Carrying rat poison around was nothing unusual.
After all, Himeko had previously lived out in the open. Sometimes, late at night under a bridge, rats would steal what few personal belongings she had, leaving her no choice but to buy some rat poison to guard against those fat, well-fed rodents.
Later, however, she discovered that rat poison did little to those rats. They were all allergic to coffee instead, so she stopped using rat poison.
If she left a cup of coffee beside her before bed, she would wake up to find a few rats dead nearby, having insisted on tasting the coffee despite their allergies.
"They knew they would die, yet still risked tasting the delicious coffee... It looks like my coffee tastes so good that they're willing to risk their lives for a sip."
Clearly, Himeko had missed the crux of the problem. People always chose to say what they liked hearing.
The strange food piled like a small mountain in front of Himeko gave off wisps of something that seemed capable of corroding anything that approached it... It could not even be called food.
In short, this was the new food Himeko had made using the food available.
Taco glanced over from a distance.
[Hazardous food amalgamation (highly toxic): danger level 5. Created by the Astral Express's navigator. Whether cooking or making coffee, if you have an existing recipe, do not show even the slightest pioneering spirit. Until you are strong enough, do not attempt to lick even the tiniest bit of this stuff with the tip of your tongue.]
Taco's throat bobbed as he swallowed.
Himeko's enemies had only been danger level 2, yet while dealing with those level 2 threats, she had fashioned a level 5 threat out of their corpses.
"Who exactly is she... Could she be a secret chemical weapons development expert from Huaxia?" Taco's assessment of Himeko's danger rose another few notches.
Himeko looked at the large plate of [food] before her. Although she had accidentally added rat poison in a moment of carelessness, that did not matter. It had never been intended for human consumption anyway.
Himeko merely wanted some practice so she could give Pom-Pom something big when she got back.
"I need to remember this: coffee beans and rat poison can't go in the same box. It's too easy to grab the wrong thing."
Seeing that all its underlings had died at that terrifying woman's hands, the pig trotter rice let out a furious roar, then immediately turned and ran for the entrance.
"You're not getting away."
Naturally, Himeko could not let such a large serving of pig trotter rice escape. She struck decisively. As flames and the Monomolecular Saw swept past, the pig trotter rice crashed to the floor. Sauce from its bowl spilled everywhere, and assorted meats scattered across the ground.
To other food, it was an utterly gruesome death. Himeko was human, however, and merely thought it looked somewhat difficult to clean up.
Fortunately, this was not the Express, so she did not need to give it much thought.
[Achievement unlocked: Pig Trotter Rice Killer (defeat the giant pig trotter rice in the amusement park)] [Reward: Delicious Pig Trotter Rice Recipe (if you follow the steps precisely, I guarantee you will become the best pig trotter rice master in the entire universe)]
"Pig trotter rice? Hmm... That's something nice, too. If I get the chance, I can make some for the children to try."
Himeko put the recipe away in satisfaction and decided to make a serving for Pom-Pom as soon as she returned.
"All the dangers should be dealt with. Come on in."
Himeko called to the two outside. Since Taco could see danger levels, he had absolute confidence in her strength.
If even she said everything was fine, what could possibly go wrong?
"I don't know whether there are monsters or other contestants upstairs. I'm going to take a look. You can gather the supplies you need here."
"No problem." Neither had any objections to Himeko's arrangements. After all, she was the team's powerhouse, and an extraordinarily good person at that. There was no way she would harm them.
Himeko nodded and headed up the stairs to the second floor.
Downstairs, rather than immediately searching the shops for supplies, Taco first approached the level 5 threat Himeko had combined from the monsters' corpses.
"You want to eat this? It looks pretty good, but why is my subconscious telling me this stuff is dangerous?"
Washana stood beside Taco, also examining the thing in the bowl that radiated malice.
"I'd advise you not to even touch it. This is a level 5 threat."
"You're joking. I admit Miss Himeko is powerful, but you really don't have to make up ridiculous things to glorify her abilities."
"Why would I lie to you? There really is something wrong with this stuff. If you don't want to waste medicine, don't touch it."
Taco shook his head repeatedly, then turned and entered a nearby shop specializing in burgers.
Washana did not think it could be that outrageous, but she had only collected the medicine she carried thanks to Himeko. Wasting it over something trivial would feel like letting Himeko down.
"Better not." Thinking of that gentle figure, Washana abandoned her reckless impulse and turned toward the shop next door.
Before long, she walked into the burger shop carrying a freshly made wrap.
"Look what I found-a shop specializing in tacos. I got one for you, too."
She waved the taco in her hand. Seeing Taco standing on tiptoe, rummaging through the miscellaneous items on top of the freezer, she frowned.
Then she suddenly stepped forward and rammed Taco aside with all her strength.
"What the hell is wrong with you-there was someone else here?!"
Taco turned around, his angry swearing abruptly cutting off.
Behind where he had been standing was a pile of boxes. Just a moment ago, a thin man clutching a sharp knife had burst out from among them.
An eerie gleam flashed in the man's eyes, which were otherwise utterly lifeless.
The knife plunged into Washana's arm. Without hesitation, Taco strode forward, grabbed the man by the throat, and lifted him straight off the ground.
"He actually evaded Himeko's search. What a terrifying enemy!"
The dangling man's face flushed red as he struggled to breathe, but he kept swinging his arm, trying to stab Taco to death with his knife. Even after the knife left his hand, his movements did not stop.
"Wait, something's wrong with him."
As Taco hoisted the man high, ready to smash him down like a bang snap, Washana spoke up to stop him.
"What's wrong?"
Taco scanned him with his smart glasses and indeed discovered something amiss.
[Pan En, no danger level, under mind control. You can simply slam him to death. He cannot resist you.]
"What does 'under mind control' mean?"
"Tie him up. When Himeko gets back, we'll see how she wants to handle him."
"I thought you wanted me to spare him so you could kill him yourself for the reward."
"That was my original plan, but Miss Himeko probably wouldn't allow it. Still, if he comes to his senses and dares to be ungrateful to Miss Himeko, I'll kill him anyway."
Taco tossed Pan En to the floor. He could not find any rope to tie him up with, but he could not put up with him constantly moving around either.
So he simply broke his arms and legs, leaving him unable to move at all.
"Kill, but don't torture."
"Who cares? We can just give him a few pills later. Let's wait for Himeko to get back."
Up on the second floor, Himeko had likewise encountered something unexpected.
Before you continue