Michael was checking the system notifications. He felt relieved that his soul was now fully integrated with his body. However, the permanent side quest brought him the most joy.
"Ding! The System has activated a permanent side quest.
No Good deed would go unrewarded: You saved the kids from getting killed in a taboo experiment.
Reward: 10 years of Cultivation."
"So the more people I help, the more I am rewarded? That's awesome. Now, no more painful exercises. System, use the reward."
Boom! Suddenly, the spiritual energy started coming towards him, and within a short time, a small tornado formed above his head. Michael's body automatically started absorbing the spiritual energy.
With each passing moment, Michael felt the spiritual energy within his body surge until it reached its peak. Suddenly, he experienced a breakthrough, and within a few seconds, he advanced to the Body Refinement Stage.
>> Host Name: Michael Ashbluff
>> Age: 16
>> Level: Body Refinement Stage
>> Strength: 25
>> Agility: 20
>> Intelligence: 45
>> Spiritual Roots: Bronze Tier
>> Cultivation Technique: Mystic Turtle's shell
>> Current Wealth: 118000 Gold coins (After deductions)
>>SP (System Points): 8000 SP
>> Skills: MasterChef (Beginner), Eyes of Truth (Beginner)
After seeing his stats, Michael was shocked.
" My intelligence stats have almost reached 50."
"Now that I don't have to focus on my Cultivation, it's time to expand the business. After all, the bigger my business is, the more people I would be able to help." Michael mused.
The next day, Michael woke up early as he was going to visit the Magic Academy.
He was standing in front of his bedroom mirror, looking at himself.
After his breakthrough in the Body Refinement Stage, his appearance was slightly changed. His face became more defined, with a strong jawline and high cheekbones. His deep blue eyes seemed more intense, and his flawless skin and slightly shiny dark hair made him look even more handsome.
He wore a white, long-sleeved shirt with a high collar and a buttoned-up brown vest with decorative flaps. Over this, he wore a dark blue, sleeveless overcoat that fit snugly and was left open at the front. Dark brown trousers and small boots complemented his overall appearance.
While Michael looked in the mirror, Lila came into his room to call him for breakfast. In the past, Michael's predecessor rarely spent time with his family, leaving Lila longing for brotherly fun. But since Michael came into this world, he made it a point to have breakfast with his family.
"Brother, why are you smiling at yourself in the mirror?" she asked.
Michael snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Lila. This girl always managed to pull him out of his reverie. He walked over to her and gently pinched her baby cheeks.
Lila, this little girl, looked just like her mom. She had chestnut hair, though hers was a bit shorter than Nancy's. With her pale skin and small, rounded face with baby cheeks, she resembled a little doll.
"Brother, I don't like that. I'm not a little girl," Lila said, shaking off his hand and pouting.
"Oh, my little Lila has become a grown-up lady now?" Michael teased.
"Yes, even Mom says it. So, you have to stop pinching my cheeks, or I'll tell Mom," she warned, crossing her arms.
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry, Lila. I won't do it again. But then, what should I do with these candies? Should I throw them away since grown-up women don't eat candies?" Michael asked, pulling out a handful of candies from his pocket, which he had just bought from the System.
When Lila saw the candies, she tried to grab them from Michael's hand.
"Brother, give me those candies."
Michael pulled his hands away and dodged her. "No, I won't. You're a lady now, and you can't eat candies."
"Brother, give me, or else I'll bite you," she threatened, showing her teeth to scare him.
Michael still didn't give in and ran out of his room towards the dining room. Lila chased after him, pleading for the candies.
When Nancy saw this, she smiled. "Mom, see how he isn't giving me candies. Tell him to give them to me, or else I'll cry."
After failing in her attempts, Lila was almost in tears. Seeing this, Michael stopped and knelt.
"Here, take your candies and stop crying." He was about to ruffle her hair when Lila suddenly stuck out her tongue and ran away with the candies.
Michael laughed it off and then sat down at the dining table. During breakfast, he told Nancy about his visit to Mage Academy.
