Chapter 433: Miyabi's Fasting Regimen
"Big Sister Yanagi... whew... so full..."
Soukaku rolled over on the plush sofa, her small frame curling into a comfortable ball. She muttered incoherently in her sleep, a tiny bubble forming at the corner of her mouth, showing absolutely no intention of waking up anytime soon.
On the other side of the room, Ellen from Victoria Housekeeping presented a very different picture of exhaustion. Though she was trying her hardest to maintain her impeccable standing posture, her eyes were completely shut. Her shark tail drooped lazily against the floor, swaying just a fraction of an inch as she dozed off while standing upright.
Tsukishiro Yanagi rubbed her temples helplessly, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Beside her, Von Lycaon offered a wry, understanding smile before quickly smoothing his expression back into one of flawless professional composure.
"No matter," the wolf butler murmured softly, careful not to disturb the sleeping girls. "Corin. Rina."
Two maids who had been standing quietly by the periphery stepped forward. Despite having participated in the evening's grand banquet, both remained entirely sober and perfectly poised.
"Master Lycaon," they answered in hushed tones.
"Deputy Section Chief Yanagi and I have pressing matters to attend to and must depart temporarily," Lycaon instructed, his crimson eyes sweeping over the room. "Tonight, the two of you will remain here to look after our guests. Please ensure that Miss Ellen, Miss Soukaku, and Miss Miyabi get their proper rest."
"Yes, Master Lycaon," Corin and Rina replied in perfect unison, Corin nervously clutching her hands together while Rina offered a serene nod.
Yanagi then turned her attention to Asaba Harumasa, who was leaning against the wall, easily the most sober member of their Section 6 group. "Harumasa, I'll leave Miyabi and Soukaku in your hands. Keep a close eye on them—especially Soukaku. Do not let her wake up hungry in the middle of the night and go rummaging through the base for food."
Harumasa offered a casual salute, nodding in silent agreement.
With the arrangements settled, Yanagi and Lycaon quietly slipped out of the Base. The grand halls behind them were still brightly lit, but the chaotic energy of the banquet was slowly giving way to a peaceful, heavy silence.
Stepping out onto the quiet night road leading back to New Eridu, the two of them exhaled in unison, their breath forming faint white clouds in the cool, crisp air.
The burden resting on their shoulders felt incredibly heavy, their minds churning with complex, interwoven thoughts.
For Yanagi, the upcoming task was a logistical nightmare. She had to draft a report for the H.A.N.D. superiors that was shocking enough to convey the sheer magnitude of what they had witnessed, yet carefully worded to prevent excessive panic or trigger misguided, heavy-handed interference from the higher-ups.
For Lycaon, the challenge was equally daunting. He needed to weigh every single syllable before reporting tonight's events to the Mayor. His account had to be clear, objective, and highly strategic, all while accurately conveying the specific 'conditions' laid out by Wise and Belle.
Tonight marked the end of the celebration and a time of relaxation for most of the guests. But for these two, it was destined to be a long, sleepless night of drafting reports.
Morning light, filtered through the Base's simulated windows with a soft, warm hue, spilled gently across the common dining area of the rest zone.
The air hung thick with the comforting, domestic scent of buttered toast, sizzling fried eggs, and freshly brewed coffee—a standardized breakfast menu prepared by the Z-Treasures, perfectly calculated to suit the preferences of the vast majority.
Of course, there were always exceptions to the rule.
Hoshimi Miyabi possessed a strict habit of morning cultivation. Even when resting far away from H.A.N.D. Headquarters, the Section 6 captain maintained her ironclad discipline.
She was the very first to arrive at the dining area. However, the moment she reached her assigned seat and looked down at the steaming, uniquely shaped 'breakfast' plated before her, a rare, subtle freezing effect took over her usually expressionless face.
It was a pie.
The golden, flaky crust looked perfectly baked and genuinely appetizing. The issue, however, lay in the decoration. Several whole fish heads poked violently out from the top of the pastry crust, 'looking up' with glassy, unblinking eyes that seemed to stare blankly into the void of death.
The dead fish eyes were wide open, locked in a permanent, silent scream aimed directly at the ceiling of the dining hall.
This was the legendary, hardcore culinary anomaly known as Stargazy Pie.
