Chapter 128: A Delicious Taste That Makes Your Tongue Fall in Love
Mai Shiranui didn't reach for the tea immediately. She waited until Ren had disappeared behind the noren curtains of the kitchen, the soft swish of the fabric marking his departure, before she allowed herself to relax.
The tension of the dimensional transfer still lingered in her muscles, a coiled spring ready to snap. She sat at the polished wooden table, her posture deceptively relaxed but her eyes alert—a ninja's habit that was hard to break even in a sanctuary.
To her right, chaos was unfolding. The moss-headed swordsman, Zoro, was already engaging Lucifer in a drinking contest, challenging the Demon Queen with a feral grin and a loud clinking of imaginary glasses. His boisterous laughter echoed off the walls, a stark contrast to the serene environment Ren had cultivated.
To her left, the shop was quiet, bathed in the warm, amber glow of the pendant lights.
Mai decided to tune out the noise of the swordsman. She needed to center herself. She focused on the ceramic cup sitting on the table in front of her.
It was a simple, elegant cup, radiating a gentle heat that beckoned to her. She reached out, wrapping her fingers around the warm ceramic. The heat seeped into her skin, chasing away the lingering, unnatural chill of the dimensional void she had just traversed. It grounded her in this new reality.
She lifted the cup, bringing it close to her face. She closed her eyes and inhaled.
A fresh, elegant aroma wafted up with the steam, teasing her senses.
"Ren-san called this... Longan and Red Date Tea?" she murmured to herself, recalling his introduction. "He said it was good for vitality and blood circulation."
It smelled sweet, earthy, and comforting—like something a grandmother would brew on a cold winter day.
She took a sip.
Sip.
The hot liquid washed over her tongue, and her eyes widened slightly.
"Hmm~?"
It wasn't just the earthy sweetness of dried longan or the rich, caramel-like warmth of red dates. As the liquid settled on her palate, a surprisingly elegant, floral aroma bloomed in her mouth, revealing layers of complexity she hadn't expected.
"This taste... is that Rose?"
Mai took another sip, analyzing the profile like a connoisseur. The floral note was distinct—dried rose petals that added a sophisticated, perfumed fragrance to the heavy sweetness of the dates. And hidden beneath that was a subtle, tart fruitiness that pricked her tongue pleasantly.
"And... Blueberry?" she whispered, delighted by the discovery. "Sweet, sour, and floral... It's really delicious~."
She smiled, a genuine expression of pleasure softening her features. The shopkeeper was humble. He had introduced it as a simple health tea, but he had layered the flavors like a master perfumer. The blueberries provided a bright acidity that cut through the heaviness of the dates, preventing it from being cloying, while the rose lingered as a fragrant aftertaste that calmed the spirit.
If there's one thing that quenches thirst best, it isn't a sugary soda or an aggressive energy drink. It is water. But if you raise the bar to achieve a level of sophistication that calms the mind and soothes the soul, then tea is the unparalleled champion.
It was a hug in a cup.
While Mai enjoyed her tea, finding a moment of Zen amidst the strangeness, the conversation at the next table continued to escalate.
Lucifer, having accepted Zoro's challenge (mostly to shut him up and prove her superiority), was looking at the swordsman with a mix of amusement and pity. She sat with her legs crossed, swirling her own cup of tea as if it were wine.
"So," Lucifer asked, leaning her chin on her hand and switching topics to stall for time while Ren prepared the alcohol. "You mentioned 'Cops' earlier, Mai. And ninjutsu."
She turned her crimson gaze towards the kunoichi.
"About those smoke bombs... do you make them yourself? Can they be modified to release... say, cursed fog? Or poisonous gas that melts skin?"
Mai chuckled, placing her cup down gently. She turned to the Demon Queen, amused by the morbid curiosity.
"I make them, yes. It's part of the Shiranui training. But cursed fog?" She shook her head, her ponytail swaying. "I'm afraid my skills are limited to gunpowder, flash powder, and misdirection. I am a ninja, not a witch or an alchemist."
Lucifer looked visibly disappointed. She pouted slightly. "Shame. Poison fog is very effective for crowd control. You humans lack imagination."
Mai continued to chat with Lucifer occasionally, clarifying misconceptions about ninjas that the Demon Queen seemed to have picked up from questionable sources (likely anime or Ren's manga collection).
"No, we don't summon giant frogs to ride on."
"No, I cannot walk through solid walls. I climb them."
"Yes, the outfit is traditional. No, I am not cold. My fighting spirit keeps me warm."
