Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World Co-op Route

Three Days Ago

The scent of old parchment and aged leather filled the vast, dimly lit library. Dust motes swirled lazily in the air, caught in the golden streams of light filtering through the tall windows. The towering bookshelves stretched endlessly, packed with knowledge from generations past.

I sat across from Beatrice, absorbed in the silence that stretched between us. Eventually, curiosity got the better of me, and I turned to her. "So what exactly is my job?"

Beatrice, without looking up from her book, replied nonchalantly, "Assisting Betty, I suppose. Betty doesn't bother putting back the books after reading them, so you can start with that. "I followed her gaze and let out an audible sigh as I scanned the room. Countless books lay scattered across tables, chairs, and even the floor in chaotic disarray. Some were stacked precariously high, threatening to collapse at the slightest disturbance.

"I see..." I muttered before rolling up my sleeves.

I began gathering the books, carefully sorting them according to their respective sections. Some covers were smooth and new, while others bore the rough texture of centuries-old bindings.

As I placed a particularly old tome onto a shelf, one book caught my eye. Its worn cover was slightly ajar, revealing aged, yellowed pages within. The title wasn't visible, but something about it piqued my curiosity. I hesitated for a moment before finally pulling it out. As I flipped through the pages, my interest deepened.

It was a book detailing the fundamental principles of magic.

Magic is composed of six elements: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Yin, and Yang. It is further classified into four categories: Fire governs temperature, Water governs life and healing, Wind operates outside of living bodies, and Earth functions within living bodies.

As I continued reading, I stumbled upon incantations specific to each affinity:

Goa for fire, Shiha for water, Fura for wind, Dona for earth, Shamak for Yin, Jiwald for Yang.

Additionally, the Huma spell was noted to be a shared incantation between fire and water magic.

Completely immersed in the text, I almost didn't notice Beatrice's voice cutting through the air. "What are you doing, I suppose?"

Startled, I snapped the book shut and looked up at her. "Ah! Sorry, I know I'm not supposed to read the books here."

She merely shrugged, her expression indifferent. "It's fine. There are a selection of books that are forbidden for outsiders, but that one only explains the basics of magic. It's almost common knowledge, so you can read it, I suppose."

Relieved, I smiled. "Thank you."

Her expression shifted slightly, suspicion creeping into her voice. "But why are you reading that one?"

I hesitated. "Huh? Well... I guess you could say I'm curious. As you know, I'm a complete novice."

She narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. "What kind of joke is that, I wonder?"

I blinked, genuinely confused. "What do you mean?"

"In the forest, you used Al-Huma."

I tilted my head. "Al? I don't know. Is that another spell?"

Flabbergasted, Beatrice sighed and crossed her arms. "The strength of spells increases by adding El, Ul, or Al before the base incantation. For example, fire magic starts with Goa, then goes to El Goa, Ul Goa, and finally Al Goa. In your case, the spell you used was Al-Huma—the strongest variation in the Huma category, I suppose."

I scratched my head. "I didn't add anything before Huma whenever I cast a spell."

Her eyes widened slightly. "It can't be... You mean you disguised your spell?"

"Disguised? I was only repeating the incantation 'Huma' every time I cast a spell. I didn't know there were different tiers."

I thought back to all the times I had used magic. I had always relied on spirits and my imagination, assuming that the word 'Huma' was merely the trigger, while the execution depended on my intent.

Wanting to demonstrate, I walked over to the window. The cold breeze kissed my face as I pushed it open. Looking down at the three-story drop, I turned back to Beatrice with a grin. "Here, I'll show you."

She immediately tensed. "Wait! What are you doing? Don't do something stupid, I suppose!"

At that moment, the library doors burst open. "Yup, I guessed right! Yo, Beako! How're you doing these days?" Subaru's voice rang through the room, his usual carefree tone laced with amusement.

His sudden entrance distracted Beatrice for just a moment.

That was all the time I needed.

Without warning, I leaped from the window.

"Huma!"

Beatrice and Subaru rushed to the window in horror.

"Am I imagining things, or did Tanaka just jump off the third floor?!" Subaru shouted, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Beatrice gripped the windowsill, her eyes wide with panic. But when they looked down, they found me safe and sound, nestled in a mound of pristine, untouched snow.

I waved up at them, a smug grin on my face. "See, Betty? I'm all good."

She squinted at me, her disbelief evident, then turned away in exasperation.

