Menu 19: The Leveling Menu
Four days had passed since the subjugation of the Zy'tl Q'ae. From the Lizardman village, Zaryusu and Zenberu arrived at Nazarick. They were the only two to come, as the rest of the able-bodied men were needed to help with the village's reconstruction. Meanwhile, Brain Unglaus—after turning pale and fainting upon first seeing Nazarick—had seemingly decided that staying here was his best shot at becoming stronger. He was now living in the log house alongside Nigun and the survivors of the Sunlight Scripture. As for me...
"I'm sorry. I wasn't being considerate enough."
"No, no, no! Don't apologize with such a kind face! Lilliette! What did you say to Kawasaki?!"
I had heard from Lilliette that Clementine was gaining weight because all she did was eat and sleep. I felt a pang of regret for not being more mindful of someone like her, a warrior who used to make physical training a daily necessity.
"I just said her tummy was getting a little squishy," Lilliette replied.
"Lilliette!"
Clementine began chasing Lilliette, who was dressed in her maid uniform. Lilliette was surprisingly athletic, deftly slipping away from Clementine's grasp time and again.
"I'm starting the training for Nigun and the others today," I called out. "I'd like you to join them, Clementine. I'm still looking for proper gear for you, so you'll have to settle for standard leather armor for now. Please bear with it."
I had promised to give Clementine equipment, but the question of what level of gear was appropriate remained. Pandora's Actor and Lord Momonga had asked me to wait a little longer while they decided.
"Pickie will be here to pick you up. You'll head to the Sixth Floor to join the training."
"Huh? I can start today? Got it!"
Clementine, seemingly thrilled at the prospect of moving her body again, stopped chasing Lilliette and dashed toward her room. She was likely going to swap her dress for her armor.
"Lilliette, have you gotten used to things here?"
"Yes, thank you very much, Lord Kawasaki."
I wished she would stop with the "Lord" stuff, but she insisted she couldn't bring herself to be as informal as Clementine. I eventually gave up and accepted it.
"Your complexion looks much better. Are you sleeping well at night?"
"I am. Thank you," Lilliette said with a polite bow. When she first arrived at Nazarick, the dark circles under her eyes were terrible, but I felt she had brightened up considerably.
"By the way, Lilliette, can you cook?"
"Eh? Oh, yes! At least the simple things."
That was perfect. I planned to have Shiho and Pickie help, but the more hands, the better.
"Then help me out. There's one more thing I want to test today."
When Lilliette asked curiously what I meant, I replied, "We aren't just going to raise their levels. We're going to rebuild their bodies through their diet."
"Can you get stronger just by eating?"
I explained to the skeptical Lilliette that it wasn't about the food making them stronger per se, but rather optimizing the body—making it more receptive to muscle growth. Seeing the "I have no idea what you're talking about" expression on her face, I just smiled.
"Well, for now, just help me."
With so many men around, I had to consider nutritional balance. I gave her a quick prompt to get moving.
"I'm heading out first. Wait here for Pickie!"
"Okay!"
Leaving the cheerful Clementine behind, I made my way to the kitchen with Lilliette in tow.
+++
"Brain, you should offer your prayers to Lord Kawasaki and Lord Ainz as well."
"No, I don't really do religion."
After being knocked unconscious by the heteromorphic being known as Kawasaki and carried off somewhere, I had woken up in a log house. I was being treated by a man named Nigun, who claimed to be from the Slane Theocracy.
"You! You are in the presence of God, and yet you show no gratitude!"
"Don't yell at me. I'm here to get stronger, not to find a faith."
Nigun's face turned bright red, but I wasn't a citizen of the Theocracy. I wished he'd take that into account.
"Hey there, Nigun. What are you so mad about?"
The door to the log house opened, and a blonde woman in light armor walked in. From her intonation, I could tell she was also from the Theocracy.
"Ah, you're Brain, right? I heard about you from Kawasaki."
"Thanks for the introduction."
It saved me the trouble of doing it myself. The woman introduced herself as Clementine and turned toward Nigun.
"Religious freedom is a thing, right? What's the point in forcing it?"
