Chapter 123 That'S Something We'Ll Discuss After You Finish Eating This Soup
A few days before I tried to "persuade" the Guild Master, I asked Fiona to make a single serving of soup in a small pot for my dinner.
Just asking for that might not be enough, so I added a condition, considering the purpose.
"I want to try a rare, arranged soup with some unique ingredients."
――And.
Even with such an unreasonable request, Fiona responded with a smile.
"Hehe, can't help it, I suppose!"
Fiona, who was enthusiastic about cooking, started preparing the ingredients and spices, and after about 12 hours, she finally completed the soup in the small pot. By the way, most of the cooking process was simmering.
The enormous amount of ingredients and spices that wouldn't fit in one pot somehow disappeared without a trace. I, who was secretly observing the scene, doubted my own eyes.
Anyway, before leaving the house to secure the Guild Master's cooperation, Fiona handed me the pot and explained what kind of dish her soup was.
"This is a curry soup that's popular in the southeastern countries. You make it by simmering various spices and ingredients together. This time, I arranged it to condense the flavors!"
"Got it. Thanks."
I received the pot with gratitude, but almost dropped it due to its unexpected weight. I managed to store it in my Storage Ring with a straight face.
Fiona saw me off with a smile as I headed to "persuade" the Guild Master.
"You know, don't leave any leftovers, okay?"
"......Of course."
At that moment, it was decided that the Guild Master would finish the entire pot of soup.
So, I thought I'd serve this soup to the Guild Master.
It's okay. There's no shadow of ingredients or water, and it's almost paste-like, but I've confirmed that it's made from all edible materials.
I took out a spoon from my ring and scooped up some soup.
Splish... splash... plop! Such a sound was made.
......Wow, this soup has a clay-like texture, doesn't it?
"Hmm... Aaron, I don't know what kind of poison this is, but it's a problem if the Guild Leader dies here, right?"
Io says this while looking at the contents of the small pot.
I raise an eyebrow and correct him.
"Don't say something rude, Io. This is a soup made by someone I asked to make it. The ingredients are all normal food you can eat."
"Soup...? Well, aside from your joke, if there's no danger to his lives, then let's see how it is."
Actually, for this "persuasion," Io and I had prepared separate methods. So Io doesn't know what I'm planning to do.
By the way, I had explained it to Garon beforehand, so he's cooperating.
If my "persuasion" fails, then it's Io's turn... but...
"...I don't think it's Io's turn. The old man will be so impressed by the deliciousness of this soup that he'll cry and promise to cooperate."
"Hmm...? You're quite confident, aren't you?"
"Hey, wait a minute, you two!! Don't have a suspicious conversation without me!!"
The old man raises his voice, so I'll explain what I'm going to do from now on.
"Old man, from now on, I'll have you finish eating this soup."
"What's soup about this?! This is..."
"Whether you cooperate with us or not, that's something we'll discuss after you finish eating this soup."
"The condition of finishing it is too suspicious!!"
Ugh, the old man is so annoying with all his complaints.
To reassure him, I hold a spoon in my opposite hand and take out potion after potion from the ring on my worktable.
These are antidote potions and healing potions I bought from various shops for today. There are over a hundred of them.
By the way, while I was taking out the potions, I was moving around quite a bit, but not a single drop of soup spilled from the spoon. What stability!
Anyway, after lining up the potions, I turn to the old man.
"...Can you feel at ease now?"
"This is even more terrifying!! You said there was no danger to my life, didn't you!!"
"...When it's dangerous, we'll treat you properly. In other words, there's no danger to your life."
"Don't mess with me!! I'm not eating that!!"
"Hey, hey, old man, don't be so selfish. Don't you feel sorry for the person who made it?"
"I didn't ask for it, so shut up!!"
This old man is really something, refusing to eat and causing a fuss.
Well, no matter how much he refuses, I'll force him to eat it anyway.
I looked at Garon.
"So, Garon, restrain the old man's head and open his mouth for me."
I asked Garon for help because of this.
I never thought he'd eat it willingly from the start.
"...I feel really guilty about this."
"It's necessary."
I firmly declared to Garon, who was hesitant and looked like he was about to back down.
Garon let out a deep sigh and went behind the old man.
"Stop it!! Do you think you can get away with this and live in this city?! You're making a huge mistake if you think you can make an enemy out of me!! I'll make you regret it!!"
Garon restrained the old man's head with his left arm and forced his mouth open with his right hand.
The old man was a Fist Fighter-type Job, with excellent physical abilities, but in terms of pure strength, Shield-type Jobs were the strongest. In other words, even the old man couldn't resist Garon's restraint.
I inserted a spoon into the opened mouth.
Immediately, Garon closed the old man's mouth, and I pulled out the spoon.
And...
From here on, the scene becomes too gruesome, so I'll spare the details.
There aren't many people who want to see an old man being tortured, crying, and begging for his life, right?
No, it's just that he's simply having a meal.
* * *
"Phew... you finally finished eating the soup. It was close, I didn't think I'd use up almost all the potions I prepared. It was a good thing I prepared extra."
An hour later, the contents of the small pot were completely gone.
And the many potions I had prepared were down to just 2 remaining. It was really a close call.
"This is...shouldn't it be banned by international law? It's too cruel."
"It's going too far...it's an act that tramples on human dignity."
Io and Garon had been watching the scene unfold until now, and they were both shocked.
To be honest, I almost gave up halfway through. It was that brutal a sight.
However, if the old man didn't finish the soup, my life would be in danger. So, I steeled myself and continued to feed the Guild Leader the soup and potion alternately. I couldn't afford to stop halfway.
And now...
"...Diiie... Kill me..."
The Guild Leader, who had been making a ruckus until now, had suddenly become quiet and was crying silently, muttering to himself.
His cheeks, which had just been fed, were somehow gaunt and thin, as if they had aged ten years in an instant.
I cleaned up the worktable and stood in front of the Guild Leader, placing my hand on his shoulder with a gentle pat.
The Guild Leader trembled violently.
I asked him in a gentle voice, from the bottom of my heart.
"Well, Guild Leader...which is better? Cooperating with us, or having another serving of the soup?"
I didn't actually prepare another serving of the soup, but I wasn't worried about being found out.
Because the answer was already obvious...
By the way, after I went home, I handed the empty pot to Fiona and she asked me the taste.
"How was the soup?"
"Ah, it was so shocking it made [the guild leader] shed tears."
"Really...I'll make it again for you next time (smiling)."
"――――!?"
What...what is this...?!
I was so focused on cornering the old man that I didn't expect this development.
If I had asked Fiona to cook and said it was delicious (although I didn't), it would have been easy to predict this outcome.
Should I correct myself now and say, "It's not a flavor humans can eat, so don't make it again"?
...No, that's no good!
If I said something that ridiculous, Fiona might get seriously angry and activate [God's Descent], causing catastrophic damage to my home and the surrounding area.
I might not even be able to escape unscathed. I'm not dealing with an opponent who will go easy on me.
So, should I just tell the truth――'I only made it for the Guild Master's torture, so I don't need to make it anymore'?
...No, no, no!!
If I say that, it's obvious she'll get furious, clearer than seeing a fire
"Ah, u...ah...!!"
I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
However, not a single good excuse came to mind.
I...was in despair.
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