CHAPTER 129
CHAPTER 129
MSG Is a Fermented Product
Lindsay, just in case, took a sip of the soup—then immediately recoiled at the fishy stench.
Dunaise Academy was located on an island. Salt shouldn’t be expensive here, yet even the most basic seasoning was lacking.
“What in the world is this…?”
At that moment, someone approached Christian.
It was Idnia Katche Betelgeuse, the head of the Euros dormitory and the only daughter of the Betelgeuse ducal house.
“Ah! Lady Idnia!”
“Good morning, Dupont. Hmm, it seems Professor Sadia isn’t here today.”
“Yes, she comes and goes as she pleases.”
“Then I suppose it’s fine for dormmates to sit together. May I join you?”
“It would be my honor.”
Christian was thrilled as Idnia sat at his table.
‘W-what is this? Could she be interested in me?
No way… am I going to marry into an Elector family?
Christian Katche Betelgeuse… that doesn’t sound bad?
But she rejected Crown Prince Rudolf… would that put me at odds with His Majesty?
Still… turning down such beauty and talent would be foolish…!’
His thoughts were already racing far into the future.
Marriage. Children. A home.
Meanwhile, Idnia spoke.
“By the way, you seem to know the person next to you well?”
She had only approached out of curiosity about the Blue Tower mage speaking with him.
“Oh, she used to be my private tutor before I entered the academy. She’s Lindsay from the Mage Guild.”
“…Used to be?”
“Ah, just joking. A joke.”
Christian felt a twinge of disappointment but was still happy to sit with Idnia.
“I’m pleased to meet you.”
Idnia smiled and greeted Lindsay.
‘So this is the Betelgeuse heiress… she’s stunning. So it’s true—great noble families attend this academy.’
Lindsay was genuinely impressed.
But then—
“….”
Christian, instead of introducing them properly, was busy carefully mixing seasoning into his food.
‘You fool of a student… weren’t you from a military family? How do you not know basic etiquette?’
Suppressing her frustration, Lindsay spoke.
“H-Hello. Are you the Betelgeuse heiress?”
“Yes, I am.”
“It’s an honor. But… do you really eat this?”
“There’s no choice. There’s nothing else.”
And then—
Idnia pulled out seasoning and added it to her soup.
“Lady Idnia? That’s a seasoning I haven’t seen before.”
Christian, who had ignored etiquette, instantly noticed the seasoning.
“I made it myself.”
“Ah, I see.”
Idnia had literally made it herself.
She cultivated wild garlic, pepper, and basil, dried them, and ground them into powder.
She fermented leftover bread, extracted fructose and molasses, then fermented that further to produce sodium glutamate—MSG.
But Christian assumed she had simply blended store-bought ingredients.
‘Once they get a taste for MSG, this place will change entirely. But supply is still limited… no need to reveal it yet.’
Idnia was slowly planning to conquer Dunaise Academy through flavor.
Unaware of this, Lindsay was stunned.
‘A noble lady… eating this garbage food?’
At that moment, another girl hurried over.
“Lady Idnia, I’m sorry I’m late!”
“It’s fine. Sit here.”
Mary greeted Christian and sat down.
‘A saint candidate… She seems close to Idnia despite the gap in status.’
Lindsay observed quietly.
“Oh, a Blue Tower mage.”
“This is Lindsay Lenox, my former tutor.”
“I’m Mary of Astraea.”
“A pleasure. Dupont, having such classmates… I almost want to enroll again.”
“You already are, as an auditor. Why did you come?”
“Orders from above. The Blue Tower Guildmaster is also a board member here.”
“I see.”
Idnia nodded casually.
‘That’s all she’ll reveal.’
She dipped hardtack into her soup and ate.
“Lady Idnia, how do you eat this so well?”
Mary asked curiously.
“There are tricks.”
In truth, Idnia was using extraction magic.
‘The fishy smell comes from trimethylamine.
Remove it, and the odor disappears.’
But without modern chemistry, others couldn’t replicate this.
Even worse, vague extraction could remove amino acids, wasting massive amounts of mana.
‘If I help everyone now, the impact later will be smaller.’
She planned to mass-produce MSG and reveal it later for maximum effect.
‘Mary wouldn’t approve of such methods.’
Meanwhile, other students were also experimenting.
“Extraction!”
“Still fishy!”
“You removed the salt!”
“No way!”
“I’ll enhance the seasoning itself!”
They used advanced enhancement magic.
“It’s too spicy!”
“My tongue is burning!”
The Blue Tower mages watched in awe.
“Our time wasn’t like this…”
“They’re researching magic even during meals…”
In reality, it was desperation—but it looked like intense academic dedication.
Then, another group arrived.
Elves in ornate traditional attire.
“Hanbok.”
Idnia muttered.
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. Just… beautiful clothes.”
“Real elves… amazing.”
“They appear in the capital sometimes,” Dupont said.
Mary sighed.
“I thought I’d see the world in the capital… but I ended up stuck in the academy.”
Idnia smiled.
“Still, you’ve had good experiences.”
“Yes. Being your roommate, visiting the Mazdari residence… it felt like heaven.”
Idnia was pleased.
‘No wonder Lorenzo likes her.’
And then—
Another portal opened.