When we returned to the base, the Mshiro Group hadn't made it back yet.

"Sousuke-kun. While we wait for everyone, is there something I can ask you?"

Shion spoke in a subdued voice as she stepped down from the microns and headed toward the entrance.

"Ah, of course."

"Well... I found some soybeans, so I'd like to try making soy sauce and miso."

"That's all? If you have the ingredients, you can make them with a [Craft Ability] anyway."

But she wore a troubled expression.

"I was wondering about the materials. I need soybeans, salt, and koji... but..."

"Koji... is that mold?"

"Yes. And since mold is a microorganism, I was wondering what would happen if we tried to store it."

"That's true... hmm."

Living things cannot be stored as they are.

That's why animals and such need to be killed... but...

The two of us scratched our heads, making "hmm..." sounds.

"Um, please forgive me if I'm mistaken, Master, but is it possible for you to store [mushrooms]?"

Rora's comment made me snap to attention.

「Ah, I see. Loa was right after all」

That's it. Mushrooms aren't fungi either, are they?

Whether it's a living creature or not ultimately comes down to my own perception of it.

"I owe you an apology."

By broadening the interpretation, we were even able to extract brine from seawater.

If that's the case, maybe we can use the same method to obtain koji mold.

「By the way, where do you find koji mold?」

「Uh, in Japan, it seems to be found pretty much anywhere……」

This isn't Japan, but there's no harm in giving it a try.

「For now, I can't store air itself, so... How about this? We place barrels throughout the house and store them; something might be inside」

If we can store water that has been put into a barrel, then logically we should be able to store the air inside the barrel as well.

It simply comes down to having the right container.

Trying to test as many environments as possible, I placed barrels in numerous locations—outdoors, sunny spots indoors, shady areas, bedrooms, bathrooms—and stored them one by one.

「...Let's see here. Oh! Found it, Shion! It's 『Koji Mold』!」

"Waaah...! It really is amazing, Sousuke-kun!"

"To think you've managed to capture the bacteria as well... As befits your Master status, you truly possess remarkable abilities."

Now that we had also secured yeast, making bread would likely become much easier.

Since Shion was currently cultivating the starter culture, it should be fine to wait and use that once she finished.

For now, though, it was time for the koji mold.

"Um, if I remember correctly... we took notes on how to make various seasonings, right?"

The three of them headed toward the living room.

"Yeah! That's what Fukaho-chan wrote down for us!"

They had been diligently spending their time in the bonus area memorizing the ingredients and recipes for the items they needed, only to rush out notes immediately upon waking from their dreams.

Fukaho’s memory, in particular, was astonishing; her notes were less like summaries and more like precise transcriptions, which was a great help.

Incidentally, rice koji made from rice is typically used, but this time they would be substituting it with soy koji.

Processes like steaming or roasting the beans would likely count as cooking, but since the Crafting Ability seemed to prioritize what was being made over the process itself, it would skip any procedural steps as long as the final product wasn't a cooked dish or raw ingredient.

This applied to making koji as well, including the fermentation and aging stages.

A crafting project that would normally take half a year could be completed in an instant with this power.

A master craftsman might fly into a rage hearing this, but since they were only using it to survive on an desert island, they really hoped for forgiveness.

Building a house in an instant is exactly the kind of cheat ability that shouldn't be brought into reality.

I plan to hand the abilities down to Earth, but I have no intention of throwing a massive fit over it.

"Alright... it's done!"

For the miso, I crafted a reproduction out of wood of the plastic container commonly seen in Japan.

The soy sauce went into a glass bottle with a pour spout.

Once arranged on the table, Shiine's eyes sparkled like the night sky.

She clapped her hands together rapidly, a quick staccato of applause.

"Yes! Sōsuke-kun, thank you!"

Shiine rushed forward and threw her arms around me.

That alone was enough to feel like I'd been rewarded, so I suppose I'm an easy man to please after all.

"It's something we all need, so don't worry about it."

Even as I said that, my cheeks must have been turning red.

"No, I care! That's right! Do you feel like eating anything?"

"Let's see... Ah! Could you make some ginger pork?"

“That’s great! It can be made, definitely! The ginger So-suke gave me is going to come in handy right away!”

Speaking of which, I’d stocked up on various condiments since Shi-on had been wishing for some.

Ginger was included in that haul.

“With that, you’d want rice, miso soup, and cabbage, though... the parts other than the miso soup are a bit tricky.”

“If we substitute the cabbage with other leafy greens, it’s the rice that becomes the problem...”

“In the case of miso soup, the ingredients are also important, you know.

If I had to name a representative one, it would be tofu,” Raor pointed out, triggering my memory.

“Oh right. Since there’s nigari available, does that mean we can make tofu as well?”

However, no recipe was added.

Even though it isn’t cooking, and isn’t a condiment, it is a substantial ingredient, so its production is subject to a cooking check.

“I know how to make tofu.”

