Chef

I had the silky, Kinue-san, learn the [Chef] skill that Rokuko got from gacha.

The effect was…

"You got better at cooking?"

"Also, cooking time becomes instant… relatively speaking."

According to Kinue-san, not only does it boost cooking ability, but while cooking, time stops for everything except the cooking. So she's properly cooking from her own perspective, but from everyone else's, it finishes instantly. And apparently, she can't do anything other than cooking during the effect.

"… Even while simmering?"

"Yes, I can't do anything else. I can't do something like clean a room while it's simmering. However, I can put away cooking utensils."

That's rough.

But seriously, space-time magic limited to cooking?

Let's prepare some ingredients and have her show me what it's like. I got a recipe and ingredients from DP. She'll make strawberry shortcake.

I called Ichika and Niku over as taste testers. Also, Rokuko came without being called.

"It's a skill I got, right? Obviously I'd want to see it properly."

"I mean, you don't need an excuse to just show up."

"… Rather, call me properly! You'd make me feel left out, you know?"

Rokuko pouted. Let's make sure to call her next time.

"I'll make it then. First, the prep work… and done. It's complete."

"Fast! It hasn't even been ten seconds?!"

Before us was a beautiful strawberry shortcake. It wasn't just that the cake had appeared—there were clear signs that the oven made from phoenix eggshell had been used too.

She was already cutting it up. White cream and yellow sponge, with beautiful layers of red strawberries. Looks delicious.

"It really was instant. This is more amazing than I thought."

"True. Goshujin-sama, any chance ya'd give Kinue-san to me?"

"To you, Ichika? Hahaha, of course not."

"Tch, too bad～"

By the way, as far as the inn is concerned, it's set up that Rei, Kinue-san, and Nerune came through Rokuko's connections as her subordinates. They're treated as my juniors.

In terms of who came to the dungeon first, Ichika is actually my senior, but Ichika is my slave. There's no way I could give my junior to a slave. Well, unless Kinue-san really wanted it.

"… From my perspective, over an hour has passed since I started the prep work. Not being able to do anything but cooking would be hard for normal humans. I'm fine with it since I'm a housework fairy, though."

"That's… quite a severe restriction."

It'd probably be a divine skill for people who absolutely love cooking. I'd say it's truly a skill meant for chefs. They can spend as much time as they want on cooking.

… Glad I didn't use it myself. It'd be different if I could use it for sleeping though.

"Kehma, this is incredibly delicious!"

"It's sweet and melty… nom nom…"

Rokuko and Niku were already stuffing their cheeks with cake. Good appetites.

I'll eat some too. Thinking that, I looked for the cake… Huh, there's none?

"Ah, sorry. This is the last piece."

Rokuko was just stabbing the final piece of cake with her fork.

"Hey, seriously? You guys eat way too fast. I wanted some too…"

"Can't be helped then. Here."

Rokuko held out the fork with the cake toward me.

… Everyone's gazes gathered. This is, what, that thing? The "ahhh" feeding thing?

"Come on, open your mouth."

"… No, just give me the fork."

"If you won't open your mouth, I'll eat it myself!"

What kind of threat is that? But I want to eat cake… Kuh. Rokuko really has gotten smarter. Did some kind of level-up happen?

"Fine, if it's come to this, I'll use my last resort…"

"Yeah, just obediently accept it."

"But I refuse! Rokuko, don't think I'll do whatever you want so easily!"

I turned my back to Rokuko and spoke to Kinue-san.

"Kinue-san, please make another one."

"Yes, I'll start r— done."

A cake finished in an instant. Yep, seeing it a second time, the [Chef] skill really is amazing.

"Niku, Ichika, let's eat that one too! Help me!"

"Itadakimasu!"

"Sorry Goshujin-sama, but it's Rokuko-sama's order～ Can't be helped～!"

The three of them attacked the new shortcake.

But I just let them. The reason why?

"Then I'll take these remaining ones."

"Huh?!"

Rokuko's cheeks were stuffed with shortcake. But there were three whole other shortcakes… The answer is simple. I'd signaled four with my fingers. Our oven can easily bake four sponges at once after all.

As expected, they couldn't finish four more. I couldn't eat that much either, so I ended up putting most of it in [Storage]. One would be a gift for Rei and Nerune, who aren't here.

I immediately cut out a piece and stabbed it with my fork.

Partly because the ingredients from DP were high-quality, but Kinue-san's cooking skill was also excellent. It tasted nostalgic—like the cakes I used to eat back in Japan.

"Delicious. This wouldn't lose to the cakes sold in Japanese shops."

"I'm honored to receive your praise, Master."

Kinue-san smiled warmly.

"Gu, y-you got me, Kehma! But remember, I'm the one who got this [Chef] skill, so in other words this is my achievement too!"

"Nom nom nom…"

"Ahh～, eatin' something good, happiness. High-class stuff with plenty of sugar, this is amazin'～"

Right, cake with plenty of sugar is a luxury item. Let's sell some to the Saintess. What would be a reasonable price? About ten gold coins per slice?

Thinking about that, I happened to look outside—it had started snowing.

It's winter, huh.

… Ah, come to think of it, what ever happened with the village's name?

Hey Gozoh. At this rate, it's going to be confirmed as Gozoh-Roppu Love-Love Village, you know?