Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Milk Tea Schism
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“Alright, that's why it uses sap from a century-old oak tree. Everyone got it?”
The classroom echoed with Professor Dhurit's voice, but the students had long since zoned out.
The blackboard was crammed full of complex formulas—enough to suck the soul right out of anyone who looked at them.
Even I found the array of unknown equations, numbers, and calculations downright terrifying.
It looked like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.
The problem? That was a midterm question.
“Well, I didn't really expect anyone to get it… but exactly one person did. A round of applause for Theo Agrit!”
Dhurit, buzzing with excitement all on his own, clapped his hands over his head.
The dazed students started clapping along one by one.
It wasn't exactly thunderous… but anyway, applause poured down on me.
“Truth be told, I didn't even put that question in there expecting anyone to solve it. I was just curious how much attention you all pay to recent developments in academia, and boom—you nailed it?”
Dhurit chuckled, pushing up his glasses.
Right on cue, they flashed dramatically.
Physics just got casually ignored there.
More importantly, he admits it wasn't meant to be solved? Is that something a professor should say?
“You seem pretty interested in alchemy usually. Nice. How about we sit down for a proper chat sometime?”
I dodged the gaze of Dhurit, whose eyes gleamed so intensely even his glasses were sparkling.
Don't make eye contact, or disaster's guaranteed.
I was the one who leaked that Blooming's key ingredient is Apenbru.
Any reaction here, and I'd be kidnapped straight to grad school.
Sure, I'd have no comeback if someone called it karma for all my past deeds…
But there were unavoidable circumstances.
To prove Blooming's ingredients and effects, we needed the credibility of an academy professor.
That's what let Ludwig successfully purge Wifera and her faction.
And I had to ace the exam unless I wanted to fail.
Esterro Academy's elite track has sky-high failing grades as it is.
I would've actually failed without that last question.
Even so, I couldn't tank the test just to dodge grad school.
At least I wasn't first place, thank goodness.
Noel took top score in Alchemy 2 midterm—perfect except the last one.
Noel beamed at hearing she was number one.
Pure joy over a high score like that.
If grad school's looking for someone, wouldn't a diligent, passionate, kind kid like her be perfect?
……Wait, no.
What am I even thinking?
There are thoughts you can have, and thoughts you absolutely shouldn't.
“Sorry…!”
“Huh…? Out of nowhere…?”
As I bowed my head, Noel blinked her golden eyes in confusion.
She tilted her head, said it was fine, and that just stabbed my conscience even harder.
What kind of thoughts was I having about such a sweet girl…?
My head's clearly full of nothing but trash.
“First place… I don't even know the last time that happened.”
“You look happy?”
“Yeah, honestly… I am.”
Of course she was.
Back at her old academy, she'd hidden her talents to stay out of sight.
It's only natural she'd love a result she earned by going all out.
“You did great. Good work.”
“Hehe, thanks.”
Noel flashed a radiant smile.
Staring at that sun-like grin… she looked like a totally different person from the Noel I'd first met at the start of the semester.
She's gotten so much brighter.
I'd dragged her around by force at first… but Leon and Ethan looking after her helped a ton too.
No room for me to meddle anymore.
Noel's already walking on her own two feet—she'll find her path just fine.
Guess as a celebration, I could get her some custom armor.
Memphis is still deep in his Memphiston research, so good results should come soon.
“Theo, what're you up to after class?”
Noel's sudden question paused my thoughts.
After class today? Just some reading from the dimensional magic tome and hanging with the kids.
“Nothing much. Why?”
“We're heading to the tea club today. Meyril and Club President Kane are coming too. Wanna join?”
Tea club didn't sound bad.
Worried it might be a mess again, but…
Couldn't send Noel alone, so I nodded.
4
*Dit dit dit, dit dit dit, dit dit dit, boom clap clap boom clap clap….*
The song started auto-playing in my head.
*Now, inspection time….*
I swallowed dryly and slowly turned the knob on the tea club annex door.
The tea club annex was spotless.
I couldn't believe it—I just stood there stunned.
Not a speck of dirt anywhere.
No, it actually looked cleaner than before…?
“No way… the annex is clean…?”
“Oh, you noticed? I cleaned it.”
I turned creakily to look at Noel.
She rolled her golden eyes sheepishly, twirling the end of her hair with her finger.
“Cleaning's my hobby. During exam stress, I just… clean.”
“Best hobby ever. Yeah, Noel, you're the best.”
How many hobbies out there are this wholesome and beneficial to society?
I sat Noel down in the now air-fresh annex.
No tidying today, so I'd handle the tea.
Picked out the neatly arranged tea set.
Edmund's black tea leaves should do.
As I boiled water and filled the teapot, the door burst open.
“Hey, underclassmen~! Place is lively with people around! Theo on tea duty today?”
Kane breezed in cheerfully and claimed a chair.
“Noel cleaned the annex, so tea it is.”
“Sweet~! Let's see how much your skills have improved!”
“Only acting like president now, huh…”
Kane shot me a glare with those red eyes.
He had no comeback since I'd nailed it.
