Chapter 46: The Big Black Egg

Merlin watched the students before him, their wide eyes and slack jaws already showing signs of being thoroughly impressed. A dark, cunning satisfaction curled in his chest—his plan had worked perfectly.

The so-called “premium spice powder packets” he was selling were, in truth, nothing more than scraps. Leftover spices from braised meats and the herbs used to prepare the famous Beggar’s Chicken had been dried, ground into powder, and packaged neatly. Naturally, the aroma wasn’t particularly strong—but that didn’t matter.

Merlin couldn’t help but pat himself on the back for his own brilliance. Here he was, taking discarded leftovers, reprocessing them, and selling them as mystery Box luxury items for a handsome profit in gold coins. And the best part? He could then use that very gold to buy actual spices from Dahl, creating a self-sustaining cycle of wealth and cunning.

As for whether these spice packets might upset someone’s stomach, Merlin didn’t care. These students weren’t exactly fragile—they were magic users, after all. As long as the packets didn’t outright kill anyone, it was perfectly fine.

In the continent of Aize, spices were expensive simply by reputation. For these noble students, spending three gold coins on a carefully crafted spice packet wasn’t unreasonable. After all, Merlin’s concoctions weren’t likely to taste bad. Sprinkled over black bread or stirred into a soup, they could transform an otherwise mundane meal into a small culinary delight. Three gold coins to indulge one’s taste buds seemed worth it.

And what if they were lucky enough to unearth a whole Beggar’s Chicken wrapped in lotus leaves? Three gold coins spent to obtain something worth five—what a windfall that would be!

Many students, after a brief exchange of glances, discussed with their friends and came to the same conclusion: this was worth buying.

The boy standing at the front of the stall didn’t hesitate. He pulled out three gold coins. “I’ll take one first!” he said.

Merlin spread his hands and, as if caressing the air above the little cart, said, “They’re all here. Pick whichever you like.”

The boy grabbed a lump of clay at random and smashed it with a single hammer blow. In an instant, a rich aroma of lotus-leaf Beggar’s Chicken filled the air, drifting through the courtyard. Under the watchful eyes of everyone around, the golden chicken wrapped in lotus leaves revealed itself in all its glory.

Merlin’s eyes widened in astonishment. He hadn’t expected this boy to be so extraordinarily lucky, hitting the jackpot on the first try.

The boy himself was equally stunned, then broke into a broad, exhilarated grin. He laughed out loud, almost whooping. “Hahaha! I got it! Three gold coins well spent!”

From somewhere, Merlin produced a handheld bell and shook it vigorously, producing a bright, cheerful clanging. “Congratulations! Congratulations to this student! First try and they’ve unwrapped a lotus-leaf Beggar’s Chicken! Let’s give them a round of applause!”

Clap, clap, clap—smack, smack, smack.

Merlin had recruited first-year students from the Beast-Taming Academy, who worked part-time selling the chickens, to enthusiastically cheer and offer compliments.

“Congratulations! Congratulations!”
“Wow! He’s unbelievably lucky!”
“Like the God of Fortune himself has blessed him!”
“Such good luck! Is the goddess of luck favoring him?”
“Quick, go bask in his fortune!”

The boy, blushing slightly under the playful flattery, felt a little lightheaded with excitement. Merlin gave him a warm smile. “Congratulations, truly. You’re incredibly lucky to have gotten a Beggar’s Chicken on your very first try. Would you like to continue this streak of luck?”

The boy pondered for a moment. Today he’d already won once; chances were, he could strike gold again. And even if he didn’t, the rare spices would still serve as a consolation.

“All right, give me five more!”

Ding! Fifteen gold coins slid off his magic crystal card without a second thought. The boy pointed decisively at the clay lumps on the cart. “That one, that one, and all of these—bring them over!”

Soon, spurred on by the boy’s enthusiasm, other students flocked to the stall, eagerly selecting their own lumps of clay.

Crack!

Each lump broke open to reveal a small pouch woven from leaves.

“Darn it! No Beggar’s Chicken, just spices!” muttered an alchemy student, tapping his forehead in mild frustration.

He opened the pouch and found a heap of brown powder. He dipped a finger, brought it to his nose, and inhaled deeply. The scent was intense, fragrant, and tantalizing.

He licked his finger. The taste… it bore a remarkable resemblance to Beggar’s Chicken! Sprinkled over black bread or stirred into soup, he imagined, it would be delicious.

In that moment, he realized he hadn’t lost out at all.

Setting the spice packet aside carefully, he hurried back to the stall. “Give me two more. Last time I just had bad luck—this time I’ll definitely get a Beggar’s Chicken!”

The courtyard became a frenzy of mystery Box excitement. Students clamored around the stall, desperate to try their luck. Screams of joy erupted each time someone revealed a lotus-leaf Beggar’s Chicken, sparking envy and admiration alike.

Those who hadn’t struck it lucky grew competitive, opening more and more packets until they, too, revealed a chicken. For many, it wasn’t about taste or hunger—it was about proving themselves blessed by the goddess of luck.

“Ugh! Rigged! Totally rigged!” Dahl had already opened seventeen packets, yet every single one had contained only spices. Not a single chicken feather in sight.

“Give me ten more!” His eyes burned red as he swiped his magic crystal card, another thirty gold coins disappearing in an instant.

Clang, clang, clang—spices!
Clang, clang, clang—spices!

“Ugh! This is insane! All spices! Am I cursed or what?”

Merlin and the other students selling Beggar’s Chicken watched in disbelief. Could someone truly be this unlucky? Seventeen packets, and not a single chicken appeared.

“I don’t believe it! This can’t be real!” Dahl roared, eyes bloodshot, like a beast starved for prey. “Give me ten more!”

Clang, clang, clang—spices again, in a relentless pattern.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!”

Merlin and the others instinctively stepped back, wary of Dahl’s mounting fury. The unlucky students who hadn’t found a chicken watched this spectacle and couldn’t help but laugh, their own moods instantly brightened.

Dahl glared at Merlin, frustration written across his face. “Merlin, are you targeting me?”

“Target you? Impossible! How could I know where a Beggar’s Chicken is hidden? I’m just as clueless as you!”

“I don’t believe you. Pick one for me!”

With a sigh, Merlin tossed him a random lump of clay.

Crack!

Golden, fragrant lotus-leaf Beggar’s Chicken emerged from within. Both Dahl and Merlin stared down at the prize.

Merlin met Dahl’s still-suspicious eyes and said softly, “Dahl, I truly didn’t know where it was. Trust me—this just means my luck is better than yours.”

Dahl… had no reply.

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