Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Helping Hand
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I'd caught a disease where walking more than a thousand steps a day would kill me.
But until the moment I died, I was still alive.
Still living.
"Phew. This isn't easy."
"That's not like you, boss, whining like that."
"...Maybe you're right."
I prepared steak sandwiches and drinks for tomorrow's sales, then stowed them in the fridge.
"Are you okay, senpai?"
"I'm fine."
"Normally... I should be helping out during lunch rush too, but I haven't even been able to visit..."
"No, I told you not to come."
"But..."
Milmyu gazed at me with eyes full of worry, but there was nothing to be done.
Milmyu helping with lunch sales? She'd be a huge help, sure, but what about her own lunch break?
It'd be too cruel to steal my precious junior's mealtime just to line my pockets.
What about Nefti?
Nefti's a free spirit in the Knight Division. Plus, she's got quite the appetite, so she's probably off eating somewhere.
And with her baseline stamina, skipping a meal wouldn't faze her one bit.
Next up, Aila Trista, who'd been helping me out—she's the overlord of the Magic Division. She handles herself just fine.
Honestly, those two have stamina stats clocking in at 16. Milmyu's nowhere near that level yet. That's exactly why she needs to eat hearty and grow big and strong.
"Nefti's helping out regularly, and Aila's pitching in too."
"Th-then... that means I should definitely..."
"Milmyu. Why do you think I'm running this business?"
"Uh, um... F-for the success of the convenience store?"
"That's part of it, but don't you think Jefrin Academy is sorely lacking spots where you can eat your fill—cheap, tasty, and satisfying?"
"...Y-yeah, you're right. The cheapest option's black bread and water for 2,500 rin a day."
For real.
That's ridiculously expensive.
In Korean terms, that's like 2,500 rin for a 500ml bottle of water and a single red bean bun?
Back in the game, black bread and water was 300 rin—dirt cheap, we called it the "water bread set." Is this water bread markup for real?
"...Anyway, that's why I'm selling these steak sandwich and drink sets for 5,800 rin."
"Wh-what a noble cause! Everyone can eat happily and smile!"
"But if I take your lunch break, your smile vanishes."
"...Ah."
"I have no intention of robbing you of your school days to pad my wealth."
"Uh... Y-yes, senpai."
I know.
The "nice boss" act is mostly bravado.
I'm gonna reap my profits, sure.
But that doesn't mean I earn it by screwing over good people.
Profits have to be mutual. Right?
Sylphia Evergreengrove couldn't believe what she'd seen yesterday.
Wolfram von Loengrin—that Wolfram?
The guy who crushed everyone with his authority every day, acted with utter arrogance, and showed no consideration for others—the worst tyrannical lunatic in Jefrin history?
Of course, since he was imperial royalty, it wouldn't be strange if her own head rolled for her actions at any moment.
She hated him that much. That man had no right to stand above others.
And yet.
What was that display yesterday?
It was like... he was struggling to wash away his own sordid past...
Unbelievable. There had to be some vile scheme behind it.
Today, Wolfram had started his sales again. Seeing the long line of students in front of him, Sylphia clenched her fist tight.
He must've laced that food with something. No way good grub like that came cheap otherwise.
He was definitely bribing the students with drugs, plotting some nefarious deed.
Of course, Sylphia Evergreengrove couldn't imagine what that evil deed might be, but she was convinced it was something so despicable it defied imagination. She approached two first-years returning with their purchases.
"First-year underclassmen?"
"Y-yes!? Oh, hello."
"I'm Sylphia Evergreengrove, fourth-year Knight Division. That in your hands—from that stall, right?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Sell it to me?"
"Uh, well... um..."
"I'll pay with this: two lunch tickets from the Student Council cafeteria."
"Sold!"
The richest eats in Jefrin weren't from the Magic Division, naturally—they were Student Council perks.
The president was always imperial royalty.
Which meant their fare had to be extravagantly luxurious.
What greater joy could young students have beyond food? These tickets doubled as networking tools.
That made getting even one a dream for first-year general students—from commoners to mid-tier nobles.
Sylphia nodded, holding the two sandwich sets swapped for her lunch tickets.
She was a spirit swordsman. Contracted with a mid-tier wind spirit sensitive to all flows, she could detect poison or foul curses in anything she ingested.
The moment she took a bite.
"...Delicious."
Nothing else came out.
Elves didn't avoid meat. Fairies far from the forest actually had less aversion to it.
And Sylphia was a city-born elf from a count's family. Discerning palate and all.
Even she could only say "delicious" after that first bite.
"Warm... so tender. The Student Council cafeteria often serves cold food due to poison checks..."
From the first bite, warmth spread through the bread, carrying textures downward.
Fresh layered veggies hit first. Then tomato sauce smoothed the way beneath.
Finally, reaching the steak at the base—flavor exploded. The sauce reined in the meat's richness. Veggies neutralized any heaviness. The bread wrapped it all into one harmonious taste.
What a masterful explosion of flavors. A brilliant duet of taste.
She ate a bite, sipped her drink, another bite... finished one set, tore into the second sandwich, drained the drink. Then Sylphia nodded.
"I'll believe it. You, Wolfram..."
"Senpai! Side orders incoming!"
"Making them now. Hold on a sec."
"...He says that. Can you wait a bit?"
"Y-yes!"
What could I whip up quick and sell fast?
With that in mind, I decided on nuggets.
These were ten per person, cooked on-site unlike the hot dogs.
