Chapter 189: Scorching and Reassuring
Humans sit arrogantly at the very apex of the evolutionary ladder. We pride ourselves on our supreme intelligence, our cold rationality, and our ability to conquer nature with sophisticated tools and technology.
We build skyscrapers that scrape the heavens, split atoms to harness the sun's power, and compose symphonies that move the soul.
Yet, beneath the thin, fragile veneer of civilization, biology remains a cruel and absolute master.
No matter how evolved a human claims to be, or how many Michelin stars they have tasted, when stripped of weapons and faced with a ferocious beast, we are fragile. We freeze. We tremble. We become prey.
And at this very moment, inside the Restaurant, a beast was prowling.
It wasn't a beast of flesh and blood, nor one of fur and claws. It was a monster composed of pure, concentrated aroma. It mercilessly ravaged every corner of the dining hall, clawing at the noses and stomachs of the world's most elite gourmets. The scent was so thick, so dominating, that it made everyone feel weightless, as if their very souls were being hijacked by the fragrance to float helplessly in the air, tethered only by the primal desire to eat.
Inside the kitchen, the source of this "beast"—the tamer himself—was calmly putting the final touches on his creation.
Ren stood before a long, jade-white rectangular plate. On it lay the Shangxin Liangfen—Sad Cold Noodles. The thick, translucent strips of bean jelly shimmered under the warm kitchen lights like cut diamonds waiting to be adorned. With the steady precision of a surgeon, Ren dipped a ladle into a jar of deep crimson chili oil.
He drizzled it over the white noodles. The contrast was stark and violent—blood on snow. The red oil coated the slippery strips, promising a heat that would bring tears to the eyes, hence the name.
He didn't stop there. He sprinkled a handful of toasted white sesame seeds, which landed on the dish like tiny stars in a red galaxy, followed by a generous garnish of fresh, emerald-green cilantro.
"Perfect," Ren murmured, wiping his hands on a clean towel.
He looked at the dining cart beside him. Six other dishes sat there, covered by heavy ceramic lids, hiding their secrets from the world. He chuckled softly, a sound of genuine amusement echoing in the quiet kitchen. "Chinese Cuisine is indeed interesting. It really knows how to play hard to get, hiding the best for last."
He reached for several exquisite porcelain wine pots—filled not with wine, but with accompaniments and sauces—and arranged them meticulously on the cart. Then, he gripped the handle of the cart and pushed.
Squeak... rumble.
The wheels turned.
Tap, tap, tap.
The sound of unhurried footsteps echoed from the hallway, growing louder with each second.
In the dining hall, the guests had been itching with anticipation. The aroma had teased them earlier—a fleeting glimpse of paradise that appeared for a split second before vanishing when the kitchen door swung shut. It was a specific kind of agony, like being shown water in a desert only to have it snatched away.
Hearing the footsteps, everyone uniformly looked towards the doorway. Their heads snapped in perfect synchronization.
Ren emerged from the shadows, pushing the cart. He wore a gentle, unhurried smile, looking for all the world like an angel bringing the gospel of salvation. But to the starving souls at the table, his slow, deliberate pace was the torture of a devil luring one to fall. Every second felt like an hour.
Faster, their eyes seemed to scream. Hurry up. Don't torture us.
Nakiri Mana felt her heart pounding against her ribs. She, the Bookmaster who had judged thousands of chefs, felt her palms sweating.
Ren finally arrived at the table. He didn't rush. He prioritized presentation above their desperation.
Clink.
The first dish was placed on the lazy susan.
Clack.
The second followed. The sound of porcelain hitting the wooden table echoed like stones dropping into a calm, deep lake, sending ripples of hunger through the guests. Ren moved with a rhythm that refused to be rushed. When the last, largest ceramic pot was placed in the center, the formation was finally ready.
Ren looked at Nakiri Mana. The Bookmaster of the WGO was staring intently at the dishes in front of her. Her hands were gripping the tablecloth so hard her knuckles were white, and her eyes were wide and focused. She resembled a little girl staring at a locked treasure chest rather than a figure of supreme authority.
Ren shook his head with a smile. "Well everyone, your dishes are all ready. However, visual presentation is half the flavor. Since some dishes are not yet 'complete' until revealed, allow me to open the lids~"
Everyone nodded eagerly. Their necks craned forward instinctively.
Ren placed his hands on the lids of the ceramic and clay pots. "The seal is lifted."
Whoosh.
As each lid was lifted, the previously hidden beasts rose again, charging into the room.
Nakiri Mana was hit head-on by the aroma. It wasn't a gentle wave; it was a physical impact. The rich fragrance of braised meats, stir-fried spices, and savory sauces rushed into her nasal cavity, overwhelming her senses.
