Book 1 - The Rose-Red Tyrant: Chapter 9; A Mealtime Chat

The next chapter title appears on screen as it turns on "Chapter - 9; A Mealtime Chat".

It goes back a couple of seconds as Ace shouts "Bwah?! Housewarden?!"

While Riddle is standing behind him with his arms crossed.

Cater tries to ease everything up by saying "Hey, Riddle! What's shakin', pal? You're lookin' adorbs, as always!" But Riddle just says "Hmph. Cater, keep running that mouth and you'll lose it – along with the rest of your head." So Cater puts his hands up in retreat as he says "Sorry, sorry! My bad!"

But Grim, not taking the hint at the tense situation accuses Riddle "Myah?! You're the guy who put that stupid collar on me at the orientation ceremony!" But Riddle merely says back "And you're the new students who were nearly expelled yesterday." Although it was more to all of the first years and not just Grim.

He then continues only towards Grim this time "I'll ask that you not refer to my signature spell/unique magic as a 'stupid collar.'"

He then massages between his eyes as he says "The Headmage's habit of tolerating rulebreakers like you is going to send this entire campus spiraling into chaos one day. Those who break the rules should have their heads removed immediately, without exception."

Ace then mutters under his breath "Dude, seriously? This guy looks like a wimp, but talks like a monster!"

Riddle then warns them "The Headmage may have forgiven you, but if you break any further rules, I assure you I will not."

Ace then sheep-ish and slyly asks Riddle "So, uh, listen, housewarden, sir… Any chance I could get you to remove this collar?" Riddle answers "I had intended to remove it once you'd taken an opportunity to reflect upon your crimes. But I've not detected so much as a hint of remorse in the foolishness I've heard you spout today. So I think I'll let you keep that for a while."

Seeing their surprised and slightly worried faces he continues "Don't worry. The freshman curriculum is more focused on magical theory than practice. And your inability to use magic will help prevent incidents along the lines of what happened yesterday."

Yuu simply lets out a sigh of relief that her not having magic wouldn't really get in her way this year. But Ace is still angsty.

Riddle then finishes with "Now, if you've finished your meal, you should quit gossiping and prepare for your next class. Rule 271 is quite clear: 'One must leave the table within fifteen minutes of completing their lunch.' You DO understand what happens to rulebreakers, I trust?"

Riddle was about to walk away before he heard Ace sigh and say "More insane rules…" So he tells Ace "I believe you mean to say, 'Yes, Housewarden!'"

So Ace, very unwillingly, and Deuce yelled "Yes, Housewarden!" Riddle was satisfied as he said "Very well, then."

Trey then reassures Riddle "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on them." Riddle told Trey "Hmm. As Vice housewarden, I trust you'll avoid any further indiscreet conversion." Trey nods in response.

So Riddle says to all of them but also himself "Now, as per rule 339…'The post-meal beverage is to be lemon tea with two sugar cubes.' Thus I must go to acquire my sugar cubes. Farewell." He then turns to walk away as they hear him muttering "Don't even get me started on their violation of running out of sugar cubes…!"

Yuu feels her vision turn to black as a red flat shadowy background appears as two black drops of an unknown liquid fall onto the surface and merge to create one big puddle.

Her normal vision returns shortly after that.

As she hears Cater say "Yeesh! That was terrifying." Grim says "That guy…has some serious issues." Deuce then defends Riddle saying "Hey, don't disrespect him!"

So she was able to get back into the moment very quickly.

She then overhears a random Heartslabyul student ask "Is the housewarden gone?" While his friend says worriedly, "I totally just broke rule 186, 'Never eat a hamburger on Tuesday.' I don't know what I would have done if he'd caught me!" While the other sighs and says "...I wish he wouldn't come here so we could at least eat lunch in peace."

Cater and Trey are silent as they also overheard.

Trey tells the first year group "Riddle managed to secure the housewarden title before the end of his very first week at school. I know he can come off a bit harsh, but he's not a bad guy. Everything he does, he does because he thinks it'll improve the dorm."

Yuu saw the sympathy in Trey's eyes as he smiled bittersweetly.

