Chapter 72: The Charm of Meat
Just as Ren stepped into the kitchen to retrieve the siblings' order, Momo Akanegakubo and Lucifer emerged from the back, each carrying a tray.
Momo held a plate with a perfectly folded chocolate crepe, garnished with a sprig of mint and a dusting of powdered sugar. She walked over to Senzaemon's table with a serious expression.
"Director," she said in her soft, doll-like voice. "Can you eat chocolate? I know some older people have dietary restrictions."
Senzaemon Nakiri huffed, crossing his arms. "This old man isn't that old yet! And I have the constitution of a bull! Of course I can eat it!"
Erina, who was currently trying to peel a clingy, giggling Alice off her arm, paused. She looked at her grandfather with wide eyes. "Eh?! Grandpa, you don't have any health problems at all? That's wonderful! I've been holding back on making you my heavy ganache tarts because I was worried about your blood sugar~."
Senzaemon sweat-dropped. Although he knew Erina's words were out of concern, he didn't know why they sounded like she was disappointed he wasn't frail. This granddaughter... she's going to kill me with her filial piety one day.
Lucifer, meanwhile, placed a plate on everyone's table, moving with a grace that belied her earlier kitchen disasters. She even placed one for Hori and Souta, despite them not ordering it.
"Complimentary dessert," Lucifer declared, flipping her hair. "A test of my skill."
Momo wiped the non-existent sweat from her forehead and announced, "This was made by Momo-chan and Lucifer together! Everyone, please try it~. It represents our alliance."
Kobayashi Rindou used her fork to poke the center of her crepe.
Ooze.
Rich, warm chocolate sauce flowed out like lava. The aroma of high-quality cocoa and vanilla filled the air, mingling with the savory scents of dinner.
Rindou grinned, her fangs flashing. "Ooh~. You two dare to show off a dessert in front of Ren's main course? Impressive bravery."
Before anyone could reply, a new, powerful aroma swept through the dining room—the unmistakable, spicy-sweet scent of Japanese curry.
Ren pushed a wooden dining cart out of the kitchen. On it sat two covered dishes.
"I've tasted the crepes, and they are very good," Ren said with a smile, winking at Lucifer. "And I don't think there's any difference between my cooking and what's outside. Good food is good food."
Everyone collectively rolled their eyes. If they believed that Ren's cooking was "no different" from outside food, dogs would be able to climb trees and recite Shakespeare!
(Cerberus, upstairs: Achoo! Why am I always the punchline?!)
Ren came to the table where the siblings sat. He placed the plates down with a flourish.
"Well then, everything is ready. Please enjoy. Oh, about that Beef Stew, Miss Hori... you probably haven't had it prepared this way before. It's a dry-style stew. So please enjoy. And Souta-kun..."
He looked at the boy. "I didn't add too many onions to the curry base, just enough for sweetness, so you can eat it without picking them out."
Souta's eyes lit up. He gasped. "Really?! But how did you know I hate onion chunks, Big Brother~?"
Ren smiled and tapped his nose. "Because I also came from your age~. Texture is everything to a kid."
Souta nodded vigorously. He picked up his spoon and scooped a large mouthful of the golden-brown curry and steaming white rice. He blew on it a couple of times—fuu, fuu—and then ate it.
The next moment...
"Big Brother is amazing! This curry is so delicious! It's not spicy but it's warm!"
"If it's delicious, eat more. Oh, there's a little surprise hidden in that curry~."
"Eh?"
Souta began digging through his rice like an archaeologist, spoonful after spoonful, unable to stop. Hori Kyoko was also stunned when she saw this. Souta was usually a picky eater who played with his food. Seeing him eat with such gusto made her heart warm.
Nanami-chan was right, she thought. This place is magic.
She turned her attention to her own meal.
"Is this.... stew?"
Hori lifted the lid of the heavy ceramic pot. She froze.
At first glance, the dish in front of her was just meat. Only meat. Huge, dark, glistening chunks of beef piled high.
Yes, she didn't see any broth. Usually, beef stew was a soup with meat floating in it. This looked more like a roast.
Hori paused, then picked up a piece of beef with her chopsticks. The meat was heavy, yet its tenderness surprised her; she felt like she was holding a piece of soft jelly that might fall apart if she squeezed too hard.
The meat trembled slightly. It was cut against the grain, revealing very neat strands of muscle fiber. And though there was no pool of liquid, the meat itself was glistening, dripping with reduced juices.
"So tender.... Wait.... This taste is...."
She put it in her mouth.
The meat melted. Literally melted. It coated her tongue in a rich, savory glaze.
She pressed down with her tongue, and a burst of intense flavor exploded. The "dry" meat was saturated with a concentrated sauce that had been reduced until it was part of the fiber.
"This is... Red Wine Beef Stew~," Ren explained, appearing beside her to refill her water. "But it's a localized, thickened version. I reduced the sauce until it glazed the meat entirely, intensifying the flavor."
Hori nodded, speechless. She had indeed never seen this way of eating stew. It was like eating the essence of the dish without the filler.