Since Shi-on said that, I arranged the necessary items and left the task to her.

“It’s a bit of a hassle mashing the beans.”

“Ah, then let me help you.”

“Of course, I shall be happy to lend a hand as well.”

The three of us worked diligently for a while, mashing the beans.

「Thanks to both of you.

I think I'm fine handling this on my own from here on out, though.」
「Is that so?」

「I would like to assist you until the very end if possible.」

「Um... I plan on continuing with the tofu making, but I want to save the actual cooking for when everyone else gets back... Besides, you two must be exhausted from the gathering trip, right? Especially Sōsuke—since he has another errand to run this afternoon, I really want you both to get some rest.」

Chii could easily restore his physical stamina later with a [Basic Cure] spell, but her thoughtfulness was appreciated.

Also, from her perspective, having that many people in the kitchen might actually be more of a hindrance than a help.

Two people might be one thing, but three felt like too many.

「I agree that Master should rest, please don't worry about me.」

「Is that how you feel? Then perhaps I should ask Loa to give Sōsuke a massage.」

Shion seemed to share a look with Loa...

……Huh? Is something off here?

"No, Roa did the hardest work on the harvest, so I can't ask that of you."

"——Understood."

"Huh? Roa...?"

"Heh, well then, please do it for me."

「Then, Master, this way, please...」

Being led by the hand, I followed her up to the second floor.

—With this progression... could it be that Roa is into it too?

Honestly, after having those experiences with the other four women, I’m starting to feel a sense of déjà vu.

Besides, Roa must have already heard about our relationship from the girls.

And yet, for her to willingly seek being alone with me...

"May I use Master’s room?"

"Aah... no, not that... uh, is it okay for you, Roa?"

"As a maid serving my master, it is my duty."

"No, no... isn't that a bit weird?"

Doing things like that under a master-servant dynamic is certainly a common scene in pervert books.

But given that Roa originally worked at a maid café and had interpreted the professional role-play there as just "a job where they show off those kinds of fantasies"...

Doesn't she feel some aversion to actually having such things requested of her?

In the midst of it all, we reached my room.

Unable to resist any further, we were left alone together in the room.

"Indeed, I would not do such a thing for just anyone. Besides, I have never had a romantic relationship before..."

She blushed, looking shy.

"In that case, all the more so—

Loa leaned against my chest, looking up at me from a distance where our lips nearly touched.

"Even so, I have made the decision to offer my service voluntarily... Is it not wanted?"

Is there any man who could refuse something like this?

If there were one, I am clearly not that kind of man.

Gently, I wrapped my arm around her waist.

Loa smiled softly, looking delighted.

"Shall we then proceed?"

Thank you for the boost to 7th place in the yearly ranking...!!!!!

Tomorrow is a maid episode...!

The reason she decided to let Sōsuke have his way with her...!?

So, please continue to support me tomorrow as well!!!!!!

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When they returned to base, Mashiro's group had yet to come back.

"Souma-kun, while we're waiting for everyone, is it okay if I ask for a favor?"

On her way down from the Mikron and heading to the front door, Shion spoke hesitantly. "Of course, go ahead."

"Well, I found some soybeans and I want to make soy sauce and miso."

"Oh, so you want to make condiments. With your Craft Ability, you can make those if you have the ingredients."

But she had a troubled look on her face.

"Well, there's a problem with the ingredients. I need soybeans, salt, and koji..." "Koji... is that mold?"

"Yeah, and since mold is a microorganism, I'm not sure what would happen if I tried to store it..." "I see, that's true..."

Living things can't be stored as they are.

That's why animals need to be killed to be stored...

The two of them scratched their heads.

"Um, if I'm mistaken, your master can store mushrooms, right?"

「Oh, right. Roa was right.」

Right, mushrooms are also fungi, aren't they?

Whether something is a living organism or not is just a matter of how I perceive it. 「I'm honored.」

By broadening my interpretation, I was able to extract brine from seawater.

Then, could I also obtain the koji mold in the same way?

「By the way, where do koji molds live?」

「Well, in Japan, they seem to be pretty much everywhere...」

This isn't Japan, but I might as well give it a try.

「I can't store air as it is, so... I'll put barrels around the house and store them. There might be something in them.」

If I can store the water inside the barrel, then I should be able to store the air inside the barrel as well. All I need is a container.

I tried it in as many environments as possible, both indoors and outdoors, in sunny and shady spots, and in places like the bedroom and the bathroom.

「...Let's see. Ah! There it is, Shiono! It's the koji mold!」

「Wow...! You're really amazing, Souzoku-kun!」

「You even caught the yeast... As expected of my master, you have wonderful abilities.」

Now that I've got the yeast too, it should be easy to make bread.

Since Shion has the starter culture, I can make bread with that later. For now, I need the koji mold.

「Um, I think... I have notes on how to make condiments.」 We head to the living room together.

