Na-Isekai Ako
Chapter 70: Welcome to the Chaotic Confectionery

Chapter 70: Welcome to the Chaotic Confectionery

Katherine had spent the past few days brainstorming, sketching, and refining her idea for her booth. At first, she had thought of something simple—a stall filled with charming, whimsical treats, a throwback to the sweets she remembered from her old world. But after a few moments of reflection, Katherine’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

What if I add something unexpected? Even though she couldn’t use magic herself, there were plenty of talented mages around the academy, and she could certainly work with them to make her booth stand out.

She suddenly thought of Maestro Eldritch. He has yet to respond to her message. Perhaps the distance is the reason why the response is taking time. Why won’t he use magic then to make it faster? She shook the thought away, it’s not like she was in a hurry for a response. But it sure would be convenient if Maestro were nearby, so she could ask him to help her with this booth.

"Oh well, let’s make do with what we have," she stretched her arms a bit.

As she arranged everything on her desk, Katherine hesitated, chewing her lip. It’s a bit too... novel for these people, isn’t it? Filipino sweets were delicious, but she worried that the nobles might not appreciate the unfamiliar tastes. Would they find it too strange? Would they look down on it, thinking it wasn’t "sophisticated" enough for their refined palates?

It wasn’t just the unfamiliarity of the dishes that concerned her, though. She also worried about how the presentation would go—would the sweet, sticky texture of the rice and the coolness of the sundae work in this high-class setting? She was used to her world’s casual, cozy settings, but here? She wasn’t so sure.

But she had no other option. There was no going back now. She sighed and got to work, reminding herself that sometimes, a little innovation was what was needed.

Katherine furrowed her brow as she examined the box of ube she had just purchased. The purple roots, once vibrant and fresh, seemed to have a faint, odd discoloration on the side of the box. It wasn’t there when it was delivered. Her fingers brushed over the strange mark, and a flicker of unease stirred within her. I don’t like this, she thought, tapping her fingers against the box. The ube inside seemed fine at first glance, but something about the box’s condition felt off. She turned it over in her hands, eyes narrowing as she scrutinized the details.

Arianne, her loyal maid, entered the room just as Katherine was about to open the box.

"My lady, I’ve brought the new batch of ingredients you requested." Arianne’s voice was soft, a quiet hum against the otherwise still room. She set a basket of fresh produce on the table before noticing Katherine’s troubled expression. "Is something wrong?"

Katherine didn’t immediately answer, her fingers still tracing the stain on the box. After a few moments, she glanced at Arianne, her frown deepening. "Arianne, have you seen this ube before?" She gestured toward the box with a slight air of suspicion. "It wasn’t like this when it was delivered. There’s something off about it."

Arianne’s sharp eyes followed Katherine’s gesture, and she stepped closer, carefully examining the box. She lifted the lid and squinted at the ube inside, a hint of confusion crossing her face. "It looks fine on the surface, but you’re right, the box has definitely seen better days." She gently pressed her fingertips against the stained spot on the side. "This looks like a spill. Possibly something sticky was used on the exterior, and it soaked through."

Katherine bit her lip, her mind racing. "It might not be a big deal, but I have a feeling someone’s been tampering with my orders. First the missing ingredients last week, and now this." She shook her head in frustration, her eyes flicking back to the ube. "Maybe I’m overthinking it."

Arianne frowned. "I don’t think it’s just bad luck, my lady. I’ve noticed something odd happening with the deliveries these past few days. The ingredients seem to arrive in worse shape than usual. A few have been delayed or mismatched."

Katherine sighed, nodding slowly. "I was hoping I could just focus on the booth and make something fun, but it feels like there’s always something working against me." She let out a frustrated breath before shaking her head. "But I won’t let this stop me. I have to make this work."

The maid nodded with a smile. "I’ve also set aside some of the other ingredients you might need for your booth—sago pearls, some fresh fruit, and a few other staples." She paused, glancing back at the ube box. "Do you still want to use this, or should I find another supplier?"

