Chapter 2

## Guide

**"Can't Solve Puzzles on an Empty Stomach"** (腹 (はら) が減 (へ) って暗号 (あんごう) ができぬ, *Hara ga Hette Angō ga Dekinu*?) is the 2nd chapter overall and the 2nd chapter of the 1st volume of the *Cipher Academy* manga, written by Nisio Isin and illustrated by Yuji Iwasaki.

## Summary

Iroha Irohazaka had his most recent encounter with Kyora Toshusai and her companions about a day ago. During this encounter, his main concern was for Kogoe Horagatoge, whom he had met while trying to distance himself from the group. This meeting took place in the academy cafeteria during his lunchtime when Kogoe presented him with a puzzle to solve. According to Kogoe, this puzzle contained instructions to a specific room where Iroha could avoid being harassed.

Although Iroha had to endure another tense interaction with Kyora, who approached him with disdain, he managed to sidestep her and devoted six hours of diligent effort to solving the puzzle. This puzzle eventually led him to a recently established classroom in Year 2, Class B.

Furthermore, Kogoe assigned Iroha another task: to inquire with his fellow classmates about their reasons for enrolling at Cipher Academy. Iroha completed this task as requested. When he questioned Kogoe about the purpose behind gathering this information, Kogoe revealed that most of the students were being deceptive, and their true objective was to access the 50 billion Morg hidden deep within Cipher Academy, a revelation that astonished Iroha.

It is worth noting that Cipher Academy was founded using funds derived from the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers, which contained gold and silver assets acquired during the occupation of Japan. These funds were invested to sustain the academy's operations and to serve as a prize for the top code solver, a use considered worthy of the military budget allocation. However, this information was not included in the admissions brochure.

Kogoe referred to Kyora Toshusai and her companions as individuals driven by greed for money. Kyora hailed from a lineage associated with a Munitions Corporation and arms dealers, while Kogoe, although also inclined toward financial gain, had intentions of using the money to bring an end to the ongoing war. She sought someone with exceptional abilities, someone like Iroha, who appeared inexperienced in cryptography but had potential. Her goal was to challenge those she referred to as "deceivers" and secure the position of the leading private in their class.

Conversely, Kyora Toshusai, accompanied by Tayu Yugata and Yukako Omomuro, was actively searching for Iroha and Kogoe. They were motivated by the need to caution Iroha against aligning himself with Kogoe, who had a history of conflict with them. According to Kyora, Iroha's association with Kogoe was causing her considerable frustration. She believed that as new conflicts arose, the value of Morg would continue to rise, and she considered Kogoe Horagatoge to be a promoter of war, contrasting her role as a merchant of death.

## Quick References

### Class 1-A's Reasons on Enrolling

Each of them responded to Iroha Irohazaka, who was requested by Kogoe to collect their reasons for enrolling in Cipher Academy, which as follows:

* **Kakune Karigane:** Loves solving puzzles;
* **Harukiri Botayama:** Just a citizen's duty;
* **Ransurotto Hahakura:** Due to Family line's work which is being a military;
* **Ensa Kasuri:** She identified on the Academy's ideals;
* **Shutan Nutaba:** Her friend invited her to enroll;
* **Ashibi Mokumokuren** has some compliance violation on her record;
* **Shokuho Yorokawa:** To eat for free;
* **Sunka Umitsubame:** She find the uniforms cute;
* **Iesuno Nohime:** Because of noblesse oblige, they say;
* Rokaku Yosaimura: She wants to avenge her older brother to her younger brother;
* **Akina Namasu'**s goal is a secret;
* **Otamajakushi Mamushihishimeki:** She admires a code warrior;
* **Shitsuke Koshibai:** Just wanted to have fun;
* **Soboro Oboro:** is someone who is motivated by hatred and anger; and lastly
* **Anonymity Requested** didn't give an answer.

### Chapter Illustration

On the right, Kogoe Horagatoge is dressed in a white shirt that displays an unreadable Morse code pattern. Meanwhile, on the left, Iroha Irohazaka is wearing a white shirt with the Morse code translated into regular letters and arranged in a table format on Kogoe's shirt.

### Characters in Order of Appearance

**Iroha Irohazaka**
**Kogoe Horagatoge**
**Kyora Toshusai**
**Tayu Yugata**
**Yukako Omomuro**
**Harukiri Botayama**Debut
**Kakune Karigane**Debut
**Ashibi Mokumokuren**Debut
**Shutan Nutaba**Debut
**Ensa Kasuri**Debut
**Iesuno Nohime**Debut
**Sunka Umitsubame**Debut
**Shokuho Yorokawa**Debut
**Otamajakushi Mamushihishimeki**Debut
**Akina Namasu**Debut
**Rokaku Yosaimura**Debut
**Anonymous**Debut
**Soboro Oboro**Debut
**Shitsuke Koshibai**Debut
## Chapter Trivia

 Morg is a cryptocurrency known for its frequent value changes, which can shift rapidly based on how many wars are present in the world. What sets Morg apart from other cryptocurrencies is its unique feature: it doesn't guarantee a fixed initial investment amount, but it is designed to never fall below the average military budget allocated by developed countries.