I cannot read Lord Ainz's intentions. It is only natural that I cannot fathom the thoughts of a mind so far superior to my own... but this time, I cannot even glimpse the depths of his wisdom.
Why has Lord Ainz taken a human form?
Humanization is a spell usually reserved for weak heteromorphs. To my knowledge, Lord Ainz never acquired such a spell... and he wears no Ring of Wandering. He sits there, swirling his wine glass, lost in thought. What is he seeing with those eyes? What grand design is unfolding within that intellect?
As Demiurge wracked his brain to find the strategic reason behind the transformation, the man himself was thinking something entirely different.
Man, I'm in trouble... I wonder if Kawasaki is going to be mad at me?
Momonga was worried that taking the mask off earlier than planned would ruin Kawasaki's surprise. He stared into his wine.
I heard it was different from reality, but this is incredible.
The real reason he was silent? He was simply stunned by the massive gap between the "water labeled as alcohol" in the Tokyo Arcology and the exquisite vintage of Nazarick.
What is Lord Ainz's true objective?
Demiurge continued his internal spiral. There was no doubt this banquet was more than a simple meal. Serving ingredients usually reserved for the Supreme Beings... there had to be a message.
"Being human isn't entirely a bad thing, is it, Demiurge?"
"I... beg your pardon?"
I slipped up and answered twice, caught off guard by the unexpected remark. Albedo shot me a glare, but how could anyone have prepared for such a statement?
"The raid of the fifteen hundred players in Yggdrasil... the humans of that world were our enemies. But perhaps that will not be the case in this world."
The raid of fifteen hundred... that hateful event where they pushed all the way to the Eighth Floor before being repelled. Humanity—foolish, hideous, yet a threat when they swarmed. That was my definition of a human.
What... what are you planning, my Lord?
Why did he say that? What did he see in Carne Village? And why take their form? The questions continued to fill Demiurge's mind, leaving him in a state of perpetual mystery.
***
A banquet. At first, I did not understand the meaning of the command. Why do such a thing? That was all I could think about...
"Oh... th-this is..."
I trembled as I saw the dish Shiho brought out. This dish... could it be?! A thought flashed through my mind the moment I saw the massive pot.
"This is Kue Pot, Lord Cocytus."
Shiho slowly lifted the lid. Steam momentarily obscured my vision, but only for a second. The bubbling contents of the pot were exactly as I remembered.
"...It is. Just as I thought."
Once, long ago, I had the incredible honor of sharing a meal from a single pot with my creator, Warrior Takemikazuchi. It was a cherished memory... a large pot filled with vegetables and the thick, white chunks of a fish called "Kue."
"There is nothing that can surpass this..."
It was a single meal, but the taste—the sheer excellence of it—had been burned into my mind.
'Kawasaki made this for us. His cooking is never wrong! Come! Let us eat together, Cocytus!'
I remembered Takemikazuchi's words verbatim.
"Master Kawasaki..."
Master Kawasaki, who had vanished from our sight... No. That man was merciful and kind. I cannot believe he would simply abandon Nazarick. He must be unable to return for some unavoidable reason.
When the banquet is over, I shall petition Lord Ainz... though I do not know if it will be permitted.
There was no way Lord Ainz wasn't looking for him. He had to be. If it were at all possible... I wished to join the search.
"Here are your custom chopsticks."
"Oh... you have my thanks."
I took the chopsticks—which were the size of short swords—from Shiho and reached for the pot. Despite the cold aura I naturally radiated, the pot did not cool down.
The pot is the same too...
When I ate with Takemikazuchi, the pot never grew cold. It was a hallmark of Master Kawasaki's specialized cookware. I ladled some broth into my bowl and took a sip.
"…Hoh."
A puff of frost escaped my mouth. The broth was a masterpiece, infused with the sweetness of the vegetables and the deep essence of the fish. The clarity of the soup belied the sheer depth of flavor dissolved within it. It was, quite simply, delicious.
Even better than back then.
It surpassed the taste of my memories... it was deeper, more refined. I set my bowl down.
"This flavor... it is remarkably similar to Master Kawasaki's. Your skills have improved, Shiho."
"…I am honored by your praise."
Shiho gave a small bow and retreated to the kitchen. I reached for the star of the dish: the Kue. The white meat was served with the skin on, but this was no oversight. The fish was rich in collagen, providing a plump, gelatinous texture and a deep, savory flavor. I dipped it lightly into the dark seasoning—the ponzu soy sauce—and ate.
Oh... Ooooh...
I did not speak, but my heart was overflowing with emotion. The Kue was clean yet possessed a profound depth of flavor. The skin, softened by the simmer, melted in my mouth, providing a perfect contrast to the firm meat.
'How is it, Cocytus? Good, isn't it?'
Yes... it is truly magnificent... Master Takemikazuchi.
Within the steam, I thought I saw his face and heard his voice. I knew it was a mere illusion born of my own longing, and yet, I allowed myself to see him there.
***
I listened to Shiho's report upon her return to the kitchen and found myself whispering, "Seriously?"
