Chapter 1: A Stroke of Luck
Author's Note:
Hey everyone, Wanderer here.
For the best experience, just switch off your brain and enjoy the ride.
Beep Beep—
BANG!
Kenji was staring down at his phone, completely oblivious as he wandered into the middle of the road. It was the perfect storm of carelessness and bad luck. A large, red truck came speeding toward him, and in the next instant, Kenji was airborne.
After tracing a perfect parabola through the air, he slammed onto the pavement with a wet thud. A pool of blood spread out from his unmoving body.
Inside the truck's cabin, the driver tipped the brim of his hat down, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
Performance goals met for the year.
Hope you enjoy your new role, kid.
And so, our protagonist died. He was 18.
…
The World of Toriko — Earth.
It is said that there are beasts whose entire bodies are marbled with the most succulent fat, meat that melts the moment it enters your mouth.
It is said that there are springs from which gush forth refreshing drinks, their flavors a mix of rich, fragrant melon and perfectly ripened mango, constantly bubbling with sweetness and aroma.
The world has entered a Golden Age of food…
It is the Gourmet Age.
"Aaaaaaaaahhhh—!"
A piercing scream ripped through the sky as Kenji found himself in a high-speed freefall, plummeting straight toward the ground.
"BOOM!"
A dull thud echoed out. As the dust settled, Kenji was splayed out on the ground in the classic Yamcha pose.
He pushed himself up, his eyes blinking with a newfound clarity.
Where the hell did that truck send me?
He looked around at the strange, unfamiliar environment. This definitely wasn't home anymore.
"Is anyone out there?"
Kenji stood up, dusting himself off. He eyed the road ahead cautiously and began to walk. The utter lack of people was unnerving. "Hello? Anybody?"
"Hiccup~"
Speak of the devil. An old man with a striking white pompadour hairstyle staggered toward him, a bottle of booze clutched in his hand. He was swaying so heavily it looked like he could tip over at any second.
Even from a distance, the potent smell of alcohol hit Kenji. But as he got a clearer look at the man, his expression froze, his eyes widening in recognition.
"Hah…" he breathed out.
"Wait a minute… Are you the Knocking Master, Jiro?"
Kenji instantly knew who he was looking at, and the earth-shattering realization of where he was hit him like a ton of bricks. He had been transported to the world of Toriko.
No way, man…
So Truck-kun really can send people to another world.
Before his untimely demise, he had obsessively read the Toriko manga and watched the anime.
This was Knocking Master Jiro—the second disciple of the Gourmet God Acacia, also known as the "Rampaging Beast."
A living legend among Gourmet Hunters.
Almost every item on Jiro's Full Course Menu was a priceless ingredient with a Capture Level in the thousands. He was arguably one of the strongest beings on the planet, though his end in the original story was deeply unsatisfying. He died when Acacia released the catastrophic amount of damage that had been sealed within his body for years, causing him to explode. It was a fate that always felt cheap and unfair to Kenji.
Jiro's death was a classic case of being killed by the plot. Ichiryu suffered the same fate. They were simply too powerful; if they hadn't been written out, the main characters' plot armor would have been completely overshadowed. In his final battle, Jiro had released his own seals and gone all out, utterly dominating the Blue Nitro. If it weren't for their life-saving "Taste-Balls," they would have been annihilated long before Acacia even showed up. Early in the story, during his confrontation with Joie in the Human World, Jiro had stopped the Earth's rotation for a moment with a single punch—a feat of terrifying power that made even Joie admit he was one of the top three strongest on the planet.
"Hiccup~"
"You know me, little fella?" Jiro slurred, his drunken eyes managing to focus on Kenji. He had been living in obscurity for so many years; he was surprised anyone could recognize him on sight.
"Of course I do! You're Knocking Master Jiro, the legendary Gourmet Hunter," Kenji said, nodding eagerly. That hairstyle was unmistakable.
