Volume 8 Chapter 42 Interlude - Heart Pounding! Lisha's Magical Cooking! Conclusion
When I finished my training and returned to the upper floor, there was a strange atmosphere in the room.
The living room was filled with a delicious smell and warm light.
However, there was a sense of tension, like in a duel.
What happened in this house while I was training?
It seems Kanami still hasn't come back.
I finished my training first and called out to Tsukiko, who was already sitting in a chair.
"Hey Tsukiko, doesn't the atmosphere feel different?"
"Yes, it does. It seems like something serious is happening because of someone."
"Huh? Who's this 'someone' you're talking about?"
"I guess you wouldn't know, dullard."
Who the heck is dullard? Yuusuke-san, who was said to have the keen sense of a wild animal on the battlefield.
But according to Tsukiko's words, it seems that I am the cause of this tension.
I had been holed up in the training room from morning to night, but I have no idea why it's my fault.
"Could you at least take a shower? It seems dinner is ready."
"Alright, understood."
This smell must be curry. I thought it might be frozen side dishes since Kanami isn't here, but maybe Lisha or Hinata cooked.
Since it's just curry, even Lisha should be able to make it by adding the roux, and I think Hinata can cook normally.
Though the tension is concerning, all that's left is to eat and sleep, so it shouldn't be anything strange.
While feeling a slight sense of escaping reality, I went to take a shower.
Someone must have already filled the bath, and I gratefully took the first bath.
Once fully accustomed to this lifestyle, it seems worrying to go back to living alone.
Putting aside such anxieties, I went to the living room with a warm body.
As expected, dinner was laid out there.
Salad with soup, and the main dish, curry rice.
There's nothing strange about it. In fact, it might be more mysterious that a hungry Saint like Lisha can casually whip up a curry that looks so delicious.
Up to this point, there's no issue, but there was something odd.
In our house, it's common for everyone to eat together. So, it's not strange at all to have lots of curry lined up. However, for some reason, there were two plates of curry placed only at the seat where I sat.
"Oh, Yuusuke-san. Dinner is ready! Kanami-san will be a little late coming home."
Lisha, peeking out from the kitchen, said so. Her apron-clad figure is too dazzling. Turn her into a figure just like that.
"Did Lisha make it today? Thanks."
"Yes! Kanami-san prepared various things in advance, so even I could make it!"
Mmm! She said it with a proud expression and her chest is puffed out. I wonder how destructive it is to be wrapped in an apron. The sheath isn't functioning properly though.
Anyway, leaving that aside.
"By the way, Lisha, why are there two curries placed only on my seat? Are we expecting guests?"
Lisha scratched her cheek and said with difficulty,
"Um... both of them are Yuusuke-san's."
"Why do I have two? It's not like I'm a big eater or anything."
We've been living together for almost half a year, so she should know.
"No, it's not like I prepared them."
"It's me."
Saying that, Hinata appeared――no, it's not her.
"Noire, huh. Can you even cook?"
"How rude. I'm a woman who lives for love. I've mastered all the necessary skills for a household."
Part of her chestnut-colored hair turned cherry blossom pink, and her figure seemed more feminine. It was Noire Toare, who resides in Hinata's body.
So, does that mean Lisha and Noire made this curry separately?
"What, you made them separately again. You should have made it together."
"Yuusuke, this is a battle. It's a bet of pride between women."
"So, you bet on curry, huh..."
I wonder if there was something else you could have bet on.
However, it wouldn't be right to complain about what was made for me.
If it's just two plates, it's not a significant amount. If one go to an Indian curry specialty store, they have many types of curry.
"Well then, shall we start eating?"
Tsukiko and Sharla also took their seats at the table, and everyone was gathered.
"Itadakimasu."
I said that and compared the curries again.
Even without a closer look, it was obviously different.
The curry with slightly irregularly cut, large vegetables mixed in must be the one made by Lisha. It seems to have used pork chunks, truly a homemade curry.
It brings back memories. When I was in Asteris, I desperately wanted to eat curry and ended up making something completely different, shedding tears. It didn't turn out to be the curry I was looking for, but it was still delicious in its own way.
And the other one is, well, black.
