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  Vol 2 Chapter 17: Human Supremacy?

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  Despite a few ued occurreoday’s work cluded rather smoothly.

  “Mira, you’ve dozed off again, haven’t you?”

  “Ah, I was simply too tired!”

  “Holy… never mind, you still mao do your job adequately.”

  With her zy, loli-like appearance, Mira attracted the attention of passersby merely by sleeping outside the shop. It might even be said that this was the most suitable way for her to draw in business.

  “Still, we ought to thank Sisi and Veridith for taking over Mira’s duties and ensuring her safety.”

  “Hah, no worries! I also successfully promoted the legend of the Crimson Demons,” Sisi excimed, waving a sign at the end of the queue. Seizing the opportunity, she began reting the ‘achievements’ of the Crimson Demons to those waiting in line. Surprisingly, sihe queue had little else to ehem, her storytelling proved to be a delightful distra, and she mao capture their attention quite effectively.

  “I hardly did anything; it was mostly Mira’s own responsibility to keep herself safe.”

  “Hmm? What do you mean by that?”

  Ign Sisi's ent, Marlyno turned her attention to what Veridith had said.

  “Because I had to step away for a bit, just to be safe, I taught Mira a teique that allows her to use magic while sleeping.”

  Given the long lifespan onkin, they tend to require more sleep, often dozing off for days, months, or even years at a time. During sleep, they are particurly vulnerable; thus, dragonkin developed the ability to cast spells while resting, enabling them to maintain defensive barriers or even unch attacks autonomously. It is said that the a dragonkin who created this teique referred to it as ‘murder in dreams.’

  After Veridith imparted this teique to Mira, she maintained her protective barrier throughout her ret nap. As a healing prodigy and a fifth-tier advehere was hardly anyone in this toable of breag her defenses.

  “I ’t wait until I’ve mastered this; I’ll be able to take issions while sleeping!”

  Mira imagined her future, but fatigue soon overwhelmed her once more, and she abandoned her thoughts.

  “Thank you all for your hard work. Let’s have a treat!”

  At that moment, Maya emerged from the kit, carrying a tray of pastries, with Farkonia following closely to assist.

  “…Ah! Finally!”

  The entig aroma jolted Mira awake. After a long day of effort, this moment was what she had been looking forward to the most.

  Of course, it wasn’t just Mira; everyone who had heard of, or even tasted, the ‘Fluffy Desserts’ anticipated this moment with eager excitement.

  “…Mmm, as expected, they’re utterly delicious… Wait, something seems different…”

  Elyssa elegantly took a spoonful, sav the fvor, only to notice a slight deviation in taste.

  The ‘Fluffy Desserts’ were unique; as long as they were the same type, regardless of the shop or the chef, the taste remained remarkably sistent, with little variance.

  Elyssa had tried the same type of pastry before, yet this one was somehow different—more delicious, perhaps.

  “Oh, this is thanks to Miss Farkonia. She mao enhan already popur recipe. However, these are still test versions; you lot are the first to try them.”

  “Really!? How lucky we are!”

  Upon hearing this, everyone began to savor the trial pastries, their faces lighting up with bliss.

  “Ihey were already delightful, but now they’re eveer!”

  “Yes, Miss Farkonia, how about we hire yht now? Don’t let my appearance fool you; I hold a signifit position at ‘Fluffy Desserts,’ and if you join us, I assure you, your treatment will be nothing short of exceptional.”

  Individuals capable of mastering the art of making ‘Fluffy Desserts’ were already exceedingly rare. To find one who could not only grasp the method ihan half a day but also improve upon it was a talent one simply could not afford to overlook.

  “…Please allow me some time to sider.”

  “Oh, is that so? Well, I eagerly await your response.”

  Despite her words, the look in Maya’s eyes was akin to that of a hunter spotting its prey, matg the iy she dispyed when entering the likes of Misako and others.

  “Ahem! What do we know about the troublemaker from today, manager?”

  Misako cleared her throat, steering the versation back to the individual who cimed there were rat teeth in the food.

  “Right! Was that person perhaps a petitor attempting to tarnish the reputation of ‘Fluffy Desserts’?”

  Marlyno, who handled orders and payments within the shop, had withe unfoldis firsthand.

  “…No, it shouldn’t be.”

  Maya dismissed the idea of petition ht.

  “‘Fluffy Desserts’ has been around for a siderable time now. Other petitors have tried simir tactics, but they quickly realized such methods would have no impa us, so they wouldn’t resort to such btant tactics.”

  “Does that mean we eliminate ercial rivalry as a possibility…”

  With this, the most likely suspects were ruled out, and the group fell into a ptive silence.

  “That person seemed to have more to say.”

  Suddenly, Diana chimed in with a thought.

  “There was something they didn’t finish… Ah!”

  Maya recalled how she had interrupted that person mid-sentence, remembering a critical keyword in their remarks.

  “‘Other races’… It appears to be a case of human supremacism…”

  “‘Human supremacy’? But aren’t different races coexisting harmoniously nowadays?”

  From Farkonia’s perspective, retioween the various races were far better now than before the War. There was siderable trade, not to mention colborative efforts iablishing the empire's foremost academy and dug researto the ‘Magietwork’ among others.

  “Indeed, however, the troubliy is that there remain some outliers in this world.”

  “Is it that Hol—”

  Elyssa hissed through ched teeth but tly silenced.

  The moment she uttered the word, 'Holy', Misako and Farkonia, leveraging their heightened reflexes, realized what Elyssa inteo say and swiftly interveo halt her.

  Although Aris had yet to speak, her silence did not indicate her absence. Should she hear the full name of that entity, the repercussions would surely be dire.

  “…Pfft! What on abyss are you two doing?”

  Elyssa wriggled free from their grasp, looking puzzled.

  “Er… nothing, really; we just thought it best not to discuss such demoralizing topics at the moment…”

  “It wasn’t you whht it up first…”

  At this point, Elyssa noticed the looks exged between Misako and Farkonia, as well as the silent indication from the ever-quiet Aris, and she suddenly prehehe situation.

  As someone who shared a mutual disdain for the Holy Light Church, Elyssa fully uood Aris’s feelings and opted to remain silent.

  “Let’s refrain from discussing that for now. How do you find the work here? If you’re ied, you’re always wele to lend a hand!”

  “What!? Really?”

  “Of course! After today’s performance, I’ve realized your capabilities are truly exceptional; I’m practically sidering hiring you as perma staff!”

  “Well… we have our work as adventurers, so we ’t e here often, but we will when we have the time.”

  “Then it’s settled!”