"It seems I'll have to ask my wives to come help tomorrow."
Looking at the freshly prepared dishes, Asaka and Rika swiftly delivered them to the customers.
They didn't need to know what the customers ordered, only how many plates they ordered. They would place that many plates in front of them, as everyone was accepting of it.
Efficiency had significantly improved!
And this high-intensity cooking continued until around ten at night. As the number of customers on the street gradually decreased, Hoshino Sora's pressure also lessened considerably.
This continued until the last few customers left together at eleven o'clock.
Watching the last few customers close the restaurant door as they left, Hoshino Sora sighed in relief. Unknowingly, he had pushed himself to high-intensity cooking again. Sometimes, too many customers could also be a hassle!
No wonder so many great Chefs limit their daily servings.
No, this is too good an opportunity. I must let Megumi and the others come and practice. A summer vacation is definitely enough time for their skills to advance by leaps and bounds!
With this thought in mind, Hoshino Sora looked at the empty restaurant and simply sat outside to taste the freshly grilled smoked meat, his face filled with satisfaction. The tender, juicy grilled meat with a faint smoky aroma was simply amazing!
It was worth all the preparation he started yesterday!
However, just as Hoshino Sora was eating, his hands greasy and his face full of happiness, the restaurant door suddenly opened, and Kanroji Mitsuri's figure appeared outside.
"Chef, I'm back again! What are you eating? It smells so good."
With a naive smile on her face, looking at Hoshino Sora who was savoring the food at the dining table, Kanroji Mitsuri's stomach rumbled, which made her blush a little.
"Little girl, you're back again. You left in such a hurry this afternoon, I forgot to ask your name."
Although he knew the Love Hashira's name, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to know it given his identity, so he had to ask before he could rightfully call her Kanroji Mitsuri.
"Me? My name is Kanroji Mitsuri, Chef, what about you? By the way, where are your two older sisters?"
Hearing the question, Kanroji Mitsuri, with a little sweat on her forehead, stepped into the restaurant and came before Hoshino Sora to introduce herself openly.
From her appearance, she had clearly just finished a battle.
"They are doing their homework in the lounge. My name is Hoshino Sora. What would you like to eat? How about the smoked barbecue, the same as mine? It tastes really good."
As he spoke, Hoshino Sora pointed to the barbecue in front of him, his face full of recommendation. The smoked barbecue emitted an incredibly rich aroma that wafted all the way outside.
Kanroji Mitsuri, meanwhile, had been chasing a demon from the town into the forest, finally beheading it in a dilapidated temple. However, upon exiting the temple, she was surprised to find Xingye Restaurant nearby.
Why do I say that? Because she smelled a very rich aroma in the air. Following the scent, she found the familiar path she had taken earlier, and then she saw Xingye Restaurant.
Since the shop lights were on and the 'Open' sign at the door hadn't been taken down, she came over, hoping to get some late-night snack. The feeling of hunger was simply too unbearable.
"Yes! Please, I absolutely must have a portion."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words and looking at the large plate of visually appealing, fragrant, and delicious smoked barbecue, Kanroji Mitsuri nodded twice heavily, her face full of anticipation.
"Alright, I'll go to the kitchen to prepare. Before that, you can eat this with me first."
Placing the smoked barbecue, served on a wooden tray, in front of Kanroji Mitsuri, Hoshino Sora stood up and walked towards the kitchen. He still had plenty of slow-cooked beef short ribs left.
Watching Hoshino Sora's retreating back, Kanroji Mitsuri did not rush to start eating. Although she was extremely hungry at the moment, she knew she had to endure, at least until he returned.
If she were to gobble it down before he returned, her clumsy and gluttonous image would surely be deeply ingrained in his mind.
Because she had a good impression of Hoshino Sora, she didn't want to appear so bad in front of him. Eating a little later wouldn't kill her. She had to endure, she had to be a lady!
"Are you waiting for me?
Indeed, no matter how many times I look, Miss Kanroji is always exquisitely beautiful."
After tidying up things in the kitchen, Hoshino Sora came to the hall and found Kanroji Mitsuri sitting beside his previous seat, her hands placed flat on her lap in a proper sitting posture, looking pure and innocent.
The sweat beads on her forehead had been wiped away when Hoshino Sora went into the kitchen, and her somewhat disheveled clothes had been tidied. She did all of this because he praised her as cute.
No one had ever praised her as cute before.
"Exquisitely beautiful is too much of an exaggeration! I'm just a very ordinary girl."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's rather exaggerated description, Kanroji Mitsuri said with a flushed face.