I bent down and gathered a handful of powdery snow. "Hey, can you link the library to the main entrance? I don't wanna climb three floors."

With a sigh, Beatrice complied. I stepped through the portal and reappeared inside the library, extending the pile of snow toward her. "See? Try touching it."

Reluctantly, she reached out and brushed her tiny hand over the soft, cold flakes. "This texture..."

"It's called powder snow. Freshly fallen, loose, and fluffy. It has minimal water content, which makes it perfect for cushioning impacts. I used it last time too."

Subaru groaned. "Man, that's so unfair! Where the hell did you find time to learn this stuff? Teach me!"

I chuckled. "Dude, I don't even feel tired after doing it this time. Maybe I'm getting really good at this."

But before I could celebrate, Beatrice's voice cut through. "That's not even the Huma spell."

My grin faltered. "Huh?"

"Huma creates a thin layer of ice to block projectiles and other types of magic. The kind of snow you just conjured is usually the result of weather-altering magic. That kind of spell is extremely complex and requires a ridiculous amount of concentration and preparation," Beatrice explained, still staring at me as if I'd grown a second head. "Only Betty and Bubby can cast such a spell. I suppose Roswaal can do it as well, but…"

"Changing the weather, huh?" Subaru muttered under his breath. "Even for a fantasy, isn't that too unrealistic?"His words mirrored my initial thoughts, but I quickly swallowed my skepticism. This world didn't operate by the same rules as Earth. Yet, the more I considered it, the more I realized something.

What if magic wasn't just some mystical force beyond comprehension?

What if there was a direct connection between magic and physics?

Maybe the reason I was able to use spells so easily wasn't just dumb luck. Maybe it was because I understood the principles behind the phenomena I created. Instead of blindly chanting incantations and hoping for the best, I was running simulations in my mind, applying real-world physics to manipulate mana effectively. A theory formed in my head, and a surge of excitement coursed through me." I want to try something…" I muttered, closing my eyes. I focused on my internal mana, gathering it carefully. First, I recalled my previous spells—Powder Snow, Ice Spikes, Ice Pillars. Each had followed a specific principle. Powder Snow relied on moisture crystallizing in the air. Ice Spikes formed through rapid cooling and expansion. Ice Pillars followed structural integrity and formation pressure. If I wanted to make it snow, I needed to simulate real snowfall conditions.

I took a deep breath and concentrated, envisioning the process in my mind. Cold air meeting humidity, the slow formation of ice crystals, the gentle descent of snowflakes. My mana flared around me, taking on a pure blue hue.

I pushed my mana outward, visualizing the transformation. The energy shimmered, swirling in the air—but my focus wavered for a split second. The glow flickered before vanishing entirely.

Attempt Two.

This time, I corrected my approach. I shaped the mana with careful precision, ensuring each element of the process aligned. The blue aura around me grew stronger, but then—a mistake. A slight miscalculation in the temperature balance. The glow flickered again before dissipating.

"Tch..." I gritted my teeth. Attempt Three.

I inhaled deeply and steadied my thoughts. The blue aura returned, pulsing steadily. I reinforced my visualization, locking in the exact conditions needed. The mana around me flickered—once, twice—but this time, it stabilized. The air chilled. A strange stillness settled over the room.

I opened my eyes and let out a breath. "Phew! You weren't kidding when you said it was complex."

Subaru and Beatrice were both staring at me, though their expressions were starkly different.

"You…" Beatrice's voice was unusually hesitant. "You didn't just attempt to use weather-altering magic, did you? That's impossible for a human, in fact! Even Roswaal would need a high-quality magic stone to pull off such a spell."

I tilted my head and grinned, then casually pointed at the window behind them. "Attempted?"

They turned. At first, they saw nothing. But then, as if the world itself needed a moment to process what had just happened, it began. Soft, delicate flakes drifted from the sky, swirling gently as they touched the ground.

"…There's no way…" Subaru whispered, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"You have to be joking, right?" Beatrice's tone lacked its usual sass. It was rare to see her genuinely stunned.

Subaru turned back to me, eyes wide. "You're telling me you actually did that? You changed the weather?"

I clenched my fist, still feeling the lingering sensation of mana flowing through me. "I figured it out. Magic is actually not that hard."

Seemingly, the key behind every spell was simple. 

___Understand the process

With a proper theoretical knowledge in physics and some training on how to make to the mana flow properly, anyone will be capable to cause feats that are usually deemed impossible, even Subaru.

