Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: The Pinnacle of the Unconscious
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It was an eerily cold day.
These days, I even lay a hot pack under the blanket while sleeping, and of course, I cover myself with the Ice Spirit's Cape instead of a regular blanket.
But... naturally, any part sticking out from under the cape gets no insulation, so it takes the cold head-on.
That's why I usually go with a four-layer setup: hot pack-blanket-cape-blanket. But today, unusually, my arms and legs were sticking out, and as a result, I woke up.
"...It's not even the end of September yet."
Sometimes, at the very start of autumn, there's a day like this that boasts a bone-chilling cold. It's great that the developers are Korean and all four seasons cycle exactly like in Korea for 365 days a year, but did they really have to include these surprise cold snaps too?
"Days like this happen, I guess."
A true merchant has to set up their wares thinking that warm things will sell on a cold day.
"No, I actually saw this coming. Let's go, Patrasche."
"......?"
Alright. I'm all set.
Today, I'm going to open up new horizons in business.
Arriving in front of the first-year common department building, I immediately unfolded my cart and instructed Patrasche to raise the temperature near the stall.
To be precise, I made a heater using Patrasche's warmth.
The design was straight out of a real-world electric heater, but the power source was purely Patrasche.
"Ah, senpai. Hello. It's cold today, huh..."
"Greetings! It's a bit chilly!"
The first to show up were Milmyu's friends, the little chicks.
Vanilla and Yogurt soon warmed their hands on the heater and thawed out with a shiver.
"Still some time until class starts. Warm drinks sound good?"
"Hm? Uh..."
"Hmm... Hmmm..."
Heh heh.
I knew this season was coming, so I'd already prepared warm drinks.
With an edible water heater and tea leaves in tea bags, all I had to do was float the leaves in hot water and hand them over. Combining water and leaves to make money—this business is ruthless!
But don't forget, my labor costs are included here.
Come on, drink this hot tea from the bag and give thanks for my warmth!
Vanilla and Yogurt crossed their arms and pondered, then shook their heads in unison.
"Vanilla smoothie. Make it super cold, please."
"Yogurt. Super cold for me too."
?
"Wouldn't warm be better?"
"...Yeah. I thought so at first, but after warming up, I suddenly crave something cool."
"Me too."
With that, the two took their tooth-chatteringly cold drinks and left with smiles.
And the customers after them were the same.
"Hello, senpai! Ah... so warm. It's cold out today."
"Yeah. Starting today, I'm selling warm drinks."
"Ah... Still, give me something cold. Hmm... What to get. Strawberry smoothie?"
......
Why?
"Isn't it cold? Why go for cold?"
"But it's just one of those days where I want something cool!"
Didn't you just say it was cold?
Kids' sensibilities are beyond me...
Cecil Shadow knocked on her lady's door today as well, to wake the Rudika she so admired.
"Milady. It's morning."
"Yeah. I'm up. Morning, Cecil."
"Did you actually sleep?"
"...Yeah. Slept. For about an hour?"
Cecil knew.
She knew Rudika had gone outside Jefrin yesterday to eliminate an "enemy," and that the lingering echoes of battle kept her from sleeping tonight.
"You need proper rest."
"...Yeah."
Rudika... Rudika Hassan Shadow was the pinnacle of the Shadow family.
She had achieved a level of skill no one in the past three hundred years had reached, and at just seven years old, she had seized the family's top position with that power.
After the previous Hassan was subdued by his own daughter, the seven-year-old Rudika, she inherited the name—and with it, the dagger passed down only to Hassans through the generations.
On the night she became Hassan.
Rudika Hassan Shadow greeted Cecil with an unprecedentedly bright smile.
Trembling with fear, Cecil asked,
'Why can you smile like that, milady?'
To that, Rudika replied with a flawless smile.
'Because everyone fears me. If I smile, maybe they'll be a little less scared?'
With that answer, Cecil realized it. Yes, everyone was afraid.
