Seven monstrous figures gathered before the restaurant on the Ninth Floor. Instead of their usual gear, they were draped in elegant suits and formal gowns. Among them, one figure stood out in stark contrast: Cocytus, the Vermin Lord. His light-blue exoskeleton shimmered, icy spikes jutting from his back like frozen spears. Despite his four powerful arms and warrior's stature, he had made a visible effort to obey the order to dress formally—a tiny red bowtie was fastened somewhat precariously around his thick neck.
"Cocytus... you're still naked, aren't you?"
Aura Bella Fiora, the dark elf girl with pointed ears and heterochromatic eyes—green on the right, blue on the left—teased him with a mischievous grin. Usually dressed in masculine attire, she had chosen a white long-skirted gown for the evening, accented by a blue gem pendant.
"…Be. Quiet."
"Aura, please don't tease him. He put in quite a bit of effort, you know," Demiurge interjected.
Instead of his usual striped red suit, Demiurge wore a black tuxedo with ruby cufflinks. A diamond pin held his white tie in place, and a monocle replaced his standard round glasses. He looked every bit the high-society noble, provided one ignored the silver-plated tail emerging from his coat. It had been Demiurge who spent hours convincing Cocytus to wear even the bowtie; the warrior's current look was the result of their combined struggle.
"But Albedo," Demiurge continued, "what is Lord Ainz's intention for this banquet? Has he told you anything?"
"Only that he went to Carne Village with Yuri and something significant occurred there," Albedo replied.
She wore a modest, pure-red gown that lacked her usual daring cutouts, emphasizing an air of quiet elegance instead.
"D-did something happen... in Carne Village?"
Mare Bello Fiore, Aura's brother, fidgeted with the hem of his dress—which matched his sister's design. As a cross-dressing boy, his shy demeanor was on full display as his pointed ears drooped slightly.
"I don't know, Mare. But Lord Ainz was in an exceptionally good mood," Albedo noted.
"Lord Ainz... in a good mood? I wonder what he found in a place like that. Did you not ask Yuri?" Mare pressed.
"I haven't seen her since the direct order was issued."
The Guardians exchanged puzzled looks. They couldn't imagine anything in a backwater village like Carne that would warrant such a celebration.
"Speaking of orders... I saw Shiho and Picky heading outside the Tomb," Shalltear Bloodfallen muttered.
The True Vampire looked almost unrecognizable. Instead of her black ballgown, she wore a white dress. More strikingly, her beautiful silver hair had been dyed a brilliant gold.
"They passed through my floor, the Seventh, as well," Demiurge added.
"And our floor, the Sixth."
"The. Fifth. Floor. Too."
The Guardians were increasingly confused. What was the connection between a village, the disappearance of the head chefs, and their master's joy?
"By the way, Shalltear? Why is your hair gold?"
The question came from the strange, egg-headed figure in a white suit. Pandora's Actor—Momonga's own creation and the Area Guardian of the Treasury—stood with his usual theatrical flair. Most of the Guardians were seeing him for the first time outside his post.
"I... I mistook the hair dye for shampoo," Shalltear hissed, her face flush with embarrassment.
"Ah, I see! Regardless, that white dress suits you perfectly. I am certain Lo—Lord Ainz will find it quite charming!" He bowed with an exaggerated, sweeping gesture that only he could make look natural.
"Pandora's Actor," Demiurge said, cutting through the drama. "You were the last one to see Lord Ainz before he left. Do you have any insight into his mood?"
"Hmm! Yes! Lord Ainz was indeed in high spirits when he visited the Treasury. However... he did seem to be contemplating something. He murmured to himself: 'Can I stop him?'"
Can I stop him? The phrase hung in the air. If Ainz was in a good mood, why was he worried about "stopping" someone?
Before they could theorize further, the restaurant doors swung open from within.
"Thank you for waiting. The banquet is about to begin."
"Floor Guardians, please enter."
Shiho and Picky, both dressed in tuxedos, gestured for them to come inside. Pandora's Actor shrugged dramatically at Albedo. "It seems we are out of time. Shall we wait for Lord Ainz to speak for himself?"
Albedo nodded. "Let us go. We must be ready to receive him."
The Guardians entered the restaurant and stopped dead. The interior was far more opulent than the general cafeteria, but that wasn't what stunned them.
"Welcome, Floor Guardians of Nazarick. Tonight is a celebration. Enjoy yourselves."
"Lord Ainz!"
They moved to kneel, but the figure at the head of the table—Ainz, wearing a strange brown mask—stopped them.
"Sit. It is a wonderful day, and such joy should be shared. Eat, drink, and be merry. We shall talk afterward."
As they took their seats, Shiho and Picky began distributing aperitifs.
"To this magnificent day—Cheers!"
Ainz raised his glass, and the Guardians followed suit. The banquet had officially begun.