"He said it tasted like mine? Cocytus did?"
"Yes, Master."
Man... I didn't expect Cocytus to notice. He's a Vermin Lord; his sense of taste should be inferior to the human-type NPCs. Or maybe that was exactly why? He didn't look for the complex notes, but sensed the fundamental habits and seasoning of the dish.
"Try not to look flustered. Just act like you made it yourself. Tell Picky to do the same."
I had expected Demiurge or Albedo to catch on. Cooking always carries the "fingerprints" of the maker. I figured the two of them—who were designed with high intelligence and gourmet preferences—would be the ones to spot my style. I wasn't worried about Pandora's Actor since Momonga's sense of taste was... well, basic, but I knew he might recognize my physical movements in the kitchen.
"And if we are found out?"
"Then I'll just come out early. It's no big deal."
The original plan was for Momonga to finish his meal and then call me out, but adjusting the schedule wasn't a problem.
"Toast those two dinner rolls. We're almost ready for the finish."
"Yes, Master!"
I focused on the small pot. While the beef was simmering in one vessel, the vegetables—carrots, potatoes, and onions—were cooking in a separate pot of the same stew base. If I cooked them with the meat, the vegetables would turn to mush. Instead, I had puréed the initial aromatics to create the base and was now cooking the garnish separately. This preserved their texture while allowing them to soak up the flavor of the beef.
I pulled a piece of beef from the main pot and pressed it with a spoon.
"Perfect."
It was so tender it fell apart at the slightest touch. This was a true Beef Stew. It was a dish I had made a thousand times; it was the one I was most confident in. I plated the beef, surrounded it with the vegetables, and finally poured over the rich, dark sauce.
"It's done. Go."
"On it!"
Shiho took the plate, added the lightly toasted rolls, and pushed the cart out. I turned my attention to Pandora's Actor's dish. I began slicing a Raging Bull fillet into large, thin pieces.
"Yeah, that's about right."
The marbling was perfect, but the meat was mostly lean—tender with an intense beefy flavor. I rubbed in salt and pepper and began making careful incisions. The meat was already soft, but that was no reason to skip the "scoring" process. I pounded the fillet with a rolling pin.
I hope I can stay hidden until the end.
I knew how sharp Demiurge and Albedo were. I really wanted to pull off the surprise. I tossed a loaf of bread into the blender and hit the switch.
***
Cocytus sat before his pot, his body trembling as he ate. Being a Vermin Lord, he could not shed tears, but if he could, his face would have been soaked.
What a clever, cruel thing to do, I thought, watching him.
While Shalltear, Aura, and Mare were given their favorite foods, Cocytus was given the dish he shared with Warrior Takemikazuchi. It was a gesture that pierced his heart and brought him more joy than anything else could.
"Lord Cocytus, for the finish, we can prepare either porridge or noodles. Which do you prefer?" Picky asked.
"Forgive me... but I wish for both. Just as I did when I ate with Master Takemikazuchi."
"Understood. I shall divide the broth into two portions. We will start with the noodles, followed by the porridge."
I watched as Picky began the preparations. Everyone knew the story of Cocytus sharing that meal and eating both finishes. Picky had likely planned to make both from the start.
Just then, Shiho emerged with a new cart.
Now, let us see what has been prepared for me...
I enjoyed stews, but the category was broad. I liked Tom Yum Goong, and I had a fondness for seafood-based stews like Acqua Pazza. Shiho placed a covered dish before me.
"Thank you for waiting. This is Beef Stew made with Raging Bull round."
She lifted the cloche, and I found myself letting out a soft breath. I expected high-end ingredients, but I never imagined a Beef Stew using such a massive, whole cut of round.
The finish on this is unlike anything I've seen.
Shiho and Picky had tried many times to replicate Master Kawasaki's flavor, but this... visually, this was almost indistinguishable from the Master's own work.
Is Master Kawasaki here?
The image of the orange Cookman in his white coat filled my mind. Several maids had seen him running toward the Throne Room during the transition... yet he was not in Nazarick.
What an incompetent servant I am, unable to even grasp the heart of my Master...
Lord Ainz didn't say it, but he had to be worried. Kawasaki was a Cookman; his combat ability was nonexistent. He was weaker than the Pleiades, weaker even than my own Evil Lords. But his true value was in his cooking. He provided the essential buffs that empowered the Supreme Beings and the Guardians.
We must find him.
The humans and monsters of this world were no threat, but as his servants, it was our duty to bring him home. I was certain that after this banquet, Lord Ainz would announce the search. This entire event, and the plan that would follow, was surely about finding Kawasaki. If he had already returned, we would be having a ceremony, not a dinner. And besides...
Master Kawasaki would never cook for servants.
His food was a gift for the Supreme Beings alone. It was not something meant for daily consumption by the likes of us. A few of the Pleiades had tasted scraps before they were served to the masters, but even those were on a different level from what we were eating now.
I have only been allowed to taste it four times in my life.
