Tilea's Worries

Today, restaurant Belm is closed.

There's no food preparation either.

Usually, I'd be in the Demon God Army Underground Empire's kitchen.

I was making meals for everyone as a way of thanking them for their daily care.

Daily care?

Isn't it the other way around - I'm the one taking care of them?

You might retort.

But, but, but.

This Underground Empire belongs to Oru-father. I've been allowed to use it for free for a long time. If I had to pay proper rent, it would have been an incredible amount.

Furthermore, restaurant Belm has received substantial financial support from the Oru family, from opening funds to ingredient costs.

It's not just the restaurant management. Considering the slave incident, auctions, and everything in total, they've let me use easily over [hundreds of millions] for my sake.

I really can't hold my head up high.

Of course, it's not just the Oru family. The corps members have been very good friends with my sister Timu.

While I have some thoughts about her adoring "Camilla-sama, Camilla-sama," even setting that aside.

The reason my sister could work hard in an unfamiliar land was thanks to having trusted companions.

When Timu had trouble with the villainess Elizabeth, they fought for her life.

I'm too embarrassed to say it in front of them, but I'm grateful to them.

Even though they sometimes trouble me with their chuunibyou, they're precious companions.

So, let me at least cook meals for them.

And yet...

Today, the corps members were apparently going to cook in my place.

I had previously warned them, "Amateurs shouldn't cook. It's a waste of ingredients." Since then, they hadn't complained about me cooking, but today they were strangely persistent.

"We won't trouble Tilea-sama. We can provide meals that will satisfy Tilea-sama's palate," they declared with confidence.

Oru, of course, along with Dryas-kun, the pervert, and the corps executives all said the same thing in unison.

You guys are quite bold, aren't you?

Do you understand what it means to cook in my place?

That's like saying you can make better food than me.

I'd be troubled if you underestimate professional cooks too much.

Well, I was a bit miffed at first... but gradually changed my mind over time.

It would be pitiful to be too harsh on them.

They were acting for my sake, thinking it was hard for me to cook alone.

A cook's pride is important, but maybe I'll indulge them just for today.

They seem to have secretly practiced cooking to surprise me...

Oru has been appealing enthusiastically. That the Second Division is the best, that they've prepared supreme cooking unlike any other.

The corps members in charge of cooking are probably competing with each other.

If so, they must want to show me the results of their practice.

Okay, okay.

Let me acknowledge everyone's feelings.

Honestly, I still have resistance to amateurs handling high-quality ingredients. However, I realized I didn't have the right to interfere in the first place. The ingredients are purchased with the Oru family's assets. While it would be one thing if they wasted ingredients every day, just for today should be fine.

Sometimes it's nice to have someone else make meals and enjoy eating.

I sat at the table and waited for the food.

Now then, what did you all make?

Fried eggs?

Or maybe scrambled eggs?

I don't expect much from amateur cooking. But it's okay. I'll eat it even if it's burnt.

Because everyone's feelings make me happy.

However, I'll give them a critique of the taste.

The person who made it would probably be curious about how a professional cook evaluates it.

I'll grade generously. If I evaluate from a professional perspective, it'll be nothing but criticism. That would discourage them.

If possible, I'd be happy if this opportunity sparked their interest in cooking.

And then... the bell rang with a gong.

It was mealtime.

Dishes were brought to the table one after another.

Mapo tofu, green pepper steak, fried rice, paella, pasta, Nice-style spaghetti, rolled omelet, Sasaki shrimp tempura...

A lineup of Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes, colorful and incorporating seasonal ingredients.

...Yeah, not bad.

Pretty good for amateurs.

The appearance is magnificent. It's like it was made by professional cooks.

Ho, ho, surprising, they really did it.

They even did decorative knife work capturing seasonal feeling and elegance - how clever~.

Really skillful.

They might even be better than me...

They're impudently stimulating a cook's pride.

W-well, they can copy the form, but taste is what matters.

Here I go~!

I scooped up the nearby mapo tofu with a spoon and ate it.

Hm!?

This is...

"You definitely changed chefs, didn't you?"

"Yes!"

"Moreover, the new corps members are professional cooks!"

"As you wish!"

I thought it looked amazing, but after one bite I was certain.

This definitely isn't food made by amateurs.

Professional taste can't be imitated.

T-these guys...

