Chapter 82

<081. Sub-Heroine with 1,631 Endings>

Since that day, I have been completely absorbed in making bento boxes.

What can I say, it’s really fun to make them.

"Hmm. I’ll use chicken salad for the vegetables. They’re kids, so it won’t be a problem if I give them a lot."

Making magical pastries was fun, but bento boxes have a different kind of appeal.

To be honest... well, making magical pastries was mostly mass production, except for a few times, but bento boxes are the opposite.

Yeah, it’s like building with blocks.

From the planning stage, how to make it.

Then, how to pack it.

How can I make it look neater?

I find joy in each and every step.

【Cooking Skill has grown to Level 2!】

【You have honed your skills over a long period. Talent has increased by 1!】

"Hooh."

My talent has increased. This is a huge deal.

But it’s a bit awkward to be overly happy about it.

I checked my stats window. Strength 4, Talent 9 (12 with equipment), Constitution 2, Magic 3, Will 5.

The problem is, if my talent increases by 1 more, it will be 10.

The reason is that one of the effects of the Newbie Set, the Glove of Balance, disappears when a stat reaches 10.

In other words, it drops from 12 to 10.

So, right now, my talent is at its highest possible level.

I don’t really regret it.

I’ve had a lot of fun, so it’s fine.

Besides, I can find better gloves.

Right now, cooking is more important.

It’s about using the additional skills to make dishes with lots of options...!

Even my fiancée, who sometimes seems to have no idea what’s going on, my harem mate who always gives me the middle finger when she comes, and my junior who asks about profitable deals but mostly brings annoying issues, and even my classmate who’s an assassin and sticks to her concept no matter what, and the chick who, no matter how I look at her, seems to be a smooth talker but has stats better than mine... none of them matter.

It’s time to cherish my own small and precious moments!

I moved solely with that mindset.

No other thoughts were necessary.

***

Over the past three days, the first-year students in the general department have come to realize something through experience.

Perhaps it would be better to push through the crowd and head to a nearby restaurant!

The reason was simple.

Bento boxes were a matter of class!

Jefrin does not officially distinguish between nobles and commoners. Because of this, countless problems have arisen.

Originally, peripheral nobles would gather with other peripheral nobles, and central nobles with other central nobles.

However, is that even possible? To be honest, factions start forming, led by the royal family, including the central nobles of Roengrin and the royal families of surrounding kingdoms, as well as the lower nobles of the center and the central nobles of surrounding kingdoms.

Below them, they place capable commoners to serve as a talent pool for their factions, and each faction engages in covert struggles.

Recruitment and headhunting are just the tip of the iceberg.

Pushing, tearing, scheming, spying, bribery, threats, and blackmail.

While the absolute justice group, the Eve von Roengrin, exists, some factions will even say, "This is an internal matter of our faction."

Of course, Eve von Roengrin is fundamentally so busy that they can’t handle everything, but if a line is crossed, they will twist your neck.

Anyway, the outbreak of this bento box covert struggle began with the sandwich set brought by the three most prominent students.

The commoners simply envied them. Celebrities eat that kind of thing, I want to eat it too.

But what about the other first-years who thought they were celebrities, or the new first-years from huge factions?

"Why can’t I do that?"

"Are those guys... showing off a new faction? Is this the royal faction of Jefrin?!"

"Rational. And truly terrifying! Jefrin’s main entertainment is food. They’ve completely dominated all factions with this!"

"But where did they get such a lunch... during lunchtime?"

Indeed, it was a battlefield of jealousy and admiration!

Following the sandwiches, croquettes. And some kind of dessert, which I don’t know how they made, like ice cream, a snack that only central upper nobles can enjoy. And some desserts that don’t even register.

Today, even a mini steak! And...

"Ahaha. I wrapped the sandwich in sliced ham. Ham wrapped around bread? Isn’t that usually the other way around? Really interesting, for sure!"

