Great... Just great...
Roland's shoulders slumped as he dragged his feet toward his seat.
"So, how was your trial, Roland?" the head elder asked warmly. "I was worried for you since you took double the usual time."
"Haha… The trial was very difficult. I barely survived it," Roland said, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve.
Noticing this, the head elder let out a soft chuckle. "You don't have to be nervous, Roland."
"Oh? You could tell?" Roland replied, slightly surprised.
"You have a bad habit of fiddling with your cuffs whenever you're nervous," the head elder pointed out with a knowing smile.
Impressive. To think he picked up on that... Roland thought, feeling a small surge of pride. But this also shows how well I'm imitating the real Roland's habits.
However, deep inside, Roland couldn't help but feel a strange sense of unease.
I really am becoming more and more like the real Roland... I guess it's only natural after inheriting all of his memories.
It was like having three different lifetimes tangled together at once.
If he tried to recall his teenage years, memories overlapped—his days back in secondary school, scavenging and hunting for money to survive, and at the same time, being bedridden with illness.
All of those experiences were undeniably a part of him now. But which was the true him?
Wait, why am I even questioning this? Of course, the real me is Noir!
His heart started pounding, fear creeping in at the thought of losing himself completely.
It had only been a day and a half since the transmigration loop had begun, and already he was showing signs of an identity crisis.
I can't completely deny the real Roland's influence, he realized, since I have to keep playing his role to avoid being transmigrated again.
But I should at least resist Anderson's personality seeping into me... I have to.
"Roland... Roland... Roland!"
"Uh, yes?" Shit, I was too lost in thought and didn't realize the head elder was calling me!
Roland quickly straightened up, pushing away the chaotic swirl of thoughts, and tried to regain his composure.
""As I was saying, you seem much healthier since passing the trial," the head elder repeated.
"Oh, yes. After awakening, I don't feel frail anymore. I bet I could even learn to wield a sword now," Roland replied, still slightly flustered.
"Well, that's good to hear." The head elder leaned back slightly, a kind smile on his face. "If you want, I could arrange for an Imperial Knight to train you in swordsmanship."
"Thank you for the offer. I'll consider it," Roland answered with a smile.
At that moment, the door to the dining hall opened, and Archduke Cryus along with the youthful Aurora entered.
Seeing them, the head elder turned his attention away from Roland, warmly greeting the duo. He then gestured for them to take a seat next to Eugene, who was seated to the left.
Once they were settled, the head elder clapped his hands, and a line of servants entered carrying trays of food.
Not long after, a wide array of dishes was placed before them.
A freshly baked loaf of bread with butter was set to the side of each person.
In front of them, a steaming hot bowl of mutton stew was placed—the rich aroma of lamb and spices filling the room.
For their drink, they were each offered a glass of deep crimson red wine.
"To celebrate your successful completion of the trials, I've opened a very special bottle for you all," the head elder chuckled.
"T-This..."
In a rare show of emotion, Archduke Cryus was completely stunned. "This is Millennium Wine, isn't it?" he said, his voice slightly shaky.
"Hoho, as expected of you, Archduke Cryus. You're indeed correct." The head elder smiled broadly. "This red wine has been aging since the year 963. It seems you still have your old habit of collecting vintage wines, don't you?"
"Forgive me, but I must have a taste," Cryus said, his eyes sparkling like a child in front of a candy shop.
With practiced ease, he picked up the glass, first bringing it close to his nose to take in a deep whiff.
Then, with slow, deliberate movements, he pressed the rim to his lips, allowing the crimson liquid—almost the same shade as his hair—to flow into his mouth.
"Ah… This truly is a fine wine," Cryus praised, closing his eyes in bliss. "A nice fruity taste, with complex flavors. Not too sweet and not too sour... just perfect."
Well, that's interesting... Roland sat there slightly dumbfounded. I didn't think he was the type to enjoy anything, let alone wine...
"I'm glad you're enjoying it," the head elder said warmly. "Well, what are the rest of you waiting for? Please, dig in."
With that, the rest of the candidates began their meal.
Roland first picked up the finely crafted metal spoon to his right, bringing it to the bowl of mutton stew. He scooped up the dark red liquid, watching it slowly drip from the spoon due to its thick, hearty viscosity.
This is delicious! Roland savored the rich blend of spices, the slight kick, and the perfectly balanced sweet and savory notes.
This reminds me of mutton curry from Earth... he mused inwardly.
I guess good food exists in all sorts of parallel worlds.
Next, Roland reached for the wine, curious about what had made even the stoic Cryus so emotional.
Hmm... I definitely get it now.
Roland nodded to himself. This completely blows Earth's wine out of the park!
Unable to hold himself back any longer, Roland—the consummate connoisseur of food—quickly devoured the hearty breakfast, savoring every last bite.
"Don't you think you're eating a little too fast, Roland?" Trampling on his parade was Eugene, commenting with a smirk.
Mind your own business... Pui! Roland grumbled inwardly.
"It's nice to see you enjoying the meal. If you'd like, I can call for seconds," the head elder offered kindly.
Looking up from his plate, Roland replied, "Thank you for your generosity, but this is enough."
Man... I really want more, Roland cried internally, but it wouldn't be fitting for a noble to be so unrefined...
After a short while, all the candidates finished their breakfast. The servants quickly cleared the table before bringing out dessert.
A small bowl of ice cream was placed before each of them—three neat scoops of strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla.
Needless to say, Roland thoroughly enjoyed it, grinning from ear to ear like a child.
Before long, breakfast came to an end. Each of the candidates sat quietly, waiting for the head elder to speak.
"I hope you all enjoyed the meal," he began, his tone shifting to something slightly more serious. "But now, it's time to get to business."
The room immediately quieted.
"I'm sure by now you've all gained the corresponding knowledge about 'divine' energy, as well as your unique abilities," the head elder continued.
"However, just to make it absolutely clear—'divine' energy taxes not only your physical body but also your mental strength. It's a power drawn from the very soul. Overusing it could cause irreversible damage."
He paused, letting the heavy words sink in.
"There have even been cases," the head elder added grimly, "where vessels went mentally insane due to the overuse of their powers."
Going mentally insane... Roland couldn't help but worry, those ominous words lingering heavily in his mind.
"Besides that," the head elder's tone lightened a fraction, "the way to get stronger is simple: devour more ancient beast corpses.
"Once you complete the trial, any further ancient beast you devour will have its will instantly overwhelmed, allowing you to absorb its divine energy without resistance."
He paused once again, giving the candidates time to digest the information.
Then, with a faint smile tugging at his lips, the head elder casually added:
"So... why don't we have a tournament to test your abilities?"