SWNOVELXO Chapter 386
MacLean held a green onion cream cheese bagel in his hand, glaring at Kurt and his group as if he wouldn’t take his eyes off them.
“Ahem. After letting some rule-breaking slide for a few days, it seems they’re starting to ignore detention center regulations. This won’t do. I need to impose some restrictions right away.”
No matter how much I’ve managed to butter up the guards, I’ll make sure they know it’s impossible to butter me up too.
And then, I’ll make them regret ever looking down on the Holy Kingdom’s detention center.
MacLean muttered to himself, taking a rough bite of the green onion cream cheese bagel as if to say, “This is your future.”
With that single bite, the plentiful cream cheese stuffed inside oozed out delightfully.
This bagel, made with just cream cheese mixed with finely chopped green onions and tomatoes, proved that simplicity doesn’t mean a lack of flavor; it delivered a delightful medley of the fragrant green onion and the salty, creamy richness of the cream cheese.
The sliced tomatoes added a juicy umami that deepened the taste, rounding it all out perfectly.
Munch munch
“Right this moment…”
Especially, bagels are unique because they’re boiled in water before being baked, which gives them a much denser and chewier texture compared to regular bread.
That distinct heaviness might even catch off-guard someone who’s never had a bagel, making them pause when comparing it to the weight of the same volume of sandwich bread.
Traditional bagels, made with only water, flour, yeast, and salt, are usually quite bland and plain in flavor.
So, if you eat a bagel plain, it’s dense and lacks any excitement, even more so than eating plain sandwich bread.
That’s why bagels don’t really suit extravagant or heavily spiced dishes.
But it turns out that the non-stimulating yet hearty and dense aroma of the grains in bagels makes them a great fit for a morning where one needs to dive right into the physically demanding job of a guard.
Moreover, spreading cream cheese on it like jam on toast can greatly enhance the otherwise bland taste.
Just a single bite fills the mouth with the weighty, chewy texture of the grain, while the cream cheese softens it all out, balancing each element perfectly.
The cream cheese negates the bagel’s dryness, and the bagel counters the cream cheese’s richness.
Munch munch
“…Right this moment…”
And how about the pairing of the green onions in the cream cheese?
Typically used as a garnish to accentuate main ingredients, green onions also take on the role of an herb, adding distinct flavor like rosemary or dill.
Their unique aroma rivals that of common herbs, offering a depth that adds an enjoyable crunch when mixed with cream cheese and helps balance out the heaviness of the cheese.
Supplying energy to start the day while keeping an uneasy stomach at bay.
Tomatoes play a vital role in adding a splash of freshness and brightness, making the result a satisfying meal that fills you up without making you feel sluggish, not too stimulating yet certainly not bland; it was truly an ideal way to kickstart the day.
Munch munch
“…This is the last time.”
In the end, MacLean couldn’t resist the temptation and decided to give it one last chance, just like he had over the past few days.
Meanwhile, seeing MacLean deeply focused on his bagel, I let out a sigh of relief internally.
I’d heard that in prisons of other countries, they sometimes sneak away prisoners’ belongings while pretending not to notice or outright confiscate them without returning them, so I was concerned, but thankfully the Holy Kingdom’s detention center didn’t seem to do that.
It looks like this is the principle of the seemingly upright guard captain, but ironically, that very integrity has given me just enough leeway to work my magic.
Anyway, the important thing is that the first phase of my plan is now complete.
“Good. Even the most vigilant MacLean seems to be starting to let his guard down. I was worried about him not letting up until the very end, unlike the other guards, so that’s a relief.”
Fortunately, observing his reactions over the past few days proved helpful in figuring out his taste.
With this, it’s safe to say that all the guards at the Holy Kingdom detention center have turned to my side.
“But I can’t relax completely just yet. This is only the first step. The real challenge now is to use my relationship with MacLean to uncover why we were detained and resolve that issue. And an even bigger problem is that it has already taken five days to gain their trust, so I can only hope that nothing significant happens during that time…”
As I enjoyed breakfast with the guards, I began to plan my next moves.
Having completed the initial phase of disarming their vigilance, my next step would be to either persuade them or gather information to find a way to be released.
That means I’ll have less opportunity to take a role.
If things go south and I need to escape, my strength may come in handy, but I’d rather keep that as a last resort.
What I can do is use cooking as a means to disarm their suspicions.
Then, there’s a role that suits me even better…
I thought this while looking at the group happily munching on their green onion cream cheese bagels across the bars.
Mari has an extraordinary charm that’s unmatched by anyone else.
Arisa has experience and observation skills that allow her to discern the structure and weaknesses of anything man-made in a flash.
The wizard Liche can wield not just powerful fire magic but can also perform bizarre tricks that ordinary people can only dream of.
And between us is a plant-deer-cat that blends in naturally, pretending to be the mysterious flora of a tree.
Even Golem Charl, who lies in the evidence locker, waiting for Liche’s command.
With this level of power, I’m sure we’ll successfully exploit the weaknesses of the detention center system and find clues for our escape.
All that’s left for me is to trust them to do well and wait.
“Oh! Mr. Kurt! Can I have another bagel?”
“I’d like one more slice of tomato, please…”
“Hey! Don’t take four at a time while saying that! That leaves less for everyone else!”
“It’s not four, it’s three!”
“Whether it’s four or three!”
“W-wait, wasn’t this tomato something I saved as a snack? You’re the one slathering way too much cream cheese!”
…All that’s left is to trust them and wait.
…
So, just when breakfast was wrapping up and I was about to strategize an escape from the detention center…
“Hey! Visiting time!”
One guard came strolling over in our direction, calling out to us in a loud voice.
…Visits?
I mean, if it were Astram, that would be one thing, but there’s someone willing to visit us in the Holy Kingdom?
Daria and Aila have probably already been taken for religious trials separately from us.
The one singled out for a visit was Mari.
With a look full of suspicion yet concern, she moved toward the visitation room.
….
“Freedom!”
…?
Before long, we found ourselves out of the detention center.
With all our belongings returned.
“…What did you say?”
“Though it was only for a few days, the food was great! Let’s meet again. No, can’t say that? Hahaha!”
“Uh, right…”
The guards, having developed a bond with me through the meals I provided over those few days, kindly smiled and escorted us to the main gate of the detention center.
In particular, MacLean, unlike in the detention center, was cracking silly jokes while patting my shoulder.
I wore a dazed expression at that pointless joke and offered half-hearted chuckles in return.
…What’s going on? What happened?
But I still couldn’t grasp how things had turned around.
And just then, two figures approached us, still in disbelief.
“Thank you! You have no idea how hard we worked to get you out of that detention center!”
“…This pays off the debt.”
The protagonists were Azani and Nisa, who we had parted ways with before entering the detention center.
“Thank goodness! Mr. Kurt!”
“…I see.”
As Mari, who had met them during visitation, turned her bright smile toward me, I felt strangely drained despite the situation calling for joy, and I weakly agreed with Mari’s words.
What on earth did I do over the past five days…?