The Master's Cooking Skills

Krektar was dead. There was no special reward to reap from him. Those who hunted demons usually cut off their horns to prove their achievements, but since I didn't belong to any organization, there was no need for me to do so. Pretending to belong somewhere... would only make things difficult if no agency came to dispose of the demon's corpse. In the end, experience points were all I gained.

Since the level gap wasn't as massive as it had been with the Lich, it didn't feel like a huge jump. I spent all my remaining skill points. Since there wouldn't be any major battles for the time being, I figured my Reverse Heaven was sufficient for now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and invested in two skills that were highly useful in daily life.

After all, clean numbers are always more satisfying. Perhaps because Acupuncture was a healing skill rather than a combat one, each point granted a massive amount of knowledge. Level 5 was the exact level required to treat Antony's daughter, Emilia. There was also significant progress with Heightened Senses. Now, if I focused my hearing, I could hear people's heartbeats from a distance. ...If I played my cards right, I might even be able to distinguish between them. This superhuman sense would undoubtedly prove highly useful in the future.

The only remaining issue was when Eisel would notice that Krektar was dead. Once she found out, she would realize things were going off-script. But Krektar had to die. I couldn't just sit around and wait for Eisel to deal with him. So, there was no other choice. It was far more beneficial to eliminate him beforehand. Ultimately, events had to set in motion, and I couldn't afford to just stand still.

Even though I had been wandering outside the Academy quite a bit lately, Barsium was nowhere to be seen. If he didn't appear in the game, does he not appear here either...? I couldn't say for sure, but for now, that seemed the most likely scenario. Just because he wasn't showing himself didn't mean I had to go looking for him, though. After all, he had to be treated as an unknown enemy whose methods of attack were entirely unpredictable.

At any rate, having returned to the Academy, I was taking a "rest" as promised to Sierra. Since it was the weekend, I decided to relax in my dormitory. For breakfast, I was eating chicken soup I bought from 'Krenber Soup'.

"...Mmm."

[ Why the long face? You were eating so well... Has the soup suddenly lost its appeal? ] Sierra asked, hearing my low groan as I scooped up another spoonful.

"I can't really taste it."

At my reply, Sierra clicked her tongue before speaking.

[ ...This Lady suspects your tongue has gone numb from forcing down so many of those foul-tasting elixirs. ]

Sierra, who was resting a finger against her lips, raised an eyebrow. I suppose this, too, could be considered a side effect of the elixirs. Soon after, her purple eyes darted around as she fell into deep thought, followed by a mischievous, meaningful chuckle. I wondered what she was plotting now.

[ Heheh... Fret not. It seems the time has finally come for This Lady to showcase her culinary prowess. ]

At her words, my spoon froze mid-air. Cooking...? I was skeptical.

"...How exactly do you plan on cooking, Master?"

As a spiritual entity, Sierra couldn't even touch the ingredients, let alone cook them. In response, Sierra narrowed her eyes and tapped my arm with her finger.

[ There is always a way. ...Do I not have your body? ]

She was suggesting she would use my body. I understood what she meant. Possession was impossible for her, so it wasn't that... Instead, a certain animated movie about a rat controlling a human to cook popped into my head.

"Haha, I have absolutely no talent for cooking... I think it will only be uncomfortable for both of us."

[ It matters not. This Lady's culinary skills are exceptional, so trust in me and leave it to my hands. ]

In the end, after finishing the soup, I headed out with Sierra to buy the necessary ingredients. She refused to tell me what she was making, saying she would only reveal it once it was finished.

We went to the market inside the Academy and bought various vegetables, Eastern spices, and a long fish. It looked somewhat like an eel... but a bit more grotesque. The merchant explained that it was a fish found only in the East, patting my shoulder as he whispered, "This is exceptionally good for a man's stamina." I recalled that in the game, dishes made from this fish indeed had a very high health recovery stat. Naturally, it was quite expensive.

[ I-I did not know it possessed such an effect... I had only heard it was good for one's vitality... ]

...It seemed Sierra hadn't been aware of its reputation for "a man's stamina."

