Toriko: Gourmet Chat Group

"Such incredible knife skills."

To celebrate, Atashino started cooking in Melk's workshop with her new knives. After getting used to them, she found the handling was amazing, as if they were an extension of her own arms. Melk the Second watched from the side in astonishment. She was a grinder, but if you asked her to cut vegetables like that... yeah, I really can't do that.

Everyone has their specialty. It was true that every field has its own geniuses.

"In the field of grinding, Second, you already stand at the pinnacle," Kenji said with a smile. If a Gourmet Demon dwelled within Melk the Second's Gourmet Cells, it was probably one related to grinding.

"Kenji is right. Little sister Second, your grinding technique is truly amazing. The knives you forged and ground are absolutely fantastic!"

Atashino couldn't put the two knives down. For her, they were like giving wings to a tiger, allowing her to handle many ingredients that previously required extremely delicate care.

For a grinder, being praised for their knives was the happiest thing in the world.

"Melk's Stardust is certainly a delicious seasoning, but it tends to easily mask the original flavor of the ingredients," Atashino concluded after a taste, summarizing the issue with the seasoning.

"I still have a piece of Jewel Meat left. That should be able to match it, right?" Kenji said, taking out a small box containing a piece of glittering Jewel Meat he had specially saved from the Biotope garden.

"I think it can." Atashino nodded. The impactful flavor of Jewel Meat wouldn't be overshadowed by the Melk's Stardust; in fact, the combination might even create a more brilliant spark.

"Time to eat!"

The moment the three of them ate the Jewel Meat seasoned with Melk's Stardust, their bodies began to glow. Though it was nighttime, the surrounding area lit up as if it were day.

Jewel Meat already had an impactful presence on its own, and when paired with Melk's Stardust, its flavor was elevated to a whole new level. It was impossible to stop eating, almost like an addiction. Melk's Stardust was a special kind of seasoning; because it was so overwhelmingly delicious, one could become an addict if they didn't exercise self-control. After eating it, all other seasonings would taste bland and uninteresting.

"Thank you for the meal!" Melk the Second said, patting her stomach. Living in such a remote place, it was rare for her to eat such a delicious meal.

"Second, after we leave, the Heavenly King Toriko will probably come here," Kenji advised her. "He's coming to capture Melk's Stardust as a task from President Ichiryu. So, for now, don't tell him you have a supply of it here."

"I understand. And... thank you again, for everything."

"If you want to thank us, why not change back to your girly appearance? Right, Atashino?"

"Mm... alright." Melk the Second didn't hesitate. She took off her headband, and her long, smooth black hair cascaded down. The cross-shaped scar on her face only added a certain dashing charm to her features.

"Girls like to be beautiful. Let me fix that for you." Kenji reached out and gently stroked her cheek. Starlight flowed from his palm. Melk the Second felt a tingling numbness where the scar was. The warmth from his hand on her cheek made her blush slightly.

"There."

The scar on Melk the Second's face wasn't from her Gourmet Cells, but a simple cut from a knife in her childhood. Although many years had passed, it was easy to repair.

"Thank you." She reached up and gently touched her own cheek. It was as smooth as jade. Without the scar that had been with her for so many years, she felt a little disoriented and found it hard to get used to.

Atashino's mouth twitched slightly. Kenji had certainly left a deep impression on Melk the Second now. But she had to admit, there was a strange attractive quality to Kenji, perhaps stemming from the mystery of his power.

Meanwhile, in the Gourmet World's Ungra Forest.

As soon as Toriko descended from the Sky Vegetable Garden, he had impatiently entered the Gourmet World, only to receive a harsh beating from it. The gravity and the beasts were more than he could handle, and he was struggling just to stay alive.

The Gourmet World equally elbow-strikes every iron-headed newbie.

"Toriko, the Gourmet World is no place for you right now."

"Go back to the Human World. Come back when you're ready."

