HTACS 13

Chapter 13

In the main story of the game—

After finishing the common first-year curriculum, when choosing a major for the second year, there’s a character you’re inevitably entangled with if you go to the Knight Department. A senior who is upright, strong, and wields the sword of conviction without wavering, even if bent but never broken. As a fellow commoner, she looks out for the protagonist and greatly assists him as a mentor in the Knight Department. She’s such a good character that people even ask, “Why isn’t she a heroine?”

In Zeppelin, there are titles.

Usually acquired through a certain level of achievement, honor, or distinctiveness—and naturally, family traits also play a significant role. For example, Aila, though her own efforts were certainly a factor, acquired the title “Black Crystal” because she was among the best in the history of the Trista family at using their family’s secret magic, the Black Crystal.

The girl I’m talking about now—among the Knight Department, she earned the most honorable title of all: “Sword of Conviction.”

The honor and pride of the 2nd-year Knight Department. A commoner, yet acknowledged by everyone—the girl knight.

That is Nepterian.

“Where are we going?”

“To the convenience store—where you’ll be working from now on.”

“I see.”

And that girl—

Is now following a third-rate villain around, swearing loyalty for 10,000 rin an hour.

Are you okay with that, really?

No—

Are you *really* okay with that?

—

Nephti, following behind me, entered the convenience store and looked around.

“Sit down.”

“Y-yes.”

Come to think of it—in a way, isn’t she my first part-timer? Thinking that made me feel pretty good. It actually felt like being a boss.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“…Yes, I would.”

I nodded and brought out two glasses of water.

I could have brought out Shake Beans, but those taste best when chilled—and our convenience store doesn’t have a cooling magic tool yet. Those things are pretty expensive.

Anyway—we sat down with our water and began talking.

“Do you see those cooking tools over there?”

“Yes.”

The cooking tools, including the oven, had been ordered from Maestro in advance—and since there was leftover stock of ready-made items, I was able to get them at a decent price.

“From now on, you’ll bake bread and cook as I instruct. Got it.”

“…Pardon?”

“Stand up. First, let’s make the dough.”

“……”

Since I remembered working at a bakery before, I roughly knew how to make dough. Strong flour, all-purpose flour, yeast, salt, sugar—and milk and eggs.

“Now knead it.”

“……”

“I don’t have the strength—so you have to do the kneading.”

“R-right.”

Nephti looked at my paper-thin arms and nodded.

After thoroughly kneading the dough, we began baking or frying the bread.

“…Ugh, ugh.”

The good aroma was spreading—but the problem was Nephti. Saliva was dripping from her mouth—and beyond that, she was reaching her hand toward the fryer. Is she crazy—trying to grab that with her bare hands?

“Don’t blame me if you get burned.”

“…With an unyielding heart alone, even boiling oil holds no fear.”

Don’t use such cool lines at a time like this.

But my advice seemed to get through—Nephti listened and just stared blankly at the fryer.

“Now take it out. Not with your bare hands—use a tool! A tool!”

“…Ah, I know!”

Nephti faithfully carried out my orders, and I placed the baked and fried doughnuts before her, having her sprinkle sugar or brush on sugar syrup. Meanwhile, I went into the back office, took out the beans, and started making the cream.

“…Huff, ugh. Ugh… sob.”

From the main floor, I could hear Nephti’s sobbing as she took out the doughnuts, laid them out, and brushed on the syrup.

“They look so delicious—they must be delicious—but I can’t eat them. Wolfram… the worst villain this Academy has ever produced… *sob, sniffle*…”

Hey.

Excuse me.

“At this rate, let’s just cut him down. I’ll personally eradicate this evil. Such a demon is a being that shouldn’t exist in this world.”

As she laid out the doughnuts, Nephti muttered something strange and glanced at the sword at her waist.

From just ten steps away, the sobbing of someone who might kill me echoed piteously.

Seriously—where did the Sword of Conviction I knew go?

“If you draw that sword now, I won’t pay your hourly wage.”

“No—no. I wasn’t going to draw it. Really.”

“Take your hand off the sword.”

“H-hmph!”

Saying that, Nephti removed her hand from the sword. But her draw would be faster than my resistance.

“Tch. Don’t rush. Just watch for a moment.”

“Y-yes?”

I pierced a hole in a doughnut with a skewer, then pushed a piping bag filled with cream into it—making cream doughnuts. One strawberry. One vanilla. One chocolate. The sugar-dusted doughnuts were packed with cream, and soon two of each were completed.

Two baked doughnuts. Two plain sugar doughnuts. Two strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate each—a total of five doughnuts placed before each of us.

“O-ohhh…”

A small gasp rang out.

“Completed.”

“Beautiful. I dare say—I have never seen more beautiful work in my life. I know baked black bread well, but frying it in so much oil… it’s like a forbidden food embodying luxury and pleasure.”

“If it’s forbidden, are you not going to eat it?”

“No—sometimes the greatest wisdom is called forbidden. I am witnessing the upheaval of the age with my body, feeling it with my soul. So—what is the name of this great bread?”

“Doughnut.”

Nephti repeated “doughnut” a few times, then nodded.

Surely this world has doughnuts…

Well—with the infrastructure lagging and her being a commoner, doughnuts might be a bread she’s never seen before.