Nancy expressed her concerns and advised him to rethink it, but Michael convinced her.
"Mom, don't worry. I've already thought of a plan. Just get ready to become the manager of our new business."
Since he had opened the restaurant, Michael, as the main chef, spent most of his time in the kitchen. During that time, Nancy took on the role of managing the restaurant. Thanks to her efforts, the restaurant ran smoothly, even with large crowds.
After breakfast, they headed to the restaurant. When Michael arrived, he saw Jenny standing outside, waiting for him. Her black hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and her pointed elf ears peeked through. She wore a simple yet elegant blue dress that complemented her fair skin. The dress was tied at the waist with a delicate belt, highlighting her figure.
Nancy and Lila noticed them, too. Over the past few days, Lila had become good friends with Jenny. Lila was about to run over to Jenny when Nancy grabbed her dress and pulled her back.
"Where are you going, Lila? Let's go inside. We have to open the restaurant," Nancy said.
"But Mom, I want to meet Sister Jenny. She always brings me candies," Lila pleaded, struggling to break free.
Nancy firmly but gently led her inside. "Michael, go see Jenny. We're going ahead," she said with a wink before ushering Lila inside.
Michael was speechless at Nancy's behavior. He wanted to clarify that there was nothing between him and Jenny, but she already went inside the restaurant.
Jenny approached him and said, "Good morning, Michael. I have already informed Dad about you, and he looks forward to meeting you. But I have a small favor. Can we deliver the food to the orphanage first? From there, we can go to the Magic Academy."
"Okay, let's do that," he quickly said, heading toward the restaurant. Michael recalled how Jenny had tried to flirt with him the previous day. Jenny seemed to catch on but smiled and followed him.
After that, they took the food to the orphanage to deliver it. When Michael met Aunt Lily, he expressed his desire to help the orphanage. After discussing it with her, he decided to sponsor all the children staying there.
"Okay, Aunt Lily. I'll see you again after I settle my business. Take care of yourself until then."
They then sat in their carriage and headed towards the Mage Academy. The city was divided into four parts: the East housed all the guilds and major businesses; the West was where the nobles and wealthy people lived; the North had all the academies; and the South was the area for commoners.
Michael couldn't help but notice the contrast in the roads as they approached the Magic Academy. The streets here were much smoother and well-maintained than those in the South section.
Cobblestone paths lined with neatly trimmed hedges and flowerbeds created a picturesque scene. The trees along the road were tall and well-tended, providing ample shade.
As they reached the Academy gates, they saw a huge crowd of parents standing with their kids, who looked around 18. The kids were all wearing brown robes, and some even had wands in their hands.
Jenny noticed the crowd, and her expression changed as if she remembered something.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you that today is the first day of classes for first-year students," Jenny said as their carriage stopped before the crowd.
As soon as they both stepped out of the carriage, everyone stared at them in awe.
"Hey, look, who's that girl? She's so pretty. Is she a new admission like us? But she is not wearing our uniform." said one orc student.
"It would be great if she's in our class. At least we won't find our lectures boring," said another.
That student forgot that his mom was with him. She twisted his ear and scolded, "You rascal, do you think I'm paying so much fees for you to stare at girls? Focus on your studies, or I'll ask your father to stop giving you spending money."
"No, Mom, I was just joking. Please, I won't do this again," he pleaded.
Everyone around them started laughing.
All the guys conveniently ignored Michael walking beside Jenny, but the same could not be said for girls. Some girls openly talked about his looks.
Michael had never experienced anything like this before, so he quickly tried to escape the crowd and enter the Mage Academy. Suddenly, he heard someone calling Jenny.
"Jenny, wait for me."
As Michael turned toward the voice, he saw three guys emerge from the crowd: an elf, a demon, and a human.
The elf stood out to him the most. He had pale skin with long, blond hair tied back neatly. All three of them were wearing green robes.
When Elric came in front of Michael and Jenny, he gave Michael a look of contempt.
