Section 6: I Want To Make the Perfect Roast Turkey!

There! The cream stew is done!

Mmm, it smells delicious♪

Wow, just from the smell, I can tell it will go great with bread or rice... Purrfection...

I see it turned out quite well, chirp. You had a good recipe to start with, and you clearly did a good job following it.

This stew is sweet AND rich, so both children and adults should be able to enjoy it.

I award this dish seventy Jigoku Kitchen points, chirp!

Is that a good grade?

Really? I see. I'm relieved to hear that.

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Damn, Madam Beni's notoriously tough on newcomers, and she still gave you seventy points!? Talk about a rising star!

Hehe. I'm not sure what you're talking about, but thank you! I'll have to thank Reines the next time I see her, too!

No need for magecraft this time. We can just keep the stew in several big pots in the kitchen...

...and reheat it on the stove when the party's about to begin.

Then, does that mean it's finally time?

Yeah, let's get started on the main course! I've decided I'm going to make a meat dish!

We could also make fish like they do in Germany, but for Christmas, I think it has to be...

...roast chicken?

Or, roast turkey!

Turkey?

A kind of fowl. It's much bigger than chicken.

There are all sorts of traditional Christmas dishes around the world, but in Master's country...

...I'd say the top two choices are roast turkey and ham, with chicken as a close third.

Hmm, I see. Which one do you think would be better for Chaldea?

Good question. For Chaldea, I feel like poultry would be a big hit. So how about we focus on those two options?

Besides, we've got so many guests that we'll need a lot more than one or two turkeys anyway, so why not do turkey and chicken together?

That's not a bad idea.

I'm a firm believer that more is better, so I like that idea, too.

Which do you prefer, Master? Turkey or chicken?

I see, I see. Okay, got it! Then I'll focus on gathering turkeys!

Okay then we'll handle the chickens.

Understandable. Chicken's a much more common choice than turkey.

Hmm, hmm. Okay, got it! Then I'll focus on gathering chickens!

That settles it then. We'll work on gathering turkeys.

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That would be great!

Great! Now that we know what we're making, let's go get the best damn turkeys and chickens we can, woof!

Take care out there, chirp.

Roast chicken and roast turkey, huh. We'll obviously need ovens for both of those.

Hehe, it's a good thing Tarasque already has one. I think I'll be able to cook some practice birds on the way.

Oh, yeah. Tarasque is really something, isn't he?

Ehehe.

You said it. It's all thanks to him that we can enjoy hot meals even on long expeditions. It's very impressive.

Ehehehehe.

Did you hear that, Tarasque? All these people have such nice things to say about you.

(Huh? I do?)

(Don't be silly. I wouldn't be half the creature I am if it weren't for Big Sis!)

(Oh, you mean with Achilles's summer Spirit Origin.)

Yeah, what happened there, Tarasque? How did you end up riding on Achilles's shoulder?

(It's kind of a long story...)

(So I...will just leave it to your imagination. Hahahaha.)

I don't know what he's saying, but that uneasy laugh worries me...

(But Big Sis always comes first! I'd do anything for her!)

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Um, Tarasque? Could you stop calling me "Big Sis"? It just feels wrong.

(But, you ARE Big Sis, Big Sis.)

No, I'm just "big sister."

(Big Sis.)

Big. Sister.

(B-Big Sis...ter.)

Oh, for... Well, I guess it'll just have to do.

It's terrifying how well some people get along, subwoofer. Anywho, the usual baddies oughta be showing up any time now.

There, listen. You can almost hear them now.

There they are! Put 'em at table two!

You hear that, Emiya? Table two, please!

What are you two on about!? Awaiting your orders, Master!

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(All right! Time to turn up the heat, literally and figuratively!)

There it is! What'd Scáthach-Skadi call that again? The runes' guidance?

Mash is taking a break right now, so it falls to me alone to tell you that way leads to the fifth ingredient area.

Once again, I did not intend for there to be actual enemies there, but given what has happened in the other areas...

...I expect you will probably find more enemies who will give you a fair amount to chew on.

A fair amount to chew on! Is that a Scandinavian joke, Your Majesty?

Either way, I must say you have a most excellent sense of humor.

Huh?

