Kisaki led us to a room with a large, round table. Come to think of it, she had promised to hold a grand feast for us.
As Kisaki entered the room and approached the table, the waiting Hyunryumon executives stepped forward to pull out her chair, which was rather impressive. She sat down naturally, and seeing as she gestured for me to take the seat to her right, I figured she must have taken the head of the table.
"O, esteemed guest. I hope you will take this opportunity to savor the... no, the unique hospitality of Hyunryumon."
The moment Kisaki finished speaking, she clapped her hands once, and Hyunryumon's banquet appeared to welcome me.
While there were several dishes that seemed familiar, the majority were things I had never seen before. Steam wafted gently from the food, making me think they had timed the cooking to finish just as I arrived.
I felt like I was getting true VIP treatment, yet the fact that it didn't feel all that burdensome was a sign of how much I had changed. It seemed I had completely fallen from being an ordinary citizen to one of the powerful.
By the way, I knew that Shanhaijing was based on China, but since Shanhaijing itself wasn't a massive academy, one thing struck me as odd. Chinese cuisine is unbelievably diverse because the country is so vast, bringing together the specialty dishes of countless regions. But that wasn't the case for Shanhaijing.
...Could that be why it's a culinary academy?
In any case, the table was laden with familiar dishes—or at least ones I could recognize at a glance—like *palbochae*, hot pot, dim sum, *guobarou*, and Dongpo pork. At the same time, it was filled with all sorts of dishes that were completely outside my knowledge.
"Uhm, Kisaki-chan. Did I happen to mention in my letter that I'm a light eater?"
"Fufu. O, esteemed guest, set aside such meaningless worries and focus on tasting as many dishes as possible. If you find something you like, it would not be a bad idea to focus on that. I, too, am a light eater, so you need not concern yourself with that. However, it would be wise to save room for the main dish."
"Hmm. I'm glad to hear that. By the way, would it be alright if I took a few pictures?"
"Of course. You may take as many as you wish."
Honestly, I could never resist snapping a picture before eating. This was truly a photo I could only take here.
"This is *Hyang-uguyuk*. It is a dish I personally recommend. The cooking process is rather complex, but the harmony between the taro and whole pork belly is so superb that it enjoys considerable popularity here in Shanhaijing."
"Let's see... Hmm. It's good... No, it's delicious. Yes, the texture of the meat is especially excellent."
"Are you good with spicy food, my guest?"
"Mm... I suppose I can handle it reasonably well."
I could generally eat most spicy things without any trouble. It was just that my tolerance for it had dropped quite a bit since my reincarnation. It was something like being demoted from eating Nuclear Fire Chicken Noodles without batting an eye to just regular Fire Chicken Noodles. (TN: A reference to the popular and extremely spicy *Buldak-bokkeum-myeon* instant noodle brand in Korea. "Haek-buldak" or "Nuclear Fire Chicken" is an even spicier version.)
"In that case, how about trying the dan dan noodles or the mapo tofu?"
"Ah, I'm not sure about the mapo tofu..."
I knew mapo tofu itself was a perfectly fine dish, but one must never forget the clichés of fiction. The one opponent you can never let your guard down against is the mapo tofu found in stories. (TN: Mapo tofu in anime and manga is often comically, dangerously, or even magically spicy.)
As I was sampling the things Kisaki recommended, a Hyunryumon student approached and placed a soup dish before me.
"This very dish is today's main course. It is called *Buldojang*... a dish made with a multitude of precious ingredients. Have you perhaps heard of it?"
"Whoa..."
Of course, I had. As far as I knew, it was a soup so prized and expensive that it was said no other in China could surpass it. The name meant something like "Buddha jumps over the wall," right? I'd heard it had only been served a few times even at Chinese state banquets.
"I am told the lineup of ingredients in this *Buldojang* is nothing short of extraordinary. Shark's fin, wild pine mushrooms, dried abalone, ginseng, black chicken, and many other rare and premium ingredients. Even I have only had the pleasure of tasting such a dish a few times."
The moment I heard Kisaki's explanation, two thoughts crossed my mind.
First, my escorts who followed me here today had really hit the jackpot. They got to eat something incredible all thanks to tagging along to Shanhaijing.
And second... I'm so sorry for not bringing you today, Haruna...
Then again, this wasn't a personal visit; how could I possibly bring Haruna along on an official schedule? It was unavoidable, so I didn't really need to feel guilty, but when I heard stories about her pestering Fuuka to cook for her, saying she wanted to feed me healthy food, I couldn't help but feel a fond affection.
Later, when she heard I'd tried SSS-grade *Buldojang* at Shanhaijing, she'd probably say she was glad I was eating well, but then she'd glare at me adorably and demand to know if I had fun eating something so good all by myself.
The moment I brought a spoonful of broth and a pine mushroom to my lips, I understood what it meant for something to taste deliciously healthy. The broth was clear yet deeply infused with the flavors of its ingredients. The instant I bit into the mushroom, I felt as if I were in a trance; by the time I came to my senses, it had already slid down my throat.
The shark's fin wasn't really my style, but the black chicken made me gasp in amazement. Again, I'm sorry, Haruna.
My overall assessment was that it was excellent, but perhaps not quite "Buddha jumps over the wall" level.
...No, wait. If a Buddha wanted to nourish his body, I'm sure he'd jump.
"A truly magnificent flavor. Did it suit your palate?"
"It was so exquisite that I feel guilty for not bringing a friend who loves fine dining more than anything in the world. Thanks to this, I don't think I can eat any more of the other dishes..."