That's right. These guys are NEETs, but they were rich kids from good families. They're wealthy enough to learn archery in Hawaii from their fathers. When push comes to shove, gathering the family's exclusive cooks would be nothing.

"Tilea-sama, how is it?"

"Yeah, not bad."

"Indeed. With this, we won't need to trouble Tilea-sama anymore."

"That's right. Now we can take a load off our shoulders."

The corps members were talking with satisfaction.

Eh!? Are these guys seriously trying to stop me from cooking meals?

Don't take my position in the Demon God Army by bringing professional cooks.

No, no, let me cook!

If I asked them to let me cook here, they'd probably let me.

Everyone is lenient with me.

But I'm also a professional cook.

Rather than appealing to emotion, I'll compete with taste.

In the Demon God Army, the person who can cook best makes meals for the corps members.

I had firmly said before that amateurs had no place. I'll take responsibility for my own words.

I am the Demon God Army's cook.

I won't acknowledge any other cooks. I won't acknowledge them, hmph!

Well, acting cute won't get me anywhere.

From here on, I'm serious.

If it's against professional cooks, I'll evaluate harshly from a professional perspective too.

I scooped up the mapo tofu I ate earlier with a spoon and ate it again.

I smelled the mapo flavor with my nose and confirmed the texture by rolling it on my tongue.

"Well, it's okay. But the cooking is a bit rough. The tofu is slightly crumbled. And the spices are questionable too. If you had added softer Panapa leaves, the taste would have been milder and better. Yeah, eighty-five points."

I evaluated harshly as a cook.

Similarly, I judged the green pepper steak, paella, and pasta.

I scooped them with a spoon and first enjoyed the aroma.

Mm~, tasty♪

Then I put one bite, two bites in my mouth and confirmed the texture.

No roughness, smooth. However, the stock is slightly cloudy.

Yeah, eighty-two points, eighty-eight points, eighty points.

All were first-class.

Even with harsh evaluation, high scores over eighty points continued.

No, it would have been bad if I hadn't done cooking training with Rosetta Pratolina, the young lady.

These guys are definitely the real deal. All B-rank, no, A-rank cooks. They have about the same skill level as me before coming to the royal capital.

They really gathered this many ace-level cooks.

All of these guys are probably signature cooks at famous restaurants.

Actually, wait.

I suddenly had a question.

These are such skilled cooks. They probably have their own shops. It wouldn't be strange if they were head chefs commanding multiple cooks. They couldn't keep playing along with the Demon God Army's games indefinitely.

It's probably like a one-day police chief, but a one-day Demon God Army thing.

"You all just called these cooks specially for today, right? Then I'll still have to cook in the future anyway."

"No, we've given them the positions of [Sergeant] and [Corporal] in the Demon God Army and made them pledge eternal loyalty to Tilea-sama. If they meet Tilea-sama's approval, we plan to have them continue managing the Demon God Army's kitchen."

"I-is that so?"

I see. If I take the corps members' words at face value, they apparently got permanent jobs in this playful army.

Seriously?

And they're still A-rank cooks?

What about their own shops or the shops they worked at before?

I don't know if it's family circumstances, succumbing to the Oru family's power, or being lured by big money.

But if they're real cooks, they wouldn't continue cooking in such a ridiculous play army.

Besides, sergeant? Corporal?

Those are the ones I mentioned casually in conversation before!

Are they satisfied with those positions I made up randomly? If they're satisfied, that's fine.

However, I won't lose to such unserious cooks!

I'm seriously committed to cooking.

A-rank cooks, sorry!

Today's Tilea-chan is different. I won't say a single word about it being delicious.

Then I continued judging the remaining dishes.

"No, it's quite a skillful meunière. However, it's a shame. I'd like a bit more accent in the flavor. Eighty-one points!"

I was severely finding faults.

Normally, I'd shout "Bravo, bravo!" - the cooking level is that high.

But I don't want to cook out of pity.

I'll win the position of Demon God Army cook through my own strength.

I ate everything and repeated evaluations.

Next, I ate the golden-glowing fried rice.

"Ugh!? Delicio-- n-not bad fried rice."

That was close.

I almost said it was delicious. This was dangerously tasty.

Fluffy and light, with rich aroma spreading in my mouth.

Each grain of fried rice stood evenly, pleasant to look at.

Fried rice contains the basics of cooking.

You can't make it well without properly mastering the [stir-fry] [smoke] [grill] [steam] cycle.

I'll be honest.

