Chapter 259: A Sense of Happiness Almost Overflowing!
"Hiss—! That is sour!"
Ryohei Tanaka washed a sour fruit—it looked like a peach, with beige skin covered in fine fuzz, but the flesh inside was a vibrant red.
He took a fruit knife, peeled and sliced the washed sour fruit, and a clear, fruity fragrance instantly filled the air.
He picked up a piece of the red flesh and tentatively tasted it. His entire face scrunched up instantly, eyes shut tight, brows furrowed together, and the corners of his mouth uncontrollably stretched wide as he sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.
"That's sour as hell—!"
He felt like his teeth were about to dissolve; this thing was even sourer than a lemon!
"Is it very sour? How about I give you something sweet to taste?"
Lucoa, hugging her ample chest, gently tapped his fair cheek with her finger.
Before Ryohei Tanaka could answer, she leaned in, reached out to turn his head toward her, and prepared to lower her head for a kiss.
Lucoa could change the flavor of her saliva into anything—
Don't ask how he knew; he just knew from experience!
"Go away! Don't interfere with my judgment!"
Ryohei Tanaka helplessly raised his hand, covered Lucoa's mouth, and pushed her head away.
"Eh—!"
"..." Klinken watched the two from the side, his gaze focused mainly on Ryohei Tanaka. He wanted to say, "Sour fruit isn't suitable for eating directly; it's better processed into jam, made into a uniquely flavored dipping sauce, or brewed into wine." However, after thinking about it, he kept his mouth shut. He felt Ryohei Tanaka had his own judgment and didn't need his unsolicited advice.
And at this moment, Ryohei Tanaka no longer felt the sourness.
The sour taste in his mouth gradually faded, replaced by a clear sweetness spreading over the tip of his tongue, soothing the irritation caused by the fruit acid...
"..." Ryohei Tanaka's expression softened considerably. He crossed one arm over his chest, rubbed his chin, pondered for a moment, and then began making the dipping sauce.
Soon, a flavored dipping sauce radiating a reddish luster was complete!
"Done—!"
"..."
"Wow—! So beautiful!"
"The dipping sauce is glowing too!"
"The sauce this lord made is different from our shop's. Did he improve this too?"
"It's possible..."
"..."
The murmurs of the Tulip Tavern's chefs and waitresses reached his ears.
Ryohei Tanaka didn't mind. He looked at Callista, politely apologized for the wait, then raised his hand and suggested in a discussive tone:
"Miss Callista, how about we split this Roasted Flamingo half and half?"
"I would be delighted!"
Callista had absolutely no objections. After speaking, a look of craving appeared on her face.
After waiting for so long, could she finally eat?
Klinken swallowed a mouthful of saliva from the side. He should get a share too, right? At the very least, a taste?
"..." Ryohei Tanaka and Callista reached a verbal agreement and spoke no more.
He picked up a kitchen knife and cleanly chopped the Roasted Flamingo in half. He divided it, along with the "potato wedges" layered underneath, onto two plates, and split the dipping sauce into two portions as well.
Then he borrowed a table in the front tavern from Callista...
"..."
"Thanks for your hard work, Ryohei-kun. You get the first bite!"
They sat by the window, with a panoramic view of the street.
Lucoa cut a piece of flamingo meat with a table knife, smiling beamingly. She speared it with a fork, dipped it lightly in the sauce dish, and gently held it up to Ryohei Tanaka's mouth.
The flamingo meat on the fork was draped in a tempting caramel-colored crispy skin, and the cross-section revealed tender pinkish-white meat.
The bright red dipping sauce intertwined with the ample juices, deeply soaking into the texture.
A wave of heat, carrying the rich aroma of meat, the mellowness of browned butter, and the warm fragrance of roasted herbs, wafted toward his face.
"..." Ryohei Tanaka didn't act coy. He leaned forward slightly, opened his mouth, and accepted Lucoa's feeding.
Crunch—!
He chewed lightly. The tips of his teeth broke through the caramel-colored crispy skin and sank into the tender flamingo meat. An incredibly soft texture, wrapped in fresh, sweet juices, exploded on the tip of his tongue!
The perfect amount of saltiness acted like an invisible stage, lifting the natural clear sweetness of the poultry to its peak.
The herb butter that had permeated beneath the skin earlier now quietly melted, turning into countless warm, silky threads that silently wrapped around and soaked into every fiber...
The richness of the fat and the fragrance of the spices blended perfectly, only to be pierced by the sweet, sour, and slightly spicy hit of the dipping sauce—
The jumping acidity and lively fruit aroma instantly cleansed the heaviness, detonating an even more extreme umami!
"Super delicious—!"
Ryohei Tanaka's expression softened. He lifted his chin and let out a sigh of satisfaction.
All that work was just for this one bite!
And tasting that bite made it feel instantly worth it, creating a feeling that his efforts hadn't been in vain.
A doubled sense of happiness spread from the bottom of Ryohei Tanaka's heart—!
"..." Seeing Ryohei Tanaka eating with such enjoyment, Lucoa quickly cut a piece of flamingo meat, dipped it in some sauce, and put it in her mouth.
She felt that this Roasted Flamingo meat was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, incredibly juicy and fresh.
The taste and texture were exponentially better than the previous one; they were simply in different dimensions!
"It's just too delicious!"
"..."
"Truly indescribably delicious!"
At the next table—
Callista took a small taste. Her amber eyes widened instantly, pupils trembling. Immediately after, her eyes narrowed, and her expression softened at a visible speed.
Honestly, she had never eaten such delicious cuisine. With just one bite, her body and mind received immense satisfaction!
A strong sense of happiness arose spontaneously, wrapping her tightly!
"..." Callista couldn't help but clutch the fabric over her chest tightly, the surrounding sounds gradually fading away...
"..."
Coming back to her senses—
Callista found herself ten thousand meters high in the sky.
Beneath her feet, a familiar large golden bird was spreading its wings and soaring, carrying her through the azure, sun-drenched firmament!
When she inadvertently looked down, she discovered that her appearance had changed—
Pink feathers covered her full chest and voluptuous hips. Her arms had transformed into wings covered in soft down, and below her calves was a pair of strong, pink bird claws.
"...?"
A moment of surprise flashed through her mind, but it soon vanished without a trace, as if blown away by the mighty wind.
Callista naturally spread her wings, welcoming the powerful and free airflow rushing toward her face—
In that instant, it was as if the heavy shackles she had carried for years were unloaded. An unprecedented lightness and relaxation soaked into her limbs and bones, reaching the depths of her soul!
This long-lost feeling of relaxation...
Ever since her husband passed away unexpectedly and she had struggled alone to support the Tulip Tavern, it had been too long, far too long since she had experienced such ease...
This relaxed... sense of happiness was almost overflowing!
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