Being in the world of Toriko meant danger lurked around every corner in the form of monstrous beasts. But if he could stick with Jiro, he'd be guaranteed safe passage to a civilized city.
"Master Jiro," Kenji began, swallowing his pride, "are you by any chance looking for a disciple?"
Whether it worked or not, he had to try. What if Jiro actually said yes?
Jiro squinted, studying the young man. As a Gourmet Hunter, especially one of his legendary status, the desire to pass on his skills was always present. This young man was actively asking to become his student, so he didn't refuse outright. He could sense that the kid possessed a powerful Gourmet Luck. Jiro wanted to train a mighty Gourmet Hunter, not some other profession.
"You want to become a Gourmet Hunter?" Jiro asked with a grin.
Kenji nodded enthusiastically, a flicker of hope igniting in his chest. It looked like he had a chance.
"Then keep up," Jiro said, turning and continuing his drunken walk. "How much you learn will depend on your own talent."
Kenji scrambled to follow him. Becoming the disciple of Knocking Master Jiro—this would be the foundation for his new life in this world.
…
Three years passed in the blink of an eye. Deep within a range of rolling mountains, Kenji had changed dramatically. His once unremarkable frame was now toned and powerful, covered in well-proportioned muscles that looked as if they were finely sculpted, humming with immense strength. He kept his black hair short, and his handsome features were now set with an air of confidence, his dark eyes sharp and full of spirit.
"Kenji, I have nothing left to teach you," Jiro said, his face filled with pride. In just three short years, Kenji had absorbed nearly all of his techniques.
To master most of his skills in three years was a feat to be proud of. Any further growth would have to come from real-world experience.
"Master, how do I stack up against the Four Heavenly Kings right now?" Kenji asked curiously.
For the past three years, he had focused entirely on learning Jiro's skills. While his own power hadn't grown astronomically, he was already far stronger than most Gourmet Hunters. Dealing with beasts around Capture Level 100 wouldn't be a problem; in fact, he'd have the upper hand.
"Compared to Toriko and the others at their current level? You're definitely more outstanding, Kenji," Jiro said with a laugh. The sense of accomplishment from raising a disciple who surpassed Ichiryu's was a new and satisfying feeling.
"It's about time for you to go out and make a name for yourself, Kenji," Jiro said in a more serious tone. "The Gourmet Eclipse will be here before you know it. Staying here won't help you get any stronger."
This was the Human World, where the Capture Levels of beasts were generally low. Jiro suspected that Kenji had Gourmet Cells, but the ingredients here were likely not high-grade enough to awaken them. No matter how much "Gourmet Food" he ate, the improvement would be slow. Only ingredients with higher Capture Levels contained the vast energy needed to stimulate the awakening and evolution of his cells.
With Kenji's current strength, navigating the Human World wouldn't be much of a problem.
Kenji nodded. He was getting excited. After living in a cave for three years, he felt like a modern caveman. He wanted to build his own house in this world; he couldn't just keep sleeping under the stars. He also hadn't met the main characters yet. Since he was here, he had to meet them and explore the "newbie zone" of the Human World.
While the ingredients weren't as outrageously high-level as those in the Gourmet World, the Human World still had plenty of delicious foods worth trying.
Just as Kenji was daydreaming about his future, a mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
[Ding—Star Forger has joined the chat group.]
A system?
Kenji froze. Three years. It's been three whole years!
He had long since given up on the idea that he would get a golden finger or some kind of cheat ability.
Why couldn't you have shown up sooner? he grumbled internally. I could have been punching Nitro, kicking Joie, and elbow-dropping Acacia by now!
Oh well. After three years of training under Jiro, he at least had the power to protect himself. He decided to check out this all-too-familiar chat group.
Star Forger?
Kenji was pleasantly surprised. His nickname had a nice, powerful ring to it. He was quite satisfied.
It must be a sign of my future achievements.