Even I might find it difficult to make such perfect fried rice.

Hah!?

Wait. I've tasted this flavor somewhere before.

I think I ate it while food-hopping with the young lady...

That's right!?

This is the fried rice from the long-established [Rakuraku-han].

[Rakuraku-han] is a super-famous Chinese restaurant in the royal capital that's prosperous every day. The head chef is S-rank cook Mochikichi, and they handle several dishes for the royal family.

"You guys even brought an S-rank cook? Mochikichi made this, right?"

"Yes. As Tilea-sama deduced. This Nielsen brought him."

The pervert stepped forward and spoke with confidence.

"Nielsen, you knew Mochikichi?"

"Yes. Despite being a weak human, Mochikichi has considerable backbone. I've lectured him several times on a warrior's mindset."

"L-lectured, huh..."

"Indeed. I took this opportunity of recruiting cooks to recommend him to Tilea-sama."

The pervert introduced him as if he'd brought my junior.

Really fearless.

S-rank cooks don't move for simple money. Unless it really resonates with their heart, they absolutely won't cook.

It's a common story for S-rank cooks to ignore kings' orders and refuse to cook. Even though disobeying royal commands could normally result in death, prideful S-rank cooks never bend their principles.

For example, there's an anecdote about Taste King Mochikichi driving a high-ranking noble's heir to disinheritance for poor dining manners.

He apparently had a big fight with the resentful stupid son and his guards.

Mochikichi is a combat-type cook.

If you called him weak to his face, you'd be flattened with a pot. If you made poor recruitment attempts to an S-rank cook, it wouldn't be strange to be eliminated.

"Nielsen, how did you manage to bring Mochikichi?"

"I understand Tilea-sama's concerns. Indeed, his combat ability is like dust compared to ours. However, his cooking skills are certain. I believe there's no problem entrusting the Demon God Army's kitchen to him. Don't worry, even if enemies attack, I'll provide backup."

The pervert thumped his chest and made a face asking me to please take care of him.

Yeah, forget it.

With his unchanging chuunibyou, I realized it was useless to say anything.

If these guys commit any rudeness, I'll apologize in their place.

Anyway.

Even if it's that Mochikichi, I can't easily hand over the Demon God Army's kitchen.

This is a good opportunity.

I was planning to surpass Mochikichi's cooking eventually.

I'll do it. I'll make cooking better than Mochikichi's.

Let me start by analyzing this fried rice.

I observed with eyes like saucers.

I investigated using all the cooking skills I'd cultivated.

T-this is... yeah.

I cleared my throat.

"As expected of Mochikichi. High-quality fried rice. But the scallions weren't heated quite enough. In fried rice, you must heat all ingredients evenly. Ninety-five points. No, so close. Not a hundred points."

To make fried rice this fluffy, you need to evaporate moisture quickly over high heat.

Timing is crucial.

As expected of the man called the flame cook. The grilling was perfect, with almost no flaws.

I said the scallions weren't cooked through, but it's really within the margin of error.

There'd be no end if I pointed out such things.

It's close to nitpicking, but a flaw is still a flaw.

I couldn't be choosy about methods to become the Demon God Army's cook.

"Then how about this dish?"

After finishing Mochikichi's critique, Dryas-kun recommended a new dish.

It was Garagara bird sauté.

The breast meat was steamed, and the warm steam was appetizing.

Nice.

I had been curious about it at first glance too.

I took a bite.

"Delicious. This is delicious! Ah!"

I said it without thinking.

Dryas-kun was grinning.

This was more delicious than it looked. Thanks to that, I couldn't suppress my words.

This aroma... perfect.

Anchovies and olives were added, with pressure applied to the breast meat. Moreover, thanks to the exquisite balance of [smoke] and [grill], the texture is outstanding too.

B-beautiful.

How should I express this perfected dish?

Yes, it tastes like a phoenix dancing in the sky.

Not only the cooking composition, but the cutting and presentation are refined.

The more I look, the more I understand.

This has no flaws.

I can say it's cooking that surpassed Taste King Mochikichi.

Yeah, that's right. Professional cooks should honestly acknowledge what should be acknowledged.

I lost.

But it's a refreshing loss.

Just knowing there are such amazing cooks in the world made me excited.

"Dryas-kun, can you tell me about the cook who made this dish?"

"Yes. Her name is Jan. She's a human girl, sixteen years old. Though her title is A-rank cook, her ability could be called S-rank."

