Chapter 619: Heavy Motherly Love, Asuna Departs
The moment Ren set the plate down, Justice blurred into motion. Her speed at the table suddenly skyrocketed, clearing the dish with a practiced, predatory efficiency that drew soft gasps from the surrounding girls. She finished in the blink of an eye, leaving the porcelain completely spotless.
Erina and the other aspiring chefs did not waste a single second. Impatient and burning with culinary ambition, they seized the dining cart and immediately pushed it toward the kitchen doors. They were entirely too eager to absorb whatever advanced techniques Ren was about to display.
Lucifer leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms above her head with a lazy, satisfied groan. "Those girls certainly have boundless energy. But tell me, Riven, do you actually think Erina and her friends' cooking is up to standard?"
Riven considered the question for a brief moment, her expression remaining stoic. "It is delicious."
Nami nodded in emphatic agreement beside them.
Ichihara Yuko rested her chin against her hand, a slow, teasing smile curving her lips. "I cannot speak for the exact culinary merits of the dish, but Lucifer... your figure certainly seems to have benefited from it."
A bright flush instantly painted Lucifer's cheeks. She let out a sharp, indignant huff and practically threw herself to Yuko's side, leaning in to whisper something heated into the witch's ear.
A moment later, Yuko's own pale cheeks tinted crimson. "My, Lucifer! To think you would actually say something so scandalous aloud!"
"Hmph. You still have a long way to go, little girl."
Lucifer deliberately emphasized the word 'girl', leaning back with a triumphant smirk. Yuko's mouth twitched slightly, her usual enigmatic composure cracking just enough to leave her temporarily speechless.
While the older women engaged in their teasing banter, Jabami Yumeko was busy familiarizing herself with the rest of the tavern's eclectic patrons. The general consensus among the regulars was immediate: Yumeko presented herself as a gentle, highly intellectual young lady of breeding, while Yomotsuki Runa was simply a quirky, hyperactive little girl clutching a lollipop.
Momobami Kirari merely sat back and listened, a faint, aristocratic smile resting on her lips the entire time. Yuko, possessing a far sharper eye for the supernatural and the abnormal, naturally knew the truth. The three newcomers sitting across the room were incredibly, dangerously outrageous in their own unique ways.
Stepping out of the kitchen, Ren took in the lively, chaotic atmosphere. He knew immediately that this particular crowd cared very little about the complex details of what they were eating. The only one who rigidly stuck to her dietary principles was Cerberus, who absolutely refused to touch a plate unless it was piled high with meat.
Ren shook his head with a helpless, amused sigh. Where did these women even find such ridiculous topics to discuss? But the most absurd sight of all was happening at the corner table. Jabami Yumeko, with a sweet smile and a deck of cards, was actually roping Cerberus and the others into a gambling match.
The squeak of wheels drew everyone's attention as Erina and her group pushed the empty dining cart back out into the main hall.
Ren offered a slight smile. "Well, it proves that having Erina and the others come over was the right decision. I do not even need to push the cart myself anymore."
Akanegakubo Momo, tightly hugging her stuffed bear Bucchi against her chest, looked up at him through her lashes. "Shopkeeper Ren... I always feel like you skip a massive part of the process when you teach. It makes learning from you rather..."
"Sometimes the process is entirely irrelevant," Ren interrupted casually, wiping his hands on a towel. "Because ultimately, no one can judge the struggle of the process except yourself. The final result on the plate is often the only thing that truly matters."
Riven let out a rare, soft breath of amusement. "Ah. There it is. Ren's signature bitter medicine."
"Bitter medicine cures the sickness," Ren replied dryly. "Alright, you all go ahead and eat. Kirari, what will you and Sayaka be having tonight?"
Kirari's icy blue eyes shifted toward him, her smile elegant and measured. "Sayaka and I will have the exact same dishes as our previous visit."
"Understood. Runa, what about you and Yumeko?"
Yumeko tapped a manicured finger against her cheek, her eyes gleaming with hidden excitement. "What to eat, indeed... I am entirely unsure. Why don't you decide for me, Mr. Ren? I trust your judgment completely."
Runa kicked her legs under the table, grinning around her candy. "Mm-hmm! Me too! We'll leave our fate in your hands, Mr. Ren!"
Ren released a long, slow sigh. "You all certainly make ordering sound like a life-or-death gamble. Fine, I understand. Please wait a moment. What would you like to drink?"
"We can discuss the beverages later," Kirari said smoothly. "Let us have something to eat first."
