*****
In the outskirts of Area 7, Lev and the others could be found sitting together and enjoying breakfast.
However, this time, there was another human among them.
The man couldn't seem to stop laughing, talking, and eating the food Lev had prepared. He casually stuffed his mouth with one delicious dish after another, showing no signs of restraint as he enjoyed the meal with the group.
"Hahahaha! So, you're the one who's been making such a ruckus in the Gourmet World!" the man exclaimed between laughs. "To think another human would venture into this dangerous world and even fight against one of the Eight Kings. You're really interesting! Hahaha!"
The speaker was a muscular, tan-skinned older man with blonde hair and a long blonde mustache. His appearance gave off a carefree and approachable feeling, further emphasized by the tropical-style clothing he wore.
This man was none other than Ichiryu.
"I don't know if you've heard of me, but I'm Ichiryu. Nice to meet you."
Ichiryu introduced himself enthusiastically as he looked at Lev.
Anyone capable of venturing freely into the Gourmet World couldn't possibly be an ordinary person. Ichiryu had no reason to cause trouble for someone like that unless they showed clear malicious intent.
Besides, he couldn't help but be curious about Lev and his companions.
They were humans and other races who could freely survive in an environment where even the strongest creatures on the planet struggled to live.
That alone made them worth getting to know.
"I'm Lev. And these are my companions—Alpha, Ghislaine, Tomoe, Shion, and Shizuku."
Lev introduced himself as well.
It was quite the coincidence to encounter one of the most powerful humans in the world, if not the most powerful.
Still, Lev couldn't help but wonder what Ichiryu was doing all the way out here.
"Hmm… Interesting."
Ichiryu smiled as he continued eating.
"Well, I'm really just curious about what's been happening in the Gourmet World, so I came here to take a look. But I never would have imagined that the source of all this commotion would be another human like me."
"Anyway, it's nice to see another human who's this powerful." Ichiryu's smile remained, but his tone became slightly more serious. "If you don't mind me asking, where did you come from? I know a lot of people in the Human World, but this is the first time I've ever heard of you."
The friendly expression on Ichiryu's face disappeared.
His eyes became sharp as he looked directly at Lev.
Although Lev and his companions appeared friendly on the surface, Ichiryu wasn't the kind of person who would simply take appearances at face value.
He had met all kinds of people throughout his life.
And seeing his group casually roaming the Gourmet World as if it were their backyard made them a potential threat.
If they possessed malicious intentions, Ichiryu needed to know.
"We came from above and have come to visit this planet," Lev replied.
It was only a half-truth.
There was no reason for him to completely lie.
After all, the world of Toriko was far larger and more mysterious than most people could imagine. Even by the end of the original story, there were still countless mysteries surrounding the universe.
So, saying that they had come from "above" wasn't necessarily strange.
Especially when speaking to someone like Ichiryu—the kind of man who possessed enough power to potentially rule this planet if he truly desired to do so.
"You mean… outer space?" Ichiryu asked, a hint of confusion appearing on his face.
"Yes."
Lev answered without hesitation.
"You're joking, right?"
Ichiryu asked again.
This time, he stared at Lev seriously, clearly struggling to accept what he had just heard.
"Hahahaha!"
Lev couldn't help but laugh at his reaction.
He could tell that Ichiryu was already beginning to believe him.
Well, Lev hadn't exactly lied.
But from Ichiryu's perspective, the idea that a group of humans had simply come from outer space and entered the Gourmet World was understandably difficult to believe.
"It doesn't matter where we came from," Lev said after his laughter subsided. "What matters is that we aren't bad people."
His expression became calm.
"And there's no need to keep asking questions. If you really wanted to kill us here, you could have done so the moment we first made eye contact."
Lev's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Ichiryu.
"Despite that smiling and friendly demeanor of yours, I can sense the immense power lurking within your body."
His gaze sharpened.
"Especially the Food Spirit residing within you."
Ichiryu's expression changed slightly.
Lev continued.
"So, there's no point pretending that either of us doesn't understand what the other is capable of."
Lev wasn't afraid of Ichiryu.
He knew exactly what kind of person Ichiryu was.
And more importantly, he knew that Ichiryu wasn't the kind of man who would make a pointless move against someone without a reason.
"Ooh! Interesting. Hahaha!"
Ichiryu burst into laughter upon hearing Lev's answer.
"Anyway, I can also see that you bear no ill intent. But I'm curious about something." Ichiryu leaned slightly forward, his curiosity returning. "What exactly are you doing in the Gourmet World that you're willing to risk your life fighting one of the Eight Kings?"
"Training."
Lev answered without hesitation.
"It's my personal mission to fight against the Eight Kings. I also plan to locate all the ancient civilizations that flourished in this world long ago. So, clashing with the Eight Kings is inevitable."
He had no reason to hide his intentions.
"Training, you say?"
Ichiryu couldn't help but laugh again.
"Hahaha! You're the first person I've ever met who would say something like that!"
Despite his laughter, there was genuine surprise in his eyes.
