Chapter Nine: The Abilities of the Zombie Maid Fim
“Muahaha! Did you hear that, you demons? My lord is... hmm?” Alto Tai’s laughter abruptly ceased.
“My lord, what are you saying?! I don’t understand!”
He suddenly sprang up from the corner, looking first at Mino, tears brimming in his eyes, then at Phym, whose eyes shimmered with moisture.
The two exchanged glances, completely ignoring him.
It was like... a masterpiece painting.
“Wait... my lord! What are you talking about?!” Alto Tai grew anxious.
“You ate rye bread, passed the Sword Saint’s trial! And now you say you don’t love rye bread anymore? It will cry!”
“I know, I know!” Mino clenched his fists, choking back sobs.
“But... it really tastes awful...”
“People need variety sometimes, even for breakfast. You can’t eat the same thing every day. Just because I ate rye bread for a month... afterward, whether it was battlefield rations or trial meals, they all switched to rye bread for me!”
“It’s like if you eat noodles every day at a breakfast shop but occasionally want something else, and when you say you want fried rice, the owner immediately looks at you like ‘you’ve changed,’ which is so unreasonable!”
“Why is it that when I say ‘I don’t want rye bread,’ they look at me like I’m being unfaithful? What do they even know about me?!”
No matter what, the hero Mino decided to assert himself, tears glistening in his tiger-like eyes:
“In any case... I have never once enjoyed eating rye bread!”
A somber atmosphere spread throughout the prison cell.
Phym slightly clenched her stiff hands, her hollow gaze turning to Mino as tears welled up.
“Hero, how pitiful.”
Cletina hadn’t expected Mino to have such a tragic past. Though they were demons, they still had favorite foods and disliked others. No one wanted to eat something they hated day after day, with no choice.
No, she couldn’t empathize with the enemy... Cletina resolutely dismissed the sympathy in her heart.
If that was the case, it was good news for them—it meant the hero’s resistance to gourmet food wasn’t as strong as rumored.
“Phym, begin.”
The zombie maid Phym nodded firmly, approaching the stove. With her right hand, she picked up a short knife; her left hand formed a cat’s paw as she swiftly chopped on the cutting board, leaving afterimages.
Ingredients transformed under her hands into neat green strands, diced pieces, and fine shreds.
---
“My lord... you wouldn’t...”
After a moment of silence, the Holy Sword Alto Tai came to his senses, hesitating to speak.
“Don’t worry, Alto Tai.” Mino turned his head and smiled lightly.
“You just reminded me of memories with your words, but that doesn’t mean I’ll yield under the demons’ interrogation!”
“Besides,” Mino looked at Phym, who was chopping ingredients with calm confidence, “I am a hero after all. I’ve attended countless royal banquets and tasted high-class dishes.”
“Look, the ingredients Phym is preparing now are the most common ones. I don’t think I’ll be tempted by such simple cooking.”
After a while, Phym wiped the sweat from her brow and exhaled.
Alto Tai observed the prepared ingredients: finely sliced devil’s lantern peppers, a small amount of wild boar minced meat from Bamboo Grove, glistening corn kernels—there was no sign of a staple grain.
Phym’s delicate hands gently lifted a large wooden lid, revealing a dense layer of gleaming grains spread before them.
This... what is this?!
Alto Tai’s eyes widened instantly; Mino immediately recognized it.
“Could this be... leftover rice from the night before?!”
Mino’s gaze toward Phym became serious.
“I know what you’re trying to do... you’ve already mastered the essence of fried rice.”
“F-fried rice, such a humble dish...” Alto Tai stammered.
Yet in his mind flashed the words of the previous Holy Sword bearer, a renowned gourmet traveler of the continent:
“Don’t underestimate fried rice; it holds countless possibilities within.”
Could Phym, a demon, truly grasp the soul of fried rice?
Flames roared in the stove as the blackened iron wok glowed red-hot. Phym’s hands became infinitely nimble; after heating the wok and oil, she immediately cracked eggs, letting the fresh, cool egg liquid meet the hot oil.
A rich, tempting aroma steamed upward.
Phym lightly scrambled the eggs in the pan, then poured them onto a plate, their golden hue flowing beautifully.
Next, the chopped ingredients went into the pan one after another; beneath the boiling flames, distinct layers of fragrance were unleashed.
At this moment, the overnight rice, having lost its moisture, entered the wok at the perfect timing and heat, stir-fried to the utmost with the diverse ingredients.
---
The air was instantly filled with a rich, mouthwatering aroma.
“That looks delicious...”
“My lord!!!” Alto Tai wondered if it was just his imagination, but he caught a fleeting look of desire on Mino’s face.
“Ah! No!” Mino snapped out of it, struggling visibly, sweat beading on his forehead, forcing a smile.
“This level of food... simply... can’t tempt me.”
“You’re obviously wavering!!!”
Cletina’s rose-adorned dress swayed gently, countless rosebuds blooming joyfully in her hair.
“Holy Sword, you can’t understand what Mino is going through now. Phym’s interrogation has been effective from the start.”
“What?”
“Phym, as a zombie demon, has severely suppressed pain, taste, and other sensations.”
“But because of this, she can easily amplify human senses. The aroma Mino is smelling right now is, hehe... dozens of times stronger than what an ordinary person’s nerves can perceive.”
Cletina smirked, revealing a devilish smile.
“Facing a scent tens of times richer than royal cuisine, do you think he can resist?”
“Despicable...” Alto Tai glared angrily at Phym.
Phym looked somewhat puzzled, hurriedly shaking her head.
“Phym just wants to make delicious food.”
“Don’t explain! This... sizzling... demonic cuisine is simply irresistible.” The blade of the Holy Sword trembled with anger.
Cletina coaxed gently:
“So, Mino, if you’re willing to reveal information about the Mage’s Round Tower... Phym’s cooking is yours to enjoy to your heart’s content~”
[Beep—Stage One mission completed]
[Rewards will be issued after interrogation]
At the moment Cletina announced the interrogation, the system finally confirmed the mission’s completion.