After purchasing the ingredients, we returned to the dormitory. As I laid them out on the kitchen counter, Sierra stepped forward to begin. She quietly crept up behind me, wrapping herself around my back in what was essentially a back hug.

"...Master?"

[ There. Now This Lady can cook as well. ]

Sierra soothed me in a gentle, soft voice, sensing my fluster. But my discomfort didn't stem from the posture itself. Her breasts were pressed completely flat against my back. Having just invested skill points into Heightened Senses, the sensation of her chest against my back was vividly, agonizingly clear.

Focus on the cooking. If I focused on something else, I would be fine.

Soon, Sierra rested her chin on my shoulder and grabbed my arms with both of her hands. First was prepping the ingredients. Sierra guided my hand to the kitchen knife and told me to pick it up. I immediately grasped the handle, prompting her to burst into a giggle.

[ Pfft... Seeing you hold a kitchen knife as if it were a sword, it seems my disciple truly is a stranger to the kitchen. ]

It was true; I rarely had any reason to cook. I was far more accustomed to buying my meals. Next came prepping the vegetables. But no matter how skilled Sierra was at cooking, the awkwardness of our current posture made it difficult for both of us. The chopped vegetables turned out a bit uneven.

[ And here This Lady thought her disciple was dexterous... ]

Sierra murmured as she inspected the vegetables, then guided my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠arm to pick up the fish. By dexterity, did she mean my skill in maintaining my sword? Since she was treating me to a meal, a fleeting thought crossed my mind that perhaps I should return the favor by "maintaining" Sierra later.

More importantly, as she stretched her arms to get a closer grip on mine to prep the fish, her breasts pressed even harder against my back. At this point, they were practically being crushed. Right then...

"..."

My concentration slipped, and the blade nicked my finger. A small bead of blood welled up on my index finger.

[ D-Disciple, are you alright? ]

"I'm fine. I just lost focus for a second," I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠replied with a smile to ease her worried voice.

She immediately moved my left arm, which held the injured finger. Naturally, my finger was guided toward her face. Before I knew it, Sierra slipped my bleeding index finger into her mouth.

"Oh..."

A startled gasp escaped my lips. Sierra, holding my finger in her mouth, spoke softly.

[ This is... no different from administering first aid... ]

With a deep blush dusting her cheeks, she began to suck on my finger. The wet, soft sounds of her sucking echoed directly in my mind. Through my finger, I could feel just how soft her tongue was... how it moved, and the intense, humid heat of her mouth.

"..."

It was incredibly stimulating. It was a mercy that, in this position, Sierra couldn't see my lower half. Was my blood really that delicious? Sierra was sucking on my finger with genuine relish. It was highly likely due to the influence of the Demon Blade, which was forged from blood-drinking iron. Eventually, my finger slipped out of her mouth. A thick thread of saliva stretched long, connecting her lips to my finger.

[ It seems the bleeding has stopped. ]

For some reason, there was a hint of disappointment in Sierra's voice. Miraculously, the wound had indeed closed, and the bleeding had ceased. Whether it was her spiritual power or simply because it was a minor cut, I couldn't be sure. Noticing the lingering thread of saliva, Sierra gave my finger one final lick to clean it up.

"...Ahem. Let's get back to cooking."

I cleared my throat, picking up the knife to break the suggestive atmosphere. Sierra grasped my arms once more, and the cooking resumed. I focused with all my might to ensure I wouldn't cut myself again. Once the fish was successfully prepped, there was no further need for the knife. We moved on to grilling the fish and stir-frying the vegetables. As she sprinkled the spices, a mouthwatering aroma began to waft through the kitchen. Finally, the dish was complete.

[ This is a dish This Lady used to prepare often. I know not if it will suit my disciple's palate, but I can guarantee its flavor...! ]

Sierra spoke in an excited voice as she guided my hands to transfer the food onto a plate. She was clearly confident in her cooking. Although the presentation was a bit... messy, the aroma was undeniably good. However, there was a distinctly spicy scent. It seemed the spices she had added halfway through carried quite a kick. I had never been good with spicy food.

