Acting on Lord Ainz's orders, Sebas and Solution had left Nazarick to gather information and locate humans capable of using Martial Arts. They had recently arrived in the human city of E-Rantel. Solution Epsilon of the Pleiades was currently playing her part as a spoiled young noblewoman to perfection.
"Sebas, that is quite enough. This food is utterly unpalatable."
They were staying at the Golden Gleam, an inn considered high-class by human standards. However, compared to the ingredients found in Nazarick, the food was undeniably crude. Sebas admired Solution's patience for even putting it in her mouth, but she had clearly reached her limit. With a sharp clatter, she pushed her plate aside and began walking up the stairs. Sebas gave a practiced, weary sigh for the benefit of the onlookers.
"I apologize for the disturbance," Sebas said to the room. "Please charge her meal to my account as an apology."
Ignoring the murmurs of the crowd, he instructed the server to bring the bill to their room and followed after her.
"Master Sebas, forgive my rudeness," Solution said once they were behind closed doors.
"Think nothing of it. you are performing your role admirably."
Solution's ability to switch between a demanding lady and a loyal maid of the Pleiades was a talent perhaps unique to her. She was following her orders to the letter; Sebas was not a man so small-minded as to take offense at her act.
Suddenly, a voice resonated in Sebas's mind. Message.
"Albedo. How may I serve you?"
"Have you arrived in E-Rantel yet?" Albedo asked.
"Yes, we arrived just now. We intended to begin our investigation tomorrow."
"There has been a change in plans. I need you to return to Nazarick immediately."
A change in plans? They hadn't even started. Sebas wondered what could have happened within the Tomb to warrant such an abrupt recall.
"Master Kawasaki has returned," Albedo explained, answering his unspoken question. "Your orders have been modified accordingly."
Sebas's eyes widened. Sensing his surprise, Solution looked at him inquisitively. Sebas shared the joyous news with her immediately.
"Kawasaki has returned?!"
The Supreme Being who had vanished the very day they arrived in this world was back. Sebas's voice had lost its usual composure, and Solution was equally stunned.
"I will provide the details once you return," Albedo continued. "I am sending Shalltear to fetch you. Return through her Gate."
"Understood."
The return of a Supreme Being meant everything. It was only natural for the mission to be put on hold to receive further instructions.
"Master Sebas... Master Kawasaki is truly back?"
"Yes. It is a day of great rejoicing."
Sebas had always been close with Touch Me, and because Kawasaki and Touch Me were good friends, Sebas had spent much time in the chef's company. His return was a personal relief.
"Master Kawasaki's cooking..." Solution mused. "I hope to taste it again."
Before the transition, the Pleiades were often given the honor of sampling his dishes before they were served to the other Supreme Beings. To have the right to consume heavenly delicacies was a status most servants envied.
"Indeed," Sebas agreed. "Though his food is meant for the Gods. We must not forget our place, even if we are granted the privilege of a meal."
He was gently reminding Solution that while a reward for merit was possible, expecting it was a form of disrespect. Just then, a black portal spiraled open in the room. Shalltear Bloodfallen stepped through—but her attire was unusual. She was wearing a white dress instead of her usual black gear.
"Shalltear, that outfit—"
"Talk later! Into the Gate, quickly!" Shalltear snapped, cutting him off.
They stepped through and returned to the heart of Nazarick.
"Sebas, Solution. Change into your formal wear immediately," Shalltear commanded. "Master Kawasaki is about to serve a meal in the canteen."
"I must go fix my hair!" she added, vanishing back through a portal before they could ask anything else. Sebas and Solution looked at each other and hurried toward their respective quarters.
***
Making curry with Kawasaki... I can't believe I actually managed it, Momonga thought.
"Kawasaki! Isn't this burnt?!"
"It's fine, it's fine. That's exactly how you want caramelized onions to look."
Momonga had been stir-frying a mountain of minced onions, convinced they were ruined. He had asked Kawasaki—who was busy dicing an impossible amount of vegetables—for reassurance at least a dozen times.
"Nngh... this is... so heavy..."
"Hahaha! Keep at it, Momonga! Don't stop now!"
Stir-frying a cauldron the size of a bathtub was back-breaking labor. The pot was filled with minced meat, carrots, and onions. Momonga had to use a long-handled paddle to keep it moving. If he pushed too hard, the food spilled. If he didn't stir enough, it caught on the bottom. The level of precision required was beyond him.