As the words left my mouth, a warm trickle slid down my lip. I reached up, touching my nose—blood.

My vision blurred, my legs buckled, and before I could react, my body gave out.

"Oi! Tanaka?!" Subaru's panicked voice barely registered before darkness swallowed me whole.

The last thing I heard was Beatrice's frantic voice. "How was he even able to cast that spell?! It requires an immense amount of mana and experience. There's no way a human, let alone an amateur, should have been able to do it, I suppose. "Subaru groaned. "Why does he always end up passing out around you?"

"What?! How is this Betty's fault, in fact?! It shouldn't have even been possible for him to cast that spell in the first place! He didn't even use an incantation!"

"You do realize the others are going to ask about this, right?" Subaru sighed. "And this isn't the first time, remember?"

Subaru was making a valid point and Beatrice felt at a loss of words, she hesitated. lowering her gaze, her expression unreadable. Then, almost too softly, she muttered, "…Don't…"

Subaru blinked. "What? "

Don't tell anyone about this." Beatrice's voice sharpened as she glared at him. "Betty will monitor his condition until he wakes up, I suppose. "Subaru crossed his arms. "And when the others ask?"

"Tell them he's working with Betty. I don't care how you spin it, just hide it," she demanded, her tone laced with an unspoken threat.

***************************************************************************************

"So that's why you were acting weird whenever Tanuki was mentioned?"

"I was being threatened!" Subaru shot back indignantly.

A groan interrupted them. "Ugh… everything hurts. Every muscle in my body feels like it's been torn apart."

Rem's voice was the first to respond, full of concern. "Tanaka-Kun! Are you alright?" She turned sharply toward Beatrice. "Beatrice-Sama, what happened to him?"

Beatrice huffed, folding her arms as if trying to absolve herself of any guilt. "It was just an accident, in fact! Betty merely pointed out that the incantation he was using didn't match the spell he was actually casting. I also noted that the texture of the snow was similar to that of weather-changing magic. Betty never thought he would succeed—let alone attempt such a complex spell without an incantation or prior knowledge."

She glanced at me with an exasperated sigh before continuing. "And yet, here we are. He not only cast the spell, but he also caused the snow to fall for the past two days. He doesn't have the slightest idea how to control the strength of a spell, in fact!"

Ram, who had been listening in silence, finally spoke. Her voice carried a note of disbelief. "So Tanuki was the one responsible for the snowfall…"

Rem's brows furrowed in thought before she hesitantly asked, "Wait a moment, Beatrice-Sama. Back in the forest, when he fought that magic beast, he cast an Al Huma. Are you saying… he was disguising his spell?"

Beatrice gave a slow nod. "Yes. And he did it unintentionally. As it turns out, he doesn't even need to use incantations to cast spells, I suppose."

The air in the room grew heavy. Silence settled over them, the realization sinking in like a stone in deep water.

Subaru blinked, confused. "I'm sorry, I'm not following. I mean, yeah, the things he did were insane, but is casting without incantations really that big of a deal?"

Rem turned to him, her expression serious. "Some mages possess the ability to disguise their spells by using a different incantation. It functions as a faux-incantation that alters the magic invoked." She then added, "But for someone to cast spells without saying anything at all requires an immense amount of experience."

Silence. Thick, heavy, and absolute.

Subaru's eye twitched as the pieces came together in his head. "And he just learned about the existence of magic this week…"

His gaze shifted to me, still sprawled across the chair, exhaustion clear on my face. He wasn't the only one staring—Rem, Ram, and Beatrice all had the same expression of bewilderment.

There was no need for words.

They had all come to the same conclusion.

The young man lying before them—meeting their gazes with tired, half-lidded eyes—was a genius.

Ram crossed her arms, her voice carrying an uncharacteristic note of approval. "Ram had a feeling after the Ulgarm incident, but now it's obvious. Tanuki is a monster."

I let out a tired groan and waved a hand dismissively. "Spare me that crap. Every time I use magic, I end up with a bloody nose and pass out. I'm never using it again."

Beatrice nodded firmly. "That would be wise, in fact. Since the state of your gate is unknown, you should avoid using magic. If you cast a spell beyond your capacity, it might kill you, I suppose."

That earned a dry laugh. 'Great. Love that for me.'

Before I could respond, Subaru suddenly leaned forward, gripping the arms of my chair. His eyes were practically sparkling. "Tell me your trick! And don't give me that 'I'm a genius so it just comes naturally' nonsense!"

I sighed, knowing there was no way he'd let this go.

