Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Raving Reviews
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Rudika smiled brightly.
"Rudika was frustrated because her vision was so narrow. The world is vast. People are vast, and this ocean is vast too."
"Jefrin is vast. Sending her off with a narrow perspective would only cause suffering."
I don't really know why she's suffering.
That was a trait of the character Rudika Hassan Shadow.
She could be a companion.
But even from the moment Kelters enrolls, Rudika is already a third-year.
After fourth year, no matter the route, she graduates.
An assassin who one-shots you if Kelters takes a wrong turn early on.
She carries first- and second-years with her overwhelming stats.
As I mentioned before, Rudika can drop even Eve von Loengrin in a single strike, but only in ambushes. Of course, give her even a single day to prepare, and Rudika's the one who ends up on the floor.
Anyway, I'd fallen for that overwhelming performance! This feeling—it's definitely love! But by third year, she vanishes without fail.
There were plenty of players who said, "Professor, thanks for the free ride!" I was one of them early on, riding that bus hard.
But pour all your resources into Rudika, and she still graduates and leaves. The hole left by that professor is just too big.
For those reasons, plenty worshipped Rudika, but officially, no one knew what kind of mindset she'd lived with, what kind of person she truly was.
Even the setting collection only mentions "assassin of the southern Hassan Shadow family."
So I don't know why she's suffering.
I don't even know what life she leads after graduating next year.
What's certain is she'll be at Jefrin for another two years, so there's only one thing I can say.
"You should make the next two years a regret-free school life."
"...Yeah. I should."
Nefti and I watched the ocean for a moment.
"......Thanks, Wolfram."
"No big deal. A good boss counsels his regulars when they're struggling."
"Ahaha..."
After that, we stopped talking out loud.
I clenched my fist and trembled faintly.
This feels like a real youth drama. No kidding.
I've lived a life so far removed from youth that I always yearned for something like this.
"Hiyaaaaaoooo!!"
Far off, a human dolphin was swimming while yelling something like "Uwaooo!", but neither of us looked that way—we didn't want to shatter this warm, sentimental adolescent vibe.
Damn that Nefti girl.
Or is that her version of youth?
Two hours later, under the midday sun, Nefti climbed out of the ocean.
Drenched from head to toe, her clinging clothes apparently not bothering her one bit, she beamed from ear to ear.
"I had so much fun swimming!"
"No run-ins with sea monsters?"
"I did! Beat 'em all!"
I see. Rin them all, huh.
"Hm. Good work."
"Yes!"
Come to think of it, I could see sword horn fish and purple octopus corpses behind Nefti.
"It was truly great combat swimming!"
"Hm."
Was combat swimming a thing like that?
"So warm and nice!"
As I watched Nefti drying her clothes by the bonfire, I finally voiced the thought that had occurred to me.
"Nefti, got a spare uniform?"
"Yes. One set."
"Going in the sea then drying straight by the fire damages the fabric. Wash it right away when we get back."
"Yes, Senpai! But right now, I'm savoring this warmth! Missing out on the moment for some clothes would be such a waste! Enjoy the sea! Beat the seafood! Dry off! This is the most fun ever!"
With that, Nefti hummed a tune in front of the bonfire Partlash had lit.
She must be having the time of her life.
And that mindset—not sacrificing the present for future worries—is so very Nefti.
"So, foraging ingredients today and heading back?"
"Hm. Planning something a bit different today."
"What?"
"We've got stuff foraged on the way here, hunted beasts, seafood Nefti claimed victory over, and spices scattered everywhere."
"Oh, so we're eating here?"
"Hm."
"Good idea. Great scenery, perfect breeze—ideal for a meal."
Rudika nodded as she said that.
More ordinary reaction than I expected. But what if I throw in my two cents?
"And among the ingredients we've gathered... there's stuff that really suits Rudika's and my tastes."
"What? You mean..."
"It puts the red grass from the Sleeping Mountains to shame."
"......"
"Crazy Hot Chili Peppers, boasting up to five times the spiciness."
I smiled brightly, and Rudika smiled back while taking my hand in hers.
"...Please leave me out. I have no confidence my stomach can handle that madness."
Nefti, who was drying her clothes, looked over in shock.
She just doesn't get taste.
"Spicy! So spicy! Rudika approves!"
"Hm."
By my tastes, it's a bit lacking, but Rudika's satisfied with this level.
Not quite nuclear chicken hot—just like a well-spiced pork stir-fry. A little disappointing.
Anyway, the meal went enjoyably. The cooking? Just wash the ingredients thoroughly, salt lightly to let it seep in, and grill.
A straight-up beachside barbecue, but meals with close friends are always a blast.
"By the way, Rudika-senpai, you really can't taste anything but spicy?"
"Training locked away most senses except pain. More accurately, sealed them."
"Sealed?"
"Hm. All Shadows undergo training to seal senses one by one. Not just me—Cecil and everyone. ...Anything more is a Hassan Shadow family secret. Hard to share with outsiders. Understand."
"Ah, sorry. Total curiosity-driven question. Forget I asked."
"It's fine. Rudika and Nefti are friends!"
"Ahaha, right!"
Oh, so that's the setting. Gotta memo that.
Not erased senses—sealed.
Rudika's settings are so brief; there's fun in uncovering them bit by bit.
Rudika stared at the sauce, then nodded with a "Yeah."
Like she'd made a resolution, or shaken something off.
"Wolfram, can you pack some of this spicy sauce? Generously, if possible?"
"Easy order."
"Thanks."
