Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Fledgling Trio
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With that, I turned in for the night alongside the sparkling sign.
The next day, my stamina had recovered to an astonishing degree, so I headed out for my usual early morning business.
"It's been a while."
"Zolf, huh."
"Yes. I caused you a lot of trouble last time."
"No big deal. Don't sweat it."
"...Thank you. Wolfram."
"More importantly, how've you been holding up?"
"Well, about that..."
From what I'd heard, Zolf was still continuing his research in Professor Babel Grace's lab.
"...You okay?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
No matter how I thought about it, it seemed like he'd been marked by the professor, which would seriously hinder his lab life going forward, but Zolf's expression was serene.
"If it doesn't work out, just get a job."
"......"
Was it that his shackles had broken, or had his head finally snapped? I tilted my head, but Zolf just laughed it off.
"I'm kidding. Things in the lab are getting a little easier bit by bit."
"What do you mean?"
"Well..."
Zolf explained it like this.
Eve von Loengrin had submitted a petition to the imperial family for improving graduate student rights, and the Ministry of Justice had approved some parts while the rest were under review.
When they looked into why such a petition had been filed,
Professor Babel Grace's name and the harsh realities of her lab had reached the ears of high-ranking officials.
Right now, her lab was under audit, and the professor was playing it safe. On top of that, incredibly enough, she was even looking after the grad students. If Zolf, the prime victim in this mess, quit his PhD program and took a job, the professor would be cornered.
"But there's a time limit."
"Yes, exactly. Once the audit ends, things will snap right back to normal like nothing happened. But for now, at least, I can live in peace. Guaranteed six hours of sleep a day."
"I... see."
"And since it's already become public knowledge, the professor will probably push me to graduate quickly to save face. She even said she'd get back to me on the first revisions to my thesis from last year within the week."
"......I see."
It looked like he'd really been played for a fool all this time.
Zolf bowed deeply to me in thanks.
"Thank you, Student Council President Wolfram."
"...I'm not the student council president. I'm just a regular student. And thank Eve."
"No, I genuinely feel grateful to you, Wolfram, as a regular student. Back when I longed for my degree and graduation ring amid pitch-black darkness... Your words as a regular student really stuck with me."
"......Tch. You're saying needless things. Head back to the lab."
"Yes. I'll do that."
With that, Zolf left.
Before going, he left one last remark.
"Wolfram. This might be the first and last advice I can give you."
"I'm listening."
"Even after you graduate undergrad next year, don't go to grad school. Absolutely don't."
"......"
"You have to protect your own rights."
Well, damn.
That's pretty convincing.
8th-tier skill: Magical Patissier.
Truth be told, as awkward as it is to say, I'd acquired this skill as Kelters and actually used it as my main support skill.
It was to raise the affection of Eve, the Magic Division heroine, by preparing sweets for her—making good pastries to gift her.
In the game, this skill's efficiency was... oddly niche.
Good or bad? As a utility skill, it was decent enough, but the biggest issue was, predictably, the 'inventory limit.'
The more pastries you made, the more your inventory filled up, and by mid-game, you weren't even using the food items anymore.
Once you started mixing in other cooking or ingredients, your inventory exploded before you knew it, and you stopped making pastries altogether.
But hey, it was a high-tier skill I'd gone out of my way to get. Gotta make use of it somehow.
If your inventory's about to burst, just find someone to offload it on.
I'd considered handing it off to Nefti, but even she had limits as an individual, and I wasn't about to give any to that annoying Eve.
So I'd ended up right here.
In front of the first-year dorms.
"Whoa, it's Donut Senior!"
"He's doing business today!"
"Hello..."
The three fledglings who frequented my cart.
Thanks to their chatter, I'd been able to gauge when 1-1 was starting, so I began prepping donuts right there.
"Here."
"Huh? We didn't order any. Did you fry them up in advance 'cause we come so often...?"
"Uh, umm... ...That often? Really?"
