Purpose

Dealing with smart people is just convenient. Du Pont, without the slightest hint of guilt, stuffed all ten parchments into his pocket and quickly left.

As long as he could calm down and adjust his state, completing the task of ten scrolls was nothing. He even had the spare energy to try copying scrolls and selling them to his classmates for profit.

However, copying scrolls would, at best, yield a profit of one gold coin per scroll. Relying on that to pay off his debts wouldn't be enough, even if his speed kept up with his experience points.

Du Pont's original plan was to visit nearby villages and towns to see if there were any tasks he could take on.

The lowest-level adventure tasks were level 1-3 challenges for four people, such as hunting wolf packs or grizzlies, or the more difficult task of clearing goblin/bandit/monster nests. The bounty was usually around 100 to 1000 silver.

Although the equivalent in gold coins wasn't much, Du Pont wouldn't have to share the money with others if he did it himself, and he could keep all the spoils. If he could complete it, the pressure would be greatly reduced.

Although the risk was high, he had to try.

However, Du Pont wasn't in such a hurry now. He wanted to see the challenge that the Butcher mentioned.

Compared to the purely transactional relationship with the mages in the academy, this barbarian was undoubtedly much easier to talk to. If he could build a good relationship, he might be able to learn a trick or two from him and improve his own skills.

Even if that didn't work out, it would be good to have another friend. Asking him for information about the surrounding mountains and wilderness shouldn't be a problem.

Besides taking on adventure tasks, hunting large animals and skinning them was also a way to make money. A complete bear skin, for example, was worth a lot and could also provide him with experience points, which was the most important thing for him right now.

As a retired adventurer, the Butcher obviously had some wealth and a wealth of adventure experience. Some things that he looked down on or was too lazy to deal with might be just right for him.

Real combat wasn't a game. Once you encountered danger, it could mean death. His plan to go it alone was even more dangerous. Having a mentor who could impart experience was very important to him.

What was a little cooking compared to that, especially since this meal didn't cost him any gold coins?

Returning to the kitchen, the lively scene from before was gone, leaving only a few cooks preparing dishes or cleaning plates. At this time, Du Pont discovered that quite a few people could use the Dust Removal spell.

Although it was a simple and easy-to-understand cantrip, normally anyone with an intelligence of 12 or higher could learn it if they were willing to be taught, Du Pont was still somewhat impressed.

Even a kitchen helper without any class levels could use a cantrip. This was the foundation of Haluar.

Arriving at the butchery, fragrant steam was rising from the large pot. Judy and the Butcher were sitting there, scratching their heads and looking impatient.

"Hungry?" Du Pont removed the white cloth from the dough, leaving a small white pit on the surface with his finger.

The texture was just right, neither too hard nor too soft.

"The smell is pretty good, but does it really need to cook for so long?" Judy's eyes didn't leave the big pot. "That chicken shouldn't need to cook for two hours, right? I'm afraid the meat will fall off the bone by then."

"One hour is enough, but it'll taste better if you take it off the heat and let it simmer for a while. I think it's only a few minutes away." Du Pont didn't say it was ready to eat yet, since he still had work to do. "Do you have a rolling pin? You know, a wooden stick for rolling dough, something like a mop handle would work too."

"There are no mops here." Judy thought for a moment and brought over a wine bottle. "Will this work?"

"It'll do." Du Pont took it, kneading and pinching the dough. With a flick of his wrist, a thin pancake quickly appeared on the table, but the finished product disappointed Judy somewhat. "Isn't that just a pizza crust?"

"Pizza is made with unleavened dough, but this isn't. You'll know when you eat it later. Get me a pot and some oil, lard is best."

The results would be tested soon, and Judy naturally cooperated fully. He watched as the thin pancake expanded and stretched in the pot, his nose twitching involuntarily.

The lard mixed with the aroma of wheat, this flavor couldn't possibly be bad.

Cooked through and flipped, about one and a half minutes per pancake, Du Pont placed the pancakes on a glass plate. "If you're hungry, you can try them first. Of course, they taste even better with the braised meat."

The Butcher didn't move, but pushed the plate towards the Halfling. Judy didn't hesitate to reach out, his years as a chef making him unafraid of the heat. He tore off half of the pancake. "The texture is good... Hmm, rich wheat flavor, soft and chewy. Although it's not as good as Queen's Bread, it doesn't have any extra ingredients. It should taste better with soup than bread. The only problem is the speed of serving, you have to make them one by one, and you have to use a lot of oil. They'll probably get greasy when they cool down, so you can only eat them while they're hot."

