[Altair Brando]
One day after summoning Shuten, I was in the cafeteria, behind the counter, meticulously cleaning the utensils within my reach. At this point in the game, I already considered the cafeteria my personal base. Since a certain white-haired servant who wore a red coat hadn't been summoned yet, there wasn't a single living soul to compete with me for this space.
[There's still a chance he'll be summoned.]
With Nahida's voice echoing in my mind, I moved my hand, continuing to clean the utensil, hoping it would never happen. If it did, we'd have to duel for this space.
[Isn't it easier to just share?]
My dear cabbage, a man's sanctuary cannot be divided.
In my past life, not even my sister had the right to use my kitchen. It won't be some tanned servant who's going to change that. But leaving that aside, while I cleaned, Raikou "helped" me in a rather clumsy way that was even a bit cute. The strongest woman of the Heian era wasn't exactly skilled at everyday tasks. Proof of this was the number of dishes that had succumbed to her clumsiness.
But her insistence on increasing her "maternal" power was admirably cute.
Speaking of the generously-busted woman, it was quite obvious that she possessed a high level of possessiveness toward me.
This would be problematic if I hadn't gotten used to this kind of heavy feeling, thanks to my sister... Not wanting to think about it, I shook my head from side to side. Replacing that thought came the memory of a promise to a certain white-haired girl that I'd give her training to evaluate her new condition.
While this thought passed through my mind, Shuten, who was lying on the counter, raised a bowl, bringing it to her lips.
Smelling alcohol, I came out of my thoughts, looking at the beautiful servant who was ingesting a crystalline liquid.
"Hahaha! Do you want some, master~!?" Shuten licked her lips, cleaning the liquid from her mouth and offering me the bowl's contents.
Even though I'd never drunk any kind of alcoholic beverage, I admit I was a bit curious to know what it tasted like. And what would be the best way to drink a suspicious beverage given by an oni... it's not like this was the strangest thing the monkey king had ever swallowed.
"I guess a little won't hurt..."
Before I could graze my finger on the bowl, Raikou pulled my body back, casting an angry look.
"Don't offer that nonsense to my son." She narrowed her eyes.
"Mama cow got irritated." Shuten rolled on the counter, revealing the graceful curves of her armpit, while my eyes remained fixed on the drink.
Stealthily, I tried to grab the sake...
"Get lost, you disgusting insect." Raikou kicked the oni servant, knocking her off the counter.
Nooooooooo!
I exclaimed, seeing the sake falling toward the floor, but before a single drop could touch it, Shuten gracefully moved her body, brushing her toes on the floor, while her hand grabbed the sake bowl, not letting the liquid spill.
"You're annoying~!" She hissed with a smile, drinking the sake.
I let out a sigh... now I could drink...
The exact second that thought passed through my mind, I heard footsteps approaching. I turned instantly and spotted Artoria entering the cafeteria. She looked different from usual. Instead of her armor, she wore casual clothes: black shorts that highlighted her pale legs, a black tank top with a jacket over it, and socks of the same color.
She really likes black... and apparently, today's not the day I'll lose my alcoholic virginity.
While I was melancholically trapped in my thoughts, upon seeing me, Artoria gave a sarcastic smile: "Well~! If it isn't senpai!" She exclaimed with her hands in her jacket pockets.
Apparently, she's a bit obsessed with this senpai thing.
Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I opened my lips: "Good morning, Artoria." I handed the clean utensils to Raikou, who was putting them away while Shuten sat on top of the counter.
"Hmm..." She took one hand out of her pocket and placed it under her chin. "A king with culinary skills."
"Having one or two skills up your sleeve doesn't hurt." I shrugged. But in my defense, when your mother doesn't care if you or your younger sister are going to starve to death, it's good to at least know how to fry an egg. "Does your monarchy need something?" I tilted my head to the side, a bit curious since this woman was the type who doesn't approach without a reason.
After my simple question, a silence fell between the two of us while the only sound was the crystalline liquid passing through the oni servant's throat. In that silence, Artoria narrowed her eyes in my direction, staring at me for a few seconds, before she herself broke the silence.
"A hamburger!"
"..."
Both my servant's eyes and mine looked strangely at her. With our gazes on her, Artoria just tilted her head to the side, seeming a bit anxious for me to start making her order.
"A hamburger!?" I couldn't help but repeat her request, just to get confirmation.
"Certainly, a hamburger!" Artoria crossed her arms over her breasts. "Was something unclear!?"
"Are you serious?" Raikou raised an eyebrow at the woman in black clothes.
Apparently not even the strongest woman of the Heian period could believe the words of the darkness-stained King of Knights.
"What part of what I said suggested otherwise, Berserker!?" Artoria stared at Raikou with an emotionless look.
"Ufufu!" Shuten let out a laugh, swinging her pale legs from side to side. "Why are all the servants around you strange, master~?" The oni servant rested the back of her hand against her cheek, casting me an amused look.
Huh!? By your words, it seems like I attract strange people.
[...]
Nahida!?
Hey! Don't stay silent now, it's making it seem like what this darkness-stained tyrant said is true.
While this was happening in my mind, Raikou raised her arms, crossing them over her breasts, making them bounce slightly.
