Vil turned to Epel and said firmly with a frown, "Epel, I trust that you didn't bring any sweets with you, right?"
"Uh, umm...y-yes. But…" Epel took out a plastic bag of tried apple slices, "I brought some dried apple chips I made myself."
"Apple chips?" Lotus looked up curiously, "What's that?"
"Eh?" Epel looked to her in confusion, "You mean you don't know? Slice the apples horizontally and back them till their crispy."
"Nuts and dried fruit are alright as long as you don't eat too much." Vil nodded in approval before turning to Rook, "Lastly, Rook, I trust you, but I'm curious why your only baggage is an extremely thick album. What exactly is it?"
Rook chuckled with a small smile and a blush, "This is just a collection of my life's work. I can't bear to not have it with me at all times. It's an extremely private endeavor, opening it now would be ever so embarrassing."
"My apologies. I have no intention of invading others' privacy." Vil stated bluntly with an exasperated frown before concluding, "Then, next…"
He stood there firmly and announced firmly, "I will be confiscating all these snacks filled with sugar and flour, along with the drinks!"
"WHAAAT?!"
Everyone stared at him in disbelief and shock when they heard this.
"Why? They aren't poisoned or anything." Kalim exclaimed in bewilderment.
"Scarabia combo, your ideas are very unsettling! That is not at all what I'm worried about." Vil stated with an outraged look on his face.
"But…" Yuu stated in bewilderment.
However, he was stopped by Lotus who was unperturbed by the situation said, "Get to the point. They most likely never went on a diet before so they wouldn't have known."
"Diet?" Yuu said in confusion
"What do you think this training camp is?" Vil ignored her words and focused on them with a scowl of disdain.
"I plan to polish you all to a blemish-free, mirror like shine in preparation for VDC." Vil explained firmly, "There four weeks left until the big day. Sweets and drinks chalk full of simple sugars and carbohydrates are a quick way to gaining weight. Foods containing lipids or spices that will lead to bad skin are prohibited!"
"What?!" Kalim exclaimed in bewilderment.
"Don't worry, I came up with a menu that's high in nutrition and protein but low in calories." Vil reassured them calmly, "I'm going to take your undisciplined body lines and build them from the ground up."
"What?" Ace said in disbelief and annoyance, "You know we're still growing right?"
"Oh my, I'm 183cm tall without ever sneaking midnight snacks." Vil replied bluntly unfazed by Ace's irritated tone, "The most important things you need while growing are to eat nutritiously balanced meals and get plenty of sleep. Eating sweets simply because you have a craving will only make your face breakout. Keep that in mind."
"Ugh…" Ace sighed in disappointment when he heard those words, "This guy for real?"
"Hey, the two of us aren't part of the VDC crew, so we can eat whatever we want right?" Grim cheered with a wide smile.
"Do whatever you like, but don't stress everyone out by eating in front of them." Vil responded off-handedly.
"H-He's so strict." Yuu muttered hesitantly in shock.
"Is he?" Lotus raised a brow, "He can only say this because he makes a really good point and it's a fact. Even if Ace says that they're eating this much because they are growing, they're eating the wrong food in reality if they really want to grow. Rather than eating to grow wider, they're only going to grow wider and lack stamina. It wouldn't be a problem if they move around from day to night running and lifting, but even too much of that can only lead to health problems. If left uncared for, this will become a habit and interfere with their lives leading to heart problems with that much sugar and oil in their systems."
"L-Lotus?" Ace looked to her in disbelief and horrified.
She huffed and shrugged, "Did you think I didn't expect you to bring so many snacks? Even if I did warn you, would you believe me or try to sneak snacks into the dorm. In case you've forgotten, we have a glutton here."
"I'm not a glutton!" Grim cried out in denial.
Lotus shrugged, "Did I say the glutton was you?"
"Fgna…" Grim cried out and stomped his feet in anger, "S-Shut up!"