She was a monster who felled the previous Hassan in one strike at seven.
Half the clan worshipped, revered, and stood in awe of her.
The other half envied, resented, and dismissed her.
Their responses split evenly, but at the core of every clan member was one thing:
Terror of a monster that didn't seem human.
So Rudika smiled.
Hoping at least one person would hate her a little less.
Rudika Hassan Shadow's smiles were meticulously crafted.
She never again revealed her true feelings.
Or so Cecil thought.
Until recently, before Rudika approached her with that smile.
Rudika had said,
'Cecil. This is an order from the current Hassan.'
'...Yes. I receive your command, Hassan.'
'Have lunch with me.'
'...Pardon? But the faction issues...'
'Don't care. Gather everyone first. Then eat. I brought something super spicy, so let's all have it together!'
In that moment, Cecil recalled the headstrong Rudika from their childhood who just bulldozed through everything.
'...Understood, Hassan.'
'Call me Rudika.'
Caught off guard by the response, Cecil unwittingly voiced a deep thought from her heart.
'You've changed.'
'Changed? Hmm.'
'Forget I said that. My apologies.'
'No, I have changed. Someone totally flipped me around.'
'...Pardon?'
'Stop overthinking it until you graduate Jefrin. Right now, in this place... enjoy everything you can. That's what Wolfram told me.'
'......Wolfram. You mean Prince Wolfram von Loengrin?'
'Yeah.'
As she spoke those words, Cecil noticed Rudika's face flushing red.
Ah, I see.
That person changed Rudika.
After that, Rudika and Cecil... couldn't go back to how things were before, but still, they were gradually growing closer—asking after each other, showing concern.
"It's cold today. Take care, milady."
"Ah... Right. Then maybe I'll drop by Wolfram's today. He might have new dishes."
Rudika's face beamed as she said it—not the obligatory smile from before, but a genuine one.
So Cecil said,
"......Milady."
"Yes?"
"May I accompany you there?"
"Sure, why not?"
She needed to properly judge what kind of man Wolfram von Loengrin was.
Afternoon.
Back at the convenience store, reflecting on the day's sales, Milmyu clocked in.
As I recounted the morning's business and puzzled over why kids wanted cold drinks on such a cold day, we chatted.
"Yeah, I get it. I'm drinking something cold right now too."
"Really? Don't you always go for warm stuff when it's cold?"
"Ah... Could be, but maybe not."
"......?"
"But if I want something cold, I don't suddenly want warm just because it's chilly, right?"
What kind of logic is that?
It's beyond my comprehension.
As we bantered, the convenience store door opened.
"Wolfram! Rudika's here!"
The brown-skinned assassin burst in.
And behind her... who's this?
"Ah, Senior Rudika. Welcome! And the person behind you..."
"I'm Milady Rudika's retainer. Pleased to meet you."
"Ah, yes. Welcome!"
Well, now.
Quite the unique guest today.
Almost closed eyes. Long grayish hair in a ponytail. Skin tone like Rudika's. Demure posture, but hiding a few throwing daggers out of sight. An assassin.
How do I know? I've partied with the assassin build a few times when breaking it.
"Cecil Shadow."
"...Have I introduced myself?"
"No. But I'm the former Student Council President. I keep major figures in my head."
"...I see."
Of course, it's a lie.
Wow, these lies just slip out automatically now.
But this is such a common bait hook. Like I'd fall for it?
'Did I introduce myself?' 'How do you know me?' 'I don't recall telling you my name.' 'Where'd you get that info?' For those questions, I've got a consistent answer now.
'I memorized everyone during my term!' Makes me look awesome. Super capable. Turns out I was a hidden genius Student Council President? I'm sticking to the concept!
Otherwise, explaining's a pain!
As a result, Cecil Shadow started eyeing me more warily.
?
......Why?
"I enrolled as Cecilia Shadow, yet... you know me quite deeply."
"Hm."
Oh.
Busted.
