Section 5: Let's Make a Yummy Stew!

They're done!

Damn, those look egg-cellent! The yolks came out the perfect consistency: not too thick, not too runny!

They tasted great when we sampled them, too. Now we just have to make sure they stay fresh until the party.

Not a problem. I cast a heat retention spell on them as soon as they were done.

Everything's going great so far.

And I never could have done it without everyone's help. Thank you all so much!

That does take care of the egg dish, chirp. But, in my opinion...

...we could still use one more dish before the main course, chirp. What about a soup?

Hmm, good question. I guess it's still too soon to start on the main course.

Yes, I think we could still use one more dish before we get to it, chirp. What about a soup?

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I'm totally on board with that.

True, it is the middle of winter right now. A hot soup to warm the guests up should hit the spot. You're so considerate, Madam.

A soup, huh. That sounds nice. What about a nice stew, with lots of yummy ingredients?

Stew? Like ragout, maybe?

Stew would be great. There's nothing like a warm belly to get you through a harsh winter.

Hmm... (Glance)

(Oh? Did Martha just steal a glance at Master?)

(She's trying to figure out what he likes. She's so cute when she's being transparent like that.)

(I see. I can certainly understand that. Watching them together, they really do seem like a big sister and her little brother.)

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Got it! Stew it is, then!

I'm sure it'll turn out well. Soups are one of my specialties!

Just you wait, Master. I promise I'll make it into one of the best stews you've ever had.

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What a good response! Ooh, you're just so precious!

Go on, get over here. Theeere's a good boy.

Hm?

...Is something wrong, Master?

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O-okay, if you're sure.

All right, now that we've decided on stew for our next dish...

We've already got plenty of vegetables left over from the salad, so we can use the ones that weren't a good fit for that.

We also have plenty of root vegetables like carrots and potatoes, which should be perfect for stew.

Potatoes...potatoes...

...How strangely wonderful. I know all about them, even though I've never seen one before. They're that one veggie that goes great with butter, right?

Hmm. Okay, I think I should say something.

Martha, are you maybe a little tired? Are you sure you're not pushing yourself too hard?

Hm?

I just figured it must be extra hard for you right now, since it seems like your Spirit Origin's cognition is a little off.

Good point. If this keeps up much longer, you could wind up pretty thoroughly exhausted, mentally anyway.

Thank you both for worrying about me. But I'm fine.

I definitely don't want to stop cooking until I've reached the main course, and once I get there, I know I won't want to stop until I've gone the distance!

So it's okay. There's nothing to worry about. I just want to keep going!

Well, it does look like you've still got plenty of energy. Okay then, let's go get the stew ingredients.

We've got veggies covered, so now we need the meat! The whole point of a stew is to stuff it full of all kinds of goodies, after all!

Oh yes, we'll definitely need meat!

Maybe beef... Oh, and I think bacon would work well, too!

Fortunately, we've already got plenty of meat ready to go.

We use it all the time anyway, so we make sure to keep a good stock on hand.

We might still need to get more from the basement storehouse if we decide to make a meat-focused dish, but for now, I think we're okay.

Got it! In that case, um, if you all don't mind...

...I think I'd like to start by getting milk.

That sounds great!

No objections here.

Woof!

As you wish.

Okay then! I'm going to make something everyone loves: cream stew!

Oh? Cream stew, you say!?

No, today it's just me, Reines El-Melloi Archisorte: Lord candidate for the Clock Tower, and your mentor.

That's right. I'm glad to see you can tell your mentor apart from the other guy.

Hm?

Guess I was just imagining things.

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Anyway, I know Chaldean Christmases tend to be more than a little chaotic, but I heartily approve of your choice of cream stew.

Lightly broiled veal, white wine...béchamel sauce that seems to melt in your mouth...

In French cuisine, they call it "blanquette." You sometimes hear it called that in modern British English, too.

But whatever you call it, the most notable thing about it is how much effort it takes to prepare. It's surprisingly difficult to come by quality cream stew!

I see...

Hmm, hmm.

So it's a good thing I have a recipe I can share with you. I do hope you'll make it.

I'll be attending this party myself, so I'm looking forward to seeing how you do with it.

And while I'm at it, I'll give you a bit of support as well.

Oh wow...!

Oh my! I'm positively brimming with energy now! Thank you so much!

Wow, Sima Yi, or Reines, or whichever it is, I didn't know you were such a foodie. Thanks for the help!

Settle down, Tamamo Cat! I know the power-up has you excited, but it's still too soon for that!

Hahaha. She seems so happy when she's running around like that.

Anyway, this blessing of yours has been a tremendous gift, milady. This was the greatest encouragement a knight could ask for.

Come on, everyone! Let's go get that milk!

...Cream stew?

That's right. It's a type of stew that was invented in Japan in the early twentieth century.

As you can probably guess from the name, it's a stew made with milk and other dairy products.

Stew originally comes from France, and like Reines said...

...they also have a similar dairy-based dish there called "blanquette."

Be that as it may, Japanese cream stew has become a fairly common dish in is own right.

