The cooking contest agreed upon by the heroines
“Hmm…”
Facing the results of the cooking contest, I was now racking my brains hard.
If I say sothing wrong, it could end in a disaster.
If I were to be completely honest with my evaluation, I couldn’t guarantee my future.
So, would it be better to keep a poker face and rate all the dishes the sa?
No, there was an even better solution to this predicant.
I could just avoid the situation entirely.
“I appreciate the effort you put into preparing these dishes… but I have indigestion right now.”
With this thought, I forced a smile and spoke to the heroines.
“So, it seems a bit difficult for right now…”
Honestly, it was an escape tactic, but in this situation, it was unavoidable.
I needed to buy a little more ti to think of a solution…
“Is that so? Then perhaps you should cleanse your palate with this.”
As I sat there, thinking of a way to handle this, Kania approached with a smile, offering a wine glass.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a drink that aids digestion.”
“I appreciate it, but I have indigestion-“
“It not only aids digestion but also washes away any discomfort.”
It seed like they’d prepared this very thoroughly.
What would happen if I made even a small slip of the tongue in this situation?
I was starting to feel genuinely uneasy.
“Still…”
“If that’s too much, would you like to move on to the next round? There’s still plenty prepared.”
Seeing the determined looks in Kania’s and the heroines’ eyes, I changed my mind and, with a resigned expression, drank the beverage.
“…I feel better already.”
I didn’t know what they might do to from now on, so I thought it best to replenish my strength.
This isn’t my last supper, is it?
Trying to shake off the deeply ingrained sense of unease, I opened the lid of the first dish.
“”…””
As the heroines fell silent, the dish before ca into view.
“Ahem.”
It was so overtly suggestive that I almost coughed.
“The appetizer is a salad of figs with eel, oysters, and abalone.”
“…”
I didn’t know who prepared this dish, but the intention was clear.
“Please taste it and give us your honest evaluation.”
As I sighed and picked up the knife and fork, Kania’s calm voice reached .
I can’t do that.
But I had already decided to keep a poker face.
No matter what it tastes like, I’ll just praise it.
Resolving this in my mind, I brought the salad to my mouth.
“Wow.”
Then, with a bright smile, I spoke to everyone.
“This tastes awful.”
Huh?
What did I just say?
.
.
.
.
.
To be honest, I’m quite picky about food.
You might wonder how soone who liked rye bread, potato vegetable soup, and sandwiches could say that, but those were dishes ingrained in my soul with mories from past cycles.
Compared to normal people, I couldn’t help but have a sophisticated palate, having received a noble education as a duke’s son and always eating the finest food.
But I swear, I’m not a harsh critic.
I never complained about food, and I even ate all the dishes Serena made.
“It feels like I’m chewing sand.”
So what the hell am I saying now?!
“Ugh.”
Even though I belatedly covered my mouth, it was too late.
“Understood, Young Master. I’ve recorded your evaluation.”
“Frey, rinse your mouth with the drink.”
“I told you to back out if you weren’t confident.”
How on earth did this happen?
It was indeed bad, but not so much that I couldn’t control my emotions.
What the hell…?
“Ugh…”
As I sat there in confusion, unsure of what was happening, Isolet, who was wearing a maid’s uniform that looked like it would burst any mont, started trembling.
“S-Sister…?”
“Was it… really that bad, Frey?”
Then, with tears in her eyes, she asked .
“Yeah, it was really bad.”
“Geuh.”
I tried to explain hastily, but what ca out of my mouth was the blunt truth, as the gritty sensation lingered in my mouth.
“Sothing’s wrong here…”
“There’s nothing wrong, Young Master.”
When I stood up in a hurry, Kania spoke to with a calm expression.
“You’ve just beco a bit more honest.”
Upon hearing her ominous words, a suspicion flashed through my mind.
“You, did you put sothing in that drink…?”
“It does contain the world’s strongest truth serum effect… but other than that, it’s just a normal drink.”
“W-What?!”
A truth serum?
No way.
Such a thing couldn’t possibly shake my mind…
“It was co-created by myself, Irina, Serena, and Ruby. No matter how strong-willed you are, Young Master, you’ll be honest until the contest ends.”
“Ah.”
The world’s strongest truth serum that was created with all their power.
No wonder it was so effective.
But was it really only a truth serum?
Why did I feel so lethargic and hot?
“Oh, it also has a slight aphrodisiac effect.”