"It's just physics."

Subaru blinked. "Come again?"

I sat up a little straighter, rolling my shoulders before explaining. "You just have to run the simulations in your head and concentrate your mana accordingly. For example, to create snow, certain conditions need to be met: the air needs to be cooled, the temperature must drop below freezing, and moisture needs to be present in the air for condensation. Then, ice crystals form using dust particles as a foundation. After that, you manipulate air currents and maintain the parameters of the spell before triggering the mana."

Silence.

Then—

"So you're saying… you're applying science to magic?" Subaru's eyes widened in realization. "This is great! That means even I—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

His excitement drained from his face as he came to a sudden realization.

I frowned. "What? What's wrong?"

Subaru hesitated before muttering, "My affinity is Yin…"

There was a pause.

"Oh, I forgot..."

That… complicated things.

Water magic was easy for me because I understood it. I knew how water worked, how snow formed, how icebergs were created. My knowledge gave me an edge in controlling it.

But Yin… the element of darkness… was a complete mystery to me.

I cleared my throat. "Anyway, why are you all here now? There's still some time before lunch time."

Subaru narrowed his eyes. "Hey, don't try to change the subject just because you're feeling awkward."

He threw his hands up in frustration. "Damn it, why do I get stuck with the rare, unknown affinity?"

Before I could respond, Rem suddenly turned to me with a warm smile, her blue eyes brimming with excitement. "We are making mayonnaise!"

I blinked. "Wait… what?"

Still reeling from the unexpected shift in topic, I suddenly became aware of the gnawing hunger twisting my stomach. My eyes widened as I muttered, "By the way… I'm starving. It feels like I haven't eaten in days."

Beatrice, who had been watching the conversation with her usual air of detached amusement, scoffed. "That's because you haven't eaten in days, in fact."

Rem's expression immediately turned to concern. "That's right! You need to eat something, Tanaka-Kun. Just wait a moment, I'll prepare something for you right away! What would you like?"

I didn't hesitate. "Pizza! I want pizza, with French fries! And some ketchup would be nice."

Ram frowned, crossing her arms. "Tanuki, Rem is already struggling to figure out whatever this 'mayonnaise' thing is. Stop adding more nonsense to her list."

I smirked. "Hold your horses. I know all the recipes for these dishes."

With that, I pushed myself up from the chair—only for my legs to nearly give out beneath me. My vision swayed as I stumbled, barely managing to catch myself. Rem instinctively stepped forward, but I straightened up before she could reach me, shaking off the dizziness. Stretching out my arms, I let out a sigh before turning to her with a small smile.

"Thank you, Rem. But I'll be the one making them."

Subaru's expression shifted, a curious gleam in his eye. "Then perhaps… you know how to make mayonnaise?"

I blinked. Then, after a pause, I shook my head. "Ah, sorry, no. I only memorized dishes that I actually like. You can use ketchup instead. It's better anyway."

Subaru's expression darkened as he clenched his fists. "The more days pass, the more I realize how much I hate you."

I ignored him and began gathering ingredients. Meanwhile, Subaru and Rem huddled together, their determination unwavering.

Thus began the Great Mayonnaise Research.

_____

______

_______

"First and foremost, the most important ingredient in making mayonnaise… is love!" Subaru declared confidently.

Rem nodded, her eyes shining. "Yes! Leave it to me!"

Before he could clarify, she suddenly hugged him tightly, pressing her cheek against his.

Subaru went rigid. "W-Wait—that's not what I meant!"

Despite his protests, Rem held on for just a second longer before letting go, smiling innocently.

Subaru groaned, rubbing his temples. "We're getting sidetracked already… Alright, let's focus. My memory is a little fuzzy, but mayonnaise shouldn't need too many ingredients."

"If it's just a matter of mixing existing ingredients, the difficulty shouldn't be too high," Rem said. "If it required aging or fermentation, then it would be impossible to make immediately."

"Exactly," Subaru nodded. "I should've paid more attention when my mom made homemade mayonnaise… I remember she tried once, but it turned out horrible, so she gave up and went back to the store-bought kind."

Rem tilted her head curiously. "Then, in the end, who succeeded?"

Subaru sighed. "My dad. But since it didn't taste as good as the store-bought kind, it never made it to the dining table. He just ate it by himself."

He let out a nostalgic chuckle, then straightened up with renewed determination. "Alright, enough reminiscing. Let's move on to the actual ingredients. First up—eggs!"