"But we are at the foot of the Gods! Is it not natural to show devotion?!"
"There, there, calm down. Once Brain realizes what kind of place this is, he'll find religion soon enough! More importantly, the Subordinate Gods said they're starting training now, so you'd better get ready."
With that, Clementine left. Nigun rushed into his room to get his gear ready. Since I was already prepared, I grabbed my katana and stepped outside.
"Ho, are you guys getting trained too? I'm Zenberu! Nice to meet you."
"I am Zaryusu."
Two Lizardman warriors were warming up outside. They were a different race, but their strength was readily apparent.
Maybe I wasn't getting stronger, but weaker, I thought to myself.
I had honed my skills to the peak of human potential, but perhaps that wasn't nearly enough. I had been preying on adventurers weaker than myself, acting like I was something special. No wonder Kawasaki had wiped the floor with me.
"Greetings, everyone. I am Demiurge. I have been commanded by Lord Kawasaki and Lord Ainz to oversee your training. And this is Cocytus; he shall be your combat instructor."
"I... AM... COCYTUS. I... SHALL... TRAIN... YOU... TO... BE... WORTHY... SERVANTS... OF... THE... GREAT... ONES. DEVOTE... YOURSELVES... TO... THIS... TRAINING... AS... IF... YOUR... LIVES... DEPENDED... ON... IT."
I gasped at the sight of the massive, insectoid monster I had seen back in that cave. Even from this distance, his sheer presence and power made my legs tremble.
"I appreciate your enthusiasm, but it isn't your turn yet. You understand that, don't you?" Demiurge said.
"...UNDERSTOOD."
The overwhelming pressure faded slightly at the demon's words. For a moment, I thought he might be a decent guy, but then—
"Now then, today we shall test your endurance. This will determine the direction of your future training. Please fight until your strength is entirely depleted."
The demon smiled broadly. Yep, definitely a demon, I corrected myself.
"Ah, Clementine. Lord Kawasaki would be saddened if you were to be injured, so you shall spar with Yuri. Do not worry; she is not a fool. She will hold back appropriately."
Clementine's face went pale, looking like she'd already died. That one sentence told me that she was about to endure a training regimen far more brutal than ours.
"First, you will face low-level beast-type monsters. Following that, we will cycle through plants and undead, gradually increasing the difficulty. We have a healing team on standby, so you won't actually die. Please, fight to your heart's content."
...As a massive swarm of monsters began to fill our vision, leaving us speechless, Demiurge laughed and snapped his fingers.
"Now, let us begin. Attack."
"ROOOOOAAAAR!!"
It goes without saying that we screamed as the horde descended upon us. From that point on, it was an endless cycle of swinging our blades and fighting for our lives. When our strength failed, healing magic was cast upon us, and the battle resumed immediately. We had no choice but to swing our swords frantically in a fight that felt like it would never end.
+++
Today marked the start of the leveling experiment for Brain and the others, but there was one thing I wanted to try alongside it: physical modification through diet. There are specific meals that make it easier to build muscle. Muscle is protein, so one must ingest it—but just eating meat or fish isn't enough. By balancing it with vegetables, fruit, and dairy like milk, you create a body optimized for growth.
"I see. So there are specialized dishes for that," Pickie remarked.
"I considered nutritional balance, but I hadn't thought that far ahead," Shiho added.
Lilliette, whom I'd brought along, looked completely lost, as if question marks were floating over her head.
"Simply put, it means eating a variety of things with a focus on balance."
"I... I see."
Is she a bit of a ditz? I wondered. Or perhaps the concept of "protein" just didn't exist in this world.
"Here is today's menu. We'll be making both Western and Japanese options."
I wrote the menu on the whiteboard. I had asked Pandora's Actor if he had anything fitting, and he had enthusiastically provided it the night before.
Western Menu
Scrambled eggs (with parmesan cheese) – 2 eggs per serving
Salad – Topped with boiled chicken breast, cabbage, tomatoes, and onions
1 slice of ham toast
1 banana
Japanese Menu
White rice
Miso soup (wakame seaweed and tofu)
Salted grilled salmon
1 banana
I instructed Pickie to handle the Western menu and Shiho the Japanese one. I would be making the portions for myself and Lord Momonga. Even if the recipes were the same, if I used "normal" ingredients for him, the subordinates would start complaining that they weren't worthy of a Supreme Being. I had to change everything from the ingredients to the seasonings.