N-no, I, I only meant that you should expect to be challenged in batt

Gnn... Oh, never mind! Just be off with you already!

And be careful out there! Waaah!

A city?

But, it looks like the modern world... And this time it's not cold, either.

If anything, it's downright hot!

???

It sure is. Just feel that bright, warm sunlight!

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Damn, it's scorching out here! This sudden heat wave has got me feeling the summertime something fierce! Awooof!

Whoa, whoa! Settle down, Cat!

Please calm down, Tamamo Cat!

I guess Cat's not going to be much help for a while...

All that aside, why are we here in Luluhanever mind. It's pretty obvious when I think about it.

True. I've only ever read about the incident here, but I expect we're here for the excellent variety of fowl on offer.

The selection is indeed excellent.

But don't be fooled.

Here, you face countless deadly blades, hidden in the summer heat! You will not survive this hacking and slashing malice unless you summon pure animosity from the depths of your heart.

Prepare yourself, Fujimaru.

This land is neither the depths of your mind, nor is it a land ruled by humans. It is a nest of terrifying feathered fiends!

Do not relax your guard for even a second, or they will have your head before you can say "Ba-gawk!"

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No reason.

...Kuhaha.

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You're our guide here, Edmond? Then, does that mean this area's boss is

(Shudders)

Sounds like something out of a horror novel...

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Here they come! Magical energy signals up ahead No, they're coming from all sides! We're surrounded!

There're so many of them! This might be harder than we thought, Master!

We can't afford to hold anything back! I'm going to hit them with everything I've got!

Yah!

...That should do it.

Oh?

Did you guys finish fighting while I was running around lapping up the heat? Damn, way to fricassee that vorpal chicken brigade!

You know, I'm seeing a lot of chicken, but not a lot of the other bird...

Chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken...

You're right! We still don't have any turkey! Now what do we do!?

Roast chicken is great, and certainly makes for a great Christmas dinner.

But now that we've come this far, I'd really like to serve both chicken and turkey, like we originally planned.

We can't go back yet. Not until we have enough of both birds!

...You're a greedy one, aren't you, Saint Martha?

Or should I refrain from addressing you as "Saint" right now?

No... While your Spirit Origin may be a far cry from a saint at the moment, you still have your memories of being one.

A saint? Uh, y-yes, I am. Though I can't say I really feel like one.

Is that so?

Then what will you do, Saint? Will you give up on the turkey and settle for chicken alone?

... ...

It doesn't matter whether or not I'm a saint right now. What matters is my decision to serve both kinds of poultry for this Christmas party.

That was my plan, and while it may be selfish of me to say this, I don't want to change it for anything!

Very well then!

The ground is shaking!

Those are some big magical energy signals I'm sensing. What did you just summon, Avenger!?

Having witnessed the strength of the saint's resolve for myself, I call upon the true rulers of this land!

Come forth, King Vorpal Turkeys!

...There! That's the last one down!

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Is it over...? Really?

This is great. Now we've got plenty of fresh turkey!

Although, was it just me, or did those king turkeys look exactly like chickens?

I thought turkeys were more...you know...

Bah, don't pick nits, Boudica. Remember, these aren't just any turkeys. They're vorpal turkeys, woof!

Well, I guess they could conceivably differ somewhat from ordinary chickens and turkeys. But hey, as long as the meat's good, that's all that really matters!

I've only been supporting you all by cooking so far...

...but if that actually did help us get us the ingredients we wanted, then I'm glad I could be of use.

(You were doing a good bit of damage yourself, Big Sis.)

It really is a great help being able to refuel during battle. Thank you once again, milady.

He's right, it is.

...Though it does take some skill to eat during an intense battle like that.

All right, now that we've got the ingredients for our main course, what do you say we head back!

You know, I just realized we're coming up on the final dish.

And I think we all know what the icing on this particular cake ought to be.

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Right!?

I'm not sure what you're talking about, but whatever it is, I promise I'll make it super yummy!

Let's keep going until the job is done, Tarasque! Master!

(Hell yeah!)

What was that...?

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Much better! Hehehe!

Ku...

Kuha...

Kuhahahahahaha! Magnificent! Truly, that was a spectacular show of skill!

I see you need no further warning. All you need do now is continue on your current path.

...May your Christmas Eve be merry indeed.