Lucifer listened, nodding sagely, though she still looked skeptical about the lack of giant frogs.
Meanwhile, from the kitchen, a change occurred.
A new, rich aroma began to waft out, cutting through the scent of the tea and the floral notes of the shop.
It started faint—a savory whisper—but quickly grew into a roar.
It was the aroma of Meat.
It wasn't just the smell of cooked flesh; it was a symphony of savory notes. It was the smell of soy sauce caramelizing on hot metal. The deep, nutty scent of chestnuts roasting until they burst. The sweetness of rock sugar melting into animal fat.
Zoro, of course, smelled it instantly.
He stopped mid-sentence, his single eye snapping towards the kitchen curtain like a hawk spotting a mouse. His nose twitched.
Even his steadfast martial arts discipline, honed through years of starvation and hardship on the seas, couldn't quite resist this aroma. Some things are not so easy to resist, especially for a man who burns calories by lifting weights the size of buildings.
"Meat..." Zoro grunted, his voice low and hungry. A feral light entered his eye.
Even Mai Shiranui, who had requested vegetarian dishes for her main course to maintain her physique, felt a pang of envy. The aroma was simply too rich. It was the kind of smell that triggered deep, primal hunger, bypassing logic and going straight to the stomach.
You could visualize the scene just by smelling it: A perfectly cut piece of pork belly, trembling with tenderness. Dark, thick sauce slowly dripping down its glistening skin, which glowed like amber under the kitchen lights. The steam rising in slow, thick curls.
Lucifer paused, sniffing delicately. "Oh? That smells heavy. He's making the good stuff."
Just then, the kitchen curtain parted.
The door opened. Ren emerged, pushing a wooden dining cart out unhurriedly.
There was only one black ceramic pot on the cart, but that ceramic pot was massive. It looked like a cauldron capable of feeding a ship's crew.
Ren came to Zoro's side. The swordsman was already gripping his chopsticks like daggers, his Haki flaring slightly in anticipation.
Ren smiled and said, "It seems the appetites in your world are a bit larger than ours. I recall that pirates eat a lot—something about high metabolism and devil fruits. I don't know exactly what your capacity is, so I made a little extra. Better to have leftovers than an empty stomach."
"So, here's the meat you wanted," Ren announced. "And the strong liquor you asked for. This is the same liquor Hawkeye and Shanks drank when they were here. Demon King's Shochu."
He placed a large, sealed jug of sake next to the pot. The jug was heavy, made of dark clay, and sealed with a red cloth.
Then he turned to Mai.
"Miss Mai Shiranui, your dish will take a little longer because the Botan Mochi (Sweet Rice Cakes) still needs to be finalized, and the vegetable stew needs to set. Please wait a few more minutes."
"No problem!" Mai waved her fan, taking another sip of her complex tea. "I can wait. This tea is keeping me company perfectly."
Ren nodded and walked back to the kitchen.
At this point, Zoro finally stopped caring about being calm or cool. He reached out and snatched the heavy ceramic lid off the pot.
Whoosh.
A pillar of white steam rose up, and the restaurant was instantly filled with the aroma.
It was an extremely aggressive scent that you couldn't escape. This aroma was like a demon using a lasso to capture diners. It grabbed you by the nose and dragged you in.
Everything was just as the information their noses had gathered earlier. The reality matched the mental sketch perfectly.
The black ceramic pot was filled to the brim. Perfectly cut cubes of pork belly, glistening dark red, were piled high. No need for fancy plating, no need for artistic embellishment. The sheer volume and color were art enough.
The meat skin glided across the surface of the thick sauce, leaving faint traces as if coated with a thin film of crystal. It emitted an enticing luster under the soft light.
But there was something else.
Nestled closely against the meat pieces were round, golden-brown orbs. Chestnuts. They were stained with the color of the sauce, looking like jewels hidden in the treasure chest.
A few sprigs of fresh cilantro were scattered on top, providing the only touch of green elegance in this sea of meat.
It was very simple. Meat. Chestnuts. Sauce. Nothing else. But the moment the lid was lifted, the visual impact was devastating. It was probably what a pirate's treasure chest looked like when opened—if treasure was edible.
Lucifer saw it from her table. She nodded appreciatively.
"Oh? It's indeed Braised Pork with Chestnuts (Banli Hongshaorou)," Lucifer noted. "A classic Chinese dish. He cooks this well."
That's right. It was Braised Pork with Chestnuts.
This is a dish like the movie Infernal Affairs, with two protagonists, and only two characters: chestnuts and pork. They fight for dominance, but ultimately enhance each other.