"Lilliette, you can help by making a simple salad. You can at least chop vegetables, right?"
"I can! Please leave it to me!"
Lilliette smiled confidently. I asked her to prepare the salad for Momonga and me while I pulled a salmon fillet out of the fridge.
"Shiho, Pickie, if you make too much, you can give the extras to the regular maids. Just make sure there's plenty."
I figured Brain, Zaryusu, and Zenberu would eat a lot, so I told them to prepare extra while I salted the salmon.
I wonder if Momonga is okay with natto?
So far, he had eaten everything I'd served, but he was still human once. He likely had likes and dislikes. It might be good to find out. I decided to add a small bowl of natto to his tray, assuming he would choose the Japanese menu.
"H-How is this?"
"Oh? You're actually quite good at plating."
"I worked hard on it!" Lilliette beamed. Salad presentation depends heavily on the individual's sense of style, and Lilliette's plating hit all the fundamental marks perfectly. I thought she might actually have a talent for cooking as I placed her salad onto the Western tray.
+++
Today was the start of the leveling experiment. Kawasaki had proposed something specific: building a body more prone to muscle growth through diet. Now, Kawasaki was explaining the menu to me, but...
(Protein? Lipids? Carbohydrates? Are these magic spells?)
I didn't understand a thing about "calories." All I knew was that the food in front of me looked delicious.
"Skinless and salt-boiled... Wait, you still don't get it?"
"No. It just sounds like a series of incantations."
He had explained a lot, but when I admitted my confusion, Kawasaki let out a small sigh. He looked a little lonely.
"Fine. Let's just explain the food then. Scrambled eggs made with two eggs, a single slice of ham toast, and a whole bowl of salad with salt-boiled chicken. Plus a banana. This is the ideal breakfast for weight training."
I was surprised by the amount. I thought training meant eating small, frugal portions.
"You can't move your body if you're hungry," Kawasaki explained. "This focuses on things that won't make you fat, plus water-rich vegetables. The meat gives you that satisfying 'I actually ate' feeling."
"I see..."
It was true; if I were hungry and the portions were tiny, I wouldn't feel like moving at all.
"That was the Western menu. The Japanese one looks like this."
"Ooh... I think I might prefer this one."
Salted salmon, miso soup with seaweed and tofu, and rice. The small dish of sticky beans looked a little intimidating, but this felt right.
"You want the Japanese menu? Either is fine. I'll eat whichever is left."
"Then I'll have the Japanese breakfast."
"Got it," Kawasaki chirped, setting the bowls in front of me. He mentioned the flavor might be a bit different since it was a "training menu," but it still looked mouth-watering. However, there was one dish I didn't recognize.
"What is... this?"
It looked like beans, but they were coated in some kind of sticky, stringy substance. It looked a bit suspicious.
"Natto. Fermented soybeans. It's a traditional food from old Japan. It's an acquired taste... try a spoonful."
I did as he suggested.
(Ugh... is this really okay?)
It stretched out in long, sticky threads. I was worried, but since Kawasaki served it, I knew it had to be safe. I took a bite. It had an indescribable, squishy texture and a very unique smell... I quickly followed it with a mouthful of rice.
"Mmph... if I eat it with the rice, it's not bad."
"Don't force yourself if you hate it. People usually either love it or hate it."
Kawasaki laughed, picking up a fork to eat his salad. I offered a quiet "Thank you for the meal" and reached for the salmon.
(It really is delicious every single time.)
The salmon was perfectly salted. I've always been bad at picking bones out of fish, so this tender salmon—where the bones were easy to find—was my favorite. Mackerel and horse mackerel are good too, but I usually end up having Kawasaki de-bone them for me, which is a bit embarrassing.
"I feel like my life here is more fulfilling than it was in the real world."
"True. Plenty of ingredients, and I can cook as much as I want. It's not bad."
