Chapter 123: A Feast for One, Moving Forward Alone and Strong
Lucifer watched the blue-haired girl with amusement. She wasn't sure if Ren was intentionally trying to flirt by imitating scenes from cheesy romance comics—the kind where the male lead softens the ice queen with sweets—but she knew very well that no girl, no matter how battle-hardened, would dislike such behavior. Especially when the food was this good.
Indeed, just as Lucifer had predicted, Esdeath was completely stunned. She stared at the Chocolate Banana Crepe sitting innocently on the table in front of her.
'He called me... a girl?'
The concept was alien. She was a General. She was a weapon. She was the Empire's Strongest. But "girl"? That was a title for civilians, for the weak. Yet, looking at this dessert, she felt a strange flutter in her chest that had nothing to do with combat adrenaline.
The crepe was a masterpiece of simplicity. The rich aroma of warm chocolate sauce, enhanced with honey to increase its unique sweetness, wafted up to her nose. It was topped with a generous dusting of shredded coconut and whipped cream, sitting atop a perfectly baked, golden-brown crepe.
It wasn't something a warrior should be eating. But it was certainly appealing.
After watching for a while, Esdeath finally imitated Lucifer's movements. She picked up her knife and fork, holding them with the precision of a surgeon, and cut off a small piece.
The aroma mixed with the heat wafted onto her hand, warm and pleasant. The knife cut through without any resistance, like slicing into soft butter. The warm chocolate sauce flowed down the cut surface, revealing a hint of hazelnut spread within, adding another layer of tempting allure.
Esdeath looked at the shredded coconut on the crepe. It looked like snow—her element—but soft and edible. It was like the veil of a charming aristocratic lady: tempting, alluring, mysterious, and noble.
Enhancing the appearance of a dish might not be as complicated as high-level strategy. It might only require a few slices of carrots, or just one or two strawberries, or perhaps, like this "lady" disguised as a chocolate crepe, just a little shredded coconut to elevate it from a snack to art.
She lifted the fork to her lips and took a bite.
Mmm.
Her blue eyes widened slightly.
The sweet smoothness of honey hit her tongue first, followed immediately by the rich, deep aroma of chocolate. The unique nutty flavor of the hazelnut spread provided a savory counterpoint, while the thin yet elastic texture of the crepe dough held it all together.
And then came the shredded coconut. It added a subtle crunch and a tropical fragrance that elevated the entire experience.
Despite the complexity, no single flavor stole the spotlight. They worked in harmony, like a perfectly drilled squad. The initial sweetness, the slight sourness in the honey's aftertaste, and the double richness of hazelnut spread and chocolate—everything was silky smooth.
'So this is sweetness...' Esdeath thought, taking another bite. 'That sweetness is probably what the poets call the taste of love. Sweet and alluring... and dangerous.'
The General was now eating the chocolate crepe with an expression of pure, unadulterated enjoyment. The terrifying aura of the Ice Queen had melted away, replaced by the content look of someone discovering a new joy.
She didn't know why, but the more she ate, the more cheerful she felt. It wasn't the dark joy of conquest or the thrill of crushing an enemy. It was the simple, bubbling joy of a young girl's heart.
Scrape.
Her fork hit the ceramic plate.
"Is there no more?"
Esdeath blinked, looking down. Unconsciously, she had finished the entire crepe. The plate was clean, save for a smear of chocolate sauce.
Across the table, Lucifer had a piece of her own chocolate crepe on her fork. She smiled, her red eyes gleaming with knowing amusement.
"See?" Lucifer teased. "Doesn't she look like a normal girl now? The General has a sweet tooth."
Esdeath looked at Lucifer without saying anything. She didn't have a comeback. She just stared at the empty plate, lost in thought. She felt... lighter.
"Huh? Who is it..." Lucifer's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, and suddenly, her composure cracked. "This... Can Rindou really ask such a thing?!"
Esdeath watched as the Queen of Hell's face turned crimson. Lucifer held the glowing rectangular box (a smartphone) with trembling hands, her face flushing a deep red as she furiously typed a reply.
Esdeath felt the scene was off. Was it normal for the legendary, terrifying ruler of the underworld to look like a flustered schoolgirl?
"Have you always been like this?" Esdeath asked bluntly. "So... vulnerable?"
Lucifer replied casually while texting, not looking up. "Only since I came to this stinky man's place. That girl, Rindou... she asks questions that would make a succubus blush. Really..."
Esdeath glanced at the kitchen door where Ren had disappeared. After a long moment of silence, she whispered, almost to herself.
"Is this... the legendary power of love?"
Lucifer paused her typing. She looked at Esdeath, then smirked.
"Pretty much that's the meaning~ It changes you. Makes you weak, but also... not."
"You..."
"Hmm? What's that smell?"
Just as Esdeath was about to ask more about this weakness, she was interrupted by a new aroma drifting from the kitchen.
It was a very fragrant smell. It carried a hint of spiciness, but mostly it was pure, concentrated fragrance. It was aggressive, stimulating the salivary glands instantly. If there were a connoisseur present, they would definitely know: this was the smell of high-quality Chili Oil.
Clink... clink...
The sound of ice cubes clinking against glass announced Ren's return.
He pushed out a wooden dining cart. On the cart sat a large, deep ceramic bowl filled with a crimson broth, and next to it, a bowl of steaming fragrant white rice sprinkled with black sesame seeds. Beside that was a tall glass of dark liquid with ice floating in it.
"What is this?" Esdeath asked, her nose twitching at the spicy scent.
"Something you've definitely never eaten before," Ren announced with a confident smile as he placed the heavy bowl in front of her. "This is called Maocai (Chengdu-style Hot Pot Stew). It's stimulating, provides energy, and can also have a calming effect on the spirit. Try it."