"Why is he looking at me like I've stolen his money?" Michael wondered.
"Jenny, where were you? We were all waiting for you. Principal Jose asked you to go to his office. He had something to discuss with you. Also, what are you doing with this pretty boy?" Elric asked, his tone laced with jealousy.
Jenny didn't like how Elric looked at Michael, so she got irritated.
"Elric, why should you care whom I am with?" Without speaking much, she gave him an angry look and turned towards Michael. "Michael, let's go." With that, she grabbed his hand and went inside the gate.
As they passed, Michael smirked at Elric.
"Hey you, stop there. What's with that look?"
But Michael and Jenny walked away without looking back at him.
"You both saw how he looked at me, right? I'm telling you, if I don't smash that face of his, I'll change my name," Elric said, glaring at his companions.
Seeing Elric like that, both Danny and Thomas tried to comfort him.
"Yes, Master Elric. We both saw it. Don't worry; we'll find a way to deal with him," said Thomas.
The Theodore family raised Thomas and Danny. Elric Theodore was the younger son of the current head of the Theodore family. His father, Samuel Theodore, was one of the four Dukes of the Yearwood Kingdom. The Theodore family had funded their education at the Mage Academy, but they have been asked to look after Elric in exchange.
Danny, a demon kin who was short in stature with curly hair, looked at Elric and asked, "Master Elric, should we kidnap that guy and beat him?"
Elric looked at Danny's sinister expression and then calmed down. He glanced in the direction where Jenny and Michael had gone. "No, leave it. I don't like to beat a lonely kid. Let's go," he said, moving on. Thomas and Danny followed him, but suddenly, Elric turned back and knocked on Danny's head.
"Stop thinking about beating everyone all the time. You're not some street thug." With that, he went towards the gate. Danny acted like Elric had wronged him but still followed him.
When Michael went near the gate, there were two guards stationed there.
"Hello, Miss Jenny. You can enter, but we must register this gentleman's name."
The guards knew that Jenny was the daughter of Principal Jose, but Jenny didn't have the right to bring anyone without registering them. Jenny, too, cooperated with them. Soon, Michael gave them his details and went inside with Jenny.
Michael was amazed by the sight before him as he entered the gate. He saw that the pathway was laid with cobblestones that led toward a massive building that looked as grand as a palace. Beautiful trees were everywhere, providing shade for students sitting and chatting beneath them.
When he reached the end of the pathway, a grand stone palace stood before him. The palace was surrounded by other stone towers that were just as impressive as the main building. Each tower had detailed carvings that looked more like magic texts. The place reminded Michael of the grand palaces he had heard about in stories.
As they went inside, Michael noticed that the Academy was equally impressive. The grand hall was lined with tapestries and filled with the soft glow of candlelight. The whole place was lavishly decorated with rich furnishings.
Jenny saw Michael looking at the Academy with awe and felt a sense of pride in it. After all, her father was the one who was heading this place.
The grand hall where Michael was standing was full of students.
After that, Jenny took Michael to her father's office. They saw Jose sitting at his desk, looking over some documents as they entered.
"Dad, look who I brought with me," Jenny said cheerfully.
Michael, who had come with Jenny, bowed respectfully before Jose. "Hello, Principal Yearwood."
Jose looked up from his papers and smiled warmly. "Ah, Michael! It's good to see you." He set his documents aside and stood up to greet them properly. "Welcome to the Royal Mage Academy. How are you finding it so far?"
"It's incredible, Sir. The Academy is even more impressive than I imagined."
Jose nodded. "I'm glad to hear that. We take great pride in our institution. By the way, Jenny told me you have to meet me."
Jose knew why Michael had to meet him, but he still asked.
Michael didn't beat around the bush and directly came to the topic. "Principal Jose, I have a business proposal for the Mage Academy. My restaurant, The Happy Belly, provides food that helps Apprentice Mages advance to the First Tier.
I have many other dishes that will help students in their Mage journey. However, my restaurant has limited space, so I am considering opening a branch in your Academy.
