Ch.310Half-Baked (4)

I discovered the capsulized pron was no easy task. It typically requires advanced detection equipment or specialized constellations, taking at least an hour or two of examination.

However, with a “Star Egg,” things change completely.

The Star Egg, a birthstone of constellations, is a rare silicate mineral. Its crystal structure, grown gradually over hundreds of millions of years, absorbs special Aether.

The color varies depending on what type of Aether it contains, with olive-tinted eggs being specialized for pron detection.

‘I’m glad I collected these sacred relics whenever I had the chance.’

Ireh secretly attached the Star Egg underneath the dining table.

“Your order is ready.”

Though called a buffet house, in First Class, either 5th generation androids or chefs personally bring the food. This was to spare distinguished guests any inconvenience.

While robots served, guests could freely enjoy the amenities prepared in the First Room.

“Here’s your olive salmon poke. It’s prepared with strictly managed ingredients, so please enjoy without worry.”

Ireh stared down at the food.

[─ Hidden Pron Detected: 50]

Though minimal, it contained pron. Just as expected.

She needed to act natural so as not to arouse suspicion. Ireh glanced at the smiling chef, then casually picked up her fork.

“How is it? Does it suit your taste?”

“Yes.”

It was a delicacy worthy of extravagant praise, showing exceptional skill. This was inevitable, as they were dining at a restaurant that only the wealthy would dare to visit.

For Ireh, this was a once-in-a-lifetime place. Especially now, as a student with neither influential family background nor a notable profession. She couldn’t help feeling sorry for Eidel who had agreed to pay.

Still, in the end, this was a place they had to visit.

‘Joseph Miller.’

The fourth of the Five Kings.

A villain who feeds people pron without any particular purpose. For the peace of the Eastern Region, he must be arrested.

That’s why she and Eidel had thoroughly searched restaurants where he might be found for days. Finally, they discovered Joseph here.

Though they found the culprit, food alone wasn’t decisive evidence. They needed to prove that Joseph personally mixed pron powder during cooking.

“……”

While that would be the proper method, due to time constraints, they planned to use a shortcut. She had already coordinated with Eidel.

“While you’re eating, I’ll take your main dish order.”

Ireh decided to savor the food for now.

After whetting her appetite with salad, a feast of delicacies followed. The caviar melted in her mouth, and the plump lobster was already deshelled for easy eating.

It was flawless, except for the pron seasoning. Her head started to ache slightly, but with her high pron tolerance, Ireh could easily endure it.

As the meal was coming to an end, something completely unexpected arrived.

“Here’s your dessert.”

Joseph hadn’t brought some bizarre food.

It was white yogurt ice cream topped with cherries.

However, when analyzed with the Star Egg, it contained something else besides a small amount of pron.

[— (Processed) Aphrodisiac Powder]

[— An otherworldly spice that provokes lust comparable to pain. Pleasure is pain, and pain is pleasure.]

Just to be sure, she checked Eidel’s dessert and found the same content.

Ireh was momentarily stunned.

Simply accepting pron was one thing.

But an aphrodisiac? Could it really be what she thought it was?

“Looks delicious.”

“It’s made with finely ground sugar and smooth milk. It’s on a completely different level from store-bought ice cream, so please try it.”

Before she could say anything to stop him, Eidel unhesitatingly took a spoonful.

“How is it?”

“Delicious.”

“The flavor will manifest immediately. I took care with the blend to ensure you feel a hint of yearning within the sweetness. I can proudly say both ingredients and preparation process are perfect.”

“Oh.”

Eidel exhaled. His face was flushed.

He looked at Ireh and slightly waved his hand, making sure Joseph wouldn’t notice. It was a signal not to eat it.

“Aren’t you going to try it, my lady?”

“Ah, I’m… too full.”

“Then please rest a bit and try it later. It would be a shame to waste something made with such expensive ingredients.”

No matter how delicious it looked, she didn’t want to eat it. An aphrodisiac effect? She knew almost nothing about such things.

Honestly, she was afraid.

But to avoid Joseph’s suspicion, it was something she had to do. Ireh rationalized this as she picked up her spoon.

Indeed, as soon as it touched her tongue, she felt a tingling sensation.

Something was peculiar. And she could feel her pulse quickening. Her focus became slightly blurry, and everything before her eyes was tinted light pink.

“How is it?”

“It’s delicious.”

