Carnival Chef (4)
Is it okay to write this here? It's amazing that it translates my words into human language. Everyone's misunderstanding—I like humans, you know? As a chef, that is. I just wanted to let humans taste my cooking too. Cooking is love. Food without care lacks flavor, so I pour my love into every dish. Humans are precious ingredients, so I always handle them with utmost care. That's why I can't forgive humans who harm other humans. It's like forgiving a pig that kills pigs, right? So I actively use humans who kill other humans as ingredients. Wasting ingredients is unforgivable for a chef. I hope everyone understands my love. Humans still don't get it, but if I keep trying, someday they will.
File 001. [Defect (Albedo)] "King of Flies" Poari ( Complete)
* This entity is fullyed.
* You can summon this entity at any time.
* Naming it has bound it to you.
* Through your bond, you can borrow its power and draw out its potential.
I stared at the pokedex entry, thinking. Maybe I can summon Ari here.
Dating sim…? Nah, more like a cute girl gacha game in this case…?
Didn't matter either way. Before the cute girl mod turned me into this, I was a total otaku for that stuff, and nothing's changed. If I wasn't, I never would've done something insane like installing a cute girl mod on a horror game.
So, to put it in gacha terms: You raise bond levels with cute girl characters you pull, and summon them anytime for events. Jelly Sugar Zero's a classic example. Most modern gachas do it anyway.
Figured it might work, so I tried calling Ari.
"Ari… help me…."
"Yeah."
Summoning "King of Flies".
My vision shook. Crushing fatigue slammed into me—and Ari appeared right in front of me.
Ari glanced around, then flies buzzed in from everywhere. Everyone in the shop's perception dropped, and the customers all mistook her for me.
I slipped into a corner during the chaos.
…Worked even better than I thought.
My little shitzoo Ari. All she does at home is eat and sleep—like a total animal—but she's quick on the uptake.
I worried what the "Carnival Chef"'s food would do to her, but luckily, unlike the others, she didn't go mad.
…She's a monster inside, even if she looks like a cute girl on the outside.
She bought us time by gorging herself, but…
"Mayuri? Mayuri? Mayuri???"
…The enemy was a monster too. Couldn't fool her forever.
"D-don't come closer…!"
"I don't really like ready-made food, Mayuri."
Her golden eyes met mine. Eyeballs had appeared where there weren't any before.
…Proof the cute girl mod's applying.
Applying Cute Girl Mod to target.
Applying (78%)... Please wait.
Needed more time… Just a bit longer….
"Ready-made food isn't bad, of course. It's 'decent' for everyone, regardless of gender or age. But—have you ever thought it lacks soul?"
The monster spoke fluently now, unlike the first mod application.
Flash.
The scenery shifted. A huge table in the center. Chandeliers glowed softly overhead. Thick curtains sealed off the outside, silver candelabras adorned the table. Classical music drifted in, like a private banquet hall.
The "Carnival Chef"'s shop had private rooms. I remembered reading that in the game's lore.
…So this is one.
"Soul. Food needs soul. Food without it tastes bland, right?"
Creak.
Suddenly, I was forced into a chair. The monster pressed down on my shoulders. Food was already on the table.
"When cooking, think only of one person. What they like, what tastes good to them, their favorite ingredients, temperature, texture… Make it the best for them. Do you understand this philosophy, Mayuri?"
"Th-that's…."
"That's why I hate ready-made food. It lacks love. Right? Trying to please everyone means pleasing no one. Loving everyone means loving no one!"
She shoved a spoon into my hand. The dish was pudding—pale pink, but up close, bits of ears and tongues were jellied between cream layers. Chocolate sauce mimicked coagulated dark red blood threading down the top.
"I made each dish today thinking of every guest. And this one? Only for you, Mayuri. Just for you."
"……."
"Taste it? Or is the tip too low? Double? Triple? Quadruple?"
…If I keep refusing, she'll force it in. What now…? Do I really have to eat…?
Can't let that happen… No resistance to mental corruption prepared….
Mental corruption isn't something you tough out with willpower. Eating now is suicide.
Summon Ari again…? Nah, pointless. Her power's exposed; can't trick her twice.
No options left.
…Really none?
* Through your bond, you can borrow its power and draw out its potential.
That line from Ari's entry. Seems like she helps anytime, but maybe another way.
The mod's descriptions were always like that. Incomplete mod needing player input. meanting, summoning meant real summoning.
So this: I can borrow her power.
No.
Whatever the original intent, I'll read it that way. The cute girl mod is my power. It doesn't control me—I control it.
Since coming here, I've felt tossed around. Monsters are higher beings humans can't fight. Cosmic horror from human helplessness.
But it's all from human minds. The monster before me? Human idea. This horror game called Monster Game? Human creation.
If humans are weak as ants, Cthulhu's just Lovecraft's words, monsters just data scraps.
Won't be ruled by that crap anymore.
Pokedex updated.
File 001. [Defect (Albedo)] "King of Flies" Poari
* This entity is fullyed.
* You can summon this entity at any time.
* Naming it has bound it to you.
* Through your bond, you can borrow its power and draw out its potential.
§ Bond Effect Acquired: Borrow the "King of Flies"' power to deceive a monster about exactly one fact.
"King of Flies" Bond Effect activated.
"Delicious."
I set the spoon down without touching the food.
The bowl was empty. At least, to the monster's eyes.
She felt unease. How did Mayuri eat? When? Couldn't recall details, but the empty bowl was reality.
Whether it actually was didn't matter. Some eyes don't see red apples—they're blue or gray.
The monster's eyes were the same. Whatever was in the bowl, she couldn't perceive it—only an "empty bowl" was real.
"It, uh, was decent…! Good cooking…!"
Mayuri's voice trembled. Bad at lying, her face screamed anxiety about getting caught.
So… the food was bad.
"S-since I tasted it, we're good…? Let me go now…."
"What needs improving?"
"…Huh?"
"If it needs improvement, what? Give me your tasting notes, Mayuri."
Bad taste. My cooking sucked. Said it was good anyway. Lied on purpose.
I'm a chef, and my food sucked? Why? Why?? Why??? Why????
"Ingredients? Technique? Skill? Soul? Love? I poured love in—what was missing? Tell me, Mayuri?"
"Ahh… I said it was good… What do I say…."
Mayuri sighed, squeezing out words.
"Th-the soul? Food with soul is good, right…?"
"Yes."
"Then love's just a means to taste… Not pure love… or something."
…What am I even saying? Mayuri muttered.
The monster didn't fully get it, but felt a clue.
"Thank you for the feedback, guest. I'll consider it seriously."
Then Mayuri vanished from the shop. Her scenery shifted too.
"Huh…."
Empty underground parking lot, no cars. Flickering lights, but wind blew in from the exit.
It brushed her cheek.
"Heavy."
Ari was suddenly beside her, holding the curry ingredients bag from the supermarket.
Haa. Tension released; Mayuri slumped unknowingly.
"L-lived…."
Escaped the anomaly, back to reality. Survived the monster. She sighed in relief.
Application complete (100%)
Cute Girl Mod applied to "Carnival Chef"!