Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Miss Annoyance
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Conveniently, the very next day was the first day of the weekend, so Milfeuille showed up first thing in the morning.
"Come on in."
"Pardon the intrusion."
Of course, I'd temporarily closed up shop at the market to hole up in the convenience store, prepping items for the Jefrin Student Competition.
"Had breakfast yet?"
"Oh, n-no."
"Good. You're gonna stuff yourself today."
"Y-yes! I'll do my best!"
I nodded at the pink chick clenching her fists and bobbing her head enthusiastically.
"Before we start, let's go over our clear goals and the current situation one more time."
"Y-yes!"
First off, me.
This convenience store's rent is way too damn high, so I'm entering the Jefrin Student Competition's Magic Craft division to snag first place and pocket that five-million-lin prize.
And Milfeuille.
She got a bye due to suspension, but the professor took a liking to her, so now it's a rematch with Kelters.
She has to win their duel in two weeks, no question.
And the way she'll do it? These buff snacks I made.
She'll chow down on them right before the match using my Magical Patissier skill and grab victory!
"One thing I wanna ask."
"Y-yes!"
This chick—who's no stranger to the store—zips around curiously until my voice startles her into turning back.
"Lose the duel, and you're up for expulsion?"
"...W-well? I did okay on the early entrance mini-test written part... I think."
"Got it."
Her fate's already changed.
Thinking about it, right after enrollment, she got knocked flying by Kelters during the mini-test practical, so she probably bombed the written part too and tanked her practical score.
In other words, as long as she doesn't get utterly crushed in this duel with Kelters, no expulsion.
"But I want to win."
"Hm?"
"Ah, n-no, I mean... Isn't it good to at least have the will to win?"
"......"
She's right. No matter if the opponent's the top of their year, accepting defeat is game over.
And I've gotta beat Regina Ciela, the third-year top student myself.
"Fine. Let's do it."
"Y-yes!"
Magical Patissier is an 8-tier skill.
While 9-tier skills are flashy ones you pick up for socializing or hobbies, 8-tier skills are different—they mark the signpost for the 'path' a person can take.
In other words, focusing on 8-tier skills opens the 'growth' route. Proficiency and unlocks make it inevitable.
So if I grind Magical Patissier, after mastering 7-tier Shining Patissier, I'll get a quest for 6-tier Miracle Patissier.
I might end up as a fluffy, sweet, round-and-puffed Wolfram.
But it's not a bad skill. I tested Miracle Patissier before, and it's solid for buff items.
Training's simple too—when bored, whip some up from the backline, learn Potion Pitcher for tossing recovery snacks, and have fun chucking pastries.
Anyway, why bring this up? Because of Magical Patissier's traits and training methods.
Training volume ramps up in that order, so to master Magical Patissier, infuse top-quality snacks with magic.
Donuts count as bottom-tier snacks, so activating Magical Patissier on them gives minimal training bonus.
Thus, it's most efficient on my new inventions.
Plus, Magical Patissier's success rate ties to the 'Dexterity' stat—not Magic Power.
How huge is that for Wolfram? It's a honey-dripping skill just thinking about it, but Dexterity only affects success; it still guzzles Magic Power.
Each use costs 1 Magic Power, so with my pool, three tries max before cooldown.
Wolfram recovers 1 Magic Power per hour.
So daily max: twenty-four snacks.
Thus, pour conviction into each one. We need to squeeze out successes from these three shots.
Of course.
I never said it'd always succeed.
End result: one failure, two successes.
Being handmade by me, I can read their descriptions:
Yeah. Here's the issue.
No exact buff details listed.
That's the limit of 8-tier skills. At 7-tier Shining Patissier, numbers show up precisely.
Not bad effects, sure, but it's a headache.
And that's why I picked only the pink chick from the chickies.
Like having a chick appraiser appraise chicks, but whatever.
"Here, try 'em."
"Y-yes!"
She grabs one with both hands like pecking feed and munches away.
"What effects?"
"W-well... How do I put this? Feels like I could handle something hot right now."
"Gotcha. Fire resistance, then. Try this one too."
"Y-yes! Uh, this one's... like I could dodge arrows? That kind of confidence."
"Physical projectile resistance? Or evasion."
Her sensitivity to Magic Power's a nice trait, at least.
She senses buffs on herself like that, huh.
Thanks to her, I know where my proficiency stands now.
"Two in a row: resistance and evasion. Generous rating puts 'em at beginner level."
"Y-yes?"
"Nah, forget it. Let's make the next batch."
"Y-yes!"
"......Let's rest an hour and try again."
"...Y-yes."
Damn it.
The Jefrin Student Competition registration hall was packed.
Each division caps at 400 entrants, entry fee: 50,000 lin.
Students can stretch for a shot, and first place bags five million lin.
"Yes. Aila Trista, Magic Duel entry confirmed. Payment received."
"Always a profitable gig. With institutionalization perfect, minus wages, it's a windfall for guilds and departments."
"Haha..."
The clerk smiled bitterly, and Aila shrugged. This person's just an hourly worker at 3,000 lin. Complaining changes nothing.