"At least that's how it is in my heart. Hurry and try it. Put the meat slices in bread, and add potato slices. See, the sandwich is done!"
Very naturally, Hoshino Sora sat beside Kanroji Mitsuri, picked up a slice of bread, put a few slices of meat, then a few slices of potato, covered it with another slice of bread, and ta-da!
"Amazing!"
Despite the childish act, she was met with an adoring gaze. Kanroji Mitsuri gently clapped her hands in front of her chest, praising him verbally, with a continuous smile on her face. It was clear she was very happy.
"Here, try it."
"Ah~ Mmm!"
The smoked barbecue sandwich looked incredibly tempting. Golden and crispy bread held several slices of juicy barbecue and crunchy fried potato slices, exuding an irresistible aroma that made one's mouth water.
Taking a bite, the smoked beef short ribs had a delicate and soft texture, emitting a rich barbecue aroma. The potato slices provided an excellent neutralizing effect, and their harmonious pairing with the bread prevented the barbecue from being too greasy, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
"Delicious! The meat is so soft it feels like it will melt in your mouth the next moment. The potato slices are crispy and fragrant, with distinct layers. The feeling of them mixing with the tender and flavorful meat is wonderful!"
As she chewed, the barbecue juice overflowed from the corner of her mouth, but Kanroji Mitsuri was oblivious, still savoring the deliciousness in front of her with a blissful expression. Her body occasionally shivered as if struck by some impact, and her small face became intensely red.
"Lift your head slightly."
With Aka Rika absent, Hoshino Sora had completely let loose. Facing the beautiful and curvaceous Kanroji Mitsuri, endless fantasies emerged in his mind.
Of course, he did not rush things, always maintaining politeness, giving off the impression of a refined gentleman.
"What's wrong?"
Although she had received a significant culinary shock and was completely absorbed in joy, Kanroji Mitsuri quickly reacted when Hoshino Sora called her. She lifted her head, her expression puzzled.
"There's juice flowing down your mouth here."
Hoshino Sora said softly, picking up a tissue and directly wiping her mouth, regardless of whether his actions would be too intimate or if Kanroji Mitsuri could handle it.
In fact, when such a handsome face was so close, Kanroji Mitsuri was nervous. She instinctively swallowed the barbecue in her mouth, her heart beating ridiculously fast, thump-thump. She had expected Hoshino Sora to do something, but he only wiped her mouth.
"Ah, oh, I'm sorry to make you laugh."
Realizing what happened, Kanroji Mitsuri's face turned even redder. This was her first time having such intimate contact with a boy. Aka Rika wasn't here either. Was this situation a date?!
No, no, no, I can't think like that. It would be too rude to the restaurant owner!
Her mind was racing, and her cheeks were already as red as a boiling kettle. Fortunately, Hoshino Sora stood up at that moment and walked towards the kitchen, allowing her to catch her breath.
"Besides the barbecue, I also brought some lettuce and sliced tomatoes. Eat as much as you want. I remember you have quite a big appetite, right? Speaking of which, we really are kindred spirits in that regard. I've had a big appetite since I was a child. When I was little, I was even called a 'glutton'.
But it's precisely because of my love for food that I've now become a chef, and I'm lucky enough to have met such a beautiful Miss Kanroji."
What Hoshino Sora said wasn't a lie. When he was little, he was indeed called names by boys who were jealous of his large appetite, but his appetite back then was far from as outrageous as it is now, at most just larger than an average person's.
"I see, no wonder you made so much food for dinner."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Kanroji Mitsuri suddenly realized, and all the doubts accumulated in her heart dissipated. At the same time, she developed a greater liking for the young man in front of her.
What a good boy! He's tall and handsome, and so similar to her. If he weren't a chef with a stable life, she would really want to adopt him as her Tsuguko, and then see if a romantic storyline could develop.
Ah, it's not a mother-son relationship. A Pillar's successor is called a Tsuguko, or more accurately, an apprentice.
However, with such a large appetite, does this guy also have some special physique?
Watching Hoshino Sora heartily devouring the smoked barbecue sandwich, a thought suddenly popped into Kanroji Mitsuri's mind. Since this person in front of her had a similar appetite to hers, did that mean he also possessed some rare bloodline?
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" Noticing Kanroji Mitsuri's gaze, Hoshino Sora tilted his head and asked.
"Huh? No..."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's voice, Kanroji Mitsuri immediately panicked. She was a formidable Pillar, yet now she was acting like a little girl. It must be said that love truly makes one humble.
