Section 15: Father Check 1/The Perfect Meal

Okay, we're almost to the first checkpoint.

Before we get there, let's go over everything we know one more time. It'll be a good way to focus us on our true assignment.

Quite right. From what Kazuradrop told us about this so-called "Perfect Father Grand Prix" we've been forced to participate in...

...we believed, falsely, that we had to embody the conventional perception of a perfect father.

From Kazuradrop's perspective, a father is the other entity aside from BB that was responsible for her creation...

Humanity.

Under the present circumstances, I'd say that means you in particular, her human Master.

So in this case, "father" actually refers to a particular entity. In other words, when she says she wants to see a perfect father...

...she's actually saying she wants to see a perfect Masterand again, perfect by her definition.

So it turns out this whole thing has really just been about learning exactly what it is she wants from us.

？！

Right. So from now on, when we reach a checkpoint, forget about what a conventionally perfect father would do.

All that matters is figuring out what Kazura specifically wants from a father, no matter how unusual it might seem to us.

You all seem oddly confident this time... Have you figured something out?

I suppose we'll see, won't we?

I'll be taking the lead for the cooking once again. All you need to do is sit back and wait.

Let's start by seeing what we have in the fridge.

...Hmm. We're missing the most important ingredient.

It might not make much difference, but there's no doubt freshness is the most important thing.

So let's head outside and gather some eggs.

？！

Eggs...?

(Are they going to make another cake or something?)

(They should already know that won't be enough to get a full score...)

(Well, that's fine. If they mean to put a special twist on it, I'll just see what they have to offer.)

(And if they simply try the same old thing again, I'll just sigh and keep teaching them as long as I have toeven if that ends up being forever!)

Here you go.

Ahem. Now, if I might elegantly stroke my prize mustache once again, allow me to say...

Eat up, my girl. Daddy worked hard to make these for you!

P-pancakes again!?

I already had these on your second run. Did you adjust the recipe or something?

No, no. In my estimation, the recipe was already perfect.

Then why make the same thing over aga

But we now understand there were ways to improve on it apart from its taste.

And in those respects, we have made clear changes from the second run.

You've been giving us the hints we needed in the little things you've said, the small changes in your attitude.

First of all, you like perfection, right?

Well, yes. I've never made a secret of that.

？！

Th-their shape...

Just as we planned! Excellent work, Goredolf! Look, she can't take her eyes off them!

These particular pancakes are just about perfect circles.

My fellow fathers helped me use magecraft to make a special circular mold that would maintain its shape down to the granular level of detail necessary for industrial precision.

So from now on, every pancake I make will be just as perfect as these.

They should all be as perfectly identical as it is possible to be without the use of cloning magecraft.

？！

Ulp. These circles really are perfect, down to the micron... I love them.

Now what do I do? They're too beautiful to disturb. If I'm going to eat them...it'll have to be all at once!

I'll make sure they stay perfect all the way into my tummy! They taste just as good as the last ones, too! Ghh!

And that's not the only thing I realized!

During our first taste test, you found yourself wishing for more, didn't you?

Huh? D-don't be silly. I-I'd never think anything so disgraceful as

Oh, don't hide it! In fact, it's just plain adorable that you thought you could!

That's the very expression our homunculi made whenever they held back from saying what was really on their minds!

But children should never hold back!

Your father will happily make you as many pancakes as you like!

And of course, they'll all be just as perfectly circular as the others!

W-waaah! So many perfect pancakes all beautifully stacked together!

I... I can't let them go to waste now! What choice do I have but to eat them!?

？！

Ghhh. (Munch, munch)

I'm already getting a sense that the scoring system is working like never before!

Don't tell me this is

All right!

？！

... (Nodding, satisfied)

Congratulations on clearing the first obstacle. You did it. Perfectly.

Khh... D-don't get too full of yourselves.

You've only managed to pass one checkpoint out of five.

There's still a long way to go before you can call yourselves truly perfect fathers!

So don't expect the next trial to go this easily, insects!

Thank you for the meal. It really was delicious...Father.

...! Okay, byyye!

Now that we know for sure we're on the right track...

...we just need to keep this momentum going!