A sixteen-year-old girl?

She's younger than me with amazing talent.

I might have found a cook comparable to father.

Hah, I can't claim to be the best cook in the Demon God Army anymore.

But that's fine.

It might be fun to cook together with this girl.

I lost the competition. Then I'll appeal to emotion.

"As expected of Dryas-kun. This dish gets [a hundred points]. I have no complaints."

"I'm honored. She's worthy of being entrusted with the Demon God Army's kitchen and can fully contribute."

"Yeah, yeah, that's right. Here's my request. I'm changing the original purpose, but I want to cook meals too, or rather, I want to!"

"Tilea-sama..."

"Please. I feel like I can reach greater heights with her."

I clasped my hands and pleaded.

Dryas-kun widened his eyes for a moment, then smiled with raised corners of his mouth.

And then,

"If that's what Tilea-sama wishes."

He waved one hand forward and bowed respectfully.

The corps members also seemed convinced to let me continue cooking meals, perhaps understanding my enthusiasm.

"Still, I take my hat off to this sauce flavor. The anchovies and olives skillfully sublimate the taste. I would have substituted Shama leaves or Parara fruit. Yeah, yeah, she's a genius."

Then I continued praising while eating the Garagara bird sauté.

Just as I was about to conclude this cooking competition with the victory of cook Jan, brought by Dryas-kun,

"Tilea-sama!"

Oru let out a pitiful cry.

"W-what's wrong?"

"My, my--"

"My what?"

"How was our Second Division representative's unprecedented cooking!"

Unprecedented...

Are you some comedian? Well, I used that phrase quite often before.

Actually, you immediately like to imitate words I say.

Well, whatever.

If I only praise Dryas-kun, Oru immediately sulks.

I need to save Oru's face too.

Um, um, which dish was made by the cook Oru brought?

But I've eaten most of them, right?

Other dishes I haven't eaten...

"Ah~ maybe that one?"

I pointed to the fish scrap soup I had deliberately avoided eating.

"Yes, exactly. Unlike the staff officer's recommended small-time cook, this is our Second Division's discovered, far superior unprecedented cook."

"Yes, yes, I get it. Enough with 'unprecedented.' But sorry, this is a failure."

"A failure!"

"Yeah, I can tell without eating. Boiling fish scraps is forbidden. This kind of mistake is often made when you're just starting as a pro. But pros among pros don't overlook it."

Among all the wonderful dishes, this alone was a failure.

I could tell at a glance, so I put it off without eating.

"S-s-such a failure..."

"No, no, it wouldn't be interesting if you brought all perfected dishes. You need some like this too."

While Oru hung his head dejectedly,

"Tilea-sama, please wait. Captain Ortissio's words are not false. This is an excellent soup."

Taciturn Gil-kun objected.

"Look, I understand you're devoted to Oru. But this is a failure. I know because I'm a pro."

"Tilea-sama, I apologize. Could you please taste just one sip?"

Even though I said it was a failure, Gil-kun persisted with a very serious face.

"Gil. Onee-sama has said it's a failure. Going further would be considered disrespect insulting Onee-sama."

"Please bend the rules and grant this request. Please, just one sip, just one sip."

Hey, Gil-kun is persistently arguing. Usually he's modest unlike Oru, so this is unusual.

Ah, Timu's eyelids started twitching.

She's angry.

"Gilbert Bo Bach! I didn't know you were so foolish and disloyal. I'm disappointed."

"Gil. You're different from Ortissio. Precisely because I thought you were a capable warrior, I gave you the position of [Senior Major General], the top among major generals. Cool your head. Don't disgrace Tilea-sama and Camilla-sama."

Timu yelled at Gil-kun using his full name, and the pervert scolded him like a company boss.

Still, Gil-kun's attitude didn't change.

He appealed with firm determination.

"Camilla-sama, Nielsen-sama, knowing this is disrespectful, I ask you. Please taste just one sip. If it doesn't suit your palate, I'll cut my belly and commit suicide."

"Haha, you won't follow my words... very well. No need for seppuku. I'll personally harvest your head."

Timu stood up and began gathering aura in her hands.

Gil-kun didn't back down even against such a Timu.

He just kept bowing his head, asking for a taste.

Oru was trembling while alternately looking at Timu and Gil-kun's faces.

He'd cower seeing Timu's angry expression, then look at Gil-kun with concern asking "Are you okay?"

