CHAPTER 41: MISSION COMPLETE

Lunch break.

Cafeteria.

I leaned back on my chair, chewing on a bite of rice, and across from me Ariana and Livia were chatting like old friends who’d known each other for years — not two girls who only spoke properly for the very first time yesterday.

And Livia... was eating pancakes.

My pancakes.

She was practically glowing.

Apparently she woke up before dawn, ran straight to the diner I’d mentioned inside the dungeon, ate breakfast there, packed lunch too, and was already planning dinner.

She wasn’t just satisfied — she was converted.

"I swear, I’m going to eat every meal there from now on," she declared dramatically, hands cupped around her cheeks. "It’s cheap, it’s delicious, and it’s actually filling. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten anything this good — and affordable — in my life!"

Ariana laughed. "I told you, didn’t I? Lucien’s cooking is cheating."

I couldn’t stop grinning.

Couldn’t.

Because floating in front of my face, translucent and smug, was the system window:

━━━━━━━━━━━

[ Mission Complete ]

Mission: Practical Assessment

Objective: Rank Top 3

Status: Completed

Reward: +5,000 points

Bonus: Achieved Rank 1

Bonus Reward: +2,000 points

Current Points: 9,500

━━━━━━━━━━━

’Hah... hahaha... HAHAHA—’

Rich.

I was rich.

Ariana snapped her fingers near my face.

"Cadet Lucien? Hello? Where are you lost?"

I cleared my throat. "Nothing. Don’t worry about it."

"Are you going to the training grounds later?" Ariana asked.

I snorted. "Me? No. I’m barred."

"What?" she blinked. "Barred? How can they bar a cadet?"

"It’s because of the gun," I said, waving my spoon. "Apparently the bang disturbs others. So they told me I’m only allowed during dead hours."

"And private chambers?" she pressed.

"Oh, I’m barred from those as part of the punishment."

She stared at me with pity.

"Stop looking at me like I’m some abandoned puppy," I deadpanned.

She quickly looked away.

"Anyway," I changed the topic, "I’m going to the library."

I made my way towards the library.

"Library?" she repeated as she followed behind me.

"I need books. Come with me. You need them too."

"Me? For what?"

"It’s time you focus on your actual talent."

She blinked. "...I don’t even know what that is."

"Oh right. I forgot to tell you," I said casually. "Your talent is alchemy."

"Alchemy? I never studied alchemy. How do you know that?"

"How I know doesn’t matter," I shrugged. "You’re not suited for swords or combat magic. You’re suited for creation. For formulas. For potion-making. And since you promised yourself to my guidance for this semester—just follow my instructions."

Her cheeks reddened slightly but she nodded.

"O-Okay... I’ll trust you."

At the library, I chose basic alchemy textbooks—foundation primers, ingredient compatibility charts, basic safe reagent handling manuals. I borrowed them under her name and told her to read them thoroughly. I also instructed her to register for an alchemy elective as her extracurricular.

After she left, I picked out a stack of fire magic fundamentals for myself.

Not for me.

But for Alicia.

I can’t teach her fire magic—and I don’t need to. She already has that abnormal comprehension. All she needs is foundation and resources.

And both of those—I’m more than ready to supply.

*****

When I returned home, the moment I pushed the door open—

I froze.

"...what the—"

There were people everywhere.

It wasn’t jam-packed, not shoulder-to-shoulder like a festival, but for a second day of business? The tables were all occupied, and there was a steady line of customers waiting near the wall. Laughter, chatter, clinking plates— it was a living organism.

Honestly?

It didn’t surprise me.

Food travels faster than rumors, and yesterday’s customers clearly became megaphones.

Still... seeing this in person stirred something like pride in my chest.

"If this keeps up," I muttered, "I might need another cook by the end of the week."

Alicia was at the counter, the ledger open before her, quill moving steadily. Her hair was tied up neatly today— maybe Reena suggested it. She greeted me calmly.

"Welcome back, Boss."

"How are you managing?" I asked.

She turned a page with a measured motion. "I’m fine," she said. "But Lily... she may not share the same opinion."

I huffed a laugh. "I’ll check."

I pushed open the kitchen door— and a wave of heat and butter hit me.

Lily was a disaster of sweat and motion— spatula in one hand, pan in the other, fried rice tossing in a perfect arc. Two assistant girls behind her were in full scramble— one chopping vegetables, the other drowning in dishes.

"Lily," I stepped forward, "seems like it’s a little much for you."

She jolted when she finally registered my voice. "B-Boss! When did you arrive?"

"Just now," I said, observing the chaos. The two assistants bowed quickly the moment they noticed me.

"You’re tired," I pointed out.

"Ah—no, it’s nothing. I’m enjoying it." And she genuinely meant it; the gleam in her eyes was unmistakable. She was in her element — this was a battlefield she liked.

"I know you are," I smiled faintly, "but be realistic. If this is day two, day seven might kill you at this pace."

She didn’t argue.

Good.

"I’ll take that silence as agreement," I said. "We’re hiring more staff."

I gave her shoulder a light tap, not to console — but as acknowledgment. "Keep going."

Leaving the kitchen, I returned to Alicia at the front.

"When Reena shows up— tell her to scout cooks. Experienced ones. Even one proper sous-chef will lighten Lily’s load."

Alicia nodded. "Understood."

"Also—" I took out the books I borrowed from the library and placed them on the counter.

She blinked at them, puzzled.

"These are academy-grade magic theory books," I told her. "Fire theory. Elemental conduction. Spell fundamentals. You’re training from tonight onward. Don’t slack."

Her hands trembled slightly as she touched the covers — students would kill to borrow these without restriction, and I casually just... handed them to her.

Her expression softened — barely — but her voice carried weight.

"...I will not disappoint you, Boss."

Then she bowed — not mechanically — but sincerely.

This was investment.