In return, I am ready to fund the education of needy students and create jobs in my restaurant. I can also share some of my revenue from this restaurant."
Principal Jose was surprised to hear this. He had previously mentioned a partnership with Michael, but it was limited to Michael providing them with food. Setting up a restaurant inside the Academy was a different matter altogether.
"Michael, I am glad you want to help our students, but I don't understand why you want to open a restaurant inside our academy."
"Principal Jose, you know most of my customers are the Apprentice Mages, and the Academy has lots of them. Setting up my restaurant in the Academy will help me earn twice the revenue I earn through my current restaurant."
"You still haven't answered my question, Michael." Jose gave Michael a meaningful look.
Michael knew he couldn't hide his intentions from this cunning man. After all, there was a reason why Jose was the Principal of the Kingdom's best Mage Academy.
Michael took a deep breath. After silence, he said, "Principal Jose, I want to introduce a few more dishes. And this time, those dishes will be helpful for Apprentice Mages and the higher-tier mages."
"How high are you talking about?"
"I am talking about mages who are above the second tier. I have recipes to help people advance to the fourth tier."
As soon as Michael said that, Jose stood up and looked at him thoughtfully, trying to determine whether Michael was lying. However, he didn't find any deceit.
"Are you serious, Michael?" Jose asked to confirm again.
"Yes. Although I cannot do anything for mages above the fourth tier, I am sure my recipes are enough for mages to advance to the fourth tier," Michael replied.
Michael knew that if he bought the advanced version of the MasterChef skill, he could even help Mages advance up to the sixth tier. However, he knew that doing so would put him in danger.
But Michael had no such qualms about his current offering. Despite the risks involved, he believed he could handle them.
This is why Michael wanted to team up with the Royal Mage Academy. The Royal Family established the Academy, and if he worked with them, at least on the surface, nobody in the Kingdom would target him or his family.
He can earn money, and the Kingdom gets more fourth-tier Mages. It was a win-win situation for both of them.
Principal Jose was stunned. Most graduates from his Academy only reached the third tier. The resources needed to advance to the fourth tier and above were limited and reserved for the most talented Mages.
Others couldn't access them, even if they had money. But if Michael's food worked like those rare magic potions, becoming a Mage wouldn't just be a dream for poor students.
If Michael's food did what he claimed, Jose would be the first principal of the Mage Academy to make such a significant contribution.
Even Jenny, who stood beside Michael, was speechless.
However, Jose didn't agree immediately. He wanted to hear more from Michael.
Michael added, "I want to use your Academy's name to promote my restaurant."
Michael didn't want to associate himself with the Royal Family, but using the restaurant's profit as a pretext to get protection was something that he could do without any worry.
Jose sensed Michael hiding something but didn't take it too seriously. After yesterday's event, he knew Michael was not a bad person.
Even if something happened, Jose could quickly suppress Michael with the power of the Royal Family. But Jose didn't know that this decision would save his life in the future.
"Okay, I agree to your request. Let's sign a magic agreement."
Principal Jose waved his hand, and suddenly, a scroll appeared in his grasp. Michael figured Jose must have some space storage magic.
Jose and Michael discussed several restaurant-related terms, such as ensuring high-quality food and setting the opening hours.
Once they ironed out the details, both signed the agreement. Jose then used magic to create a copy of the contract by transferring the words from one scroll to another and handing the copy to Michael.
"Oh, so this world does have printing magic. I still have a lot to discover," Michael thought as he tucked the agreement into his pocket.
"Michael, today is the first day for the new students. I want you to join me as I address them. I will announce our collaboration and inform them about their new beneficiary."
Michael was more than happy with this suggestion.
"By the way, Jenny told me what had happened yesterday. I am grateful to you for saving her," Jose said.
Michael waved his hand dismissively. "Sir, it's your daughter who saved our lives. If not for her pendant, we would have been done for."
"But I think in future you should remain more careful. I found some information when I asked my men about that place. Recently, lots of kids have disappeared from that region.
