ch141-ch160 · 157-ch157

Chapter 157: Is Strawberry Choco Parfait Heresy?

We beat the Minotaur, and that was it for the day's adventuring.

Per Kasumi-san's words: don't push Soushi too hard.

The other Association staff seemed worried too, so we'll go along with it.

"Oh my? Did you come all the way back just to see me?"

It's Shiraishi-san.

We came back to the Floor 1 counter, so she called out to us.

"No, no—they came to see ME, didn't you?"

And that's Akane-san, the ever-game black gyaru receptionist.

It's just turned five—shift-change time.

"Oh? You're looking better today."

Oh, and Hiramatsu-san's here too.

Apparently yesterday Soushi got worked until his color went bad.

"What are your plans for after this?"

Kasumi-san asks.

They think I'm heading back into the dungeon once Kasumi-san goes home, don't they.

"If you're willing, Kasumi-san, Shiraishi-san, I'd like some of your time after this..."

"See! It was me, wasn't it? Fufun."

Shiraishi-san looks utterly triumphant.

"Ehh? No way, right? It's just because I have work after this that I didn't get invited, isn't it? Tell me that's it, come on—"

Akane-san plays right along.

"Then I'll invite you some other time. For now, I'll be running an experiment on Shiraishi-san."

"Mmm?"

Maybe the word "invite" was a poor choice—Kasumi-san's eyes went sharp for an instant, I think.

It's not cheating, I promise?

"Okaaay~. I'll look forward to it. But do only invite me once the experiment succeeds, all right?"

"Huh? What experiment? Big sis might suddenly have plans, you know—"

Shiraishi-san saw a surprise up close and personal, so of course she'd be on guard...

But she can relax.

It's not a bad experiment, I promise.

"We have to hand over our shifts and report out for the day, so it will take a little while. Changing clothes... what will you do?"

She means whether we're fighting in the dungeon afterward, I guess...

"We'll just be picking up from Monday in front of the warehouse, so changing is up to you. We're going shopping outside, so we might actually be the late ones. In that case, please wait for us a bit, okay?"

Kasumi-san will get what that means.

"Ah, no explosions like last time, please? I will get mad!"

"What do you people even DO that ends in explosions?"

It wasn't me—the one who caused the explosion was Mia-san, so today will be fine.

"Explosions? What's this about explosions? Big sis just remembered she has errands. There's a new parfait shop that opened on Third Street, and I simply must pay it a visit."

A parfait shop is perfect, actually.

"I'll take full responsibility for bringing Shiraishi-san along, so rest assured. Until later, then."

"Even if something blows up, we can relax knowing Shiraishi-san is there~"

Akane-san piles on with the bad joke.

︙

︙

Shopping trip complete.

Ice cream, cereal, chocolate-flavored cookies, strawberries, whipped cream, and some tall glasses to build the parfaits in.

A recipe from the internet—just layer all of this together and you have a parfait. The question is how much of an effect Soushi's 【Cooking】 skill actually has...

That's right—this round is parfait-making via 【Cooking】, all part of the plan to win Shiraishi-san over.

If all goes well, we might take this all the way to the level-up and a high-rank job. Even if it flops, we'll at least walk away with some 'free Heal coupons.'

Shiraishi-san insists she's no cheap woman and refuses to take money—a real handful, that one. Stockpile Heal coupons, though, and we can ask for 【Heal】 anytime without wincing at the price.

"So this is Mia-chan's shop. To think it turned out to be a parfait place..."

There's some crossed wires here, but it's fine.

The venue was supposed to be our warehouse, but apparently Mia-san gave Kasumi-san her okay for this place.

Under Kasumi-san's supervision, Soushi is free to use the kitchen as he pleases, it seems.

Well, once Mia-san moves to Chiba, supervision can be hers instead, I suppose.

Either way, having running water makes prep and cleanup so much easier.

"Here you go. First, one for Shiraishi-san and one for Kasumi-san."

That was way too fast?

Cut, mix, assemble—did 【Cooking】 actually activate somewhere in there?

"Watanabe-san, half of a parfait's pleasure is looking at it, you know? Hmm? I do wish there'd been a little more effort in the plating. It's supposed to be piled so high it's practically overflowing, dear?"

