The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]-Chapter 402: Notable Contributions

But see, if the heir had considered the appetite of everyone immediately around him, then even triple wouldn’t have been enough.

For there was no satisfying the mouths of people who had already tasted the food of the "gods," or so they thought.

So, when the time came to finally perform his first experiment, the nervous cook decided to do it alone.

For one, unlike the other dishes they had made, this would actually require several pauses, and it would not be good to bring everyone in only to tell them to come back several times over.

That would be cruel, especially when he could use his spiritual abilities for this anyway.

And so when the first batch of dough balls had finally been left for refrigeration, Luca didn’t notice the wave of murmurs that followed.

Obviously, it was largely because it was impossible to hide the sudden containers from the likes of the manor staff who regularly visited Luca’s kitchen in the Dungeon space.

But this time, it was a determined father who ran back to the Butler to ask about the balls that filled up the giant refrigerator. And like a covert mission, they went on to check what interested the Duke.

Rows and rows of small containers that had what looked like squishy balls inside got the butler checking for the now-popular beast.

"!!!"

It was instinctive, as the beast that had made a reputation had been monitored daily, although only secretly.

So when his gaze drifted to the nearby shelf where the once powerful sourdough starter beast had lived, the butler ended up frozen.

"What’s wrong, Butler Gary?!" prodded the Duke, who was alarmed by his sudden reaction.

"Your Grace! Look at that!"

The magnificent beast had been reduced to something so...small.

So pitifully small and filled with bubbles that the color from these grown men’s faces ended up drained.

The two men looked at each other.

"...Is this normal?" the Duke whispered.

"I don’t know, Your Grace, but I cannot help but think that it is related to all those balls inside the refrigerator!"

Because how else could this be explained?!

And yet neither of them wanted to know the gruesome truth, and so without another word, they left.

It was just that, while they had made it out unseen, something clearly lingered with the Duke—because he could not function for the rest of the day.

But this didn’t go unnoticed, as the Duchess had had enough after the unanswered calls to attention.

"Leander."

He didn’t answer.

"Leander."

He blinked. "Oh! Yes, my love?"

"What’s wrong with you today?"

The Duke opened his mouth. Closed it. Looked at the wall but eventually caved because his wife’s brow had risen too far up.

"We saw the beast. It’s...it’s been reduced to a whimpering jar!"

The Duchess squinted. "What in the stars are you talking about?"

"It’s so small now," he whispered, eyes full of haunted reverence. "It’s like it’s been sacrificed."

"...Are you sick in the head?" she asked, wondering if all of those concussions had finally combined into a massive one.

"I swear! Ask the butler!"

And the duchess who wanted to understand just what kind of gibberish he’s been spouting really did, only to be shown side-by-side photos.

The Duchess looked at the images. Then, at her husband. Then back to the photos.

Okay...well, he didn’t seem all too crazy now.

Because now even Duchess Amelia was conflicted about this. For if this really was the result of the beast being used—if that powerful, fearsome starter had been reduced to this just to make those squishy dough balls—

"Then no one—" she said, slowly, voice sharpening, "should be allowed to eat that unless they deserve it."

Her husband blinked. "What?"

"Look, if that much had been sacrificed for such a food," she declared. "Then those mouths should be worthy. After all, your son had nurtured that beast and willingly sacrificed it!"

"Imagine, Tortie at least has an attendant aside from Jax, and Queen Lulu at least has three busts to her name, and what does this one get? Nothing, and it’s even been reduced to something like this!"

The Duke considered it seriously and realized that his wife had made a really good point. It was just that they weren’t the only ones thinking that way, as Butler Gary also came to the same conclusion.

And so the moment he returned to the dungeon-linked space’s command center, he turned to Steward Han with a frown.

"I hope you’ve done something noteworthy in the last twenty-four hours."

Steward Han blinked. "I...I updated the inventory for the upcoming Star Mall shop update?"

But unfortunately for everyone, someone overheard.

A few someones who happened to have a few ears and fast mouths that were certainly more than enough to circulate it everywhere.

Thus, a completely unintentional productivity frenzy began because of the widespread rumor that notable achievements in the last 24 hours were required.

Nobody wanted to be left behind.

Including one blonde mechanic who made a frantic call to Kyle, who had been burning the midnight oil with his brother for the possible deals with the Orcs.

"Hey," came the resident feedback-loop’s voice, hurried and serious. "If I finish a major part of the dome today, will that count as a notable contribution within the last 24 hours?"

Kyle blinked. "What?"

"Because I don’t think we can finish the entire dome," Ollie continued quickly, "but maybe like 60 to 70 percent if we skip breaks and cut the redundant acts we’re doing for show. I mean, it’ll still be safe! And the integrity seals will hold—"

"Ollie."

"—and I’ve already logged seven hours, so with an extra four—"

"Ollie."

"—Then I can totally justify one slice, right? Or maybe two?!" freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Kyle cut in. "What exactly are you talking about?"

Ollie paused, then gasped loudly.

"OH NO. You actually don’t know?!"

Kyle’s stomach dropped. "Know what?"

"You might not get to eat!" Ollie hissed. "Oh no, you and your brother were locked in, so you might have missed the word going around."

Then the blonde went on a tirade before saying he had to go because then he might not have enough hours to show for since he was outside after all!

But even Killian had to allow Kyle to go because that admittedly sounded like an emergency that didn’t make sense.

Yet, when they rushed out to the kitchen, the first thing they saw was a group of huddled, respected individuals who looked surprised when they realized they had been caught.

If anything, Killian thought that the people of this house all seemed to be a little too honest.

However, what surprised the earlier secluded brothers was how they found the Imperial Crown Prince with his cuffs rolled to his elbows as he was learning how to shape dough from Luca.

"Hey, guys, did you know about that rumor going around?"

Kyle was right to ask because apparently, Luca had no idea as he was calmly rechecking the finished energy stabilizers when Xavier told him about this absurd rumor.

And that was exactly what got them working like this! And while it at first sounded like crazy talk, Jax and Xavier who had been working with Luca for a while now seriously thought that the requirement was fitting.

Because, given how labor-intensive this was, maybe they should only be allowing those who have at least taken a bullet to eat!!!