She answered languidly while taking a few more spoonfuls. Apart from everything else, her hand kept scooping more due to the addictive taste.

Joseph was watching her, showing his white teeth. Her body felt burning hot.

This shouldn’t be happening.

But what choice did she have?

She steadied her breath. Repeatedly emptying her mind to drive away the beastly instincts and regain rationality.

After finishing the dessert, Ireh stood up with Eidel and glanced at him.

Today, he looked even more handsome than usual.

***

Joseph was utterly surprised. The otherworldly being Powehi, who was watching alongside him, was equally astonished.

[“How are they still maintaining their sanity? What kind of humans are they?”]

From the situation, it seemed both were affected by the aphrodisiac.

But something was strange.

The powder provided by the otherworldly being should have turned them into lustful monkeys with just a small inhalation. Yet the two showed only slightly flushed faces and otherwise normal reactions.

“Chef, thank you for the meal.”

“Not at all. Thank you for enjoying it.”

“I was deeply impressed by your hospitality. So much that I’d like to continue eating such food. So, actually, I am this person…”

The man handed over his business card.

[Eidel von Rheinland]

Joseph couldn’t believe his eyes.

Eidel von Rheinland was known throughout the Federation. He was called humanity’s savior for creating various theories and inventions that could counter otherworldly beings.

Only then did the man’s yellow eyes appear different.

Not just elegant eyes, but the eyes of a great person.

“If you don’t mind, would you come with me? I’d like to make you the Rheinland family’s exclusive chef.”

It was an attractive offer.

Not because of money. He had always wanted someone who could appreciate his food that contained his philosophy.

Moreover, being asked to become an exclusive chef meant he would serve meals to the family members as well.

It was a golden opportunity to showcase his art to members of one of the Federation’s top ten families.

But why?

At the same time, he felt a chill.

[“The woman aside, the man… Eidel von Rheinland is no ordinary human. While in human form, he carries the energy of our kind.”]

So should he accept the offer or not?

[“It looks interesting, so you should go. Life happens only once, so follow your heart.”]

If Eidel had declined meaningfully, Joseph wouldn’t have been Joseph.

“Alright. I’ll submit my resignation and return.”

In the end, he decided to follow Eidel.

He shouldn’t have done that.

***

“Why are you doing this to me! What did I do wrong!”

Joseph, thrown at the entrance of the Eastern Spirit Office, pleaded while lying face down. I sighed as I dusted off my hands.

“You made my precious professors and researchers suffer because of pron. Your crime is serious, so you must be punished here.”

“Punishment!”

He quickly quieted down after a few taps with my calipers. Joseph’s head, flattened against the floor, reflected the light like beach sand.

Though he was one of the Five Kings, Joseph was an easy opponent if found and suppressed early. He was an ordinary person, neither having influence like the Saint nor being fused with a divine body like the Master.

Instead, the difficulty of this “Descartes Chapter” lies with the otherworldly beings. We need to prepare properly, but the problem is the lack of adequate means of defense.

It’s not a physical attack, but a mental one—how can we preemptively block it? There are many variables and the situation is much more complex.

“Sigh.”

Just look at the aphrodisiac effect.

No matter how much pron I absorbed, it didn’t matter much, but lust seems different. Whether it’s not recognized as a penalty or not, my body keeps feeling itchy.

I’m suppressing it with rationality, but I’m not sure how long I can hold out. I tried to calm myself by reading academic papers, but it only excited me more, driving me crazy.

It was then, while I was trying to control my mind and body.

“Ei, Eidel.”

“Sister?”

Ireh collapsed against me. Her breathing was irregular.

“I, I… my body feels strange…”

“That’s why I signaled you not to eat the dessert! Why didn’t you listen…!”

“I had no choice, to properly deceive him…”

Was Joseph’s cooking philosophy “there is pleasure in pain and pain in pleasure”? It was certainly true.

Beyond simple excitement, it was now becoming painful.

“Hold on a little longer. I’ll ask Cartesia for help.”

Cartesia, also a Descartes-type otherworldly being, could quickly resolve such mental abnormalities if asked.

I called to her in my mind.

[— (No Response)]

“…?”

This was a signal I’d never seen before.

I tried calling once more, but there was no answer. The output message was strange, suggesting it wasn’t simply that she was absent or upset.

“Bro, brother.”

“Sister, please hold on a bit longer. Something’s wrong…”

My words were cut short.

Ireh, who had burrowed into my arms, silenced me with her lips.