We finished the meal and returned without incident.
Ran into a few monsters on the way back, but nothing major.
Nefti said something curious, though.
"Senpai. I've decided."
"On what?"
"Royal Guard."
"Ah. That."
"Yes. Honestly... not totally sure if I want Royal Guard or Gluco Village guard captain. But..."
"But?"
"If I aim for Royal Guard, the Knight Division sets up special classes. Stuff like etiquette befitting the imperial guard."
"Ah... right. Those classes. I remember scholarships too."
"Yes! ...Scholarship's not the main thing. Well, it is important. Anyway."
A must-do class in the Eve route. Boosts specs nicely—no real downside.
"Not sure if I'm Royal Guard material, but after seeing the ocean today, swimming, all these new experiences... I felt it."
"Felt what?"
"No reason to hesitate learning new things. Don't wanna miss a chance at a new world."
"I see."
"And if I really pursue the Royal Guard path... Senpai, then..."
Nefti hesitated and glanced my way.
If she wants the Royal Guard path? Hm?
Ah, got it.
"Recommendation spot's still open. And you're still my top pick."
"......Ah. Still number one... ehehe."
"That said, I won't recommend anyone unfit."
"Yessir! I'll study hard!"
Study hard.
Odd phrasing, but pure Nefti.
"Then off to register! Uniform wash first!"
Nefti bolted toward the academy district the moment we ported out.
Her face seemed oddly flushed.
"Nefti's impressive. That drive, that ambition—it's her brightest quality."
"Hm."
Word choice getting tricky again, Rudika.
"Rudika should learn a bit too."
"Learn what?"
"Well. First, invite my sisters to lunch starting tomorrow. They'll go along with that much."
Saying so, Rudika left with eyes full of resolve.
Not sure on details, but seems everyone's troubles are sorted.
No more gloomy vibes at the convenience store.
"Let's head back. Partlash."
Back at the convenience store.
The next day brought the expected muscle soreness.
Damn.
For real.
The day after, my body felt better than expected.
Time to get to work.
Pulled the fruits from the magic stone fridge, along with cake flour, butter, milk, and the scale.
These ingredients from the Heavenly Plateau are insanely fresh.
Partly because they're farmed, not store-bought, but also since it's not an early-game map meant for rushing.
The Emily Highmelody route blasts off to space and whatnot, but it's still a main route—and its bonus map isn't that ultra-early.
Of course, our spot has the downside of being the Heavenly Plateau outskirts.
Even so, they're on par with mid-Act 4 ingredients.
Go deeper toward the island center, and you're looking at near-Act 9 level. Gotta farm there later.
Anyway, with these materials in hand, I activated Magical Patissier.
"Whoa, Senpai, making sweets?"
"Oh, Wolfram. Sweets after so long?"
Right then, Milmyu returned from consulting Aila on changing her hated epithet 【Iron Fist】 to something like 【Magical Puncher】.
Aila was naturally with her.
"Hm. Figured it's time to raise the proficiency."
I said that while washing the fruits, making dough, and reviewing what Magical Patissier proficiency required.
In essence:
[Make more sweets]
[Make higher-quality sweets]
[Make more magical sweets]
[Make higher-quality magical sweets]
Progress speeds up down the list, and top-tier magical sweets need top-tier ingredients.
So today, I'm seeing this through to the end.
No easy sweets with good ingredients. Gotta tackle the tough stuff.
Let's see. Strawberry chips mixed into shortcake topping? What for decorating...
【Activating Magical Patissier】 【MI X WEET!】
Mix Weet triggered by blending sweets!
【Sunlight Great Success!】 【The Goddess of Sweets' Blessing Descends!】 【Two Sturdy Protective Magics Granted to the Sweets!】
Mixing sweets triggered Mix Weet, but with different text from before.
Normally it'd be Dreamlight Great Success, but Sunlight popped.
And Sunlight isn't Magical Patissier's usual message.
Meaning...
Finally.
【Skill Proficiency Met: Skill Rank Up!】
【8T Magical Patissier Evolves to 7T Shining Patissier!】
【Buffs up to Tier 6 Granted to Sweets!】
Magical Patissier had broken through its proficiency ceiling, finally evolving into 7T Shining Patissier.
A shiver of mild omnipotence ran through me.
The realization that I was growing, moving forward—it filled my chest.
"Want to taste?"
At my offer, the two just nodded quietly.
I sliced the shortcake—Shining Patissier's inaugural masterpiece—and handed it over. They took forks, cut small pieces, and popped them in at the same time.
"T-This flavor: fluffy sponge lightly wrapped in fresh cream. The not-too-sweet cream highlights the strawberry on top!"
"Not great with fancy critiques, but it's a warming taste. Humble yet deep, kind. Like it fills your heart."
"A truly seditious flavor!"
"A flavor you want to stay together with."
What the—
Why the sudden food manga judge reactions?
Reactions?
Ah. Aaaah.
"Right, there was that setting."
From Shining Patissier onward, tasters give reactions.
It's an official game cutscene.
"Indeed. This is your full-hearted skill, Wolfram. Truly splendid. These sweets... they can surely spark a rebellion."
"I haven't tasted the most Senpai sweets, but these are the most I've tried from you. So I can say for sure... You've spread your wings farther than ever."
So...
From now on, every dessert means hearing praise like that.
"......I just worked hard."
Why do I have to endure this embarrassment?
I glanced at the shortcake, the fruit of my efforts.
It seemed to smile radiantly, basking in the sunlight—like an illusion.
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