Kawasaki is a monster, Momonga realized.
While Momonga was struggling with a single pot, Kawasaki was managing three simultaneously, perfectly timing every addition and adjustment. Momonga had always known his friend was a master chef, but doing the work himself made him realize he hadn't understood the half of it. He had honestly looked down on cooking, thinking it was easy because Kawasaki made it look effortless.
"Alright, time for the curry powder. Stay back, Momonga. If you mess up the ratios now, it's a disaster."
"Right!"
Momonga stepped away, not wanting to be the cause of a ruined meal. Kawasaki reached for his spice blends.
"Oh, crap! Wait... hah, I used the wrong one!"
"What?!" Momonga shouted, panic surging through him.
Kawasaki looked at him and burst into laughter. "Just kidding."
"Kawasaki!"
Still chuckling, Kawasaki put the lid on the pot and turned to his friend. "Good work, Momonga. The curry is officially finished."
"Good work to you too..." Momonga sighed, exhausted by both the labor and Kawasaki's pranks.
"Seriously though, you've got a knack for this. Want to learn for real?"
"Let's... put that on hold for now."
Between managing Nazarick, dealing with the Theocracy, and handling the NPCs, Momonga had more than enough on his plate.
"We've got mild beef, pork, chicken, and seafood," Kawasaki listed off. "Then medium beef, pork, chicken, seafood, and keema. Plus the extra-hot versions of those. A perfect spread."
"Wait... that's significantly more than we were actually making, isn't it?"
Kawasaki waved a hand dismissively. "Don't sweat the details. The important thing is that the curry exists. That's all that matters."
"You're literally ignoring the laws of physics," Momonga noted. "We only had a few pots."
"Well, if you want the secret... you were stir-frying about nine times the normal amount of food," Kawasaki laughed. "I could never have done that much by myself. Good job!"
"What? I was just stirring one pot!"
"This is my castle, remember?" Kawasaki snapped his fingers. The color of the curry in the pot before Momonga shifted from a deep brown to a reddish hue. He snapped them again, and it changed back. "I was swapping the contents of the pots while you weren't looking. I was worried you'd notice, but you were so focused on not burning the onions that you didn't see a thing!"
"How was I supposed to notice that?!" Momonga yelled.
Kawasaki just laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "You worked hard. Let's get this to the canteen. Picky, Shiho, and Clementine can help us move it."
Momonga stared at his friend with flat eyes. He had been killing himself over "heavy" pots that turned out to be nine times the work he thought he was doing.
"Don't be mad. It was just a little fun."
"Your definition of 'a little' is skewed, Kawasaki."
Momonga sighed, but he couldn't stay angry. The work had been satisfying, the NPCs would be thrilled, and most importantly, he finally got to eat curry.
"Picky and the others should have the toppings ready. Momonga, make sure you send out an announcement to the whole Tomb."
"We'll save the fact that you helped make it for the final surprise," Kawasaki added with a wink.
"Understood," Momonga replied.
"Should we let Nigun try some? See how a local reacts to curry?" Kawasaki mused.
"That's fine. I also want to send some to Aureole Omega on the Eighth Floor and Nigredo. They shouldn't be left out."
"I'll have some of the high-intelligence monsters deliver it," Kawasaki agreed.
***
Aura Bella Fiora stood before the general canteen for the first time. Normally, she and Mare ate in their own domains. But today was different. Lord Ainz had announced that Master Kawasaki would be serving a meal in the Ninth Floor canteen, and all were invited.
"Oh, Aura. Mare. You've arrived," Demiurge greeted them with a calm smile.
They couldn't get inside yet. A massive crowd of general maids and servants had gathered, all eager for a taste of a Supreme Being's cooking. The canteen, vast as it was, couldn't hold everyone at once, so the meal was divided into two shifts based on lottery numbers.
"I wish we could just go in because we're Guardians," Aura muttered.
"Master Kawasaki strictly forbade pulling rank," Demiurge reminded her. "We must wait for our numbers just like everyone else."
Aura looked at her slip: number 34. Mare had 68.
"Why do I have 180 while you guys are in the thirties?!" a voice screamed.
It was Shalltear, currently being restrained by her own vampire brides. Aura and Demiurge shared a look of amusement.
"Will there be anything left for the second shift?" Mare asked, his voice full of worry.
