Purpose

Working with smart people was convenient. Without a trace of shame, Du Pont tucked all ten sheets of parchment into his belt pouch and strode away.

As long as he stayed calm and got himself into the right state, completing the task of ten scrolls was no longer much of a challenge. He might even have enough energy left to try copying scrolls and selling them to his classmates for money.

But copying scrolls yielded, at most, a profit of one gold coin per scroll. Even if he could keep up the pace, the Experience Points would not be enough to rely on this to pay off his debt.

Du Pont's original plan had been to visit the nearby villages and towns to see whether there were any quests he could try to take on.

The lowest-ranking adventure quests were level one to three challenge quests meant for four people, such as hunting wolf packs or grizzly bears, or the more difficult task of clearing out goblin, bandit, or monster nests. The rewards generally ranged from one hundred to one thousand silver coins.

Although that did not amount to much in gold, Du Pont would not have to split the money with anyone if he did it himself, and all the spoils would be his as well. If he succeeded, the pressure on him would drop sharply.

The risk was great, but he had to give it a try.

But Du Pont was not in such a hurry now. He wanted to see the challenge Butcher had mentioned.

Compared with the purely transactional relationships between the mages at the academy, this Barbarian was clearly much easier to get along with. If he built a good relationship with him, perhaps he could learn a move or two under him and improve his own abilities.

Even if that did not work out, having one more friend was still worthwhile. It should not be difficult to ask him about the wilderness and mountains nearby.

Besides taking adventure quests, hunting large animals and skinning them was also a way to make money. An intact bear hide, for example, was worth quite a bit and could provide him with Experience Points. That was the most important thing for him right now.

As a retired adventurer, Butcher clearly had some wealth and extensive adventuring experience. Things he found beneath his notice or could not be bothered to handle might be exactly what Du Pont needed.

Real combat was not a game. Once danger struck, death was the only outcome. His plan to go it alone was even more dangerous, so having a mentor who could pass on experience was very important.

What was a little cooking for that? Especially when the meal had not even cost him a single gold coin.

When he returned to the kitchen, the previously bustling scene had vanished. Only a few cooks remained, preparing ingredients or cleaning plates. Du Pont noticed that quite a few of them could use the Dust Removal Spell.

Although it was only a simple and straightforward cantrip, something anyone with an Intelligence score above twelve could learn if they were willing to be taught, Du Pont still felt somewhat moved.

Even a kitchen assistant without a class level could use cantrips. That was the foundation of Haluar.

When he arrived at the slaughterhouse, fragrant steam was already rising from the large pot. Judy and Butcher sat there, scratching at themselves impatiently, practically frantic with anticipation.

"Hungry?" Du Pont removed the white cloth from the dough and pressed a small pale dent into it with his finger.

Neither too soft nor too firm. Just right.

"It smells pretty good, but does it really need to cook for that long?" Judy's eyes never left the pot. "That chicken should not need two hours, right? By then, the meat might be falling off the bones."

"One hour is enough, but if you want it to taste better, you can take it off the heat and let it stew for a while. I think it still needs a few more minutes." Du Pont did not say it was ready to eat, since he still had work to do. "Do you have a rolling pin? A wooden stick for flattening dough. Something like a mop handle would work too."

"Where would we get a mop here?" Judy thought for a moment, then brought over a wine bottle. "Will this do?"

"It will do." Du Pont took it, kneaded and pulled the dough apart, then quickly used the strength of his wrist to spread a thin sheet of dough across the table. The result disappointed Judy slightly. "Isn't this just pizza crust?"

"Pizza uses unleavened dough. This isn't the same. You'll know when you eat it. Bring me a pan and some oil. Lard would be best."

They were about to test the results, so Judy naturally cooperated with all his might. He watched the thin dough swell and stretch in the pan, unable to stop himself from sniffing.

Lard mixed with the scent of wheat. There was no way that could taste bad.

Once it had cooked through, Du Pont flipped it over. Each one took about a minute and a half. He placed the flatbread into a glass dish. "If you're hungry, go ahead and taste it. Of course, it tastes even better with the braised meat."

Butcher did not move. He merely pushed the plate toward the halfling. Judy, however, reached out without the slightest hesitation. Years as a chef had made him completely unafraid of heat. He tore off half the flatbread. "The texture is good. Mm, the wheat flavor is rich, and it's soft yet pleasantly chewy. It doesn't compare to Queen's Bread, but it has no unnecessary ingredients. It should taste far better than bread with soup. The only problem is serving speed. You have to make them one at a time, and it uses quite a bit of oil. It will probably become greasy once it cools, so it can only be eaten hot."

