Menu 20: Aura and Mare's Pudding à la Mode / Shalltear's Tea Party
I was visiting Pinison's orchard on the Sixth Floor for a simple reason: I needed ingredients to make a promised meal for Aura and Mare, who had worked hard to secure resources from the Zy'tl Q'ae. The tomatoes harvested yesterday were a bit too acidic to use as-is, so I'd added garlic and herbs to turn them into a pizza sauce. It would be the perfect dish to bring along when we eventually went to meet that man, Gazef Stronoff.
"Dryad magic really is something else," I remarked.
"Th-thank you!" Pinison replied, bowing her head while trembling. I told her she didn't need to be so scared as I looked around the orchard. It had only been about three days since she arrived on the Sixth Floor, yet her orchard and vegetable plots were already overflowing with fruit and vegetables ready for harvest.
"Is this a specific Dryad spell?"
"Y-yes! I borrow the power of the earth to accelerate growth. Since this is only the first cycle, the land will become even better suited for fruit as I repeat the process."
I nodded at her explanation and plucked an apple, taking a bite. It was sweet with a pleasant, sharp tang. If this was still "in development," the future of our food supply looked bright. Vegetables and fruits are essential for high-quality cooking. While the Item Box and the larder were still well-stocked, being able to source fresh ingredients within Nazarick was a massive advantage.
"Where are the strawberries?"
"Th-this way, please."
I watched Pinison walk with a stiff, mechanical gait—moving her right arm and right leg at the same time—and gave a wry smile as I looked back.
"Don't scare her too much, okay?"
"Grrrr."
Aura and Mare had insisted on guarding me, but I'd refused because I didn't want them to see what I was making. As a compromise, one of Aura's high-level wolf familiars was acting as my escort. It followed behind me, carrying a gathering basket in its mouth, nodding slightly as if it understood my instructions. With Pinison as my guide, I scoured the orchard for what I needed.
"Apples, strawberries, bananas, kiwis, oranges, and some cherries... that should do it."
After about an hour, I returned to my kitchen with the harvest. My eyes immediately fell on the massive red fruit sitting on the counter.
"No poison detected," I noted.
The Cookman's appraisal confirmed it was safe. This was the fruit of the Zy'tl Q'ae. I stepped closer and tapped it. A hard, metallic clink-clink echoed back—hardly the sound you'd expect from a fruit.
"A kitchen knife isn't going to cut it."
Literally. I'd probably chip the blade. I set aside my knife and grabbed a saw instead.
"Lord Kawasaki, I've arrived to help."
"Ah, Shiho. Perfect timing. Hold this fruit steady for me, would you?"
I didn't want the thing rolling away while I was sawing. As the teeth of the saw bit into the rind, that same metallic sound rang out. Once I hit a certain depth, the resistance changed. I pulled the saw out and used a heavy cleaver to wedge into the gap and split it open.
"The inside is red too... and the aroma is incredible."
"It truly is," Shiho agreed.
A powerful, sweet fragrance wafted from the cut halves. I handed a spoon to Shiho and took one for myself to sample it.
"Wait, this is..."
"How surprising," Shiho said, our voices overlapping in shock.
The first sensation was a sharp, lemon-like acidity that defied the sweet smell. But it wasn't unpleasant. As I chewed, the texture shifted from the soft creaminess of a banana to the firmer bite of a peach. Finally, the sweetness caught up, but even that flavor seemed to morph as it sat on the tongue.
"The texture and flavor keep changing while you eat it."
"It's fascinating. And delicious."
So this is a fruit from another world, I thought with a smile. You'd never find something like this in the real world. This was perhaps my first encounter with a "true" fantasy ingredient.
"We should save the seeds and see if we can cultivate them."
Honestly, it was both interesting and tasty. I carefully removed the central seeds with a spoon, making sure not to damage them, and placed them in a glass of water. I'd bring them to Pinison later.
"I'm going to make Pudding à la Mode for Aura and Mare."
I'd promised them a treat during the last experiment. I figured I'd use the Zy'tl Q'ae fruit to elevate it.
"Have you made pudding before, Lord Kawasaki?"
"I know the recipe, but this is my first time actually making it."
