Chapter 24

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 24

Chapter Title: Well, Because It's Fun...

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1.

The roulette wheel was marked with ingredients symbolizing each flavor, one after another. Most were ordinary items you could easily find at any supermarket.

On the flip side, there were ingredients you couldn't buy at a supermarket—no, ones that wouldn't even cross your mind to buy.

"Wh-what the heck is this?"

"It's a roulette wheel carefully selected with only the ingredients that let you experience each flavor most vividly. You spin it and eat whatever comes up. What do you think?"

"...No wonder Noir freaked out earlier. It all makes sense now."

Elena's expression darkened. My sister next to her wore a similar look.

"Do we really need to experience it like this? Can't we just do a normal taste test...?"

"We don't need to. But this way is way more fun, right?"

The viewers seemed to agree with me, sending fervent cheers. Elena must have seen it too, because she finally nodded.

"...Alright. As long as I don't land on it in the roulette."

"You agree too, sis?"

"Uh, y-yeah...."

Noir answered reluctantly. She must really hate the idea of eating it.

"Alright, then. Who wants to spin first?"

"They say it's better to take the first hit. I'll go first."

Elena stepped forward and raised her hand. I nodded and adjusted the roulette settings.

"We'll start with salty first. 50% chance! Salt Bread or Anchovy Sauce. Give it a spin!"

At my words, Elena gulped. Then she cautiously pressed the button.

Click-

The roulette spun vigorously. The colorful segments whizzed by rapidly, and the steady click of the gear teeth rang endlessly in my ears.

As the speed gradually slowed, the needle ticked over each section one by one.

Salt Bread to Anchovy Sauce, back to Salt Bread—the tension built.

The roulette slowed further, the arrow trembling precariously between two sections. It seemed about to stop on Anchovy Sauce, but...

It barely came to a stop on Salt Bread.

"Yesss—!!!"

Elena, who had been gripping her hands tightly while watching the roulette, let out a shout.

"Boring? Nah, it's fun~ So much fun~ Pure honey, total bliss~"

I chuckled at Elena teasing the viewers. I summoned the salt bread, placed it on a plate, and quietly offered it to her.

"You're pretty lucky."

"I've always had decent luck."

She grinned and popped the salt bread into her mouth. Elena's eyes widened.

"Whoa... this salt bread is delicious! Crispy on the outside, chewy inside!"

She chewed a few more times before continuing.

"The butter flavor is insane. So nutty and salty... Wow, it's the best salt bread I've ever had."

"Glad it suits your taste."

I smiled brightly. Covering her mouth with her hand, she asked cautiously.

"Did you... make this yourself?"

"Yeah. The store sells salt bread, but the taste was kinda lacking. So I made it from scratch."

One tricky part of bread-making is fermentation. But in VR, you can accelerate time, so no long waits.

Even in reality, it'd be similar. Just use magic or holy power.

"Wanna compare?"

"Sure. I'm curious."

I bought some store-bought salt bread and handed it to her. Elena tore into it.

"Hm... bland. Just flour and a hint of salt?"

"Now I'm really looking forward to Noir's cooking."

"You won't be disappointed."

Elena had spun, so now it was sis's turn.

"Alright, your turn to spin, sis. Same flavor would be boring, so let's change it up."

My sister's expression brightened a bit. Way better than spicy or sour.

"Bitter!"

Noir gulped and pressed the button multiple times. The roulette spun at high speed.

Click-click-

The arrow shook slightly with each section it passed. The speed slowed.

No sign of the blue. The needle pointed dead center at the vivid red. No doubt about it.

"Eeeeek...!!!"

Sis screamed too. But not in joy like Elena—pure, 100% despair.

I pulled out the hot cirsium tea I'd stored separately.

"You made this yourself too?"

"Yep. Cleaned and dried the cirsium roots, boiled them long in water. Time stop spell keeps it piping hot, fresh-made."

I tilted the pot and poured her a full cup. The murky brown tea filled it.

"Ugh, this smell... Like water spilled on a herbalist's floor and left to fester."

"Just the smell makes me feel healthier."

"It's actually great for you. Anti-inflammatory, fever-reducing, protects skin and liver, good for the stomach too."

"But this is VR."

"Exactly. So it's just super bitter water."

Sis made a face.

"Have you tried it, Carrier?"

"Yeah. I taste-tested everything on the roulette first. Wanna share if you're suspicious?"

"Uh, well..."

Elena hesitated, but viewers jumped in. They wanna see shared suffering, huh.

"Viewers want it, so I'll join sis."

I poured another cup.

"Come on, sis. No more stalling—let's drink."

"Uh, y-yeah...."

I'd even blessed her with Courage, but since the roulette, she's been deflated. Must hate it that much.

"Here I go."

I downed the cirsium tea in one gulp.

Intense bitterness coated my whole tongue. Like someone rubbing tree bark on it.

"Not gross?"

"Tastes bad. But not worth the fuss?"

I'd eaten way worse in that other world. And cirsium tea was familiar—sis made it during my exam prep.

'She's hesitating 'cause of those memories, probably.'

I grinned at Noir. Cup to her lips, but not drinking yet.

"Come on, sis. Drink up."

At my urging, she squeezed her eyes shut and gulped it down.

"Ughhh...!"

Sis leaned forward, clamping her mouth. Eyes flew open, body twisting wildly.

"N-Noir? You okay?"

Even Elena worried at the reaction. Tears in her eyes, sis swallowed and replied.

"F-Fine...."

"If you're fine, good... but how bad is it...?"

"Bitter and astringent... weird aftertaste too... Ugh... Horrifying...."

She shuddered, shaking her head. Clear she was grossed out.

"Alright, sis's turn done. Back to Elena for the roulette."

Gulp-

Maybe from watching sis's penalty? Elena tensed up.

"As our guest, special choice: spicy or sour?"

She pondered briefly, then picked spicy.

"Reason for spicy?"

"I handle ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spicy food well. Eat it to relieve stress, so I have tolerance."

"Even if you like spicy, capsaicin's another level, no?"

"Probably. But better than sour. Doesn't matter anyway—I won't land on it."

"Trusting your luck?"

"Yep."

"Will Elena's luck hold again? Spin it!"

She spun.

"Noooo!!!"

And she crashed hard.

"Ughhh...."

The two women slumped over the table, groaning. The capsaicin and lemon from moments ago had hit hard.

"...Um, Carrier."

"Yes, Elena?"

Our eyes met as she lifted her head slightly. Lips pursed, she tapped the table.

"I came here because you said you'd treat us to delicious food. So why did I end up eating capsaicin?"

"'Cause it landed on the roulette?"

"That's the problem!"

Elena slammed the table. Voice ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠full of grievance.

"All I've done is spin the roulette and eat weird stuff!"

"True. True."

Sis chimed in from the side.

"Sorry. You've had it rough so far."

"Rough? Rough?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"My mouth's still burning! And that's just 'rough'? Is this hospitality!?"

"Of course not. The real hospitality starts now."

I stood up.

"...Finally cooking? I can trust and look forward to it? Right?"

Elena crossed her arms. I grinned at her suspicion.

"Yes. Look forward to it."

So far was just appetizers. Now the real show.

"Trust me."

The cooking that enchanted the Hero, Sword Saint, Magic Tower Lord, and Saintess—I'll show it now.

"You absolutely won't regret it."