Gil-kun showed Oru a motherly compassionate gaze, saying "It's okay."

Yeah, this doesn't seem like it'll be resolved. I'll have to mediate.

"Ah~ okay, okay, I get it. You guys don't fight. I just need to eat it, right? Eat it."

"Onee-sama, is that alright?"

"It's fine, it's fine. Gil-kun is right. It would be rude not to touch something made specially for me."

Ah~ I remember.

I made the same mistake long ago.

When you boil fish scraps, they give off a distinctive bitter smell.

As a predecessor, I'll properly critique and give advice to the cook who made this.

I picked up the fish scrap soup and brought it close to my mouth.

The soup's aroma gently tickled my nostrils.

Hm!? That's strange. It doesn't smell bitter.

On the contrary, this aroma is like a pleasant breeze blowing.

Huh, huh?

This soup isn't just the aroma. Doesn't the appearance look really well-arranged too?

The ingredients are harmonious, well-made.

Yeah, it's well-made, right?

Somehow it's beautiful.

Huh, why do I think that?

This is a failure, right?

Well, whatever.

I'll understand if I eat it.

I scooped the soup with a spoon and put it in my mouth.

"Ugh!?"

I was speechless from the shock.

It was as if electric current ran from the top of my head to my toes.

"U, u, u..."

"Tilea-sama, what's wrong?"

"O-Onee-sama?"

"D-delicious! It's incredibly delicious! What is this, what is this! Unbelievable. Unbelievable."

This soup is a dish that overturns cooking common sense.

Did such delicious, supreme soup exist in this world!

It's a revolution. Not an industrial revolution but a cooking revolution!

I slurped another sip, two sips.

Delicious, too delicious!

With each sip, rich umami and fragrance are added, creating an exquisite taste.

"Tilea-sama, how was the dish our Second Division prepared? Was it unprecedented?"

"No, it's too unprecedented! What the heck is this! You really keep surprising me!"

I made a sharp retort to Oru's question.

This high-spec cooking...

When I taste cooking, I can usually understand the general ingredients and composition.

I can barely understand this cooking's composition.

However, there's one thing I can say for certain. This cooking surpasses father's cooking.

Honestly, I thought there were no cooks in this world better than father.

Mochikichi was close, but I could still see his back.

What is this, what is this.

My cooking ability improved after coming to the royal capital. I met someone who could be called a rival - the young lady.

We stimulated each other and worked hard together.

I aimed for culinary heights, surpassing S-rank cooks like Taste King Mochikichi to someday become a cook like father.

I feel like cold water was suddenly thrown on me.

How should I describe this shock?

Like I was acting big as Mount Fuji, then Mount Everest appeared saying "Yo!"?

Or like I awakened as a Super Vegetable Person and was acting like I was the universe's best, then a God of Destruction appeared saying "Hey there!"?

While losing confidence and feeling dizzy, I couldn't help but ask.

"Who made this fish scrap soup!"

I'd believe it if you said you brought a taste hermit from Mount Horai, no, a cooking god from heaven.

I questioned Oru with heavy breathing.

"Yes. This is livestock particularly skilled in cooking among the livestock. The achievement of our Second Division in discovering this livestock--"

"Eh? Livestock? I don't understand. Don't joke around and explain properly."

"Yes. Then I'll explain in order. Our Second Division, as you know, was suppressing areas around beastmen settlements. The background of finding this cook begins with scattering the weak beastmen who claimed to be a golden generation. The beastmen seemed to fear my combat ability and pathetically surrendered one after another--"

This is hopeless.

It's faster to storm the kitchen directly and ask than to listen to Oru.

I ignored Oru mid-speech and stood up.

Holding the fish scrap soup in one hand, off to battle.

I left the dining room and jogged toward the kitchen.

Oru was chasing after me saying "Tilea-sama, Tilea-sama, what's wrong?" but I ignored him.

I entered the kitchen and raised my voice.

"Who made this fish scrap soup!"

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Author Notes:

  [New work posted. I'd be happy if you could read this too.

  A peerless beauty becomes my girlfriend!? In my previous life, she was a princess and I was her servant. No, it's all a setup!

  https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8449fx]

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TL notes: It's been a short stay. If you liked the delivery, let us know which web novels you would like to see continued, and we'll take a look.

P.S. It has to be a web novel, as we don't want to face any legal issues with light novels if it comes down to it.