While I was a professional chef, sweets were outside my usual wheelhouse. I understood the theory and had made them back in Yggdrasil, but I was still a bit nervous, which is why I'd asked Shiho for backup.
"Understood. Let us make it together then."
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
I can whip up a five-course meal without breaking a sweat, but desserts are finicky. Even if you follow the recipe to the letter, they can fail for the smallest reasons. With Shiho guiding me, I began the process.
+++
Even Lord Kawasaki has things he finds difficult. I found it surprisingly endearing. I had always viewed him as the God of Cooking, a being who possessed absolute mastery over every dish imaginable.
"Add the sugar to the eggs and whisk gently... we don't want too much air, right?"
"Yes, that is correct."
Making caramel sauce can be tricky for beginners, so I took charge of that while watching him work. Despite his claims of being inexperienced, his movements were fluid and precise. I heated the granulated sugar and water over a low flame, and once it turned a deep amber, I slowly added hot water to thin the sauce.
Perfect.
I poured the caramel into the molds, swirling them to ensure an even coating on the bottom. This would allow it to set before the custard was added, preventing the two from mixing.
"Hmm? Wait a second..." Kawasaki muttered, tilting his head.
"Is something wrong?"
"The bubbles... I'm supposed to add the near-boiling milk to the eggs, right?"
"That is correct," I said, peering into his bowl. Indeed, a large number of bubbles had formed on the surface of the mixture.
"Perhaps the mixing technique was slightly off."
"I was pouring the milk slowly while stirring."
"Yes, but it is better to keep the whisk against the bottom of the bowl and stir slowly from below. If you lift it, you tend to use too much force, which creates foam."
"Ah, right. My mistake."
"It's quite alright. We can simply pass it through a fine sieve to remove the air," I reassured him.
He scratched his head. "I really should have brushed up on my pastry recipes."
"Don't worry. This is something one learns through feel, not just words."
Making sweets is far more difficult than it sounds. The method of mixing, the exact temperature—the slightest variation changes everything. I watched his profile as he carefully strained the custard into the molds. He was always so sincere regarding his craft, strict with his subordinates, yet fundamentally kind.
With the other Supreme Beings gone, how lucky am I to remain by the side of my Creator? I felt a twinge of guilt toward the Floor Guardians and the Pleiades.
I wonder if the others will ever return?
As I pondered this, Kawasaki placed the molds into the steamer.
"Shiho, thanks for helping me out when you're already busy with the dining hall. Would you... help me again next time?"
"Of course. I am at your service whenever you need me."
I wanted to hold this happiness close to my heart forever.
+++
After Shiho told us to go to Lord Kawasaki's room immediately, Mare and I were practically power-walking through the hallways of the Ninth Floor.
"B-Big Sis... did we mess up?" Mare asked, sounding terrified.
"I don't think so... but..."
Neither of us had done anything that would earn a scolding, but being summoned by name usually meant something was wrong. The fear of having failed him gripped us.
"Lord Aura, Lord Mare. Lord Kawasaki is expecting you."
Sixth, one of the regular maids, opened the door for us. Trembling, we stepped inside.
"Oh, Aura, Mare. I've been waiting."
Kawasaki looked to be in a great mood, which caught me off guard.
"Reporting for duty! I am Aura Bella Fiora, Guardian of the—"
"Stop, stop. None of that formal stuff. Save that for Lord Momonga," Kawasaki interrupted, waving his hand. "Just take a seat."
Mare and I exchanged nervous, fidgety glances. Kawasaki tilted his head in confusion.
"I promised I'd make you pudding, didn't I? Don't tell me you forgot?"
"No! We remember! We remember perfectly!" we both blurted out.
We remembered, of course, but we never dreamed he'd actually do it. So the reason we were called here was...
"I made it using that fruit from the Zy'tl Q'ae. Come on, sit down."
It wasn't a scolding; it was a reward. Our fear vanished, replaced by broad smiles as we took our seats.
"This is the Kawasaki Special Pudding à la Mode. I'm not great with sweets, honestly, so Shiho helped me out."
He laughed as he placed the plates in front of us. To receive something made by his own hand was a reward far greater than we deserved.
It's beautiful...
A large custard pudding sat in the center, surrounded by fruit, whipped cream, and ice cream. The red fruit we had gathered was there too. The portion was huge, and just looking at it made me beam.