“It’s a joy to participate in this great work, but it’s a shame I can’t even take a single bite. Ah—you said meals are provided today. If—no, if possible—it’s fine—I couldn’t possibly accept something so expensive—but could you give me just one bite? Please, I’m begging you.”

She babbled like a broken machine—her brain must have short-circuited between desire and restraint.

“Now—let’s taste test and leave evaluations.”

“…Huh?”

“What are you doing? Try one each.”

“…Y-yes!”

Nephti said “I’ll enjoy this!” and immediately reached for a doughnut. Her hand was faster than my eyes.

—

By the time I’d eaten one and was catching my breath from the sweetness, Nephti had already finished everything in front of her and was glancing my way. She was asking for more—when I met her eyes and nodded, a bright smile spread across her face.

“I may have misunderstood you. No—I *did* misunderstand you. Wolfram von Lohengrin—you are a good person who knows how to care for others. The world simply doesn’t know your true worth and has falsely accused you. If I only had a knighthood, I might have sworn to be your sword and shield.”

“Stop the nonsense and just leave a review already.”

“Yes. I’ll do that.”

If a single cream doughnut clears the student council president of corruption and turns him into a victim of false accusation, then courts should have doughnuts instead of law books, and whipped cream should read the verdicts.

Anyway—that’s not the important part.

“So—how were the baked doughnuts?”

“A bit less sweet, but delicious.”

“I see.”

I wrote it down on the evaluation sheet: *Less sweet but delicious.*

“The sugar doughnuts?”

“Nothing inside, but sweet and delicious.”

“Is that so.”

I noted it down again: *Nothing inside but delicious.*

“The strawberry cream doughnuts?”

“The strawberry cream inside made it delicious.”

“……”

I paused mid-write.

“And the plain cream doughnuts?”

“The plain cream inside made it delicious.”

“The chocolate cream?”

“The chocolate cream inside made it delicious.”

“……”

I furrowed my brow and glared at her—but she just tilted her head.

“No other opinions?”

“They were all delicious!”

“…That’s, uh, great. Really, *really* great.”

“You’re welcome!”

She puffed out her chest and went “Ahem!” with a smile.

“But—any more technical or critical feedback? Anything you’d like changed?”

“Ah, yes—there is.”

“Oh? What is it? Speak freely.”

“I’d be grateful if you baked one more!”

“Other than that.”

“………Nothing.”

Nephti looked genuinely disappointed and sulked—and I felt a headache coming on.

Come to think of it—feeding doughnuts to someone who unhesitatingly uses grass and resin as a staple food—of course I wasn’t going to get any proper evaluation.

What now? I was planning to make one of these the signature pick for the new students—but at this rate, I have no idea which one is most competitive. As I pondered, Nephti spoke up.

“So—why did you give me such a luxurious meal? Are we going to hunt a yeti deep in the northern snowfields? Fine—just leave it to me, Nephti—I’ll be sure to take its head…”

“I don’t plan to have you do anything like that. These are snacks to sell at the new student welcome festival.”

“Ah—so this was a tasting for new products.”

“Right.”

“Hmm. They were all delicious and truly wonderful. I think they’ll sell well.”

“Why are you talking like it’s someone else’s business? You’re helping on that day too.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Why do you think I’m paying you 10,000 rin an hour?”

“…Hmm, that’s true. So—on the day, I’ll be supporting the stall while baking bread?”

“And helping with sales too. Since I have no endurance.”

“Understood.”

Nephti nodded—she seemed to fully understand what she needed to do.

“Your reviews are completely useless. At this rate, I might have to revise the strategy for the day.”

“I’m a poor commoner, but I can assure you—the taste is truly excellent. The nobles will surely love it too.”

“What’s the point if only nobles eat it?”

“Huh?”

Tch. She doesn’t get it.

“Didn’t I say we’re selling at a stall on the day? You’ve experienced the new student welcome festival before, right?”

“Ah… the commoner zone restriction.”

“Right. Stalls are only allowed to operate in the 3rd District, where commoner freshmen come and go. I’ve already submitted the application and received the permit.”

It would be a problem if only nobles came to this convenience store. A convenience store isn’t about that kind of marketing. Anyone can come in, casually pick something up, buy it, and leave. A place where more people can visit. The closest place where you can get a meal even with just a single 5,000-rin bill in your wallet. A place that exists solely for the convenience of its customers—that’s the identity of a convenience store.

“What price do you think would be reasonable for one of these doughnuts?”

“…Huh?”

“A commoner student who took a carriage from their village, paid the warp gate fee, and barely made it to Zeppelin—if they’re going to bite into one of these doughnuts and be happy at the new student welcome festival, considering their financial situation—what’s the right price for one?”

“……”

“Answer. You went through last year’s festival—so you should know.”

At my words, Nephti’s eyes widened—then she smiled softly and shook her head.

“Wolfram-nim… I think I genuinely misunderstood you.”

“No need to force yourself to change your perception of me. …More importantly—how much is appropriate?”

“Hmm. Still—I think if it goes over 5,000 rin, it’ll be tough.”

“Then 4,000? Any lower and the unit cost doesn’t work out.”

“Not bad—but based on last year’s experience, there will definitely be students for whom even that is burdensome.”

“In that case—what about making mini doughnuts for 1,000 rin each?”

“Great idea. Then…”

We continued our spirited discussion for quite a while.

The debate didn’t end until sunset—and in the end, I had to fry another batch of doughnuts, while Nephti left with a radiant smile after finishing her meal.