Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: The Perils of Magical Sweets
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I couldn't hide my surprise upon learning that the person Aila had recruited was none other than Nefti.
To begin with, Aila was the villain of the Magic Division, while Nefti was a protagonist-type character in the Knight Division...
Protagonist-type?
Whatever. I pondered it for a moment but soon realized it was actually a pretty good pairing.
Aila had money to burn, so she could exploit Nefti down to her very soul. For a scion of a great merchant family like Aila, wasn't this a fine card to play?
"Hmm, I see. So you're planning to face off against junior Kelters."
"Y-Yes!"
"You've come to the right place. I've got junior Kelters' status and skills all memorized."
"Pardon?"
"To be precise, I make a habit of memorizing the skills and stats of all the promising candidates who might enter the Knight Division. That way, I can properly guide them once they do."
At Jefrin Academy, skills and stats were checked every six months and mostly made public, but I hadn't expected Nefti to have them all committed to memory.
Then again, considering her role in the original story as the ideal senior guiding Kelters, it made sense that she'd put in that kind of effort.
"In that case, let's run a mock battle tailored to Kelters' stats and skill distribution."
"...Yes! I'll give it my all!"
Milmyu's spirited reply echoed through the convenience store.
With that, Nefti and Milmyu headed out of the store for their sparring session, with Aila trailing along behind them at a leisurely pace.
Before leaving, Aila flashed me a grin and held up a thumbs-up.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's to say, 'Don't get mad if I steal away that cute little chick.'"
Oh, go ahead.
Aila hummed a tune as she exited the store. While I was sorting recipes and activating Mix Wit, the convenience store door swung open again.
"Is Wolfram here?"
"...Nope. At least, not for someone who interrupts other people's work."
"'Heaven brings no guest, I send none away.' Isn't that the motto of customer service?"
"'Those who come unbidden are no boon.' That's Wolfram's motto."
It was Eve von Loengrin—the woman whose name shared my family register.
Eve stepped inside and her eyes lit up at the pile of snacks on the table.
"Wolfram, this mountain of snacks..."
"Hm? Oh, yeah. I'm prepping some stuff."
"Prepping? This is prepping?"
"Yeah... big-time prepping."
At my words, Eve's eyes widened round. Then she broke into a bright smile, which softened into a subtle one as she faced me.
Damn, this is annoying.
Why the smug grin?
So I asked.
"What're you grinning about?"
"No, it's just... finally, Wolfram's acting human."
"...What?"
"All that nonsense about running a half-assed convenience store or entering Magic Craft—I was seriously considering expulsion. But you've finally found your calling!"
"......"
"Yes, Wolfram. You may suck at everything else, but you've got that subtle knack for craftsmanship and making snacks. Seeing you embrace your talents and walk that path... it makes you seem human. Yeah, that's how people should live. No more dragging everyone down with your pointless nonsense. I worried and fretted so much, but what a relief."
"......"
"Why not graduate and head back to the palace as a royal pastry chef? Then your late... "
"Eve."
"...What? I finally found something to praise you for after all this time, so don't ruin the mood. Anyway, now that you've decided to live like a proper person..."
Praise?
Prai-i-ise? That's praise?
No, before nitpicking that, I had to clear up the misunderstanding first.
"Cut the crap, Eve. I have no intention of leaving the academy or becoming a pastry chef. And I am entering the Magic Craft contest."
"...Pardon?"
"This pile of desserts right in front of you? They're the magic tools I'm submitting to Magic Craft."
"......Have you finally lost it?"
Look at her face. Who talks like that with teary, affectionate eyes?
Arguing further with Eve was pointless, so to shut her up, I handed her one of the desserts I'd been making.
"Bribery, huh..."
"Either eat it quietly or get out."
"Nom."
Eve forked a bite of cake right there on the spot. Moments later, her eyes went wide.
"...Huh? This..."
"Buff-type sn— No, it's a Magical Sweet."
"Cute name. But anyway, this... enhancement effect? Can't quite pin it down, but resistance-type... No, instant activation. So... if I had to guess... boosted detection against all fire magic?"
Eve muttered to herself before definitively identifying the magic on the pastry. Then she frowned.
A shielding barrier?
Why?
I gave her a puzzled look, and she scowled, glaring back and forth between me and the pastry I'd made.
"Wolfram. You really made this with your own hands?"
