Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 012
Chapter Title: Festival Eve (2)
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In the game's main storyline.
After finishing the first-year common classes and choosing a department for the second year. If you go into the Knight Division, there's inevitably one character you get tangled up with.
A steadfast and tough senior who wields the Sword of Conviction without wavering, even if it means breaking.
As a fellow commoner, she looks out for the protagonist well and helps out a ton as a mentor in the Knight Division.
She's such a great character that players complain about why she wasn't made a heroine.
Jefrin Academy has these things called titles.
Usually, you need top grades, honors, or some standout trait to earn one—and obviously, family background plays a big role too.
For example, Aila earned hers through her own hard work, but mastering the Black Crystal—her family's secret magic—to a level unmatched by most Tristas in history got her the title "Black Crystal."
The girl I'm talking about earned the most prestigious title in the Knight Division: "Sword of Conviction."
The pride and honor of the second-year Knight Division. A commoner knight acknowledged by all.
That's Nepthelian.
"Where are you headed?"
"To my convenience store, where I'll be working from now on."
"I see."
And this girl.
Is tailing a third-rate villain like me and swearing loyalty for an hourly wage of 10,000 rin?
Is she really okay with this?
No, seriously, is she okay?
Nefti, who had followed me, stepped into the convenience store and looked around curiously.
"Sit down."
"Y-yes, sir."
Thinking about it, doesn't this make her my first part-timer in a way?
Yeah, that put me in a pretty good mood. Felt like a real boss now.
"Want something to drink?"
"...I'll have one."
I nodded and pulled out two glasses of water.
Could've grabbed some shake beans, but those were best ice-cold, and our store didn't have a refrigeration magic tool yet.
Those things were pricey.
Anyway, we sat with our waters and started talking.
"See those cooking tools over there?"
"Yes, I do."
The oven and other gear had been pre-ordered from Maestro, and they had stock left over, so I snagged them at a decent price.
"From now on, you'll bake bread and cook whatever I tell you to. Got it?"
"...Pardon?"
"On your feet. Let's start with dough."
"......"
I'd worked at a bakery before, so I knew the basics of dough-making.
Strong flour. Medium flour. Yeast. Salt. Sugar.
And milk and eggs.
"There. Knead it."
"......"
"I'm too weak, so you'll have to do the kneading."
"R-right."
Nefti glanced at my skinny arms and nodded.
After kneading it plenty, we moved on to baking or frying.
"...Nngh... ugh."
A nice aroma started filling the air, but the problem was Nefti.
Drool was streaming from her mouth as she reached straight for the fryer. Was she gonna grab it bare-handed? Is she nuts?
"Burn yourself and it's on you."
"...If my resolve doesn't break, boiling oil holds no fear."
Don't drop cool lines like that here.
But my warning must've sunk in—Nefti just stared blankly at the fryer after that.
"Take 'em out now. Use a tool, not your hands—tool!"
"...R-right, I know!"
Nefti followed my instructions to the letter. I had her plate the baked and fried donuts in front of me, then sprinkle sugar or brush on glaze.
Meanwhile, I slipped into the back office to whip up some cream from beans.
"...Hic... ugh... sob."
From the front, I heard Nefti sniffling as she pulled out donuts, lined them up, and glazed them.
"They look so delicious... Gotta be tasty... but I can't eat any. Wolfram... You're the worst villain this academy's ever produced... *sob*."
Hey.
Excuse me.
"No choice. I gotta bite the bullet. Smite evil with my own hands. A demon like that doesn't belong in this world."
As she lined up the donuts, Nefti muttered something crazy and eyed the sword at her waist.
She's ten steps away, sobbing pitifully like she might actually kill me.
Where's the Sword of Conviction I knew?
"Draw that sword now, and no pay."
"N-no, not at all. Wasn't gonna. Honest."
"Hands off the hilt."
"A-hem!"
She pulled her hand away from the sword. But she'd draw faster than I could resist.
"Tch. Don't rush. Just watch for a sec."
"...P-pardon?"
I skewered a donut, piped in cream from the bag, and started making cream-filled ones.
One strawberry. One vanilla. One chocolate.
The sugar-dusted donuts brimmed with filling, and soon we had pairs of each.
Two plain baked. Two plain sugared. Two each of strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate. Five per person.
"O-oh..."
A small gasp escaped her.
"Done."
"Beautiful. I swear, I've never seen anything so gorgeous in my life. I know black bread from the oven, but frying 'em in all that oil? It's like a forbidden feast of luxury and indulgence."
"Forbidden, huh? So you won't eat?"
"No. Sometimes the greatest good is called forbidden. I'm witnessing the era's upheaval with my body, feeling it in my soul. So, what's this magnificent bread called?"
"Donuts."