It felt like the hot dog vendor who'd seen a regular in his sights and started prepping a full batch ahead of time.
"Thanks, but it's too much, Senior!"
"...Right?"
...Kinda similar, yeah.
"Nah. You come often, so it's service."
"Whoa! As expected of Senior!"
"...Th-thank you."
With that, the two dove in like goblins possessed by gluttony. First-year appetites are terrifying.
The fledglings glanced at each other and tilted their heads, but I said nothing.
Truth was, I knew these fledglings.
Or rather, I remembered partying with them in the game.
"One more Sugar Donut for me, please!"
"...You sure you can eat that much?"
"I'll be hammering soon, so it's fine!"
The bright, energetic dwarf girl who always ordered Sugar Donuts was named Vanilla.
"Then one more Strawberry for me."
The quiet elf girl who favored Strawberry Donuts was Yogurt. Together, the Vanilla Yogurt duo.
Who names people Vanilla and Yogurt?
That was the quality of D/Z SAGA.
A game that nailed details in weird spots while stuffing Easter eggs, bizarre memes, or personal tastes elsewhere.
Anyway, Vanilla the dwarf was solid as a frontliner or blacksmith. Yogurt made a decent archer, spirit user, or spirit archer.
Future party fodder, and pretty good first-years in-game too. They could hit 3rd tier with proper raising. Kinda nostalgic characters, even.
I wasn't above feeding them for free now in hopes they'd help Wolfram out once if he ever got in a pinch. ...That was the ulterior motive, sure.
I turned to the last fledgling and asked.
The super timid-looking one with a total rookie vibe.
Oddly, I couldn't quite place her. No memory of raising her myself, but she felt vaguely familiar...
Who was she again?
"What do you want?"
"...Uh, well... I dunno."
"Alright then. I'll make something for you."
"Y-yes?!"
Ignoring Fledgling No. 3's reply, I whipped up a donut on the spot and piped in some cream from the bag. Chocolate or white cream were the safest bets, but since it was free anyway, a new menu item would do.
"Here."
"I-I don't have money..."
"It's a test for a new menu. Just eat it, no worries."
"O-okay...!"
Fledgling No. 3 took the donut, smiled shyly, took a bite, and her eyes went wide.
"This flavor... I've never tasted anything like it!"
"Matcha cream. How's the detailed review?"
"...W-well, the flavor's super deep yet refreshing. A slight bitterness, but I like it."
Pretty solid feedback. Nefti would've just said, 'Tastes good. Gimme more, thanks.'
But seriously, I couldn't remember her. Felt like I needed to...
"Senior, we want some too!"
"...You're full of Mille-Feuille and acting all innocent."
As the two goblins drooled over the matcha cream donut, lightning struck my mind.
"Mille-Feuille?"
"Y-yes? I'm Mille-Feuille von Sabre..."
"I'm Vanilla!"
"...I'm Yogurt."
You two knew.
"Got it. ...Alright. Test menu tasting requested."
"Yes!"
"...Yes."
"Th-thank you. I'll dig in."
The three bowed politely to me and started on the next round.
Yogurt enthusiastically, Vanilla quietly but quickly, Mille-Feuille ordinarily.
"Yummy!"
"...Sweet."
"Mm. This one's chocolate. The rich flavor lingers nicely in your mouth."
Now I remembered who she was.
Mille-Feuille von Sabre.
Kelters' classmate who got expelled in 1-3.
After wrapping up business and returning to the convenience store, I sank into thought.
Mille-Feuille von Sabre.
Why hadn't I remembered this character? There was a reason.
To begin with, Mille-Feuille wasn't a recruitable companion.
You know the type. The ones who inevitably exit during the story.
That was Mille-Feuille.
Simply put, 1-3 was the midterms arc.
Divided into written, survival, and sparring exams. Story-wise, Kelters faced off against her in sparring.
Kelters beat Mille-Feuille handily, and with her grades already shaky, she got expelled.
