---o---
In Sumer, Mount Ebih was considered the highest of the demonic... or rather, it was once a sacred peak.
It was a sacred peak feared even by the supreme Sumerian god, Anu.
Anu had once told Inanna, who was obsessed with Mount Ebih, "Mount Ebih is incomparably bountiful. Its blessings are as great as its depths are profound. My daughter, maiden Inanna, to defy Mount Ebih is the act of a fool."
However, this warning only infuriated Inanna—that is, Ishtar—even further. Ishtar gathered every weapon she could carry and, conjuring a great storm, marched upon Mount Ebih.
Legend says she ravaged the mountain from its outer slopes to its very core, advancing toward its heart.
This version of Ishtar, not yet fused with the soul of a certain poor young lady, was essentially a female version of Archer Gilgamesh. "Poisonous mist, a rain of falling rocks, scorching lava! Unbelievable, to think I would be treated to such a reception," she complained as she pressed onward.
She completely ignored the fact that she had come here with the express purpose of destroying the mountain—an act that could be called the most ancient case of home invasion in human history.
After reaching the center, she took advantage of a moment of laxity when Mount Ebih sought to negotiate a truce. She killed the spirit of the sacred peak and established her own temple upon its lifeless corpse.
Today, however, a fragrant aroma of food wafted from this very temple.
Using the power of the Herrscher of Reason, a certain someone effortlessly projected a set of high-end kitchenware and placed it within Ishtar's temple.
Then, he casually retrieved fresh ingredients from within his own shadow, which he had prepared long ago.
Next, with the near-perfect knife skills of a master chef who had honed his craft for decades, he began slicing the clearly washed vegetables into his desired shapes.
If word of this scene were to reach the Reverse Side of the World, it would surely cause a fair number of Sumerian gods to twitch an eye.
The main hall of Ishtar's notoriously fearsome temple was gradually being transformed into a cafeteria by a certain individual.
Having decided to emulate the fine people of the Lighthouse Country with a round of "zero-dollar shopping" after Ishtar refused to provide lodging, the young man nonchalantly began preparing lunch.
He was making German and Russian cuisine.
German food tends to have heavier flavors, with a preference for ingredients like pork, beef, organ meats, and various vegetables. Seasonings lean heavily on mustard, white wine, and butter, while cooking methods favor boiling, stewing, or braising.
Russian cuisine is quite similar in taste to German food, but oilier, with a greater emphasis on cold appetizers.
Relying on his Authority, the 'Fire-Thief,' and the power of a God-Slayer, he had managed to find a whole slew of master chefs on the brink of death and expropriated their knowledge one by one. Recalling the key points of cooking, the young man lit a fire and began to cook.
Likely because time was being accelerated, it wasn't long before dishes, perfect in color, aroma, and taste, were brought to a dining table that had also clearly been constructed on the spot using the Herrscher of Reason's ability.
Seated there were a girl dressed in an outfit called "Winter Princess" and another girl who had already entered her Herrscher of Reason mode.
"Boss... when did you learn how to cook?"
The girl named Bronya stared at the plates of delicious-looking food, a look of astonishment on her face.
In her memory, although Li Zihan was from Shenzhou, his culinary talent was pitiful—completely on the level of a Brit.
A British policeman + a German mechanic + a French chef = Heaven.
A British chef + a German policeman + a French mechanic = Hell.
This was a common perception among the people of Europe.
For Li Zihan, whose cooking skills were on par with a Brit's, to suddenly whip up a grand feast and present it to her...
Honestly, if not for the fact that his earlier act of knocking out the temple's owner was so practiced and full of his signature scummy flavor—proving he was the genuine article—Bronya would have absolutely believed her boss had been replaced.
"Oh, that? It's the kind of thing you can pick up with a little practice."
The man, who seemed to have taken the development of his 'Fire-Thief' Authority down a crooked path, shamelessly passed off the culinary skills he had plundered from others as his own natural talent.
"This took me a very long time to prepare, you know."
Growing ever more casual in his use of magecraft, he nonchalantly pushed a plate of Russian cold dishes in front of Bronya, then slid a German fruit pie over to Kiana.
"I don't know your tastes, but since you're German, I figured you'd probably like sausages and fruit pie."
Is this... specially prepared for me?
Miss Kiana looked at the dish placed before her but said nothing.
"Thank you very much, but I'm fine."
The girl politely deflected his gaze, which was remarkably similar to a researcher's fervent stare at experimental data, yet somehow different.
She wasn't used to such enthusiastic attitudes.
"If you want anything, just let me know."
The young man, who was in fact also quite interested in Miss Kiana, grinned at the girl's somewhat unnatural expression.
"Cute girls always get spec—"
Before he could finish, a slender, delicate hand reached out to his waist and gave it a vicious twist.
Li Zihan turned his head to see Miss Bronya, who had already withdrawn her hand back to the table and was now sipping seafood soup with a blank expression.
"Boss, why are you looking at me?"
The girl, who verbally maintained that "what the boss does with other girls has nothing to do with me," felt his gaze and looked back to ask.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking that you're super cute, Bronya. I bet hugging you would feel absolutely amazing."
The young man, who would definitely not behave himself if he got Miss Bronya in his arms, gave a brilliant smile.
Being pinched like that was quite painful, not a pleasant experience by any means. But if it was a girl pinching you out of jealousy, that was another matter entirely.
"Even if you say that, Boss, Bronya won't be happy about it."
The girl, her face as expressionless as ever, continued to sip her soup with a spoon.
Then, as if remembering something, she extended the half-full spoon to the man's lips.
"Boss, you made too much soup. Bronya can't finish it all."
Li Zihan didn't say a word, simply and naturally drinking the soup from the spoon.
"By the way, Boss, what do you plan to do with Ishtar?"
The girl, who had seen her lover defeat the goddess—who gave off a strange, useless vibe—with a set of 'Feathers of Erosion' before tying her up with a simulated Oath of Judah, asked about the whereabouts of their local host.
"That useless goddess?"
Li Zihan thought for a moment, then answered.
"She's airing out outside."
---o---
Author's Note:
ps: I feel like Miss Mei is a really good girl, so it's not right to always make her suffer.
So, how about we toss the green hat to Archer Ishtar and persecute her instead?