Outsider
- Can change the surrounding terrain at any time and encounter special Gourmet Creatures.
Zephyr recalled the description of Outsider. So, the location the team arrived at was not some safe floor at all, but a special level customized by the Dungeon specifically for him.
Immediately after, he noticed the trees ahead. The hanging meat chunks glistened with a golden, oily sheen, and the fragrance drifted over on the breeze.
Deep in the dark forest, mushrooms with caps completely coated in chocolate sauce poked their heads out from the grass.
There were also patches of golden pasta grass, mushrooms that looked like cotton candy, and lush orange trees.
Where the hell did I end up? Is this still the Dungeon?
Zephyr was a bit bewildered. If he weren't constantly reminding himself that he was in the Dungeon, he would have thought that he had arrived in the world of Toriko.
But thinking back on his turbulent journey as an Adventurer after transmigrating—being targeted by Zanis, the falling out and storming into the Familia headquarters, the Infant Dragon conquest...
Perhaps this was the Dungeon having a change of heart and preparing a bonus level for him?
Zephyr realized that this was the perfect farewell banquet for Charles, Kate, and the others who were about to leave Orario.
"What's going on here?" Charles was also feeling bewildered.
When he saw the Barbecue Pig, he had thought it was just an isolated incident.
But now?
Charles reached out to rub his eyes and looked at the patch of pasta grass in front of him, then turned his head to look at the meat tree, his mind crashing.
"Dungeon... how could it grow this kind of stuff?"
"And it looks..."
He gulped and whispered, "It feels like these things would actually be quite delicious."
"Charles."
Kate reached out to tug on his sleeve, feeling exhausted. "Can you not speak yet? My head is a mess right now."
Lefiya, on the other hand, was different. She observed her surroundings with interest, but it was only to the extent of looking. After all, the panacea she had bought had already been used during the fight against the Infant Dragon. Now, rashly trying these unknown things that looked like food, she was a bit worried about safety issues.
When Lefiya looked at Zephyr, she had an indescribable feeling—the changes here seemed to have an inseparable connection to him.
But she didn't voice her confusion, instead asking Zephyr, "Then... what is the situation here?"
"Probably... Maybe it's a bonus level from the Dungeon?"
Zephyr didn't know how to explain it. Following Loki's instructions, he couldn't tell even his closest companions about the skills he possessed to ensure the skill effects wouldn't spread.
He looked out over the area, and with a relaxed smile, actively changed the subject, "I feel like it should be called Gourmet Paradise? What do you think?"
Charles nodded.
Compared to the 18th floor, this place was clearly more interesting.
"I think it's very fitting. Did you mean just now that everything we see in front of us can be eaten?"
"Of course." Zephyr answered quite frankly.
What he was most worried about was that Outsider would prevent Charles from completing his exploration goals. But now it seemed that he could use this Gourmet Paradise to leave unforgettable experiences for his close companions before they left Orario.
Zephyr suggested, "Let's explore the surroundings first. After confirming there are no other dangers, we'll find a place to set up a temporary camp."
The rest of the team had no objections.
This Gourmet Paradise wasn't actually as vast as Zephyr had imagined. If one were to speak of the scale, it was about the size of two football fields.
But the number of unique ingredients here was quite high. Meat Tree, Chocolate Mushrooms—these things that only existed in fantasy, appeared in front of everyone.
"Zephyr."
Kate crouched next to a chocolate mushroom and poked the cap with her dagger. The tip of the blade was stained with chocolate sauce.
Her gaze was fixed on Zephyr in the distance, her eyes full of complexity. "Can it really be eaten?"
"It can be eaten."
Zephyr crouched down and reached out to pull up a piece of Macaroni Grass. It was a pity that it was raw, it needed to be cooked before it could be eaten.
"We can collect some ingredients along the way or something."
He had roughly scanned the prompts given by the system and could confirm they were completely non-toxic. Also, their capture levels were all around 1 and didn't really help much with increasing his stats.
However, during this period, Zephyr didn't want to think about that so much.
If the meaning of being a Gourmet Hunter was just a tool to gt stronger, then when exactly would he be able to write his own unique Full Course Menu?
Zephyr didn't know either.
Perhaps, a true Gourmet Hunter fights in pursuit of more delicious gourmet food.
Just after he figured this out, a system prompt appeared before Zephyr's eyes.
[As a novice Gourmet Hunter, you are gradually grasping the true meaning of gourmet food. Please start creating your own Full Course Menu.]
[Task Requirements: None]
"?"
You give me a task without giving me any hints at all?
But Zephyr knew that if he let the system help make choices and eventually create a Full Course Menu, that definitely wouldn't be what he wanted.
Just then, Lefiya approached him. "Um... Is something the matter?"
"It's nothing." Zephyr shook his head.
He moved his gaze away from the Macaroni Grass in front of him, his smile softening. "I was just thinking about how to make this meal well."
Upon hearing this, Lefiya rolled her sleeves up to her elbows, her smile earnest. "Then... let me help you?"
"Sure."
—
The meal was sumptuous. It was mainly because the variety of raw materials around was extremely rich.
Meat from the Meat tree were cut off and cooked with the barbecue seasonings they had brought earlier; the golden charred crust on the surface of the meat chunks glistened with an alluring sheen.
After boiling the Macaroni Grass in water, and sprinkling it with powder made from Parmesansho Fruit, the rich fragrance permeated the grassland.
Almond Cabbage was shredded and made into a salad.
There was also dessert. Chocolate mushrooms and Marshmalrocks—neither of these required any cooking. Just washing them and arranging them on a wooden platter was enticing.
The most crucial part was the highlight of this feast: charcoal-grilled Crab Pig meat.
Zephyr cut the Crab Pig meat into uniform pieces and marinated them. Then he tossed them onto the iron plate, and slowly grilled them while managing the heat.
Once the team members finished their own tasks, they came over to help Zephyr.
Charles took charge of the physical labor of hauling firewood.
Kate and Lefiya handled the vegetables.
Lili carefully distributed the tableware on the side, arranging everything neatly according to the number of people.
Thus, this extremely sumptuous dinner was soon served on the grassy clearing with the makeshift dining table through everyone's collaboration.
Looking at the feast piled up like a small hill, Zephyr, who had unknowingly become the backbone of the group, poured the freshly squeezed orange juice into everyone's cups.
The orange liquid swayed in the cups, emitting a sweet and mellow fragrance, while the subtle tartness stimulated the taste buds.
Immediately after, Zephyr raised his full cup of orange juice and signaled to everyone sitting around the lawn. "Everyone, let's dig in!"
"Time to eat!"
Charles was already starving. He picked up a piece of Crab Pig meat and shoved it into his mouth. As he chewed, his entire face was filled with satisfaction, and he couldn't even speak clearly.
"So good..."
"Kate, you absolutely have to try this. It's way better than that meat tree."
Kate sat beside him, picking up some salad. Paired with the oily grilled meat, it was refreshing and helped cut through the greasiness of the fat.
"Indeed. It's quite delicious."
Lefiya chose to try the chocolate mushroom first. As she bit into it cautiously, the chocolate shell of the cap was crushed by her teeth, revealing a soft white chocolate texture inside. She girl blinked, carefully savoring the rich flavor.
"So sweet... but I love it..."