Hmm, I don't remember curry being this black. There seems to be something called black curry out there, maybe this is it.
For now, let's try the Lisha curry.
"Oh, it's tasty!"
It's not just regular curry. It has a dashi flavor. By adding dashi to the medium-hot roux, it becomes milder and matches well with rice.
After spending so long in a different world, even after coming back, my body still craves for a sense of harmony.
"Lisha, this is delicious. Did you make it by yourself?"
"Really? I'm glad. Kanami-san and Hinata-san helped me though."
While laughing, Lisha also eats the curry.
It's amazing that the clumsy Lisha can make curry. Humans are truly creatures that grow.
Now, the problem lies with this black one.
The fact that it smells delicious in a creepy way is unsettling. After all, it's curry made by Noire.
She said that, but I can't imagine her cooking. I would understand if she said she cooked enemies.
Spoon, scoop it up, bring it close to your nose.
Hmm, the scent is more stimulating than Lisha's, but still has a delicious aroma.
Actually, Lisha's is more gentle in flavor, so this one stands out more.
"What's wrong, Yuusuke? Is it possible for someone like you, who used to be a hero, to hesitate over curry?"
"Former, former hero."
Why do I have to be provoked like this in such a friendly dinner conversation?
But as Noire says, there's no point in holding back here.
I gather my resolve and eat the black curry.
"...Tasty."
It was simply delicious.
The punch of flavors is strong. The taste of garlic hits me hard, and various flavors mix together and expand in my mouth.
It's a taste different from any curry I've ever eaten.
Looking at me, Noire said proudly.
"That's right! After all, I completely researched Yuusuke's preferences before making it!"
"I didn't want to hear that."
Stalking me, huh. Stop it, I've had enough of that kind of thing in my hero days.
And I realized as I was eating it...
"Is the ingredients in this curry different from lisha's? It seems to have chicken in it too."
"Oh, well..."
"It's snapping turtle meat."
"Huh, snapping turtle. Snapping turtle⁉"
What does that mean⁉
Is this curry I'm eating made from snapping turtle?
Well, I wouldn't have noticed. It's something I've never eaten before.
"Wait, why would you use such a unique ingredient..."
As I said that and tried to continue eating, someone grabbed my hand from the side.
It was tsukiko, who had been eating quietly until now.
"What, what's wrong?"
Tsukiko didn't answer my legitimate question and only looked at Noire.
"Noire-san, what else did you put in this curry?"
"Besides snapping turtle, there's garlic, pit viper, Korean ginseng, maca, and a little bit of chocolate as a secret ingredient."
"Huh, it's like a dark pot curry."
It's more like medicine than cooking.
"Why on earth would you put stuff like that..."
As I said that in a voice of disbelief, Tsukiko sighed and shook her head.
"What's the matter?"
"...sigh"
"Sorry, what did you say?"
"It's a stamina supplement. All the ingredients are used for male stamina enhancement."
Yes?
I unintentionally stared at Noire in surprise.
She had a bewitching smile on her face as she exhaled with a feverish breath and murmured,
"Yuusuke, you wouldn't leave something that's been served to you, right? I have dessert prepared in the room later."
"...?"
Wait, is this a honey trap?
The incredibly stimulating taste is just a method to bring together unique ingredients! I've been completely deceived.
"Um, what is a stamina supplement?"
"Lisha-san, you don't need to know."
"Yeah, Lisha. This traditional Japanese curry is pure, delicious, and amazing! You're the winner, Lisha, Lisha."
It seems they're not even in a competition, after all.
"It's okay if I lose. But please make sure to eat everything."
This person, Noire... So that was the intention.
Using the competition as an excuse to make me eat this extremely spicy curry.
Certainly, leaving food that was prepared for oneself goes against my policy. It's not like there is poison in it, it's just to become healthier.
Phew...
"Alright, I'll eat everything thoroughly."
I said that and literally ate every grain of rice without leaving a single one.
By the way, my body, which has been subjected to countless poisons and curses on numerous battlefields, doesn't get sick, and medicine hardly has any effect on it.
If I were to recount the events of that night, in short, it would be like that.
The winner, Lisha.
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