I could barely handle spicy curry, and now a spicy fish dish...?

Why on earth did people enjoy spicy food so much? With those thoughts, I set the plate on the table, grabbed some utensils, and sat down. Sierra watched me quietly from the side, her eyes brimming with anticipation for my reaction. I used my fork to spear a piece of the neatly deboned fish along with some of the accompanying vegetables. Then, I popped it into my mouth.

[ How is it? This Lady's culinary skill...?! ]

I chewed thoroughly, swallowed, and opened my mouth to answer.

"...It's actually delicious."

Contrary to the smell, it wasn't overly spicy—just a pleasant, mild kick. Perhaps because it was infused with Sierra's care, it tasted even better. I devoured the meal in no time. It was a dish of such high quality that I would have gladly paid for it.

[ Heheh, to think you would empty the plate so quickly... It seems This Lady has restored her disciple's lost sense of taste. How gratifying. ]

Watching me finish every last bite, Sierra clasped her hands together and smiled warmly.

"Thank you for the meal, Master."

[ If you wish, This Lady shall cook for you again anytime. However, I believe it would be better if I stood in front of you next time. ...Being behind you makes it rather difficult to reach properly. ]

Sierra said, tracing her lips. I pictured her standing in front of me to cook. ...There was a very high probability that it would lead to an incredibly embarrassing situation.

"...I suppose you have a point."

Still, I couldn't bring myself to reject her kind offer, so I simply nodded in agreement, stood up, and cleared the dishes.

"Since we've been cooped up in the room all day, how about we go for a short walk?"

After tidying up, I approached Sierra and suggested a stroll. There was nothing left to do in the room anyway. Having constantly been on the move, staying still made me feel somewhat restless.

[ Since it is a rare rest day, why not go alone? This Lady believes everyone needs some time to themselves once in a while... ]

Sierra was being considerate of me. Personally, having her by my side was always enjoyable and never a hindrance, but since she insisted, it felt awkward to refuse.

"Then... I'll be back shortly. Once I return, I should maintain your blade as a reward for the meal."

[ T-There is absolutely no need for that! Not a single speck of rust has gathered on the Demon Blade...! Just go already...! ]

At my teasing reply, Sierra shrank back, wrapping her arms around herself. I offered her a warm smile, threw on my coat, and stepped out of the room.

It's been a while since I went out alone.

Krektar's sudden death. His connection to Zeto, the sole anomaly in this regression. My mind was so tangled it felt like it would burst, and I needed to organize my thoughts.

I made my way to a small flower garden within the Academy. It was the very place Zeto had brought me to in the previous timeline. I didn't know why this garden existed or who had tended to it... but since it wasn't a popular spot for energetic cadets, the area was always quiet.

I was still curious. Why had he brought me to this garden when he couldn't even see the flowers? Was it simply because of the pleasant scent? If so, Zeto had seemed rather clueless about flowers. Yet, he had brought me here anyway. Almost as if he knew I loved them.

Back then, I had been on the verge of collapsing. Giving up. That was all I could think about. ...Looking back now, perhaps I had simply wanted to act spoiled around him. Because at some point, he had come to understand me completely. Zeto held my hand so I wouldn't give up. Right here, in this very spot.

Just as melancholy was beginning to creep in while I stared at the dirt instead of the flowers in this beautiful garden, I sensed someone approaching. But even from the footsteps alone... I already knew who it was. Soon, he spotted me, and his voice reached my ears.

"Lady Eisel?"

Zeto called out, poking his head into the garden. My mind was already a tangled mess of thoughts about him, and seeing his face in the flesh made everything go completely blank.

"Is this... a flower garden? There seem to be many flowers here," Zeto said, taking in the surrounding scent as he approached. Was this his first time stepping into this garden in this timeline?

I remained silent, but as he drew closer, he casually continued.

"Come to think of it, were you not sitting in front of a flower bed last time as well? Do you happen to like flowers, Lady Eisel?"

His sweet, gentle voice echoed softly in the garden filled with the scent of blossoms. I stared at him intently before offering my reply.

"......I do. Very much."