"The boss forgot to turn off the stove?"
Hearing that excuse, Ei was completely dumbfounded.
For a moment, she didn't even know how to respond.
This was the first time she'd ever heard of a god being afraid of an ordinary fire.
With the boss's abilities...
Even if the entire place caught fire, he'd probably be perfectly fine.
"No need to wor—"
Just as she was about to reassure them...
The two girls had already disappeared.
They had clearly escaped through that pink door from earlier.
In an instant...
Only Ei remained in the reception room.
Along with the two skewers of "tri-color dango."
"...At least you could've eaten before leaving."
After a long silence, Ei let out a sigh.
She had spent so much effort making them.
"If they'd eaten them..."
"They probably wouldn't have been able to leave."
"Perhaps that's exactly why they ran away."
The Raiden Shogun suddenly commented.
She realized...
She seemed to be developing a habit of teasing Ei.
Strangely enough...
It brought her a faint sense of satisfaction.
Especially when Ei became flustered or annoyed by her remarks.
That only doubled the enjoyment.
Now she finally understood...
Why Yae Miko loved teasing people so much.
"I-I don't think that's true..."
Ei immediately protested.
But before she could argue further...
A familiar voice drifted in from outside.
"Oh my..."
"So you prepared a feast because you knew I was coming?"
The next moment...
Yae Miko strolled into the room with a bright smile.
"Miko!"
"You came at the perfect time!"
"Come, try the tri-color dango I made!"
Seeing her old friend immediately lifted Ei's spirits.
The Traveler leaving didn't matter.
As long as someone tasted her cooking.
She quickly pulled Miko over and sat her down.
"...Ei."
"Are you certain this is tri-color dango?"
Miko picked up one of the pitch-black skewers and examined it carefully.
Her expression became increasingly strange.
Where were the colors?
And...
This was what she'd invited her over to eat?
"It may not look very appealing..."
"But it smells wonderful."
"I guarantee it's delicious."
Ei declared with complete seriousness.
"...Have you tasted it yourself?"
"...No."
Ei answered without hesitation.
Miko was speechless.
She didn't even know what to say anymore.
She'd honestly thought Ei had received some miraculous cooking ability from the boss.
Turns out...
This was it?
"...Though I have to admit."
"The aroma really is incredible."
Miko stared thoughtfully at the black dango.
Even though every instinct told her something was wrong...
She still felt an overwhelming urge to take a bite.
That alone startled her.
She immediately placed the skewer back on the plate.
Whatever reward Ei had received...
It was definitely something unusual.
"Didn't you say yesterday that you wanted some?"
"These two skewers are all yours."
"If they aren't enough..."
"I can make more."
Seeing Miko hesitate, Ei hurriedly insisted.
This was the perfect opportunity to prove her cooking ability.
If Miko refused...
Wouldn't all her hard work have been wasted?
"Ahem..."
"I actually brought Sayu with me today."
"Why don't you let her have them?"
"Children should eat more."
"It helps them grow taller."
Miko coughed lightly into her fist.
Even if the food was perfectly safe...
She still didn't want to eat something that looked like burnt charcoal.
She'd much rather buy some fried tofu later.
"...Sayu?"
Ei frowned and looked around.
Yet...
She couldn't see anyone else.
Still...
She vaguely sensed another presence in the room.
"You noticed?"
Miko smiled knowingly.
"I did."
"I can't see anyone..."
"But I can tell someone's sitting beside you."
"Is that another reward from the boss?"
Ei asked curiously.
"Mm."
"It's called Invisibility."
"According to the boss..."
"Only people at your level have any chance of detecting it."
Miko nodded seriously.
After testing it herself...
She had already realized how terrifying the ability truly was.
Gathering intelligence.
Launching sneak attacks.
It excelled at both.
In the hands of someone truly powerful...
It could even threaten her.
Fortunately...
The ability belonged to someone from Inazuma.
And that someone happened to be sleepy little Sayu.
"It seems Sayu had good luck."
"Reveal yourself."
"These two skewers are your reward."
Ei smiled warmly.
The moment she spoke...
A figure slowly appeared beside Miko.
"...Really?"
"Your Excellency?"
Sayu looked up with sparkling eyes.
She had been captivated by the delicious aroma ever since entering the room.
She'd nearly started drooling.
Although she couldn't understand why the Shogun's tri-color dango was completely black...
Judging by the smell...
It had to be delicious.
Besides...
It was food personally bestowed by the Almighty Shogun.
Just thinking about that filled her with excitement.
"Of course."
"If Miko doesn't want them..."
"You may have them."
"If it isn't enough..."
"I'll make more."
Ei smiled gently.
Though inwardly...
She was becoming increasingly excited.
At last...
Someone actually looked interested in her cooking.
She absolutely had to show what she could do.
"Thank you, Your Excellency!"
Sayu beamed happily.
Without another word...
She picked up one skewer and took a huge bite.
"Well?"
"How does it taste?"
Ei immediately asked.
"It's delicious!"
"Your Excellency's cooking is wonderful!"
Sayu nodded repeatedly while chewing.
As expected...
It only looked strange.
The taste was incredible!
Just as expected of the Shogun!
Surely...
There was some profound reason she'd intentionally made the dango black.
Hearing that praise...
Ei maintained a calm expression.
But inside...
She was overjoyed.
Finally...
Someone had praised her cooking!
Granted...
The Delicious Seasoning deserved a tiny bit of the credit.
But...
It was still her reward.
Rounded up...
That meant she had made it herself.
There was nothing embarrassing about that.
From now on...
Cooking would no longer be difficult for her.
Let's see who dared tease her cooking ever again.
Especially...
A certain troublesome fox.
Thinking of that...
Ei smiled proudly at her old friend.
"Miko."
"Did you hear that?"
"...Seriously?"
Miko frowned.
This thing...
Actually tasted good?
She'd assumed it merely smelled delicious.
If Sayu weren't sitting there eating it...
She would have believed Ei had bribed someone to fool her.
After pondering for a moment...
Just as Miko was about to ask Sayu how it felt...
Something unexpected happened.
Sayu suddenly clutched her stomach.
She collapsed onto the floor.
Her face twisted in agony.
"Y-Your... Excellency..."
"T-The... dango..."
"I-It's... poisoned..."
Yae Miko: (⊙_⊙)
Raiden Ei: (⊙_⊙)
The Raiden Shogun: (⊙_⊙)
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