"Just what you'd expect from a halfling. You know your food." Du Pont gave him an approving thumbs-up. Butcher examined it carefully for a moment, and only after deciding it did not seem fake did he take a piece himself.

"It does taste decent, but it's a little too plain."

"Don't rush. It'll be good once the meat is ready." As Du Pont spoke, he tossed another flatbread into the pan. Before Butcher could eat it, Judy carried it off to the kitchen. "Hey, you all should try this. It's pretty interesting. It might even qualify as a mentor's meal."

Du Pont naturally did not care, but Butcher was somewhat displeased. He muttered under his breath about Judy still being such a softhearted fool, then finished the flatbread plain. His eyes kept drifting toward the large pot.

"I think it's been about an hour. It should be ready now, right?"

Playing hard to get too much was not a good thing. Du Pont put on a show of checking the time. "The chicken is ready. If you're in that much of a hurry, cut the pig's head in half first and taste it."

Butcher had been waiting impatiently for a long time. Hearing that, he took out the skimmer he had prepared beforehand, fished out the braised meat, and, as if performing a magic trick, produced a half-meter-long knife from his waist. With one stroke, he split the fat chicken and pig's head in two. "That half is for you two. This half is mine."

Du Pont was hungry too, but he still pretended to be composed. At the same time, he took the chance to look down on the Barbarian. "Judy, slice the meat into small pieces. That way, we can tell the precise flavor of each part. Don't be like him and only know how to eat."

Judy naturally understood food. His identity as an old gourmand also gave him an extra measure of composure. As he sliced the meat, he did not forget to set aside a portion for Du Pont.

Meanwhile, Butcher had already finished the chicken. Wiping the grease from the corner of his mouth, he grumbled, "You little brat really don't know how to respect your elders. By the way, what did you mean when you said a pig's head has nine flavors? How does that work?"

"Pig tongue, pig snout, pig ears, pig eyes, pig brain, pork jowl, upper jaw, cheek, and crisp cartilage. One pig's head, nine flavors." Du Pont pointed them out one by one. He was about to make another flatbread when Judy lightly tapped his knee with the back of his hand.

"I'll help. You should have a bite too."

Boulderstone was somewhat surprised to hear that.

Although Northwest Mage Academy was not large, its standing was by no means low. Dean Archmage Lavoisier was an official member of the Arcane Council. After McCondier, the current supreme leader and Speaker, retired at over six hundred years old, Lavoisier might even succeed him.

Judy had a good temper and no airs, but he was still the academy's head chef. He might not be fully aware of what that position meant, but outside, it was a status and honor that many halfling chefs would envy.

Not only did it pay well, but it also allowed one to know an Archmage with real authority. That was no ordinary distinction.

And Judy had not obtained this position merely by being a nice person. His culinary skills were equally solid. Aside from Underdark cuisine, he could cook nearly every major cuisine of Faerûn. He would have been more than qualified for the same position at another academy.

Yet now, he was actually willing to serve as an assistant to this little brat?

Du Pont had no idea what the Barbarian beside him, who was stuffing himself wildly, was thinking. He simply thanked Judy, then ladled a spoonful of braising sauce onto his plate. "This makes the flavor richer. Oh, Boulderstone, you can also cut these vegetables into strips about the size of a finger. Then wrap the vegetables together with the fattest cheek meat in the flatbread. That gives it layers of flavor without becoming too rich. You can try it."

Butcher's hands followed the instructions, but his mind was on something else.

This little brat spoke with confidence and authority, but what ordinary apprentice mage at the academy would know such things? Even Judy seemed never to have seen food like this.

Judy might not have been much of a rogue, but when it came to food, he was an expert. Only some obscure private family recipe could probably fascinate him so much.

With that thought, Boulderstone looked toward Du Pont.

The son of a cook clearly would not have had the money to study here. His accent was so standard that no one else could detect anything unusual, which meant he had obviously received a fine family education. And he knew such rare cuisine.

This fellow's background was probably anything but ordinary. His ancestors might even have been connected to some fallen noble bloodline.

As Boulderstone wrapped up a flatbread, he pondered the matter. He stuffed the pork-filled flatbread into his mouth, chewed a few times, and praised it repeatedly.

"Not bad. Delicious!"

Thanks to Necromancer Big Rat, Prussian Tenth Pope, and Little White Funny for their generous rewards. Thanks to everyone for the votes as well. Thank you for your support~