"I don't want it."
After hearing Xianyun's explanation, Ei spoke from the side, her expression completely serious.
"Wait! Are you looking down on this adeptus's invention?" Xianyun frowned.
Ei answered just as seriously.
"Of course not. But I also don't want Tenshukaku ending up with a crater in it. Otherwise, my sister will scold me."
"Hmph! This adeptus's invention will absolutely not malfunction! What happened earlier was merely an accident!" Xianyun placed her hands on her hips. "The problem was with the ingredients—not with this adeptus's machine!"
Curious, Lora asked,
"What exactly did you put inside it?"
"Let this adeptus think… ah, yes."
Xianyun paused for a moment, then pointed toward a half-filled bamboo basket in the corner of the room.
"The ingredients from that basket were used. They appeared to be nothing more than mushrooms and wild vegetables."
"What? You used the things from that basket?"
The moment Zhongyue heard this, her entire body jolted. She stared at Xianyun in disbelief.
Noticing the reaction, Xianyun frowned.
"W-what is the matter? Was there something wrong with what was inside? They all looked like mushrooms to this adeptus…"
"The top layer was mushrooms," Zhongyue said helplessly. "But underneath…"
She counted on her fingers.
"…there was Pyro Whopperflower nectar, Pyro Slime condensate, and most importantly—"
"A large-scale weapon."
"…Uh."
Xianyun froze on the spot.
Lora blinked.
"So you just used a rice cooker to cook a bomb?"
"A rice cooker?" Xianyun looked at her in confusion, clearly unfamiliar with the term.
Lora pointed at the floating device.
"I mean your cooking machine. Something like an electric—actually, no. It's not powered by electricity. It runs on adeptal energy…" She tilted her head thoughtfully. "Let's call it a Supreme Cuisine Machine."
"Perfect!" Xianyun nodded in satisfaction. "This adeptus was just worrying about what to name it. That title is excellent!"
A cooking device powered by adeptal energy.
The Supreme Cuisine Machine.
"Whether you call it a rice cooker or that so-called Supreme Cuisine Machine, you still owe me compensation for those ingredients."
Standing beside Lora, Zhongyue fixed Xianyun with a serious look.
"I painstakingly gathered those materials to develop new flavors of candied hawthorn!"
"Are you certain you painstakingly gathered them?" Xianyun asked.
"And are you sure you were planning to use those in candied hawthorn?" Lora added, struggling to keep a straight face.
Pyro Slime–flavored candied hawthorn?
That sounded a little… explosive.
Zhongyue looked between the two of them.
"What? Is there a problem?"
"People's bodies are different," Lora explained patiently. "Just because you can eat something doesn't mean everyone else can."
"Indeed," Xianyun added from behind her. "And judging from those ingredients, you likely gathered them within half an hour of leaving Liyue Harbor. That hardly counts as 'painstaking.'"
"Who says that!" Zhongyue protested. "Finding Whopperflowers and Slimes takes time too, alright!"
Seeing the two about to start arguing, Lora quickly stepped in.
"Alright! Stop! No arguing!"
"We're not arguing!" the two said in perfect unison.
Lora: "…"
Maybe she should just go outside, set up a small table, and drink some tea while waiting for those two to finish.
However, after Lora cut in, neither Xianyun nor Zhongyue seemed interested in continuing the dispute.
When the room finally fell quiet again, Lora spoke.
"Xianyun, are you planning to bring that cuisine machine to the cooking competition?"
"Oh?" Xianyun looked slightly surprised. "You know about the competition as well?"
She nodded proudly.
"That is correct. This adeptus intends to compete using the Supreme Cuisine Machine. With this adeptus's skill—and the brilliance of this invention—victory will certainly be mine."
"I advise you to give up."
Five simple words.
Xianyun blinked.
"What?" She frowned at Lora. "The competition hasn't even begun yet. Why would you advise this adeptus to withdraw? That hardly sounds like something you would say."
"Well…" Lora sighed. "Wanmin Restaurant's head chef, Xiangling, will be competing this year. She's Ping's disciple—you know how skilled she is. And Yanxiao from Wangshu Inn might participate as well. Against those two, are you sure your machine will succeed?"
"Hmph!"
Xianyun snorted.
"You simply haven't experienced the true essence of my creation, which is why you doubt this adeptus! Very well. This adeptus will demonstrate its wonders for you. Then you'll see whether this adeptus is courting disaster—or proving you wrong."
"You're going to use it to make dinner for us?" Lora asked.
Xianyun nodded.
"Indeed."
"That's wonderful—"
The words slipped out before Lora could stop herself.
She quickly corrected her tone.
"I mean… very well. Let's see just how marvelous your invention truly is."
Originally, Lora had brought Ei and Hélie here hoping to mooch a meal.
She hadn't expected Xianyun to volunteer to cook dinner herself.
This worked perfectly with her plans.
Wonderful.
"But you cannot simply eat for free!" Xianyun suddenly added. "There are no ingredients left in the house. Go buy some."
"…Huh?"
Lora froze.
She had come here hoping to mooch a meal. Why was she the one being asked to spend money?
Seeing the look on her face, Xianyun sighed and pulled out a pouch of Mora, handing it over.
"Here. Take it. What kind of expression is that? This adeptus is extremely wealthy. Why would I make you pay? Honestly—you're a god, yet you care so much about money, a mere worldly possession."
"You're absolutely right, Adeptus. I was being vulgar."
Lora accepted the Mora with a bright smile.
A shiver ran down Xianyun's spine. She instinctively took a step back.
"Do not remind this adeptus what happened during the last Lantern Rite."
"No problem," Lora replied immediately. "We can do it again next Lantern Rite."
Xianyun: "…"
Zhongyue nodded enthusiastically.
"I think that's a great idea."
"You are absolutely not allowed to cause trouble!" Xianyun snapped. "Zhongyue—go with Lora and buy ingredients!"
"But I just got back," Zhongyue replied seriously. "Selling candied hawthorn outside is exhausting."
The corner of Xianyun's mouth twitched.
"…Are you joking?"