This meal, Emiya used everything he had learned in his entire life.
The kitchen, which was originally quite spacious, felt cramped now under the weight of ninety-nine dishes.
With no other choice, he had to line the dishes along the entire length of the train's corridor.
The meal lasted a full three hours, until everyone's bellies were round and full, until even the last drop of cold soup had been finished.
Only then did everyone finally lean back against the train's sofas, satisfied, letting their minds go blank and resting in peace.
"Phew, feels like my stomach's gonna burst…" Zoe, clutching the last half of a flatbread, curled up in Emiya's arms with her round belly.
"Come on, it's not like I've been starving you, why are you eating like someone reincarnated from a famine ghost?"
Emiya held back a laugh and poked Zoe's belly lightly, immediately earning a dramatic groan.
"Don't poke! The food… the food's gonna come out my throat…"
"Hahaha!" Hearing Zoe's words, not only Emiya, but everyone else burst out laughing.
But the laughter didn't last long, they all stopped at the same time, because the full stomachs rocking with laughter made them so uncomfortable they could barely breathe.
No one knew why, but today Emiya's cooking was especially delicious, almost magical. Even though their minds told them they couldn't eat another bite, their bodies just kept wanting more.
Especially Himeko and Bronya, aside from Zoe, their eating was the most unrestrained.
Right now, their bellies bulged high beneath their clothes, if someone said they were ten months pregnant, many would've believed it.
'Looks like the secret to good food really is my magic.'
It wasn't often that so many people from different places gathered together, so this time, instead of letting his magic leak out naturally, Emiya deliberately released it and infused it into the food.
And the result was exactly as he expected, nearly everyone was enchanted by it, except for Acheron and Vera.
Acheron had built up resistance from constantly being immersed in Emiya's blood, while Vera's power was simply too overwhelming, such small magic couldn't affect her.
Emiya glanced around again, memorizing everyone's physical state and how much they'd eaten. He planned to have Zoe research the connection later.
"Himeko, Bronya, come sit next to me. I'll use my power to help you digest."
At Emiya's words, Bronya instinctively tried to get up, but her stomach churned so violently she almost vomited, and she quickly lay back down.
Himeko was even worse, she didn't even have the strength to speak.
'Sigh… sorry, I didn't expect the effect to be that good.'
Silently apologizing to everyone in his heart, Emiya carried Zoe, Himeko, and Bronya into the room, letting them lean against the bed to stretch their bodies out.
"I'm going to put my hand on your stomachs and use my power to help you digest, is that okay?" It sounded like he was talking to everyone, but really, the question was directed at Himeko alone.
"The food you make… it's too delicious. Is it because of that power?" Himeko stared straight into Emiya's eyes, finally voicing the question that had been bothering her for a long time.
The day the Emiya family moved out of Beloberg and into Ideal City, everyone from the train had gone to celebrate, and it was also the first time they'd tasted Emiya's home-cooked dishes.
Those foods, in terms of ingredients, appearance, and taste, were top-notch, yes, but not that irresistibly good.
Even the usually indifferent Welt had eaten until he was stuffed that day.
It was so strange that after they returned to the train, everyone held a serious discussion about it, they even suspected Emiya had slipped some kind of drug into the food.
For a while, they kept finding excuses to have him cook, first paying him money, then bartering with rare metals.
And Emiya had happily gone along with it. As long as they offered something in return, he never refused, no matter how much food they asked for.
Then came the absurd part.
After half a month of precise testing, they found no trace of additives, instead, they discovered that everyone aboard the train had shown noticeable improvements in physical condition.
"Hahaha, that's a trade secret. I already did you a huge favor letting you test for that long," Emiya said, gently pinching Himeko's cheek.
"We just… we just… I'm sorry."
Having her inner thoughts so casually exposed, Himeko's face turned bright red.
Someone had kindly cooked for her, yet she had doubted him, that really was wrong.
"It's fine. When you're out there in the world, being cautious keeps you alive longer. You did the right thing."
Putting himself in their place, Emiya knew he would've done the same. In fact, it was precisely because of that carefulness that their bond had grown stronger and more reliable.
Those carefree anime types who trust strangers right after meeting them, they're the ones you can't trust, nor can you trust their friends.
"Emiya, please believe me, I really see you as a friend now!"
Seeing Emiya's calm expression, Himeko's heart suddenly ached, like she'd been pricked with a needle. Overcome with emotion, she sat up straight and grabbed his arm tightly.
"Yeah, I believe..." Before he could finish, Himeko suddenly vomited all over him, food remnants splattering across his clothes.
"Sigh… if you're that full, don't get so worked up…"
"I'm sor... ugh... sorry.... ugh..."
Himeko, face burning red, kept trying to apologize, but once her stomach started to heave, the vomiting wouldn't stop.
With body fluids rapidly lost, her electrolytes went out of balance, leaving her limp and drained of all strength.
"Sigh… don't talk. I'll treat Bronya first, then have her take you to the bath."
Emiya sighed helplessly, stripped off his soiled clothes, and focused his magic into Bronya's stomach to help her digest faster.
The method not only maximized nutrient absorption, but also helped regulate the body's internal flow. In less than ten minutes, Bronya's belly visibly flattened.
At the same time, her complexion improved dramatically.
The dark circles from many sleepless nights faded, her pale face regained a healthy blush, and her skin gleamed with a soft, jade-like radiance.
"Amazing! I feel like I'm floating!" Bronya bounced a little in excitement, feeling better than ever.
"Don't bounce… I-I can't take it anymore…" Himeko slumped weakly on the sofa, calling out softly.
"How about this, I'll carry you to the bath, fix up your body, and then Bronya can help you wash."
With a light tap to Himeko's forehead, Emiya temporarily stabilized her condition, then bent down, lifted her into his arms, and continued channeling his magic to ease her body's flow.
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