“What tea today?”
Meyril followed, hanging her hat on the rack.
She sat gracefully, smoothing her light brown hair, already looking excited.
“Some milk left—milk tea okay?”
I moved the tea set to the table.
As I went to pour the black tea first, Meyril's voice turned icy.
“Hold on—you're not about to pull that amateur move of pouring black tea into milk first, are you?”
“Well… milk first then.”
If Meyril, who knows tea better than me, says so?
I set down the teapot and grabbed the milk bottle—then Noel spoke up sharply, unusually for her.
“Milk tea's obviously black tea first, right?”
“Oh ho, Noel. You think black tea goes in first?”
“Yeah, duh? Black tea's the star.”
“Even the star doesn't go first. Milk first mixes better.”
“We've got teaspoons. Just stir well. Black tea first lets you gauge the total amount easier.”
“Same either way. Once you're used to it, gauging's no big deal. Pouring milk into hot black tea risks curdling easy.”
“Time it right or adjust temp. Black tea first lets you savor the color, aroma, flavor before making milk tea?”
What… what's happening here…?
A full-on Civil War over this…?
Caught off guard, I spaced out.
In that moment, Meyril turned to Kane.
“What do you think, President?”
“President would know black tea first is right… right?”
“Me? Huh?”
Arrow swung back—Kane rolled his eyes, grinned wide, and declared boldly.
“I'm no milk tea expert! Let's hear from Theo, who suggested it!”
Passing the bomb to me and bailing…!
Wanted to bolt, but Meyril and Noel were staring me down.
Their eyes burned with 'we're getting an answer no matter what.'
Honestly… who cares?
Sweet-and-sour pork sauce on top or dip? Tteokbokki rice or wheat? Soft or firm peaches? Same level debate.
(Though I stir-fry mine, only eat the fish cakes from tteokbokki, and canned peaches are all I've had lately—forgot the rest.)
Never even had milk tea—how should I know?
So I just voiced my first thought.
“Why not pour both at the same time?”
“……”
“……”
Yeah, the cold stares say no.
Figured it'd all mix the same anyway.
“Come on, no fighting—everyone make it their way?”
Kane timed his mediation perfectly.
Meyril relaxed her shoulders; Noel's excitement cooled.
First time seeing those two this fired up.
Nah… must be the topic.
I gave Kane a thumbs-up on the sly.
He thumbs-upped back.
“Oh, scones in the cabinet—let's have 'em. Cream and jam too.”
Oh no.
Landmine.
“Scones and milk tea go great. Cream first, then…”
“Cream first makes it slippery—can't spread jam right.”
Silence descended again.
Meyril and Noel locked eyes, now divided on cream vs. jam.
Kane shrugged casually in the middle.
“No chocolate spread? Sweet's all I need.”
Sweet what.
Suddenly craving chocolate and pudding back home.
6
Meanwhile, on the dormitory-side walkway.
Pudding bounced around in front of bipedal Choco, wings hidden under a muffler.
Choco sighed softly, glancing around nonstop.
A raccoon might get away with it, but Pudding absolutely shouldn't be outside.
Choco knew that with un-raccoon-like smarts.
But young Pudding didn't grasp why she couldn't go out.
Whenever Theo was gone, she'd try prying the window open to escape.
Choco stopped and soothed her each time… but it wasn't a real fix.
Today, he couldn't stop her mad dash out.
Reining in a dragon with a raccoon body? Egg meets rock.
No choice—Choco let Pudding's outing slide, muffling her with a scarf from the closet to avoid detection.
Oblivious to the effort, Pudding romped the empty walkway.
“That alchemy exam was brutal, right?”
“Heard. Wasn't even meant to be solved?”
Voices suddenly from afar.
Choco's fur bristled—he smacked Pudding's back, pointing to bushes with a paw.
But Pudding chased a butterfly ahead.
Voices drew nearer.
Choco sighed, snagged Pudding's tail.
Paw wasn't enough—he tugged with teeth, dragging her into the bushes.
They barely hid as footsteps hit their play spot.
Choco exhaled in relief at the close call.
*-Kyuu?*
Pudding chirped casually—Choco clamped her tiny paws over the mouth.
Size difference meant pressing top and bottom jaws hard.
Ended up looking like Choco glued to Pudding's face.
“Hear something?”
“Nope? You're stressed. Sweets at the cafeteria.”
“Guess so…”
Students hurried off.
Only after footsteps faded did Choco peel off.
*Huuuuh….*
Heavy sigh escaped.
Choco looked up at the sky, seeming decades older.
Too much spoiling lately, for sure.
Time to lay down the law, teach who's boss.
Choco clenched a tiny fist with resolve.
Pudding, of course, had no clue.
Dragons: apex of all life, born arrogant rulers.
Discipline from the start? Contradiction in terms.
Pudding didn't even think that far.
Instinctively, she dug up dirt in the bushes, unearthing a crude necklace with a clear crystal.
*-Kyuoa…!*
Pudding's black eyes sparkled like the gem.
Choco sighed again, watching her proudly loop it around her neck.