***
Shalltear stared at her golden hair in a nearby mirror, still feeling unsettled. She had spent so long in the bath trying to fix the error that she had run out of time to change it back.
"Shalltear, your dish is served," Shiho announced with a bow.
Shalltear's eyes went wide. "Should the first plate not go to Lord Ainz? It is a matter of etiquette."
"Lord Ainz has granted permission," Shiho replied. "The order of service has been set: Shalltear, Aura, Mare, Cocytus, Demiurge, Pandora's Actor, Albedo, and finally, Lord Ainz."
"I wish to enjoy the conversation with you all as the food arrives," Ainz explained. "Proceed, Shalltear."
Picky emerged from the kitchen pushing a cart. On it sat a mechanical press, but instead of a finished dish, there were only the bones of a small duck.
"Before the main course, a small performance," Picky said, bowing. "These are the bones of a duckling. I shall press them to extract the juices for you to taste first."
The press crunched down, and thick, dark liquid began to flow into a glass. As a vampire, Shalltear could smell the intense, heavy scent of blood from across the room.
"Please, enjoy. The main course will follow shortly."
Shalltear stared at the glass. It was animal blood, but the richness was staggering. She felt a familiar itch in the back of her throat.
"Lord Ainz," Demiurge spoke up, noticing Shalltear's hesitation. "Albedo and Pandora's Actor mentioned you were in great spirits. May we ask the cause?"
"Indeed, Demiurge. It is perhaps the greatest event since our arrival in this world. But it is a bit early to reveal the details."
Ainz's voice was warm. Shalltear took a breath and downed the contents of the glass. The taste of duck and concentrated blood flooded her mouth.
It's so thick... she thought. She waited for the "Blood Frenzy" to take hold, for the uncontrollable urge to tear into something, but... nothing happened.
"That's impossible..." she whispered.
"Was it to your liking?" Shiho asked, returning with a cart.
"Yes, but... why hasn't my frenzy triggered?"
"A special preparation was used to suppress the urge," Shiho explained. "It was a difficult process, but I am glad it worked."
Shalltear was stunned. To suppress a racial flaw through cooking alone?
"Questions later. For now, please enjoy: Roasted Duckling with Blood Sauce."
The cloche was lifted, releasing an aroma far more powerful than the raw juice. The sauce was a deep, chocolatey brown.
"This is the blood sauce?" Shalltear asked. She had expected something bright red, but this looked rich and decadent.
"Yes. It is a sauce made from fond de veau—simmered veal bones and aromatics—reduced with port wine."
Shalltear didn't recognize the terms, but she didn't care. After a nod from Ainz, she took a bite. The duck was tender and juicy, and the sauce brought a depth of flavor that transformed the meat into something transcendent.
"It is... magnificent," was all she could manage.
***
As Shalltear ate, Picky served Aura and Mare.
"Aura, Mare—thank you for waiting."
He placed a covered dish before Aura. "I know you are fond of hamburger steak, so today we have prepared one using a special technique. Please, enjoy."
Picky lifted the cloche. The steam carried the scent of seared meat and a rich, dark sauce.
"Whoa..."
Aura was breathless. This wasn't the usual hamburger steak the chefs made. It looked... more powerful. Even the side of fries and the demi-glace sauce felt different.
"What's the secret?"
"You will know once you taste it," Picky smiled. He moved to Mare and placed a plate of spaghetti meat sauce before him. "And for Mare, a meat sauce spaghetti guaranteed to be the best you've ever had."
"It looks... s-so good!" Mare's eyes sparkled.
The two dark elves looked at Ainz. "May we eat, Lord Ainz?"
"Of course. Today is a celebration of your hard work."
As they began, the other Guardians watched with envy. Ainz sat at the head of the table, his own glass empty.
"Watching the food arrive... it is a pleasure in itself, is it not?" Ainz mused.
"Indeed, my Lord," Demiurge replied. "But for us to feast while you cannot... it feels out of place."
Ainz laughed, a sound of genuine miral. "Don't be so stiff. I suggested this banquet myself. I have a reason. Can you not guess it, Demiurge? Albedo?"
The two strategists went silent, their minds racing. If they couldn't figure it out, no one could.
"Sis? You should eat. It's amazing!" Mare chirped, already halfway through his pasta.
Aura cut into her hamburger. Clear juices erupted from the meat, sizzling against the iron plate. The smell was intoxicating.
"Delicious!"
She had expected it to be good, but this was on another level. Her usual hamburgers were soft and fluffy, but this had a firm, meaty texture that felt like eating a steak.
"We prepared it with a firmer texture to complement the sauce today," Picky explained.
Aura took another bite, this time with more sauce. The intense savoriness of the meat was perfectly balanced by the sweet, acidic tang of the tomato in the sauce.
"It's so different... I've never had anything like this."
"Sis... can I try some?"
"Only if I can have some of your spaghetti!"