“Slight…?”
“It only takes up half the solution.”
“…”
“And it also includes effects of restraint, exhaustion, intoxication, and heightened sensitivity…”
I wanted to scream and run away, but my strength had left , and I had no energy to move.
“F-Frey.”
With that, I weakly lifted my fork and knife, and a frightened voice ca from the front.
“D-Do you hate now?”
Isolet, who had been fidgeting nervously, asked , curling up.
“No.”
Before I could think, the words spilled out of my mouth.
“I like you, sis.”
“…!”
Isolet widened her eyes, staring at .
“Really?”
A mont later, she asked again with a shy expression.
“I really, really like you, sis.”
Blushing, I had no choice but to speak the untarnished truth, hanging my head.
“”…””
Silence spread through the dining room.
“…What about , Young Master?”
“Tell you like too, Frey.”
“Can’t I just take you now?”
“You’re so cute…”
The heroines, who had been standing around, lost their senses and rushed at .
“I-I’m going to die…”
Soone, save .
.
.
.
.
.
After the heroines, who had been clinging to Frey, finally let go and returned to their seats, the commotion settled.
“Haah, haah…”
But the aftermath left Frey breathing heavily, his body flushed red.
“N-Next ti, please be gentler…”
As he lowered his gaze and muttered, the heroines, who had barely regained their composure, began to mutter with wide eyes.
“Thinking about it, do we really need to compete…?”
“Can’t we just share nicely?”
“Damn it, this is turning on.”
“Ferloche?”
“…Please forget what I just said, Roswyn.”
The tasting resud in this chaotic atmosphere.
“Ugh…”
Various dishes made from ingredients ant to boost ‘stamina’ from all over the continent went into Frey’s stomach.
“This is too much…”
“The at is good, but the milk tastes a bit off. Why use this kind of milk?”
“…”
Clana’s stew was filled with the most expensive ingredients available in the market.
Irina’s grilled at for so reason was dominated by the taste of milk, causing her to hang her head low with embarrassnt.
And Lulu’s ‘sothing’ that left Frey completely speechless.
“Oh.”
Frey, who had been breaking out in cold sweat at the heroines’ expressions of despair over their cooking, finally widened his eyes and spoke.
“This is good.”
Frey, drinking coffee made from blackberry leaves from the Eastern Continent and eating eel sandwiches, murmured with a smile.
“As expected of Kania.”
“Y-Young Master, the dishes are supposed to be anonymous…”
“My taste buds are accustod to yours, so it can’t be helped.”
“Ahem, ahem.”
Kania tried to maintain a poker face, but her lips began to twitch into a smile.
“This is quite stimulating, but it seems tasty.”
“Hoo…”
“Strange, it slled burnt before… Ugh.”
Ruby, smiling at Frey as he ate spicy potato soup, quickly covered Lulu’s mouth as she muttered in dissatisfaction.
“This is just plain delicious.”
“No way. How did you…”
“What did you do?”
“Hoo…”
Frey’s nod of approval and Serena’s smile of victory surprised everyone.
“Have the finalists been decided…?”
As the three finalists were roughly determined, the winners exchanged chilly glances.
“Do you really want to win that badly, Miss Thieving Cat?”
“There’s even soone who covered up a burnt dish with magic… No, a demon.”
“Magic is also a skill. And Serena, how did you succeed in cooking? Sothing’s fishy.”
The fierce exchange of words among the three finalists began.
“What’s the matter? Weren’t you always so composed?”
“Everything’s fine, but the sly cat and the pretentious one are getting on my nerves.”
“The Young Master’s familiar is also a cat, so I guess I suit him best.”
The never-ending psychological battle of the first-round finalists was abruptly concluded by Frey’s comnt.
“This…”
Frey’s voice cut through the tension as he tasted the unassuming pudding and cookies on the last remaining plate.
“This is really good.”
“What?”
“It’s sweet, soft, and moist… It feels like eating clouds soaked in honey.”
“”…””
Frey continued to shovel the food into his mouth.
His face was the embodint of bliss as he continued to sing praise for the food.
The three finalists turned to look at each other.
“U-Uwah…”
There, blushing all over and squirming awkwardly, was Roswyn, who had an awkward smile on her face.
“Praise… I got praised… Hehe…”
“”What?””
Cold sweat began to drip down the foreheads of the three girls.
***
sko-fi/genesisforsaken
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