「Yeah! It was written by Shinpo-chan!」

They spent their time in the bonus area memorizing the ingredients and methods for making whatever they wanted, and then hurriedly taking notes when they woke up from their dreams.

Deep Method's memory is particularly impressive, and the accuracy of his notes is almost like a transcription, which is very helpful.

By the way, they usually use rice koji made from rice, but this time they are substituting with soybean koji.

The processes of steaming and roasting the beans would normally be considered cooking, but the 'Crafting Ability' seems to prioritize what is being made rather than the process, so it will omit any process if the end product is not a dish or ingredient. This means that the koji-making and fermentation processes are also omitted.

Even something that would normally take six months to make can be done in an instant with this power.

A craftsman would probably be furious if they heard about it, but I hope they will forgive me if I only use it to survive on a desert island.

Building a house in an instant is also a cheat that shouldn't be brought into reality.

I intend to inherit my abilities on Earth, but I don't plan to cause a big commotion. "Alright, it's done...!"

The miso is in a wooden container, a replica of the plastic ones commonly seen in Japan.

The soy sauce is in a glass bottle with a pouring spout.

Placing them on the dining table, Shion's eyes shine like stars.

Then she rapidly claps her hands together.

"Yay...! Thanks, Souma-kun!" Shion hugs me.

I feel rewarded just by this, so I guess I'm a pretty easy-going guy.

"I think it's something we all need, so don't worry about it."

Saying that, my cheeks are probably red.

"No, I do mind! Hey! Do you want to eat something?"

"Hmm... Ah! Could we make some teriyaki?"

「Great! I can make it! The ginger I got from Sohatsu-kun is already coming in handy!」

By the way, I had bought various seasonings since Shiomi had wanted them. Ginger was among them.

「Then I'd want rice and miso soup and cabbage... but I don't have the rice and cabbage.」

「I could use other leafy vegetables instead of cabbage, but rice is a problem...」

「For miso soup, the ingredients are important. The typical one would be tofu, wouldn't it?」 Roa's words remind me.

「Ah, right. I have nigari, so I can make tofu now.」 But it won't be added to the recipe.

Even if it's not cooking, ingredients like tofu are considered important enough to require a cooking roll to make.

「I know how to make tofu.」

Shiomi says so, and I set up the necessary ingredients and leave it to her.

「It's a bit hard to crush the beans, though.」 「Ah, then I'll help.」

「Of course, I'll help as well.」

The three of us work hard to crush the beans.

「Thanks to both of you. I'll be fine on my own from here on.」 「Is that so?」

「I will continue to assist you until the very end.」

「Hmm. I'll keep making tofu, but I want to do the cooking after everyone gets back... Besides, you two must be tired from gathering ingredients, especially you, Tsugusa-kun, since you have other things to do in the afternoon. I hope you'll take a little rest.」

I could have Loa heal me with a basic healing spell later, but I appreciate her concern.

Besides, she might think that having too many people in the kitchen would be a hindrance.

Two people are fine, but three is too many.

「I agree that you should rest, but please don't worry about me.」

「Is that so? Then maybe I should ask Tsugusa-kun to give Loa a massage.」

It seemed like Shion was giving Loa a look...

...Wait, isn't something wrong here?

「No, Loa did the most work gathering ingredients, so I can't ask that of her.」 「――Understood.」 「Loa...?」 「Hehe, then I'll ask you to do it.」

「Then, Master, please come this way...」

She leads me up to the second floor.

――This flow… Could it be that Roa is…?

Having been with four people and having that kind of experience, I can’t help but feel déjà vu.

Besides, Roa should have heard about our relationship from the girls.

For her to willingly come and be alone with me….

“Would you like me to go to your room, Master?”

“Ah… No, that’s not what I meant… I mean, is that okay with you, Roa?”

“I am a maid who serves you, Master.”

“No, no… That’s weird, isn’t it?”

For a master and servant to do something like that… It’s something I’ve seen in porn books.

But Roa worked at a maid café, and during work, she probably interpreted the master-servant relationship as a job to fulfill such fantasies.

Wouldn’t she feel repulsed if she actually had to do something like that?

Before I knew it, I had arrived at my room.

Unable to resist, we were alone in the room.

“Indeed, I don’t do such things with just anyone. In fact, I have no dating experience at all…”

Her cheeks flushed as if she were embarrassed. “Then, all the more reason—”

Loa pressed her body against my chest and looked up at me, her lips almost touching mine.

“I’ve decided to serve you of my own free will, with full understanding of what I’m doing. …Is that not what you want?”

Who could possibly turn this down?

Even if there were, I'm definitely not on that side. I gently put my arm around her waist.

Loa then smiles softly, looking pleased. "Then, is it okay if I leave?"

Thank you for the year-end ranking 7th place...!!!! Tomorrow is maid day...!

The reason why she relaxed around Kousuke...!?

So please look forward to tomorrow as well!!!!!!!!

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