If I were alone, I wouldn't feel this way. But having Kawasaki here gave me mental peace, and having three delicious meals a day was a huge factor.
"It would be perfect if it weren't so dangerous," I noted.
"The Slane Theocracy and Talents, right?"
It was a never-ending list of headaches. And the Guardians' loyalty is terrifying, I thought. Kawasaki just laughed and told me to get used to it. I suppose I have no choice. Then I remembered something.
"Are Nigun and the others eating the same thing?"
"Yeah. I asked Shiho and the others to deliver it. I sent Lilliette along to help; she needs to get used to Nazarick."
Having Lilliette—with her future-sight ability—in Nazarick was a huge gain. She would be vital for our future planning.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how Brain and Zaryusu develop through this leveling."
"Me too. By the way, Lord Momonga, who did you put in charge as instructor?"
"I asked Cocytus. Given his size and his nature as the Ruler of the Frozen Glacier, it's hard for him to leave Nazarick. It's important to give him a place where he can contribute inside the tomb."
"Then after breakfast, let's go see how the leveling is going. I also want to check on Pinison on the Sixth Floor; she's supposed to be starting the orchard."
"Let's make it an inspection tour then."
"Right. But first, let's eat. 'If you want to live, eat first,' after all."
Kawasaki tweaked his usual catchphrase and smiled. I smiled back, flaking the salmon and taking another big bite of rice.
"Do you really come up with something new every day?"
"Of course! Would you want to eat the exact same thing every single day?"
"I suppose not," I admitted, once again amazed by the sheer depth of Kawasaki's culinary repertoire.
+++
After breakfast, we headed to the Sixth Floor as planned.
"UOOOOOOH!!"
Brain and the others were screaming. Servants were swarming them from all directions—front, back, left, right, and even from above. Their individual levels weren't that high, but the sheer quantity was nothing short of demonic. We spotted Demiurge watching them, clipboard in hand.
"What exactly did you tell him about leveling?" Kawasaki asked.
"Just to keep them fighting."
"That's way too vague!"
"You need to explain it more thoroughly or someone's going to break!" Kawasaki yelled. I nodded, and we both ran toward Demiurge. Along the way, we saw Clementine being launched high into the air during her spar with Yuri.
"Lord Momonga! You're clearly not suited for teaching leveling! Did you even read the instruction manual?!"
"...I did, but I forgot to give it to Demiurge."
"You ditzy skeleton!!"
Kawasaki's shout left me speechless. We rushed down the stairs of the Arena and ordered the training to a temporary halt. While Brain and the others headed to the log house for their meal, Kawasaki and I gave Cocytus and Demiurge a detailed explanation of leveling. I handed over the guides prepared by Bukubukuchagama and Punitto Moe, commanding them to build a training menu based on those. Finally, we headed to the log house to check on the recruits.
I was deeply grateful to the Subordinate Gods for allowing us to choose between Western and Japanese meals. I chose the Japanese menu. Food from the real world... in a sense, Japanese food was the food of the Gods.
"Thank you for the meal!"
Clementine and my voices overlapped, but Brain and the others just tilted their heads. They didn't know the etiquette of the table.
"It's a phrase to thank Lord Kawasaki and the others for the food. If you forget it, they'll get mad," Clementine whispered, glancing at the two Subordinate Gods standing by the wall. Brain and the others quickly folded their hands and echoed the thanks before reaching for their food.
"It tastes amazing right after a workout."
"I don't think you can call that a 'workout'..." Brain muttered in response to the Lizardman. True, it had been more of a life-or-death struggle than simple exercise. I took a sip of the miso soup. It had a rich flavor I'd never tasted in the Theocracy—the slightly salty taste had recently become my favorite.
"This is incredible! What is this?!"
Brain's eyes widened as he tasted Kawasaki's cooking for the first time. Even the simple dishes were on a different level.
"This is the cooking of the God of Food, Kawasaki. Last time I ate his food, I felt an incredible power boost," Zenberu said.
"Yeah. It was like the opponent's movements became slower," Zaryusu added.
