Chapter 374

In any case, the number of remaining dishes was now a quarter of the initial amount.

If they had survived to this point, they were at least at a level a human could eat.

Nia also tasted the food now, taking very small portions.

“Hmm…”

“Is-Is it tasteless?”

“It’s fine! I didn’t expect much in the first place, so this is edible!”

Of course, even if that was the case, it was not something to be eaten deliciously.

The student who had asked worriedly became even more anxious despite the words that it was fine.

*Hiss—*

“The food Nia tasted—is safe for spiritual beasts to eat. The minimum safety verification is complete.”

When Alphard said this, the spiritual beasts that had been playing around and were hungry began to eat the food bit by bit.

*Woof, woof—! Growl—!*

“P-Puppy! Why are you suddenly getting excited!”

The spiritual beasts were angry after eating food that was not very delicious!

The students had to sweat profusely to calm down the spiritual beasts that acted fiercely, not even recognizing their owners.

“Statistically—there is research showing that the violence of spiritual beasts that consumed low-quality food increases by more than 48%. High-quality food is important.”

Alphard seemed to judge that even this would be helpful for the students’ education.

Since they had to experience the severity in person to realize it.

Of course, there were plenty of decent dishes among them.

Usually, they were from students of commoner origin or those who had cooked a few times as a hobby in their families.

“Hmm, this is fine.”

When Nia nodded, the students who made that dish were overjoyed.

“Yahoo!”

“We did it!”

Since tragedies had occurred consecutively beforehand, even such simple praise made them feel good.

“However, the seasoning is too strong. Feeding spiritual beasts like this is bad for their bodies, so be careful.”

“Yes!”

In particular, Jennifer’s food received favorable reviews almost for the first time.

“Hmm? What did you put in here?”

“I combined sweet grapes with a simple method of making wine… is it not good?”

“No, I didn’t expect much, but the aroma is good and the taste is fine. Teach me later too.”

“Ah?! Y-Yes, Senior!”

“Jennifer, congratulations~”

Since she belonged to the Diella family, famous for wine, she had created a dish by incorporating their own know-how.

‘Later, the Diella family makes quite a bit of money by making wine dishes. This time, that period will be advanced a bit.’

Roan wondered if he should invest in the Diella family once he had some money later.

Rafia passed without issue, and next was Riel.

The eyebrows of Nia, who tasted Riel’s food, twitched.

“Hmm?”

“Tasteless?”

Riel asked carefully, but Nia tilted her head and took another bite.

This time, Nia, who slowly rolled it around in her mouth to taste, said,

“You put in white plums? I didn’t bring those, how did you get them?”

Riel did not answer, but instead turned to look at Roan.

Roan quickly caught what Riel was trying to say.

It meant she didn’t know what white plums were, but asked if she had put them in.

‘How would I know that…’

Naturally, since he hadn’t watched Riel cook, Roan didn’t know either.

Instead, Roan explained what white plums were.

“They are white, porcelain-looking plums. Have you ever put such a thing in?”

“Ah…!”

Riel only then nodded slightly and mumbled something.

Nia asked Roan,

“Roan, is she using spiritual beast language too? It’s a language even I don’t know.”

“…It is ordinary Imperial language.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“She says she put in a fruit that Kiki made, and it seems to be that.”

*Kiki—! Kikit—!*

At Roan’s words, Kiki, hanging on Riel’s shoulder, made a loud noise as if to say that was correct.

Nia assumed a serious expression.

“Hmm, that is a bit.”

Then, she walked over to Alphard and began to whisper something in his ear.

*Hiss—*

“There are many statistical possibilities. I will leave it to your discretion.”

After hearing Alphard’s reply, Nia returned with a still serious expression.

“Riel? In my opinion, cooking with ingredients that weren’t provided is cheating.”

“!!!!!!”

Riel was startled by the word ‘cheating.’

If her eyebrows trembled by about three strands, it was probably the most startled she had been in her entire life.

Because in fact, when Riel was cooking, Kiki had assisted her with various things, and the white plum had got mixed in then.

She later realized Kiki had made it, but by then it was already completely in the dish, so there was nothing she could do.

“How…”

Riel muttered something to Nia.

“Fanatic, did Riel just say, ‘How, should we settle this with a duel?’ right?”

“I-It seems so.”

Hector, who still hadn’t gotten over the aftermath of eating his own food, just roughly nodded at Demona’s words.

Nia waved her hand upon hearing that.

“No, no, we don’t have to go as far as a duel! And besides, even if we fight, I’ll win anyway!”

‘Hmm, that is true.’

Maybe later, but for now, Riel was still just at the level of a slightly outstanding aspirant.

“Duel…”

Riel conveyed the intent: ‘A duel? I was just asking what I should do.’

“Do-Do you want to duel that badly?”

However, unfortunately, it didn’t seem to be properly communicated to Nia.

Unable to watch any longer, Kiki stepped forward and delivered Riel’s words in sign language instead.

Only then did Nia nod heavily as if she understood.

“Ah, so that was it? Kiki, you’re really smart!”

*Kikiki—!*

As Kiki turned backward somersaults in joy, wild grass shot up from the ground.

“Oh, good job, good job!”

*Clap—! Clap—! Clap—!*

Nia praised Kiki, clapping her hands in a very friendly manner.

As Kiki did somersaults even more fiercely, eventually,

“Mmph…!”

Riel, trapped among the wild grass that had suddenly grown to her height, became quite troubled.