"But seeing you alive and kicking after fighting one of the Eight Kings, it seems you really do have the ability to back up those words."
Ichiryu knew Lev was telling the truth.
The sheer amount of power released during his battle with Bambina couldn't have been faked. Anyone who had felt those fluctuations would understand just how monstrous the battle had been.
"Now that I think about it…" Ichiryu stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "Judging from the fluctuations in power I've sensed over the past few years, you've probably also encountered Heracles from Area 8."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"And judging by the direction you were heading before meeting me, your next destination should be Area 6. Am I right?"
"That was our original intention," Lev replied. "Until I saw you and our journey was interrupted."
"Hmmm. Area 6, huh?"
Ichiryu muttered as he continued stroking his mustache.
"It's been quite some time since I've gone there."
He then looked at Lev seriously.
"The journey there is extremely dangerous. And yet, you've still decided to go?"
"We're aware of the dangers," Lev replied calmly. "But they won't be enough to stop us."
Ichiryu stared at him for a moment.
Then, a smile appeared on his face.
"Hmmm. Good."
He suddenly stood up.
"I'll travel with you, then."
Lev blinked.
Ichiryu continued smiling.
"There's some people I want to visit there anyway. And besides…"
His eyes gleamed with interest.
"I want to see for myself just how you fight against the Eight Kings ruling Area 6."
He wasn't simply going there to accompany Lev.
Ichiryu wanted to witness Lev's true capabilities firsthand.
After seeing the aftermath of his clashes with Heracles and Bambina, he couldn't help but wonder just how far this mysterious human from the 'outer space' could actually go.
"No, you're joking."
For the first time since their meeting, Lev looked genuinely surprised.
Meeting Ichiryu in the middle of their journey had already been an incredible coincidence.
But now, he was actually offering to accompany them to Area 6?
That was almost unbelievable.
Lev certainly wasn't complaining, though.
Having someone like Ichiryu accompany them would make their journey considerably safer.
"You think I'm joking?"
Ichiryu chuckled.
"Heh. Let's get moving. If we leave now, we can arrive there sooner."
He turned around and prepared to depart.
"We don't have a suitable Camping Monster to take us there," Lev pointed out as he stood up.
He couldn't help but smile inwardly.
After five months of searching, they had still failed to find one.
But now, by sheer coincidence, they had encountered someone who could solve their biggest problem.
"Leave it to me."
Ichiryu smiled confidently.
Seeing his expression, Lev could only smile.
He glanced toward Alpha and the others.
It seemed that luck had truly decided to favor them today.
Not long after, a massive Camping Monster appeared along the shore.
Ichiryu, Lev, and his companions entered its body, and before long, the Camping Monster began moving across the sea.
With that, they finally left the shores of Area 7.
Their next destination—
Area 6.
**********
—Night—
Blue Grill,
It didn't take long before Lev and the others arrived at one of the civilizations that had managed to survive deep within the Gourmet World.
Their journey hadn't been entirely peaceful. They had encountered several dangerous situations along the way, but Ichiryu dealt with each of them with ease. Thanks to the powerful and advanced Camping Monsters under his command, their journey had also been considerably smoother than it would have been otherwise.
The ancient civilization they had reached was known as Blue Grill.
Located deep beneath the sea of Area 6, Blue Grill existed within Giant Shell, the largest shellfish in the world and one of the seven powerful beasts that ruled over Area 6 beneath the Whale King, Moon.
Blue Grill was the largest, most beautiful, and most prosperous civilization in the Gourmet World.
It was known as the Underwater Gourmet Capital, a civilization whose prosperity and status rivaled that of the Human World during its Golden Age.
And unlike many of the other places Lev had known, this civilization was still very much alive.
The massive underwater city was home to countless masterful chefs, along with countless inhabitants who had built their lives around the culinary arts.
Now, Lev and the others had finally stepped onto its land.
They walked through the streets with enthusiasm, taking in the sights around them.
Unlike the Bewitching Food World and the City of Hope, Blue Grill wasn't merely a single city surrounded by wilderness.
It was an entire civilization.
Sprawling cities, villages, and vast valleys extended throughout the enormous underwater world, each filled with beautiful yet humble architecture decorated with all kinds of gourmet-themed ornaments and sculptures.
Palm trees lined many of the streets, giving the cities a distinctly tropical atmosphere.
Massive coral branches also grew throughout the cities and valleys, their shapes resembling enormous trees that towered over the surrounding buildings.
Everywhere Lev looked, there was something new to see.
And more importantly—
Something new to eat.
"Hahahaha! This place really is bustling with energy!"
Ichiryu laughed loudly as he looked at the noisy inhabitants filling the streets.
For a moment, his expression became nostalgic.
He seemed to be remembering something from the distant past.
Then, he turned his attention back toward Lev.
"Lev, I'm going somewhere for a while. You go ahead and look around the place. When the time comes, we'll meet again."
Without waiting for a response, Ichiryu turned around and walked away.
Before long, his figure disappeared into the crowd.
Lev didn't bother calling after him.
In fact, it was probably better this way.
