Chapter 209: The Fish from the Sky and the Amazon Huntress!
The midday sun poured onto the beach, heating the fine white sand until it was scorching to the touch. The salty, humid sea breeze carried an array of tantalizing aromas.
On the grill, sizzling skewers dripped golden fat, which sputtered into tiny sparks on the red-hot charcoal.
Not far away, a whole roasted lamb turned slowly in its special roaster. The skin was already roasted to a crispy, orange-red. Fat trickled down the full muscle lines, and its rich, meaty aroma, mixed with cumin and rosemary, filled the air.
In the oven next to it, a roast suckling pig glistened with an alluring amber hue, its skin roasted until it bubbled and crisped. The unique sweetness of the honey-glazed pork combined perfectly with the savory marinade. This sweet-and-salty scent wafted on the heatwaves, teasing everyone's taste buds.
The spice of chili and garlic mingled with the sweetness of seafood. The edges of the grilled kraken meat were turning a golden brown. Melted butter ran down the grooves of the elven corn, its milky fragrance mixing with the smoky charcoal, stoking everyone's appetite.
"It's ready, it's ready—! Freshly prepared Ice Crystal Fish sashimi!"
Ryohei Tanaka walked out of a space portal, balancing a platter of glowing sashimi in each hand. He smiled at the group gathered around the BBQ grill under the other canopy. "I've already tasted it for you. It's fantastic!"
"Really?" The crowd swarmed over.
"Medusa, I want some!" Jashin-chan was busy grilling and couldn't get away, so she called out to Medusa.
"Okay, I'll go get some for you." Like a dutiful wife, Medusa replied with a gentle expression and walked over.
"Eh? This thick-cut sashimi is different from what I've had before." Minos, who had arrived first, was surprised. She saw that the thick-cut fish had dense, grid-like score marks that cut almost all the way through, but not quite. She had only ever seen this cutting technique on octopus or shellfish.
"I think cutting it this way is better," Ryohei explained. "It helps the sauce cling to the fish, improves the texture, and makes the thick-cut sashimi easier to chew. It's also more appealing."
"I see—!"
That makes so much sense! Minos nodded in understanding. When it came to food, she had absolute faith in Ryohei. She didn't waste any more time. Using the serving chopsticks, she picked up several large pieces of fish, dunked them in the dipping sauce Lucoa had brought, and placed them in her own bowl.
Minos switched to her personal chopsticks and lifted a piece to her mouth.
Whoosh—!
A wind from the frozen north blew over her, instantly scattering the summer heat. Minos felt as if she had traveled through time, arriving on a snow-covered plain. A half-meter-long Ice Crystal Fish appeared before her, its translucent body shimmering in the sun, a vibrant display of life.
"..."
"Mmmph—!"
Her consciousness returned to reality. Minos closed her eyes in enjoyment, her silver-white cow tail shooting straight up.
"So delicious!"
"The fish is thick and full, and my tongue just sinks into the delicate fatty aroma. Beneath the cold sensation, a sweetness spreads like a tide. The moment I bite down, it's a perfect blend of firmness and tenderness. The aftertaste has a deep, profound umami... the satisfaction is overwhelming."
Minos grabbed her glass, tilted her head back, and glug-glug-glugged down a "See You Tomorrow" cocktail, letting out a satisfied sigh. "This is the life!"
She was in heaven.
Jiang Jiang and Lan Lan, the new jiangshi sisters, took a small bite and were instantly stunned. Their pale golden eyes went wide, and they exclaimed in unison with their sweet, girlish voices, "So good! Can sashimi really be this delicious?"
It completely reset their understanding of sashimi. The strange, illusion-like experience they had while eating it was also new and incredible to them.
"The quality of the fish is a big part of it. This fish is truly top-grade, perfect for sashimi," Ryohei said, not taking all the credit. He put down his bowl and walked over to the roaster.
He opened the lid and checked. The roast suckling pig was just about done, but the lamb still needed more time.
Ryohei called Minos over and had her bring a large wooden tray. He lifted the suckling pig out of the roaster and onto the platter.
Jashin-chan had also finished grilling some food. She plated it and had Medusa take it to the table, adding that she wanted some of the roast pig. She would never miss one of Ryohei's new dishes; she'd regret it for the rest of her life.
"..."
"It's so crispy!" Yurine exclaimed, watching Ryohei easily cut the pig into small pieces with a ceramic plate.
"A suckling pig has to be roasted to this point to be delicious!" Ryohei put the plate down (without dropping it) and invited everyone. "Come and try it." He used the serving chopsticks to get a piece for himself.
Everyone else dug in. With so many people, half the pig was gone in an instant.
Pino picked up a large, fragrant, golden-brown piece of pork and took a small bite.
With a light KACHA, the crispy skin shattered. The seared aroma of the fat, the sweetness of the honey glaze, and the smokiness of the charcoal exploded in her mouth. The translucent layer of fat just under the skin had melted into a succulent nectar, coating the impossibly tender pork as it slid into her mouth.
Pino licked her lips, and the hot juices burst from the meat, scalding her, but she couldn't bear to stop chewing.
"..."
"Hah—!"
She felt as if she had become a legendary Amazon huntress.
Pino was wearing her white bikini, now covered with light breastplate armor. A quiver bounced at her hip, and the longbow on her back and the spear in her hand glinted in the sun.
Deep in the jungle, dappled light filtered through the leaves, playing over her pale skin like a wild, primitive totem.
Suddenly, she heard a snuffling sound.
Pino's eyes flashed, and a hunter's smile touched her lips. She crouched low, approaching the sound with the light footsteps of a cat.
She pushed aside the last bush, and her view opened up. A plump, honey-glazed piglet was digging in the dirt, its short tail wagging happily, completely unaware of the danger.
Pino's lips curled. She leaned her spear against a tree, grabbed her bow, and pulled an arrow from her quiver. She squinted one eye, slowly drawing the string back until it was level with her ear.
SWISH—!
The sound of the arrow cutting the air and the piglet's shriek erupted at the same time. The arrow pierced the piglet's hind leg, pinning it to the ground. The small pig thrashed wildly, kicking up a small gray cloud of dust.
"Tsk, a little off," Pino clicked her tongue, looking at her struggling prey. She hadn't been aiming for the leg.
But, it was good enough. At least she had her prize.
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