Chapter 109: Even Though He's Weak, He Has Lots of Girls... No, Wait! Lots of Powerful Backers!
As night fell, neon lights flickered to life along the streets.
A black luxury car cruised slowly down a street in Higashi-Yukigaya's 3rd district, its tires making a soft sound against the pavement.
Inside the car.
The celebrity of the ghoul world, the head of the "MADAM" group, Big Madam, sat in the back seat. 'She' looked out the car window at the crowd of people lining the street, a look of surprise on her fat, matronly face.
"There are quite a lot of people in line, but I suppose it's understandable."
She was just a little curious how many of them were her own kind.
Big Madam had received a reliable tip that human food ghouls could actually eat had appeared here—and that it was unimaginably delicious. Curiosity had driven her to come and investigate for herself.
...
Inside the restaurant.
After taking several bites of the fried rice, Takatsuki Sen felt her throat was a bit dry, so she turned her attention to the West Lake Beef Soup.
'This looks... incredibly rich with ingredients!'
The milky-white soup was thick and hearty, a visually satisfying sight.
Within the broth—
Pale red minced beef and diced shiitake mushrooms were evenly distributed, creating a rich, layered texture. Silky, jade-like cubes of tofu rested quietly in the soup, lending it a gentle smoothness. Light egg whites floated like thin veils on the surface, adding a touch of grace and vitality. A few specks of emerald-green scallions were sprinkled on top, like the finishing touch on a masterpiece, adding a dash of freshness and life to the entire dish.
Takatsuki Sen used a spoon to scoop up the shimmering West Lake Beef Soup, lowered her head slightly, and brought the spoon to her lips.
The warm soup spread across her tongue—
The delicious flavor was like a warm current, instantly blossoming in her mouth.
"This is so good!"
Takatsuki Sen's left eye flew wide open, a bright light flashing in her verdant green pupil as if she were stunned by the soup's incredible taste. She then slowly closed her eyes, a feeling of deep satisfaction on her face as she looked up, the corners of her mouth curving into a delighted smile.
"It looks so thick and rich, but it tastes surprisingly light..."
"It's savory and so comforting!"
She couldn't help but take another spoonful, savoring it carefully. The taste was truly amazing. The minced beef, having been expertly cooked, was savory and rich, melting in her mouth with a subtle meaty fragrance. The tofu was as smooth as custard, dissolving on her tongue with a gentle press, bringing a comforting texture. The egg whites were as light as clouds, delicate and smooth, weaving together with the earthy aroma of the shiitake mushrooms, infusing a natural depth and richness into the overall flavor. And those few specks of green scallion brought a subtle, sharp fragrance to her palate, perfectly illuminating the soul of the entire dish.
"Mmm... this is just too delicious!"
"The flavor is savory without being heavy, and it's full of richness despite its lightness. It's as if the entire poetic charm of a misty Kyoto landscape has been fused into a single bowl..."
Takatsuki Sen's eyes fluttered open. She felt as if she had transcended the boundaries of time and space and stepped into the ancient capital of Kyoto.
At that moment—
The azure sky hung low, and a misty rain, fine as silk, fell gently, enveloping the entire Kamo River in a hazy veil. The distant mountains and the nearby river were all shrouded in a thin gauze, appearing and disappearing, like a traditional ink wash painting unfolding before her.
Takatsuki Sen stood before an ancient bridge spanning the river, holding a paper umbrella, her body clad in a simple, elegant white kimono. She looked around curiously, then glanced down at her own attire with a hint of surprise. She then lifted her feet and stepped lightly onto the bridge.
"The misty rain of old Kyoto..." she murmured, walking along the bridge with great interest.
Her gaze swept over the river's surface, where a small boat was slowly gliding by. The ripples from its oars intertwined with the raindrops, creating a scene of tender, poetic beauty. She looked into the distance, then to the other side, then toward the riverbank...
Before she knew it, she had reached the center of the bridge. Her attention was suddenly captured by a young man in the crowd, dressed in a simple blue hakama, a bamboo satchel on his back.
The moment they passed each other, Takatsuki Sen, on some strange impulse, turned her head. The young man happened to glance back at the same time, and their eyes met.
—!
Takatsuki Sen's heart seemed to stop for a moment. Time itself felt stretched, and everything around her blurred, leaving only the young man's figure in sharp focus.
His eyes were as deep as a lake, and his brow held a faint scholarly air, as if he were a literati who had stepped right out of an ancient painting, carrying with him an indescribable gentleness and composure.
Their gazes met in mid-air, seeming to span a thousand years, carrying a kind of unspoken understanding and resonance. The misty rain continued to fall softly, the small boat on the river drifted further and further away, but this fleeting encounter left a deep and lasting mark on Takatsuki Sen's heart...
...
Back in reality.
'Another strange experience has been added to the list...'
Takatsuki Sen returned to her senses, a slightly peculiar look on her cute face, but it was quickly replaced by a smile of pure satisfaction.
'But it was so interesting!'
'And so delicious!'
She looked down at the shimmering West Lake Beef Soup in her bowl, a joyful light in her eyes. She then looked up and gave her review:
"If happiness has a color, it must be the color of West Lake Beef Soup!"
She did it again!
"Hey—! Aren't you changing your mind a little too fast!" Jashin-chan couldn't help but retort as she prepped ingredients for Ryohei.
"Hahaha—!"
The customers at the counter let out hearty laughs, their faces full of understanding. One of them raised his glass and added with a smile, "If happiness has a color, it must be the color of Chef Tanaka's cooking!"
"That's for sure."
Another customer nodded in agreement. "Every time I eat Chef Tanaka's food, no matter how bad my mood is or how tired my body is, I always feel happy."
"It's just a shame that getting a bite is getting harder and harder!"
"You can say that again!"
...
The once-unfamiliar customers began to chat enthusiastically, bonded by Ryohei's cooking. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
Noticing Ryohei's gaze on her, Takatsuki Sen flashed a bright smile, gave him a big thumbs-up, and praised, "Absolutely delicious!"
"But of course!" Ryohei replied with a smile, accepting the compliment without a hint of modesty.
He glanced at the order ticket on the prep counter and the ingredients Jashin-chan had prepared for him. He then fired up a new wok, ready to begin the next round of cooking.
He paid no mind to who the messy, green-haired girl was. No matter who she was, it made no difference to him.
Even though he was weak, just an ordinary person, he had lots of girls... wait, no! Lots of powerful backers to rely on!
Ryohei was covered! (joking)
Especially after summoning Lucoa, Ryohei truly had no worries at all. He currently had multiple layers of Lucoa's magical protection on him—he wouldn't be scared even if he had to face all the ghouls in Tokyo's 24 wards by himself!
"Well then, next up..."
Takatsuki Sen also retracted her gaze. She switched her spoon to her left hand, picked up a pair of chopsticks, and looked with great interest at the Deshun Sashimi Platter.
'This one... what will it taste like? What will I experience?'
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she reached out with her chopsticks, picked up a few slices of the translucent, paper-thin, shimmering fish, dipped them lightly in the sauce, and brought them expectantly to her mouth...
The first bite was simply stunning.
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