Ren nodded and walked toward the front entrance. He reached up, flipped the wooden sign to 'Open', and paused. The cool night air brushed against his face, carrying a strange, prickling sensation. He narrowed his eyes, staring out into the darkened street.
'Is it just my imagination?'he thought, his gaze sweeping the shadows.'Why did it feel like someone was watching the tavern just now?'
Finding nothing but empty cobblestones, Ren dismissed the thought and turned back toward the kitchen.
Across the room, Erina immediately tried to stand up to follow him. Before she could even straighten her knees, a firm hand clamped down on her shoulder, forcing her right back into her seat.
Nakiri Mana glared down at her daughter, her voice dripping with exasperation. "Erina, sit down and eat your meal properly! Why are you constantly running around like a headless chicken?"
"Because I need to go learn..." Erina protested weakly, shrinking under the intense gaze.
Mana unceremoniously poked Erina directly in the center of her forehead. "Since when is there a time limit on learning to cook? This is not your last meal on earth. At worst, you can simply order these exact dishes for dinner tomorrow. Now, hurry up and eat."
Defeated, Erina slumped back into her chair beside her mother. Watching the usually haughty God's Tongue obediently pick up her utensils and eat in total silence brought a satisfied nod from Mana.
Rantabi covered her mouth, hiding a small smile. "Lady Mana certainly has a very reliable side to her."
"I am her mother, and I am Alice's aunt," Mana declared, her tone leaving absolutely no room for argument. "I am perfectly capable of managing both of them. They are my family, and keeping them in line is simply a woman's nature. This is the sheer weight of maternal love."
The entire table fell dead silent.
Erina kept her eyes glued to her plate, whispering under her breath, "Suddenly, maternal love feels like a very heavy, terrifying thing..."
Mana shot a sharp side-glance at her daughter. Erina instantly lowered her head further, shoveling food into her mouth with mechanical precision. Despite the strictness, the underlying warmth of Mana's concern still managed to touch something deep within Erina's chest.
Satisfied, Mana shifted her gaze across the table. Rantabi immediately straightened her spine, composing her posture and eating with perfect, aristocratic manners. Mana's commanding aura had practically expanded to fill the entire dining area, suffocating any thoughts of rebellion.
"Um... Aunt Mana..."
Mana slowly narrowed her eyes, locking onto her niece. "Alice. What exactly are you going to say now, little girl?"
Alice swallowed hard, her usual bravado entirely absent. "Um... Mom just texted. She said she's coming over in a little while..."
Mana blinked, the heavy, overbearing aura instantly vanishing. She waved a hand casually. "Got it. Hurry up and finish your food, then. Even if you plan to stay and learn cooking tonight, you are not allowed to stay up too late. Did you hear me?"
"Yes, ma'am..." the girls chorused in unison.
While the lively chaos continued inside the tavern, the atmosphere in a luxurious mansion across the city was entirely different.
A young girl with long, chestnut hair stood before a full-length mirror, smoothing down the fabric of her carefully chosen outfit. She let out a long, shaky breath, pressing a hand against her chest. "Why do I suddenly feel so incredibly nervous...?"
"Asuna, are you ready?"
The voice calling from the hallway made Asuna jump. Her body gave a slight tremble before she quickly raised her voice. "I'm ready! I'm coming out now!"
Outside the bedroom door, a woman dressed in a sharp, immaculate business suit was just reaching for her phone to check the time. As the door clicked open, she paused, her eyes sweeping over her daughter's appearance.
Yuuki Kyouko blinked in mild surprise. "Asuna, did you put on makeup?"
Asuna offered a bright, entirely practiced smile. "Of course. I'm going out to eat with my mother, after all."
Kyouko's lips curved into a gentle, knowing smile. "Are you absolutely sure it isn't for some other reason?"
"Of course not. Mom, you're acting so strange tonight."
Seeing the flawless, natural expression on her daughter's face, Kyouko let the matter drop with a soft chuckle. "Alright, I will take your word for it. But are you entirely certain this restaurant is actually open at this hour? It is quite late for a dining establishment."
"Yes," Asuna said, her voice softening with genuine warmth. "Shopkeeper Ren once told me that the customers who willingly abandon the bustling, brightly lit streets to seek out his tavern late at night must be interesting people with deep stories. He said that is exactly the kind of existence his shop needs to be."
Kyouko paused, her hand resting on the doorknob. She turned the words over in her mind, her expression turning thoughtful. She nodded slowly. "He sounds like a rather fascinating man. Come, Asuna. Tell me more about this shop of yours. We can talk as we walk. You mentioned it was close by, so there is no need for the driver, correct?"
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