Nefti repeated "donut... donut..." a few times, then nodded.
No way this world doesn't have donuts.
Well, with backward infrastructure and her being a poor commoner, maybe it's her first time.
"Thrilled to take part in such greatness, but sad I can't even taste it. Oh, you said dinner's on you today. No, never mind. If possible... would it be okay? Just one bite. Can't accept something so pricey. Could you? Please?"
She rambled like a broken machine, words all jumbled.
Her brain must've fried from desire versus restraint.
"Alright, time to taste-test and give feedback."
"...Pardon?"
"What're you waiting for? Eat one of each."
"...Y-yes, sir!"
Nefti shouted "Thanks for the food!" and lunged for a donut.
Her hand beat my eyes to it.
By the time I finished one and sighed at the sweetness, Nefti had demolished hers and glanced my way.
Asking for more? I met her eyes, nodded, and a bright smile bloomed on her face.
"Maybe I misjudged you. No, I did. Wolfram von Loengrin. You're a good guy who cares about others. The world just doesn't see your worth and pinned false charges on you. If I had a knighthood, I'd swear to be your sword and shield."
"Cut the nonsense and hurry up with the tasting notes."
"Yes, sir."
If one cream donut clears up misunderstandings about the corrupt student council president and lifts false charges, courtrooms would swap law books for donuts with whipped cream reading verdicts.
Anyway, not the point.
"So, how were the baked donuts?"
"Not too sweet, but delicious."
"Got it."
I jotted it down: Less sweet, but tasty.
"Sugar donuts?"
"Nothing inside, but sweet and tasty."
"Right."
Noted: Nothing inside, but tasty.
"Strawberry cream?"
"Strawberry cream inside, so tasty."
"......"
I paused before writing.
"Whipped cream donut?"
"Whipped cream inside, so tasty."
"Chocolate cream?"
"Chocolate cream inside, so tasty."
"......"
I narrowed my eyes at her, but she just tilted her head.
"No other comments?"
"They were all delicious!"
"......Thanks. Really, thanks a ton."
"You're welcome!"
She puffed out her chest and chuckled proudly.
"But no other notes? Something technical, or stuff to improve? Like, 'change this'?"
"There is one."
"Oh? Spill it. No holding back."
"Bake one more for me?"
"Besides that."
"......Nothing."
Nefti looked genuinely bummed, and my head started throbbing.
A girl who rubs pine resin on grass and eats it without batting an eye—figures her donut review wouldn't be helpful.
Now what? I wanted to pick one as the newbie signature item, but can't tell which stands out. As I pondered, Nefti spoke up.
"So, why give me this gourmet meal? Heading to the northern tundra to hunt yetis? Count me in. Leave it to Nefti—I'll bring back its head..."
"Not assigning anything like that. These are snacks for the freshman welcome street stall."
"Ah, a tasting for new merch to sell."
"Yep."
"Mm. All delicious, really good. Should sell well."
"Talking like it's someone else's problem—you're helping that day too."
"I am?"
"Duh. Why else pay you 10,000 rin an hour?"
"...True. So, I man the stall, bake bread on-site?"
"And help sell. I'm no good with stamina."
"Understood."
Nefti nodded. She got her role now.
"Your feedback's useless. Might need to rethink the day's strategy."
"I'm just a poor commoner, but it's top-notch. Nobles will love it."
"What's the point if only nobles buy it?"
"Pardon?"
Tch. She knows nothing.
"Told you it's for the street stall that day. You've been through freshman welcome before, right?"
"Ah... Commoner zone restrictions."
"Exactly. Stalls only in District 3, where commoner freshmen hang out. Application's in, permit approved."
If only nobles shopped here, it'd be a problem. Convenience stores aren't luxury boutiques.
Anyone comes in, grabs something light, pays, leaves.
The spot more people hit up.
Even with just a 5,000-rin bill in your pocket, a place to kill hunger.
Existing for customer convenience. That's a convenience store's soul.
"What's a fair price for one donut?"
"...Pardon?"
"A commoner kid who rode a cart from some kingdom village, shelled out for warp gate fees, barely made it to Jefrin. At welcome, biting into one donut to feel happy—considering their wallets, what's right per piece?"
"......"
"Answer. You did welcome last year—you know."
Nefti blinked wide, then smiled softly and shook her head.
"Wolfram. I... really misjudged you."
"No need to force a change of heart. ...So, what's fair?"
"Hm. Over 5,000 rin's tough, I think."
"4,000? Below that, margins suck."
"Not bad, but last year, even that's steep for some kids."
"How about mini donuts at 1,000 rin outright?"
"Great idea. Then..."
We dove into a heated debate that lasted till sunset.
I ended up frying another batch, and Nefti finished her "dinner" with a beaming smile before heading home.