After asking, Sajyou Manaka learned Artoria's wish and immediately chose to help her.
No other reason, just simply because this was her Servant's wish.
That's right, in this boring to the point of dullness world, having someone appear who could surprise her, helping her naturally became justified.
Not caring about consequences, not calculating gains or losses, not considering personality, morals, or even her family's love for her. Sajyou Manaka, was just such a person.
She had the dreamy expectation of a lovestruck girl waiting for her prince on a white horse, and had thoughts that ordinary people, even normal magi, did not possess.
Looking at Shirou, whether it was on a whim or something she sensed, she felt something.
In short, from the first moment she saw Einzbern's Berserker, Sajyou Manaka knew he was special.
How special? Like seeing a beloved toy, that kind of level.
But now, it seems she's being ignored by the toy?
'What to do?'
Sajyou Manaka's innocent gaze swept across the dessert Shirou and Artoria had just exchanged, matcha cake.
That incomparably happy expression, she hadn't seen it even during breakfast that morning.
Clearly the same magic was applied.
As for cooking, Sajyou Manaka had done it many times, cooking casually was already second nature.
That's just how cooking is, like she said before.
To make it special, not only is the process complicated, it also requires mental effort and energy.
These she lacked not at all, and even wanted to do better.
Necessary means must not be lacking, and that includes additional magic, magic that makes food taste better.
Regarding such things, Sajyou Manaka would not be stingy, nor feel it was cheating.
People with ability never care about the process, only the result.
'So, what magic did that Berserker use in cooking?'
Sajyou Manaka's insight was definitely top-level, and yet she couldn't see what kind of magic Shirou had used on the cake.
Just glowing food wouldn't make Saber show that kind of blissful expression.
She even saw lingering attachment on that adorable face.
Sajyou Manaka: "?"
'So exaggerated?'
She returned to her elegant and pure expression, gently said to Artoria, "Saber, may I have a taste of this last piece?"
"Mm~", Artoria, who was about to faint from enjoying the food, immediately sobered.
"This…", A conflicted face.
"..."
After hesitating for a long while, still couldn't bear to part with it.
Sajyou Manaka was slightly moved, 'Not even this?'
She was her Master, after all, and even said she'd help fulfill her wish.
'Yet for a piece of food, you want to turn against me?'
Of course, Sajyou Manaka wouldn't think that way, she just patiently, gently smiled, "Saber, can't I? If you let me taste it, maybe I can make food like that Berserker."
"Hmph!", As soon as she said that, Illya laughed impolitely, "Useless! Berserker's cooking is the best! No one can make exactly the same!"
Shirou expressionlessly nodded.
No problem with that, the system couldn't even learn it, the skill level was officially recognized.
"No need to be exactly the same," Sajyou Manaka's tone was calm and confident, "I will make something even more delicious than his."
As long as she knew what magic Berserker used, this kind of thing was easy.
"Really?", Artoria was persuaded.
If she could eat food this good every day, she was willing to give her all until death.
"Of course. Don't you believe me, Saber?", Sajyou Manaka treated her like a girlfriend, close, gentle, doting.
In a certain sense, Artoria really was very lovable.
The fattest Doraemon proposed to her, Saber enchanted Shirou to the point of obsession.
Morgan was her little black shadow, love and hate indistinct.
The Knights of the Round Table were her royal chefs.
After Medea met her, she filled her house with Saber figurines.
'That's right, Artoria, you are the new generation's beautiful girl idol!'
Shirou gave affirmation.
"Anyone can talk big," Illya finished lunch, and Sella helped her clean the leftovers.
Medea didn't eat, for her, aside from Shirou's cooking, as a Servant there was no need to eat.
Liz: "Miss of the Sajyou family."
As a maid she should not speak, yet Sajyou Manaka's casual tone about surpassing Shirou's cooking made her very unhappy.
Though she glared at that guy 18 times a day, there was no doubt, regarding his cooking, Sella not only approved, but even admired it to the point of worship.
Sella liked cooking, liked it very much.
Every time she watched Shirou cook, it was like watching her idol perform their best skill.
That close-up viewing gave her deep satisfaction.
Simply put, she was a die-hard fan, who couldn't stand hearing others speak ill of him.
That dismissive tone made her feel it was insulting, so Sella, with the cold voice once used in the Einzbern castle, said, "Dare to shokugeki, Miss Sajyou?"
"Oh, shokugeki, what's that?"
This concept in today's Fuyuki City was brought by Shirou, Sajyou Manaka had no way to observe it.
But with her intelligence, she didn't need to.
A little thought, and she understood what "shokugeki" meant.
"So that's it."
She smiled, interrupting Sella who was about to proudly explain, and said, "A halberd is an ancient weapon, if it involves weapons, it must be battle, right? So a battle using 'cooking' as weapons?"
"You!", Sella's eyes widened.
"Looks like I guessed right," Sajyou Manaka didn't act smug or proud, but smiled as if it was natural, "In that case, are there stakes? Or an exchange of equal value as chips?"
"Let's be clear, I want something you all already know from the start," Sajyou Manaka looked at Shirou with clear eyes.
Shirou completely ignored her, "Illya, you've got rice grains on your mouth."
"Berserker, wipe them off for me."
"Mm."
"Where are we going later?", she asked affectionately.
"How about the amusement park on the mountain?", Shirou suggested, "We can see horned owls."
"Sure!", Illya's eyes sparkled as she proudly glanced at Sajyou Manaka.
That provocative look was obvious.
Sajyou Manaka's Nth moment of silence that day.
'The toy's disobedient. I must think how to discipline it later.'
She kept a lady's smile, and under Artoria's regretful gaze, lightly bit a small piece of matcha cake.
'What? What is this?', Her soul felt struck by an invisible shock.
As if the calm sea suddenly erupted into a tsunami, swirling breeze whipped into a tornado, a dormant volcano erupted in an instant...
'Unreasonable… delicious!'
She was speechless, looking at the cake in her hand, for the first time, furrowed her beautiful brows.
'No trace of magic?'
'Or is it that I can't detect it?'
In confusion, she took a big bite again.
'Food that doesn't use magic, how can it glow?'
She continued to taste.
'What method did he use to create this impact on the taste buds?'
Confusion led to tasting, tasting led to puzzlement, and puzzlement led to more tasting, until...
"Finished eating?"
It was empty.
Her fair and beautiful hand, with fine lines, only had matcha cake crumbs left.
Even the crumbs, glowing as they were, gave her the impulse not to waste them.
Artoria stared intently at those rice-worthy hands.
Inside and out, it all meant, don't waste them.
Sajyou Manaka tilted her head slightly, puzzled.
'When did I finish eating it?'
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