The meal we were eating was normal, but it was still prepared by the God Kawasaki. I was shocked to think that one could get stronger just by eating.
"He said he prepared a menu specifically to help build muscle. So it might have an amazing effect..." Clementine said. As Kawasaki's attendant, she seemed to know more. To think he had put so much thought into our well-being... there was nothing but gratitude in my heart for the Players and their infinite mercy.
(This fish called salmon is also delicious.)
The bones were large and easy to remove, and the fish was so fatty and rich. It was prepared so carefully that even the skin was edible. The rice, which became sweeter the more I chewed, was also exquisite.
"Shame we can't get seconds."
"It can't be helped. How are we supposed to train if we're stuffed?"
The meal was a bit smaller than usual. But if it was as Clementine said—food meant to strengthen the body—then it was only natural to stick to the prescribed amount and focus on our training. Just then, the two Subordinate Gods by the wall moved toward the entrance.
"Announcing the arrival of the Ruler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Lord Ainz Ooal Gown, and Lord Kawasaki."
"Receive them in silence."
At those words, I slid off my chair and knelt. I saw Brain, Zenberu, and Zaryusu looking dazed, so I hissed at them to do the same. They hurriedly mimicked Clementine and me, bowing their heads to the floor. A heavy sound echoed as the doors opened. The thud of a staff on the floor and a strange, rhythmic squeaking sound approached... The Great God. Lord Ainz and Lord Kawasaki had entered. I held my breath under the weight of their immense, crushing presence.
"First, welcome to my Nazarick. Zaryusu, Zenberu, and Brain. From this day forward, you shall devote yourselves to training in this place. I expect you to raise your levels, hone your martial arts, and become warriors worthy of Nazarick."
We were not permitted to look up. It was a supreme honor just to hear the voice of God, and an even greater one to be addressed. I felt a slight flicker of irritation toward the three who didn't seem to understand the magnitude of this moment.
"And Nigun. Regarding your three subordinates, they are not suited for the path of the warrior, just as you reported. But fear not. I have a priest in my service who excels in the healing arts. They shall train under him as clerics."
My three brainwashed subordinates—Lal, Mirfa, and Sieg—weren't combat casters; they were healers. I was grateful enough that they were exempted from the brutal training, but to think they would be allowed to train under a high priest... I had no words for such kindness.
"Regarding your training, from now on, I have decided you will engage in one-on-one combat with monsters slightly lower in level than yourselves, alongside exercises to increase your basic physical capabilities. I have grasped the situation today. Continue to work hard... Let us go, Kawasaki."
"Yeah. I'll prepare a lunch that's a bit more filling so you feel like you've actually eaten. Good luck with the training."
Kawasaki offered us those kind words. Then, the sound of the staff and the strange squeaking faded as the divine presence moved away.
"You may resume your meal. Once you have rested, return to your training. Strive to meet the expectations of the Great Ones."
At the Subordinate God's word, we sat back in our chairs. Brain, having felt Lord Ainz's majesty for the first time, looked shaken.
"Gods really do exist... I thought I was going to be crushed just by the sound of his voice. Nigun, teach me how to pray later."
"Fine by me."
Once you experience their glory, it is only natural to worship them as Gods. I was still a trainee myself, but I promised to teach Brain how to pray to Lord Ainz and Lord Kawasaki before returning to my breakfast.
+++
As a result of Demiurge's initial, hellish leveling session, Nigun and the others had actually seen their levels rise by three in a single morning.
Meanwhile, Kawasaki and Momonga went to inspect Pinison's orchard and vegetable garden.
"Whoa, these are some great tomatoes! Magic is incredible!"
"I... I am honored that you are pleased."
Pinison, the Dryad, was flustered as Kawasaki grew excited over the vegetables and fruits that were already nearly ready for harvest thanks to her magic. However, because Pinison—who was technically a guest in their domain—was being praised so highly, Aura and Mare were watching her with intense, burning eyes.
Watching this, Momonga couldn't help but reach for his stomach in phantom pain... but all in all, today was another peaceful day in Nazarick.
Menu 20: Aura and Mare's Pudding à la Mode / Shalltear's Tea Party
***
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