The reason is unknown, but I think some nobles are behind those disappearances. Now that you have messed with their plans, there's a chance that they will try to harm you. If you want, I can ask someone to protect you."
Michael knew it was a reasonable offer but didn't want anyone to monitor his activities, so he rejected Jose's offer.
"It's okay, Sir. I have already made some arrangements." Michael said.
"Okay, since you are confident, I won't speak much. But I hope you take care of yourself."
After that, Jenny and Michael left. Before leaving, Jose reminded her to wear her robes, as students were required to wear uniforms at the Academy.
She had kept a few extra robes in Jose's office, so she took one and put it on. Her robes were green, just like Elric's.
There was still some time before the announcement, so Jenny took Michael to show him around the Academy. As they walked, she told him about the Academy's history, sharing fascinating stories and facts that made Michael appreciate the place even more.
The founder of the Yearwood Kingdom established the Yearwood Royal Mage Academy. This institution aimed to provide knowledge related to magic and use it to improve the lives of the citizens.
However, learning magic is expensive, and many people can't afford it. Thus, the Academy became a place only the rich and elite could attend.
To tackle this problem, the founder made education free for the talented, but the resources needed to become a mage were still unaffordable for low-income people.
The founder couldn't do much about it because the Kingdom had just been formed, and there was no way to finance these resources.
After a few decades, the founder died, and a new king sat on the throne. The situation remained the same.
"To overcome this problem, my father took steps like funding the resources of poor but talented students through the Academy's scholarship. In exchange, the students have to work for the Academy.
This has improved the enrollment rate of poor students, but the situation hasn't drastically changed," Jenny said with a sad face.
After visiting the Academy, Michael came to the grand hall, where all the students were already talking about academy life. At the end of the hall was a stage where Jose would give his speech.
Jenny was chatting with Michael when she saw two girls approach her. Both were wearing brown robes, indicating they were new students.
"Hello, seniors. My name is Sasha, and this is Berry. We came to say hello and ask you some questions. Can you please answer them?" said Sasha.
Sasha and Berry were both succubi known for their beauty. Wherever they went, they attracted attention. Although both girls wore robes, it didn't hide their natural beauty. Jenny, being an elf, was also very beautiful. Soon, it looked like beautiful girls surrounded Michael.
Unaware of people's envy, Michael thought about what he should say during his speech to make a more significant impact.
While Jenny was talking with the girls, some professors came onto the stage, followed by Jose. Everyone went quiet when they saw Jose. Everyone knew that the Principal of the Mage Academy was a sixth-tier Mage, and although he looked amicable, nobody wanted to mess with such a powerful person.
"Good morning, students. My name is Josh Yearwood, and I am the Principal of the Yearwood Royal Mage Academy," Jose began.
After that, he gave a speech covering the Academy's history, rules, and regulations.
"Okay, everyone, that is all for today. Before I go, I want to introduce you to someone. Michael, come on the stage."
Everyone started looking around. Suddenly, they noticed a guy walking up to the stage.
"Hey, isn't that the guy we saw this morning with that pretty girl?" one student whispered.
"Yes, he is. But why isn't he wearing a uniform? He looks our age, and I can't sense any Mana fluctuations from him. Is he a mortal?" another student replied.
Even the professors were surprised to see the Principal calling a mortal on stage, but they remained quiet.
Michael walked up to Jose and stood beside him.
"Hello, students. My name is Michael Ashbluff, and I own The Happy Belly."
Everyone was shocked. The Happy Belly had become a household name among apprentice mages. Many students planned to visit the restaurant once they started feeling the effects of their breathing exercises and mana.
They never expected a mortal to own such a famous restaurant. If that was not enough, he looked like he was of their age. They were attending the Mage Academy, but Michael was already running a profitable business.
Even Elric was shocked by this, but then he comforted himself.
"So what if he is the owner of such a famous restaurant? In the end, he is just a mortal. On the other hand, I am going to be a powerful Mage; that time, we will see who has a last laugh."
