Chapter 127 – Instant Noodles: A Smash Hit

Lilith had spectacularly been reduced to a tool for portioning instant noodle seasoning packets.

The {Food Card – Instant Noodle Seasoning Packets} Mo Lan made were all in large portions—each packet was enough to make at least two big bowls of noodles.

Splitting them into four servings was a breeze.

“What are instant noodles? Noodles you soak?” Lilith asked curiously as she portioned them out.

“Yes! They’re noodles you just soak in boiling water and they’re ready to eat,” Mo Lan said. “The Headmistress won’t let me sell you instant noodles directly, but selling the seasoning packets works just the same. Just cook some noodles and add the instant noodle seasoning—the seasoning packets are the soul of instant noodles.”

Lilith looked at the seasoning powder, sauce, and dried-up little vegetable pieces, unable to imagine what they’d taste like—and not daring to try.

Just imagining it, she’d definitely think it tasted awful.

She’d already discovered that Earth cuisine was universally like this—it never looked like much, but tasted absolutely incredible.

Hotpot was like that. Braised eggs were like that.

So regarding these instant noodles, she held her tongue.

Even so, when the banquet began and the young witches all arrived by invitation, the noodles went into the pot to cook, the broth dissolved the seasoning, and the aroma wafted up—Lilith, standing right over the pot of broth, was hit with an overwhelming wave that made her swallow involuntarily.

But she wasn’t the only one gulping.

The moment the instant noodle seasoning dissolved and the broth unleashed its fragrance, it became the center of attention for the entire venue.

“What kind of soup is this? It smells amazing!”

Mo Lan naturally didn’t forget to promote her cards. She pointed at the {Food Card – Instant Noodle Seasoning Packet} and said, “Everyone, look over here! All these soups are made with seasonings from the cards.”

Though Lilith’s cravings had been thoroughly awakened, she hadn’t forgotten her job. She was now on broth-ladling duty.

Truly, one ladle of hot broth was all it took to transform the dry, unappetizing seasoning powder into a bowl of savory, aromatic soup that made your mouth water instantly.

If this wasn’t turning the mundane into the magical, nothing was.

“Instant noodles? You still need to add noodles to this? Can’t you just drink it as soup?” Quilin asked. “The soup smells so good—won’t adding noodles dilute the flavor?”

“Don’t worry! It won’t! Eat the noodles first, then drink the soup—it’s perfect!” Mo Lan said.

“B-but… these cards are just seasoning packets. What if we buy them and don’t know how to make them?” asked shill number one, Vasida, stammering.

She was originally one of the most honest little witches you’d ever meet. This was her first time learning the word “shill,” so her performance was understandably a bit rough.

A braised beef flavored {Food Card – Instant Noodle Seasoning Packet} was something she simply couldn’t refuse—especially after having tasted a complete bowl of Mo Lan’s instant noodles at lunch.

Mo Lan immediately seized on the topic and launched into the evening’s main presentation for the attending customers—no, the young witches:

“The Earth cuisine featured at tonight’s banquet emphasizes one key quality: convenience! Even a complete kitchen novice can make delicious food with these seasoning packet cards!

“Take this instant noodle seasoning packet—squeeze it into a bowl, pour in boiling broth, and add cooked noodles. That’s it!

“Of course, if you want something more filling, you can add a fried egg—though I’d recommend the braised eggs over there instead.

“The braising spice packets are just as easy to use. Just put large pieces of meat or vegetables in water with the braising packet and let it simmer. Meat and eggs need longer; vegetables need less time.

“Braised dishes with a little wine? Absolutely divine!

“Hotpot is similar—dissolve the base in boiling water, then cook meat and vegetables in it. It’s the perfect choice for a gathering with friends!

“And then there’s the malatang and the milk tea packets…”

When she finished, Sylph took a deep breath and asked, “So let me get this straight. Moira, are you saying all these seasoning packets just need to be dissolved in water? Some you cook with meat, vegetables, and noodles together, some you don’t cook at all, some you cook first then dip things in—it’s really that simple?”

Pickled mustard green flavored {Food Card – Instant Noodle Seasoning Packet} +1.

“That’s right! It really is that simple!” Mo Lan answered.

At this point, the only thought in every young witch’s head was: “Simple—just boil water and you’re done.” Boiling water was something no witch couldn’t do, and besides, the usage instructions on the card descriptions were perfectly clear.

Not many of the witches present were skilled at cooking or Culinary Magic.

Most had only taken the Academy’s Culinary Magic course—enough to fill their own stomachs. At best, they’d followed a cookbook to learn a few dishes, with wildly varying results.

It couldn’t be called delicious. “Edible” was the most you could say.

After all, this was the Witch Academy, not a culinary school.

The seasoning packets were simple to use and cheap too. Hearts were racing!

Noodles were served into bowls, and every young witch in attendance received a small portion.

After that, the entire banquet hall was filled with nothing but the sound of slurping noodles.

The portions weren’t large, and the noodles were gone in no time.

“That’s so little!”

“That was way too good!”

“Hey, ours are different flavors—want to swap and try each other’s?”

“There’s no more noodles, so let’s swap and try each other’s soup!”

…

By the time the instant noodle broth in their bowls was drained to the last drop, the young witches truly understood the meaning of emptiness.

Not full. Not even close to full.

Under the witches’ longing, plaintive gazes, Mo Lan patted the card information poster beside her. “Only 1 mana for a card!”

As for braised dishes and all the rest—they hadn’t tried those yet. Right now, their minds were consumed entirely by instant noodles.

“Moira! Moira! Give me five instant noodle seasoning packet cards!”

After all, each one only cost 1 mana. Spend it tonight, recover it by tomorrow.

“Me too, me too! I want the spicy beef flavor—three cards to start! I’m going to cook a huge bowl right now!”

Mo Lan wrote up contracts and produced cards with a beaming smile, saying, “If you’re still hungry, don’t rush—don’t just eat instant noodles, there’s other good stuff too! Everyone, head over to the braised food section. The braised dishes and meats are already done, so help yourselves to a taste of everything and find your favorite flavor!

“After the braised food, there’s still malatang and hotpot. If you’re thirsty, there’s milk tea over there too! I guarantee you’ll all eat until you’re stuffed!”

Of course, whether their tongues would be satisfied even after their stomachs were full—that she couldn’t guarantee.

The young witches went to try the other foods, half-skeptical.

And then…

“Help! I don’t have enough magical power! What do I do when I want to buy every single one?!”

“My stomach is stuffed, but somehow my tongue is even hungrier—what do I do?!”

Those words spoke straight to Lilith’s soul. She rather regretted drinking too much noodle broth and eating too much braised meat—now she’d only managed a few sips each of the malatang and milk tea before she was completely full.

She so badly wanted to eat just a little more!

She touched the dozen-plus cards in her pocket, her heart aching.

By the time she realized what had happened, the cards were already there in her pocket.

And all the mana she’d painstakingly recovered today by chugging several large jugs of Breadfruit juice had departed from her entirely, flowing into Mo Lan’s Book of Cards.