The most important part of making this dish is the chestnuts. You must choose autumn chestnuts; chestnuts at this time are a gift from the gods.
At this time of year, the chestnuts are exceptionally soft and glutinous. Chestnuts are never overly sweet like candy, but they have their unique sweet, floury, and nutty texture. This is one of the protagonists.
Secondly, the protagonist of braised pork is naturally the pork.
Pork belly, in the heat of the sauce and temperature, develops a rich texture: the tender elasticity of the skin, the savory softness of the fatty parts, and the soft yet chewy texture of the lean parts.
The skin provides that unforgettable mouthfeel—gelatinous and bouncy. The fatty part provides that rich yet not greasy aroma that coats the tongue. And the lean part carries all the savory flavors of the soy and spices.
Zoro didn't wait for a bowl. He didn't wait for rice.
He picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks. The meat trembled, threatening to fall apart under its own weight.
He threw it into his mouth.
Chomp.
One bite.
It was fragrant. Savory. With a hint of rock sugar sweetness that caramelized on the tongue.
Every piece of meat felt the same upon entry—equally delicious, equally perfect. One bite and you can completely confirm whether you are eating meat. Such layers of texture, such sweet and savory flavors.
When his teeth bit down, the gravy exploded. The meaty aroma, the scent of the soy sauce, and the faint sweetness brought by the chestnuts mixed together in a chaotic harmony.
"Fragrant!" Zoro grunted, his eye widening.
This flavor doesn't even need to reach your taste buds to be understood. The juices and meat sauce that seep out as your teeth chew are enough to prove everything.
Rich yet not greasy. Distinct layers. Fragrant and tender. This is a carnivore's gospel.
This is also a reward that a person cannot refuse after hard work—or a hard fight.
Zoro grabbed the bowl of white rice Ren had provided. He placed several meat pieces on the fragrant rice, then drizzled it with a little of the thick gravy.
He shoveled a mouthful of rice and meat.
Roar~
This perfect combination. The rice absorbed the oil and sauce, becoming savory bombs. This meal is impossible to put down.
This combination is a delicious taste that makes your tongue fall in love~.
With the spirit of an explorer finding the One Piece, Zoro cast aside all burdens. He picked up his hot rice, prepared his chopsticks and appetite, and with anticipation and joy, dived back into the treasure chest in front of him.
This treasure will not disappoint you, because the name of that treasure is Satisfaction.
He then grabbed the jug of Demon King's Shochu. He pulled the cork with his teeth.
Pop.
He took a swig.
The liquid fire burned down his throat, meeting the savory meat in his stomach.
"Hah!" Zoro slammed the jug down. "Good booze! Good meat! This chef... he's not bad!"
Lucifer watched him eat like a barbarian. She shook her head, but a small smile played on her lips.
"Ren really knows how to handle brutes," she whispered. "Feeding them until they are docile."
Just then, the kitchen curtain parted again.
Ren walked out. This time, he held a smaller, more delicate tray.
"Sorry for the wait, Miss Mai," Ren said softly, his voice a gentle contrast to Zoro's chewing. "Here is your Vegetarian Delight (Buddha's Delight) and Botan Mochi."
He placed a plate of glistening, colorful stir-fried vegetables in front of the ninja. The dish was vibrant—snow peas, wood ear mushrooms, tofu puffs, bamboo shoots, and ginkgo nuts, all coated in a light, savory glaze.
Next to it, he placed a small lacquer plate containing three Botan Mochi (Ohagi). They were sweet rice balls covered in thick, textured red bean paste.
Mai's eyes lit up. She clapped her hands together lightly.
"Oh! It looks beautiful!" she exclaimed. "The colors are so vivid."
Ren smiled. "Please enjoy. I'll make you some green tea to go with the sweets later. But for now, the Longan tea should pair well with the savory dish."
Mai picked up her chopsticks. She looked at the Vegetarian Delight. It smelled of sesame oil and ginger.
She took a piece of bamboo shoot.
Crunch.
It was fresh. Crisp. The sauce was light but flavorful, enhancing the natural taste of the vegetables rather than masking them.
"Delicious..." Mai sighed, feeling the fatigue of her journey wash away.
She looked at Zoro, who was devouring his pork, and then at her own elegant meal.
This Restaurant... it really could satisfy everyone. From the beast to the beauty.
"Shopkeeper Ren," Mai said, looking up at him with admiration. "You are truly a magician."
Ren just smiled, wiping the counter. "I'm just a chef. Eat up before it gets cold."
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