After confirming that only he could see the window screen, Yu-min tried to figure out what was the purpose of the screen and where it came from. In order to do that, he had to summon the screen again and examine its details. However, this was not the right time to do that. Thus, he left the matter be for the time being.
Sometime later, they arrived at their destination – the dining hall. As the duo visited every place they can in the house and Song Ki-tae finished giving him a tour visit, Yu-min was at his limits after walking for so long and he was very hungry that he could eat anything right now.
As soon as they reached the dining hall, he barged in there startling everyone and went to the area where the servants were serving food to others as he quickly joined the queue where lots of youngsters were waiting for their turn to get food from there.
On the other hand, the place itself was crowded with the disciples of the Song Family. They were all dressed in sky blue colored robes which seemed like it was some sort of a uniform for them to recognize their own kind just by the appearance. Some disciples were standing in the queue while some were seated at their dining table area. Surprisingly, the disciples were sitting on their knees in front of the dining table with a cushion placed beneath them and the dining table itself was so small in height that it looked like it was a study table instead, which had a tray-like shape to it.
Upon noticing the sitting arrangement in the hall, Yu-min faintly smiled. It gave Yu-min a familiar vibe of his hometown – South Korea, where most koreans had a tradition to eat at a low table instead of a normal dining table with a chair.
Song Ki-tae then caught up to him from and joined the queue where he was standing.
"Sir, I didn't realised that you were starving because of me. If I had known, I would have brought you to my room and ask a servant to bring some food there." He said while gasping for air.
"Don't sweat it, it's okay! But man… Look at the crowd. There's so many people here in this room. I don't know if we'll get a seat to even eat at this rate."
"That… you don't have to worry about. We have a rule around here that says you can only stay seated and eat your meal for 30 minutes. Afterwards, you have to leave the table or else, 10 contribution points will be deducted from you as a punishment."
"Contribution points? What's that?" Yu-min asked curiously.
"You see… As a member and a disciple of the Song Family, one needs to earn their keep as long as they stay here. So, the family council gives them tasks to do after writing on a notice board, which is placed in the middle of the courtyard. After completing such tasks, one can obtain contribution points. These contribution points are extremely useful into the daily life of a disciple. They can buy food from the dining hall by using some points and ask for pills from the pharmacist store run by the Song Family. These contribution points even act as a currency outside the Song House. With enough points, you can even buy a meal at a fancy restaurant, buy expensive clothes and even acquire a decent weapon from a market store. And, not only the Song Family, other families also uses the same method to encourage their disciples to work harder and become stronger at the fastest way possible in this way." Ki-tae explained.
'I see… So, the system is more or less like a guild in a game…' Yu-min thought to himself.
"Can you tell me what type of tasks the family council usually give?"
"There are different types of task which gives you different amount of contribution points once they're accomplished. It all depends on the difficulty or how risky the task is. The harder the task is, the higher the amount can be earned through it."
"There can be menial jobs like collecting herbs, buying some materials to make a pill or a weapon, etc which is mostly requested by the elders of the family but there are some exceptions where top disciples requests assistance for a certain task through the board system created by the family. As long as it pays well, disciples do it. Then, there are difficult tasks like catching a bandit, protecting someone, or hunting monsters from the forest. These kinds of jobs pays well than the easy ones."
"Oh, I see. So cool!"
"What are you talking about? Supernova Continent has better-"
'Ugh! He started his blabbing again.'
Kang Yu-min looked at him annoyingly and then, he realised that their turn was up to get the food as he interrupted Ki-tae.
"Brother, we can discuss that later. But first, let's eat."
"Ah, yes. My apologies." He said while smiling nervously.
Afterwards, the servant served them food and they left the queue to find a seat for them to eat.
"By the way, you said that every disciple needs to buy food with their own money, right? So, why didn't that servant asks for any points from you? I saw a couple of people giving some sort of token to them."
"Well… Since I am the eldest son of the Song Family, they don't take money from me."
"I see…" Yu-min nodded his head.
As they were trying to find an empty seat while they talk, Yu-min spotted a table of four where a single young man was sitting there and no one else around.
"Oh! There's a seat available, let's go." While saying that, Yu-min rushed towards the table as fast as he can.
"But that table is-"
Before Ki-tae could finish his sentence, Yu-min already took a seat in front of a young man who was eating quietly while focusing on the lunch.
"Pardon my intrusion! You don't mind If I sat here, right?" Yu-min asked him politely.
However, there was no reply from him as he kept eating the food without even looking at Yu-min.
"Well, okay. Enjoy your lunch, then."
Yu-min thought this person whom he talked just now was a shy person and couldn't talk to people openly. He even assumed that he was an outcast here since he was eating alone at the table without any friends sitting next to him. So, he just leave him be and started eating his own lunch like nothing have happened.
As for everyone around him, they just turned silent and stared at Yu-min like they've seen some ghost or something.
"This young boy… Is he crazy?"
"What the hell is he thinking sitting at that table?"
"He's done for. Let's wrap it up and leave this room or we'll get caught up in their mess."
The disciples started mumbling to themselves and making comments about Yu-min all of a sudden, for some reason.
Ki-tae came from behind and whispered to him in a low voice. "Sir, let's find another seat. This seat is taken."
"What are you talking about? It's a table of four and only this young man is sitting here. There's still room for us. Come, sit here!" Yu-min smiled.
"Sir, I beg you! Let's find another seat or we'll be in trouble." Ki-tae insisted.
Yu-min twitched his eyebrows upon seeing the worrisome face of Ki-tae as he asked. "Brother, what's the matter?"
"Sir, the one who's sitting here is Song Min-ho. He's the second strongest disciple of our Song Family and he doesn't like people to bother him. Otherwise, they'll get beaten to pulp before they knew it. I heard rumours that he doesn't spare anyone if they get on his nerves. Even I am a little scared of him. Sir, please. Let's find another seat."
"So what if he's the strongest! I'm not afraid of him. Come, brother. Let's sit and eat or the food will get cold."
"But…"
As for the young man, he suddenly stopped eating and glared at Yu-min with an indifferent look. "What did you just say?"
Yu-min glared back at him. "What?"
"Just a moment ago, what did you just said?"
"Let's sit and eat or the food will get cold?" he replied.
"No, before that."
Yu-min understood what he wanted to hear as he pulled his face close to him and said. "So what if you're the strongest! I'm not afraid of you."
Upon hearing those words, the young man smiled.
"It's been so long since someone challenged me head on. You're gutsy. I give you that." He then stood up while holding the plate and spoke. "Meet me at the arena room after you have finished eating. Let's have a duel and find out who's the strongest. I'll be waiting for you."
After saying that, he turned around and started walking away from them.
"Whether I show up there or not, it's up to me. So, don't order me around what to do." Yu-min said out loud.
"Hmph!" He turned back and spoke. "Of course, you're right! You don't have come if you're scared." He said with a smug look on his face.
"You little-" Upon hearing his sarcastic tone, annoying marks started appearing on Yu-min's forehead as he replied to him. "Bring it on, then. I'll accept your challenge. Let's have a duel."
"I'll be looking forward to it." The young man then turned around and left.