So it'd make sense if Master developed a taste for it at some point.

Hehe, I see. So it's something of a nostalgic dish for you, Master.

Did you know that when you chose to make it, Martha? That's very considerate of you.

(Oh, for... And after I went out of my way not to comment on that...)

(Oh well, what are you going to do? Besides, it doesn't look like she's all that bothered.)

Yes, that's right! I wanted to make something that would taste like old-fashioned home cooking, even if you've never grown up in a home that served it!

I just hope I wasn't overstepping my bounds, Master.

Oh good. I'm glad to hear that.

Really? Then I'll have to make extra sure it turns out scrumptious!

Hm? Am I imagining things, or did Lady Martha's fist just cut through the air like a knife?

I'm sure you imagined it.

You must've imagined it.

If you say so...

Waking a sleeping lion can be a all roar and no bite. But finding even a hint of a mouse gets the shop closed.

A static charge can just build naturally in the air, right? So anytime that happens, you just have to ignore it with an open mind.

I see... That's very wise, Lady Cat. Thank you.

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Yes?

Hahaha, of course I do, just the same as the rest of you.

Hm?

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My understanding is that, at least in Japan, cream stew is said to go well with white rice.

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Yup, cream stew goes great with both bread and rice. That's why it's regarded as one of the cornerstones of cuisine.

You know, you're right! I think Kintoki would love it, too.

Huh? Raikou? What are you doing in the Command Room?

Lady Beni-Enma asked me to deliver some box lunches to the staff here.

She said everyone has their hands full trying to figure out why the ingredients are attacking if it's unrelated to Lady Scáthach-Skadi's runes...

And she thought they could use something quick and easy to eat, since they don't have time for a proper sit-down meal right now.

Whoa...

I guess this is why Madam Beni-Enma used to run a legendary hotel. How wonderfully considerate of her.

Please, don't you worry about Chaldea while you're away, Master. We'll keep it safe for you.

All you need to worry about is finding as much milk as you need for this cream stew you're making!

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Thank you, Ms. Raven-Haired Beauty. ...Oh, right, I remember now. Your name's Raikou!

Welp, there they are, right on schedule. Guess that means it's time to start ice carving again.

Ugh, this is such a pain! I'm just gonna claw them all up into giant cubes of shaved ice!

(Which is it?)

(Uh...which one does she mean? Cubes or shaved?)

(Can you even have cubes of shaved ice?)

Yaaaaaah!

And there is the runes' guidance. Now, go and

Oh, so that must lead to the fourth ingredient area.

Um, yes, I was just going to say that...

See you later, everyone! And do be careful out there!

Bye for now!

Hey, she just did it agai E-er, yes, do take care of yourselves!

Oh wow, this place has such a high ceiling. I've never seen anything like it.

This must be what the inside of a castle looks like...

Oh, wow, look! Such high ceilings!

In fact, they might even be a little TOO high. How do you get up there to clean them?

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Heeey, miiilk. Where are you, miiilk?

Since we're looking for milk now, maybe we'll need to fight cows for it?

It's hard to say. Beastman enemies tend to be male.

And given what we've seen in the other areas, the enemies here all seem to be based on Chaldea's records.

So, given that we haven't seen many female Beastman enemies in the past

We probably shouldn't expect to see any now, huh?

Right.

Then it might be faster to look for enemies we've already faced that might also fit the bill.

Well that's easy. The only possible option in that case is Gazer milk, woof.

Gazer milk!? Those things produce milk!?

Gazers make great ingredients. There's just something addicting about their chewy texture!

Oh come ON!

Hmm. So maybe Shantak milk then? You really can't handle gross stuff, can you, Boudica?

I thought Shantaks laid eggs! Are you telling me they're actually mammals!?

Wh-what was that?

It sounded like a grumpy pharaoh smacking their staff against the floor! Watch yourselves, Santa newbie and Master!

Such insolence!

How dare you go on and on about ingredients and milk in the winter palace of the pharaohs?

I am a patient pharaoh, but there is only so much insolence I can tolerate!

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A certain pharaoh had the brilliant idea of making a throne somewhere other than the simulator for a change!

And now, you intruders come in here without even taking off your dirty shoes at the front door?

You didn't even send me a letter ahead of time stating your intent to visit and purpose for doing so!

I-I guess she's not our guide for this area, then...

Forget the guide! She's claiming ownership of the whole damn place! I-is this what ImperialI mean, Pharaoh Privilege looks like!?

So...does this mean we're trespassers?

Once again, this is the winter palace of the pharaohs! Now, begone with you!

If you refuse to leave, you shall experience the full force of a pharaoh in all its glory, as I will have no choice but to send you on your way back to the surface!

Come to me...

Sphinx!

This magical energy is incredible!!!

That's a powerful magical energy signal all right! There must be several genuine Sphinxes!

Divine Beasts!?

...Oh!

Does this mean we're supposed to get the milk from the Sphinxes!?

Given everything we've seen in the other areas, it's definitely possible that this area's boss is connected to Nitocris.

If so...it would make sense for the boss to be a female Sphinx.