Ever since she realized she could eat the porridge, Nakiri Mana had entered a state of primal rebound. The dam had broken. She wanted to eat everything she saw. Her God Tongue, usually a curse that detected every microscopic imperfection, was now screaming in delight at the perfection before her.
"Oh..." She let out a breathless gasp, her dignity forgotten.
On the table, the dishes finally revealed their true forms.
First, the Dongpo Pork. Perfect cubes of pork belly braised to a deep, glistening mahogany red. They wobbled gelatinously with the slightest movement of the table, the fat rendered down to a translucent state that promised to melt on the tongue without being greasy.
Next, the Longjing Shrimp. In contrast to the heavy pork, this dish was pure elegance. The river shrimp were pink and white, translucent like jade, stir-fried with fresh tea leaves that emitted a subtle, refreshing fragrance of spring rain.
Then, the Twice Cooked Pork. The slices of meat were curled into perfect "lanterns," glistening with red chili oil and fermented bean paste, sitting alongside bright green garlic sprouts.
Fish-fragrant Shredded Pork. Wensi Tofu. Sad Cold Noodles.
Cold and hot. Meat and vegetables. Rich and light. The table was a battlefield of contrasting philosophies, yet they harmonized perfectly.
Gulp...
The sound of swallowing was audible. It didn't come from just one person; it was a collective sound, a chorus of desire from Mana, Courage, Decora, Lanterby, and even the stoic Gin Dojima.
Everyone's gaze was now fixed on this last large ceramic pot in the center. They had all heard a bubbling sound coming from within, a low murmur of heat.
Ren, with no intention of building suspense any further, reached out and slowly removed the large lid.
"Finally," Ren said softly, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "The centerpiece. Water Boiled Fish..."
[Akarin's Note: "Water Boiled Fish" (Shuizhu Yu) is a classic Sichuan dish where fish is poached in water/broth and then topped with hot oil and chilies. Despite the name, it is very oily and spicy.]
As the lid came off, a cloud of spicy steam erupted.
Everyone finally saw the true appearance of the dish in the white ceramic pot: a sea of vibrant, angry red broth. Floating within it were slices of pristine, snow-white fish fillets, tender and delicate. Piled atop the fish was a mountain of dried red chilies and Sichuan peppercorns.
Red and white. Fire and ice.
All this deliciousness was perfectly showcased by the enticing aroma. This was the King of Beasts among the feast of beasts. It was aggressive, pungent with garlic and ginger, and utterly captivating.
Ren saw Nakiri Mana staring at the crimson broth and the pure white fish, slightly lost in thought. The vivid colors seemed to mesmerize her.
He smiled. "Alright, now for the final step. Please wait a moment, everyone."
Nakiri Mana snapped out of her trance. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion and a desperate need. "Mr. Ren, isn't this dish finished yet? It's... it's already fragrant enough. I can smell the heaven in it. Please, let us eat."
Ren gently replied, wagging his finger, "No, no, no. It is not fragrant enough yet. The soul hasn't been awakened. You can think of it as a little magic trick."
Nakiri Mana looked down at the empty plate Ren had given her earlier. She assumed he was going to serve her, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he turned around and walked back into the kitchen.
He left.
He actually left.
"He's... gone again?" Lanterby whispered, clutching her fork in disbelief.
Those short ten-odd seconds felt like over a decade to everyone. Staring at a table full of delicious delicacies—the wobbling pork, the shining shrimp, the fiery fish—but being unable to eat? Who could bear it? No one could. It was a test of will that strained their sanity.
Then, a sound came from the kitchen.
Hiss...
Ren returned holding a small iron ladle. The air around the ladle was shimmering, distorting the light. Inside, the oil was silent—it was so hot it had stopped bubbling, reaching a state of terrifying potential energy.
Joichiro Yukihira and Gin Dojima immediately knew what Shopkeeper Ren was about to do. They leaned back instinctively, their eyes widening in professional recognition.
Ren stood over the large pot. He softly said, "Miss Nakiri Mana, please lean back a bit. The dragon is about to wake up. Be careful not to get splattered~"
"Oh!" Mana recoiled, pressing her back against the wheelchair, her eyes glued to the ladle.
"Then, the final step," Ren announced, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Injecting the soul."
As Shopkeeper Ren spoke, he tilted the ladle. He poured all the boiling hot oil from the pan directly onto the mound of dried chilies, peppercorns, garlic, and scallions sitting atop the fish.
Sizzle....
TZCHHHHHHHHHHH—!
