(✔︎) ❝𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐑❞

87 | Jamil Viper

*Publishing going brrr

*Also, how many of you have already given up reading?

- Kitchen, Castle of Thorns -

(Name) was guiding Lilia on cooking the main dish or else it'll burn without her presence—which will be a problem. He tried putting in unnecessary ingredients while Sebek and Silver tried stopping him to do so...

     "Lilia-san, don't put tomato juice!" She warned, stealing the glass of tomato juice from his hand. "Oh, dear..." She sighed, placing the glass on the table.

     "Ah, (Name), the chilis are ready," Malleus called, looking at Sebek who was offering the chopping board with the chopped chilis on it. "Thank you, Sebek-san and please look after Lilia-san while I simmer this," she favored and put the chilis in the soup.

They're close to banning Lilia from the kitchen, so he won't burn anything he cooks again. Putting aside the chaos that's happening in the kitchen, they can't deny they're having fun with the demoness around them. Malleus carried Luke, so he can put some pepper and fish sauce on the curry they were making to add some additional taste. Silver was helping them despite being half-asleep...

     "Silver, if you're tired, please go to sleep. You might touch the burning stove at this rate," Malleus told the silver-haired man. It felt like they were babysitting children while cooking, making Malleus and the demoness chuckle at the thought since it seems they read each other's mind, "What are you two laughing at?" Luke asked them.

     "Nothing, Luke," the demoness smiled and continued cooking for lunch. "Lilia-san, I see you snatching some milk for the desserts later," she added, tensing the vampire.

     "No one can escape (Name)-sama's eyesight!" Sebek praised.

- Kitchen, Night Raven College -

The snow was thickening outside the campus, almost covering the whole Ramshackle Dorm and making Grim wear a thick sweater to cover his fur. They already got the woods for the fire fairies in the furnace, putting it to remove the cold crippling their skin. Yuu rubbed his gloves together while Grim communicated with the fire fairies...

     Then he seems to sniff someone cooking in the kitchen, "Hey, Yuu! Do you smell that? I can smell some meats getting fried over there!" He hissed. Then followed with someone chopping, "They're chopping, too! The smell is so delicious and it makes me hungry, I think it's a foreign food! Come on, Yuu! Let's try to find the one who's cooking!"

     "You're a glutton, Grim..." Yuu sighed and followed the cat's gourmet senses. Once they reached the area, they saw a bunch of Scarabia students cooking with their Vice Dorm Leader, "Start defrosting the meat once the vegetables are cooked. Make sure to not forget the nuts after the oil is hot," Jamil said.

     "Understood!" The student assigned on doing that exclaimed. "Vice Dorm Leader, about the spices, how many spices should I put?" Another student asked.

     "The Dorm Leader prefers it a little spicy... One more teaspoon will do," Jamil replied and the student obeyed. Grim and Yuu peeked from the outside, observing them, "I didn't know there are still students staying here..." Grim whispered.

     Jamil must've noticed their presence outside the door, "Oh, you two are—"

     "Hey there! I think we've already met around the Magical Shift season!" Yuu greeted, shaking Jamil's hands. The vice dorm leader smiled and shook Yuu's hands as well, "Yes, we've talked a little bit around Magift. Then you two must be the Ramshackle students, Dorm Leader Yuu and Grim, yes?" He asked.

     "You have a great memory~!" Grim praised but failed to remember the vice dorm leader's name. Jamil chuckled since the cat is trying to remember his name, "It's Jamil. Jamil Viper, Vice Dorm Leader of Scarabia. I'm very good at memorizing people's names and faces, also I don't think anyone doesn't know your names—you two already stood out from the very start of school, along with the former Headmistress."

     "Yuu, we're so famous!" Grim grinned, cheering above Yuu's head. "By the way, aren't you two should be having a vacation during winter break? What are you doing in school?" Jamil asked.

Grim started to tell them about not having a hometown to return and the Headmaster told them to look after the school for a while making sure to avoid the school being cold for the whole winter break. Jamil was amazed that they earned the Headmaster's trust—him whispering that he'll use it to his advantage. He was interrupted when one of the students approached him...

     "Sorry for bothering you, Vice Dorm Leader, but the vegetables are ready!" He exclaimed, bowing in front of Jamil. "Thanks, I'll check it," Jamil nodded and went back to cooking.

     "Grim! Bad manners!" Yuu hissed as the cat jumped above the table to look at the soup simmering. "This soup looks delicious though... I've never smelt anything like this before. Hey, Jamil, what's this?" The cat asked.

     "That's a traditional dish from the Land of Hot Sands—Ah, wait. I have a proposal to make. Do you two mind joining us? It must be fate that made us meet here," Jamil said, smiling at the Ramshackle students. Both Ramshackle students were interested, asking if they can join, and received a nod from the Vice Dorm Leader, "Of course, you can. We still need to do a bit of cooking."

Once they finished, the students started placing the prepared meals to deliver in the dorm with Yuu and Grim invited to join them. The atmosphere was lively before Grim asked what they were doing here in school amidst the winter break, turning the atmosphere into a gloomy one...

     "I understand," Yuu nodded. Then a student went near Yuu, whispering, "Everyone in Scarabia is... Well, um... It's the dorm leader's orders..." He stammered. Another student went near them, "We can't go home even though we want to—"

     "You two, be quiet. It's our fault in the first place," Jamil lightly scolded. "Either way, come on Yuu and Grim. We don't want the food to be cold before we eat it, right? Let's head to Scarabia Dorm," he said.

     "What exactly is Scarabia Dorm?"

     "Our dorm is always hot no matter what season is happening outside the campus. It'll be the same experience as the season in the south," Jamil replied. "That screams heaven already! Come on, Yuu! We'll have our outdoor vacation inside the school!" Grim exclaimed and followed the Scarabia students.

     "Oi, Grim! We still have other things to do!" Yuu called, trying to chase Grim. Not until Jamil grabbed Yuu's arms and made him face him, "I'm sure the Dorm Leader will be delighted to see you... You will come won't you?" He asked as a wave traveled to Yuu, his eyes turning into red, lifeless ones. Yuu nodded and Jamil smiled at it, "Good. I'll make sure I'll introduce you to him—Now let's head to Scarabia."

Yuu seems to be hypnotized as he hopelessly followed Jamil. He didn't notice Grim cheering about how beautiful Scarabia is, with Jamil being delighted that the cat was enjoying it. Jamil ordered the other students to turn on some music in honor of the guests and told the Ramshackle students to dig in. The cat didn't waste any time and started eating without remorse...

     "What just happened...?" Yuu asked, grabbing his head. He saw Grim devouring the food offered on the table, "Grim, what the fuck are you doing?" The cat blinked at Yuu's surprise sassy action.

     "Jamil let us eat. You didn't hear him?" Grim asked, earning a shaking head response from Yuu. Before they could say anything, a figure loomed over Yuu, "What's with this ruckus?" He asked.

     "Dorm Leader?!"

     "Kalim?!"

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