"Master Kawasaki would never allow such a clumsy mistake," a new voice interjected.
Pandora's Actor stood there, his cap tucked under his arm. Aura found herself glaring at him instinctively; she still hadn't quite processed everything he had said during the last banquet.
"Don't look at me like that, Aura! Anger ruins the digestion!"
Before she could respond, the canteen doors swung open. The rhythmic squeak-squeak of Kawasaki's feet echoed in the hall.
"Wow, that's a lot of people. More than I expected," Kawasaki said, looking out at the crowd. "Alright, listen up! Today's menu is Curry Rice. The drink is Lassi. We have every topping you can imagine, and I promise there is enough for everyone, including the second shift. This is self-service. Take only what you can eat. If you waste food, you're answering to me!"
The servants let out a collective sigh of relief.
"Pink tables are Mild. Yellow are Medium. Red are Hot. And let me tell you, the red ones are dangerous! Choose wisely! If you pick the spicy one and can't finish it, you're getting a lecture! Now, if your number glows, come on in. If not, go back to your posts for now."
Numbers began to glow all over the crowd.
"Sister..." Mare murmured.
"It's okay, Mare. Go ahead," Aura said. Her number and Demiurge's remained dim. Mare looked guilty, but she waved him off. Just as Mare started to walk in, someone snatched the slip from Aura's hand and replaced it with a glowing one. It was Pandora's Actor.
"What are you doing?"
"I wish to speak with Demiurge," the Doppelganger smiled. "It would be better if we ate together later. You two go on ahead."
Demiurge looked at the Actor with suspicion but eventually nodded. "Very well. Aura, Mare—enjoy your meal."
Aura and Mare entered the canteen. It was surprisingly quiet. Only two general maids were at the Red tables. The Yellow tables were packed with Yuri and Shalltear. Albedo and Solution must have drawn high numbers for the second shift. Aura and Mare headed for the Pink tables, where only Entoma was sitting.
"Aura... it's so good~su," Entoma said, her voice muffled as she shoveled curry into the mouth hidden beneath her mask.
Aura and Mare grabbed their trays and served themselves a small portion of rice. They wanted to try different versions, so they started small. They walked over to the massive cauldrons.
The smell is incredible...
Aura didn't even need to lift the lid to know it was a masterpiece. But the variety was staggering. Beef, pork, chicken, seafood...
"Sis, what are you getting? I... I think I'll try the seafood," Mare said, carefully ladling the sauce over his rice.
Aura watched him, feeling a surge of pride in her masters. Kawasaki had clearly spent hours preparing this for them.
"I'll go with chicken first," she decided. She ignored the mountain of fried toppings for now. She wanted to taste the base first; adding too much would be an insult to the chef.
"Here, Sis."
Mare handed her a glass of the white drink—Lassi. They sat down and put their hands together.
"Thank you for the food!"
Aura took her first bite. It wasn't just "good." The aroma of the spices hit her first, a complex bouquet that tickled her nose. Then came the flavor—a gentle heat that vanished almost instantly, replaced by the deep sweetness of slow-cooked vegetables.
"It's amazing," she whispered.
"The seafood has so much in it..." Mare muttered, looking at his plate. He had shrimp, scallops, and squid. It was almost too much food for him.
Aura took a sip of the lassi. It was thick and sweet, instantly neutralizing the faint spice on her tongue. The contrast made her feel like she could eat forever.
Suddenly, the canteen went silent. Aura turned to see a man with black hair and red eyes entering the room. It was Lord Ainz, in his human form. He walked past the yellow tables, past a shocked Shalltear and Yuri, and came straight to the pink table. He served himself a portion of Mild Beef Curry and sat down with them.
"Mind if I join you?" he asked with a gentle smile.
"Of course not!" they shouted in unison.
***
Momonga looked at the table: Aura, Mare, and Entoma. Just as Kawasaki had predicted. His friend had also been right about Shalltear—she was at the medium table, clearly trying to prove she was "mature" enough for the spice.
I don't blame her, but I just can't do it, Momonga thought. He had tried the medium version in the kitchen and it had nearly brought him to his knees. His human taste buds were far too sensitive for Kawasaki's idea of "medium." And the "Kawasaki Special" curry? It was literally red. He hadn't even dared to touch it.
"Lord Ainz, you're eating the mild one too?" Aura asked, looking stunned.
