The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]-Chapter 397: Source of Inspiration

It was going to be a long afternoon for the distracted builder who couldn’t even bear looking at walls.

Or so he thought.

Because it didn’t take long for work to stop as Jax called him over for a case of someone breaking through, only this time, it was something they expected.

A few preparations have actually been made. There was a small facility constructed ways away from the other buildings and was supposed to house people who were close enough for a breakthrough.

They had to rush to make such a facility because the only way these people would stop progressing was if they were to give up going into the space, eating, and cultivating.

But who would like to do that?

Apparently, no one. And Luca thought that Xavier was right about how everyone was willing to risk it if it meant improving their chances at surviving.

And so the string of breakthroughs began.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t the soldiers that started the trend but the maids and the research staff, or basically those with spiritual abilities B-rank and below.

It was like an epidemic because soon enough, everyone was going for a breakthrough! Luca wasn’t sure why until Butler Gary finally admitted the reason for this overzealousness.

It was the congratulatory gift packs that were apparently causing this widespread push for a breakthrough.

"The congratulatory gift packs?"

Luca blinked, confused. "We have congratulatory gift packs?"

"Young Lord, it’s actually the modified VIP pack that you sent to Terrence a few days after he advanced in rank. They’re calling it the congratulatory gift pack now." Butler Gary looked like he was physically restraining his soul from leaving his body.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Apparently, word got out."

"...About what?" Luca asked slowly.

"The contents..."

Now, the heir was confused because, from what he remembered, there were only the usual fruits and vegetables, and the recent additions for Terrance were really just the pills. So what was causing all this commotion?

Surprisingly, it was because of his own words, as Butler Gary revealed the ultimate reason.

"—and the small statement of a promise to watch out for the monthly VIP dish," he said with the polite misery of a man watching his people joyfully destroy all logic.

"Young Lord, they heard that there would be pizzas to celebrate breakthroughs."

Luca stared at him. "I’m sorry, what?"

"Pizza." Butler Gary said it like it was the final word of a tragic prophecy.

"..."

"...I’m literally still in the process of making the components that would go into a pizza," Luca said slowly, brows furrowing. "I haven’t actually gone to make one."

"Yes, Young Lord," The Butler replied, looking both haunted and defeated.

"They haven’t had the pizza," Gary clarified, like someone forced to explain ghost sightings. "But they’ve heard of it."

The words fell like a gavel, final and damning.

Now, to be fair, they had no idea what this pizza actually was, but everyone in the kitchen had been unusually busy, more so than usual, ever since he mentioned the word.

Apparently, according to overheard staff gossip, this wasn’t just a recipe.

It was a project.

And it was a project so big that several people were needed for this one as their heir has to deal with so many things for just one food.

In fact, word had spread that their young lord was personally tending to a very rare beast, something crucial and "spiritual" in nature. Something mysterious. Alive. Possibly dangerous.

But what’s more interesting was how this beast was being cultivated for this thing called pizza.

Now that shocked the golden-eyed lad because he didn’t remember anything that death-defying, and really, there was only one thing he’d been monitoring closely for the past few days.

It couldn’t be that, could it?

"Butler Gary, I might regret asking this," Luca muttered, "but...what beast?"

"That’s what your father came to ask you," Gary replied. "He was concerned. Thought maybe it was something that required a containment cell."

"The kitchen staff mentioned that every day, you’ve been religiously coming over to feed the beast, even discarding parts of its body because it would apparently eat too much if you don’t do it."

"So, in light of that, Young Lord, the Duke and Duchess are extremely worried and sent me over to ask if you needed help subduing this beast."

It really was that, and Luca was mortified that everyone was apparently thinking that he was taking care of an actual beast for pizza.

"..."

"Butler Gary, it-it’s nothing serious. I was just making a sourdough starter."

The elegant man didn’t blink. Knowing their Lord’s kindness and bravery, he was probably planning on dealing with it on his own. But they couldn’t do that as loyal vassals, right?!

"Young Lord, with all due respect. The rumor was that it had claws."

"Oh no! But, Butler Gary, it’s really just a jar of flour and water!"

"You keep feeding it."

"...That’s how starters work!"

"But, Young Lord, you even check on it daily."

"So it doesn’t die!"

"My Lord, it bubbles! And doubles in size!"

Luca opened his mouth. Then, he closed it and finally decided to show him what he was really working on.

The kitchen was busy, just as always, and especially now that they were dividing themselves into different groups based on the three major components.

And it was then that everyone stopped because Luca was again approaching the beast.

The people around actually watched as he, the embarrassed tomato, picked up the jar from the counter and held it up to Gary like Exhibit A.

Inside the glass jar, the sourdough starter looked unassuming—just a pale, bubbly mass suspended in its own soft folds.

Tiny bubbles rose and popped at the surface like it was breathing slowly, clearly showing that it was alive.

But it was really just that, alive!

"It doesn’t even have eyes."

It didn’t even have limbs. Or claws. Or sentience. Well, Luca hoped, or that would really be something else!

Butler Gary peered at it, skeptical. "It does...seem benign."

Luca shifted, holding the jar a little closer to his chest. "I was just trying to see if I could make yeast alternatives...so we wouldn’t have to keep buying from the Trove," he said softly.

He wasn’t upset. If anything, he was just a little mortified that his fermentation experiment had aroused such panic.

Somehow, somewhere, a passing mention had evolved into a full-blown myth. Now, word had spread that those who achieved a breakthrough—especially those helping with facility upgrades—might earn a personal pizza, lovingly crafted by the Young Lord himself.

And there was even a mention of a possibility of a side of onion rings.

"???"

People were pushing their limits with terrifying sincerity, and Luca was fearing for the success of this endeavor.

Surely he couldn’t disappoint them, right?!

Luca could only tuck the jar back onto the shelf and quietly reflect on how his starter had somehow become a catalyst for accelerated cultivation.

"...I’ll try to make sure it’s good," he said quietly.

"We’re all here if you need any more assistance, Young Lord!" Promised the Butler, who suddenly heard such kind words.

"Maybe we just need to make sure we have enough stock of milk so we can make the cheese."

From that day, the personal allocation for milk was limited, a sign of their collective commitment to this thing called pizza.

Heck, even Ollie, who had been toiling away and experiencing difficult times, was making the sacrifice!