Chapter 106
Chapter 106
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Chicken Soup and Proof
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 106
1
By the time we returned to Esterro Academy, dawn was already breaking.
The faint sunrise tinting the horizon made my eyes ache.
Having stayed up all night for the first time in a while, my body felt heavy.
But my mind was sharp and clear.
I had handed the ledger of corruption over to Paige.
Ludwig didn't always have spare time.
As long as it got delivered through her, his escort knight, that was enough.
"It'll take a few days to verify everything."
The ledgers we found in Wifera's hideout were a powerful blow.
However, no matter how strong the attack, it wouldn't achieve its full effect if it didn't hit properly.
We couldn't set it off hastily; we had to time it perfectly, considering the optimal range.
After that, it wouldn't be my job anymore.
With just the ledgers, Ludwig would mobilize the knight order or guards to wipe out Wifera.
I had originally planned to time it to catch Kyriakos's target, Wifera's boss, as well...
But now that his desired revenge was unclear, there was no reason to bother.
I glanced at Kyriakos, who was leaping over the academy wall beside me.
He, who had called honoring the souls of his fallen brothers his revenge, still wore a dark expression.
His complexion wouldn't brighten even with the sunrise, so I finally asked.
"Are you okay, senior?"
"...What did you say?"
"No, it's nothing."
His reaction was strangely slow.
He must have been spacing out.
Well, it would be weirder if he were in his right mind.
The benefactor he thought was family turned out to be a villain, and the friend he finally reunited with met death right before his eyes.
No one could face such a cruel hidden truth without their mental state crumbling.
Of course, it was contradictory.
It was impossible for an illegal organization like the Ballato Family to be good.
If they were good, they would have been a volunteer group, not an illegal outfit.
Even so, the grace and bond Kyriakos felt weren't entirely wrong.
Only now did he learn it was all a fabricated scheme...
Everything was a contradiction.
Like clockwork gears that could never mesh.
Forcing them would break it beyond repair.
And sure enough, Kyriakos looked like he might collapse any moment.
Charitably, he was slender; uncharitably, he was scrawny.
It was making me, the one watching from the side, anxious.
No helping it.
It was full autumn already, but... whatever.
Autumn was the season of great health and appetite anyway, so let's fatten up Kyriakos instead of talking.
2
Clear broth bubbled vigorously in the giant cauldron.
While skimming the oil with a ladle, I scooped some broth into a dish and tasted it.
"A bit more simmering, and it'll be ready?"
The rich broth's flavor was slightly different from my memory.
Probably because of the ingredients I couldn't procure... but it was plenty edible.
In fact, made only with ingredients available in Esett, it had a low barrier to entry.
I turned the flame down to medium and stretched.
The sensation of my muscles elongating felt pleasantly languid.
Well, after pulling an all-nighter, my condition couldn't be normal.
At least today's lectures were light, which was a relief.
"The weather's nice..."
I poked my head out from under the eaves where I'd made pancakes before.
The sky, where the heat was finally receding, stretched high and cloudless.
Soon the leaves would turn, and chestnuts would fall.
Autumn had plenty of scenic views to enjoy while strolling.
Whether I'd have the leisure for that was another matter...
"Why'd you call me today?"
Luis plopped down beside me, grumbling.
His frizzy green hair was one thing, but his hollow cheeks suggested job hunting was still tough.
"If it's work, count me out."
"That rough, huh?"
"You'd know if you tried job hunting... No, don't do this crap... You'll get offers anywhere and just go..."
The world must be ending—Luis worrying about me.
Tomorrow, the sun would rise in the west for sure.
"You should take care of yourself too, senior."
"What's that out of nowhere?"
"Oh! Smells delicious!"
Just then, Ethan bounded in under the eaves, voice bright and cheerful.
Beside him, Noel sniffed like a little rabbit, and Leon silently stared at the cauldron.
Let's see, just one more to arrive.
As I thought that, Kyriakos was already standing under the eaves.
He'd erased his presence completely and said nothing, so I noticed late.
Not intentional... he just seemed spaced out still.
"Our friend Theo! What feast did you call us for today?"
"You catch on quick. That's right."
Ethan grinned widely and plopped down beside me.
I'd called everyone while fattening up Kyriakos.
Meals are best shared, after all.
I scooped more broth from the cauldron and tasted it.
Chicken stock made the broth rich yet clean.
Worth the effort skimming the oil.
I portioned one whole chicken per large plate.
Generous broth, and the added vegetables I pulled out separately and returned to the cauldron.
Normally, you'd make porridge in this broth.
But no rice, so skipped.
"Chicken soup, huh. Thanks, I'll dig in."
Leon took his plate, sipped the broth, and nodded.
Beside him, Noel poked the chicken with a fork, seeming oddly impressed.
"The whole chicken's in there... Amazing..."