"Thank you for the food, Lord Kawasaki!"
"Th-thank you!"
With a smile from him, we picked up our spoons.
(Wow... where do I even start?)
The choices were overwhelming. The giant pudding sitting regally in the center? The colorful fruit? The ice cream? My eyes darted back and forth.
"Mmm! It's so good!" Mare had already started on the ice cream, looking blissful. He's usually so shy, but he's always fast when it comes to things like this. I aimed my spoon at the ice cream topped with a red sauce. I wanted to save the pudding for last, so I'd start with the part that would melt.
Sweet...
The cold, sweet cream melted on my tongue, and just as I felt myself relaxing, a sharp acidity hit me.
"So sour! Wait... now it's sweet?"
It was incredibly tart at first, but then it turned sugary. Even though it was a sauce, it had a distinct bite to it.
"It's sour... oh? Now it's soft... and now it's sweet again!" Mare was also wide-eyed, tasting the fruit we'd gathered.
"Haha! That fruit you two brought back changes flavor and texture as you eat it. I thought it would be fun to turn it into a sauce. How is it?"
It was a simple sauce made by peeling and simmering the fruit, but it was delicious. Knowing we were the ones who gathered the ingredients made it taste even better.
"It's wonderful!"
It was the most interesting fruit I'd ever eaten. The tartness cut through the sweetness of the cream, refreshing my palate.
Now for the main event...
Once I'd finished half the fruit and ice cream, I turned my attention to the pudding. My spoon slid through it effortlessly. I took a bite of the custard along with the dark caramel.
"So good..."
Mare and I whispered in unison. It wasn't overly sweet; instead, the rich, deep flavor of the eggs filled my mouth. I couldn't think of anything else—it was pure bliss. I felt a bit ticklish under Kawasaki's gentle, watching gaze, but I was so, so happy.
"Thank you for the meal!"
"You're very welcome."
Kawasaki ruffled our hair playfully. "Keep working hard for Lord Momonga. If you do well, I'll make you something else."
"I'd make it even if you didn't work hard, though," he added with a chuckle as we left his room.
"B-Big Sis. I'm going to work even harder from now on!"
"Yeah, me too."
We headed back to the Sixth Floor, determined to do everything we could to please Lord Ainz and Lord Kawasaki.
+++
The day after the pudding feast, Kawasaki was standing in his kitchen, arms crossed, looking at a pile of leaves.
"Alright... next is this."
The leaves had been appraised as a "Panacea Herb." Along with the fruit, Pandora's Actor had used his collector's spirit to gather seeds from the Zy'tl Q'ae. Lord Momonga and Pandora's Actor were currently trying to see if they could mass-produce this "all-purpose medicine" using four of the eight leaves Shalltear had retrieved.
"But it's literally just a leaf," Kawasaki muttered.
Its culinary compatibility was a whopping 80—the highest among the items brought back—but it was still just foliage.
"What should I do with this...?"
Tempura? No, that didn't fit Shalltear's image. Kneading it into pasta dough? A bit boring.
"Wait... Shalltear likes tea parties, doesn't she?"
He recalled Peroroncino mentioning something about her settings—a necrophiliac, a bisexual... but also an aristocratic lady who enjoyed the finer things.
"Alright, decided. I'll make mochi."
The leaves were unconventional, but with a compatibility of 80, they were definitely edible. He washed them carefully and set them out to dry.
"Now, where was that..."
He remembered an event item called "Golden Azuki Bean Paste." He wanted to make it from scratch, but since azuki beans weren't a standard item in this world yet, he had to rely on his hoard. He found exactly what he was looking for in his Item Box.
"Wow... that's flashy."
True to its name, the paste was a shimmering gold. He sampled a bit with a spoon. It was a smooth, fine paste with a perfect texture.
"Perfect sweetness."
He mixed non-glutinous rice flour and glutinous rice flour in a bowl, adding lukewarm water and kneading until it reached the consistency of an earlobe. He was shaky with Western desserts, but traditional Japanese sweets were something he had mastered in the real world. He divided the dough into ten portions, wrapped the golden paste inside, and set them to steam.
"Twenty minutes should do it."
