Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Pink Chick
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D/Z SAGA.
Just fact-checking alone, I've played that game to death right up until the moment I died, so I know almost every bit of Kelters' adventure story.
And even now, I replay that progression in my head several times a day.
Because no matter how hard I try to avoid getting involved, some episodes make intervention inevitable.
Whether Eve's at the center of the incident, or Aila, or the entire academy gets swept up, or even the 8th Magic Division blows sky-high.
So to dodge those wretched disasters, I have to pull off full-body evasion maneuvers like crazy while sucking up every drop of sweet honey I can. Otherwise, next year around this time at graduation, I won't get my diploma, learn specialized skills, graduate, or stick around Jefrin afterward serving the convenience store boss for a thousand years.
That's why I've already got the scoop on the main characters, villains, and heroines. Luckily, Wolfram's brain is sharp—he rarely forgets anything he's seen once. Lucky me, at least my brain's still healthy.
Putting future contingencies on hold for now, let's think about the Jefrin Student Competition.
This event hands out awards in five main categories, roughly speaking.
The Martial God Tournament where Knight Division students beat the tar out of each other. The Magic God Tournament for Magic Division clashes. But it doesn't stop there—they also judge weapons from Maestro and outfits from Yggdrasil.
And then there's the slightly odd one out: Magic Craft.
Basically, crafting accessories or artifacts infused with magical energy for judging. Honestly, second place is a breeze.
Magic Craft is an advanced skill to begin with, but the first place is so overwhelmingly dominant that most entrants just give up after trying.
That's the Grand Magic Merchant, Regina Cielra. Third-year top student.
Her mana stat's at 21—higher than Aila's, lower than Eve's. A genius among geniuses.
On top of that, she's not from the dual main routes of Knight Division Isolde or Magic Division Eve—she's from the side route. A sub-heroine.
Hook up with her and graduate for the Magic Division true ending.
What I have to face from now on is a genius witch.
But I've got a shot at winning.
"If this game borrows Jefrin's system directly, there's a chance for a one-shot reversal."
So what I need to do is turn that one-shot reversal chance into reality.
Wolfram alone might struggle.
But with friendship, I can push through effort, and combining those two means claiming victory.
"Luckily, I'm not alone. I've got comrades I've shared friendship with, haven't I?"
I clenched my fist toward the sky.
Wolfram is not alone.
"No thanks."
Eve turned me down.
"Sorry, the young lady's out on a commission right now."
Rudika vanished.
"Of course I'll help! As for pay..."
"Hey, you, shut your trap and get back to work!"
Nefti was swamped.
"...I'm entering the Magic God Tournament too. See ya."
Aila bolted.
"......"
Wolfram von Loengrin was left alone.
Sitting at the table in front of the convenience store, I looked up at the sky.
What friendship? What conviction?
The world left me all by my lonesome.
Stars in the night sky might look stuck together from Earth, but their distances take years to measure even at light speed.
"Is this solitude...?"
Loneliness hit hard.
But that doesn't mean I can just give up.
When a person's dead set on surviving, death won't touch them.
I've survived worse—like slipping a disc hauling H-beams on a construction site, lying in my one-room for three days straight until my water ran out.
"There's a way. There has to be. I'll make it happen, no matter what."
Muttering that while frying donuts, lost in thought, lunchtime rolled around and the food bugs started swarming.
Thanks to Eve's consideration, regular students flock to this cart now—which is great, but honestly, it's a burden at the moment.
But who am I? Wolfram von Loengrin—no, Yi Young-jin. Started with manual labor, did amusement park gigs in peak season, threw myself into every emergency side job to rake in fat daily pay.
In times like these, set clear priorities.
First, donuts: sell exact quantities only. What I fried this morning is all there is. No more.
"Oh, sunbae. Cream's out?"
"Out. Gone."
"Hmm. Strawberry then!"
"Got it."
Peak-season restaurant gig. Served at a samgyetang joint in Gangnam pulling 300 million won daily sales. My three-year senior there said:
[If it's out, say it's out. And never compromise quality on what's in stock.]
[What do you mean?]
[Too many customers, kkakdugi runs low? Serve kimchi that day instead, but don't let on you're rushed during plating. Customers remember no kkakdugi, so comp 'em 30 extra minutes free parking on exit.]
Sure, that senior got fired next month after fist-fighting a customer, but the lesson lives on in my heart.
So donuts: exact quantities fried. Cream short? Other flavors running low? Never skimp quality. No—pile it on extra.
"More strawberry cream than usual?"
"Cream's out, so bonus. Sorry about that."
"Ah... Yeah."
"Enjoy."
"Yes!"
One first-year kouhai backed off.
Her cheeks oddly flushed. Cold out?
"Next order?"
"Um, cheese cream one please."
"Got it. Hold on."
"Yes!"
Taking the next order when a loud voice piped up beside me.
"Sunbae! Our orders too! Cheese cream and strawberry! Rough's fine!"
"I get you're in a rush, but no can do."
"...Y-Yes. S-Sorry..."
"Nah. Gotta avoid my own mistakes."
"Huh?"
"Gotta savor something delicious even in one bite. Sorry."
"Y-Yeah."
And the second. No matter the turnover, only take what I can handle.
Hongdae killer ramen joint gig—boss from Japan told me:
[This biz, ramen turnover is life. But inside-outside air needs clear temp difference.]
[Meaning?]
[Customers brave cold outside, but staff can't rush turnover in panic. That cold-to-cozy ramen shop temp gap? They taste it too.]