Truth was, I hadn't finished prepping them yesterday.
Just fry 'em up—what could go wrong? I'd thought.
But things went wrong.
This was way harder than expected.
Oil splatters aside, I'd misjudged my own limits.
Bag to fryer, fry, wait for oil drain on the rack, bag 'em up.
Two steps per action, minimum.
Eight steps per set. If all 300 students ordered?
I wasn't frying just ten at a time—fewer, sure—but... it'd still top a thousand steps.
No doubt about it. I'd die.
A thousand steps closing in. Collapse imminent.
The spirit's blessing felt fainter.
"Ngh..."
Can't even last an hour?
Can't worry Nefti. Can't ruin this vibe where every student's grinning with their steak sets.
Hang in there. Just hang on. No clue how, but...
"If it's tough, rest. Just fry these and serve, right?"
"...Huh?"
Silver ponytail. Ice-cold eyes. Voice pitched slightly high in contrast.
Sharp longsword at her hip. A spirit swordsman.
Sylphia Evergreengrove.
The silver spirit swordsman steadied my slumping back with both hands, then brushed past me smoothly.
"...You."
"Give precise orders. You're busy, aren't you?"
"Right. 2 minutes 30 seconds per fryer batch. Fry twenty, drain two minutes, bag 'em."
"Simple enough. Now, Lapis Lazuli. Lend me your power."
I stared at Sylphia's sudden back, wondering if there was some ulterior motive.
Nothing.
The spirit swordsman just kept cooking silently.
"Sylphia Evergreengrove. Why help me?"
"Don't misunderstand. I'm not helping you."
"...?"
"Just... yeah. I don't want to see the first-years' smiles vanish."
"I see."
"That's it."
Sylphia snorted and resumed cooking.
And so the lunch rush storm ended for another day.
Status check: mercifully under a thousand steps. Patrasche's telekinesis gently loaded me onto the handcart for the trip back to the convenience store.
Sylphia untied her apron, folded it neatly, placed it back, and dusted her wrists.
"Well, I'll be off then."
"...No. Wait."
"More business?"
Honestly, no idea why she helped.
But I couldn't just let a favor slide unpaid.
"First off, here's pay for today's work. 15,000 rin—generous."
"...Whoa..."
Nefti glances over enviously. That jealous?
Fine, I'll hook you up later too.
Sylphia shook her head.
"No need. Wasn't about the money."
"This job's all about the money for me. So all I can pay you with is cash."
Sylphia eyed the money and me, then smiled faintly.
"Working for money... Still saying that? What an utterly dishonest man."
Why? Why does hearing that from you piss me off so much?
"Take it."
"Fine. Whatever, I'll take it."
She balled a fist lightly over her lips and giggled.
"We've got a few sets left for staff too. Eat up before you go."
"...I'll gladly accept."
"Whoa! Lunch!"
Me, Sylphia, Nefti, and Patrasche sat and dug in.
I'd prepped extras expecting hearty lunches, but more sets were left than planned.
One set for me. Two for Nefti. Two for Patrasche. Two in front of Sylphia.
"Two whole sets? Really?"
"Hm? More? Where'd you eat?"
"No, nothing... misheard. You're saying eat two sets?"
"Leave what you can't finish."
"No, cold food's no good. Fine. I'll eat it all gratefully."
And eat both sets clean she did.
"Still hungry? Got sides too."
"...Th-thank you kindly."
Sylphia's face flushed as she bowed her head.
Hm.
Two sandwich sets plus a nugget set—that's a solid meal, still within reason, right?
"Never thought you'd show up to help, Sylphia-senpai."
"Nefthelian-underclassman? Or... maybe my senior someday."
"Huh?"
"Heard you became Wolfram von Loengrin's royal guard?"
"Ah, yeah. That's right. Hehe."
"I'm aspiring to be Eve-sama's royal guard too. You'd have more to teach me, already in the role."
"N-no! My background's humble, and I'm sorely lacking..."
"Nefti. No nonsense."
"W-Wolfram-senpai?"
"No matter what anyone says, you're the royal guard I chose. Don't sell yourself short."
"...Y-yes."
By canon standards, by this world's—my trust in Nefti is rock-solid.
"Quite the enviable bond. Full of divine trust."
Sylphia smiled lightly, wiped her hands with a napkin post-meal.
"Heading out?"
"Yeah. Got my lord to escort."
"Really helped today. My thanks."
"Your potion helped my studies. We're even."
Ah.
Right, that potion too.
"Next time, something with fewer side effects. Swing by the store."
"...I'll think about it."
Couldn't read her mood shift, but no hostility from Sylphia Evergreengrove.
"Got time next time? Come help again."
"Hmph. I'm busy. Think I'd waste an hour on food like this?"
"Yet you downed two steak sets plus a side."
"Kh..."
Sylphia trembled, fists clenched, face red.
"So, you won't come?"
"I-I'm a proud knight of Eve-sama. For mere food..."
"Wasn't tasty?"
"It was, b-but... my resolve was weak. With more training, it won't sway me."
Ah. I see.
Got it.
Sure, whatever you say.
"Got one set left. Want it?"
"...Yes."
Her fist clenched tight.
Then a massive gurgle echoed from her stomach.
"Don't want it?"
"If-if you give it! Purely because... y-you said it's leftover. Only taking it since you offered!"
Sylphia snatched the extra set and bolted like a gale.
Mouth says one thing, but... honest girl.