Only then did Nia say to Riel with a relieved smile,

“Well, whatever, if Kiki makes me a North Watermelon, I’ll pretend the cheating never happened!”

Because she said it so confidently, the students realized a bit late that something was strange.

“Hey, is that right?”

“Demanding a bribe so openly like that?”

So it meant the supervisor would turn a blind eye if they gave her a North Watermelon?

“Senior, a North Watermelon seems to be an excessively precious crop.”

“Ah, is that so after all? Good! Looking at Roan’s face, I will settle it specially with a Pole Banana!”

“Hmm, that seems acceptable.”

And Roan, negotiating right beside her as if it were nothing!

“Is Darc by any chance a lawyer?”

“Well… I haven’t heard that there is a secret advocacy training ground…”

“Hey, if you know about it, is it a secret?”

“Ah, is that so?”

‘Why are there so many secret places…’

If he tried to make all the secret places the students spoke of, his fief would be insufficient even if it were full.

In any case, a Pole Banana was a sufficiently reasonable proposal.

*Kikiki—!*

As Kiki danced merrily, a tree shot up instantly, and a long banana appeared.

Nia packed up the Pole Banana as if it were nothing and said,

“Yes, thank you. Still, the food was delicious. I will ask of you often in the future!”

“Thanks.”

“But you look a bit troubled. Shall I pull you out?”

“Please.”

“…It feels like your words have gotten a bit short, but anyway, sure.”

Nia simply by waving her hand, Nia cut the grass that was holding Riel’s body.

Riel paid her respects for saving her, then went back with Kiki and fed the food she made to her.

Since Nia certified it as delicious, hungry spiritual beasts also gathered in large numbers.

Next was Sion.

Nia brought her nose to Sion’s food and sniffed.

“Why is Senior doing that?”

“Well.”

“Do you really not know?”

At Sion’s flustered question, Roan frowned slightly.

“Do you think I know everything?”

Nevertheless, Sion was still flustered.

‘Are you not?’

I thought you knew everything…

Sion glanced around for a moment, then pointed to a wild weed growing randomly on the ground and asked,

“Ah, do you know what the name of this grass is?”

“Hmm, looking at the unusual pattern of the leaf veins, it seems to be a subspecies of the Net Flower. Many people think of it as a mere weed, but plants of this family, if brewed and consumed…”

“…”

Roan poured out explanations smoothly, almost like a vending machine dispensing drinks when a button was pressed.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

Roan also realized his own behavior late and quietly stopped explaining.

“In any case, I do not know the reason Nia is sniffing.”

“Yes, let’s go with that.”

‘I really don’t know, though!’

Although he had answered because Sion happened (?) to ask about something he knew, Roan felt aggrieved.

How many strange people were there in Acherandir, how could he possibly guess the reason behind the actions of each and every one of them.

In any case, after observing Sion’s food for a while and tasting it, Nia spoke.

“Ah, no, this too?!”

Because it was a reaction she had never seen before, Sion became extremely anxious.

“Heck, did I make something wrong? I really shouldn’t have just put in whatever the kids gave me…”

“Hmm, it didn’t look like a big problem to me. They were all ingredients that spiritual beasts generally liked.”

“Really?”

Whether she was listening to the conversation of the two or not, Nia scooped another large bite and chewed it.

Only then did Sion’s expression relax a bit.

Since she wouldn’t be eating like that if it were tasteless.

Swallowing what was in her mouth, Nia smiled brightly and said,

“To compare it to human food, it feels like junk food packed with MSG?!”

“…”

Sion was speechless.

‘So is that good, or bad?’

Obviously, looking at her expression and reaction, it seemed positive, but it was hard to interpret the word ‘junk food’ in a positive light.

However, Roan nodded from the side.

“Well, one could think of it that way. In any case, congratulations, Sion.”

“???”

Sion stared at Roan and Nia alternately with her mouth wide open.

‘Is this also some kind of spiritual beast language?’

It certainly sounded like the Imperial language, but in terms of not understanding the context of the conversation, it was quite similar.

It was only a bit later that she learned Nia’s words meant, ‘It has no nutritional consideration at all and only packs what spiritual beasts like, so while it tastes good, it isn’t of much help.’

And finally, the long-awaited turn of Roan came.

*Gulp—*

Nia swallowed her saliva heavily as she placed the bowl containing Roan’s food in front of her.

*Gulp—*

The spiritual beasts watching that scene also swallowed their saliva.

It was truly the big catch of this class!

*Gulp—*

Finally, even the students, including his friends, swallowed their saliva.

Roan narrowed his eyes and asked,

“Why are you guys acting like that.”

No matter what, it was strange for people to eye the food made for divine spiritual beasts to eat.

Only then did his friends speak, feeling sheepish.

“Ah, I just got nervous without realizing it.”

“Hahaha, it means the smell is good.”

“As expected of Roan~”

Roughly speaking, except for the things that came in feed form, the palates of spiritual beasts and humans were not vastly different.

With only the difference of adding less seasoning and making the taste bland, they were similar for the most part.

A student asked Nia,

“Senior, but why are you eating Darc’s last?”

Nia replied cheerfully,

“Because I am someone who eats the delicious things last!”

“Ah.”

“Was she human?”

“Hey, that is a discriminatory remark against holy beasts, you dummy!”

“S-Sorry…”

‘I told you she’s not a holy beast in the first place…’

In any case, it was a moment when everyone’s attention was focused on one place.