CHAPTER 240: WRATH OF THE VEGETABLE VIGILANTE [1]

While others were laughing at my expense, I made eye contact with Leon—Leona who was sitting beside while laughing.

I was curious. Why was she going to the trip? In the novel she didn’t go.

Does she have some kind of plan?

I wanted to ask her but I can’t ask her in this situation so I let it go.

Kiera was still quietly nibbling on the last of her spring roll, but when her eyes briefly flicked back to me—and met mine for half a second—she startled like I’d caught her red-handed.

I resisted the urge to sigh.

She was acting like I’d just sentenced her to life in prison over some light stalking. Well... semi-light.

Still, I wasn’t going to blow things out of proportion. She apologized, I forgave her.

And honestly? I didn’t want to waste another brain cell thinking about it.

I had much more important things on my plate.

Like the upcoming trip.

This one was going to be big. Even in the novel, it had been a key moment.

Something important was set to appear during this trip—something most readers would’ve forgotten because it was only briefly mentioned in the original story.

But not me.

I had plans.

"Excuse me, Cadet Ryen."

"...Yes, Professor Lena?"

"I hope I’m not overstepping, but... do you happen to know where the travel club is heading for their first outing?"

"...Huh?"

"It’s just... I’m a little concerned," she said, pressing her fingers together nervously. "If it turns out to be a dangerous location, I can’t just sit back and let you all wander off unsupervised."

"Ah, don’t worry. I heard it’s a safe spot."

...Safe-ish.

Definitely not as safe as she was hoping.

"I... see," she said, though her worried frown didn’t ease one bit.

But nobody else seemed to notice the tension. Everyone was too excited, riding the high of upcoming freedom.

"Still," Professor Lena added, clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention, "don’t get ahead of yourselves. Remember—ranking matches and midterm exams come first."

Leona, who’d been quietly giggling to herself, perked up at the mention of rankings.

"Oh, that’s right! Ryen, you better be ready. The top spot in the practical exams? It’s mine this time."

"Oh?" Ryen raised an eyebrow, amused. "You think you can beat both Leo and me?"

"Of course I can," she grinned. "I’ve been saving a secret weapon since the entrance ceremony. It’s time."

"Secret weapon, huh?" Ryen leaned back in his seat, smirking. "Well, I guess I should start trembling in fear then."

"You better," she said proudly.

"Oh?" Ryen raised an eyebrow, grinning like she’d just challenged him to a pie-eating contest. "You sure about that, Leon?"

"Dead sure," she shot back, cracking her knuckles. "I’ve been training every morning at dawn. Unlike some people who wake up five minutes before class."

"That’s because I don’t need extra time to win," he retorted with a wink.

"Oh please," Leona scoffed. "You couldn’t beat me even if I fought with one hand tied."

"That sounds like a bet."

"A bet I’ll win."

"I’m in. What’s the loser gotta do?"

"Wear the academy mascot costume for a whole day," she grinned wickedly.

"You’re on."

They shook hands over the table as Nora let out a tiny groan and mumbled, "Please don’t drag me into this again..."

Professor Lena smiled faintly but rubbed her temples as if already preparing for the inevitable disciplinary reports.

Ryen and Leona arguing was routine.

What wasn’t routine... was how easily everyone was getting along. How normal this all felt.

Which, of course, didn’t last.

Because right as everyone was getting ready to wrap up and leave—Ryen arguing with the waiter about ordering dessert, Nora standing and stretching, Leona flicking rice grains at him across the table—My phone buzzed with a new notification.

Curious, I glanced at the screen.

[Hello! This is Green Earth Produce, a group dedicated to protecting our environment and supporting local farming. We’ve reviewed the photo you submitted, and we’re taking steps to make sure valuable food doesn’t go to waste like that again. Thank you for your vigilance and care.]

Ah. Finally.

It was a response to the report I filed during the whole Keira mess a while ago.

Told you, didn’t I?

Food waste is a serious offense. Just tossing it onto the ground? That’s practically asking for divine punishment.

Why?

Because somewhere out there is a person—one of the most unhinged people in the world—who sees that as a personal offense against nature and farmers alike. And they will show up.

Originally, they were supposed to appear later in the timeline.

But... if they show up a little early?

Well, maybe having him here isn’t that bad.

That’s what I thought.

But that thought... was a mistake.

Because the next moment—

Ding!

A system notification blinked into my view.

"...What the— Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me."

[Urgent Quest: Wrath of the Vegetable Vigilante. A furious Vegetable Vigilante is on his way. He will not stand idly by while the sacred pride of farmers and the honor of the land are mocked.]

My thoughts screeched to a halt as I stared at the message.

My head spun.

Wait, what?

I did call him.

I did want him to come.

But why now?!

Why did the human embodiment of rural rage and radishes have to descend right in the middle of the academy’s ranking match?!

The storm I summoned...

Was about to crash down on Velcrest Academy.

And it had a hoe.

This had to be a prank. A really weird, oddly specific prank from the universe. Maybe the system finally glitched. Yeah, that made more sense.

...Right?

But as I reread the message, the notification didn’t go away. It just stayed there, hovering at the edge of my vision like a silent, passive-aggressive threat. No time limit. No quest objective. Just a dire warning.

A furious farmer is on his way.

I gulped.

"...Rin? You okay?" Nora nudged me with a concerned glance, half her bag already slung over her shoulder.

"Huh? Oh. Yeah. Totally," I said too quickly.

She gave me a skeptical look. "You’re sweating."

"I’m hydrated."

"That’s not what sweating means—"

"It’s fine! Everything’s fine!" I said, standing up so fast my chair skidded back and nearly knocked into Leona.

She raised a brow. "What now? You looked like someone just told you your bloodline is cursed or something."

Oh, it’s worse than that, I wanted to say. There’s an angry farming deity on his way here to personally punt me into the nearest rice paddy.

----

Author Note:

The woman in new cover of novel is Rin’s older sister.