Shirou's Conquest Complete / Jeanne, Jump into the Bowl

"Besides, we don't have any worries about the girls' dormitory. In this era where people are becoming more and more androgynous, there are quite a few girls who are even braver and more fierce than boys."

"Hehehe! After all, our school has a strong and reliable head maid, so there's no need to worry about discovering any violations of discipline," the principal said with a laugh like Santa Claus.

"Thank you for your understanding," Shirou said with a smile, feeling a sense of relief; at least he had passed the test with the male teacher.

Shirou returned to the oven, where the cream puffs and puddings filled with sweet cream were now ready, and he began to plate them.

He brought out a three-tiered shelf specifically for afternoon tea snacks. On the top tier, he placed small sandwiches filled with slightly salty bacon and cheese, along with triangular, golden-yellow, slightly salty salt scones. The size was just right for eating, so even a petite lady could finish them off in three bites.

The middle layer consists of golden-brown toasted bread rolls paired with sweet sugar scones, both topped with jam and cream.

The bottom layer consists of cupcakes with plenty of sugar added for leavening, and chocolate cream puffs.

The rule for English tea snacks is to eat them from top to bottom, and the flavors also progress from light to strong, from savory to sweet. Britain gentlemen and ladies can savor the rich aroma of black tea cup by cup through different flavored tea snacks.

"Shirou, have you ever been to Finland? It's a beautiful place, but I've heard the men there are quite boring," a female teacher asked.

"You've been there too? I also really like the scenery there. But the men I met were all nice people. Although most of the men there are quiet and reserved, they are loyal and family-oriented, and they advocate equality. Whether it's men and women or teachers and students, everyone can respect each other. Every household likes to grow flowers and plants and is good at baking," Shirou said with a light laugh.

When he was working for a wealthy young lady with a golden diamond ring, the butler who taught him how to be a bodyguard was a wrestling expert—a tough yet tender-hearted black muscular man.

He was ruthless towards his enemies, but at home he not only loved his wife and children, but also took good care of plants and was quite good at cooking. He even learned some baking skills from the housekeeper's wife.

Well, on the other hand, there were dangerous people there too. There was also an old butler who was in charge of taking care of his daily life and travel. He was a thin, pointed-eared old man who always wore glasses and whose expression could not be seen, which made him feel a little troubled.

"Oh, I see. Now that you mention it, Shirou, I'm thinking of going back there again," the female teacher said with a smile.

"Finland is a great place! The heavy metal bands there are amazing! And the death metal is even better! Son of Hakata! Nightwish! North Wind! Swamp King!" Sawako accidentally revealed her true nature and shouted excitedly.

"Huh..." The British female teachers exchanged bewildered glances. So this lovely Eastern woman had such an interest?

Realizing her mistake, Sawako chuckled awkwardly and corrected herself, "Ahaha, I meant the snow scenery in Finland is so beautiful..."

"It's okay! Sawako, I like Nightwish too, the Death Note music video is really cool," said a music teacher in Bristol.

"Oh, you understand me! That's great!" Sawako shook hands with the petite blonde woman, never expecting to meet a kindred spirit in another island nation on Earth.

Speaking specifically of popular music, as two countries besides the United States that dominate the scene, whose music creation level can be said to be among the world's best, there is indeed a lot to talk about.

After all, both sides have very mature music industry chains. Famous bands like Radiohead and musicians like Lady Gaga choose to release their best-selling albums in China first, since China has the world's second-largest market, and has even taken the number one spot from the United States.

Japan has an almost obsessive awareness of copyright protection. As early as the 1960s, it began to hold the Red and White Song Festival during the Spring Festival. Even people in their seventies and eighties are willing to buy vinyl records and CDs released by some singers.

Besides regular singers, there are also many listeners of music radio, and there are many channels for distribution. The developed entertainment industry means that even if a talented singer is not good-looking and cannot appear in public often, they can still become famous as long as the quality of their songs is good enough.

Popular movies and TV shows often have composers who create music specifically for each scene, and have made many musicians famous.

Even the most ordinary, formulaic seasonal anime and visual novel games have very beautiful soundtracks. As long as they achieve a certain level of sales, they will release CD albums featuring character songs and background music.

Even in anime with little plot and mostly just explicit content, like those featuring clothes-ripping scenes, there are still great, exciting songs, fully demonstrating the depth of this country's composers.

