Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 12: Generous Old Deng
“Old Deng, at the way and speed you’re eating, that wandering chicken you’ve been raising will probably be gone in no time.” Merlin handed the last lotus leaf Beggar’s Chicken to Weber, who took it and instantly felt a pang of melancholy.
Weber looked at the remaining red-crowned white-feathered chicken. A wave of guilt and shame toward his old friend rose in him—but it was quickly drowned out by the delicious aroma of the Beggar’s Chicken. Instead, he sighed over the fact that he had raised too few chickens over the years; it simply wasn’t enough.
“To be honest, this wandering chicken is incredibly tasty. I think we should have someone from the Beast-Taming Academy study it—to figure out the proper way to raise these wandering chickens so they can breed quickly.”
After Merlin said this, Weber immediately felt that the plan was feasible. The Arcane Academy’s Beast-Taming Department specialized in studying, taming, and contracting magical beasts for battle, while also researching and improving them.
“You’re right. Professional matters should be left to professionals.”
Weber nodded in agreement. He was eager to use his authority to make those freeloaders in the Beast-Taming Academy serve him.
For years, he didn’t even know what the Beast-Taming Academy had been researching. They used up a huge portion of the Academy’s funds, producing nothing in return. If they couldn’t figure out a way to quickly breed wandering chickens—no, red-crowned white-feathered chickens—he would definitely freeze their research funding.
“Old Deng, besides the communication crystal, don’t you have anything else for me?”
Merlin reached out his hand. Weber glanced at the communication crystal in his other hand and snorted, “Kid, don’t take your blessings for granted. Not everyone has a communication crystal. With this, you can contact me in the Academy anytime.”
“Contacting you is useless. I used so many spices to make this lotus leaf Beggar’s Chicken for you that I’ve run out of materials for my alchemy assignment. Aren’t you going to compensate me? How else am I supposed to turn in my work?”
Merlin pointed at the chicken bones wrapped in lotus leaves on the floor, complaining.
Weber wanted to ask who Merlin’s alchemy teacher was. Normally, a single word from him would fix it, but on second thought, he let it go. His personally helping a kid could easily raise suspicions, cause unrest in the Academy, or even draw the attention of other empires.
Besides, if he specially favored the kid, what if he lost the motivation to study “spice studies” (culinary arts)? That couldn’t happen.
“I don’t carry these spices on me. Send me your list of needed spices and your dorm location through the communication crystal. I’ll have someone deliver them to you.”
“Fine. Looks like you’re not short on money either. Don’t back out, okay? Hesjones Weber is your real name, right? If you renege, I’ll make sure the whole Academy knows you stiffed me on my spices.” Merlin eyed him suspiciously, distrust written all over his face.
Weber’s face darkened. The head of the Arcane Academy, a demigod of the Aize Continent, would back out on a measly handful of spices? Kid, you really don’t know my capabilities.
“Relax, I owe you nothing!”
After a satisfying meal, Merlin returned to his dorm. Just as he was about to open the door, he saw Fitt, who had just finished the royal etiquette course, trudging down the corridor like a dead, silly dog.
Fitt looked like a zombie. Seeing Merlin, he forced a smile and said, “Hey… want some Icefield Blueberries?”
Still thinking about those lousy Icefield Blueberries, huh?
Merlin was curious how good they could be, seeing him offer them right away.
“Sure, I’ll try some. By the way, aren’t you supposed to be taking the royal etiquette course? Why do you look so exhausted?”
Fitt grabbed Merlin’s arm, struggled upright, and tapped his back. “You have no idea how strict the etiquette teacher is. Standing posture, sitting posture, even the way you step forward has standards. Damn it, I just wanted to be a lazy good-for-nothing. Why do I have to learn this?”
Merlin knew well how tedious and intricate noble and royal etiquette was. He himself had been studying noble manners since childhood; the “terrifying” lessons were deeply etched into his bones.
“I need to rest a bit, and maybe relax with my self-made body powder.”
Fitt opened his door, only to have a dark, rumbling shadow rush out.
Bang—
Fitt yelped in pain at the enormous black owl before him, its beak still smeared with Icefield Blueberry juice.
The blueberries on the windowsill were scattered everywhere, though most had ended up inside the owl’s belly.
“Ah! Damn it! You guys again! Always going after my Icefield Blueberries! And you even delivered what was meant for Merlin here… wait…”
Fitt’s eyes widened as he saw the bag of spices tied to the owl. This must be Old Deng’s gift for Merlin—but the quantity was staggering!
Merlin was stunned. The bag contained not only the varieties he had requested from alchemy class, but basically every spice he could think of, all sent via the communication crystal.
After all, why not take advantage when you can?
The owl, aware of its wrongdoing, buried its head in its feathers, standing in the corner as Fitt yelled and even kicked it—without any reaction.
Fitt grew furious. “Every time, it’s always like this! All for some Icefield Blueberries? And you sent Merlin’s stuff here… wait a second…”
“So many spices! Merlin, where did you get these?” Fitt looked at the note signed by Leo Merlin and was astonished at the variety inside.
“A generous Old Deng gave them to me… well, technically, I earned them.”
Fitt grabbed a handful, sniffed it, and said, “Premium quality. This bag must be worth a few thousand gold coins.”
“This stuff is that valuable?” Merlin was taken aback. The bag was neither big nor small, about the size of a typical shopping bag—but the number of spice varieties inside was insane, most of them dried.
“You think spices are cheap? Have you forgotten how your family went bankrupt?”
Merlin raised a middle finger at Fitt. “Make sure to bring me some Icefield Blueberries. I need to study them for tomorrow’s assignment.”
“Damn, that blasted owl ate all the Icefield Blueberries… but I hid a few. I’ll send them over after I use my body powder.”
“Never mind, I don’t want them anymore…”