"Yeah... Senior Wolffram. Amazing. Honestly, it’s an incredible idea... Amazing. Really..."

"Ugh, why are you so good at making them?"

"I’ve never felt such a thrill from cooking! It’s so much fun! Thrilling!"

"......Yeah. I agree."

"Ugh, yeah? Maybe you guys... too?"

"Ugh? Ah! No, Miltia. We’re not like that! Just an interesting person, right?"

"Yeah. We’re cheering for Miltia. You don’t need to worry."

"......Ahaha. I don’t understand what you’re talking about..."

Watching them laugh and chat like that, other students also pushed to improve the quality of their bento boxes.

"......Jefrin doesn’t have direct chefs."

"Ugh, if only we had the chef from our family!"

"Oh, where did they get that cooking... Ugh. The royal kitchen. Again, the royal kitchen?!"

But it was despair, and more despair.

No one at Jefrin can bring their servants. Even the royal Eve and Wolffram von Roengrin don’t have servants during their school life.

If the royal kitchen doesn’t do it, who would bring a servant to Jefrin?

And there was no way to approach that Trinity Rookie.

I didn’t have the courage to talk to Wolffram von Roengrin’s direct crew, nor the confidence to deal with the aftermath.

Except for one person.

"I have a question for you three."

"Huh?"

A beauty that seems almost inhuman.

A girl who looks precious to everyone.

Her silver hair swayed, and her delicate figure.

But the fire in her eyes held a strong desire.

"I want to know the name of the chef who made that meal."

"Uh, uh? Emily Hymelody?"

"Please tell me. I beg you."

She bowed deeply to the three chicks.

"Why, why?"

"I felt my destiny the moment I saw that meal."

"......"

"......"

The two of them stared at Miltia, who looked distressed.

"Hyeeeng."

***

Just as I was enjoying my own small and precious time, of course, someone came to interfere.

"So, this bento box commotion is your doing, huh."

The interferer, Yello.

My bloodline mate, Eve von Roengrin, barged in and brought up the bento box issue.

"I’m sure I registered as a food service provider and got the necessary health permits?"

"Yes, that’s correct. According to the 【Contamination Detection】 skill, the additional health permit was unnecessary."

"Hmm. Then don’t nitpick. And leave."

"I know. Phew. So, can you recommend something to eat, a bag of candy, and something to drink?"

"......What?"

"Since it’s clean, I can trust and order from you, right? Hurry up. Oh, I also want to try the food you made."

"......"

What a pain. A real pain.

Ugh. But in a situation where even one customer is precious, someone coming to the shop to order is valuable, even if it’s my bloodline mate!

"Here."

I put out the leftover ham sandwiches and chicken salad I made for the chicks in the morning, along with a smoothie, and Eve leisurely enjoyed her meal.

"......Phew. Ah, really...... It’s so annoying, I really don’t want to admit it. Ah, really......"

Eve kept stabbing the food with her fork, devouring it.

If you’re going to admit it, just admit it. If you’re going to say it, just say it. What is this?

"Let me be honest. I’m so annoyed right now, so I’ll keep it short."

"Go ahead."

"Your food is not inferior to the royal chef’s. Ah, I really didn’t want to say that!"

"......"

Should I get angry after she spits it out like that?

Well, still...... Hmm. That’s right.

Eve has acknowledged me. Has she? Is that it?

A smirk forms on my lips.

"Hmm. Is that so? Eve von Roengrin, after eating my food, has acknowledged that it’s not inferior to the high-end meals served in the royal kitchen."

"Ugh, ugh."

"That’s right. That’s right. The high-and-mighty Eve von Roengrin has no choice but to acknowledge this Wolffram von Roengrin. This is really a comedy! Ah, ah, ahahaha!"

"That’s not something to laugh about! Listen to me!"

"Isn’t this funny? Ahahaha! I’ll laugh a bit more and then listen! Ahahaha!"

Eve loaded her verbal cannon, and I stopped laughing.

Well, a person can laugh a bit, can’t they?