Just as Sawako was having a lively conversation with another music teacher...

The other teachers also chatted with their friends about their own topics, and every now and then they would pull the boy aside and ask him for his opinion.

Fortunately, thanks to Shirou's extensive travels and knowledge from his previous life, he was able to chat for a while. Thus, with the boy's company, the female teachers thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon tea and were extremely satisfied with Shirou.

'Anyway, it seems I've passed the test,' Shirou thought to himself with a sigh of relief.

So the boy continued serving the other tables, and every student received both spiritual and gustatory pleasure.

Chapter 168 Shirou's Conquest Completed

"Shirou, I want Darjeeling, and she wants Earl milk tea, please." The two British girls sitting at the Round Table asked with smiles.

"Yes, ladies, please wait a moment," the young butler replied politely.

"Shirou, the black tea you brewed is really delicious, thank you for your hospitality." The girl said, holding the teacup and looking at the boy.

"Thank you for your compliment. It is my honor to serve you, young lady," Shirou said with an elegant bow.

"The sandwiches are delicious! Scones and jam go so well together. We have energy for practice now," the male athletes from the Physical Education department said.

"It's so great that I can help you. Good luck in the match. There are still plenty of snacks left; I'll get some more," Shirou said with a light laugh.

"Oh, thank you," the boys replied, their mouths full.

The teenager's thoughtful service ensured that everyone was satisfied.

Meanwhile, at the kitchen counter, the maid, Artoria, had finished her last piece of custard spread with cream, drunk her black tea, nodded in satisfaction, and said to the boy.

"Mmm, Shirou, I'm full. It was delicious!"

"That's great..." Shirou said with a smile, regaining some confidence. It turns out he can still satisfy Artoria after all.

"Hmm! Although I didn't get to eat barbecue today, I'm already very satisfied with all the desserts," Artoria said, her mood brightening.

"I'm glad you like it," Shirou said with a light laugh.

"Next time, I think it would be great to make more cheesecake and chocolate muffins." At this moment, Artoria calmly closed her eyes, slowly drank the last sip of black tea, and then made the suggestion.

"I've noted it down. Would you like another cup?" Shirou asked, picking up the teapot.

"No, thank you. But let's save the fun for dinner later." Artoria said with a light laugh as she placed the spoon into her teacup.

"Are you really planning to eat several meals a day?" Shirou asked with a wry smile.

"This is just part of daily life here, which is why I think Bristol is a great place. Besides three meals a day, they also offer afternoon tea, so you can eat four meals a day. Hmm, it's a really nice school." Artoria nodded repeatedly in satisfaction.

"I think you have some misunderstandings about afternoon tea, Artoria," Shirou said with a dry laugh, though he now understood why Artoria was willing to stay.

As the event drew to a close, the students who had participated in the exchange became reluctant to leave. This was especially true for the boys, since the girls could continue to enjoy Shirou's cooking the next morning.

But boys may never have such a good opportunity again.

"No, this can't go on!" If they hadn't tasted these dishes in the first place, they would have tried to convince themselves that it was all an illusion. But having already tasted the deliciousness of the food, they couldn't resist any longer.

All the boys were captivated by Shirou's culinary skills. Their jealousy had shifted, and they no longer cursed the popular Shirou to be burned at the stake. Instead, they felt that it was a real win for the girls to have a chef who could make such delicious food working in the girls' dormitory.

"Damn it, those girls are so cunning! We should talk to the teachers and ask Shirou to come to the boys' dorm to make breakfast!"

"Yes! Yes, how can we let them monopolize the chef's duties?"

"Principal!" the boys rushed up and pleaded, each vying to voice their wishes.

The principal pondered for a moment, then raised his hands, displaying his prominently bulging muscles, and said:

"Yes... After Shirou's wonderful performance today, I believe everyone has learned a lot, such as the importance of food and the gifts of nature! From now on, we should exercise hard, enjoy good food, and not waste our precious lives."

"Yes!!" All the students at the Bristol Branch School answered in unison with smiles.

The principal shouted, "Excellent answer! I fully understand your determination. I will personally go and discuss with the Chiba Branch School to try and get Shirou to dedicate some time each day to a food culture exchange activity, showcasing the charm of food to everyone!"

"The principal is wise!" the students shouted joyfully.

