Section 2: Chaldea is Delicious

I see. This certainly is a lively place...

In fact, yes.

Usually, I prefer to keep to myself, surrounded by nothing more than books and words.

I have no wish to boast, but even as a child, I would frequently read books meant for male scholars.

No, I suppose I don't. My intention is not to be a shut-in, though...

...but I suppose I do usually end up perusing my library's collections whenever I have a spare moment.

I was unaware just how much I had neglected to get to know so many others. This simply will not do.

？！

People often gather at the cafeteria, so it should be the perfect place to look for a lead on the Cursed Books!

Fou???

Semiramis and I will be supporting you and Murasaki Shikibu from the Command Room, Senpai.

Mr. Holmes is on break, and Da Vinci seems to be genuinely exhausted, so...

Never mind Holmes. The reason for his indisposition is hardly a secret.

Da Vinci was actually having trouble walking straight, so it's clear that she should sit this one out.

Now then, as for this "original Cursed Book" or whatev

Oh? Is that yet another new face I spot?

At first glance you'd think you weren't getting enough to eat, but you've clearly been packing the pounds on in other places.

Welp, no matter how impossible your proportions might be, we cats don't turn away customers.

So go ahead and help yourself to some of this cat's home cooking, woof! I'll even throw in a ninety-nine-percent newbie discount!

What's going on here?

Oh, if it isn't Fujimaru...and the librarian! What a nice surprise to see you here. I'm guessing you must be hungry.

And the librarian lady looks real down in the dumps. How about a sandwich? Everyone loves sandwiches.

Oh, wait. Sorry, lady with the beautiful hands, but we cats just aren't cut out to cook bookworms...

Not for lack of trying, mind. It's just that we can't find the buggers no matter how hard we look...

I, uh, I see... Um, do you all know this cat woman, or...?

Sorry 'bout that. Try not to pay too much attention to what she says.

Nice to see you here in the cafeteria for once, Murasaki Shikibu. This your first time leaving the library?

？！

I-I-I'm so sorr

Ahem. She and that Master there are looking for a book. One bound with an unusual type of magical energy.

Would any of you know anything about such a book, Heroic Spirits of the kitchen?

(Lady Semiramis...)

I mean, it's not like the ONLY thing we ever do is cook...

I've definitely seen a lot of Servants reading books lately...but I can't say I've seen any quite like that.

There was that one writer Servant. He's pretty much always got a book with him...

...but lately, he's been bringing whole stacks of them to the table. Did so just this morning, in fact.

Oh, right! He has been reading even more than usual lately, hasn't he.

Guess it's the new hotness.

True. Heck, even we've been reading a lot lately. It's so much fun, learning all these new things.

Thanks for waiting, ladies and germs! Cat's back with an all-new entree!

This baby's overflowing with spice née intelligence, and is the perfect addition to any cafeteria kitchen!

I give you...us kitchen Heroic Spirits' unsung hero!

"Shirasagi's One Hundred Recipes: Cooking So Simple Even Batty Can Do It"!

？！

Fou fou!

Huh? Is there something weird about this book I had Raikou borrow for me?

Pardon me, Lady Cat!

What the woof!? Why did my book jump outta my paws like a bunny outta hell!?

I knew it! This is one of the Cursed Books!

I'm picking up an unusual magical energy reading from that book! I'll call it a Cursed Book Signal for the time being!

Pardon me, everyone! I need to recover this book right away!

...That oughta do it.

Cursed Book, return to me!

The Cursed Book has been recovered! It doesn't have much magical energy, so I'm guessing

Yes. It seems this was not the original Cursed Book. Fortunately, we can at least be certain that it was one with which the original shared its magical energy.

I apologize once again for all the trouble I've caused you, kind chefs.

Hahaha, if you think this is trouble, you obviously haven't been in many cafeterias! I'm still not sure what's going on here, but don't worry about us.

Compared to you-know-who seeing Nero's face and going wild, Salieri acting up, one of Phantom's episodes, or Berserkers you can't reason with...

Well, let's just say we're used to things not always running smoothly around here.

For sure. There's pretty much always something on fire in the kitchen, figuratively and literally.

It's gonna take way more than a little flying book action to make us bat an eye.

There you have it.

If you're in a hurry, Murasaki Shikibu, we won't keep you here...

...but I hope you'll come back sometime for a more leisurely cup of tea when you can.

Thank you, everyone. That sounds lovely.

Fou!

？！

Understood!