Chapter 187: Three Beatings a Day, Nine Beatings in Three Days!
Dusk began to stain the sky. Streetlights switched on one by one, their dim yellow halos blurring in the steaming summer heat. Neon signs started to chew at the city's silhouette, and a "GG" billboard shimmered in the heatwave, looking like a colorful block of candy about to melt.
The streets were a ceaseless flow of traffic, car headlights streaking into a moving river of light. Pedestrians hurried over the lingering, scalding warmth of the pavement, the backs of their shirts stained with dark patches of sweat.
Inside a luxurious villa in Komaba, Meguro Ward—
The chill from the central air conditioning formed an invisible barrier against the summer heat at the floor-to-ceiling windows. A crystal chandelier in the dining room poured down an amber cascade of light, mingling with the glow from the dazzling array of luminous dishes on the round table.
The aromas of various foods permeated the air, weaving together into a complex bouquet that tantalized the taste buds of everyone present.
"Alright... let's have a toast!" Ryohei Tanaka said, raising his glass high.
"Cheers—!"
Everyone, whether drinking alcohol or juice, raised their glasses.
Minos tilted her head back, her fair neck forming a graceful arc. With two quick gulps, she drained her "See You Tomorrow" cocktail. She slammed the glass down with a slap, squinting her eyes and exclaiming, "Ahhh—so refreshing!"
"Intense!" Jashin-chan also emptied her glass in one go. She held her glass high and boasted, "The strong should drink strong liquor! The weak are only fit for juice. Anything with low alcohol content is no different from juice!"
"Someone as strong as Jashin-chan gets beaten up every day," the Second, who was drinking juice, interjected, wiping away imaginary tears with her slender hand. "Three beatings a day, nine beatings in three days. It's so tragic~~."
"Pfft—!"
"Ahaha—! So true! She has it so rough!"
The entire table burst out laughing.
"You bastard! I've decided! I'm going to kill you today!"
Only Jashin-chan stood up, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment. She raised her fist to go after the Second but was immediately held back by Medusa. From the other side of the table, the Second playfully stuck out her small, pink tongue.
"Alright, it was just a joke. Don't get so worked up," Yurine said calmly, glancing at Jashin-chan as she used the serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of the Evil Bean Stir-fry with Meat and place it on her rice.
The "Evil Bean" was one of the local specialties Medusa had brought over. It resembled a string bean but was longer and more slender, with a smooth surface. Unlike a normal string bean, its pod was green on one side and purple on the other. According to Medusa, it was delicious, but if eaten undercooked, it would amplify one's desires and could even cause mental confusion. However, as long as it was cooked thoroughly, it had no such negative effects. It was an ingredient that required a bit of caution.
"Kids these days are so annoying!" Jashin-chan heard Yurine speak and didn't dare to cause any more trouble, muttering as she sat back down.
Yurine looked away, satisfied. She picked up her small bowl and lowered her head slightly, bringing the stir-fry to her mouth. The diagonally-sliced, half-green, half-purple beans and the brownish-red shredded pork were all coated in a rich sauce.
The next moment, Yurine's beautiful eyes flew wide open. A look of astonishment crossed her delicate face as she praised, "So delicious!"
The moment the stir-fry entered her mouth, a rich and unique fragrance, mixed with the savory essence of the meat, exploded on her tongue. Having been quickly stir-fried at high heat, the Evil Beans retained their crisp, tender texture, while the pork had become soft and juicy, enhanced by the oil and seasonings. The two intertwined on her palate, creating a marvelous layer of textures—it was so delicious it felt like magic.
Yurine closed her eyes in enjoyment. When she opened them again, she felt as if she had become a mage...
"..."
Under a dark sky, in a bizarre jungle, twisted shadows of trees stretched out like demonic claws. The air was thick with the foul, sweet stench of decay, mixed with the secretions of some unknown creature, making one feel deeply uncomfortable.
Ryohei Tanaka, clad in shining silver armor, wielded a greatsword. The blade sliced through a giant vine that lashed out at him, and its viscous sap splattered onto his armor, hissing as it corroded the metal. He let out a low shout, and a faint blue light ignited on his sword. He unleashed a massive sword strike that cut down several more python-like vines erupting from the ground.
"...O, Dragon of Flame, roar!"
Positioned behind Ryohei, Yurine held her staff high, chanting an ancient spell. A huge magic circle materialized at her feet. In the next instant, flames burst from thin air, twisting and expanding, finally taking the form of a ferocious fire dragon. It roared and charged at the surrounding vines.
Hss-hss-hss—!
Amidst a cloud of acrid smoke, countless vines spasmed and retreated into the shadows.
However, the light of the flames attracted a deeper malice. The bushes shook violently, and a dozen pairs of crimson eyes lit up in the darkness. Pig-headed monsters stomped into view, their rusty blades and axes dragging on the ground with a ear-piercing scrape. Their swollen snouts snorted out breaths filled with bits of rotten flesh, and foul-smelling drool dripped from their tusks. The monster in the front rank suddenly roared and charged, brandishing its weapon.
A chilling, ethereal blue light was already gathering on Ryohei's blade...
"..."
'Another weird experience to add to the list!' Yurine thought to herself as she snapped back to reality, quickly shoveling a large mouthful of rice.
"Ryohei-kun, what's this dish called?" Yusa asked with great interest, using her serving chopsticks to point at a dish that looked incredibly spicy.
Despite being from the ice clan and preferring cold places, Yusa had an unexpectedly fiery heart. She was the one at the table who loved spicy food the most, even more than Ryohei.
"Oh... that's Sliced Pork with Garlic Sauce," Ryohei replied with a smile, looking over.
"That looks so spicy!" Pekola, who had just finished a deep-fried prawn, looked over, licking her lips. Unlike Yusa, she couldn't handle spice very well, but it looked so appetizing.
Thin, translucent slices of pork, with a perfect ratio of fat and lean, were neatly arranged on a blue-and-white porcelain plate, emitting a soft glow. They were evenly covered with a layer of white garlic paste, as if draped in delicate gauze. Bright red chili oil slowly trickled down the edges of the meat, mixing with the garlic and exuding a potent, piquant aroma.
Verdant chopped green onions and vivid red chili shreds were scattered on top. The white, red, and green colors created a vibrant and tempting presentation. The aroma was so rich it made one's mouth water just by looking at it.
While Pekola hesitated, Yusa had already decisively picked up a slice. She even swished it through the red oil at the bottom of the plate before placing it in her bowl. Switching to her own chopsticks, she lifted the slice to her cherry-like mouth...
The next moment, the full-figured body beneath her elegant white kimono gave a slight shiver...
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