"Is that so? You are not so different from me. In that case, let us allow the others to continue their meal while you and I take a short walk, shall we? You must make room for dessert to be able to say you have fully enjoyed Hyunryumon's hospitality... I wish to speak with you as well, so I hope you will join me."
"Ahaha, sounds good☆ Lead the way, Sect Leader-nim."
"No, if we are to talk, it would be more comfortable for us both to walk side by side. There is no need for me to take the lead."
And so, as our party continued their frenzied meal, I prepared to step away with Kisaki, leaving behind the head of Hyunryumon's executive committee, a girl named Konoé Mina who also served as Kisaki's guard. But just then—
"Sect Leader-nim, surely you don't intend to leave with a beast like that, without an escort? I will also—"
"A beast...? What kind of outrageous remark is that? Retract it at once."
"No, wait. This is—"
Mina had suddenly called me a beast, leaving me to wonder whether I should be offended.
"Mina, stand down. It is proper to ask for forgiveness for your rudeness before making excuses."
"...H-Hmph. My apologies. It's just that, her shimmering aura reminded me of a beast, and I meant to say she is clearly a dangerous person, but the words came out too quickly."
"Hmph... Is that all? It was nothing, then."
"Mina, would it not be wise to set aside your worries that a leader from another academy, here on an official visit, might harm me? Besides, the presence or absence of an escort seems rather meaningless. Am I right in my assumption, o esteemed guest?"
"Hmm, wouldn't it be a bit rude of me to agree to that...?"
"So it seems. More importantly, I have some skill in judging character. I saw through you long ago; you are not one to wield violence without reason. Therefore, Mina, I declare your earlier concern was unnecessary."
At Kisaki's dismissal of her worries, Mina nodded with a deeply sour expression and said she understood. It was understandable, as she had basically just been indirectly told, "You're no match for this person, so back off."
After we moved outside, Kisaki began to speak as she led me somewhere.
"It is time we discussed the reason for your visit to Shanhaijing. A brief look at your recent activities is enough to know how busy you are, so it would be impolite of me to keep you for too long."
"Oh? How interesting. Well, we've had plenty of time for icebreakers, so I suppose it doesn't matter☆"
Rounding a corner, we passed through a corridor leading outside the building, where a beautiful garden with a small pond revealed itself.
Kisaki approached the railing overlooking the pond, then turned to face me and brought up the true reason for my visit.
"Shanhaijing has expressed its concern, under the patronage of the General Student Council President, regarding the de facto alliance you and Gehenna Academy are pursuing. But... do you truly believe Shanhaijing has any reason to object?"
"...To be honest, no. In the end, the main power of the Eden Treaty Organization is the SRT Special Academy, which is as good as the General Student Council President's own hands and feet."
"Precisely. If the General Student Council is promoting it, it would be stranger for Shanhaijing to feel the need to get involved, even if the two academies were to form a full-fledged alliance. This is especially true for a matter initiated by the current General Student Council President. A person of her caliber would never have proposed such a treaty without considering the possibility that the combined power of the two groups might be directed outward."
She was right. If Trinity and Gehenna had attempted to form an alliance on their own, it would certainly have been perceived as a threat by other academies. But with the General Student Council President involved, the other academies would trust that a minimal safety net was in place...
"Ah."
It finally clicked. I understood why the GSC President had pushed for the Eden Treaty even when relations between the two academies were already improving on their own.
If Trinity and Gehenna had moved towards an alliance by themselves, the other academies would never have stood by and watched. They had no way of knowing our intentions for improving relations, and even if we told them the truth, they wouldn't have readily believed us.
The framework of the Eden Treaty, first proposed by the 'General Student Council President,' also served as a kind of breakwater, shielding the two academies from attracting unnecessary suspicion.
*GSC-Father... no, GSC-Mother. Now I finally understand. How did you live with such foresight...* (TN: A pun combining "Chonghaksaenghoejang" (General Student Council President) with "abeoji" (father) and "eomeoni" (mother).)
In that case, why on earth did Shanhaijing express concern? According to Kisaki, they had no reason to.
"I have watched with deep admiration as the two academies, bitter rivals for the past several hundred years, overcame their hatred for one another. And how could I not? You have witnessed a process that was once thought impossible... and though it has only just begun, you are pursuing it with certainty. As the leader of this academy, which suffers from a similar problem, I was able to learn a great deal from it."
"...You're talking about the conflict between Hyunryumon and the Hyeonmu Sanghoe."
"It seems you are already aware, so an explanation is unnecessary. The fact that you and Gehenna's Prefect Team Leader are... involved... is now known to all. Whether you maintained such a relationship in secret from the beginning, or whether it progressed in that direction as you pursued improved relations, I do not know... but that is not the important point."
Kisaki's eyes seemed to pierce right through me. The keen wisdom shimmering within them made me question whether I could truly call this girl a child.
"Unlike the relationship between Hyunryumon and the Hyeonmu Sanghoe, President Rumi and I hold no particular grudge against each other. As a member of Hyunryumon, it is true that I value tradition... but I do not believe the Hyeonmu Sanghoe's methods are fundamentally wrong. The situation, and the conditions... do they not all seem similar to what you have overcome?"
Kisaki slowly bowed her head. For someone of her stature—the student council president of an academy—to bow was no small matter.
It meant that this issue was, for her, incomparably more significant than the act of lowering her own head.
"The Black Tortoise Merchants are Shanhaijing, too... As the Student Council President of Shanhaijing, not just the Master of Hyunryumon, I wish to embrace them. Therefore, o esteemed guest... could I ask for your advice on a way to break the current stalemate between Hyunryumon and the Black Tortoise Merchants?"
Ryuuge Kisaki. She was more mature than any student council president I knew.
And to her request, the option of refusal simply did not exist for me.
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