So I dropped her assassin's real name despite her alias for enrollment?
Haha. Awkward.
......Now what?
"What can I say. That's what it takes to lead Jefrin as Student Council President."
"...Understood."
During my exchange with Cecil, Milmyu trembled in fear, eyes teary, shrinking back.
Hey. Who made my little chick cry?
"Cecil. Wolfram. Enough chit-chat—food! Food!"
"Food?"
"Yeah! Your chicken skewers lately, and all these spicy dishes—they're amazing, so I came back for more! Let's make something even spicier! All the food in this world is so bland!"
"Fine by me. I'll cooperate as much as you want."
Rudika and I shook hands firmly.
Rudika and I immediately started brainstorming ways to amp up the spice.
"Just make it super spicy!"
"I agree mostly, but we need to think beyond that—how to make it spicier in new ways."
"What do you mean?"
"For example, even if it's spicy, a spicy broth versus spice sprinkled on meat—they have totally different textures, right? You can feel that texture difference."
"Hm. True. Even the same spiciness... felt different! The chewing sensation too."
Rudika nodded, counting off the dishes she'd tried on her fingers.
Impressive. I don't know how her senses dulled, but she still has 'chewing sensation'?
"Knew it. From long observation, your reactions varied even with the same spice level."
"Long observation? ...Of me?"
"Yeah. You're the only one in this world who gets spicy. Planning to prioritize you."
"...Uh, um. Right. For me, the only one who gets you in this world... just for me...?"
"Hm? ...Yeah."
"Ah, haha... I see. Yeah... Heh heh."
Rudika bobbed her head eagerly at my words.
To make it deliciously spicy, I'd prepared countless noodles, meats, broths, fried items, sauces. Rudika dug in seriously.
"Ahh... This has that kind of chew. Hm. First time noticing!"
Hm.
If her senses died, does that include chewing sensation? Honestly, no idea.
She says they didn't, so probably not. Maybe someday Rudika will explain it herself.
Anyway, she's happy now—that's what matters.
More importantly, new guest today.
"Cecil Shadow. Not eating?"
"I don't eat food from strangers."
"Am I a stranger?"
"...Pardon?"
"Rudika Hassan Shadow is my friend. You're not a stranger. Plus, Rudika seems to be looking forward to eating with you."
Rudika had eaten exactly one-third of the perfectly made food. One's mine... so who's the last one for? Milmyu?
No way. Milmyu took one bite of noodles, teared up, and said, 'I... can't. It's a wall too high for me. Sorry...' before holing up in the corner.
Cecil stared at me, then turned to Rudika, who blinked wide-eyed and gave an awkward smile.
"No need if you don't want to, Cecil..."
"...No. I'll eat. Prince Wolfram might be a stranger... but it's Rudika's request."
Rudika beamed at that, and Cecil took a bite of my food, her eyes widening.
"My goodness..."
"That's enough. No review needed."
"Come to think of it, you were the one who gave us that red pepper paste seasoning."
"Was it good?"
"Gotta admit what's good. Yes. Thank you—it was delicious."
"I see."
"Well. Showing off like this... might force me to acknowledge you."
"Hm?"
"No. Nothing."
Cecil Shadow tasted my cooking and smiled, just for a moment.
I've used her in assassin parties in-game a few times, but first time seeing her smile.
During our leisurely meal and talk, someone's movements started slowing.
"...Hmm."
Rudika was dozing off.
Seeing it, Cecil and I sighed in unison.
"Milady, really. Falling asleep here..."
"This one's at it again. Faking it?"
"...Faking?"
Cecil tilted her head.
"Shadow family assassins don't sleep outside home. Common knowledge even kids know. No idea why she'd fake it, though."
"......Ah."
Cecil mulled it over a few times, then nodded.
"So all her actions so far were unconscious? Truly fearsome."
"What do you mean?"
Cecil didn't answer. She just glared at me with even narrower eyes.
What? What is it?