Every bite was addictive. The slight acidity of the wine, the deep umami of the beef, the subtle heat of black pepper, and the creamy richness of butter...
"Meat is indeed delicious....." she whispered.
Unless one is a strict vegetarian, no one could dislike such a dish. It tapped into a primal satisfaction—the joy of chewing tender, flavorful protein.
"Eh? This is.... Croquettes!"
Hori, who was lost in the beef euphoria, noticed something golden and crispy on Souta's side plate.
"Restaurant owner, thank you! We didn't order this."
Souta also exclaimed in surprise, "Thank you, Big Brother! It's round!"
"No problem," Ren said, waving his hand. "Just now, Lucifer and the others found a bag of panko breadcrumbs while making crepes—don't ask me how—so I made a batch to use them up. Each one has a different filling~. Corn, cheese, crab cream."
Lucifer, passing by on her way to the stairs, grumbled, "Who knew that bag was breadcrumbs? It looked like sawdust. Forget it, forget it. No more talking. I'm going to sleep. This day has been exhausting....."
Ever since Lucifer successfully learned how to make the crepe (and ate five of them), she had completely recovered her dignity and lost interest in the mortal world. Now, the food coma was setting in.
Watching Lucifer leave, Ren shook his head helplessly. He didn't know why the Queen of Hell was so obsessed with crepes, but at least the kitchen was still standing.
The Restaurant returned to a comfortable quietness. Ren sat down in his seat behind the counter and picked up his book.
At the main table, Alice was already asleep, her head resting on the table using her arm as a pillow. Erina breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the three empty cocktail glasses in front of her cousin with a helpless expression.
"Alice is a bit outrageous," Erina whispered to Hisako. "She didn't get drunk gradually; she got drunk suddenly! One moment she was analyzing the molecular structure of the sauce, the next she was asleep!"
After Saitama finished his meal—scraping the last grain of rice from the bowl—he stood up, patted his stomach, and looked at Ren.
"Thanks, Ren. That was... life-saving."
"Eight hundred yen," Ren said softly, not looking up from his book.
"Huh?" Saitama blinked. "That cheap? For brisket?"
"Friend's price. Plus, you helped me test the recipe."
"Thank you! Still as delicious as ever, but I really don't know how you make money...." Saitama muttered, placing the coins on the counter. He waved and left, his white cape fluttering.
Hori watched this exchange, slightly stunned. Although she knew from Nanami that the prices were low, eight hundred yen for such a meal was practically charity.
She shook her head, dismissing the thought. She turned to her brother. "Souta! Don't just eat that croquette! You need to eat more of the beef too! It's good for you!"
"Oh! Okay!"
As night deepened, Senzaemon finally finished his hot pot. He wiped his mouth with a napkin, looking satisfied.
"Excellent. This old man feels ten years younger."
His statement signaled that it was time to leave. Kobayashi Rindou stretched, looking at the sleeping Alice. "Well, this girl really doesn't make things easy. We can't just drag her."
Erina nodded. "I'll call the driver to come in."
Rindou stood up. "No need, I'll carry her."
She reached out to pick Alice up, but Ren stood up and stopped her.
"Stop," Ren said, his voice firm but quiet. "She drank too much sugar and alcohol mixed. If you make such a big movement or sling her over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes, she'll wake up from the jostling and might throw up on your expensive uniform~."
Rindou froze. She scratched her head. "Ah. Good point. Then what should we do?"
Ren sighed. "If Alice were an Elite Ten member, she could stay here in the guest room. But she has a curfew at the mansion, doesn't she?"
"Yes," Erina confirmed.
"Is your car parked at the alley entrance?"
"Mm!"
Ren thought for a moment. He walked over to Alice, adjusted her coat, and then crouched down slightly. He slid one arm under her knees and the other behind her back.
He picked Alice up in a steady, gentle princess carry. She didn't even stir, just murmured something about "truffles."
"I'll take you to the alley entrance~," Ren said to the group. Then he looked around the empty shop. He couldn't leave it unattended.
He looked at the only other customers.
"Uh... Miss... Hori-san?"
Hori jumped, startled. "Ah? Yes? Just call me Hori!"
"Okay, Hori-san. Could I ask a favor? I need to carry this drunk girl to the car. During this time—it will only take two minutes—if any customers come in, could you please tell them I'll be right back and they can sit down and look at the blackboard?"
Hori blinked, surprised by the request. "Me? Watch the shop?"
"Yes. You look responsible."
After speaking, Ren carried Alice out of the Restaurant, followed by the Totsuki group, leaving a bewildered Hori sitting with her brother.
She looked at the empty counter, then at the door.
"He... he really trusts me too much...." she murmured dazedly. "I'm just a high school student!"
Souta, munching on a piece of beef, mumbled indistinctly with sauce on his cheek, "Big brother is very nice~. He trusts Onee-chan!"
Hori smiled softly, relaxing back into her chair. "Mm. He is indeed very nice. And this beef... is worth guarding the shop for."
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