Why she's on edge? Probably Wolfram.
Not like Aila Trista. Betrayal must be subtle, lethal. Showing emotions? Uncharacteristic.
"Ah! Miss Trista!"
"......"
And there's the other one who rattles her emotions, approaching with a beaming smile from afar.
"Miss Ciela. Long time."
"Yes! You're entering the competition too, Miss Trista? Which division?"
"Magic Duel."
"Magic Duel! Wow... I'm no good at fighting, so even watching's scary!"
"I see."
Regina Ciela.
Title: Magic Merchant.
Third-year Magic Division top.
Aila had always found her grating.
That flowing golden hair and innocent face hid a monster once you peeled back the shell.
"Here for the competition too, Miss Ciela?"
"Yes!"
"Magic Craft, no doubt?"
"Yep."
"Planning another unbeatable run?"
"Luck carried me the last two years, but this one's iffy."
She covers her mouth, chuckling softly.
"Who could beat you when even Jefrin—no, the imperial family—recognizes your artisans' materials as top-grade?"
"Oh dear, that sounds like I'm cheating. Per rules, if I assemble it, it's my entry."
"......"
True enough.
That's Regina Ciela.
She masters the rules, finds the wiggle room, and exploits it ruthlessly.
'Only fight winnable battles.' Merchant philosophy and aesthetic.
That's the gap between top merchant houses: Ciela leads, Trista chases.
Trista challenges and fails; Ciela skips challenges.
'That's why I hate it. No romance.'
True peaks demand flair and bold risks to inspire dreams.
"Another solo stage this year, then."
"Hehe, too kind. But who knows? Someone might make my heart race."
"Maybe."
"Yes. I'd love that. Hehe."
Hmph.
See? After her entry, Magic Craft sign-ups plummeted.
She'll win again.
Boring outcome.
"Here to register."
"Y-yes!"
Right then, one guy strode to the desk.
Frail build contrasting sharply honed eyes. Low voice. Every gesture dripping nobility. Imperial diction.
"Wolfram von Loengrin. Event?"
He stood tall, alone in the empty space, utterly unfazed.
"Magic Craft."
Ugh, 50,000-lin entry fee. Total scam.
No matter how you slice it, ten million lin profit per division. Pure prize money outlay? Nah, taxes and imperial grants for student rivalry hype.
Entry fees are basically all profit.
Sweet gig sucking imperial funds, Jefrin.
"Wolfram?"
"Wolfram von Loengrin... sir?"
On my way out after registering, two voices called overlapping.
"...Aila? And the Ciela girl."
"We're same year; no need for formality. Call me Regina."
"Pass."
"......Y-yes, of course."
Regina and Aila's eyes went wide.
Regina Ciela's a hidden heroine—takes ages of bonding for her route.
But she's a total pain. Number one annoyance. Hello, Miss Annoyance. Goodbye, Miss Annoyance.
"What brings you here, Wolfram?"
"Can't you tell? Magic Craft entry."
"...Magic Craft?"
"See you at the competition."
I turned to leave.
"P-Prince Wolfram von Loengrin, Regina Ciela humbly requests a word."
"What."
Ugh, don't talk to me, you pest.
"Magic Craft is the essence of magic."
"I know."
"...While entering honors the spirit of challenge befitting students..."
"Cut the fluff. Get to the point."
"It's fine to join, but crafting something amateur might tarnish Your Highness's honor."
What's her deal?
Hm. If this were the Regina I knew—the one I romanced as a heroine—why say this?
Ah. Aha. Got it.
She's such a pain.
"Hm. Quite right."
"Y-yes, Your Highness."
"In short: don't embarrass yourself with junk and back out gracefully?"
"Y-yes?"
"I'll crush Wolfram von Loengrin so overwhelmingly that if I piss you off and sour imperial ties, it's a hassle. Very sound thinking. Clever, great magic merchant. Always claim the winner's spot."
"......N-no, how dare I."
Exactly.
She assumes she can wreck me, but worries post-graduation I'll nag her house over 'that third-year Magic Division girl who beat me?'
"So what now?"
"......Pardon?"
"Ciela spawn. Got even one scrap of intel on what I'll make or do?"
"N-no. But I have wins from two years back."
"Impressive. Good job."
"Th-thank you? No, that's not— Skip next year; submit something imperial-worthy then."
"Wise. You'll probably sit it out next year. Or by then, you'll have grown your house enough to shove aside a Wolfram."
"N-no, how dare."
"But now, it's just von Loengrin you're eyeing."
"Your Highness?"
"Do as you like. I'm not withdrawing. Just don't bug me."
"Y-yes?"
"Don't turn around later yelling 'Why'd that prince enter?! I held back to avoid imperial beef and lost!' while punching your giant bunny doll."
"..........Understood. Regina Ciela will give her all, humble as it is."
"Do that."
I shrugged.
She's strong, yeah. True.
Her entries are no joke.
But still.
Have I really never beaten her as a first-year?
"Then you're not stagnant water."