At this point, if Hoshino Sora still couldn't tell that she had a good impression of him, then he would have opened all these harems for nothing!
Noticing Kanroji Mitsuri's reaction, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but find it a little amusing, but his face remained serious, wanting to see what she would say.
"Um, can we arm wrestle?"
After hesitating for five or six minutes and eating a pile of food, Kanroji Mitsuri suddenly spoke, her eyes filled with inquiry.
"Sure, now?"
Hearing the question, Hoshino Sora was stunned for a moment, but he quickly understood the reason. She probably thought that because he ate a lot, he might have some special ability, which was quite understandable.
"If possible!"
Hearing Hoshino Sora agree, a look of surprise immediately appeared in Kanroji Mitsuri's eyes.
"Then let's go. Can I sit here?"
Hoshino Sora naturally wouldn't refuse Kanroji Mitsuri's wish. He stood up and walked to the opposite side of the dining table. After all, this matter held no loss for him; on the contrary, he could use this opportunity to touch her small hand.
That soft, tender-looking, fleshy little hand, hehe, ehehe.
His heart was blooming with joy, but his face maintained a calm demeanor. The word 'sultry' described people like him.
"Then let's begin."
Kanroji Mitsuri naturally couldn't know what Hoshino Sora was thinking. At this moment, she only wanted to verify her idea, to see if the person in front of her possessed great talent and rare blood.
If he was, she wanted to persuade him to join the Demon Slayer Corps.
So soft.
Unlike the serious and thoughtful Kanroji Mitsuri, the moment their hands met, this thought popped into Hoshino Sora's mind.
Indeed, even though Kanroji Mitsuri's muscle density was eight times that of an ordinary person, her hand still felt soft when squeezed. It was just that there was a layer of calluses from sword training on her fingers, which slightly marred the perfection.
"I'm putting in effort!"
Because she wanted to test Hoshino Sora's strength, Kanroji Mitsuri had no intention of holding back.
As her arm muscles slightly bulged, unimaginable power condensed within them, then poured out from her palm. She had expected to easily press his hand down, but he remained completely still.
The power of Gourmet Cell Lv3?
Feeling the great force coming from Kanroji Mitsuri's hand, Hoshino Sora thought to himself, 'This is a bit different from what I imagined. I thought it would be an evenly matched battle, but it turns out this guy is actually so weak...'
Well, she couldn't be called weak. It's already impressive for an ordinary person to reach this level.
"How can this be?! Sora-kun, your strength is so great!"
Looking at her hand, which was firmly pinned down, a look of shock appeared on Kanroji Mitsuri's face.
She had always had absolute confidence in her own strength, but now she was defeated so easily?! And with such an overwhelming advantage...
Swallowing, the surprise in her heart was indescribable. Kanroji Mitsuri stared intently at Hoshino Sora, pondering for a long time before uttering, "Sora-kun, would you be willing to join the Demon Slayer Corps?"
It would be too regrettable and dangerous to leave such a talent exposed to the outside world. One must know that rare blood is absolutely irresistible to demons! Eating one human with rare blood is equivalent to eating a hundred. If a demon were to discover Hoshino Sora, the consequences would be absolutely unimaginable.
"Demon Slayer Corps? What's that..."
Hearing Kanroji Mitsuri's words, Hoshino Sora pretended not to know.
"The Demon Slayer Corps is..."
Seeing the curiosity in Hoshino Sora's eyes, Kanroji Mitsuri didn't hesitate and immediately introduced him to the legendary Demon Slayer Corps, also explaining the attraction of his blood to demons.
Of course, to force Hoshino Sora into compliance, Kanroji Mitsuri's tone even carried a hint of intimidation when she said these words.
"Owwooo~"
When she got deeper into it, she even used body language, such as putting her hands on either side of her face and striking a pose in the air, mimicking a demon grabbing someone, and making cute whimpering sounds.
However, the 'terrifying' actions combined with a cute person looked quite comical. Not only was Hoshino Sora not scared, but he also looked at Kanroji Mitsuri with a playful gaze.
"Why are you looking at me like I'm an idiot? Seriously, demons are very dangerous! Who knows how many people have died carelessly at the hands of evil demons already!"
Seeing Hoshino Sora's gaze, Kanroji Mitsuri's face flushed. She then lowered her hands and sat up straight, speaking with utmost seriousness. What she said was no joke.
"I know about the existence of demons, but for some reason, it's not convenient for me to travel far.
