Chapter 439: If All Else Fails, I Also Know Resurrection Magic!
Time flew by, and it was late January.
On this Saturday—
Ryohei drove Yurine, Lucoa, Pekola, Minos, and Yusa, having been invited to Aogiri Tree's ranch located in the southern part of Yamanashi Prefecture.
He didn't intentionally only bring his "family"—
Everyone had their own things to do usually, and coming here this time wasn't for play. It was mainly to visit the ranch and incidentally deliver the agreed-upon batch of Phantom Jellyfish to Aogiri Tree.
Truth be told, the scenery in Yamanashi Prefecture was truly beautiful, making one feel relaxed and happy!
It is surrounded by mountains; according to statistics, mountainous areas account for more than 80% of the prefecture. Forests are like seas with extremely high coverage. As far as the eye can see, it is full of uncarved natural beauty!
The most famous symbol of Japan—the main part of Mount Fuji—also sits quietly on this land!
Sitting in the driver's seat, holding the steering wheel with one hand and driving the Patrol SUV on a picturesque winding mountain road, Ryohei couldn't help but feel a bit more comfortable in his mood.
"Mmm... can see it already, right ahead."
He suddenly spoke.
As his voice fell, the several people in the car looked out in unison.
"Is it the place with the enclosing wall to the front left?"
Minos saw the area suspected to be the ranch, her eyes lighting up, and asked with great interest.
"Yes."
Ryohei answered concisely.
"There's even a red banner welcoming us hanging on the gate over there."
Lucoa opened the eyelid of her left eye, looking towards the ranch and speaking with a smile.
"Really? Your eyesight is so good!"
Minos turned her head to look at Lucoa and exclaimed.
Lucoa responded with a smile.
"Looks... seems to be a bit larger than our Stardew Valley Ranch."
Taking advantage of the commanding and open view from the winding mountain road, Yurine simply sized up the vast land surrounded by walls.
Putting everything else aside, she could see two mountains just by looking—and the scale of each was no smaller than Stardew Valley Ranch!
The scale of the lake was also not inferior at all!
"Not just a bit larger; the area here is six times that of our ranch." Ryohei turned his head to look at Yurine and said with a smile.
"Six times? That's really not small!"
Yusa looked at Ryohei through the rearview mirror, then looked towards Aogiri Tree's ranch through the car window.
Radiance flowed in her icy blue beautiful eyes. She lightly covered her lips with the wide sleeve of her kimono:
"The environment here is quite nice too, nestled against the mountains and beside the water..."
"Mn."
...
Although they had seen Aogiri Tree's ranch from early on, it still took quite some time to drive the car to the ranch gate.
The petite Takatsuki Sen and the tall, burly Tatara were already waiting at the ranch gate with their subordinates.
"Welcome!"
Seeing Ryohei drive over, a bright smile immediately bloomed on Takatsuki Sen's face. She stepped forward with a brisk pace and gestured to Ryohei, who had rolled down the window:
"Ryohei-kun, park the car at the gate; we'll take a sightseeing cart inside."
"Sure, I'll follow your arrangement."
Ryohei had no objections and agreed readily.
Under Takatsuki Sen's direction, he parked the car and got off with his family members.
Bang, bang, bang—!
About ten ghouls wearing security uniforms, led by Security Patrol Captain Kirishima Ayato, fired a round of party poppers in unison, and then shouted uniformly:
"Welcome the Cooking Immortal and all friends to visit and inspect Aogiri Tree Ranch!"
Enthusiastic applause followed closely.
"Truly passionate."
Lucoa said with a smile.
Ryohei waved his hand at Takatsuki Sen and said in a casual tone: "No need for these empty formalities. Sensei Takatsuki Sen, take us inside."
"Okay, this way please."
Takatsuki Sen smiled and made an inviting gesture.
Stepping into the ranch, what caught their eyes were three white enclosed sightseeing carts.
"There are six of you, plus three of us, exactly enough for one cart."
The sightseeing cart was a nine-seater design.
While Takatsuki Sen was speaking, Kirishima Ayato had already gotten into the driver's seat of the nearest sightseeing cart—he would be responsible for driving!
"Okay." Ryohei naturally had no objections.
He led Yurine and the others onto the sightseeing cart, taking up the third to fifth rows; the second row was Takatsuki Sen and Tatara.
When the group was seated steadily, Kirishima Ayato started moving along the planned route.
The introduction voice of Ranch Manager Tatara also rang out.
"..."
Aogiri Tree Ranch was taken over more than half a month ago, and had been undergoing renovations and modifications during this time.
Currently, the number of animal species raised in the ranch has reached over 100. Besides common chickens, ducks, geese, cows, sheep, and pigs, they even raised Sika deer, Japanese serows, red foxes, raccoon dogs, crocodiles, brown bears, black bears, and the like.
Besides animals, several experimental fields were reclaimed in the ranch, and a mountainous area was marked out for cultivating fruits and vegetables.
In Toriko, there are some magical fruits and vegetables—
Ryohei suggested that Takatsuki Sen and the others use animal manure as fertilizer, and periodically bury some limbs of Phantom Jellyfish into the soil to see if they could cultivate some special fruits and vegetables.
