The SSS class adventurer is a divine cleric-Chapter 84: It’s called quality control

The smell of roasted meat filled the tavern.

Fresh bread steamed on the table, butter melting down the crust. Plates clinked, mugs were passed around, and for the first time in what felt like forever, there was warm laughter and quality time.

Kaelen sat cross-legged on a bench, holding a roasted chicken the size of his own head and stuffing a piece of it into his mouth. He chewed with great effort, not because it was tough, but because he was talking nonstop between bites. Still crying over spilled milk.

"..And that’s why I should have been the one out treasure hunting!" he declared, slamming his mug on the table. "Not stuck grinding floor tiles like a cursed artisan!"

Neal didn’t even look up. "You were the one who ate half a pound of sacred powder, Kaelen."

Kaelen wiped his greasy fingers on his cloak and leaned forward with mock seriousness. "Sacred, how is that sacred? If anything was sacred in that damn place then it was my mouth. And yes it was just a mouthful not a whole half a pound. But did anyone thank me for testing the powder? For risking my life as a pioneer of discovery?"

Kaelen would not stop glorifying himself.

Derek glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. "Testing? You just shoved a handful into your mouth like it was a snack."

Alira, sitting quietly beside Neal, gave Kaelen a sideways glance. "You’re lucky that you didn’t explode, so quit complaining."

"I almost exploded spectacularly," Kaelen corrected with a grin, pointing a drumstick at her like it was a wand. "And look at me now. Five levels in one go. That’s called efficiency. Had you guys let me eat a few more, who knows I might have as well become a Divine angel instead of some stupid cleric."

Derek took a sip of his drink and smirked. "Quit yapping. So... how much did you grind in the last two days, oh wise floor sculptor?"

Kaelen’s face lit up like he’d been waiting for that question his whole life.

"Oh, me? Pshh. Mountains. Literal mountains." He leaned back, crossing his arms proudly. "While you three wandered around getting sunburnt by glowing leaves or tripping over sparkling pebbles, I was perfecting the art of divine powder craftsmanship. At least a kilo an hour. Maybe more."

Neal and Alira stared at him blankly.

Derek set his mug down. "We measured it. You made 300 grams total."

Kaelen’s eyes flicked around the room. "That’s... uh... after taxes. And processing fees."

Alira narrowed her eyes. "You took breaks didn’t you?"

Neal chided from the opposite side of the table. "Forget about breaks he must have been eating it all along." Then pointing a finger at him said. "If you are truly innocent, show us your level stats."

Kaelen shrugged. "It’s called quality control. Can’t risk a contaminated batch."

Neal snorted. "Bastard you’re unbelievable."

"I know," Kaelen said, smugly. "That’s why I deserve a bonus dinner. Pass me the honey-roasted boar, will you?"

Hahahahahaha so easily fooled.

Inwardly Kaelen was relieved that Jered wasn’t here. If he was he would have snuffed out all his secret little stash. But his happiness didn’t last long.

Derek just kept staring at him dead in the eye, without breaking any contact, as if saying I know your little secret, will you do it yourself or will you force me.

How could Derek ever leave such an important item in Kaelen’s hand, that was more like asking the thief to look after his house. Nothing good would come out of it.

Only a veteran awakener would truly know how hard it was to get their hands on high grade items and this powder was not just any high grade items. It was the origin powder, some even called it the primordial essence but nobody knows whether it was true or not..

Kaelen may be stupidly bold but not bold enough to try the temper of this old veteran who was staring at him as if he would rip him apart if he didn’t comply.

Kaelen gritted his teeth, but still lied through his teeth, trying to save as much as he could. "Fine I kept some kg worth of it."

Then he threw out a big sack from his system storage, probably 50 kg worth or so. " That’s all that I’ve got."

But Derek’s expression further darkened and he didn’t say a word or even breathe.

OMG is this real or is this kid playing a prank on me again. This aura, this essence, no its unmistakable it’s definitely origin powder.

Derek was shocked, frozen and breathless, not daring to breathe, fearing that in the next second he might wake up from the dream.

Kaelen was now sweating bullets.

How? How? Just how did he know? My grinding speed and the amount I would get is well measured. I’ve even double checked it and added a kg to avoid any suspicions. Just how?

He didn’t dare to wait anymore. "Damn it."

He threw out another 3 bags of it. And shouting at the man. " Now stop looking at me like that. That’s all and if you still don’t believe then guess we have no more choice." Kaelen’s mana flared, his senses rising to the top, readying himself to flee at any given moment, even at the slightest twitch of Derek’s mana.

He was so focused on Derek that he failed to detect a kick coming from behind towards his groins.

THUD!

AUUUUUHHH!!!

Kaelen eyes wide gasping for air and fell to the ground.

Alira looked at him with disgust. How could she not. He literally had bags of origin essence and handed them just 300 grams of it. She even started to question herself whether forgiving him was even worth it or if she should just outright kill this scumbag.

In the end Derek decided to give them all a kilogram each and saved the rest for future emergencies. No one complained about the distribution and surprisingly Kaelen was even all jolly and full of smiles as if nothing had happened and he had won the lottery ticket instead.

Kaelen wasn’t expecting to get his own shares of origin powder after hiding away almost everything and what the rest didn’t know was that he had eaten yet another 15 levels worth of origin powder in the origin realm.

And as the dinner continued Alira handed him another plate of food with the faintest smile, though her eyes still carried the hint of a threat which he failed to notice again.

As Kaelen happily loaded his dish with more food than a single person should ever eat, the air in the tavern softened. The laughter, the teasing, the warmth, it all came back again. Forgetting all what had just occurred a moments ago. For now, they were just four friends at the dinner table enjoying quality time.

And for once, that was enough.

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