Rem nodded and pulled out a basket. "According to Subaru-Kun's instructions, bird eggs are best, so I prepared these. They're the same ones we use in everyday cooking."

"Good, good. Sticking to familiar ingredients is the key to avoiding disaster," Subaru muttered.

"If you'd like, I could have procured more high-end ingredients," Rem offered, her voice as polite as ever.

Subaru raised an eyebrow. "Like what? Fancy organic chicken eggs?"

"On rare occasions, wyvern eggs circulate in the market," she said calmly. "They are considered the highest quality."

Subaru nearly dropped the bowl in his hands. "Are you telling me people eat dragon eggs!? In a country that worships dragons!?"

Eating dragon eggs in a nation that worships dragons—Isn't that considered heresy?

Hearing Subaru's confusion, Ram let out an exasperated sigh.

"You're misunderstanding because you're lumping 'dragons' and 'wyverns' together. There's an insurmountable difference between the noble Dragon Lords and the general dragon species. Do you understand?"

"Still! It feels kinda blasphemous to make mayonnaise out of a dragon's kid!"

Ram shrugged, clearly uninterested in his moral dilemma. Meanwhile, Rem gently tugged at Subaru's sleeve.

"If you'd like, I can still go and procure a wyvern egg right now—"

"The way you say 'procure' makes it sound like you'd be hunting one down instead of buying it!" Subaru exclaimed. "Let's just stick with regular chicken eggs, okay?"

Rem nodded, but she still looked slightly disappointed, as if he had rejected her heartfelt gift. Subaru cleared his throat awkwardly and moved on.

"Alright, next up—oil! Abracadabra oil!"

"The mansion uses only the highest-quality oil," Rem assured him. "We have it stored in large jars, so you can use as much as you need."

Subaru suddenly paused, glancing around. "Wait… I'm basically using the mansion's supplies for personal use. Am I gonna get in trouble for this?"

Rem gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Any personal use will be reimbursed later. You don't need to worry about a thing, Subaru-kun."

"That's such a reassuring statement that I almost fell for it!" Subaru groaned. "But if I rely on that, wouldn't I be a total freeloader?"

He then turned toward me, narrowing his eyes. "What about you? Aren't you bothered about wasting ingredients?"

I barely glanced up as I patted the pizza dough, spreading it evenly onto the tray. "Well, I'm not wasting anything since I'm going to get it right on the first try."

Subaru grumbled something under his breath but let it slide.

Realizing how casually Rem was willing to dip into her own savings, Subaru hastily promised to split the cost with his wages once he got paid. Rem refused to let him cover the full expense, so that was the best compromise he could reach.

This self-sacrificing devotion was far from ideal, and Subaru knew it. But glancing over at Ram, he saw no sign of her icy gaze warming up anytime soon.

With an uneasy feeling about Rem's level of dependence on him, Subaru sighed internally and refocused on making mayonnaise.

"Alright, that's the main ingredients covered. Next, let's see… First, salt."

"That would be 'Solte.'"

"Then, pepper?"

"We have 'Peppa' right here."

"Sugar… I don't think it's necessary, but just in case."

"'Sugar' is also prepared."

"Why is sugar the only one that doesn't have a fancy name…?"

"Anyway, I have to change my attitude. Starting off expecting failure is a total loser mindset. I gotta approach this with the confidence to nail it in one go! After all, I've always been the kind of guy who stumbles into the right answer without even realizing it. This should be a piece of cake!"

Trying to project confidence, Subaru pounded his chest, though internally, he was sweating bullets as he turned back to the ingredients.

With Rem watching him so anxiously, he realized that he could no longer afford to experiment recklessly.

The tension from just a few days ago came rushing back, and his heart pounded so hard he could feel it in his throat.

"The kitchen really is a battlefield… Alright, let's do this. Rem, pass me an egg."

"Yes. Will about two hundred be enough?"

"Are you trying to make enough mayonnaise to swim in!? One is fine!"

___

____

_____

Turns out, enthusiasm alone wasn't enough.

"Damn it! It's still not working! I'm doing everything right—what am I missing!? Is the very fabric of this world rejecting mayonnaise!?"

Bringing modern knowledge to an Isekai and sparking a cultural revolution was a staple of the genre. Subaru, lacking any specialized expertise, had always thought of it as a pipe dream, but he never imagined the first roadblock would be mayonnaise.

"Damn it, the world itself is resisting me. If I can't even make this, then larger-scale knowledge might be completely impossible to transfer over…!"