The two siblings swapped plates. Aura took a forkful of the spaghetti. The pasta was perfectly al dente, and the sauce was thick with beef and onions.
"The beef..." Aura muttered. "Picky, what kind of meat is this?"
"With Lord Ainz's permission, we used Raging Bull for today's menu."
"What?!" both siblings shouted.
Raging Bull was a Level 80 magical beast known for its devastating power. Its meat was a legendary ingredient, usually reserved only for the Supreme Beings.
"Lord Ainz, you are serving such a rare delicacy?" Demiurge asked, stunned.
Albedo and Cocytus looked equally shocked. To think they were casually eating a creature of that caliber...
"Indeed," Ainz said. "I have been looking forward to this. I think I have watched long enough. It is time..."
Ainz reached for his mask and pulled it away. Beneath it was not a skull, but the face of a human man.
"Lord Ainz?! That form!"
"I wished to participate in the banquet myself. Thus, I used a humanization skill. Do I surprise you?"
Surprise was an understatement. Shalltear stared with wide eyes, and Cocytus began to emit a cold mist in shock.
"He... he looks so kind," Mare whispered.
Ainz had black hair and a gentle, if somewhat average, face. His eyes still glowed with a faint crimson light, but the change was total.
"Lord Ainz, let me pour your wine—" Picky began, but Ainz raised a hand.
"Albedo. If you would?"
"Yes! At once!" Albedo rushed to take the bottle and fill Ainz's glass.
Ainz swirled the wine, inhaling the aroma before taking a sip. "…Ah. So this is what it means for something to be 'delicious.' It is a sensation I have missed for a long time."
The weight of his words silenced the room. For an Overlord, the concept of taste was a distant memory.
"Why have you stopped? It is a banquet! Eat!"
The Guardians resumed their meal, but a new, strange tension filled the room. Aura and Mare found their forks moving much slower as they processed the sight of their master in human form.
***
That idiot... he took the mask off early, I thought, watching from the kitchen. The plan was to wait until after Demiurge was served.
Well, at least he's enjoying himself.
Momonga had always said he didn't care about food, but here he was, drinking wine and smiling.
"Alright... the finishing touch!"
I placed the slices of Kue—the longtooth grouper—into the pot and covered it. Long ago, gourmets said this fish was even better than pufferfish. This Kue hot pot was Cocytus's dish. Given his size, the "slices" were more like massive chunks. It might lack the luxury of Raging Bull, but for Cocytus, this was the ultimate meal.
Because this was the dish he had shared with his creator, Warrior Takemikazuchi.
He was a good guy, I remembered. Even in a game where food only gave minor stat boosts, Takemikazuchi had insisted on eating with his creation. "Eating alone is boring," he'd say. Cocytus surely remembered that.
"Shiho, Cocytus is next. It's hot and there's a lot of broth, so be careful."
"Understood, Master."
I watched her leave, but I couldn't relax yet. The real challenge was coming up: Demiurge, Pandora's Actor, and Albedo. The three "geniuses."
They can't find out.
If they realized I was the one cooking, the surprise would be ruined. I had to cook with 100% effort while masking my signature style. It was a tall order. I tasted the stew.
"Almost there."
Demiurge's beef stew needed a few more minutes, which it would get while Cocytus was eating.
It should be perfect.
The fond de veau for Shalltear, the demi-glace for Aura... the combinations were high-level. One mistake would ruin the harmony. I had even sautéed the vegetables separately and puréed them into the sauce for extra depth. It was a flavor beyond anything I could make in the real world—an unknown frontier even for me.
"I'm getting too nervous," I laughed. I was more tense than I'd been cooking for the elites back in the Tokyo Arcology. I still had much to learn.
"Now... Albedo."
Her favorite setting was "rice bowls"—beef bowls or kalbi bowls. A strange choice for a beauty like her, and certainly not fitting for a formal banquet.
"A seafood pot would overlap with Cocytus. Grilling is too simple... stewing is out."
Time was running out. I had spent too long on the sauces. I needed something elegant, beautiful, and...
"Radiant skin... That's it."
My eyes landed on a bird. Like the bull, it carried the "Raging" title—a Raging Cook. The game developers really loved that word. But the meat was undisputed.
"Alright! Let's do this!"
As the beef stew finished, I began prepping the schnitzel and Albedo's dish simultaneously.
***
While Kawasaki battled in the kitchen, Clementine was in a different kind of war.
"Wait! Stop! This doesn't suit me!"
"Be still," Yuri commanded. "If you move, I will fail."
"Sister Yuri~su! Don't you think this pendant is better?" Lupusregina chirped.
"Then we must change the dress to match," Yuri mused.
"I've had enough...!" Clementine groaned.
Under Ainz's orders to make her "fit for Nazarick," Yuri and Lupusregina had turned the former Black Scripture assassin into their personal dress-up doll.
Next — Menu 7: Cocytus's Kue Pot and Demiurge's Beef Stew
***
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