Chapter 21

One Cake, Nineteen Mouths

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One Cake, Nineteen Mouths

“Hm-hm-hm-♬”

I couldn't help but hum a tune. For the first time since landing on Valkyrie Island, I felt excitement and lightheartedness. Despite the accumulated fatigue making my eyelids heavy, my heart was as light as a feather, akin to someone eagerly awaiting a package.

Why? Because I had handed John jonson a comprehensive list of necessary items and ingredients.

It felt like writing a blank check. Like online shopping without images. With no predefined list, I was thrilled.

I even requested the replacement of the existing kitchen tools. These relics, over fifty years old, were mostly rusted and broken. Most were beyond repair and maintenance.

Additionally, I included absurd requests like an oven, coffee machine, and ice maker. Whether such items existed in this world, I had no idea, but I included them anyway.

‘Who knows? Maybe they'll find something similar.’

Life is unpredictable. You have to seize opportunities when they arise. I just wanted to escape this outdated kitchen.

Anyway, the joy of shopping after a long time was overwhelming.

According to John jonson, the ingredients could be sourced from the student cafeteria or nearby continents.

It would take about 2-3 days for them to arrive. Oh, but chocolate was still difficult to obtain. Apparently, it's a high-end dessert produced in small quantities on the continent.

‘At least they promised to get me some cocoa beans. And I trust Sophia will manage to bring some chocolate.’

Some kitchen items required remodeling, which would take time. I told them to go ahead with the remodeling or even reconstruction.

There was no reason to refuse remodeling. The lounge was old and worn out anyway. Even if I had to make coffee over a campfire in the meantime, I could manage.

“Hmm-♪ I hope the requisition gets approved soon…”

I was lightheaded and tired from lack of sleep, but I felt energized by this small happiness. It kept me going through my morning tasks.

After John jonson left, I roasted coffee beans, baked basic coffee biscuits using yesterday’s recipe, and then turned to the main task.

The firewood crackled pleasantly in the hearth, keeping the biscuits warm and subtly smoldering.

“Today's coffee isn't bad.”

I gulped down the coffee. It wasn’t enough to shake off the drowsiness entirely, but it would get me through the workday. This was the only break I was allowed.

I continued reading the book John jonson gifted me while sipping coffee. Though I wished for a nap, there was no time. I needed to perfect my baking skills for Sophia’s quest. 

With only five days and Sophia’s ability to procure chocolate uncertain, it was crucial to improve my skills. Mastery was essential to making the unique mint-chocolate dessert shine.

“This world has quite a variety of desserts.”

I read the book meticulously, gaining invaluable guidance. Previously, my measurements had been rough estimates. This book provided a much-needed roadmap.

But something was odd. I felt dizzy after reading the sponge cake recipe. Was it just sleep deprivation?

‘Yesterday, I read that thick history book all night without feeling tired.’

I decided to close the book, feeling that continuing might put me to sleep. Strangely, the history book had been easy to read and comprehend. Could it have been because it was written in Dragon Tongue?

“Yawn… It’s tough to think when you're this sleepy. Time to wake up.”

I decided to move around to stave off sleep. I had an experiment in mind.

I filled a pot with water and set it to boil, placing a glass bowl on top. I cracked three eggs into the bowl, adding a pinch of salt and sugar, plus leftover coffee grounds from the biscuits.

Whisking everything together vigorously, I hoped to create a rich foam without baking soda. 

Next, I added room-temperature milk. While it wasn’t perfect, it would have to do. 

“This is looking pretty good.”

The mixture expanded, becoming thicker. I added sifted flour, continuing to whisk.

Ah, I should have asked for an automatic whisk. My shoulders were killing me!

Still, the physical effort helped keep me awake. Sweat beaded on my forehead.

I finally completed the batter. It looked promising, though slightly runny.

I poured the batter into a round mold. Even before baking, it looked like a cake. Now, for the final step.

I tapped the mold to release air bubbles and stabilize the batter before placing it in the heated hearth. I temporarily removed the biscuits to make room.

“Let’s see… How long should it bake?”

The recipe suggested baking for 35 minutes on moderate heat, but without a specified temperature, it was guesswork. 

Temperature is crucial in baking, so I had to improvise. I placed the mold on the least hot part of the hearth and monitored it closely, frequently opening and closing the door to prevent uneven heating.

After about 20 minutes, the batter rose and took shape. I carefully removed it before it could darken further.

Steam rose from the freshly baked cake, filling the room with a rich, sweet aroma. The cake looked quite successful, aside from some uneven air bubbles.

Considering the limited ingredients, it was a satisfying result.

It smelled like mocha bread, thanks to the coffee grounds.

‘Mocha bread? Not bad.’

I might try making a proper mocha bread later, ensuring it’s fully proofed for better texture.

Maybe I have a knack for baking.

I removed the cake from the mold, revealing a well-formed sponge cake.

[Near-Mocha Sponge Cake - ★☆ : A basic cake with a touch of uniqueness. Curious about the decorations and ingredients that will go on top.]

[First baking success increases 'Gourmet Feeding' proficiency.]

Not bad. A star and a half. I agreed with the rating. It was expectedly basic but acceptable for a test run. It wasn’t for serving to the ladies, so it was fine.

Thinking about topping a proper sponge cake with mint chocolate made me feel like an evil overlord planning world domination. It made me question if I was on the right path, but with the situation as it was, no one could stop me.

“Let’s see how it tastes—”

Just then, the clock chimed.

Right, it was already 1 PM. The ladies would soon flock to the lounge like yesterday.

‘Surely, they won’t come right after lunch again—’

The door swung open before I could finish my thought.

—Haah… I’m sick of eating food made by those beasts.

—Today’s lunch was terrible… Again.

—Yeah, two days in a row with the same menu.

—I heard the cafeteria is run by beasts. We need to show them how to source new ingredients.

—I just wish there were no animal hairs in my food.

—A sweet treat would cheer me up.

—Yeah, it smells sweeter today!

—Hey, Breeder! What’s today’s dessert?

—The biscuits were good yesterday; I’m looking forward to today!

“Uh, welcome…”

Wow, punctual as ever.

But now I was in trouble. I only had the same old biscuits ready. The new dessert was still far from finished!