Miyabi stood there in absolute silence. For five agonizing seconds, the elite swordswoman engaged in a staring contest with the baked fish heads.
Her logical mind told her that this was likely meant to be normal, edible food. But her sharp senses, her honed instincts, and her very soul were blaring deafening alarm bells, warning her of imminent peril.
Just as she was internally debating whether to take a polite, honor-bound bite or simply turn on her heel and walk away, a savior arrived.
"Ha-ah~~~" A long, drawn-out yawn echoed through the corridor.
Soukaku shuffled into the dining area, vigorously rubbing her sleepy eyes. Her white hair stuck out in messy cowlicks, and her shoes scuffed lazily against the polished floor tiles.
Suddenly, her little nose twitched rapidly, locking onto a target like a high-grade radar. "Mmm... smells so good..." she mumbled groggily. "Morning, Boss Miyabi. Hmm? This thing in front of you... it has a... very special scent?"
As Soukaku's gaze landed on the grotesque Stargazy Pie, her lingering sleepiness vanished instantly. It was replaced by a radiant, intense light that Miyabi couldn't quite comprehend—a dangerous mixture of pure curiosity and ravenous hunger.
Miyabi made a split-second tactical decision. Her expression smoothed out, returning to its usual icy calm, even adopting the detached, enlightened aura of a master practitioner.
She gently pushed the ceramic plate across the table toward her subordinate, her voice perfectly steady. "This breakfast is yours, Soukaku."
"Eh? Really?" Soukaku's eyes sparkled like polished gemstones.
"Yes," Miyabi nodded, speaking with an unshakable air of authority. "I am currently attempting a new training regimen where I abstain from eating breakfast. I will let you have this one."
Hearing this generous offer, Soukaku happily pulled the plate closer. "Thank you, Boss Miyabi! I'll dig in then!"
She eagerly snatched up her utensils. Without a single ounce of hesitation, she sliced off a massive chunk, stuffing the buttery crust and an entire 'stargazing' fish head directly into her mouth.
Crunch... mmm... gulp.
As the visceral sounds of aggressive chewing and swallowing filled the quiet dining room, Miyabi watched in solemn silence, her hands neatly folded.
As Soukaku savored the strange dish, her expression underwent a rapid evolution. It shifted from eager anticipation to wide-eyed surprise, and finally settled into a look of immense, overwhelming satisfaction. The edges of her eyes even reddened slightly with emotion.
"This taste... this taste!" Soukaku exclaimed, bouncing on her heels. "It has... a taste of my hometown! I can't quite put it into words, but this solid, rugged vitality is something I haven't tasted in a long, long time! It's absolutely delicious!"
She ate with terrifying speed and relish. In the blink of an eye, the Stargazy Pie—a dish that would have made most ordinary people recoil in sheer terror—was completely eradicated, leaving not even a single crumb on the plate.
Soukaku patted her still-flat stomach contentedly, letting out a wistful sigh. "It's just... not enough. I wish I could have a few more! I wonder if there's any left in the kitchen..."
As if answering her heart's deepest, most fervent wish, another pristine plate bearing a fresh, steaming Stargazy Pie materialized on the table before her like magic.
Startled, Soukaku looked up. Standing right beside her was the elegant maid from Victoria Housekeeping she had met the night before. Rina stood there with a perfect, gentle smile, offering a slight, graceful bow.
"Miss Soukaku, please enjoy," Rina said, her voice soft and melodious. "To receive such sincere, heartfelt praise is the greatest reward for a chef, and for me."
Seeing this second unexpected 'surprise', a smile brighter than the morning sun broke across Soukaku's face. "Thank you, Sister Rina! You're the best!"
Soukaku happily proceeded to demolish several more Stargazy Pies, even beginning to seriously consider asking Rina to write down the recipe for this incredible 'hometown flavor'.
Miyabi, meanwhile, had moved to an empty space nearby. She quietly began performing her basic morning physical training, her movements smooth, precise, and entirely focused—acting exactly as if that shocking, apocalyptic breakfast had never existed in the first place.
A potential 'breakfast crisis'was thus smoothly averted by Soukaku's extraordinary appetite and terrifying culinary acceptance. The other guests in the Base, still fast asleep or just beginning to wake up, remained blissfully unaware of the deadly'flavor challenge' they had narrowly avoided.
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