While the mochi steamed, he prepared green tea leaves, a teapot, and cups. He then wrote a quick note asking Shalltear to meet him on the plains outside Nazarick.
"Eight-Edge Assassin, are you there?"
A spider-like monster appeared soundlessly from the ceiling.
"Could you deliver this to Shalltear for me?"
"By your command."
With the invitation sent, Kawasaki headed to Lord Momonga's room. He knew he'd get in trouble if he went outside alone, so he decided to drag Momonga into his scheme as well.
+++
After my bath, I had my Vampire Brides help me dress before returning to my room. An Eight-Edge Assassin was waiting for me.
"An Eight-Edge Assassin? What is the meaning of this?"
They weren't foolish enough to enter without cause. The monster knelt before me.
"I have brought a letter for you from Lord Kawasaki."
I snatched the letter and tore it open. It was an invitation to a tea party outside Nazarick, complete with a rough map. I was so happy I could have danced on the spot. Ignoring my bewildered servants, I dashed toward the coordinates.
"It should be right here..."
I found a red cloth spread on the ground under a sunshade, but Kawasaki was nowhere to be seen. Just as I was looking around, I felt a divine presence behind me.
"Shalltear. You're early."
"L-Lord Ainz?!"
It wasn't Kawasaki, but Lord Ainz in his human form. I accidentally raised my voice in shock.
"M-my deepest apologies!"
"No, do not worry. It is only natural to be startled by my sudden appearance."
He laughed and sat down on the red cloth.
"Well? You should sit as well."
"Y-yes! At once!"
My face flushed as I realized I'd been given the supreme honor of sitting beside him. His form as the Overlord is magnificent, but his human guise is equally wonderful... After a short wait, I saw Kawasaki walking toward us from the direction of the Tomb. He was carrying several containers. I started to stand up to help, but Lord Ainz stopped me.
"Kawasaki is the host of this tea party. Shalltear and I are the guests. He'll be cross with us if we move."
If Lord Ainz said so, I had no choice. I sat back down.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I was just putting on the finishing touches," Kawasaki said with a smile. He removed his shoes and joined us on the cloth, opening his containers.
"Shalltear, I made these Grass Mochi using the Zy'tl Q'ae leaves you found."
On a white plate sat two round sweets wrapped in the strange leaves I had fought Albedo over.
"Th-thank you so much."
I accepted the plate with both hands. The refreshing scent of the herbs filled the air.
"Here you go, Momonga."
"Thank you. But what about yours?"
Kawasaki laughed and pulled out his own plate. "I have mine right here. I've prepared Japanese green tea to go with it. It's a bit bitter, but that bitterness perfectly complements the mochi."
He handed us tall ceramic cups filled with a vibrant green liquid. It was nothing like the black tea I usually drank, but the aroma was heavenly.
"Thank you for the meal."
"Th-thank you for the meal!"
I took a bite of the mochi. It was incredibly soft.
What a lovely fragrance...
The scent of the leaves was strong but invigorating—a clean, green smell.
"Hmm... the filling is sweet, but the bitterness of the leaf creates a perfect balance," Lord Ainz remarked.
"Yeah, it's a shame these leaves are so hard to come by," Kawasaki added.
Watching them converse so happily was a reward in itself. And to be allowed to eat Kawasaki's cooking... I was surely the most blessed of all the Guardians.
"Lord Kawasaki... this is delicious."
"I'm glad you like it."
I'd never eaten anything like this—chewy, bouncy, and filled with that brilliant golden paste. My face naturally softened into a smile.
"It's a beautiful day. It's nice to eat outside for a change, don't you think, Shalltear?"
"Yes! It is absolutely marvelous!"
Startled by the sudden question, I blurted out my answer. Both Lord Ainz and Lord Kawasaki patted my head in turn.
"You're right. Maybe we should take all the Guardians on a picnic next time."
"That sounds fun. Though Albedo might complain about the security risks," Kawasaki joked.
"Let her complain. We'll just force it through. Shalltear, don't you go telling Albedo and the others just yet, alright?"
"Yes! My lips are sealed!"
Kawasaki laughed, and Lord Ainz squinted slightly at the bright sun. I etched this sight into my memory—a side of the Supreme Beings that no other servant was allowed to see.
***
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