"Yeah! Exactly! Usually, it's cooked by parts! Our merchant group doesn't handle whole chickens much either!"
Ethan, son of a magnate, had a point.
How many shops I'd circled to get whole chickens...
Ended up getting some from the student cafeteria used for chicken stock.
Borrowed the cauldron and dishes from there too, while at it.
Thanks, student cafeteria!
Might get chummy with the head chef soon.
"Just a chicken boiled in water...? Still, since you gave it, I'll eat well."
Luis seemed more irritable than usual, but munching chicken improved his complexion a bit.
Yeah, most problems sort themselves out somewhat after a good meal and sleep.
"Friend, got any potatoes by chance?"
"Even now, potatoes?"
"Of course! Potatoes go with boils!"
Ethan's potato obsession before a chicken boil deserved respect.
I pulled two potatoes I'd set aside in the cauldron corner and put them on his plate.
Ethan's blue eyes sparkled, moved.
"Friend...! For me...!"
"You're the only one eating them."
Everyone else was savoring meat and broth.
Undeterred, Ethan relished the broth-soaked potatoes.
"Potatoes are the best...!"
Yeah, eat what you love.
Instead of shrugging, I tossed him the salt and pepper grinders.
"Didn't season on purpose, so adjust to taste."
"Cooking without seasoning? You know the weirdest stuff."
Luis sprinkled salt on a drumstick and wagged his fork.
"You made weird stuff with king mackerel too. Where'd you learn this?"
"Home cooking."
"Does the Agrit County have food like this?"
Not that home, but...
Explaining would be endless.
"My mom used to make it."
"...That's why it's good."
Luis, miracle drift out of tsundere mode!
His drifting skills rivaled a racer.
Anyway, good to see everyone eating well.
As I reached for a piece of meat, my eyes fell on Kyriakos.
He just stared at his plate silently, picking at it.
"Kyriakos senior."
"Yeah."
"Is it to your taste?"
"Yeah."
"...What food do you like, senior?"
"Yeah."
Figures.
Still spaced out, on autopilot responses.
Sigh, I let out a light breath and picked up a drumstick.
"Senior?"
"Uh..."
The moment Kyriakos opened his mouth.
I shoved the drumstick into it.
Kyriakos, suddenly chewing chicken, panicked and rolled his violet eyes at me.
"Eat."
"......"
"You've got to eat properly at least."
Kyriakos didn't reply.
Instead, he took the drumstick and started chewing.
That was enough.
Only then did I relax and pick up my drumstick.
The long-awaited chicken boil tasted subtly different from my memory.
3
"Stuffed to bursting..."
Eating a whole chicken solo is no joke.
Fullness deepened the languor, but I forced my legs to move.
Ahh, sometimes I miss elevators.
Climbing five flights of stairs right after eating was a chore.
Battling laziness, I reached the fifth floor of the main building.
Passing countless nameplates, I stopped before the one reading Malcolm Dehrlit.
Knock knock.
Deep breath, then rapped on the door.
"Come in..."
Permission granted, I turned the knob.
Dehrlit's lab was packed with all sorts of equipment.
Flasks lined on the desk, bubbling cauldrons, distillation setups pooling unknown liquids, spiral tubes whirling in extraction devices, and more.
Fitting for a lab—more like a science room visual.
Dehrlit looked up from amid the gear.
His unkempt olive-green hair pinned haphazardly, he squinted through round glasses before recognizing me.
"Name's... Theo Agrit, right?"
"Yes, Theo Agrit, from your alchemy lectures."
Light greeting, and he pushed up his glasses before diving back into equipment.
"What's the business?"
Dehrlit wanted to handle me quick and return to research.
Straight to the point—no beating around the bush, convenient.
One purpose: prove Aphrenbru was Blooming's raw material.
I had the formula docs, but papers and verified evidence carried different weight.
Blooming's formula went from Ballato Family to Wifera, but the raw material Aphrenbru was managed by the Precursors.
Odd, if you think about it.
If Wifera handled production and distribution, Precursors wouldn't need Cardinal Eligor protecting Aphrenbru.
Per the ledgers, Wifera only distributed Blooming.
Precursors handled manufacturing strictly.
Naturally, Blooming profits went to Precursors.
Issue: Aphrenbru's scarcity.
Eligor's haul exceeded natural harvest.
Probably swept up every market Aphrenbru.
Trace Aphrenbru traders, and we'd clip some Precursors' tails.
They'd use proxies, so no core hits... but ripping tails and blocking funds was plenty.
Reveal the kingdom-spreading drug, its raw, formula—royals couldn't ignore, would crack down hard.
Had Ludwig's backing, materials to purge covering bureaucrats.
All set.
Time to smash Wifera and Precursors' backsides spectacularly neared.
I smiled satisfied and asked Professor Dehrlit.
"Professor, care to join the anti-drug campaign?"