Katherine hesitated. The ube was a crucial part of one of her signature treats, and while she didn’t want to waste it, she also didn’t want to serve something that might not be up to par. She ran her fingers along the edge of the box, eyes narrowing again. "I’ll use it for now. But we’ll need to keep a closer eye on everything from here on out. It’s too risky to ignore any more signs."

Arianne gave a determined nod. "Understood, my lady. I’ll make sure to personally check every delivery going forward. We won’t let anyone ruin your plans."

Katherine gave a grateful smile. "Thank you, Arianne. You’ve been more help than I can say." She leaned back in her chair, taking a deep breath. The situation was far from ideal, but she wasn’t about to back down. If she wanted to make this booth a success, she’d have to fight for it. No matter what obstacles come her way.

***

The scent of frying latik still lingered faintly in the air as Katherine made her way down the hallway, a small basket balanced carefully in her arms. She had just finished wrapping up a few of her test samples—some puto topped with golden coconut curds, a few pastel-colored slices of sapin-sapin, and her most recent concoction: sweet cheese sticks with a dusting of powdered sugar. She was proud of the batch. Mostly. The cheese sticks still needed tweaking, but they were charming in their own strange way—much like a certain someone she was about to find.

She peeked into the garden courtyard, and sure enough, there he was.

Adolfo sat beneath the shade of a flowering tree, one leg elegantly crossed over the other, a sketchbook propped on his knee. His brows were furrowed, his pencil moving in swift strokes as if trying to wrestle brilliance from the paper. When she stepped closer, she saw that he was drawing... a chicken.

And not just any chicken.

A magical chicken.

Wearing a wizard’s hat.

Katherine blinked. "You’re still on that?"

Adolfo didn’t look up. "The magical chicken is an underrated concept. You lack vision."

She stifled a laugh, shifting the basket in her hands. "I’m here about something a bit more grounded than poultry sorcery. Mind if I interrupt?"

"Depends. Are you bringing food or chaos?" Adolfo let out a grin without looking up.

"Both," she said sweetly, then held out the basket. "I brought samples. For the fair."

That made him look up.

Adolfo reached out and plucked a piece of puto with the grace of someone used to being offered things on silver platters. He gave it an experimental bite, chewed thoughtfully, and then blinked. "This is... actually very good."

Katherine raised an eyebrow. "Actually?"

"You’ve outdone yourself," he said, dramatic as always. "It’s both suspiciously good and suspiciously sweet. I shall have to investigate further."

"Please don’t start doodling food-based familiars again."

"No promises."

She rolled her eyes. "Anyway. I was wondering—what’s your booth going to be for the fair?"

Adolfo smirked, brushing imaginary dust off his coat. "A mini theater. For short magical plays. Dramatic reenactments. Visual illusions. Think mystery, spectacle, and a tasteful amount of flair."

"That sounds... very on-brand."

"I accept that as a compliment."

"Well, since I’ll be dealing with food, and you’ll be dealing with drama, I thought..." She hesitated. "Maybe we could collaborate?"

Adolfo arched a brow.

"You know, snacks for the audience. Something to nibble while watching your plays. If they associate your booth with tasty memories, that can only help your reputation. You know what is a theater without a little snack?"

His eyes gleamed. "You want to ride on my popularity?"

"I want to feed people so they don’t faint from hunger halfway through your soliloquies."

He laughed—an honest, unguarded sound—and nodded. "Deal. But only if I get naming rights for one item on the menu."

Katherine narrowed her eyes. "Nothing cursed."

"Too late. I’m already calling the cheese sticks ’Wands of Crunchy Truth.’"

"...Fine. But I’m putting a warning sign beside it."

Adolfo only chuckled, clearly pleased with himself, but Katherine felt a quiet sense of relief. At least he agreed.

With that settled, she returned to her room, a strange warmth in her chest that lingered longer than it should have.