"Alright. Now the atmosphere is right for a conversation."

"No. I’m not ready, but you are, right?"

"If I’m ready, then it’s fine. Just listen."

That’s not a conversation, it’s a notification.

"Phew. What is it? Speak quickly. I want to make more food."

"Are you aware of the recent food poisoning incident? Do you know the cause?"

"I know the cause was contaminated ingredients."

"However, we received additional information. The supplier brought in cheap ingredients through kickbacks, and they had a short shelf life to begin with."

"Right. That’s a common issue."

"......Yes. I failed to prevent it. Anyway, because of this, we need to find a new supplier, and I want to make some changes."

"Changes?"

"Yes. I want to bring in better ingredients at a lower cost and provide better meals to the students. The only problem is the budget......"

"Right."

"Since you have a talent for cooking, do you have any ideas? You are in the food service industry, after all."

"Consulting fee?"

"......I, I’ll pay. If you say you won’t charge as much as last time’s expedition...... there’s room for negotiation."

Eve said this while shivering.

Hmm...... I did take a lot during the last expedition.

"Alright. I’ll give you free advice."

"......Really? You won’t say anything different later?"

"Hmm. It’s simple. Reduce the number of ingredients and increase the cooking methods. In other words, increase the recipes. For example, the sandwich you ate. If the ham is inside, it’s just a sandwich, but if you wrap it around the bread, press it slightly, and cut it, it becomes an interesting shape where the ham wraps the bread."

"......Ah. I see. Reduce the cost in distribution and discover new recipes to give a fresh feel."

She’s pretty smart.

She’s just a bit dense.

"Is that a good answer?"

"......Yes. Good. It’s a really good answer. The key is not money, but people, right?"

"......"

Really, to realize that?

She’ll make a good politician or CEO!

"......No, Eve."

"Phew. Just kidding. Good ingredients, good recipes. Just reduce unnecessary expenses. Alright, I’ll be going now. It seems I have customers outside."

Hearing my words, Eve smiled as if she was finally free from a headache, a smile I often saw from Kelthers.

By the way,

Customers?

***

As Eve left, a loud voice came from outside. "Hello, Student Council President! Hello. Ah, hello. ...Hello, sir."

It seems real customers have come.

And they’re people I know.

"Senior! We’re here!"

"Hello."

"S, Senior. Hello."

The three chicks came in.

I nodded. They come often now.

However, one person I never imagined followed them.

"Hello. I’m Emily Hymelody."

I nodded at her polite greeting.

Of course, I know her.

That silver hair. Those clear eyes.

Her truly calm and cold tone. No change in expression.

But the passion in her eyes can’t be hidden.

"You’re the one who made that meal, right, Senior?"

"Yes, but..."

"I felt my destiny when I saw that meal."

Wow, straight to the point.

Impressive. The word "destiny" is something I haven’t heard since Ayla.

"Ugh......"

Miltia trembled at Emily’s momentum.

Vanilla and Yogurt, for some reason, held Miltia’s hand tightly.

"Wolfram von Roengrin, Senior."

"Go ahead."

"Me."

"Hmm."

"Please take me as your disciple."

Saying that, Emily bowed at a ninety-degree angle.

"You mean a cooking disciple? Why?"

"I want to become a chef."

"Can’t you learn from a chef?"

"I believe Senior’s ideas are centuries ahead of others."

"Explain."

"I consider sandwiches as snacks to eat while playing games. But elevating them to a meal and adding variations is a different perspective."

Indeed.

This is definitely the Emily Hymelody I know.

More sincere about cooking than anyone, and a princess who has little interest in life outside of cooking.

"Alright. I’ll take you as a disciple."

"Thank you, Senior."

She smiled gently.

By the way, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that smile.

It was a smile I used to see every day.

Emily.

Emily Hymelody.

"Please take care of me."

"Yes, Master."

She was the sub-heroine who, in the early stages of the game, saw the most endings after Eve.