There was a specific item tucked away among the SP options.
Its name? The "Delicious Steak." Yes, that was really what it was called.
I’d initially assumed its only effect was a simple boost to a character's affection level. But once you were in VR Mode, everything changed.
"Tria-chan. Miti-chan. I’m sorry... but I really want to try this 'Delicious Steak' for myself!"
"Yeah, Tria thinks Lord Spirit should do whatever he feels is best."
"I think it’s a great idea! If it means I can repay my debt of gratitude to Lord Spirit, I’ll earn as much SP as it takes!"
You two...! Thank you, thank you so much!
And so, since I’d finally started earning enough through SP Requests, I went ahead and bought it. The "Delicious Steak"...!
I was inside my Home, in a room I’d triple-checked was locked to ensure no one would disturb me. I stood before the table and pulled the item from my inventory.
Resting on a white plate, the steak looked like a literal jewel.
The surface of the deep red meat was seared to perfection, dotted with occasional bits of crispy char. Juices glazed the surface, shimmering alongside the sauce in a way that was nothing short of seductive. The aroma of rendered fat and melted butter wafted through the room, making my stomach let out a pathetic growl.
Even before I touched it with a knife, the sheer weight and presence of the thick cut whetted my appetite. It wasn't just meat on the plate, either; smooth white mashed potatoes and the vibrant green of fresh asparagus were served on the side, providing a perfect splash of color.
"...So this is it. The 'Delicious Steak'..."
"Lord Spirit... just the smell alone is incredible!"
I gulped, my throat tight with anticipation.
The steaks Penpen made were excellent, but this was in a league of its own. I could tell just by looking. This was the ultimate—a true masterpiece. Perhaps this was the kind of dish Penpen would eventually be able to create once her Cooking Skill finally hit its maximum level.
"Time to dig in! Thanks for the food!"
The knife glided through the meat with a satisfying snap. I coated a slice thoroughly in the sauce and brought it to my lips.
"Wait—!?"
"Fuhaaa..."
For a split second, it felt like my consciousness had simply blinked out of existence. When I came to, there was nothing left on the plate.
I’d eaten it in a total trance. I hadn't done anything as tragic as losing my memory of the flavor, though. I even remembered giving a small piece to Miti-chan. Having tasted just that one bite, Miti-chan was currently shivering in a state of pure culinary ecstasy, her body having melted down into a quivering puddle of Bubble Slime.
"...It’s too good! It was way, way too good!"
"Anyaaa..."
Indeed, it was a steak that lived up to its name—a dish so divine it felt like I was consuming it with my very soul. If a devil ever claimed a soul, it surely had to taste like this.
'Heaaa... I think I’m making a face I can’t let Lord Spirit see right now...'
Tria-chan’s affection level, which I could feel through our shared sensory link via her Halo, was absolutely skyrocketing. A profound sense of adoration and endearment radiated from her, vibrating through the Halo at the back of my head.
"Ah... yeah. I’m glad we ate this alone."
It was the kind of deliciousness that would have sparked a murderous rage if anyone had asked me to share. I didn't even want to open the door; I wanted to seal the room just to preserve the smell.
It had been a magnificent experience—well worth every point of SP I’d spent. Someone on the Wiki had called it a "god-tier item," and they hadn't been lying.
I spent a long while soaking in the afterglow before finally deciding it was time to sleep in the real world. I logged out.
"...Hah. I can still taste it."
It had been far too good. Coming back to reality had left me starving, but the experience had been so profound that I almost didn't want to tarnish the memory by eating anything else. I figured I wouldn't die if I skipped a meal for one night.
Just as I had that thought, my doorbell rang. There was a dull thud as something was placed outside. A contactless delivery?
At this hour? It was one in the morning. Man, the delivery industry really was a grind; midnight shifts were no joke.
I headed to the door to retrieve the package. It was a single cardboard box. The recipient was definitely me, and the address was correct.
The sender was... "Kite a Lise Management." I didn't recall giving them my address, though.
Wait...
Oh, right. I might have registered it for some promotional campaign a while back. Did I? Yeah, I think I did. I definitely did.
Okay, nothing weird about that.
Curious about what they’d sent, I checked the item description on the label. It read: "Food Item: Delicious Steak."
Huh. A delicious steak?
"Wait... The 'Delicious Steak'!?"
I tore open the box to find a single-serving frozen meal in a paper container. It was the microwaveable kind.
My stomach let out another roar. The memory of the VR steak came rushing back.
"...No, there’s no way. I mean, come on. It couldn't be."
Well, I might as well try it. I was hungry anyway.
I popped the tray into the microwave and set it to the specified wattage and time. I made sure to follow the instructions perfectly, peeling back a corner of the paper lid to let the steam escape.
I waited restlessly for three minutes. Realizing I didn't have a drink, I filled a pitcher with water, poured a glass, and downed it in one go. One minute left...
Then, a faint scent of butter reached me. Soon, the heavy, rich aroma of rendered fat—the exact smell from the game—began to waft from the microwave.
No way. Seriously? Was it really that steak?
The remaining seconds felt like hours. 10, 9, 8... I stood there with my hand on the handle. 3, 2, 1—now! I yanked the door open at exactly zero seconds, and a rich, fragrant scent—far more concentrated than the steam that had leaked out—filled my apartment.
I peeled back the rest of the paper lid.
There it was. A thick, natural meat steak, looking exactly like the one I’d just eaten. It even had the smooth white mashed potatoes and the vibrant green asparagus in the side compartments. Aside from the casual plating, it was a perfect reproduction.
"Ha!?"
Once again, it felt like my consciousness had flickered away. By the time I snapped out of it, the paper tray was empty.
The in-game reproduction was far too perfect.