Chapter 19: Lunch
"He invited me to join his family’s guild. But when I refused, he got angry," Mateo replied.
"It’s better not to join any guild," Jack said.
"Why?" Mateo asked.
He had already suspected there was something bad behind it.
"Even though guilds support us and it looks like free money without working, we actually have to sign contracts pledging loyalty to the guild. Once you join, you can’t leave unless the guild leader approves it. The problem is that the contract is signed inside the Magic World, and it’s a Magic Contract that’s absolutely binding. The world itself will punish you if you try to break it."
"Oh..." Mateo had not expected it to be that terrifying.
"Yeah. Even though the contract says the guild can’t order you to do something obviously suicidal, the requirement of absolute loyalty means that if an important guild member is in danger, ordinary members still have to help, even if it costs them their lives," Jack continued.
"Do all guilds require contracts like that?"
"Yes, all of them... Even so, plenty of people still join."
"I won’t..." Mateo shook his head.
When they arrived in front of the cafeteria, Mateo froze after seeing Alice and Emma heading there as well.
Alice was wearing long pants and a shirt with the sleeves rolled up halfway to her forearms.
Her hair was tied up, though slightly messy, which somehow made her even more attractive.
Jack immediately stopped when he saw her and forced Mateo to stop as well.
He already knew Alice was going to approach them.
And sure enough, Alice even smiled faintly when she looked at Mateo.
"I didn’t see you during the first break. Did you sleep in class?" she asked.
"Yeah..." Mateo nodded.
"You seem to really like the Magic World now. How about we have lunch together? I’ll treat you," Alice said.
"Sure..." Mateo could not refuse for any reason.
Besides, Jack and Emma were here too.
It would only look like they were part of the same lucky circle because Alice happened to be in it.
He followed Alice into the cafeteria.
But just as Jack was about to follow, Emma suddenly grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"What the hell?" he said.
"Alice only invited Mateo Allen, not you. Don’t disturb them. Eat at another table," Emma replied.
"No, Mateo said he’d treat me," Jack argued.
"Then ask him another time or make him pay for your food later. The point is, don’t bother them right now." Emma insisted.
Jack rolled his eyes, unable to say anything else.
Inside the cafeteria, Mateo attracted attention as if he were a celebrity. His heart pounded from all the astonished stares directed at him.
All because he was with Alice.
Alex and his group were also in the cafeteria, staring at Mateo and Alice almost without blinking.
Alice chose a table in the far corner and gestured for Mateo to sit first.
Only after Mateo sat down did she sit across from him.
"Is there anything you need in the Magic World?" she asked. ""Even though we’re in different locations, there’s a reliable shipping service available at Magic World."
Mateo fell silent after hearing that.
He looked into Alice’s eyes, and she truly seemed determined to support him in every way possible.
The important thing was that she meant every word.
However, Mateo did not feel comfortable receiving this kind of help. He shook his head.
"I don’t think there’s anything I need. After understanding more about the Magic World, I realized my talent there is actually very good, so things that are difficult for others aren’t too difficult for me," he said.
He needed to say this so his rapid growth would not shock people too much, especially Alice.
"Ohh, really?" Alice showed genuine interest after hearing that.
But then her lips, which seemed about to say something else, closed again, as though she had suddenly changed her mind.
After that, Mateo no longer knew what to say.
Their relationship still felt awkward.
Alice had told him to take the initiative to deepen their relationship, but he had no skill in that area.
Combined with all the stares around them, he became even more nervous.
Why did he have to eat lunch alone with Alice in the university cafeteria of all places?
And where was Jack? Weren’t they supposed to come here together?
At first, Mateo thought there would be four people at the table, making it look less suspicious.
But until now, neither Jack nor Emma had shown up.
Mateo noticed Alice’s fingers lightly tapping against the table.
Then something even more shocking happened.
Alice suddenly moved her hand and grabbed his.
Even though her touch felt unbelievably soft, to Mateo it felt no different from being struck by lightning, making his entire body tremble.
How was this possible?
Mateo stared at Alice in disbelief.
Holding his hand here meant people could clearly see it, and naturally, they were even more shocked than Mateo himself.