At Shiraishi-san's critique, Kasumi-san turns her glass, giving her parfait a look.

So 【Cooking】 doesn't apply to plating?

No—he just hadn't noticed.

It activates, he simply wasn't using it. His face says he only realized once it was pointed out.

"I see. But isn't what matters the taste?"

"You don't get it at all~. The look tells you most of the taste... mmgh."

Mid-rebuttal, Shiraishi-san takes a single bite—and freezes.

"...Myyyy. What IS this stuffff—"

Shiraishi-san cries out.

"Something's wrong here. Strawberry AND chocolate? Greedy combos like that are supposed to be heresy, and yet it's delicious. And this crunch—these flakes aren't store-bought either, are they? And above all, this cream! What kind of luxury ingredients does it take to make something taste like this?!"

Bought every bit of it off a normal shelf. That guy.

And it's the whip-it-yourself kind of whipped topping, so technically it isn't even fresh cream.

All he did was stir it with the 【Cooking】 skill...

The cream, fine—I can accept the skill doing that. But why would the flakes' texture change?

This is beyond understanding.

"Bring me the chef!"

He's standing right in front of you?

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Sou-chan, oh so close. Delicious—it is truly delicious—but you don't understand what a parfait IS. So today, your bill comes to ten 'Heal coupons.'"

The only person alive who calls Soushi 'Sou-chan' is his own mother, you know?

A single casual 【Heal】 supposedly runs 5,000 yen a pop, so that's a 50,000-yen bill right there.

"Thank you very much"—Soushi receives them with deep reverence.

Oh, Sou-chan, my boy, do not be satisfied with this.

He seems content on the taste front, so time for me to cut in.

"Dear customer, today's parfait is on the house—no payment necessary."

"Oh my? Is that so? Well, take these anyway—it's the thought that counts."

He's keeping them, of course.

"Also, this establishment does not accept 'Heal coupons' as payment. Please be advised for future visits."

"Oh? Then however shall I pay?"

Thank goodness she didn't go and offer to pay with actual money here.

"Payment at this establishment is accepted in 'high-tier Heal coupons' only."

"Whaaaaat? 'High-tier'? Those actually exist?"

If they don't, kindly make some.

"Oh my—delicious."

Her willpower finally breaking, Kasumi-san takes a spoonful of her parfait and lets the verdict slip.

"These are store-bought cornflakes, yes? And the cream is whipped topping, not fresh cream. The strawberries shouldn't even be in season right now... and yet it's delicious... This is simply the chef's skill at work. I doubt you could taste anything like it anywhere else. And this shop hasn't even opened yet—these parfaits are still unfinished, aren't they?"

Oh-ho. She's playing along with my act and stacking another performance on top.

Store-bought, these? Shiraishi-san stares hard at her parfait between bites, checking.

But she can't tell.

Her face plainly says she cannot fathom why it's delicious.

"That's correct. This establishment aims for the ultimate parfait, so from here on we plan to expand our ingredients—of course—as well as our range of flavors. We would be most grateful to hear your opinions, dear customers."

"Th-the ultimate parfait? First off, strawberry and chocolate parfaits must be kept SEPARATE! And there is a golden rule governing the ice cream, the cream, and the flakes! It is absolute law, you hear!"

"Research toward the ultimate parfait—what a splendid idea. As it happens, one of my cohort is a 【Saint】. She has quite the sweet tooth as well, so once this shop opens, I shall have to invite her. For her, payment would be as simple as signing her name to a 'high-tier Heal coupon,' I imagine."

Oh ho, oh ho.

And what do you know—we happen to be friends with exactly the person who can issue 'high-tier Heal coupons.'

"The 【Saint】! You mean THE Kuwashima Miyuki-san?! I'm a huge fan! You know her personally?! I'm going to work my hardest to raise my cooking skills, so introduce me, please!"

Soushi's the one who took the bait, huh.

Well, I can't go anywhere near recovery jobs, so if she ever visits, I'll just admire her from afar.

Now then—how will Shiraishi-san play it?

"Grrrnnn... I want to research the ultimate parfait too... But 'high-tier Heal coupons'... At this rate, even once the shop opens, I'll never get to taste one..."

Not to be a killjoy, but this shop is going to be a WEAPON shop when it opens.