"No need to thank me! If you ask me why, well... it's because I want to eat it too!" Principal Armstrong gave a thumbs up and winked one eye, his eyes sparkling.

Shirou thought to himself, feeling annoyed, "Even if you say that, I didn't come to this school just to have a food exchange with you! There's something important... Oh wait? Since the black mud Heroic Spirit issue has been resolved, I'm really free for the next five days."

"Is it okay? You'll agree, right, Mr. Takiryu, Teacher Sawako, and Teacher Hiratsuka?" The female teachers in the seats looked at the guests expectantly and asked.

"There's nothing wrong with it. Anyway, I know there's good food, and I can go on a date with my darling," Sawako said nonchalantly.

"Haha, I have no objection." Takiryu, holding hands with Sawako, nodded.

"I agree." Shizuka Hiratsuka didn't express any dissatisfaction. After all, being able to eat a delicious breakfast every morning, and if she could have another one at other times, would be quite tempting for her.

In fact, the other girls thought the same thing, and they all nodded in agreement.

Thus, Shirou became the food culture ambassador sent by the Chiba Branch School, doing the important job of making the Britain people marvel at the ultimate taste experience, leading a busy and fulfilling life.

After that, Shirou and the students from the exchange activity helped the teacher clean up the venue, and the day's activities came to an end.

"Shirou, I'm looking forward to tomorrow!" The principal and teachers came up to greet the boy.

"Haha, I'll try my best to think about the recipe," Shirou replied with a laugh, since he was indeed quite free.

"Shirou, see you tomorrow." A passing student greeted the boy.

"Oh, goodbye." Shirou waved.

Although the archery demonstration was relegated to a supporting role at the exchange meeting, it was a great success in terms of individual performance. This time, not only the girls but also the boys became enthusiastic.

Shirou no longer needs to worry about public opinion; instead, he is a popular figure recognized by the school.

Other exchange students who were participating in club activities went to participate in their club activities, while those who were not participating went back to their dormitories. Shirou and Artoria walked out of the school together.

"Yes, Artoria, what kind of food do you like to eat?" Shirou asked the girl with a smile. If it were his usual self, he would know quite a bit about her.

Artoria, the blonde girl in the white and blue dress, is Saber, summoned by him during the Holy Grail War. She is not picky about food, but she has an endless pursuit of deliciousness like a gourmet. The more effort she puts into cooking, the better her hidden mood becomes. Conversely, if she takes shortcuts and does a quick and easy job when cooking, she will definitely feel dissatisfied, even if she doesn't say it.

Artoria in her current altered state doesn't seem to like refined Japanese cuisine, but she seems quite fond of large, filling fast food.

"Meat dishes, of course! They represent the evolution of human civilization! And high-calorie fried foods too! I won't refuse baked bread either!" Artoria said, becoming quite energetic when talking about food.

"Rather than saying I like any dish Shirou makes, well... except for vegetables that are made too elaborately for no reason."

"Haha, but it's still better to eat more green vegetables, as it's very important for the body to fully absorb nutrients," Shirou suggested.

"I eat the lettuce in my burger and the tomato on my pizza," Artoria said.

"Hmm, I think I understand your preferences, Artoria. I'll take that into account when I add it to the menu later," Shirou said.

If we're talking about a girl in her original state, she would yearn for top-quality ingredients: caviar from the sea, wild matsutake mushrooms from the mountains, and French foie gras. Even if the portions are small, it wouldn't matter. As long as there's enough rice, she can enjoy a meal with other side dishes.

However, the girl in her altered state might scoff at dishes that she can't eat several pounds of at once. The exquisite taste of the food isn't what she's after; the most important thing is to eat to her heart's content, and eating meat in large chunks is the only right thing for her. Therefore, she really likes stuffed hamburgers, fried chicken, and other flour-based foods with meat.

By the same token, she's also open to large pizzas, smoked and roasted meats, and meaty and flavorful stews and braised pork. In short, she's what you'd call a carnivore.

Afterwards, Shirou and Artoria, who had changed into casual clothes, returned from their walk along the riverside path. It was already 5:30 in the afternoon, so as agreed, they went to the live house mentioned in the flyer. It seemed that the upperclassmen of the Light Music Club and Azusa Nakano had gone there after the exchange event ended.

