[Tartaglia: So Inazuma's Raiden Shogun can't cook at all.]
[La Signora: Hmph? And you're so good at it?]
[Tartaglia: Of course. I'm an outstanding Harbinger. When I camp out in the wilderness, I inevitably have to cook for myself. Speaking of which, can you cook, La Signora?]
[La Signora: Ignorant fool. Back when I was in the Knights of Favonius... Hmph, of course I can.]
Everyone was staring at the screen now. Kaeya and the others covered their mouths, not daring to laugh.
This counted as diplomacy, after all, and he was the cavalry captain.
They had already gotten familiar with everyone else's personalities, so joking around while answering questions and taking punishments together was fine.
But when it came to the Shogun, probably only Yae Miko still dared to tease her.
Ei's cooking went far beyond beginner level. It was a complete disaster.
Time was already tight, and the others were all talking over one another to give instructions. She also had to handle two stoves at once.
Ei: "Cooking is too hard. Could you let me slay a few Archons next time instead?"
Even slaying the great serpent Orobashi and the Thunderbird of Tsurumi hadn't felt this taxing to Ei.
Orobashi: ???
Thunderbird of Tsurumi: ???
Were mighty Archons worth less than a single meal?
[Xiangling: Some of the instructions you gave her were wrong, too.]
[Zhongli: ...]
[Yoimiya: ...]
An awkward silence settled over the scene, while Kaeya, Xingqiu, and the others had already burst out laughing.
[Kamisato Ayato: If only Thoma were there.]
There was nothing they could do. The six people present were all "foodies."
Yoimiya, an "arms" dealer, could actually make simple dishes, but her position made it awkward to instruct the Shogun, at least before they became better acquainted.
Kujou Sara, a general of the Tenryou Commission, usually ate nothing but rice balls to save time, though she did know the basics of cooking.
Kamisato Ayato was a milk tea fanatic, but cooking? He wasn't particularly skilled. Managing the Yashiro Commission kept him far too busy, and besides, he had Thoma.
Young Lady Kamisato Ayaka had had no time for cooking since Thoma arrived, though she had learned a little before that.
As for Zhongli, he was a useless freeloader.
It wasn't that Zhongli couldn't cook. Rex Lapis himself had once shared in his people's joys and personally taught them how to till the land and grow crops. How could he not know how to cook?
But that had been three thousand years ago. As Rex Lapis, he had people inviting him to meals everywhere; at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, someone else paid the bill.
Naturally, he never cooked for himself.
Over on Ei's side, the dishes were almost ready.
Back at the Haunted Mine, Qiqi had only just dragged Gorou out. Thoma followed behind them, deathly pale and somewhat drained.
[Thoma: I... didn't... disgrace the Yashiro Commission.]
He had walked out on his own two feet, only to fall headfirst onto the ground the moment he emerged.
The regular livestream room's camera had remained fixed on the Haunted Mine, and the adorable Qiqi from Bubu Pharmacy had soared in popularity.
Ei: "It's ready!"
"Radish, vegetable, and meat soup: qualifying score, 45 points."
The six craned their necks, while everyone in the Elite Livestream Room stared wide-eyed.
"Why is this radish, vegetable, and meat soup purple?"
"At least it passed."
They had thought the radish, vegetable, and meat soup was outrageous enough.
"Vegetable and meat stew: qualifying score, 40 points."
It had just barely passed, but... why was this whole bowl black? There were even frog legs sticking upside down out of it.
[Xingqiu: Wow, what an appetizing color.]
[Chongyun: Incredible. I've never seen anything like it.]
[Keqing: You two are adding fuel to the fire, aren't you?]
[Kaeya: As expected of the Shogun. An ordinary person could never accomplish this.]
[Diluc: Your flattery is quite impressive. It certainly is unique.]
Ei brought the two bowls to the dining table.
Yae Miko: "I ate my fill in Liyue. Can I skip this?"
Kamisato Ayaka: "Isn't passing enough? Can we not eat it?"
Kamisato Ayato: "The Shogun's dishes are works of art. I couldn't bear to eat them."
Zhongli: "In terms of universal rationality, the livestream room understands the Shogun very well. These 40 points are probably out of a thousand."
[Venti: Hahahaha! Zhongli, aren't you afraid the Shogun will cut you down with Musou no Hitotachi?]
Ei wasn't angry in the slightest. She knew she couldn't cook and was still quite reasonable about it.
Besides, she had recognized Zhongli's identity at a glance.
If they fought, the outcome would be hard to predict. Zhongli's reputation as a warrior god wasn't just empty praise.
If Zhongli hadn't been so old, and she hadn't just drunk a miraculous potion that restored her body from Erosion, her chances of winning would have been slim.
Sweat poured down Kujou Sara's face as she looked at the dishes. "It's all right, Shogun. I'd really like to eat them!"
[Arataki Itto: Kujou Turtle, this is the one thing I admire about you. What a warrior.]
[Xiangling: Am I the only one who thinks they look really tempting? @Ei, how did you make them, Shogun? I couldn't make anything like that. Amazing!]
Xiangling genuinely meant it as praise.
But-
[Ei: Really? Then you should come try them next time too. Xiangling, I'll remember you.]
[Yanfei: ...]
[Yun Jin: ...]
[Hu Tao: Xiangling jumped into the trap herself.]
"Ei has completed two dishes within the allotted time. Tasters, please sample them. Each person must eat one bowl of each dish."
Time seemed to freeze. All six stiffened like stone. They had to eat a whole bowl!
Kujou Sara: "I'll go first!"
Before you continue