"Little oni... what do you mean by that?" Raikou narrowed her gaze toward the servant with skin as pale as a corpse.
"My bad, I forgot that cows aren't known for their intelligence." Shuten, displaying a smile, jumped off the counter. "Why don't you look for some farmer to milk those useless breasts of yours?"
"I'm going to sever your head." Raikou displayed a gentle smile, although her eyes, cold as a glacier, didn't match her smile at all.
The moment I was about to intervene, so that my masculine kitchen wouldn't be destroyed, Artoria took a step forward, staring at me intensely.
"Where is my hamburger!"
Her words left her lips with a deadly serious tone. At least she served to prevent these two from starting a fight worthy of the Heian Period.
And please, don't look at me with those eyes, it gets me a bit excited.
"As far as I know, servants don't need to eat?" A bit irritated, Raikou interrupted her. This made Artoria cast an icy look for daring to question her.
"I'm not receiving enough magical energy from my Master." Her fingers tapped against her arm in an impatient gesture. "I need to eat to compensate for the difference."
This girl... she's a bit creative in making up excuses.
"I thought the magical reactor provided more than enough energy." Shuten raised her finger, twirling a lock of her hair between her fingers.
Artoria slowly lowered her head to look at her. "Are you suggesting I'm lying?"
Shuten didn't respond, just stared at her displaying an amused smile.
"Hey! Hey! I'll make your hamburger." I rested my elbow on the counter, placing the back of my hand under my chin.
"Good." She nodded, returning to her neutral expression.
"It'll take a while to prepare it."
"Don't you have those frozen ones you can heat in the microwave?" She asked, blinking.
"Hey! Don't insult me." I crossed my arms. "Would you really prefer a frozen hamburger to a freshly made one?"
"Whatever." Artoria shrugged. "Just make sure it has hot sauce, ketchup, mustard, pickles, lettuce, cheese, tomato..." She was counting on her fingers while listing the ingredients.
"Is that all?" I asked sarcastically.
"Hmm..." She raised her finger again. "And onions. Don't forget to fry them. Oh, and peppers too."
Why does it feel like I've become a fast-food chef?
"Alright! Alright! You'd better sit down." I raised my hand pointing to the bench on the other side of the counter.
Artoria nodded and sat down, placing her hands in her lap and waiting patiently.
Still a bit unbelievable that I was doing this, I started preparing the food that was somewhat far from healthy for the knight king.
I mixed the seasonings and molded the hamburgers, feeling Artoria's focused gaze on me. Ignoring it, I placed the meat on the hot griddle, which sizzled on contact, releasing a delicious aroma. While grilling, I toasted the buns and organized the accompaniments. Twenty-five minutes later, the hamburger was ready.
"Done!" With a satisfied smile, I slid the plate toward Artoria.
Even though I'm not a fast-food fan, my hamburger looked quite exquisite.
Artoria stared at the plate, almost drooling, and took a huge bite, devouring it voraciously.
"Shameless woman." Raikou rolled her eyes, seeing her devour the hamburger.
Artoria ignored the comment, continuing to eat with a slightly flushed face.
While we watched the scene, a knock on the counter caught our attention.
"Al-kun!"
I turned and saw Ritsuka, the red-haired girl, accompanied by the white-haired mage and the timid pink-haired Servant.
"Hello, Ritsuka."
"Al-kun, you said you'd train with us," she reminded me, looking directly at me.
"Of course, I was just serving our monarch here." I raised my finger pointing toward Artoria, who was still devouring her hamburger.
"Our monarch?!" murmured Olga, turning and seeing Artoria eating. She rubbed her eyes as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Senpai..." whispered Mash, grabbing Ritsuka's arm. "What's happening? Are we sure this is King Artoria?"
"Apparently!" Ritsuka whispered back.
Mash looked at Artoria and then at Ritsuka, with a desperate expression. "I feel like my mental image of the king is crumbling right before my eyes..."
"I'm with you, Mash," Ritsuka responded with a smile.
"You have my compliments. Your culinary skills are quite decent," said Artoria with her mouth still full, looking intensely in my direction as she finished the last bite.
She then turned to the three girls. "Are you doubting my majesty?" A cold pressure filled the air.
"N-Not at all, Your Majesty!" responded Ritsuka, trembling.
"N-No doubts, my King!" added Mash, not knowing why she used that title.
Olga, however, withstood her pressure, though she couldn't look her in the eyes.
I raised an eyebrow, impressed — as did Artoria, who let out an icy snort.
"Well then." I clapped my hands, turning to face them. "Let's go to the simulation room. As promised, we'll have a friendly training session, girls!" I announced with a smile. I wanted to evaluate the pros and cons of Olga's new body while testing her and Mash's potential.
Even knowing they weren't on my level, I could barely contain my excitement.
[You're smiling... like a hyena in front of three pieces of meat.]
That's defamation...
"Senpai's smile is scary."
"Agreed."
"I think it's cute."
"..."
For the sake of my mental health, I'll just ignore it.
Hehehe! Let's have some fun, girls... in the purest way possible, of course.
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Don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review or drop a comment to motivate me.