Chapter 86

<085. Career Aspiration Survey>

Recently, talking about the state of the convenience store, the range of customers hasn't really expanded, but the regulars have been coming in quite frequently.

That's not to say there are no new faces at all.

Emily Haymelody, whom I took on as a student, comes by every three to four days to ask about cooking.

Actually, cooking is just a matter of using skills, and even if her cooking skill is low, she still comes to ask.

She's a scary kid.

And sometimes she asks some really out-of-the-blue questions.

"Master, what is the true essence of cooking?"

"More grains and more meat. And a strong flavor. Once it's greasy and sweet, it makes your brain melt with joy. If it's not tasty, add sugar. Then add salt, and if that doesn't work, try using bone broth instead of water. Usually, it becomes edible."

"Indeed. I never thought of it that way. You are truly the master."

When I live alone and the food isn't good, I always keep two ingredients in mind.

One is ramen soup, and the other is ssamjang (Korean sauce).

These are like the Holy Grail of seasonings; no matter how bad the food is, adding these two usually makes it edible.

Really, it's true. While you might understand ramen soup, you might wonder about ssamjang, but it contains mostly broth, corn syrup, chili paste, soybean paste, garlic, and sesame oil. I love ssamjang.

Anyway, Emily Haymelody just keeps saying, "You are truly the master!" and then makes a few dishes before returning to the dormitory.

The next frequent visitors are, of course, the chicks.

They're usually noisy, but today they seemed unusually low-key.

Well, there are days like that.

"Hello, seniors."

"Chicks, what are your orders?"

"Um, three cream pastas, please. Is that okay?"

"Will you order any drinks separately?"

"Yes, please make it unlimited."

"Got it. Three unlimited drinks and three cream pastas."

I nodded.

This is our convenience store's pride, the unlimited drink refill service.

For 10,000 rin per person, we offer everything from fruit juices to smoothies, shakes, and carbonated drinks!

It might seem like the convenience store is turning into a snack bar or a cafe that serves meals, but in a way, a convenience store isn't much different.

When there are a lot of customers, it's better to have things prepared in advance rather than not having anything at all.

Anyway, the three chicks sat down, pulled out a piece of paper from their bags, and fell into deep thought.

The usually noisy kids were now incredibly serious, sometimes not even talking to each other, just lost in thought. I tilted my head in confusion.

"Is something wrong?"

"Um, well, we have to write a career aspiration survey."

At Vanilla's answer, I nodded.

The Jefrin Career Aspiration Survey. Even in Kelters, it's written.

This is one of the branching points, so the route changes depending on whether they write down the Knight Department or the Magic Department.

Thinking about it, this is a really important decision for their future.

"Haven't you decided which department to enter yet?"

"Knight Department."

"But what's the problem?"

"Um, we also have to write down our future aspirations."

"I see."

Ah.

That is a tough question.

After deciding on the department, writing down what they want to do in the future is a difficult question for a child.

"But we have it easy."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"For us, it's just a survey, but for the second-year seniors, it's really about their future."

"Right."

I see.

It's the season to start thinking about their future.

"You've been working hard. This is on the house."

"Wow! What is it?"

"It's a new cheese ball. I hope you like it."

"Thank you, I'll enjoy it."

"Um. Think hard and worry about it. There are lives where you can't make any choices."

"Yes!"

That's how Yi Jungin lived, and lived, and it ended.

When you have a choice, it's also enjoyable to think and worry as much as possible.

***

Nephty went to the faculty office in response to her advisor's call.

"Did you call for me, Professor?"

"Hmm. Come in and sit down."

"Yes, I'll take a seat."

The Magic Department is basically run by connections among nobles, so even if a professor is an advisor, they are as polite as possible to promising Magic Department students.

However, the Knight Department is mostly made up of commoners and focuses on physical work, so it often has a military feel.

However, Nephty was a bit special.

"I called you here because of this career aspiration survey."