With a sigh, he turned to look at Rem and Ram, expecting disappointment.

Instead—

"I think we're getting closer to the right consistency, but the taste still isn't there. What do you think, Sister?"

"Add the oil gradually, then adjust the flavor with salt and pepper. It takes patience, so this isn't exactly a job suited for me."

They were casually whisking their mixtures while chatting.

And when Subaru peeked into their bowls—

"Wait, wait, wait! You two barely knew anything about this, but you're already making something that looks like actual mayonnaise!?"

Both of them had managed to create a somewhat thick and creamy mixture. Ram's was even closer to the ideal texture.

"W-why!?"

"This is the difference between those who cook and those who don't. A little knowledge means nothing. Watch and learn how useless book knowledge is, Subaru."

"Excuse me, but the only thing I've ever seen you cook is steamed sweet potatoes!?"

His desperate retort sounded pathetic even to himself. Ram just scoffed at him.

Meanwhile, Rem smiled at Subaru as if to comfort him.

"It's alright. Just do things your own way, Subaru-Kun. From a cook's perspective, it's irrational, illogical, and honestly, I do feel a little sorry for the eggs, but… it's how you live your life, after all."

"That was the most passive-aggressive thing I've heard in a while! Can you not judge my entire way of life based on mayonnaise!?"

Shouting back, Subaru studied their bowls carefully, comparing their process to his.

Then, watching them slowly add oil little by little, realization dawned.

"Ah… So you're not supposed to dump it all in at once."

"I'll stop before it's done. I should ease up on using my mana anyway. As long as I point her in the right direction, Rem will handle the rest on her own. And since I was the one who set her on the right path, my pride remains intact. Does that compromise satisfy you, Barusu?"

"Wow, you're really not cute at all, Sister. …Did I push you too hard?"

He recalled how she had collapsed after overusing her wind magic in the forest of demon beasts.

If he had put too much strain on her this time, it would be his fault.

But Ram shook her head.

"I'm stopping because there's no benefit for me. Even if I finish this, the only one who'd be happy is you. How utterly uninteresting. I'm done."

With that, she unceremoniously tossed her bowl into the sink.

Her decision was so abrupt and final that, whether or not she was telling the truth, it was enough to irritate Subaru.

"Sister?"

"Rem, I'm tired, so I'm done here. I'll be having tea in the dining hall. Stay and help Barusu until lunchtime."

Rem left Subaru's side for a moment to retrieve some tea herbs. That's when she noticed me standing near the counter, presenting a plate to Beatrice.

Beatrice stared at the dish with suspicion. The pizza wasn't perfectly round—its shape was slightly irregular—but the golden crust, melted cheese, and vibrant toppings filled the air with an intoxicating aroma.

"Tanuki, you are still here?" Ram's voice broke through the moment, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Wow, you really did forget I existed," I muttered. "Anyway, have a slice."

I took a knife and cut the pizza into eight equal pieces, the cheese stretching between them. The moment I placed a slice onto Beatrice's plate, her fingers twitched. She hesitated, glancing at my eager expression before sighing dramatically and taking a bite.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Meanwhile, Ram, who had been standing back with an air of indifference, inhaled subtly—and, despite herself, stepped forward to take a slice as well.

The moment they bit into it, a visible expression of satisfaction crossed their faces.

I smirked. "Knew you'd like it. Now, try the fries with that red sauce."

I grabbed a plate of golden, crispy French fries and placed it beside them. Beatrice, now unable to hide her interest, reached out and picked one up, dipping it into the ketchup before taking a bite.

Another pause. Another spark in her eyes.

"…The taste is truly heavenly," I finished for her, watching the two of them succumb to the simple pleasure of good food.

Satisfied, I picked up the plate of fries and walked over to where Subaru and Rem were still struggling with their mayonnaise experiment.

I set the plate down beside them and tilted my head. "You two still stuck?"

Subaru, looking exhausted and slightly defeated, snapped his head up. "What's with that high and mighty atti—"

His words stopped mid-sentence as he caught a whiff of the pizza's aroma. His eyes darted toward Beatrice and Ram, both of whom were savoring their slices with pure bliss.

"…What the fuck? How are you this good at cooking?"

I popped a fry into my mouth and chewed. "Don't cuss." Then, after a brief pause, I sighed. "I just followed the recipes. They're not that complicated."