A character who taught Jefrin's ruthlessness anew while serving as a stepping stone for the protagonist's convictions—an extra.
That was Mille-Feuille von Sabre.
"Ran into a rare character."
Honestly, that was my only impression.
Getting expelled sucked, but she could just go home and live normally. That's what most people do.
Think of it as running into a natural disaster like Kelters.
At least you're a noble. Getting expelled as Wolfram is game over.
"Anyway, time to do my job."
First up: Magical Patissier proficiency work.
Improving matcha cream, custard cream, and countless others, or trying iced tea—tons of tweaks to make.
As I worked, I heard a knock at the door.
Wind? No customers today, and the wind's been whistling steadily.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Three more wind knocks echoed.
Not wind. Then what? Nefti running over 'cause she's broke? Aila wanting energy drinks? Rudika and Eve had no reason to show.
"Tch. Just come in already."
Whoever it was, putting on such polite airs uninvited.
Thinking that, I opened the door—and there stood someone I least expected.
"Mille-Feuille von Sabre?"
"...Y-yes! Hello, Senior Wolfram."
I tilted my head at Mille-Feuille's polite bow.
Why was she here? A customer?
W.R.'s historic first customer!
Calming my pounding heart, I forced a smile and asked.
"...Heh. Here to buy something?"
"Eek. N-no, not that."
Then scram.
"Um, Senior, this..."
"What?"
"I-I compiled notes on the donuts from earlier. You said they were test items, and since I tasted them, I figured I should give a proper review."
"......"
What the.
Why's she so nice?
"...Can I give it to you? If it's a bother, I-I'll just go."
"Come in. Least I can do is offer some tea."
"Yes!"
Mille-Feuille looked around the convenience store in wonder, sipped the tea I brought her, and nodded with a sigh.
"The aroma is amazing. What's this tea called?"
"Mint tea. Test menu item, so no charge."
"Wow... It'd pair great with the chocolate donut."
......Did I invite her inside for nothing?
No. No fault in goods or tastes. Mint tea and chocolate donuts could work.
If the customer says so, it is so. Right?
"Business first."
"Oh, right. Here's my report. It's rushed, but I wrote it as honestly as I could from memory."
With that, Mille-Feuille handed over the report. I skimmed it.
Round handwriting. Highlights in fluorescent pen.
[Chocolate Donut ★★★★☆]
[Sweet with deep flavor. A bit sticky in the mouth, so it'd go well with a refreshing drink?]
[Matcha Donut ★★★★★]
[A dangerously rich, lingering flavor!]
"......Hm."
"H-how is it?"
"Not bad. Excellent summary for such short notice."
"Th-thank you! Glad it helped."
Mille-Feuille bowed her head.
But did she have time for this?
From memory, 1-3 was the killing blow, but she'd already clashed with Kelters once before.
During the freshman sparring to gauge skills, she'd gotten crushed, and bombed the pop quiz too.
After that, she was on death row: failed written midterms, failed survival, got wrecked by Kelters in sparring—triple F, expelled.
How'd that happen?
Asking directly would be weird, so I decided to hawk some old student council cred.
"Very helpful, but as former student council president, something bothers me."
"W-what? Is the content lacking?"
"No, the content's great. It's just... first-years are super busy, right? Sparring tests, pop quizzes—do you really have time to leisurely write this up?"
"W-well, my sparring opponent is this guy named Kelters. He's top of the year, so I was nervous..."
Yeah.
I gestured for her to go on, and she gave an "ehehe" smile.
"I got injured by that amazing third-year magic senior at the entrance ceremony and had to rest, so the initial spar got postponed."
"......"
"Then when we rescheduled, I broke the student council president's lockdown order and left the dorms—got two weeks suspension for violating it..."
"......"
"So the sparring was a walkover win for me. Buncha weird coincidences lining up... Guess I got lucky."
Yeah.
I see.
What a bizarre coincidence.
Right?