing. Sure enough, at the edge of the pond near the shore, at least a dozen ornamental fish with glittering golden scales had gathered, their eyes wide as they blew bubbles toward the three of them.
But soon, Violet figured out the reason behind it.
It’s probably because the students of the Holy Academy, when they have nothing better to do, often come here to feed the fish, as well as the birds and the small animals living in the ecological zone. That’s why these creatures are so friendly, rushing to gather whenever they see someone approach, expecting an easy meal.
Although Eudora’s words were a bit naïve and simplistic, in a way, she wasn’t entirely wrong.
The human environment of a campus and the atmosphere it exudes from every plant and tree can indeed reflect something about the place.
Before Violet could respond, the Holy Knight guiding them, seemingly coming to a realization, shook her head with a helpless smile.
“It’s true… Back in the day, you could often see students gathering in small groups, either feeding and grooming stray cats or practicing musical instruments by the pond while casually tossing out some food.”
“I even heard that there used to be clubs like the ‘Fluffy Enthusiasts’ or the ‘Ornamental Fish Research Club,’ and quite a few students joined. I wonder if those clubs are still around now.”
“You students at the Holy Academy sure know how to enjoy your leisure time…”
But, well, that’s not a bad thing either.
As they continued their casual conversation, without wasting any time, they tossed some crumbs to the eagerly waiting big-headed fish and then moved on, following the network of paths that crisscrossed the campus.
Until…
*Gururu~*
A faint but hard-to-ignore sound came from somewhere nearby.
Miss White Fox turned her head and saw the pink-haired little girl holding her stomach, looking a bit embarrassed and avoiding eye contact, unable to meet her gaze.
“Hungry?”
After hesitating for a while, Eudora finally nodded slightly, admitting in a barely audible voice.
“A little… just a little…”
Understanding the reason behind her reaction, Violet didn’t mind and simply turned her gaze toward the blonde girl, who was also looking curiously. They exchanged a glance, and Violet asked.
“Since this is an academy, there should be a cafeteria, right? Can outsiders like us dine there?”
“Huh? Uh, well, under normal circumstances, it’s not allowed, since the academy has to ensure the safety of the students’ food. But Miss Dawn… I mean, just for a meal, it’s totally fine!”
Miss Edwina, who had been observing Eudora with a thoughtful frown, suddenly realized she had almost made a slip of the tongue. She quickly cleared her throat a few times and pointed in the direction of a path within the campus.
“Please follow me. There are several public cafeterias in the academy, and it just so happens that we’re close to one of them. By the way, it’s my favorite one!”
Under the familiar guidance of the Holy Knight, the three women quickly left the quiet forest path and turned onto the academy’s main road, heading toward the cafeteria Edwina had mentioned.
Perhaps because of the time, as students had just finished their classes, the main road became noticeably busier, with many people passing by.
Most of them were young students dressed in uniforms similar to the Holy Knight’s, clearly attending the Holy Academy.
As Edwina had mentioned, humans made up less than half of the academy’s population. The rest, as Violet observed, were about half mixed-blood individuals with various unusual traits, with no obvious pattern. The remaining half consisted of the major races from different regions of the continent.
There were Beastmen, Snowfolk, Winged people, Tree Spirit Tribe, and many other strange and diverse beings. Violet couldn’t recognize them all, but she assumed they were from small, remote races. She even spotted a member of the Lightborn tribe, just like Amy, the captain of the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild’s guard.
It was hard not to notice them. Their unique aura was far too distinctive.
However, the Lightborn tribe girl who passed by seemed different from the usual students in her attire, more like a researcher from within the academy. With large dark circles under her eyes, it was clear she was someone who stayed up all night working intensely, like a dedicated scholar.
Unfortunately, she didn’t seem interested in Violet and her group. She carried a sealed bag, likely filled with documents, and hurriedly disappeared around the corner.
The other students, however, were not as indifferent. With the renowned Miss Edwina among them, and Violet dressed in a luxurious red-and-white shrine maiden outfit, holding the hand of a little girl, the trio quickly became the center of attention for the students enjoying their free time.
Thankfully, most of the students here were quite well-mannered. Though they couldn’t help but cast curious and surprised glances, when they saw Miss Edwina in her academy uniform with the six-winged holy insignia hanging from her chest standing beside them, no one approached to chat or ask questions.
Smoothly, the three women arrived near the cafeteria Edwina had mentioned.
Although it was called a cafeteria, it was nothing like the large hall Violet had initially imagined, where people would line up to get their meals. The environment here, even from the outside, exuded a refined and elegant taste.
It was a “bamboo house” built deep in a bamboo forest.
Thick, green bamboo formed the walls, roof, and even the pillars. The entire structure was only one story high, with an area spanning several hundred square meters. Rather than a cafeteria, it resembled a uniquely designed private restaurant.
In fact, ever since Edwina had led them into the bamboo forest, the number of people around had visibly decreased. Even the sunlight filtering through the bamboo leaves had become soft and diffused, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
As they approached the main entrance of the bamboo house, Violet looked up at the sign written in the common script of the Holy Empire.
It read, ?Bamboo Lodge?.