I finally glanced at the mess on their counter—a mountain of wasted eggs, clumpy mixtures, and an ever-growing sense of defeat. Feeling a bit uncomfortable at the sheer number of failures, I picked up a fry and dipped it into their latest attempt at mayonnaise.

The moment it touched my tongue, I grimaced.

"Yeah… this is not right."

Subaru crossed his arms. "The texture is close, but something's still off."

Subaru clenched his fist. "It's missing something—I know I'm close, damn it!"

I tapped my chin, contemplating. "I think it's lacking sourness. Maybe it needs some acidity."

Subaru's eyes widened. "Holy shit, that's right. You're a genius!"

Rem gasped. "Acidity! That's it! We need something sour! But what should we use? Something sour… maybe oranges!?"

Subaru shook his head. "Nah, either lemon juice or vinegar would be best."

Rem clapped her hands together. "Lemon juice or vinegar! I agree! If this works, our dreams will come true!"

Following Tanaka's suggestion, Subaru rummaged through the kitchen, grabbing a lemon-like fruit and some vinegar.

Squeezing the fruit, he watched as the tart juice dripped out. The vinegar, on the other hand, had such an intense acidity that it made his throat burn just from the smell.

With both ingredients prepared, Subaru nodded at Rem.

He added the lemon juice to the bowl Ram had abandoned, while Rem added vinegar to hers.

"Now, we stir like our souls depend on it!"

This time, he was careful not to add too much at once.

Bit by bit, they incorporated the new ingredients, their anticipation mounting…

He turns around and sees Rem. She nods and supports Subaru's decision.

Subaru nodded back at her and turned back to the bowl. An oily scent wafted from the air, and a slight sourness tickled his nose - there was no doubt about it, the mayonnaise-loving spirit within Subaru exclaimed.

Now, in this other world, Subaru has blazed a new trail.

He sticks his finger in and scoops it up.

Gazing lovingly at the tip of his finger, which was dyed a mellow white, Subaru put it into his mouth. He sucked on it seductively, somewhat erotically. He licked every inch of it, and then pulled the finger out of his lips with a slurp.

A look of fascination on his face. Subaru then turned to Rem,

"--Death!! I failed!! That wasn't it! Ugh!!"

"Are you okay? The amount wasn't right or anything?"

"No, no, that's fundamentally wrong! Just like wasabi, mustard, and habanero all have different levels of spiciness, this is also a category error in sourness!"

The attempt to add sourness with lemon juice was a complete failure.

Subaru weepingly washed away the less-than-mayonnaise in his mouth, which had now turned into non-mayonnaise, and turned his cloudy eyes towards Rem.

From the side, I sighed, arms crossed. "It's fine. Let's try vinegar instead."

Rem, still unshaken, nodded. "Yes, let's."

This time, she took her own bowl and lifted the spoon carefully. She scooped up a small amount, the mixture glossy and smooth.

Subaru and I watched in silence as she brought the spoon to her lips.

She took a small bite, her expression unreadable.

Seconds passed.

Then, her eyes slowly closed.

A shiver ran through her shoulders—not of disgust, but of something far deeper. She let the taste linger, savoring every bit of the flavor. Then, at last, she swallowed and opened her eyes.

A radiant smile spread across her face.

She exhaled softly and declared—

"Let's call this flavor that was born here today—mayonnaise."

The words hung in the air, carrying the weight of victory.

Subaru dropped to his knees. "We… we did it…"

Clapping my hands together, I said with solemn reverence, "Congratulations."

But the celebration was short-lived.

***************************************************************************************

The moment of triumph—the successful creation of mayonnaise—coincided with an unfortunate realization: they had completely lost track of time.

Lunch preparations should have started long ago, but instead, they had been swept up in their culinary experiment.

Reality hit hard. But, just as despair threatened to take hold, salvation appeared.

"We're lucky that I made extra dough,"

'I was planning on saving it for another time. However, duty called.'

While Beatrice and the twin maids approved of the pizza's taste, in our eyes, serving what was essentially fast food as part of a noble household's lunch menu felt like a potential scandal waiting to happen.

Yet Subaru, shamelessly, stood proudly before the table, gesturing grandly toward the dishes.

"—And so, I present to you the ultimate food from our homeland! Pizzas with extra cheese, along side French fries. You can best appreciate its flavor by dipping in, Ketchup I suppose, and the world's best condiment, Mayonnaise!

Subaru made a show of acting like he had a solid reason for preparing a foreign meal without any prior notice. 