Other students were thinking the same. Michael never knew that he had unknowingly made many competitors for himself.
"I am proud to announce that The Happy Belly will open a new restaurant in your Mage Academy. As a gift for our collaboration, we will offer all the dishes at 50 % off for the first week of the restaurant's opening.
After four days, we will conduct staff recruitment, so any of you looking for a job can come and try your luck."
With that, Michael thanked Jose and stepped down from the stage.
Everyone cheered Michael. After all, they were all Apprentice Mages and Michael's dishes were most beneficial for them.
After talking with Jenny for some time, he left the Academy.
When he reached home, Michael told Nancy about everything that had happened at the Academy.
"Michael, you shouldn't sell those dishes in your restaurant. We are already earning enough money, so why do you want to put your life in danger?" Michael's new plan stressed Nancy.
Michael understood that her fear wasn't just a motherly concern but also because of Michael's mortal status.
"Mom, I want to talk to you about something." Michael knew he had to tell her some truth, or Nancy would always be concerned about him.
"Mom, a god came to me in my dreams when I was injured. He blessed me and gave me a method of body cultivation.
I don't know why he chose me, but I'm grateful for the gift. He also gave me those recipes and asked me to help the people of our world.
He promised to protect me if I was in danger, So you don't have to worry about me, Mom.
Nancy was still in disbelief but knew she had no other options. In Fortuna, some theories suggested that the Gods had given everyone the power to use magic. Perhaps one of those Gods had taken pity on Michael and helped him.
She had always been suspicious of Michael. He had never shown any interest in cooking, but suddenly, one day, he opened a restaurant and started creating magical dishes. Right now, her only option is to trust Michael's words.
"Okay, Michael, but please take care of yourself," she said, her voice filled with concern.
Michael was happy that he had finally convinced Nancy of his talent.
"Also, Mom, take this." He handed Nancy several amulets. He realized the talismans ' shortcomings during his last encounter with the kidnappers.
This time, he followed the System's suggestion and purchased the items to protect his loved ones. The System charged him some SPs and suggested a few useful things, such as Magic amulets and a Home Security Formation.
Magic Amulets: These are imbued with magical properties to provide protection, bring good luck, or enhance magical abilities. They need mana to activate.
This world already had amulets used by Mages for protection, but they had limitations, such as being ineffective against Mages above the Fourth Tier. However, Michael's amulets were System products, effective even against Seventh-Tier Mages.
Nancy was going to refuse, but Michael showed her another bunch.
"Mom, I already have some for myself, so you don't have to worry about me."
Only then did Nancy accept the amulets. After talking with Nancy, he stepped outside.
Home Security Formation: This magic formation protects your home. It features invisible barriers, detection runes, and an illusion to keep intruders out.
It also has emergency shields that provide instant protection for 24 hours. After setting up, it automatically absorbs spiritual energy from the surroundings to recharge.
"System, activate the Home Security Formation."
Suddenly, an invisible barrier formed around the mansion. After setting up the formation, Michael went inside his home.
Nobles Street, West of Capital City
Night had fallen, and without technology, people lit their rooms with candles. Flame torches illuminated the streets. Visibility was still good, thanks to the special care the city's administration took, as all the nobles lived in this area.
A shadowy figure slipped quietly into one of the mansions among the many noble houses.
In a dimly lit room, a figure cloaked in shadows spoke in hushed tones. "Master, Michael Ashbluff will attend the Duke's party tomorrow night."
Only the back of the Master's head was visible in the dim light. The Master stood before the window, his face obscured, but his presence exuded authority.
"Excellent," the Master replied, his voice calm but cold. "Ensure our plan is executed flawlessly. I don't want any mistakes."
The figure nodded, fully aware of the gravity of the task. "It will be done, Master. Michael will not leave the Duke's party alive."
As the figure turned to leave, the Master gazed out the window, lost in thought. "Michael Ashbluff, I don't like anyone interfering with my plans."