The sound was explosive. It was the roar of a culinary dragon.
When that sound rang out, the kitchen went white with steam for a split second. The already vibrantly red and beautiful Water Boiled Fish suddenly gained several shades of brightness. The high heat forced the dried spices to release their essential oils instantly. The garlic browned in a microsecond. The peppercorns burst.
An intense aroma instantly swept forth. It was a physical wave of scent that carried the essence of spice, the savoriness of the oil, and the freshness of the fish.
If the uncovering of the lid earlier was this King of Beasts standing up to stretch, then now, it was attacking. It was biting into their senses with fangs of spice and savoriness.
Ren waited for the violent bubbling to subside slightly. He took a handful of fresh cilantro from a bowl nearby and tossed it into the crimson pool. The green leaves wilted slightly, adding a final fresh note.
"This makes it complete," Ren said, placing the ladle on the cart. "Now, all the dishes are served. Please enjoy, everyone."
Hearing this, everyone was incredibly happy. This was the sentence they had been waiting for.
"Itadakimasu!"
The phrase was spoken with almost religious fervor.
To be honest, the moment the aroma burst forth, they were already struggling to control themselves. The combination of spice and sourness always makes one's mouth water at the mere thought of them. The biological response was overwhelming.
Chopsticks reached out. Mana reached for the fish, her hand trembling. She picked up a piece of the white fillet. It was coated in the red oil, dripping with juice.
She put it in her mouth.
Explosion.
The fish was so tender it didn't need chewing; it dissolved. The heat of the chili was immediate, but it wasn't painful. It was a warming, buzzing heat that woke up every nerve ending in her body. The numbing peppercorn danced on her tongue. It was chaos, but it was delicious chaos.
Ren watched them for a moment, ensuring everyone was satisfied, then he quietly pulled out a chair and sat beside Lucifer.
The Demon Queen was sitting quietly. She looked smaller than usual. Her earlier bravado was gone, replaced by a clingy vulnerability. She was nibbling on a piece of Sweet and Sour Pork, her eyes darting around slightly.
"Feeling better?" Ren asked softly, his voice a private sanctuary amidst the noise of the dinner.
Lucifer nodded, chewing slowly. She leaned into him and whispered, "I'll follow you whenever I go out from now on... I don't want to be alone in those places."
Ren smiled and shook his head. Lucifer still hadn't explained fully why she had become like this, only saying she was a bit frightened. However, knowing they had visited the Haunted House earlier in the day, it wasn't hard to guess. It was ironic—the CEO of Hell, the ruler of demons, scared of a theme park attraction with fake ghosts.
But since Lucifer didn't want to recall the trauma, he didn't press further. After all, Lucifer was no ordinary person, and everyone had their weaknesses. He simply refilled her plate with her favorite sweet dishes, acting as her anchor.
On the other side of the table, the Water Boiled Fish seemed to feel everyone's eyes on it. Perhaps to show off its ferocity, it brazenly displayed its fierce flavor, leveraging the residual heat from the hot oil to keep cooking the spices.
"Ha... Hot! But... so good!" Lanterby gasped, fanning her tongue but immediately reaching for another piece.
But this only made Nakiri Mana and the others more excited. They were eager to conquer this King of Beasts, sweat beading on their foreheads as they ate, their faces flushed with the heat of the chili and the joy of eating.
It was unclear if this Water Boiled Fish, the Twice Cooked Pork, and the Water Boiled Beef (which sat nearby as a variation Ren had prepared) were siblings. The three of them were almost carved from the same mold of Sichuan cuisine.
They differed only in ingredients: one was pork, one was beef, and one was fish.
Three different textures of meat, three distinct taste sensations. The fish was slippery and tender. The beef was robust and chewy. The pork was rich and fatty.
But it had to be said, siblings were siblings; they were all equally delicious, equally wild, and unrestrained.
Most importantly, it was as if they had all made a deal with a demon.
They had sold their souls to the scalding hot oil. They had given themselves over to that sizzling heat in exchange for immense power. It was a second sublimation—a return of the soul.
The deliciousness of every dish that dares to sell its soul cannot be described by a simple word like 'delicious.'
The moment the hot oil is poured down, the alchemy is complete. The soul returns, the soul of this fierce beast has come back, it has awakened... and it consumes the diner just as the diner consumes it.
Night fell completely outside.
The adjacent street in Tokyo was brightly lit and bustling with the noise of the city—cars honking, people laughing, the mundane rhythm of life. But inside the restaurant, the world was different. The lighting was soft and warm, and the aroma filled the air.
It was a family dinner—simple yet warm, fiery yet comforting.
[Akarin Note:
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