Chapter 169
Chapter 169
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: Convenience Store Soup for My Soul
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Wolfram and his friends set out on an adventure to clear the event 【Erhel's Pet Dog】, which was Eve's diet side story during Act 4.
If only they'd managed to clear the event just like that.
But in the end... they never even reached the 【Erhel's Pet Dog】 side story expedition in Act 4.
Well, whatever.
When I thought about it carefully, it made perfect sense since Erhel was still alive.
They were supposed to run into a low-quality chimera mixed from the monsters Erhel had raised, but since the guy himself was perfectly fine and kicking, his pet dog never ended up in the hands of some black flag holder. Instead, they encountered completely different monsters.
And what was funny was that it wasn't just one impressive monster—it was a massive horde.
Goblin rushers, gray mantises, black land moles, and all sorts of others.
Over a hundred in total, but everyone handled their roles.
Sylphia with her sword and spirits, Nefti tanking, Patrasche with telekinesis and flames, and I pitched potions for my part.
And Eve? Honestly, she didn't do a damn thing.
Well, if it had been magic, she could've wiped out a hundred or even a thousand in one shot, but warrior Eve... I have no idea how to even describe it. Clearing the ending like that would be the act of a total lunatic. Just stick to mage Eve and live your lives.
Eve's main issue was her sluggish reactions, as always. What can you do when her dexterity is that low?
"Th... this damn...!"
She barely deflects one, stabs another. That clumsy attempt to mimic me.
Watching my bloodline mate put in that effort stirred something deep in my chest.
How could I not say anything after seeing that?
I slipped up beside Eve and encouraged her with the gentlest gaze and smile this world would ever see.
"Why don't you just take it easy since you're utterly useless, Eve von Loengrin?"
"...What did you say?"
Whoops. My true feelings slipped out.
Hmm.
No helping it. Admitting it was a slip-up would just bruise my pride.
"Or spot the enemies sooner and respond properly. Your stance is all limp at the waist."
"...Ugh, grrr...! I'll kill 'em all... slaughter every last one... Raaagh!!"
"Oh."
In the end, Eve went full berserk and put up a decent fight.
That wrapped up the expedition, and the next day.
Eve showed up at the convenience store, strode right up to me, and flashed a grin.
"Heh. Hehehe! See that?"
"...See what?"
"My uniform fit perfectly this morning. Back to my old self!"
"...Huh. Is that so."
I couldn't tell the difference at all, but if you're happy, that's what matters, right?
So.
"Want some candy?"
"........."
"If not, forget it."
"Just one... gimme."
"Just one? Isn't that not enough? Candy alone won't fill you up... how about that waffle?"
"...Uh, well, you see."
"Alright, waffle added. Drink with it?"
"......Ah, uh. Uuugh..."
"Got it. Strawberry shake?"
"......Grape."
"Perfect. Triple-layer waffle, grape shake, and candy. Thanks for the business, as always."
"......Uuugh. Uuugh..."
Maybe she's not losing weight so much as building patience.
This is gonna lead to another expedition, isn't it?
Is this even human? It's a walking corpse.
That was Regina Cielra's self-mocking mutter as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Her face was deathly pale, no matter who looked. Her body lacked any vitality.
She'd never had much fat to begin with, but now she looked downright sickly.
No, she actually was sick.
"...Miss. Breakfast is ready."
"I'm good today. I'll just head to school."
"...Miss."
"I said I'm fine."
"Then at least have some vegetable juice. If you keep skipping meals like this, something bad will happen."
"......Without the veggies."
Taking veggies out of vegetable juice was basically just asking for water. The maid let out a deep sigh at Regina's request.
She'd served the young miss since childhood and knew full well that once she got stubborn like this, no amount of talking would work. In the end, the maid had no choice but to back down.
Regina took the glass of water, sipped it slowly, and swallowed with agonizing care.
Even drinking water was a chore.
"...Phew. Alright, I'm off."
"Dinner tonight..."
"I'll eat out."
"Y-yes..."
The maid didn't believe her, but Regina had no intention of persuading her further.
"Phew..."
【Soul Change】, which boosted stamina with mana. A mid-tier spell any battle mage confident in their mana pool would learn. Regina's mana was vast, but converting it to stamina was horrifically inefficient.
Not that it was surprising—Eve von Loengrin with her mana stat of 22 struggled with the mana drain of Soul Change, so Regina with 21 didn't even need mentioning.
But she was still alive today... That had to count for something.
With that thought, Regina slowly set off.
She had no idea what had caused this eating disorder.
There seemed to be no way to quench this endless thirst that food couldn't satisfy.
That day's lunch was a tea party for the top ladies of the Magic Division.
A fancy restaurant reserved, with chefs from central noble houses showing off their skills.
No special reason. Nobles did this to flaunt their status, build connections, or just indulge in luxury.
Dishes preserved with magic from each house were laid out, and Jefrin's own chefs finished them with secondary prep.
This made them nearly identical to what they'd eat back home.
Hams from pigs raised solely on herbs, pies stuffed with magical forest fruits, and so on.
The upper nobles reminisced about their houses, mid-tier ones dreamed of climbing higher, and lower ones couldn't even dream of attending.
At the center was Regina Cielra.
"Lady Regina, you're not touching your food?"
"Oh, yes. This water melted from glacial ice is plenty for me."
"My, how refined."
Truth be told, she hadn't touched any food lately.
Her stomach rejected everything; water was all she could manage.
The other noble girls didn't hesitate to dig in, abandoning decorum.
Yet Regina Cielra elegantly nursed her water, looking utterly graceful.
And then.
*Munch munch.*
Separately.
*Nom nom.*
Someone was having a completely different meal.
"...Trista?"
Even at this banquet, the girl eating her own meal with fork and knife.