And Takatsuki Sen and her people took his suggestion very seriously.
"..."
"Subsequently, we plan to build an aquarium specifically for cultivating seafood, and will continue to introduce animals not currently in the ranch."
Tatara briefly explained the future plans.
"Works, very nice!" Ryohei withdrew his gaze from several Sika deer by the roadside and expressed his approval of Tatara and the others' plans.
"We are deeply honored to receive your affirmation." Tatara looked at Ryohei through the rearview mirror, lowered his head slightly, his tone steady.
...
Unknowingly, the sun hung directly overhead.
Takatsuki Sen took her phone out of her pocket and checked the time—it was already past twelve!
She quickly sent a message, turned around, clung to the back of the seat, looked at Ryohei and the others, and suggested:
"It's already noon. How about we have barbecue by the lake for lunch today? I've already had people prepare the ingredients, barbecue grills, and such."
Hearing this, Kirishima Ayato, who was driving, felt his heart stir and quietly glanced at the rearview mirror.
Barbecue?
Will the Cooking Immortal personally do the roasting?
Hope there's a portion for me!
If not, even one skewer is fine...
At least let me get a taste!
Kirishima Ayato prayed secretly in his heart.
Ryohei looked at Takatsuki Sen and joked: "You're going to be the barbecue master?"
"It's not impossible."
The smile on Takatsuki Sen's face didn't diminish. She spread her hands and said: "But I'm afraid you won't be able to swallow it—culinary skills are something I possess absolutely none of!"
"Why does it feel like you're quite proud?"
"Your illusion."
Takatsuki Sen waved her small hands.
"Actually, we were originally planning to eat barbecue for lunch; we even prepared the ingredients and barbecue grill." Yurine took over the conversation with a gentle tone.
"What a coincidence!"
Takatsuki Sen's beautiful eyes lit up. She looked at her expectantly: "Can we join together? Just the few of us?"
Hearing this, Kirishima Ayato and Tatara couldn't help but prick up their ears, their hearts hanging in suspense, afraid of being rejected.
"Sure."
Ryohei's gaze swept over the expectant Takatsuki Sen, as well as the secretly observing Tatara and Kirishima Ayato, and sighed with feigned helplessness: "I'll be the barbecue master this time."
"That's really fantastic! Although having you be the barbecue master is a bit impolite..."
Takatsuki Sen looked at Ryohei excitedly, turned her head, and instructed Kirishima Ayato: "Kirishima, go to Lake Number One, the position directly facing Mount Fuji."
"Hai—!"
Kirishima Ayato responded full of spirit, changed direction, and drove the sightseeing cart toward the location Takatsuki Sen mentioned.
"Then I'll act as an assistant."
Yusa volunteered with a gentle tone.
"Very good, I need your help." Ryohei looked at her with satisfaction through the rearview mirror.
"I can help too."
Minos raised her hand and added.
"Since there are so many people assisting, then I'll be responsible for eating!"
Lucoa hugged her full chest and said with a smile.
"Sister is truly cunning."
An unperturbed roasting voice sounded.
Lucoa looked at Pekola and asked: "Then Pekola, what are you responsible for?"
"I am responsible for earnestly enjoying Ryohei-kun's labor fruits, making his hard work more meaningful."
Pekola answered seriously.
"Hey—! Saying it like that makes you the cunning one, right!"
Lucoa couldn't help roasting.
"Hearing you guys makes me want to 'teach you a lesson'!"
Ryohei, sitting in the third row, laughed out of anger. He turned his head and looked at Pekola in the last row.
Pekola met his gaze, didn't say anything, just hooked her finger at him, full of provocation.
Seeing this, Ryohei reached out and slapped Minos's plump thigh, pointed at Pekola, and said:
"Minos, give this hit to her."
"Mn?"
Minos was stunned at that moment and said with a surprised face:
"You can do that?"
Saying so, she cooperatively turned around and slapped Pekola's thigh.
"Actually bullying my younger sister!"
Lucoa suddenly got up with feigned ferocity, cupped Minos's cheeks, and gave her a kiss. Then she pointed at Ryohei:
"Minos, give this hit to him!"
Sitting in the fourth row—
Between Ryohei and Lucoa, Yusa couldn't help blinking her beautiful eyes.
Are you all so good at playing?
What should I do if I kinda want to join?
And Minos was stunned again, muttering "Am I a tool person?", then turned around and looked excitedly at Ryohei.
Witnessing all this, Yurine raised an eyebrow. Her gaze swept over Lucoa, lingered on Minos for a moment, and then fell on Ryohei. She waved her delicate small fist and smiled:
"Let me join you guys, how about it?"
"Feels like things are a bit bad..."
Ryohei sweat-dropped, hurriedly grabbed her fist, and pressed it down for her.
"I'm afraid Yurine will hit me."
Minos paused her movement, turned her head sheepishly, and looked at Lucoa.
"Don't be afraid, I'll help block for you a bit!"
Lucoa patted her full chest very reliably and vowed solemnly.
"If all else fails, I also know resurrection magic."
"..." Minos couldn't help rolling her eyes at her.
(◜◔.◔◝)
Listen, are you speaking human language?
Oh, you're not human... then never mind!
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