122: Androids are created because they are necessary.

Hunfunfun~♪

The chicken meat we have today is apparently officially called a protein broiler.

A chicken breed developed through repeated genetic modification and enhanced with mods, found in the Nerialni Potts system, said to provide higher-quality protein than ordinary chickens, making it a preferred food source for athletes engaged in physical competition.

Of course, factors like productivity and taste have also been improved within the limits allowed by cost.

And then there's napa cabbage—apparently its official name is Ion Hakusai.

It seems this variety of cabbage has also been uniquely developed through modifications within the Nelia Nipotts star system, containing higher levels of various vitamins and ions compared to regular cabbage, and its water content is absorbed more smoothly into the body than pure water.

Additionally, this property applies to other foods eaten alongside it as well.

In other words, by eating protein broiler and ion hakusai together, it seems you can efficiently absorb various nutrients into your body.

Yeah, this isn't my original recipe—it's a common household dish from the Nerialinipotts star system.

"Just slice and simmer, right?"

"It's a home-cooked meal, so the basic structure is simple. In typical households, they usually add a bit of their preferred seasonings or ingredients here, adjust the simmering time slightly, and that's how each family develops their own unique flavor."

"I see. And this time?"

"We'll simmer it just until it becomes a simple soup."

The cooking method is straightforward: wash the ingredients under running water, pat them dry, chop them into manageable pieces, then simmer them together with just a small amount of water.

That's it.

Also, how much additional ingredients to add, how long to simmer, and how much water to use are all up to personal preference.

This time, no additional ingredients were added. The cabbage was simmered until it became very soft, using a cooking assistance mod to help, and the amount of water was adjusted to account for the water released by the cabbage, resulting in a slightly stronger flavor.

"In short, it's done."

"Pretty easy, huh?"

"Yeah."

The finished dish was plated, and warm bread was prepared as a staple food.

Open a small portion of the Feikando Company's canned goods as an additional side dish.

Yeah, that makes it complete.

"Finished... huh?"

"T-the artificial human stuff... it's black. It's black, this is..."

"I did write a note saying it's best to avoid it before eating, Lord Johaliss."

"It seems Lord Johaliss has been looking into artificial human-related matters."

"Ahh, I see."

I carry our meal to the table with Vilijaniara.

Johaliss... is trembling uncontrollably.

Well, artificial humans are bound to cause issues...

"Milady Vilijaniara, is this acceptable for the Empire...?"

"It's not ideal. But there are valid reasons why artificial humans are needed somewhere, so for now, there's nothing we can do about it."

"Just machines aren't enough, yet the mortality rate remains high enough that even safety measures can't ignore it. That's basically the situation where artificial humans are used."

"Can't we just use space pirates instead?"

"Apparently not. There were others in the past who had the same idea as Lord Johalis, but using space pirates led to too many complications."

"Frankly, space pirates are space pirates—they're usually deployed in places where they'll either die or face serious complications, so it's a waste to use artificial humans for such purposes."

"Wait, that's even darker than I thought!?"

There's simply nothing we can do about it.

If we could fix it, the Empire's ethical standards would have already addressed it long ago.

In fact, when experiments are conducted solely to observe reactions—regardless of the individual's will—animals, captured space pirates, or extremely dangerous criminals with no room for leniency have replaced artificial humans. Artificial humans are no longer used.

Even today, the only places where using artificial humans remains legally permitted are those where there's simply no alternative.

"There's no telling if it's tasty, but let's eat something warm and switch gears. We'll have to get back to normal tomorrow, after all."

"It's good that Joharis has a kind heart toward artificial humans—I'm genuinely happy about that. But for now, let's just enjoy our meal."

"Ugh, alright, I get it."

"Then, let's take the memo and the energy pack."

So, let's dig into the chicken and napa cabbage soup I made.

"Ahh... It warms me right up..."

"Man, this is delicious..."

"It's comforting yet feels nourishing at the same time..."

The taste... not bad for something made by a beginner, would you say?

There's a balanced sweetness, saltiness, and umami—delicious on its own, and even better with some bread.

The cabbage, simmered until tender, holds plenty of soup within, oozing into your mouth with every bite.

The chicken, soaked in the broth, becomes deliciously tender and melts effortlessly in your mouth.

Hmm, delicious.

And the Fiendon canned goods are tasty too.

This time, I've brought out some fish fillets stewed in sugar and soy sauce... Shall I give it a try?

So, I'll stir a small amount of the canned contents into the soup.

"Yeah, this works well as it is."

"Yeah, this is good in its own way."

"The soup's become sweet and salty now, huh."

Yeah, it's a nice flavor change.

Since the original soup base is quite generous, as long as I don't mess up the quantity, most variations should work out fine.

"By the way, Satou. Where did you get this recipe?"

"It's just a home cooking site from the Niliani Potz system server. The ingredient amounts and instructions were clearly written, with no odd descriptions, so I figured it was a reliable site—looks like I was right."

"I see, noted."

"Yes. I'll save the website address."

Seems to have passed Vilijanira's standards, then.

Yeah, it's a good thing that delicious food is spreading, so I'll just let it go.

I finished eating my share deliciously.