Yeah, that boss got nailed in a surprise hygiene check for corner-cutting and bounced back to Japan.
But the teaching's fused into my soul.
Right. Outside customers might rush, but first come, first served. Sorry, but let 'em feel that temp difference.
And just like that, donuts sold out clean.
Alright, business done for today. Time to plan competition prep for evening onward.
As I thought that and started closing up...
"Sunbae, you're a player?"
"Imperial blood. Setback. Ambitious riser. Hero who saved first-years. But bad boy... Scary sunbae."
"H-Hi, sunbae..."
The three colorful chicks showed up.
Vanilla Yogurt Mille-feuille.
The yellow among the colorful chick trio. Vanilla's eyes sparkled at me.
"Sunbae. Sunbae."
"What."
"Could taste-test for you today too. How 'bout it?"
Could taste-test? Owe you?
"Sold out. Scram."
"Pulling the bad boy act on us too?"
Yogurt jumped in right after.
"What's that supposed to mean."
"No need to play dumb. We heard rumors pre-enrollment. Student Council President who pulled shady stuff."
"Rin't deny it."
"But post-enrollment, first-years see you selling desserts since welcome party, cart at dorms, ghost incident takedown rumors, now this sneaky warm side..."
"Right? Total bad boy vibe. Plus that. Yeah. Archaic speech like fellow royals. So donuts? Could taste-test."
Vanilla Yogurt gone bad wholesale. Dizzying.
"Don't tease sunbae too much. He's troubled. Right?"
"Ah! Mille-feuille fell for bad boy!"
"Mille-feuille, careful. Men are wolves, elder said."
"N-No, not like that..."
Chicks chirping away.
Best way to shut 'em up? Feed 'em.
But handing out just anything...
Ah. That works.
"Colorful chicks. Quiet. Take this."
"Chicks?! Wow, what's this?"
"First-years. Respect please. Snacks? Never seen these."
Topics bouncing everywhere. Busy chicks.
"Layered baked dough pastry. Prototype, new product. Put tons of work in..."
"Itadakimasu!"
"Itadakimasu."
"I-Itadakimasu."
"Listen till end."
Chicks devoured my "new product" on the spot.
"Wow, super crunchy! Yum!"
"But sneak in class, crumbs everywhere."
"...Y-Yeah, tasty."
Well, yeah, made 'em tasty.
Ahem. Anyway, not the point...
"Anything special after eating?"
"Uh, um? Oh yeah!"
"What."
"More please!"
Yellow out.
"Nada really. More might tell..."
Green out.
I eyed the last pink chick, focusing intently on the new snack.
"Well?"
"...S-Sunbae. This. Um. Might be wrong, but."
"Spit it out, no sugarcoating."
"Vision sharper, focus upped."
Then Mille-feuille murmured tiny, but I caught it clear.
"Magic effect? No... Enhancement?"
"......Ha."
Eyes lit, smile crept on.
This one's got it.
She perfectly analyzed the effect of my prototype "Magical Patissiere" snack in one go.
"Yellow chick. Green chick. You're free to go. Pink chick, got time? Rin't take long."
"Y-Yeah...?"
"Eek, sunbae's clutches on Mille-feuille... We gotta save her!"
"No. Mille-feuille's our friend."
"Tomorrow, two-three donut sets each."
"Mille-feuille! Be happy!"
"Sunbae's ambitious imperial. Good for Mille-feuille."
They left saying that. Fleeting friendship.
Mille-feuille gazed at her departing friends like a exiled independence fighter.
"Pink chick. No—Mille-feuille von Sabre. Rin't take much time. Few questions."
"Y-Yes?!"
"My snack, buff-type via my skill, as you said."
"Buff snack. Magical Sweet?"
"Call it what you want. Question: prototype's buffs super subtle, how'd you nail it first try?"
At my question, Mille-feuille bowed head, face red with shame, barely spoke.
"...Um, embarrassing, but."
"Out with it."
"Innate super sensitive to mana. Magic hits me easy."
"Easy?"
"Yeah. Attack spells hurt tons... Aiming Knight Division but low stamina..."
Mille-feuille gloomied instantly.
Thinking back, her setup from birth—er, "character creation intent"—is losing to Kelters instantly and getting expelled.
No way she's stacked strong.
What irony.
Magic Craft to take down Regina Cielra.
Pop-in-mouth battlefield buff snack: every enhancement plus stamina recovery.
To realize it, need someone to test buffs while eating.
Thus, prototype-guessing Mille-feuille's perfect partner.
Now, how to reel in this chick.
"Prof said give first-year top another shot—two weeks post-suspension, duel Kelters. What to do..."
From her endless mutter, I got my hook.
"Mille-feuille von Sabre."
"Y-Yes?"
"Wanna beat that Kelters punk?"
"Yeah...?"
"This buff snack, as said."
"Magical Sweet?"
"Yeah. Prototype Magical Sweet. Room for upgrades."
"......Yes."
"Fully powered, you eat and test—viable, right?"
"B-But exam rules violation?"
"Everyone uses one-two artifacts."
"...Yeah. Family prestige. Ours local baronet... Only specialty milk..."
Jefrin's inequities forever.
"Then you use it. One condition."
"Condition?"
"Daily buff snack."
"Magical Sweet."
"Yeah. Report buffs, stacking possible? Deal?"
"B-But."
"Wanna lose to top, curse your constitution forever, Mille-feuille?"
"......Yes. I'll do it. I wanna win too!"
Mille-feuille nodded, eyes shining.
Good.
Hooked.