Chapter 455: Lady Elma is a Fickle Guy!
Night fell, and the evening lights were just being lit.
In the dining room on the second floor of the Stardew Valley Ranch complex building, the atmosphere was very lively.
"Itadakimasu!"
Jashin-chan put down her wine glass, picked up her chopsticks, and said with a brisk tone. She picked up a nearby piece of brownish-red, shiny fish radiating a faint golden light, brought it to her mouth, and tasted it. The lines on her face instantly softened.
"So delicious!"
The moment the fish piece entered her mouth, the first thing she felt was the enticing burnt aroma produced by deep-frying the outer skin at high temperature. Immediately after, the mellow salty umami of the broad bean paste, the scorching spicy fragrance of the dried chilies, and the numbing sensation of the Sichuan peppercorns rippled out layer by layer.
Her teeth bit down—that crispy outer shell shattered at the sound. The tender and smooth fish meat inside gently dispersed between her lips and teeth. A wave of fresh sweetness originating from the fish meat itself quietly seeped out, forming a sharp contrast with the numbing, spicy, and fresh aroma of the outer layer.
"Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, fragrant, spicy, and delicious..."
Jashin-chan lifted her chin slightly, her expression full of enjoyment.
"Mn?"
She seemed to notice something, lowered her head, and looked at the spicy fish piece she had taken a bite of. She said uncertainly, "This spicy fish piece... could it be using Sahuagin?"
Saying that, she turned her head to look at Ryohei for verification.
"Sahuagin!?"
Yurine was startled. Her grip slipped, and a piece of Demon World ingredient version Twice-Cooked Pork slid off the tips of her chopsticks and fell back onto the plate.
However, Yurine didn't mind and turned her gaze to Ryohei.
"Mn, you tasted it out? That's amazing!"
Ryohei first affirmed Jashin-chan's guess, then explained to Yurine:
"They're called fishmen, but they're actually just fish monsters. They inhabit the sea areas of the Demon World, are gregarious creatures, have no intelligence, and are just like wild beasts."
These were all told to him by Second's mother.
"That's right."
Yusa elegantly finished eating a salad shrimp ball and added: "This is a relatively common and popular ingredient in the Demon World."
"Because Sahuagin grow very fast, have strong reproductive capabilities, and their meat is very fresh and tender, they are deeply loved by many demons!"
Minos, wearing a disposable glove on her left hand and holding a beef bone rich in sauce aroma, interjected with a crisp voice. After speaking, she lowered her head, wagged her tail, and cheerfully gnawed on the bone.
"Mmm... I see."
Yurine no longer had any psychological pressure. She tasted the Demon World ingredient version Twice-Cooked Pork, took a bite of rice, and then curiously picked up a piece of spicy fish for herself.
With a light taste, the numbing, spicy, fresh aroma instantly bloomed in her mouth, and a feeling of amazement spontaneously arose!
After being battered and double-fried, the outer shell of the fish piece shattered upon biting, but it wasn't a powdery residue that scattered at a touch. Instead, it carried a slight resilience, while the fish meat inside still maintained its fresh, tender, and juicy texture.
The salty umami base flavor supported the main tone of fragrant and numbing spiciness. A trace of fresh sweetness quietly harmonized it, and the crispy fragrance ran through from beginning to end.
Multiple flavors progressed layer by layer in the oral cavity, erupting and blending, bringing tremendous satisfaction!
Mmm-hmm—! I'm going to be captivated!
Yurine unconsciously closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she had appeared inside a natural cavern at the bottom of the sea, bound by a thick plant root.
Two fish monsters—over two meters tall, burly, covered in cyan scales everywhere except their front upper bodies, sporting fish heads, sporting ferocious dorsal fins, trailing thick fish tails, and holding tridents—escorted her towards a natural platform.
Below the platform, the "glug glug" churning submarine lava constantly steamed upward with scorching light and high temperatures. On the other side was a spacious but rudimentary stone grand hall.