But don't worry, under normal circumstances, demons can't get in. Even if some special circumstance allows them to enter, they'll have to obey me here!"
Hoshino Sora said Domineering, his eyes revealing confidence. He didn't know if he could enter the Other World, nor what would happen if he did.
But, if a demon dared to enter his Dimensional Restaurant, even Muzan, he was confident he could crush it.
After all, he was an absolutely invincible existence in this Dimensional Restaurant!
"Although you have great strength, demons have many ways of attacking. Some can grow large, some can breathe fire, and some can manipulate people's minds. Besides that, there are all sorts of bizarre Blood Demon Arts. Great strength alone isn't enough to deal with them!
Furthermore, demons have incredibly strong vitality. If you don't cut off their heads with a Nichirin Blade, it's impossible to kill them, unless they are exposed to direct sunlight."
Hearing his words, Kanroji Mitsuri clearly misunderstood, thinking that Hoshino Sora believed his strength alone was enough to kill demons, so she once again gave him a Popular Science lesson.
"That's not what I mean. My ability is much stronger than you imagine...
Let's go outside."
As he spoke, Hoshino Sora's voice paused, then he cast his gaze towards the door, curious if he could go outside with people from his original world.
If he went out, would he return to his original world, or enter their world? Would any accidents happen in between? Everything would only be known after the experiment.
"Go outside?"
"Mm."
As he spoke, Hoshino Sora had already stood up. He already knew the rules for the Dimensional Restaurant to traverse dimensions: there must be no customers inside. As for whether this rule would apply once he went outside, that remained unknown.
No sooner said than done, Hoshino Sora went to the restaurant door and opened it to a silent, deep forest.
Swallowing, the young man tentatively stretched out his hand. One second, two seconds, he felt nothing, just like entering and exiting the restaurant normally. His body felt no discomfort, and the system did not issue a warning sound.
"Let's do it!"
Because he really wanted to explore the outside, Hoshino Sora gritted his teeth and jumped out, but due to his nervousness, he jumped back in after one second. This was enough.
[Hidden Quest Completed]: Take the Brave First Step
[Quest Description]: The Dimensional Restaurant can traverse space. The Host is absolutely invincible inside the restaurant, but outside the restaurant, dangers abound and there is no safety guarantee. However, in such an environment, you still developed an endless longing for the outside world.
[Quest Requirement]: Take the brave first step
[Quest Reward]: Talent: World Traversal
[Talent]: World Traversal
[Ability Description]: After leaving the restaurant, you can survive in the Other World for 72 hours without being affected. If you forcibly stay for more than 72 hours, your attributes will be greatly reduced.
Hearing the system prompt in his mind, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but laugh. Wasn't this like getting a pillow when you're sleepy? He just didn't know how strong the demons in this world were, and if he could get involved.
However, according to Kanroji Mitsuri's combat power, her extraordinary talent only reached Gourmet Cell Lv3, while he was a genuine Lv5, not only mastering the Breathing Technique but also having a Tailed Beast Cloak.
"Go all out and attack me. Although I don't have much combat experience, my physical fitness is incredibly good, so you don't have to worry about hurting me."
Arriving outside, Hoshino Sora extended his hand in a challenging gesture, looking at the somewhat distracted Kanroji Mitsuri.
"Is that okay? Won't it..."
It was clear that Kanroji Mitsuri was a bit hesitant.
"It's fine. We're not using weapons. You can just attack me."
Although Hoshino Sora possessed immense strength, his combat experience was almost zero. Thinking that he might transmigrate to worlds where he wanted to make up for regrets in the future, he wanted to improve his combat abilities.
"Then I'm coming."
Seeing Hoshino Sora's determined expression, Kanroji Mitsuri stopped questioning. After taking a deep breath, she charged forward, her running speed suddenly accelerating.
With a flash of light, Kanroji Mitsuri appeared before Hoshino Sora. Having just filled her stomach, she now had inexhaustible stamina, and her attacks were particularly fierce.
"Hmph..."
His gaze was fixed on Kanroji Mitsuri's figure. Because the Gourmet Cell had greatly enhanced his body, her movements appeared very slow to him.
With a flash, Hoshino Sora appeared before Kanroji Mitsuri, then, to her surprise, grabbed her hand.
As the saying goes, one force conquers ten skills.
Without her Nichirin Blade, Kanroji Mitsuri was like a tiger with its teeth knocked out; she looked fierce but was not actually strong. Once her strongest power was restrained by Hoshino Sora, she instantly became a kitten.