A young-looking Jiro and Setsuno appeared. Having finished their stroll through the Human World, they had decided to visit the Gourmet World and happened to find Toriko surrounded by a flock of Beak Toads.

A newborn calf that doesn't fear the tiger. But his luck was good that they had shown up.

"Master Jiro? Granny Setsu?" Toriko gasped, letting out a long breath. He was saved. Just a moment ago, he had truly, distinctly smelled the scent of death.

Kenji, you weren't lying to me.

Teyvat—Fontaine.

"Kenji, you're here! Quick, come sit over here ♪," a certain pink fatty waved.

Kenji was covered in question marks. Did I come to the wrong world? Is this Honkai? No, this is right... Elysia, what are you doing here, acting like you own the place?

Kenji plopped down next to Elysia, finding it a bit of a squeeze. Elysia, have you gotten fatter again?

"Heehee, Kenji, let me show you something pretty ♪."

Snap!

Elysia snapped her fingers, and a spatial portal appeared in front of her. Seeing this, Kenji's face showed his surprise.

"The authority of the Herrscher of the Void?" Elysia shouldn't have been able to do this before, yet here she was, undeniably using the Void Herrscher's power.

"That's right ♪!"

"Mobius and I asked for the Core of the Void, and it turns out I can actually use it!" Elysia reached a hand through her ample chest and pulled out a peculiar gem: the Core of the Herrscher of the Void.

Are Herrscher Cores hot-swappable now? I remember it wasn't like this when Kiana took the Gem of Conquest from Mei.

Kenji took the core and observed it for a moment. It seemed Elysia could become a multi-core Herrscher. He also wondered if it was his imagination, but the core seemed to have a faint milky scent.

"This is so important. Is Mobius really okay with giving it to you?" Kenji asked, handing the core back to Elysia. He had no use for it. The Previous Era hadn't started making Divine Keys yet, so the Herrscher Cores were little more than research curiosities.

"Mobius might have sensed that I'm special, but she didn't say anything," Elysia said, a little troubled. Is my cover about to be blown? she wondered. She didn't know if Mobius would treat her as an enemy if she found out she was a Herrscher.

No, Kenji thought, if Mobius found out you were a Herrscher, she'd be more enthusiastic than ever... to invite you onto her operating table for a real heart-to-heart talk. After all, this was a living Herrscher.

"In that case, Elysia, why don't you also take the Cores of Reason and Thunder into your body?"

"It's not that I couldn't, but the people at Fire Moth would probably panic." One Herrscher Core for Mobius to study was already a good deal. If all three gems ended up in Elysia's hands, it would be a completely different story.

"True. Those insects know nothing of the Honkai."

"By the way, where's Fufu?"

The Palais Mermonia was still Furina's residence. Since her identity hadn't been exposed, she hadn't moved out. With the confidence brought by her new power as an Emanator, she was even less likely to let any clues slip.

Focalors' thoughts: Although Fufu is the most perfect human, the power she possesses now makes even us gods feel inadequate.

Furina had already surpassed Focalors. Furina had become the Perfect Furina. If before, Zhongli's shield felt like the ultimate safety, now, no one in Teyvat could likely break Furina's defense. An Emanator of Preservation wasn't just good at defense; their attack power wouldn't be weak either.

"Fufu went to watch a trial. This country of Fontaine is so strange. The trials are just like plays," Elysia said, unable to quite understand it. Almost every trial had a huge audience.

Yes, Kenji thought. In the normal course of events, for Furina, everything would end in a grand, theatrical trial.

"It's a Fontaine specialty."

Kenji could vaguely sense a powerful energy in Fontaine. It was likely the Indemnitium that had been accumulating for hundreds of years—a mighty power capable of destroying the Hydro Archon's divine throne.

But he wondered, with such enormous energy, could Celestia truly be unaware of it?

~~~

We cross the 1200 power stone goal and as promise here the bonus chapter

Next goal 1350 power stone, good luck guys.

~~~

Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!

https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn

~~~

Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters

Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter