The Transmigrated Author

Chapter 34  Unlucky Planning

DING, DING, DING! n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Okay, class, time's up. Please hand in your papers here, and you'll receive your marks for today's quiz by tomorrow," Kolek announced as his stopwatch timer projected onto the massive screen, indicating 00:00.

As I stretched my arms after completing the quiz within 15 minutes, I closed my eyes and patiently waited the whole hour out.

Getting up from my seat, I could see everyone around me feeling dreadful about this quiz. Many people had hunched backs and tired eyes after tackling what should have been a simple quiz.

What surprised me even more was that I could see Alice's face looking more lifeless than a dead body.

Thanks to the system, I could never fail a theory exam for as long as I lived. All the questions in the quiz were about theorizing concepts and solutions to mana resonance and how it intertwines with defensive mechanics, so I guess the complexity of it does sound quite... complex. (joke)

But right now, my priority lies in how I'll approach this dungeon. This Silent Abyss key was something I wasn't aware of; in fact, I didn't create any of this.

I recalled making a key related to an abyssal dungeon, but this key didn't fit any of the descriptions of a dungeon I haven't heard of.

The part that made me ramble about this key was that it was in a place I had never been to before.

Since I wrote all the settings and plots, they were all based on things I've travelled to before. It would only make sense that I, the author, would be familiar with such a place, but I guess not.

Still, I had to consider all the possibilities that could happen in this dungeon. If it does get tough, I'll pull out of it halfway through to get some assistance.

But my only option to help me right now is Jan, but I don't want to take advantage of this man's kindness, and I want all the rewards for myself.

So, I'll go solo first and then see how things will go.

Heading out of the hallways, I went straight to the cafeteria to have something for lunch, and I'll plan things out after filling my stomach with Allen's Cafe's exquisite foods.

Arriving at the front doors of the cafe, I could smell the freshly baked aroma of their foods, causing my body to reflexively relax.

Da Ding!

"Welcome to Allen's Cafe!" The waiter bowed to me signalling to follow her as she appointed me a table. As she handed me the menu, I couldn't decide on something specific. The menu was superb, and anything I ordered would taste good, but the choice was up to me.

"Would you like to order now, perhaps?" She pulled out her pen and notepad.

As I thought of what to say I felt like a spark of lightning hit my head and the idea of getting my favourite go-to meal in a cafe had unearthed from the very depths of my memories.

"Could I please get a Ham and Cheese Croissant and, oh! a Mocha Frappuccino, please?"

"Sure, is that all?" She asked while writing down my order, and I replied with a swift yes. She walked back to the kitchen, handing the order to the chef at the back.

While waiting, I looked at the appetiser menu, considering anything else I might want to order. That was until I heard familiar voices approaching the door, and it was clear that my luck was no good even against the main cast.

Bazz, rubbing his neck and still reeling from the quiz fatigue, questioned with an exaggerated groan, "Why was that quiz so tiring?"

Jan, trailing behind, didn't waste a moment to point fingers, "It's because you don't pay attention in class, Bazz. Ever since you turned 18, you've been texting so many girls on those dating apps."

Bazz, refusing to let the accusation slide, turned to Jan with a smirk, "Well, what can I say? The women love me!"

Jan, unimpressed, begged to differ, "I don't think that's true." Walking in thoughtfully, he stroked his chin, adding a dramatic touch.

"The women don't love you, Bazz... I don't think any girl in this academy would ever date someone like you," Camila chimed in, delivering a fatal blow to Bazz's ego.

Lyra joined the roasting session of Bazz Wong, "Didn't you start going for foreigners after you got rejected by the majority of people on that app?" She tilted her head, her confusion adding insult to injury.

"I... Shut up! You guys are supposed to be supportive friends," Bazz couldn't help but express his pain.

With Bazz's pride now shattered, the infamous trio – Valencia, Lyra, and Camila – strolled into the café. Bazz, contemplating an inconspicuous exit, pondered the life choices that led to this very moment.

"Hmm, what should we have today, guys?" Lyra's energetic voice woke up the tired Valencia.

"Well, I'm not hungry, so I'll just have a drink instead," Camila said, looking towards the drinks menu, and scouting for her ideal drink.

"I'll have a coffee... and pancakes with bacon," Valencia muttered under her breath, wiping her eyes, trying to stay awake.