"This is quite a bold meal, isn't it?"

"I wanted everyone to understand the greatness of mayonnaise. I asked Ram and Rem to help us introduce the greatness of our homeland food. If anyone has complaints, they can take them up with me. In that case—"

"In that case?"

"I'll use my achievements from the demon beast incident to make up for this lunch's lack of formality...!"

"Just like with the time you saaaaaaved Lady Emilia's life, Subaru-Kun, you're really bad at using your rewards wiiiiiiisely, aren't you?"

Roswaal chuckled and let Subaru's audacity slide.

Then, a voice rang out—flat, absolute, and unimpressed.

"Betty tasted it, and it was fine. If you don't find it appealing, then there's something wrong with your tongue, I suppose."

All eyes turned toward her.

Her arms were crossed, her small frame carrying an air of absolute confidence. The look on her face made it clear—anyone daring to slander the meal would be met with swift judgment.

I murmured under my breath, "Thank you."

As a pizza lover myself, I didn't want to tolerate any slander. Fortunately, Beatrice had taken up the role of our champion.

Still, Subaru had one goal—Emilia.

"So, what do you think, Emilia-tan? Do you think you can eat it?"

Its appearance wasn't exactly appealing enough for someone to eat it without hesitation.

Emilia eyed the dish uncertainly.

"It's my first time seeing this, so honestly… it's a little scary. But since Rem guarantees it, and Subaru is hyping it up this much, I want to believe it's delicious..."

She hesitated. Then, her gaze drifted toward Beatrice, who had just dipped a fry into ketchup.

The entire room went silent.

Sensing the weight of our collective stares, Beatrice stopped mid-motion. Holding the fry just above her lips, she frowned.

"What is it? I wonder?"

"Alright, Beako, we need your validation now."

From Emilia's perspective, Rem's attitude toward Subaru had undergone a dramatic shift since the forest incident. She would now support him no matter how ridiculous he sounded.

Beatrice, on the other hand, was different. Even though her demeanor toward Tanaka had also changed, she wasn't the type to sugarcoat her words. If it wasn't good, she wouldn't hesitate to say so.

Subaru turned to her, his eyes practically pleading.

"Huh? Why should Betty be the one to try it?" Beatrice huffed.

"Oh, come on! You're eating ketchup right now! At least try it!"

Beatrice showed no signs of giving in.

I sighed and stepped in. "It's okay. It's good, you can try it."

Then, I took a fry, dipped it into the mayonnaise, and popped it into my mouth. "See? Give it a shot. It tastes good."

Beatrice narrowed her eyes at me, still skeptical. But after a moment, she reluctantly picked up a fry, dipped it in the white sauce, and took a bite.

Her expression barely shifted.

A sharp intake of breath.

Her blue eyes widened—just for an instant—before she quickly composed herself. Crossing her arms, she nodded with an air of indifference.

"It's fine, I suppose."

A stunned silence filled the room.

Emilia, uncertain whether to be surprised by Beatrice's approval or the fact that she actually listened to me, blinked in confusion.

With Beatrice's stamp of approval, lunch officially began.

Though initially wary, Emilia finally gave in and took a bite.

The deep, rich flavor of the mayonnaise spread through her mouth, and she couldn't help but exclaim,

"Oh! It's delicious. Oh no, I can't stop eating!"

She kept popping sweet potatoes into her mouth, clearly pleased.

Even Roswaal, with his refined palate, commented, "This is quite good," signaling that the dish was a success.

As the self-proclaimed mayonnaise evangelist, Subaru let out a sigh of relief.

Then, Beatrice turned toward me.

Then, Beatrice turned toward me.

"Bring a plate and sit. You haven't eaten earlier, I suppose."

I hesitated. The position felt… awkward.

"What is it? In fact, you are no longer a servant, remember? You are now working with Betty, so you can sit here and eat," she added matter-of-factly.

Everyone turned to me.

'Dammit… She really put me in an awkward position.'

Not too long ago, I had eaten with the other servants. Seeing Ram, Rem, and Subaru standing while I sat and ate didn't sit right with me.

Just as I was reluctant to reject her, Roswaal's exaggerated drawl filled the air.

"Ram, Rem, and Subaru. Since this is such a raaaaaaaare occasion, why don't you all joooooooooooooooooin us?"

Ram bows. "If Lord Roswaal permits it."

Giving a sigh of relief, I finally sat down.

As laughter and conversation filled the room.

On this day, a new luxury had graced this world.