Aila Trista, with her jet-black long hair and amethyst eyes sparkling like embedded jewels, ate without a care.
But it was uniquely odd.
No one could look away from Aila, who ate leisurely but steadily.
It was just that out of place.
And for good reason—Aila was eating a bento she'd brought herself.
Sandwiches and meat pies centered around meatballs, fruit salad, warm soup, cookies and muffins, even herbal tea.
On a normal day, it was a solid, well-balanced lunch. But... did she have to do it here? You couldn't help but wonder.
"...Um, this seat is..."
"I know. Don't worry, I'll handle it."
"Thank you."
This was a gathering for third-year Magic Division ladies to bond.
No matter how oblivious or friendless Aila Trista was, bringing and eating her own bento instead of the prepared meal was a grave breach of noble etiquette.
"Miss Trista."
"What? *Munch.* Miss Siela."
"Do you really have to eat your brought food here? Everyone hoped you'd join in on theirs."
"Is that so? Too bad. *Munch*... *nom.*"
Aila chewed and swallowed with a blank expression.
Regina's face twisted at the sight.
She wanted to eat but her stomach wouldn't allow it, yet this girl looked like she was savoring every bite...!
"Sigh. Miss Trista, if I may say... Your house is prosperous now, but that attitude could hinder your central debut."
Aila paused with a meatball halfway to her mouth, tilting her head at Regina for the first time.
"What do you mean?"
"Listen well. These are dishes shared generously from noble houses. Sharing this meal alone builds good connections with central folk."
The others nodded in agreement.
"Ah... I see. Eating these precious dishes ordered directly by nobles proves you're their equal. Got it?"
"Yes."
"If eating noble food proves yourself... well, mine isn't wrong either. It's made by someone precious."
Aila offered the forked meatball to Regina, who sighed deeply in response.
Fine, food made in Trista house is noble enough. But...
"Miss Trista, making it yourself is admirable, but..."
"Who said I made it?"
"...Pardon?"
"My fiancé made it for me. See? Food from the world's most precious person—shouldn't I eat this first out of courtesy?"
The entire room froze, breaths catching.
Fiancé?
That Wolfram? Homemade by Wolfram von Loengrin?
That cute, lovely, perfectly balanced high-end homecooked meal... from him?
"No issue, right?"
"Uh? Y-yes... none."
Aila resumed eating, and no one could look away.
This was the meal made by Jefrin's most dazzling darkness.
Some were curious about it, others convinced by her words.
And one person.
"...Homemade by him. So envious... unforgivable."
Regina Cielra, an elf brimming with jealousy.
Envious. So envious.
Regina couldn't tear her eyes from the bento in the girl's hands.
What did it mean for someone to make food for you?
It meant your body grew with that person's creation.
That you were dyed in their color.
Wolfram von Loengrin was a man sincere in all things.
His food carried his soul's color in its sincerity, your body absorbing it through taste and nutrition—meaning you were painted in his hue.
And gifting his food to another meant filling them with your color.
"What's wrong?"
A single bento... undoubtedly a proposal to marry and be together forever.
Regina had no doubt.
Even picking up a meatball or salad bite made her heart race...
Envious. Envious! Jealousy overwhelming her.
*Grrrowl.*
Her stomach rumbled.
In that instant, Regina felt her long-lost appetite return. She realized she wanted that meal to fill her soul and body.
What to do?
Regina racked her brain desperately, then lifted the corner of her mouth.
"Hmph. I see. I acknowledge it's precious food."
"Yes. And?"
"Then... sharing it with us would foster harmony among these nobles, no?"
Yes, perfect.
Admit its value, then sharing is the noble way.
Push that, and Aila would share the bento!
"Nah, don't wanna."
"Pardon?"
"I was just asked to attend. No desire to share the nutrition-focused bento Wolfram made for me. Eat what you brought. I'll eat mine. That'll cap off our party nicely."
"...Ah... aaa."
Aila emptied the bento bit by bit.
Each time, Regina's face grew paler.
"Hm? What's up? Want some?"
"...Pardon? No, no. Glacial water is enough for me..."
"Really? Oh well."
Aila bit into a remaining meatball with a tidy *chomp* and nodded.
"......Aaa."
*Grrrowl.* Regina's stomach cried out, and she squeezed her eyes shut, realizing the hunger could never be sated.
"What? If you want some, just say so."
"......Pardon?"
"After this, visit Wolfram's store. He'll probably be open for dinner."
Regina blinked, flustered.
"...Isn't Prince Wolfram your fiancé?"
"Yes. So?"
"Can I really go? For real?"
"So?"
An expression of pure innocence.
Only then did Regina realize.
Aila Trista didn't see her as a rival in that sense at all.
Otherwise, she wouldn't look this guilelessly naive.
A body forced to rely on enemy mercy.
Yet an irresistible yearning for life. Tears welled in Regina's eyes.
Evening.
A customer arrived at the convenience store after Millie clocked out.
"...Hello. Prince Wolfram von Loengrin."
"Regina Cielra, huh."
Whoa, those hollow eyes. But burning with fervor.
She'd finally come.
To kill me? Bad matchup. Even backstepping or parrying physical attacks, my stamina of 3 can't block great magic.
Wolfram. Crisis of a lifetime.
"Um... could I ask a favor?"
"What."
"Something light and good for an empty stomach... please."
"Food?"
What the.
"Yes... Oh, I won't ask for normal price. I'll pay in jewels if needed."
"...No, uh, not that far... Wait. Light stuff is fine?"
"Yes..."
Moments later, I brought lightly simmered soup. Regina took a sip and bowed her head deeply.
"Sniff. So warm..."
What the hell.
Don't.
I'm actually scared.
The End of < 169. Convenience Store Soup for My Soul >