"As expected of a Halfling, you know your stuff." Du Pont gave a thumbs up in approval. The Butcher looked at it carefully for a moment and felt that it didn't seem fake, so he also tried a piece.

"The taste is indeed okay, but it's a bit too bland."

"Don't worry, it'll be better when it's time to eat it with the meat." Du Pont said, throwing out another pancake, but before the Butcher could eat it, Judy took it to the kitchen. "Hey, you guys try this too, it's kind of interesting, maybe it can be rated as a mentor's meal."

Du Pont didn't care about this, but the Butcher was a little unhappy. He muttered in a low voice that he was still such a good guy, then ate the pancake plain, his eyes involuntarily drifting towards the big pot.

"I think it's been about an hour, can we eat it now?"

Playing hard to get too much wasn't good. Du Pont pretended to check the time. "The chicken is ready. If you're in a hurry to eat, then cut half of the pig's head first and taste it."

The Butcher had been waiting impatiently for a long time. Hearing this, he took out the prepared strainer and scooped out the braised meat. As if by magic, he took out a half-meter-long knife from his waist and divided the fat chicken and pig's head in half. "That half is for you two, this is mine."

Du Pont was also hungry, but he pretended to be calm and looked down on the barbarian: "Judy, cut the meat into small pieces, so you'll know the detailed taste of each specific part. Don't be like him, just knowing how to eat."

Judy naturally knew how to eat. His status as an old foodie also gave him a sense of composure. He didn't forget to leave a portion for Du Pont while cutting the meat.

On the other side, the Butcher had already devoured the chicken, wiped the grease from his mouth, and grumbled, "You little brat doesn't know how to respect your elders. By the way, what did you say about the pig's head having nine flavors, how do you calculate that?"

"Pig's tongue, pig's nose, pig's ear, pig's eye, pig's brain, palate, back teeth, cheeks, and crispy cartilage. There's only one pig, but it has nine flavors." Du Pont pointed out each one. After he finished speaking and was about to make pancakes, Judy patted his knee with the back of his hand.

"Let me help, you should eat something too."

Hearing this, Boulderstone was somewhat surprised.

Although the Northwest Mage Academy wasn't large, its level wasn't low. The Dean, Archmage Lavoisier, was a formal member of the Arcane Council. After the current Supreme Leader, Speaker McCondier, who was over 600 years old, retired, he was likely to take over.

Judy had a good temper and wasn't pretentious, but he was also the head chef of the academy. He might not be aware of this status, but outside, this was a status and honor that many Halfling chefs envied.

Not only did it pay well, but he could also get to know a powerful Archmage. This wasn't ordinary prestige.

And Judy was able to get this position not just because he was a good person. His cooking skills were also excellent. He could cook almost all of Faerûn's major cuisines except for subterranean cuisine. He was qualified to take on such a job at other academies.

But now, he was actually willing to be an assistant to this little brat?

Du Pont didn't know what the barbarian beside him was thinking, but he thanked him and scooped a spoonful of braising sauce onto his plate. "This way it tastes even better. By the way, Boulderstone, you can also cut these vegetables into small strips about the size of your fingers. Then, use the pancake to wrap the vegetables and the fattest cheek meat together. This way, it has layers of flavor and won't get greasy. You can try it."

The Butcher followed suit, but his mind was on something else.

This little brat was talking eloquently, but how could a normal apprentice mage at the academy know these things? Looking at Judy's expression, it seemed like he had never seen such dishes before either.

Though Judy wasn't much of a rogue, he was a connoisseur of fine food. Only some little-known private chef recipes could fascinate him so.

Thinking this, Boulderstone looked at Du Pont.

The cook's son obviously wouldn't have the financial means to study here, and this guy's accent was so standard that no one else could even detect it, clearly indicating he'd received a good family education and knew about such rare delicacies.

This guy's background was probably quite extraordinary. His ancestors might even be related to some fallen noble bloodline.

Boulderstone pondered as he rolled up the pancake, stuffed the pork pancake into his mouth, chewed a few times, and praised repeatedly.

"Not bad, delicious!"

Thanks to Necromancer Big Rat, Prussia Ten Popes, and Little White Comedian for the generous donations, and thank you all for your votes. Thanks for your support~