Chapter 85: Chatting In The Cafeteria
"Thank you and if she refuses please say it's a gift from the cafeteria because she is a regular patron."
The waitress nodded.
Neo was thankful she accepted his request silently.
He returned to the table.
"What were you talking about with the waitress?" Jack said with a suggestive smile.
"Nothing."
Christian noticed the weird nuisance behind Jack's words.
"Why are you asking that?"
He questioned while he ate the food.
"Listen to me. This guy went naked in front of half dozen people. Of course, most of them were girls."
"…!"
Christian froze.
"Really...?"
He asked slowly as if he had trouble believing Jack's words.
Neo didn't bother pointing out how Jack left out the reason why Neo did what he did.
He focused on the food.
"Weren't they… disgusted?"
"Bah, what disgusted. It's different when rich and handsome guys like him do it.
"You should've looked at the hungry look in the girls' eyes."
Rich and handsome.
Those words were something Neo would've been never associated with in his past life.
The transmigration changed everything for him.
Neo smiled.
Above all, he was happy.
He might've been an Extra who died before the original novel's plot began.
However, he could change his fate as long as he worked hard.
While they were talking, the waitress delivered the order to Morrigan.
Confused, Morrigan asked why was she receiving something she never ordered.
The waitress explained the reason.
Morrigan frowned.
When she was about to refuse, the waitress used her glib tongue to have her accept the order.
'Nice. Doesn't look like she knows I was the one who ordered it.'
Neo secretly gave a thumbs up to the waitress and received a nod in return.
He was partially — definitely not fully — responsible for Morrigan's current situation.
Even so, it wasn't the reason why he helped her.
He knew she went easy on him during the tournament and she tried to protect him from being killed by other participating students since he chose the first rank token.
Neo was only trying to fulfill the favor he owed her.
'I'm pretty sure she doesn't have credits. This should even us out.'
He focused on his table.
"Your missions were quite difficult. I apologize for dumping two of them on you," Christian smiled wryly.
He heard the whole story from Jack.
"I'm pretty sure yours was worse," Jack said.
"I wouldn't say that's the case.
"We were just unlucky the Rolling Boulder evolved as soon as we found it.
"I checked and the mission was posted a few months ago.
"No one took it since then.
"The delay was the reason why the Rolling Boulder was able to grow stronger than what was written in the mission details."
It was a fault born out of negligence.
In short, Neo's team was just unlucky.
"I will report the disparity in the mission details and the actual details to the mission halls.
"We should be compensated. Don't get your hopes up though. Nobody likes to accept their mistake," Neo said.
Mars woke up while they ate.
He was felt rejuvenated thanks to the Energy Replenishment elixir.
"Where am I?" He massaged his brows.
"Cafeteria.
"Since you just woke up, drink some water and eat something light.
"Don't eat more until you are sure you won't get an upset stomach," Neo spoke.
"Thanks."
Mars was tired beyond measure.
His element, Fire, was weak against the earth wielding Rolling Boulder monster.
It was worse because Christian was the tank and he was the damage dealer.
Mars had to exhaust himself beyond his limits to burn the monster.
After they ate their fill, Neo opened his mouth.
"Whoever is tired can take a two hours nap.
"I'll submit our mission completion documents and get other missions for tomorrow in the meantime."
"We are fine. Let's go together!" Mars grinned.
Neo shook his head.
"Stop putting up a front.
"Our next missions are B-rank and A-rank. If you aren't at your best tomorrow, our progress will take a huge hit.
"It's better to rest now when you can."
"Sigh, thank god. I wanted to sleep," Jack sunk into the chair.
"You are coming with me. You hardly did anything."
"What!?"
Jack's face fell until Neo laughed.
"I'm joking of course. Take a rest."
"Where should we sleep? If we go back to our dorms, we would waste half-an-hour just going to and fro," Christian asked.
"Sleep here," Neo said.
He left before they could complain again.
After arriving at the mission hall, he submitted the documents.
"We've verified the completion of missions. You are allowed to take more missions now," the attendant at the mission hall said.
Neo nodded.
He reported the error with the Rolling Boulder monster mission before choosing the next missions.
His device rang.
[+24 credits]
[Total credits: 24]
Neo paid 0.3 credits at the cafeteria.
That left him with 24 credits.
"The others should've received their credits too."
It was a good amount for less than one week.
"If we can maintain the pace, we have a shot at the slot for the S-rank mission."
No one had yet completed the mission's participation requirements.
Neo knew his troubles were just starting.
The Zeus Clan and others would start moving as soon as they realize Neo's team completed three C-rank missions.
"We need to hurry."
It would've been better to start moving as soon as possible.
Neo knew Mars would've been fine without rest.
However, Christian and Jack couldn't continue in their current condition.
Neo didn't want to push his team too hard for the S-rank mission.
He could do it.
However, he felt like he would lose as a person.
That wasn't Neo's aim.
His goal was to be the perfect being.
How could he claim to be perfect if had to sacrifice his morals to strengthen himself?
It was what weak did.
And Neo wanted to become the strongest.
"Let's see. What missions should I choose?"
Neo stared at the B-rank mission list.
He could choose two of them at once.
"These two look good."
He read their details.