"Yes. Thanks to acquiring the Magical Patissier skill."
"So you're saying you can make snacks that grant instant effects the moment they're eaten, anywhere on any battlefield?"
"That's right."
"Up to what tier? Does it cap at 9th tier?"
"No. Right now, up to upper 8th tier."
She scowled even harder.
What's with her suddenly?
She's scary as hell.
"And you're planning to enter this in Magic Craft?"
"Yes."
Eve let out a deep sigh, her scowl deepening.
"Wolfram. As Student Council President, this is an advisory. No—a warning. Drop it."
"...What?"
"Don't submit these. No, this is... Ugh. Why now of all times? Fine, if you insist, considering my growth trajectory, next year... Tch. No, that's risky too. Just drop it."
"Mind telling me why?"
"Mess this up, and you could die."
"What?"
At my shocked retort, Eve sighed again.
"Wolfram, you know Jefrin has a total enrollment of 100,000, right?"
"Of course."
"And you know that at best, only about 70% of first-years make it safely to graduation?"
"Yes."
"If something like this hits the market, things will get messy."
"Hm."
"Put simply, this buff changes exam outcomes. Failures survive, survivors fail... Artifacts are openly allowed, sure, but this could skew even prohibited-exam results."
"So it could be abused for cheating?"
"Abused? Everyone will try. Want 100,000 students gunning for your life until you're found a corpse in Sector 8?"
Whoa, that's terrifying for real.
Though it reminded me of similar warnings before.
Right, the energy drink incident.
They'd told me not to distribute it carelessly.
"To fully seize control of the academy and wield absolute authority, it'll take me about two more years. By then, I won't stop you from going public. But... exposing this now is too much of a burden."
"......"
"I'll handle supply control and distribution channels then. Sell it later, Wolfram."
I fell silent at Eve's words. Exposing this could endanger my life.
"But..."
Before I could continue, a familiar voice came from beyond the barrier.
"No need to worry about that. Wolfram's safe."
Followed by the sound of skill incantation.
"【Black Crystal: Single Shot: Max Enhance: Destruction】"
⟨ Black Crystal ⟩
Aila's Black Crystal, enhanced with one extra effect beyond usual, began cracking Eve's barrier with a sharp crunch.
Shatter.
The 3-syllable, 22-mana barrier couldn't withstand the 4-syllable Black Crystal assault and shattered into pieces. Amid the fragments, Aila strode in with a click of her heels.
"Since the chick and Nefti were focused on training, I came to check on Wolfram. And I overhear some interesting talk."
"...Aila Trista. We're in the middle of a serious discussion about Wolfram von Loengrin's future. We'll talk later."
"That won't do."
"...What did you say?"
"I, Aila Trista, hold the priority negotiation rights for distributing and licensing Wolfram's sweets."
Hm.
Come to think of it, yeah.
We traded them for four cases of mana potions.
Eve rubbed her temple as if her head ached and sighed in response to Aila's claim.
"Aila Trista. I get that you snag great merchandise first thanks to your merchant savvy. But this is seriously dangerous."
"It's fine. Wolfram's going to churn out even riskier stuff ahead. And... I'll protect him. You think I don't know the risks?"
"You know, and you're still selling?"
"Yes. Worst case, I'll take the heat."
"What?"
"See? Plenty of students won't believe Wolfram made these. Or they'll think I propped him up as a figurehead to produce and sell them."
Eve glanced at me, seemingly convinced, but scowled anyway.
"Who'd believe Wolfram made these? Everyone at Jefrin knows his mana is 3."
Don't say that. That hurts. And it's a craft skill, damn it.
"So no need for the president to worry."
"Argh, fine! Do whatever!"
Eve stormed off in a huff.
So, let's recap.
These desserts are seriously dangerous, potentially endangering my life.
Eve said to hold off on distribution until she consolidates more power at Jefrin.
Aila, fully aware, insisted on her prior claim.
In other words...
"...Eve."
"What?!"
"Thanks for worrying about me."
"...W-Who? Who said I was worried? About you? Wolfram? Ha? Hahaha? W-Worried? Pfft! Ridiculous, ri—...!!! Ugh!! Seriously!!"
With that, Eve bolted out of the convenience store.
I really didn't want to admit it, but I was grateful for Eve's concern. It was just a sincere thank-you...
Was there any need to get that mad?