As the banter went on, Epel looked very nervous on his feet and hesitant when he saw all this and frowned. However, that didn't leave Lotus's eyes as she noticed Rook patted his shoulder and declared dramatically like some performer, "Don't worry, we'll be fine. Vil isn't going to make you adhere to any fad diets, or anything. His plan is to bring out the most beautiful version of yourself, starting with the things you eat."
Seeing the defeated looks on his friend, Deuce called out with disbelief, "Y-You need a whole new level of preparation to aim for the top."
"Hmph. You think this is about preparation? This is merely the basics." Vil responded completely unfazed by his words, "Take your things up to your rooms, then we'll get right into today's lesson."
As the others began to grumble with their near empty suitcases and repacking their belongings, a ringtone of a phone sounded causing Vil to excuse himself and take a step away from them and turning his back to them, "Hmm, it's my manager. Is it something urgent?"
Lotus rose a brow and listened from the side of the commotion.
"Hello, Adella?" He said quietly with a frown.
"Hello to you, Vil! Do you have a moment?" An breathless voice responded quickly.
"I believe I told you I would be very busy with the VDC preparations. Please keep it short." Vil warned her firmly.
"I have big news! You've been offered a role in a movie." The woman on the other line continued excitedly, "It's a big multi-million title, Vil! Are you familiar with the "Legendary Sword" series?"
Hearing this, Vil's eyes widen in shock, "Really?! The "Legendary Sword?!" I remember seeing the first one in movie theatres. So, what kind of role did they offer?"
"The enemy kingdom's prince to rival the protagonist. The character is a bit cold-hearted, but it is said that they are also very beautiful. The character has been arranged to appear in a lot of scenes, too. This is so perfect for you, Vil!!"
"Wait a second… "Also?" Vil's shocked expression quickly changed to a scowl, "Do you not remember me telling you to turn down roles like that?
"It's a big project, Vil. I do not suggest turning it down." She insisted strongly and eagerly.
"If they offered me this without asking me to audition, surely the other role has been decided, correct?" Vil concluded with a frown, "I do not even need to think about who will be there."
"The protagonist of the story will be…" Adele paused as she looked up carefully, "Neige LeBlanche."
"Neige again?" Vil scowled at the name.
"I understand your dilemma, but please think of this as your chance to make it big, too. It's been agreed that the actor's starting salary would be 300 million Madol. It is very extraordinary for a teen actor. You can negotiate for a higher price, too."
"I will not be tempted with money!" Vil responded angrily, "If I said I don't want to do it, then I will not. That's final. All I want is to be able to stand on the stage until the very end."
"Vil…" The woman on the other side muttered in exasperation.
"I want to focus on the VDC for now. Please turn the offer down." Vil responded firmly.
"I know that you're taking your studies and school activities seriously, but please think about it…!"
"Quiet! Do not contact me until the VDC is over!"
With that, he quickly hung up the call. Kalim was the first to notice Vil's change of behaviour and looked to him with concern, "What's wrong? Did you get some bad news?
Vil shook his head firmly, "It wasn't anything to worry about. Anyway, let's start the lesson."
Hearing this, Lotus frowned quietly in thought and pondered for a bit before she turned to leave the room.
Seeing her leave the room and the others hurriedly change into their PE uniform, Vil glanced over to Rook and whispered quietly, "Rook, do you know who that student is?"
"Oui!" Rook smiled wide and responded, "That person was Lotus Xue. He is a freshman of Ramshackle dorm. He is currently Mister Crewel's best student at the moment while only at the age of fourteen when he enrolled to Night Raven College."
"Fourteen?" Vil raised a brow when he heard this.
Rook nodded, "He was one year younger than when Heartslabyul's dorm leader enrolled into the school. He is very skilled in herbal medicine and he is the only one taking two different clubs at once."
"Sounds like you know a lot about him." Vil said in confusion.
"That's because he is also in the Science Club." Rook responded with a wide smile.
"Oh, so that's how it is…" Vil frowned, "Is he always like this?"
"Oui." Rook nodded with a heavy sigh, "However, he is only like this around our dorm."
"Oh?" Vil raised a brow when he heard this, "He's only like this with our dorm?"