Once during a player raid, and three times at the whim of a cheerful Lord Ulbert. The taste was scorched into my brain. It was a heavenly delicacy. Therefore, I concluded that Kawasaki had not yet returned.
Lord Ainz is likely using this human form to put us at ease.
To feast upon the ingredients of the Gods was a terrifying thing for a servant. Lord Ainz had taken this form and opened his own restaurant to tell me: 'Eat, find your strength, and then go find Kawasaki.' That was the unspoken message.
"I am grateful for this food."
I put my hands together. This was one of the rules Kawasaki had insisted upon—gratitude for the life taken, for the cook, and for the ingredients. As a demon, I did not fully understand it, but I followed his teachings. It had become a habit.
This is... remarkable.
The meat fell apart under the pressure of my spoon, while the vegetables remained perfectly intact. They had been cooked separately and joined only at the end. The amount of labor involved was staggering. I took a bite and felt my eyes widen.
Delicious...
The complexity of the flavor was overwhelming. It wasn't just the beef. It was the sweetness of the vegetables, the depth of the fond de veau and the demi-glace, and the puréed aromatics that had been simmered for an eternity.
"Magnificent. Truly magnificent. Shiho... this is identical to Master Kawasaki's own Beef Stew."
"I found one of the Master's recipe journals recently," she said with a humble bow. "I feel unworthy of such praise."
"I see... though using his journal is almost like cheating, isn't it?"
Master Kawasaki's recipe journals... they were treasures of Nazarick. His mastery over Japanese, Chinese, and Western cuisine was legendary.
"Does Lord Ainz know of this?"
"Of course. It is to be placed in the Treasury eventually."
"Oooooh!! To be entrusted with such a relic! I, Pandora's Actor, shall prepare a pedestal worthy of Master Kawasaki's sacred texts!!"
Pandora's Actor's shout drew irritated glares from Aura and Mare.
"Pandora's Actor," Ainz chided softly. "I appreciate your enthusiasm, but please be quiet. This is a banquet."
The NPC bowed his head in apology. He was a strange one... though I suspected his personality was a calculated performance. A "wise fool" act. I took a sip of wine to clear my palate and went back to the beef.
"This is the finest thing I have ever tasted."
It was an ingredient for the Gods, and now I understood why. It was tender enough to collapse but had a satisfying spring when chewed. The richness of the meat, coupled with the sauce, was overwhelming.
"I can see you enjoy it, Demiurge," Ainz noted with a smile.
I nodded, feeling a bit bashful. To think they could produce something of this caliber... I was truly impressed by their dedication to reaching Kawasaki's level.
The bread is excellent too.
I tore a piece of the toasted roll and used it to scoop up the sauce. The wheat was sweet and fragrant, clearly baked specifically to pair with this stew. Lord Ainz's intentions still concerned me, but for the moment, I was completely captivated by the feast.
***
As I sat at the table, I searched for the hidden meaning behind this banquet.
Master Kawasaki's recipes... does such a thing really exist?
I couldn't help but wonder. Master Kawasaki was different from the other thirty-nine who had abandoned Lord Ainz. He had visited every single day to talk to him. To me, he was special. He had even given me "bride training" in the kitchen.
And he was here.
When we transitioned, the Throne Room doors were open, but he wasn't there.
'Kawasaki?! No... you were right there at the doors!'
I remembered Lord Ainz's cry of despair. He had been in the Tomb until the very last second. He was trying to reach Lord Ainz...
Where did you go?
Nigredo had searched the Tomb and the surrounding area, but found nothing.
It could be his gear.
Kawasaki's chef's whites had high-tier stealth and anti-detection properties. It was possible Nigredo had simply missed him. If he was nearby, Shalltear or Shiho would find him eventually. But there was a darker possibility.
Was he left behind in the collapsing game?
Lord Ainz said Yggdrasil was ending. Could some anomaly have kept Kawasaki there while we were moved? No, that didn't make sense. If the servants and Guardians were here, he should be too. Demiurge had to be thinking the same thing.
"Picky, could I have some more bread?"
"At once, Lady Albedo."
And yet, Demiurge was acting like he was simply enjoying a meal. Even he seemed captivated by the food. Was there something in the cooking?
"Albedo, you look troubled. Is something wrong?"
Lord Ainz asked with concern. He was in his human form, which still felt wrong. He said he did it to eat, but I knew it had to be more than that.
"I was just... curious about my own menu."
"Ah, I see. I'm looking forward to it myself."
He gave a soft, gentle smile that made my heart flutter. I was worried about my dish. I... well, I had a fondness for heavy rice bowls. It wasn't the kind of thing you served at a banquet. If the others got their favorites, would I be served a bowl of beef over rice? The thought was embarrassing.
This banquet and this human form... there is a secret here.
Yuri and Lupusregina were back, but they were nowhere to be seen. If I could talk to them, I could find out what happened in Carne Village. I had thought Kawasaki had returned, but then we would be having a ceremony, not this. I let out a deep sigh, frustrated that I could not read the mind of the man I loved.
Next — Menu 8: Pandora's Actor's Schnitzel and Albedo's Crystal Chicken
***
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