"So, what do the two of you want? The food is certainly not ready yet…

"

The cook asked curiously, furrowing his brows while eyeing out the two girls.

"Oh, this one is actually an amazing cook that our master picked up from the Academy, she wants to make the food for our master.

"

"V-Veo…?!

"

Veo grabbed Patishi's shoulders and explained proudly while leaning from behind the younger girl who blushed crimson red from the offhanded compliment.

"Oh, is that so…? Ah! I think I have heard about you! My friend works at the Aspaceony Academy, he told me about a child prodigy chef that's giving him a run for his money! Was that you?

"

The cook perked up since it turned out he wasn't completely clueless and could show off his knowledge.

"I-I think it should be me, there are no other people my age working in the Aspakeony Academy's kitchen…

"

Patishi blushed and started fidgeting embarrassed by the unexpected praise from a complete stranger.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Gertsy! But seriously, that old bastard of a friend never told me that this prodigy chef was such a cute young lady!

"

"…

"

Gertsy laughed heartily and made Patishi even more embarrassed.

"Indeed, she's lovely, isn't she? Just don't get any stupid ideas. Now, can we make the food?

"

"…?!

"

Veo suddenly got all spiky and started walking while steering Patishi by still holding onto her shoulders while glaring coldly at the surprised man.

"Ah! Right, yes, of course!

"

Gertsy laughed awkwardly and pointed them towards a spot that was relatively less busy.

"You can take that spot, if you need something, don't be shy and come find me!

"

The man waved to them and returned to his previous spot near the boiling pot while being sent off by Veo's unfriendly glare.

"Let's go then.

"

Veo declared and proceeded to push Patishi in front of her while not letting go of her shoulders at all.

"Veo… I can walk… EH!?

"

Patishi turned her head towards Veo but as they were passing one of the cooks, the younger girl felt a crushingly obnoxious feeling and stopped – or tried to stop with all her might.

It cannot be forgotten that all in all, Patishi was a mage, and not a normal mage or even a typical variant magician.

She was a unique variant magician who wielded an attribute that was never observed before.

The young girl could enhance the taste of the raw ingredients and, to some extent, influence certain traits of the half-products but certainly, the most unique thing about her magic was the passive ability which was getting stronger by the day as she was growing up.

Similar to how Zoemi could see a special kind of shadow of all living people and spells, Patishi could, by some inexplicable magical ability, feel the intent of the ingredients.

The ingredients always seem to want to be made into something delicious, and if someone who lacked the ability to aid them in achieving that goal approached them they would get scared.

Patishi could sense that fear.

But if someone would approach them with the intent of consciously making them disgusting or harmful, they would get angry.

Similarly, the young girl could sense that anger…

…and the ingredients by that one cook they passed were completely consumed by wrath – it was something that Patishi has never experienced before.

Something had to be very wrong with that sketchy cook – no doubt!

Patishi, as someone deeply connected with the ingredients, couldn't just walk past such a scene as if she hasn't noticed a thing!

"Hey! You there! What are you doing to the food!?

"

"Eh…?!

"

"?!?!?!?!?!

"

The girl in the frilly maid's uniform shouted completely startling Veo who even let go of her shoulders from shock and marched towards the concerned cook.

"!!!!

"

…who very suspiciously jumped and got green in the face as he got called out…

"Wh-what are you talking about…!?

"

The man asked in a high-pitched voice and tried to remain calm but Patishi's shout and his odd behavior made him the center of attention of the entire kitchen staff.

"What were you doing to the ingredients just now!?

"

Unusually agitated Patishi approached the cook with an angered expression and even though she was half the size of the man, he actually took a step back when she walked up to him.

"N-nothing, miss, I don't know what you are talking about…!

"

The suspicious cook raised his hands and hurriedly shook his head.

"No, you were trying to add something awful to those ingredients, didn't you!?

"

This was Patishi's best bet and she could clearly feel that ingredients were cheering her on, somehow they knew that the cook was about to mix something with them that would turn them into something utterly horrible!

"What!? N-No! O-of course I didn't…!

"

The man seemingly tried to pose as shocked and appalled at the accusation but he couldn't have looked more guilty even if he tried.

"Ugh…!

"

Suddenly, without any warning, the man threw himself into a mad run, pushing the frail girl to the side, making her groan in pain…

…which was a grave mistake…

*WHAM*

"GHUG-HUAGH…!

"

Withing the same moment, Veo acted according to her training and caught him, or rather instantly incapacitated him by using her enchantments – she grabbed him and slammed him against the floor, squeezing all air out of his lungs with a single move.

It turned out that the cook was just a magicless commoner so subduing him was child play.

"Patishi, are you alright?!

"

After looking at the suspicious cook trying to catch his breath, Veo looked up and asked the younger girl with concern.

"I-I'm fine, he just scared me.

"

Patishi stood up with a slightly embarrassed expression, but then she shook her head and glared at the incapacitated man.

"What's going on with this guy?

"

Veo looked between the younger girl and the man she held down and asked while mushing the runaway cook's face into the floor.

"He was trying to add something suspicious to the food!

"

Patishi answered as if she actually saw the act and not sensed it from the ingredients, which was a smart move.

"I see… Check his pockets.

"

The older girl squinted her eyes and nodded, motioning her chin at the man, to which Patishi jumped to her and started thoroughly rummaging through the cook's clothes.

Of course, the other cooks were observing them with shocked and scared faces, but since the two performing the surprising stunts were actually personal attendants of the first prince and not normal servants, no one dared to comment or stop their actions.

After a minute or two Patishi found a sealed glass vial full of some white powder.

"What is this!?

"

She asked angrily putting the vial up to the man's face.

"S-salt! It's just salt!

"

"…

"

"…

"

The man cried and Patishi and Veo looked at each other.

"Open it up and let him taste this salt.

"

Veo who was literally trained for such situations shrugged her shoulders and nodded at the younger girl.

"Wh-wha…!?

"

The subdued man gasped and shuddered while Patishi unsealed the vial and started slowly tilting it above the man's mouth.

"S-stop!

"

The cook cried.

"Eh? Why? It's just salt, right?

"

Veo scoffed coldly.

"Go ahead, pour it right to his mouth.

"

While Veo indeed said that, she also winked at Patishi making sure that the younger girl knows to only pretend to follow her command.

"…yes…

"

Patishi loudly gulped her saliva and continued tilting the vial, cautiously watching the white grains shuffle closer and closer to the rim.

"No! Stop! That's not salt! It is poison! Poison! I will die!

"

"!!!!!!

"

Cried the man and everyone in the kitchen except for Veo, who already expected this outcome, froze in shock.