He placed the glass next to it. "And this is Smoked Plum Juice (Suanmeitang). I added ice cubes for you, though given your Teigu, you probably won't feel the cold. It helps cut the grease and spice. Please enjoy."
Esdeath swallowed. She looked at the Maocai.
Spicy and sour flavors are always an irresistible combination. What could be more tempting than a bowl of varied ingredients bathed in chili oil?
Maocai is a traditional dish from Sichuan, often described as "Hot Pot for one person." It is very similar to Hot Pot, and also very similar to Mala Tang, but there are fundamental differences in the broth and the preparation. The fragrance of Maocai is incomparable to Mala Tang, just as a small personal hot pot cannot compare to a massive butter-based communal pot.
The most amazing thing about Maocai is its versatility. Like hot pot, anything can be 'blanched' in it, and anything can be added. Everything depends on one's preference; everything depends on the chef's creativity.
Ren had packed this bowl with treasures.
Smooth slices of beef, sticky corn segments, crispy lotus root slices, tender bamboo shoots, vibrant green lettuce, soft luncheon meat, chewy pork meatballs, springy shrimp, tender duck blood curd, and unique-textured basa fish fillets—anything one could think of was swimming in that bowl.
It was a culinary ecosystem.
A large bowl full of rich ingredients had been slowly cooked in the crimson, spice-laden broth. This process is like taking a bath in flavor. After that, the 'bathed' ingredients were taken out one by one and placed in the serving bowl, drizzled with a special braising sauce, and then topped with a ladle of tempting, sizzling chili oil.
This is the second step, and the final one: the 'Hot Spring' of flavor.
Ren had sprinkled a little cilantro and chopped green onions on top for color and freshness.
One word to describe it is: Rich. Exceptionally rich.
This is the characteristic of Maocai; everything you want to eat is in this one bowl. You don't have to choose. You can have it all.
"It looks... chaotic," Esdeath noted, picking up her chopsticks.
"Chaos is just another form of order," Ren replied. "Dig in."
Esdeath picked up a slice of beef, dripping with red oil. She put it in her mouth.
Chew.
The sensation hit her instantly. It wasn't too numbing, nor was it painfully spicy. Only the word 'fragrant' could summarize it all. The spice danced on her tongue, waking up every nerve ending that had been dulled by the cold.
When you pick up your chopsticks and casually grab a piece, you don't need to know what you've picked up; you only need to know that everything in this bowl is delicious.
Some might say eating Maocai is not as good as Mala Tang, or not as good as a full Hot Pot. But Maocai is more fragrant than Mala Tang because of the oil infusion. And while Hot Pot is indeed the king of communal dining, Hot Pot is not an option when you are alone.
Hot Pot requires friends. Maocai requires only hunger.
Only Maocai allows you, like hot pot, to throw all your favorite ingredients into it, drizzle it with tempting chili oil, and enjoy it in solitude. No matter what kind of bowl bottom you have, no matter what your mood—whether you are a General betrayed by her subordinates or a Queen exiled from Heaven—seeing this large bowl of colorful, exceptionally rich Maocai makes everything else seem unimportant.
Everything can be healed by the heat. Don't underestimate the title of this 'Hot Pot Dish'.
Maocai is always a Feast for One.
Esdeath ate. And ate.
Sitting in this quiet shop, listening to the evening breeze playing with the wind chimes, she placed ingredients coated in chili oil onto the white rice. The red oil stained the pristine grains.
She shoveled the rice and meat into her mouth. The moment the broth seeped down her throat, warming her core, she felt that the long, hard day had finally ended.
Lonely yet stubborn. Relaxed yet enjoyable.
She took a sip of the ice-cold Smoked Plum Juice.
Gulp.
The sour-sweet liquid washed away the heat, refreshing her palate instantly. It was like a cool breeze in a desert.
"This..." Esdeath breathed out, a bead of sweat trickling down her temple. "This is incredible."
What dish is more suitable for a solitary night? For the night of a lonely person who has always strived to be the strongest?
The night continues. But after experiencing this satisfaction and relaxation, the burdens of command felt lighter. She felt she could pick up her sword again and continue forward... but perhaps, not right now.
Right now, she just wanted another piece of lotus root.
At this moment, Ren and Lucifer were watching her from the counter.
They both smiled, looking at the feared General eating in a manner completely unfitting her icy image. She was slurping, she was sweating, and she looked... human.
"See?" Ren whispered to Lucifer. "I told you."
"Indeed," Lucifer admitted, leaning her head on Ren's shoulder. "A girl is just a girl, no matter how many armies she leads. Nothing more."
Esdeath finished the last bite of rice. She put her bowl down with a satisfied clatter.
She looked up at Ren. Her eyes were no longer cold. They burned with a different kind of intensity—a fire fueled by spice and interest.
"Ren," she said, her voice strong. "This meal... I approve. It is worthy of the strong."
Ren smiled, wiping a glass. "I'm glad to hear that. Would you like seconds?"
Esdeath smirked, leaning back. "No. I want something else now."
"Oh?"
"I want to know..." she stood up, walking towards the counter, her boots clicking. "When can I come back? And next time... I want to try that 'Trust Game' you mentioned to the silver-haired woman."
Ren froze. Lucifer choked on her tea.
"What?" Esdeath asked innocently. "Is it a combat simulation? I excel at games."
Ren and Lucifer exchanged a look of panic.
"Ah... well..." Ren scratched his head. "It's... a very advanced game. We can discuss it next time!"
[Akarin's Note: Maocai is a popular Sichuan dish, similar to a personal hot pot where ingredients are cooked in a spicy broth and served in a bowl. It is often considered a solitary comfort food.]
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