But Grim counters Trey saying "Would a good guy go around putting collars on strangers' necks?"

This causes Trey and Cater to laugh nervously.

Yuu thinks 'That was your fault for causing trouble, Grim.' But lets her curiosity take over as she asks them "So what's this 'signature spell/unique magic' he mentioned?"

Cater bites as he asks to conform "Hm? You're curious about Riddle's signature spell/unique magic?"

Deuce seems to have an idea as he asks "That means, like… It's a spell that only he can cast, right?"

Trey answers "I doubt he's the only person in the whole world… But yes, a signature spell/unique magic is a magical ability that is, generally speaking, unique to its user. You'll learn more about them in class soon enough."

While Cater then answers Yuu's question "Riddle's signature spell/unique magic allows him to temporarily seal away the magic of another. The spell is named…"

It then shows Riddle yelling "Off With Your Head!"

Before going back as Grim exclaims "Even the name is completely psycho!"

Cater then tells them "To a mage, losing the ability to use magic is about the same as losing your head completely. Which is why all of us at Heartslabyul House try hard not to violate Riddle's rules."

Trey tries to comfort them by saying "And as long as you are following the rules, Riddle isn't so scary."

Ace then asks both of the Juniors, although mostly addressed towards Cater, "Speaking of which – are you still not gonna let me into the dorm until I buy a tart, Cater?" And Cater responds "Don't @ me, but…yeah. That's rule 53, so my hands are tied. Also, Riddle always looks forward to having the first slice of tart. So if you want him to forgive you, you had better bring a whole tart!"

Ace then complains "What happened to 'We're all from the same dorm, let's try to get along?' Throw me a bone here!" But Cater just says "That's one thing. This is another."

Deuce who was doing some light math on his fingers says "A whole tart has gotta be pretty expensive." Ace then complains "Seriously? I don't have that much money!"

So Cater brings up the option "Then why not make one yourself? Trey made those three tarts by hand, after all."

Yuu then Trey praises saying "Wow, that's amazing!" Ace is also shocked as he exclaims "You made those tarts, Trey?" which he gets a nod in response as Ace continues "That's incredible! That was like something you'd find at a bakery!"

Trey blushes slightly in embarrassment from all the praise as he laughs once and says "Heh. I appreciate that. We do have most of the stuff you'd need, but…"

But then proves why he was chosen for this school as he continues "I'm afraid I'll need something from you in return."

Ace complains again "You're gonna charge me to make it?! What kinda racket…?!"

But Trey laughs as he tells Ace "Nah, I wouldn't take money from a freshman! But Riddle wants a chestnut tart next, so I'm gonna need you to gather a ton of chestnuts."

Ace complains slightly but asks "Like that's any less of a hassle. But…fine. How many do you need?"

Trey thinks for a second while he says "Well, it's for the unbirthday party, so… Probably two or three hundred?"

Deuce and Grim then yell "Did you say HUNDRED?!"

But Trey just continues "And they're all gonna need to be boiled, shelled, and pureed."

Grim hearing all of that says "Alright, I'm gonna head out." Deuce agrees as he says "I'm leaving too."

So Ace yells at them "You heartless cowards!"

Cater discreetly tries to convince them saying "Hold up! Haven't you ever heard that food tastes better if you make it with your friends? This'll be a memory to treasure! It could even be your chance to make a splash as a cooking blogger!" Trey also adds "Don't tell Riddle, but chestnut tarts are at their tastiest when eaten right out of the oven. And the only people who get to experience that culinary privilege are the ones who make it."

Which makes Grim switch his tune instantly saying "Well, when you put it that way… Come on, humans, let's do this!" Yuu rolls her eyes thinking 'You sure changed your tune quickly.'

But asks the important question "Where can we find chestnuts, anyway?" And Trey answers her "I heard there's a whole bunch of chestnut trees in the woods behind the campus's botanical garden."

So Ace tells them "Cool. Plan made. Let's meet at the botanical garden after last period." Grim then cheers "We're gonna be up to our ears in chestnuts!"

The screen then fades to black as "To be continued" plays before turning fully off.