*chomp* *crunch* *crunch*
"..."
Some rather disturbing sounds caused the sleeping future hero to furrow his brows.
*crunch* *chomp* *crunch* *crunch* *crunch*
"...nnn…!"
As they seemed to never stop, Justin let out a grumpy groan and squirmed under the blanket.
*chomp* *crunch*
"Nnngh…! Hmm…?"
In the end, the future hero couldn't ignore it anymore and slowly opened his eyes with a grumbling noise.
*chomp*
"..."
…right in time to witness Rotsard, sprawled on a chair right next to his bed, picking up one of the mutton chops from the pile on a platter he held in his lap and putting it in his mouth whole, chewing through meat, fat, and bone alike.
"!!!"
"...?"
The next moment, Justin's eyes widened in panic, and he pulled the blanket all the way to his chin and started kicking off the mattress, pushing himself as far away as possible…
"...kyaah…!"
*thump*
…which eventually led him to fall off the side of the hospital bed with a high-pitched cry…
"Get your ass back in here, commoner."
"...!"
Rotsard froze up for a second with another mutton chop halfway to his mouth before shaking his head and scoffing in annoyance, causing Justin to jolt.
"You didn't recover yet. Back to bed."
The bleached-blond-haired boy picked up yet another chop and demanded with a frown.
"..."
Justin put up his shoulders defensively, before slowly looking under the blanket he was entangled in.
"You weren't changed. They used a regeneration spell on you since, at the time, you were completely out of mana. It required minimal contact. Your shoes are over there."
"..."
Rotsard rolled his eyes and explained, pointing to the side with the mutton chop and causing Justin to glance over to confirm.
Only after that, the future hero slowly returned onto the mattress, cautiously keeping his eyes on his adversary.
"I'm here to talk to you about the duel. It was… Pitiful."
"...! Then…"
With Justin in place, Rotsard spoke up, immediately making the future hero purse his lips and call out…
"...that means that I-MPFHH…?!"
But, as the future hero tried to speak up, a mutton chop held by Rotsard ended up in his mouth.
The copious amount of meat in his mouth did choke Justin up, and not only out of pure surprise alone so the concerned bleached-blond-haired did pull back a bit.
The flavorful meat was prepared masterfully and slid off the bone with Rotsard merely twisting his wrist before extrqcting it.
"Your attacks carried no strength. It's because you're malnourished. I asked that kitchen hand for food, and he said that with your physique, you should eat three of those… but it should be okay to start with only two. Chew slowly and swallow."
The bleached-blond-haired boy explained and put the bone from Justin's chop into his mouth and…
*crunch* *crunch*
…chew through it as easily as if it was mere crust…
"Mhh…! Yhfu ghafgh Mfhaat hwoo bhyygh…!"
The future hero covered his mouth, and it seemed he was torn over whether to spit out the food or to talk... eventually choosing neither and only mumbling something unrecognizable.
"You know? Even dogs stop barking when they eat."
"!!!"
Rotsard raised his brow and pointed out, causing Justin's face to flush crimson. It also had a positive effect. The future hero focused on chewing and properly ate the serving.
"What was that about?"
Rotsard picked a piece for himself and asked benevolently, earning himself a scornful glare of the teary-eyed future hero.
"...that… that was too big! You're way too much…"
Justin was already half sitting on the bed, but now he pulled up his knees and complained pitifully while hugging them defensively.
"Huh. Such a small mouth for someone who yaps so much."
"Hey! N-nnnghah?!"
Rotsard snickered, causing Justin to call out with disbelief… but the future hero ended up silenced the very next movement when the bleached-blond-haired boy pushed another serving towards his mouth, forcing him to pull away with a panicked expression.
"Wh-what are you doing…?!"
Justin cried out as if a mutton chop offered to him was a threat.
"We only have a little over a month. I'm going to help you improve within that time limit. That includes making sure you eat properly. That kitchen hand will help. He knows his stuff, you won't overeat, and you definitely won't be starving."
"Wh-wha…?!"
Rotsard said, casually shrugging his shoulders while the baffled Justin could only stare at him with his mouth agape…
"MFGHHH?!?!"
…which was immediately taken advantage of by the bleached-blond-haired boy who stuffed it full of his meat with zero hesitation.
"You are in no position to complain. Also, you will disguise yourself during training as a gesture of your good will. Some of my circumstances don't allow me to be the one to do so, and since you certainly don't want to be associated with me, it leaves us with only that one option."
"...ggggng..."
Ignoring Justin's grumpy gurgle came easily to the bleached-blond-haired boy as he added before chomping through the one.
For a moment, there was silence between the pair, with Justin doing his best working through what was filling his mouth, even though it was obvious that it was too much for him to swallow it in one go.
"Would you look at that? I guess you have another expression besides crying that I find bearable to look at."
"!!!"
Rotsard leaned back into the chair and chuckled. He wasn't picking a fight, only trying to make a joke, but Justin's face turned crimson red, and the future hero threw the blanket over his head and even ended up plopping to the side.
"You know, that kitchen hand said that it will be alright to just make sure you eat two servings, but I did intend to feed you three. Sit back up."
"Nho!"
Rotsard raised his brow and announced in a stern voice, but got refused by the future hero, who clearly still hadn't swallowed the earlier portion.
"Listen, commoner. Your presence in the Royal Academy carries certain expectations. I never wanted to be the one assuring that they will be fulfilled, but if I'm the only one who can, I will see to it."
The bleached-blond-haired boy sighed and declared.
"...!"
Justin clearly flinched under the blanket and slowly turned around, peeking at Rotsard while making an expression of a distrustful puppy.
"...why would you say it like that…?"
The future hero asked cautiously without properly facing his adversary, careful not to expose his mouth again, as there was another mutton chop prepared in Rotsard's grasp at the ready.
"Just as not all commoners are peasants, not all aristocrats adhere to the principles of noblesse oblige."
Rotsard tilted his head while looking to the side before focusing back on Justin.
"...and you're… supposedly one of those who do…?"
"..."
Justin furrowed his brows and shimmied onto his back to have a proper look at Rotsard's face, but he didn't receive an immediate answer.
Instead, Rotsard crossed his arms and looked up to the ceiling with an expression suggesting that he was thinking something over.
And, after a few moments, Rotsard looked back at the future hero and smirked with a determined look in his beastly yellow eyes.
"There certainly is someone to whom I want to prove that, indeed, I am."
"...!"
He declared, causing Justin's eyes to widen, but the future hero said nothing back.
"With that said, let me take another step towards that goal. A noble should be generous to those around them, have another."
"N-no! I mean, wait! C-could I try holding it myself...?!!
Rotsard's expression turned into an amused smile and moved a mutton chop over Justin's mouth, causing the future hero to squirm and cry out while attempting to intercept the food.