Now that Ichiryu wasn't around to observe their actions, they could freely explore Blue Grill at their own pace.
Lev smiled as he looked around.
"Everyone, there's something I forgot to mention."
The others immediately turned their attention toward him.
"This place is different from the other two civilizations we've visited."
Lev paused for a moment.
"The flow of time inside Giant Shell isn't the same as the outside world."
Everyone listened carefully.
"One day outside is equivalent to sixty days inside."
Their expressions changed slightly.
"In other words, the ratio is one to sixty."
"Master…"
Shizuku immediately raised her hand.
"Judging from how we've spent around two years in each continent we've visited before, wouldn't I die of old age if we stay here?"
She looked genuinely concerned.
"Unlike everyone else here, I'm the only ordinary human."
"You're not entirely wrong," Lev replied.
Shizuku's expression immediately became more worried.
"But you're missing the point."
Lev calmly explained.
"We only need to spend two years here. During that time, only around twelve days will pass outside."
Shizuku blinked.
"We won't be staying here for 120 years, which would be equivalent to two years outside."
He looked at her.
"There's no reason for us to stay here that long."
"Is that so, Master?"
Shizuku sighed in relief.
"I was worried for no reason."
She had been genuinely frightened by the thought of becoming the first among them to die.
And worse—
Dying of old age.
"Besides," Lev continued, "even if we were to live here for that long, it wouldn't necessarily mean you'd die."
Shizuku looked at him curiously.
"You might not have noticed it, but our lifespans have already increased tremendously because of all the incredible ingredients we've consumed."
Lev smiled.
"Even Ichiryu has lived for more than five hundred years and is still going strong."
He looked at all five of them.
"So don't forget to keep eating and getting stronger."
Everyone nodded.
Then Lev's expression became serious.
"More importantly, this place is practically a paradise for cooks."
His eyes gleamed.
"This time, you don't need to go out and train by fighting sea creatures. Your mission here is simple."
He smiled.
"Eat."
The five women stared at him.
"Your only priority is to experience the food of this civilization and strengthen yourselves through it."
Lev knew that venturing outside and fighting the creatures of Area 6 would be close to suicide for them.
Of course, if any of them eventually wanted to test themselves against those creatures, he wouldn't stop them.
Doing so would also help them grow stronger in different ways.
But for now, there was no need to take unnecessary risks.
"We will obey your orders, Master."
The five of them answered in unison.
"Good."
Lev smiled.
"Then there's no reason to waste any more time."
His eyes swept across the bustling streets.
"Let's eat to our heart's content!"
With that, Lev and his group began visiting one restaurant after another, sampling the various dishes that Blue Grill had to offer.
Their arrival immediately attracted attention.
The inhabitants were surprised to see outsiders walking through their civilization, as it had been a very long time since they had received visitors from beyond their borders.
And as word spread about their arrival, the people of Blue Grill couldn't help but welcome their unexpected guests with excitement and delight.
*****
In the city,
Inside a luxurious building, Ichiryu stood silently before a large window, gazing out at the bustling city below.
He hadn't spoken a word for some time.
However, Ichiryu wasn't alone.
Several other individuals could be seen standing inside the room with him. Their identities were impossible to discern because of the masks covering their faces.
One thing was certain, though.
They were inhabitants of Blue Grill.
'Ichiryuu, don't underestimate that human, Lev.'
A voice suddenly echoed within Ichiryu's consciousness.
'I don't know much about him, but I can tell that he's a ticking time bomb. If he ever decided to unleash everything he has, he could potentially destroy everything around him.'
'Don't worry.'
Ichiryu remained calm.
'I can tell that he's not a bad person.'
The voice became silent for a moment.
'Anyway, you're the person I chose. If you would only use my power, I've already told you that I could make you the king of this planet.'
There was an unmistakable sense of pride and arrogance in the voice.
'You're telling me that again.'
Ichiryu sighed inwardly.
'Like I've always told you, I have no such ambition.'
'Hmph!'
The voice snorted.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, it spoke again.
'Speaking of that human… I think he's an outstanding chef. Why don't you ask him to become your Combo?'
Ichiryu's eyes narrowed slightly.
'You noticed it too?'
A faint smile appeared on his face.
'That Lev really is an incredible cook. The food I ate from his cooking is still pulsating within my body.'
Ichiryu's expression became somewhat nostalgic.
'And there's something else.'
He paused.
'Through his cooking, memories of that past kept on flashing in my mind.'
His eyes remained fixed on the bustling city outside.
'I wonder who he really is.'
The mysterious voice didn't immediately respond.
Ichiryu simply smiled.
'Well, let's see how things go.'
With that, Ichiryu ended the conversation and returned his attention to the city outside.
The voice within his consciousness also fell silent.
Neither of them spoke again.
Outside, Blue Grill continued to bustle with life.
The voices of its inhabitants, the sounds of merchants, and the countless noises of the underwater civilization filled the streets.
For the time being, everything remained peaceful.
But beneath that peaceful surface, something had already begun to stir.
And before long—
The situation in Blue Grill would change.