[MF] Ch 10: Fanatic of Mapo Tofu

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"Human emotions are controlled by the brain. And the brain itself… is fascinating."

"The release of dopamine brings happiness, which means…"

"Buuut the amygdala is the key to whether someone can feel sadness. Based on what I know, and in my research…"

Kaito's mouth never stopped. One high-level theory after another rolled out of him, leaving Kirei Kotomine—master of theology, failure at science—completely stunned. For someone who had never been hit by the information blitz of the internet era, Kaito's jargon-heavy explanations sounded professional, even awe-inspiring. To Kirei, it was brand-new knowledge, nothing like anything he'd encountered before.

The truth was simpler: Kirei's world was far too closed off. In an age before smartphones, forums, or even basic search engines, the information he could access was pitifully limited. Against Kaito's nonstop info-barrage, he didn't stand a chance.

That said, Kaito wasn't entirely bluffing. Mixed in with the nonsense was plenty of real content.

In fact, all of it came from random short videos and webnovels he'd binged before crossing worlds. He'd forgotten most of the details, sure, but his skill Perfect Acting patched over the gaps.

Whenever he needed it, the ability gave him that flash of inspiration—instantly pulling clear, detailed memories of things he'd seen and letting him deliver them in the right way.

And right now? Kaito was playing the part of a psychology researcher. His memories lined up neatly, letting him speak like a real academic, carefully adjusting his words so even Kirei Kotomine could follow.

...

To Kirei, the young man before him—barely twenty—was undoubtedly a psychology expert. The boy modestly claimed to be just a university student, but his knowledge was so solid even a layman could understand. That was extraordinary.

And even more impressive? Unlike most scholars Kirei had met, Kaito showed no arrogance. He was patient, gentle, even approachable. That rarity sparked a flicker of admiration in Kirei's heart.

Yes. The supposedly emotionless priest actually admired him. At this stage—before Gilgamesh twisted him into something grotesque—Kirei still had pieces of a normal person's mind.

Part of it was his environment. Kirei had grown up among the Holy Church, a supernatural force in the Fate world. The priests around him spoke only in riddles and vague "revelations," forcing others to stumble toward understanding. The magi were worse: geniuses with terrible morals, dripping with pride, disdainful of explaining anything to outsiders.

And either group could kill without a blink, treating human lives as expendable.

Raised in that environment, how could Kirei not feel awe when meeting someone like Kaito—a normal scholar who willingly shared knowledge with a stranger? To him, it was like glimpsing a different kind of wisdom.

No wonder Kirei later twisted into the so-called "Pleasure Priest." With that kind of upbringing, what chance did he ever have of growing up normal?

Meanwhile, Kaito was discovering something interesting. The more trivia he dumped, the more Fun Points Kirei produced.

Checking the system log, he saw the man was cycling through emotions like "admiration," "awe," and "wonder."

That surprised him. Outwardly, Kirei's expression barely moved, stiff as ever. But inside, he was reacting strongly.

And really, wasn't this fun in its own way? Guiding someone who was supposed to fall into darkness, nudging him toward bizarre new paths—it was entertainment on a whole new level.

Then Kaito checked Kirei's Fun Point cap. Unlike Tohsaka Tokiomi's pitiful pool, Kirei had a whopping 718 max. And in this short chat, he'd already spewed out 344 points, with more still coming. The efficiency was leagues above Tokiomi.

Kaito had expected Kirei to be the hardest participant in the Fourth Grail War to farm Fun Points from. Turns out he was the fastest producer of them all. A complete break from expectations.

When the timer hit 9 minutes 30 seconds, just shy of the ten-minute mark he needed for Kirei's character card, Kaito shifted gears. Enough "analysis." Time for treatment suggestions.

"So, your condition can't be cured by normal means. According to my research, we'll need alternative methods."

Kirei nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly stood up. With surprising earnestness, he asked Kaito to wait a moment while he went to fetch something.

Kaito waved casually, unconcerned. At that very instant, the ten minutes ticked over. The floating card beside Kirei vanished, replaced with a shiny new [Kirei Kotomine character card] in Kaito's system inventory.

Mission accomplished.

But now Kaito was curious where this could go. He stayed put, waiting.

A few minutes later, Kirei returned holding a check.

He stepped forward and offered it with both hands, solemn and serious. "Sir, thank you for your help. Please accept this as a token of my gratitude."

Kaito only smiled and shook his head. He'd already built up the persona of a selfless, benevolent scholar—he couldn't break character now.

Besides, money didn't matter to the Masked Fool. Fun was far more valuable. And practically speaking, checks meant trips to banks, ID trails, paperwork… far too much hassle. If he ever needed cash, he had easier ways to get it.

So Kaito refused with the air of a sage above worldly desires.

That left Kirei—awkward, inarticulate, incapable of expressing emotions—completely at a loss. He didn't know how to show gratitude anymore, which only generated more Fun Points for Kaito.

Then, at last, Kaito offered his "treatment."

"All right, sit back down. For your emotional deficiency, I do have a method. The key is stimulation through taste."

"Japanese food won't do—it's way too bland. You should try something different, something with bolder Asian flavors."

"For example: mapo tofu with extra spice. Eating it should give you a whole new experience."

"Of course, the versions you find in Japan are decent, but that's not the real deal. After tasting them, you should go further. If possible, travel to Sichuan—the birthplace of Mapo tofu. The flavors there will open up an entirely new world."

"And if you really want to go all-in… once you're there, grow a beard, put on some white—"

Kirei listened quietly, memorizing every word. When Kaito finished, he thanked him again and promised to follow his advice.

Kaito's smile warmed. Because right then, the system chimed.

[Ding~ Achievement unlocked: Scene Created. Reward: +500 Fun Points.]

Alongside it popped up an AI-generated image: the old streets of 1993, crammed with weathered buildings. Inside a hotpot shop sat Kirei Kotomine—fatter now, bearded, sunglasses on, white socks showing—as he devoured plate after plate of spicy beef with wild abandon.

The caption read: {"The gradual transformation of Kirei Kotomine into the Fanatic of Mapo Tofu."}

The system even added a comment:

[This is truly an unprecedented development. Excessively fun.]

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