We've faced them before, too. However...

I never thought we'd have to face Divine Beasts, of all things, here.

Well, now that we've come this far, we'll just have to defeat them. Isn't that right?

...Yeah, you're right.

They're coming right at us. Look out!

Master!

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Hurrah!

(Huff, huff...)

That's all of them...right? Oh good. Phew...

That was...exhausting... (Gasp)

(Zzz...) (*So tired she's already fast asleep)

I didn't realize how difficult it would be to go up against a series of Divine Beasts. I'm very impressed you stuck with us throughout the whole battle, Master.

It's a testament to how hard he regularly trains. Our Master's a much harder worker than you might expect.

You did it! You really beat all those Sphinxes!

Although...

Um... I really hate to say this, but...

I think...um...

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So you realized, huh. Man, all that for nothing...

S-so, they really were all male? Then, that must mean we can't get any milk from them...

Now what are we going to do...?

... ...

I'm not going to ask why you want milk. We have fought now, so we can only be enemies.

So I will ask you but a single question:

Do you surrender? If you do, I will not attack you again.

Huh!?

Ahem. I will ask you one last time.

Do you surrender?

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!!!

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Right!

I'm not giving up until I make a meal that has everyone saying how yummy it is!

So many people have worked so hard to help me get this far. Emiya, Boudica, Tamamo Cat, Sir Percival, Mash...Raikou...

I could never look any of them in the eye again if I gave up now.

Not to mention my cute, little Master is here with me, too.

So as his big sister Santa, I have to show him what it means to stay strong in the face of adversity!

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Indeed she did. It just goes to show that big sisters truly do possess limitless power.

Lady Martha, you have proven yourself worthy of joining Chaldea's Big Sister Championship.

So for the time being, I will be rooting for you to succeed...

...one big sister to another.

What the shit!? Why're you floating up in the damn sky again!? And why the hell am I here with you!?

Hehehe. Why indeed...

...I wonder what that was all about. Oh well, whatever it was, I definitely feel more inspired now!

Come here, Tarasque!

(You got it, Big Sis.)

... ...

...?

Um... I'm a little confused as to what's going on here, but it seems like you're even more fired up now than you were before.

Yes, I am!

I see. Then I'm afraid you leave me no choice.

Be warned: I will be having you executed now.

...To me!

This magical energy signal is huge! It's got to be a new enemy!

It feels like a wild beast beyond human understanding. Or it may be a pack of enemies that are even stronger than the last one.

Regardless, I can't fall back now. It is a knight's sworn duty to protect the innocent from harm!

Now...have at you!

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You got it!

Up there, woof!

It's attacking us from directly above! Everyone get down!

...I can't say I expected this to happen...

...but you have proven your strength, and the Sphinx says she is willing to share her milk with you.

Go on then. Take the Divine Beast's milk. You've earned it.

Huh. So, these Sphinxes aren't ingredient enemies then?

Ingredient enemies?

Oh, now that you mention it, there was a strange spell cast on this place earlier. I dispelled it right away, of course.

So no, all you will find here are genuine Sphinxes, glorious servants of the pharaohs.

...Really.

Now, what will you do? Will you take her milk?

Absolutely! This is great!

Well, what're we waiting for!? I'm gonna get started right now!

There, there. Easy, girl. Nothing to be scared of.

Huh? It looks like the Sphinx is

Yup. She's lying down to make it easier for us to milk her.

Well I'll be damned. You'd never think we just got done fighting her.

Haha, couldn't you say much the same for us? One moment we're battling a Divine Beast to the death, the next we're worried about stocking up on ingredients.

...Good point.

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Oh wow, this is amazing...

It's incredibly thick, has a wonderful aroma, and it's not too rich at all!

As our resident cat, I declare...

...this milk is purrfect.

I have to agree. It's so smooth and tasty you could drink it straight all day. It should make for an excellent cream stew.

Hooray!

That said, there's still a risk of getting food poisoning from unpasteurized milk.

While we Servants don't have to worry about things like that...

...you should be careful when drinking it yourself, Master.

Safety first!

Remember, this is Divine Beast milk. It's about as concentrated and dense as magical energy was in the Age of Gods as compared to today.

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Great work, everyone!

I think we're all done here, so let's head back to Chaldea!

Are you sure about this, Pharaoh Ozymandias?

I would have thought you would want to smite them at least a little.

It's all right.

Besides... Heh. Did you hear what they wanted that milk for, Nitocris!?

I-I think they said something about cream stew?

Exactly! Imagine, a cream stew made with Divine Beast milk of all things! What better example could there be of Chaldea's free-spirited insolence?

Indeed, it would not feel like a proper end-of-year celebration without it.

I have no interest in such matters, so I do not see any point in involving myself merely to hand out a bit of divine punishment.

Isn't that right, Golden King?

Heh.

I see polishing the arts of affectation and volatility can yield endlessly dazzling results. A shame you missed the boat to let them shine, Sun King.

A fair point.

At any rate, it seems they are finally about to begin work on the main course...

Let us see if you can obtain the ingredients you desire, Chaldea!