Chapter 33: The Delectable Taste of Roasted Chicken Heads

Harrington clutched the wrapped roasted chicken heads and stepped out of the courtyard, walking down the corridor. The warmth radiating through the wide leaves that enveloped the chicken heads, combined with the heady aroma of grilled meat, made him unconsciously slow his pace.

He hesitated, staring at the chicken heads wrapped inside the leaves. As an alchemy master, Harrington could discern a surprising number of spices just from a sniff, and he was astonished to discover that these tiny chicken heads had been brushed with a layer of honey.

Beyond that, there was a subtle smokiness mingled with the sharp spiciness of chili powder.

Harrington, who had not eaten all day, felt his stomach rumble uncontrollably. He looked at the chicken head in his hand, made up his mind, and brought one to his nose, inhaling deeply.

“Not bad at all,” he murmured to himself, savoring the complex blend. “There’s star anise, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, fennel…”

Of course, Harrington had no idea that this combination was the classic Blue Star five-spice powder. Yet the layered fragrance fascinated him deeply. The roasted chicken head was also sprinkled with crushed sesame seeds and peanuts, giving the flavor a richer, more nuanced depth.

His throat moving slightly, Harrington brought the chicken head to his lips and took a bite.

The taste was astonishingly delicious. The outer skin was crisp from roasting, while the inner meat retained a tender juiciness, creating an exquisite contrast of textures—crispy outside, tender inside.

Though there wasn’t much meat on the chicken head, the marination and roasting had locked in the juices, so every bite burst with savory richness. Remarkably, the flavor rivaled even the famed lotus-leaf beggar’s chicken! Harrington had never expected such a tiny chicken head to taste this good. Yet, with so little meat, the handful of chicken heads in his hands would not satisfy him, let alone be enough for other teachers he intended to share with.

If even a chicken head could be made so delectable, surely the braised chicken livers and hearts would bring an entirely new culinary experience.

The dark brown chicken livers and hearts exuded a gentle aroma of seasoned broth, the savory, salty fragrance faintly sweetened by rock sugar. A thin layer of fat from the braising process coated the hearts, giving them a tempting glossy sheen.

Harrington picked up a chicken liver and placed it in his mouth. The texture was incredibly delicate, silky from the braising, infused with the essence of the marinade. The cooking had been carefully timed, ensuring the liver remained soft and tender, far from dry or tough.

The unique taste immediately won Harrington over. Paired with a small cup of wine, this would be the perfect accompaniment.

If the livers were this delicious, what about the hearts? Harrington popped a heart into his mouth and bit down lightly. Its resilient, bouncy texture made for a satisfying chew. The heart had absorbed the marinade deeply, locking in every drop of flavor. When bitten through, a surge of savory braising juice burst forth, flooding his palate like a tidal wave.

“A different taste, but equally excellent!” Harrington praised the braised livers and hearts without reservation. Together with the roasted chicken heads, they could serve as an outstanding snack with drinks.

He reached for more hearts, only to find they were gone. Staring at the two remaining chicken heads and his grease-slicked hands, Harrington realized how much he had eaten without noticing.

“This isn’t nearly enough,” he thought, shaking his head.

With a flick, he summoned a small water orb to wash his hands, then hurried back toward the courtyard.

As he arrived, he saw numerous students lining up at Merlin’s stall, shouting for roasted chicken heads and orders of chicken livers and hearts.

Harrington’s expression darkened. How had these humble treats suddenly become so popular? What on earth had happened in the meantime?

“Save some for me!” he exclaimed, abandoning his teacherly composure. He dashed to Merlin’s stall, cutting in line by virtue of his status and snatching the last remaining chicken heads, hearts, and livers.

Just moments ago, Kris and Fitt, who had tasted the chicken heads, livers, and hearts, had been instantly captivated by the unique aroma, begging Merlin for more.

Seeing this, other students, curious and tempted, decided to try the chicken hearts and livers, or perhaps a couple of roasted chicken heads.

Once they tasted them, it was as if they were under a spell, addicted from the first bite.

Who would have thought that chicken hearts and livers, usually dismissed as unappealing, could taste so divine? The chicken heads were an absolute revelation!

Merlin, looking at the now-empty cart, shouted, “Sold out! Everything’s gone for today! If you still want some, come back tomorrow!”

The students around him felt a pang of disappointment. Harrington, clutching the twenty wrapped chicken heads in his arms, let out a relieved sigh, grateful he had rushed back in time, or he might have missed out on this extraordinary feast.

He resolved to come early the next day—or perhaps even accompany Merlin immediately after class. After all, he had yet to try the braised chicken legs and necks. Rumor had it the sour-spicy passionfruit lemon chicken feet were also incredibly tasty.

Harrington thought to himself that he might have discovered a prodigy in flavor alchemy—someone who could transform simple ingredients into extraordinary cuisine. With this level of skill, final exams seemed almost irrelevant…

Impossible! The finals had to happen. They were a perfect excuse to publicly indulge in Merlin’s culinary creations, and he had no intention of missing out.

Meanwhile, Merlin glanced at the stack of gold coin boxes on the cart, then at his magic crystal card. In just one day, he had earned over three thousand gold coins for the school—already net of costs.

Indeed, working in food was outrageously profitable. With this in mind, a debt of half a million gold coins didn’t seem so daunting after all.

On the way back to the Beast-Taming Academy, Merlin handed Jean his monthly wage of three hundred gold coins.

“Here, Jean. This is your salary for the month.”

Jean hefted the heavy pouch in his hands, feeling the weight of three hundred gold coins nestled quietly inside. His palms grew warm. “Boss… it’s not even the end of the month yet. This… this money—”

“Consider it an advance. I’ll give you a bonus and commission at the end of the month. I guarantee you can easily earn five hundred gold coins in a single month!”

Even hearing the figure of five hundred, Jean wasn’t as excited as one might expect. After seeing Merlin make over three thousand gold coins in a single day, anything less seemed comparatively modest.

Still, Jean knew that any money Merlin made was his alone and that five hundred coins a month was already a high salary. And he didn’t need to exert himself doing anything particularly taxing.

No running around, no fighting terrifying beasts—he could earn five hundred gold coins a month comfortably. It was a life he had once only dared to dream of.

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