More than ten equally burly Sahuagin holding tridents stood on both sides of the grand hall.
On the stone throne at the end—
Wearing a golden crown inlaid with multiple gems and draped in a scarlet cape, the even more burly Fishman King sat sideways, supporting his cheek with one hand, looking down from a commanding height at the escorted Yurine...
"..."
Real world—
"Mmm—! This really goes so well with rice!"
Lucoa followed the crowd, tasted the spicy fish piece, and gave it a good review.
"Onee-san, this goes especially well with rice too." Pekola turned her head and recommended the Yu-Shiang Shredded Pork (Fish-Flavored Shredded Pork) to her.
It was cooked using the tenderloin of a Demon World pig called the "Krut Pig," paired with Demon World-produced winter bamboo shoots, carrots, green peppers, and wood ear mushrooms, plus Erjingtiao pickled chili peppers produced in Pixian, China.
Ryohei had tasted it when he finished cooking; it was extremely delicious!
"Really? Let me taste it!"
With great interest, Lucoa picked up a chopstick-full of the red, shiny, distinct, and colorfully interwoven Yu-Shiang Shredded Pork and put it into her mouth.
The perfectly thickened sauce evenly coated every shred of ingredient, bringing a smooth and oily texture.
The salty umami base flavor rippled out first, immediately followed by the mellow sauce aroma stir-fried from the pickled peppers and broad bean paste in hot oil. Subsequently, a wisp of bright sourness and sweetness spread over the tip of her tongue.
The subtle mild spiciness of the pickled peppers, along with the pungent aroma of scallion, ginger, and garlic stir-fried with "wok hei," unfolded layer by layer.
Lucoa involuntarily began to chew—
The shredded tenderloin slid across her lips and teeth, so tender it seemed to melt, yet still retaining the slight bounce of the meat. The wood ear mushrooms were crisp and refreshing, carrying a bit of chewiness. The shredded bamboo shoots were crisp, tender, and juicy, bringing a unique fresh fragrance.
The shredded carrots and green peppers provided a brisk crispness and the sweetness of vegetables...
Such intense deliciousness!
Lucoa felt herself bound by this wave of deliciousness.
The shredded tenderloin, wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, carrots, and green peppers seemed to transform into ropes of different colors, tightening around her body and leaving enticing marks.
Snapping back to reality, Lucoa couldn't help but hold up her bowl, shoveled several mouthfuls of rice consecutively, and sighed: "It truly goes well with rice! With this bite, I can swallow several mouthfuls of rice; it makes people unable to stop!"
"Mmm—! I really love this Cheese Baked Lobster!"
At the neighboring table—
Elma cupped her cheek with one hand, gnawing on a piece of lobster meat with an intoxicated face.
"You say that about every dish... although I also really love every dish I've eaten so far." Ilulu, who was eating joyfully, looked at Elma and said with a smile.
"Lady Elma is a fickle guy." Kanna gnawed on a beef bone and joked.
"Mn, a fickle guy indeed."
Tohru, who had just finished recommending a dish to Kobayashi, glanced at Elma and nodded breezily.
"Chotto matte! How am I fickle? This counts too?"
Elma immediately revealed a dumbfounded expression, shook her head, and said: "I absolutely don't admit to this!"
"She's just a bit gluttonous; it can't be called fickle." Poporon took a sip of fresh chicken soup, raised her head, smiled, and said a fair word.
"Mn, that's right." Pekola, with bulging cheeks, nodded in agreement.
Lierre: Eat, eat, eat, eat, eat!
It was rare for her to mooch a feast; there was only food in her eyes.
The master and servant pair, Ecute and Atre, were also unable to stop. Persephone maintained an elegant yet extremely fast eating speed.
Her attention wasn't entirely focused on eating; she was also paying attention to everyone.
The lively and cheerful atmosphere in the dining room made the food taste even more fragrant to her; it went so well with rice!
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