Why was she tired anyway? Could it be that she was studying all night, or maybe she was traveling to visit her father? I guess.

Stare.

A shiver went down my spine as my head whipped away from the table. An unsettling gaze had fixated on me like a spiderweb catching its first fly.

Then I realized that Jan had been staring at me, even though I was holding up the menu.

His gaze darted so hard at my menu that I completely overlooked how quickly he turned towards me.

"Alright, let's sit, guys!" Lyra pointed at the table 15 meters away from me. They paid everything that they wanted at the counter.

 That was when I realized I needed to get the hell out of here.

I don't feel too comfortable being here after what happened yesterday. I know Valencia was the type to spill people's 'tea,' and I could not face embarrassment head-on. So, I think it would be best if I get my food and go somewhere else.

Watching them settle at a table two away, I found my eyes glued to the menu. They chatted about the upcoming exam in a few weeks, but I wasn't too interested in tuning in on their conversation.

As the time ticked away I really wished the waiting process wasn't this long and after what felt like a long time the waitress finally returned my order, she handed me my Ham and Cheese toasty with my Mocha Frappuccino.

Holding the menu close to my face, I asked her kindly if I could pay now, and then words couldn't help but ruin a moment of peace.

"Sure Mr. Rel thank you for your continued patronage to our cafe!" The waiter smiled at me as I tapped my watch onto the EFTPOS pad...

"Rel?" Jan appeared and stood up, looking at me with an innocent smile on his face as he waved his hand over at me.

Shit... what should I do now? I've been caught, and their whole table was looking at me.

"Who is it Jan?" Camila looked at him confused.

"Oh, he's from our class, you guys know him, right?" He pointed at me, still trying to signal me to sit with them.

Then followed by his endless signals he said those words.

"Rel come sit with us!" he patted the imaginary seat right beside him, smiling brightly.

I'm not your friend yet you idiot but just because I helped you awaken doesn't consider us any closer than acquaintances. haah... well It leaves me with no other choice since it's better to develop relationships with a few of the main cast now than later so I took my seat and carried it and brought my food over to the table sitting next to Jan. The person across me facing towards me was Valencia who was asleep.

As I looked towards Jan with an awkward smile on my face I just stayed quiet as the members of their friend group stared me down.

"Ah it's the top nerd in our class I remember his name of course! was it uh... Rel?" Bazz said my name out loud acting proud for remembering my name and Jan smacked him on the head.

"OUCH! Whyyy Jan" Bazz seemed to pout at the thought of being hit by his best friend which was deserved since you should be much more respectful to your creator.

Camila and Lyra chuckled at Bazz getting hit, seeing that this was pretty much normal for the two of them.

"Oh yeah, Rel was it? We've seen all the results from you during the past quizzes. Have you heard about the rumors?" Camila looked at me with a discerning gaze.

"What rumours?" I asked out of curiosity.

"There's been a rumor going around that you've been using an external artifact to help you get answers for theory."

I was confused as to why someone would say that, but I'd agree with that rumor. If some guy became smart out of nowhere, it is believable for someone who got perfect marks.

However, I would have to deny this, of course. The System was not an artifact; it was a part of my abilities.

"Well, all those rumors are false. You shouldn't believe them." I sighed, trying to think of an excuse. "I mean, it's almost impossible to cheat in an exam or even a quiz at this academy, no? With all the technology and detectors around, I would've been caught by now if it were true."

I shrugged and shook my head, denying these allegations.

"That is true..." Camila thought to herself after I made up a good excuse.

Then Jan changed the subject from cheating rumors to the quiz itself.

"So what are your thoughts on the quiz, guys?" Jan let out a fake cough, trying to break these allegations.

"It was pretty hard. I thought time felt like it was working against me when I was using one of the formulas for one of the questions," Camila replied.

"What was the question?" Jan asked.

"It was the one on how to optimize the limitation of mana and spellcasting. What did you get for that answer?" Camila asked.

"I said to get the most out of your mana, you'd have to use a selection of spells to distribute for the spellcasting or something like that." Jan, who sounded pretty confident in her answer, was somewhere on the right track, but she was wrong.

I was about to open my mouth about the topic, but I couldn't resist the food that was sitting right in front of me. And quickly, I ate my food and drank my mocha, enjoying every crunch and sip of my meal, alternating like a conveyor belt.

As the food arrived in front of me, Valencia awoke at the smell of pancakes right before her.

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