"Huh? Didn't I submit it on time?"

"Hmm. But the content is a bit... well..."

"..."

At the professor's kind words, Nephty fell into thought.

The second-year career survey is different from the first year's.

While the first year's survey asks, "Do you want to go to the Knight Department?" "Do you want to go to the Magic Department?" "What do you want to be when you grow up?" the second year's, especially for the Knight Department, is more like, "Which region do you want to work in?" "What are your preferred working conditions?"

And Nephty wrote "Eastern Gluco Village Guard" on the survey.

Protecting her hometown, her mother, her siblings, and the villagers, and following in her late father's footsteps to become the head of the guard.

That was Nephty's top choice.

"Is this really what you wrote? I've never even heard of Gluco Village."

"..."

"Isn't it true that the Prince and Princess look favorably upon you? In that case, shouldn't you write down the Royal Guard?"

The Royal Guard.

The most prestigious position for graduates of the Jefrin Knight Department.

Of course, it's extremely difficult to get in.

Even if a high-ranking noble from the imperial capital enters the Knight Department and graduates at the top, there's no guarantee they will become a Royal Guard.

However, there is one shortcut.

The student council president can choose one person and write a recommendation letter.

A single recommendation letter saying, "I will appoint this person as my direct guard," means they will become a Royal Guard immediately after graduation.

And the current student council president, Eve von Loewen格林, and the former president, Wolfram von Loewen格林, have not yet written this recommendation letter.

Given that Nephty is close to the former president, Wolfram von Loewen格林, and has a friendly relationship with the current president, Eve von Loewen格林, she is clearly a candidate for the Royal Guard.

In the professor's view, Nephty is a future baron who can easily become a Royal Guard with a little effort. It's good to maintain a good relationship with her.

However, the professor was also taken aback by the fact that Nephty wrote "Gluco Village Guard" as her top choice.

"Hmm. What do you mean, Nephty?"

"No, you don't need to explain. So, which one is it? The Prince, right?"

"Um, what?"

"The recommendation letter from Princess Eve von Loewen格林 will be competitive, but I understand that there is no competition for the recommendation letter from Prince Wolfram von Loewen格林. And you are part of his faction, right? Ha, it's really enviable."

"Um, what?"

"Joining the Royal Guard is not an easy choice, even for royalty. It means being a trusted confidant, the most trusted person, a sword and shield for one person."

Nephty said nothing.

She couldn't.

***

That evening, after the chicks had laboriously written their career aspiration surveys and left.

Nephty suddenly appeared and shouted, "Senior! I have a question!"

So, I said, "Go ahead and ask."

Suddenly, she started talking about a meeting she had with her professor today.

Why?

"Because the same thing happened to me."

"I see. The Royal Guard."

Hmm. I thought she was just rambling, but it turned out to be quite an interesting topic.

The Royal Guard.

A rather nostalgic term.

The true ending of the Eve route.

In Kelters, the Royal Guard is an upgraded version, becoming a Royal Knight.

A guardian knight who serves a single royal for life.

The sword and shield that a royal entrusts with their life.

The difference between a guard and a knight is like the difference between a bodyguard and a guardian knight.

Think of a knight as a bit higher.

That doesn't mean the Royal Guard is low.

"Are you really not interested in the Royal Guard?"

"I want to become the head of the guard in my hometown. You know that, right?"

"To follow in the footsteps of your late father. That's a good attitude."

"Hehe."

Praising her, Nephty's expression relaxed a bit.

But there's something strange.

Nephty, who has unwavering beliefs, wouldn't come to me for advice.

"So, what's the problem?"

"No, it's not a problem. Just a little, a tiny bit, something that's on my mind."

"Go ahead and say it."

"I heard that you haven't written a recommendation letter yet."

"Recommendation letter? Oh, the Royal Guard recommendation letter."

Come to think of it, there was such a thing.

In the Eve route, there was a mini-event about who would receive the Royal Guard recommendation