Walk two kilometers out of the school, and you'll find the Japanese restaurant where we had our meal together before; it's just about a hundred meters further in.

A group of people dressed in unique styles and carrying musical instruments arrived and were greeted by fans. Since it seemed to be a female band's special performance, most of the people queuing to buy tickets were girls.

The red-haired girl in the girls' dormitory seemed to be quite popular, surrounded by dozens of fans who presented her with flowers and small gifts. Meanwhile, the upperclassmen from the Light Music Club also seemed to have gotten along well with everyone, chatting casually and relaxed.

Especially Wei, who was carrying a big bag of snacks she had bought, ran in through the back door.

At this moment, the band inside seemed to be taking turns practicing for their performance, making various adjustments with the sound engineer.

Shirou didn't bother them, but instead queued up with Artoria to buy tickets and entered the live-house.

Judging from the decor, this place has been around for quite some time. The walls are covered with posters of bands that have performed here, and there seem to be some established professional bands with signed photos of their members displayed on the stands.

After passing through the outer iron gate, we arrived at the performance venue. There were no seats inside, so it was quite spacious and could accommodate at least several hundred people.

It looked like a soundproofed basement with a small shop on one side selling snacks, drinks, and CDs by a band. Because there were students, it didn't seem to be selling alcohol. A high platform had been built in the center, and the area below was already full of people watching the performance.

At six o'clock, the performance officially began. The lights in the venue were turned off, and at this moment, only the band on stage became the only spotlight. Then, as the music started, the first to appear was the red-haired girl from the girls' dormitory. At this time, she had changed into a punk-style jacket and put on smoky makeup, looking even more rebellious and glamorous than when she was in school.

Neon lights spun and flashed, and the exciting sound of an electric guitar rang out. Accompanied by drums and bass, the red-haired girl's singing had a unique rebellious and free feeling of rock and roll. Her hoarse, magnetic, and infectious voice made the audience raise their hands and sway their bodies.

For the next two hours, the people in the livehouse were immersed in a sea of music.

The bands performing on stage were of various types, ranging from pop-rock like the Red-Haired Girl to cute styles like the Light Music Club seniors.

"Artoria, do you like this kind of music?" Shirou asked curiously.

"I don't dislike him. Although I don't know much about music, there is one knight in my ranks who is good at it. He also has red hair and likes to play his bow like a harp. He seems to be quite popular with young women," Artoria said.

"Ah, it's Tristan, isn't it? He's in Britain. His tragic love story with Princess Isolde of Ireland and Isolde the White-Handed, daughter of the Duke of Brittany, is still very famous even today," Shirou said.

"Yes, the king he later served was really petty. But leaving the Round Table was his freedom, it's just a bit of a pity. In the end, none of the Knights of the Round Table, whether they stayed or left, had a proper ending," Artoria said softly.

"Artoria..." Shirou looked at the girl with pity.

"Hmph, don't worry about me, Shirou. Everything was decided before I came into this world. As king, I will set an example by first achieving happiness. Then I will tell the knights to enjoy life to the fullest and pursue their own desires. So..." Artoria looked at the boy, a gentle smile on her lips, and said, "Shirou! I'm hungry!"

Shirou smiled and agreed, "Yes, yes, let's go to the supermarket now, buy some groceries, and then go back to the girls' dormitory. I'll cook dinner and a late-night snack for you all at once. Hmm, let's buy a little extra too, so the girls who have worked hard at the music performance can have some snacks to replenish their energy."

"As long as I have enough, it's fine to share the rest with them," Artoria said generously.

"Lady Artoria, please be gentle with your words," Shirou pleaded jokingly. How could he possibly refuse to satisfy the person before him?

The light blonde girl glanced at the boy, a slight smile curving her lips.

The young man and woman walked out of the venue, chatting and laughing as they strolled along the night streets. The orange streetlights cast a luminous path for them, a gentle breeze playfully brushed against the young man's face and ruffled the girl's hair, and the stars twinkled in the sky. Everything was so warm and cozy.

Chapter 169 Jeanne d'Arc Jumps into the Bowl

Thus began the legendary culinary legend of Shirou, though only a week old, would be unforgettable for years among Bristol students.

On the first day, Shirou prepared an outdoor barbecue and afternoon tea, which received unanimous praise from the teachers, exchange students, sports students, and cheerleaders. He also fed Artoria a good meal.