The sweets Canaris had prepared all had a stylish atmosphere. Many looked quite expensive, clearly aimed at nobles and the wealthy. However, it wasn't all just "too pretty to eat" artistic pieces; she had also prepared plenty of simple cakes as well.
"Is this dome-like one intended for pouring milk over to melt it?" I asked.
"Yes, it's a chocolate dome," Canaris replied. "I think a little playfulness is important. It’s simple, but doesn't it make you feel a bit of excitement?"
"That’s true. I actually am feeling pretty excited... Oh, wow... is that fruitcake inside?"
"Chocolate and fruit are a classic pairing. By the way, the fruitcakes inside are made with local specialties, so the fruits vary depending on which country the shop is in. The one in front of you, Kaito, is made with fruit harvested here in the Kingdom of Sinfonia."
"It's impressive. But a lot of these look like they'd be difficult to make."
"Well, for these kinds of sweets, visual impact is just as important as taste. It’s all about the 'gram,' as they say. I gave all the staff I created the highest level of confectionery-making skills, so they can whip up even the most difficult recipes in no time. Oh, by the way, I made the one you're eating right now myself. Tahaa~ sorry for trying to earn points by acting like a girl who can bake!"
That was a relief. If she had personally trained them, the quality would be incredible. This cake was already delicious and looked fantastic. As expected, Canaris stuck to ingredients found in this world. She didn't conjure up non-existent materials like Shiro had done with the baby castella. She seemed to be tailoring the menus to the local specialties of each nation. Her approach was surprisingly sensible, making me feel much more comfortable about leaving things in her hands.
"When you say you made it, you mean you actually cooked it, not just 'created' it, right? I didn't know you were such a good cook."
"Well, I am Almighty... though that's a bit of a cheat answer. I've enjoyed cooking as a hobby over the years, so I have a fair bit of experience. Though, I wouldn't say I did it that frequently... Hmm..."
"Something wrong?"
"Well, to me, it felt like I only did it once in a while. I wanted to say I had limited experience, but if you add up all those 'occasional' times over the eons, it totals several hundred million years. Compared to a normal person, I have way more experience points. I wasn't sure how to phrase that. Tahaa~ I guess my sense of time is just a bit too 'god-like' if a hundred million years doesn't feel long!"
"Haha, yeah, that's a tough one to gauge."
I gave her a wry smile. Even if she only dabbled, several hundred million years of practice meant she far outclassed any professional chef or pâtissier. Then again, only an Almighty-class Goddess could claim that a hundred million years wasn't a long time. The scale of her life was on an entirely different level.
"You've traveled through many worlds, haven't you?"
"Yes, I've been around. The number of people I know is one of my few boasts... Oh, I see that look! I'm pretty perceptive, and I bet you're about to ask for stories about other worlds. Leave it to me! Since we're having a snack, how about I tell you about some interesting sweets from other dimensions? Did you know there are sweets you eat with your fingers?"
"With your fingers? You mean like a race that has mouths on their fingers?"
"No, no. They're meant for people who eat through their mouths just like you. They're shaped like squishy jellies, and when you stick your finger in, the substance is gradually absorbed into your body. You might think you wouldn't taste anything that way, but they're made from special materials that don't exist in this world. Even though it's absorbed through the skin, you still perceive the flavor."
"That sounds fascinating. I'd love to see what that's like."
"Leave it to me... yes, here it is. I've made a small amount, so please give it a try! Tahaa~ can I call myself a thoughtful woman now?"
As if she had anticipated my interest, Canaris quickly pulled out the sweet she'd described. It looked like an ordinary jelly in a translucent container. Was I really supposed to just stick my finger in?
"Oh... wow. It really does have a taste. It's such a strange sensation to taste something without putting it in my mouth... It has a refreshing flavor, sort of like ramune soda."
"The sensation is disorienting at first, isn't it? You get used to it after a few tries... though I'm not sure if 'eating' is the right word for it. Anyway, this uses several ingredients that don't exist in this world. I'm happy to share it with you, but I couldn't exactly serve it in the cafe."
"Wait, was it okay to give it to me then? I thought there were strict rules about items from other worlds, like the contract Shiro made with the God of my world."
"Oh, don't worry about that. The Creator of that world is a huge fan of yours, so she’d be delighted to know you tried it. Tahaa~ As expected, you're quite the hit, Kaito-sama!"
I wasn't sure what to say to that. Why would a Goddess from a world I'd never even visited be a fan of mine? Shiro had mentioned I was becoming famous among the World Creators, so maybe that was it... I decided not to think too deeply about it.
Serious-senpai: "It feels like the Gods of World Creation have all gotten together and agreed on some sort of 'special treatment' policy just for Kaito."
???: "It’s a 'Kaito-only' exception. Let's call it the 'TK Special Case.'"
Serious-senpai: "Stop making up weird abbreviations..."