"Yes. I tried the medium, but it was a bit much for this human body. My senses are heightened in this form," Momonga lied smoothly.
Mare pushed a glass of lassi toward him. Momonga thanked him and took a bite of his curry.
So this is it...
He had helped make it, but tasting the finished product was a completely different experience. He remembered Blue Planet talking about "camp curry" as the ultimate luxury of the old world. Now he finally understood why his friend had been so passionate. The spices were an art form. It was simple, yet infinitely deep.
"Lord Ainz? Is something wrong?" Aura asked.
"No. I was just... thinking about a friend," Momonga replied.
He took a bite of the beef. It was a large, succulent cube that looked like it would be tough, but it melted away the moment he chewed.
Kawasaki really did it, he thought. He felt a surge of gratitude for his friend. Kawasaki had given him back his humanity, one meal at a time. He started to wonder if he should reconsider Kawasaki's request to open a shop or travel. If he could find a way to keep him safe, why shouldn't he be allowed to see the world?
Clink.
Momonga looked down. His plate was empty. His glass was empty. He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't even savored the last few bites.
"Lord Ainz! I'll get you more! What would you like this time?" Aura chirped, already standing up.
Momonga hesitated. He didn't want to trouble her, but her face was so full of genuine joy at being able to help that he couldn't say no.
"Thank you, Aura. I'll try the seafood next."
In the old world, real seafood was even rarer than meat. The oceans were toxic waste dumps. Seeing fresh shrimp and scallops on a plate was like seeing a dream made manifest.
As Aura went to get the food, a faint scent of perfume drifted over. Momonga turned to find Shalltear sitting beside him.
"Lord Ainz, may I join your table?"
She was already sitting. Momonga gave a wry smile. Then he noticed the other servants watching him. They wanted to join, but were paralyzed by etiquette.
"There is plenty of room," Momonga announced. "Anyone who wishes to sit with us is welcome. Let us eat together."
A cheer went up. Within seconds, Yuri, Evil Lord Envy, and several other high-level undead who could eat had filled the remaining seats.
Aura returned with the seafood curry. "Here you go, Lord Ainz!"
"Thank you, Aura."
Momonga took a bite of the seafood. It was a completely different beast from the beef curry. The broth was rich with the essence of the sea—a flavor Momonga had only ever tasted in synthetic form. The shrimp was firm and sweet; the scallops were buttery and rich.
"Lord Ainz, you should try the fried toppings too!" Shalltear suggested.
In that moment, Momonga wasn't the Overlord. He was Suzuki Satoru, surrounded by family. He felt the darkness of his racial traits fading away, replaced by a warm, simple happiness.
"Mare, how is yours?"
"It's... it's very good," Mare whispered, blushing. "But there are so many pieces of seafood, I'm getting full already."
Momonga laughed. It was a genuine, hearty sound. "I suppose that is a problem, isn't it?"
"Lord Ainz? What's so funny?" Aura asked.
"You'll understand one day," Momonga replied. He looked at them like a proud uncle.
Suddenly, a voice boomed over the intercom system. It was Kawasaki.
"Alright, everyone! I have an announcement! Today's Mild and Medium curries were actually prepared by Lord Ainz himself! I gave him some pointers, but he worked his tail off to make this for you!"
The canteen went deathly silent.
Momonga froze. Kawasaki, you idiot! You weren't supposed to say that yet!
He looked around the table. Aura, Mare, Yuri... they were all staring at him. Then, the first sob broke the silence.
"Lord Ainz... you did this... for us?" Aura wailed, tears streaming down her face.
"I... I can't... the mercy... it's too much!" Yuri sobbed, burying her face in her hands.
"I shall... work... a thousand times harder... to repay this... kindness!" Shalltear cried, her voice cracking with emotion.
Momonga looked at the sea of weeping NPCs, their loyalty literally overflowing from their eyes. Kawasaki, the architect of this emotional massacre, was on the monitor, scratching his head with a sheepish grin.
"I... I expect great things from you all," Momonga managed to say.
The rest of the meal was a blur of muffled sobs and emotional outbursts. Momonga barely remembered the taste of the rest of his curry, but as he looked at the devoted faces of his servants, he knew he wouldn't trade this moment for anything.
Next — Menu 12: Let's Eat Curry (Medium & Extra-Hot Edition)
***
If you want to read 10 chapters ahead or support me, visit my p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m /Well_being