"If I control Miss Kanroji like this, how will she respond?"
With her hands controlled, Kanroji Mitsuri tried to kick, but Hoshino Sora directly pinned her to the ground, putting her in a disadvantaged position, pressed underneath.
Her hands were controlled, unable to break free no matter how much she struggled, even if her veins bulged, it was useless. Her legs were also controlled, half-sat on by Hoshino Sora's butt, making them completely immobile.
Indeed, in the face of absolute strength, all flashy moves are fake. Although the Demon Slayer Breathing Technique appeared extremely powerful in the anime, when truly encountered, it felt quite ordinary.
Of course, it's also possible that Kanroji Mitsuri didn't use her sword. For a swordsman, the difference between using a sword and not using one is quite significant.
By the way, in Japan, swords and knives are not distinguished.
However, isn't this scene too beautiful?! Kanroji Mitsuri lay on the ground with her hair spread out, the moonlight perfectly illuminating her fair-skinned and beautiful physique, her open uniform revealing half of her snowy white skin...
"Gulp."
Swallowing his saliva, Hoshino Sora admitted he was tempted.
"I give up. Your strength is so great, and your speed is so fast. Even with the Breathing Technique, I can't compare to you."
Looking at Hoshino Sora, whose face showed no effort, Kanroji Mitsuri, though unwilling, conceded defeat. What else could she do? She couldn't beat him, and even her proudest superhuman strength was inferior to his.
"This is normal. Actually, the reason I possess such great power isn't because I have a rare bloodline, but because of cells. I have Gourmet Cells, which allow me to strengthen my body by eating delicious food."
Seeing Kanroji Mitsuri's rather dejected expression, Hoshino Sora released her hand and stood up, then pointedly revealed one of his golden fingers.
"Gourmet Cells?"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Kanroji Mitsuri asked curiously while moving her wrists. She was infinitely curious about this new term.
"That's right. This is a talent passed down through generations in our Hoshino family. Members with Gourmet Cells will have their appetite infinitely magnified, and only by tasting high-quality gourmet food can it be suppressed."
"So that's why you taught yourself cooking?"
Kanroji Mitsuri said with sudden realization. If that were the case, everything seemed to make sense.
"That's right. This cell can be transmitted through bodily fluids or inherited. Currently, there are only a handful of people in the world who possess Gourmet Cells."
"Bodily fluid transmission? Can this cell also be passed to outsiders?"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Kanroji Mitsuri seemed to grasp the key point, her eyes filled with eagerness as she spoke.
"Well... I'm sorry, I can only tell my future wife about this."
Seeing Kanroji Mitsuri's expression, Hoshino Sora knew his goal for the day had been achieved, so he played hard to get and got up to leave.
"Remember to come visit me when you have time, Mitsuri."
Just before entering the dining room, Hoshino Sora turned his head and smiled at Kanroji Mitsuri, who was standing in the courtyard. Then he entered the restaurant, leaving the girl downstairs in a state of confusion in the wind.
Only tell his wife? What does that mean...
Hoshino Sora naturally didn't know that Kanroji Mitsuri pondered the meaning of that sentence for a long time. He said it merely as a trick to play hard to get, to make the other party willingly fall into his trap.
Facing such a beautiful, well-endowed woman who had no dating experience and seemed very pure, Hoshino Sora's heart thumped fiercely!
He wanted to 'bend' her.
Ahem, I've strayed a bit.
As the restaurant door closed, the system's prompt sound echoed in Hoshino Sora's mind once again.
"Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission: Host Kanroji Mitsuri. Reward: [Eight Times Muscle Density]"
Goodness gracious, oh my goodness!
He had been wondering what he would get for hosting the same guest twice, but he didn't expect to directly extract Kanroji Mitsuri's innate ability!
A look of ecstasy appeared on his face. Looking at the translucent system panel in mid-air, Hoshino Sora was on the verge of jumping up and down.
However, for some reason, he didn't feel any changes happening to his body.
"Ding! Host's muscle density detected to exceed eight times. Disintegrating talent [Eight Times Muscle Density]"
"Disintegration complete. Reward: 5000 Reputation Points."
"Current Reputation Points: 8100"
Ah, this...
No wonder there was no movement for a long time. It turned out that under the influence of the Gourmet Cell, Hoshino Sora's muscle density had long exceeded eight times. It truly was a beautiful misunderstanding.
At the same time, Hoshino Sora also understood one thing.
Items, talents, and skills that he couldn't use could be exchanged for Reputation Points!
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