Chapter 313: Yuuka Kazami: Am I the Only One Awake?
Ren opted against making anything overly complicated for Nami; he simply set down a steaming portion of cheese-baked rice in front of her. After all, pairing fruit juice—especially sharp citrus—with heavy seafood was a culinary disaster waiting to happen. A light squeeze of lemon or calamansi was one thing, but downing an entire glass? That was asking for trouble.
The result was instantaneous. Nami, having never experienced cheese-baked rice before, fell hopelessly in love with the dish the moment it hit her tongue. More accurately, the impossibly rich, gooey texture completely won her over. What could possibly be more satisfying than taking a massive bite of savory, decadent rice, overflowing with fresh ingredients, right when emotions were running at their absolute peak? If there was one thing, it would be following that heavy, savory mouthful with a massive gulp of ice-cold fruit juice. It was a top-tier sensory experience: refreshing yet rich, perfectly contrasting hot and cold. 'Absolute satisfaction' was the only way to describe her current state.
Zoro, seated across from her, was in a similar state of bliss. For a heavy drinker like the swordsman, any dish that paired well with alcohol was a dish worth praising. Meat and liquor were practically inseparable in his mind, making it impossible for him to resist such hearty, savory flavors.
Ren leaned against the counter, a faint, amused smile playing on his lips as he watched the two younger pirates devour their meals. There was something inherently fascinating about watching people eat, especially when you were the chef who prepared the food. Seeing them practically inhale his cooking was the highest form of praise he could ask for. Fortunately, Ren's culinary skills had never been a subject of complaint.
Given his intense training regimen and high activity level as a man, Zoro naturally possessed a monstrous appetite. In the blink of an eye, he had already demanded three more bowls of rice, yet he still looked completely unsatisfied.
Clow Reed pushed up his glasses, a gentle smile on his face. "What an astonishing appetite. But given that it's Shopkeeper Ren's cooking, it isn't surprising at all..."
"I have to agree with that. Mr. Ren's cooking is indeed absolutely delicious," the woman replied.
"So why haven't you finished your sweet and sour pork yet?" Clow Reed asked.
The woman shot him a grumpy look. "Good food should be savored slowly, just like fine wine. It's much more interesting that way~"
Clow Reed chuckled. "I don't know why, but hearing you say that feels incredibly strange. Logically speaking, aren't you the one who doesn't have much time left to live?"
"Perhaps, but at least when it comes to eating, I know exactly how to enjoy myself~" she retorted. "But..." She narrowed her eyes at him. "What exactly are you writing in there, you two-faced glasses guy? Why haven't you finished it yet?"
Clow Reed glanced down at his notebook, his tone playful. "It's a secret~ You'll find out eventually. What's the point of ruining the surprise now?"
The woman's mouth twitched in annoyance. Parting her crimson lips to bite into a piece of pork rib, she grumbled, "This is exactly why talking to you makes me so angry~"
"Hmm... I actually consider myself quite refined and amiable," Clow Reed mused. "In that regard, I think I'm quite similar to Shopkeeper Ren~"
Hearing this, the woman's eye twitched violently.
Ren let out a helpless sigh. "Why does a topic like this always get dragged back to me...? Though, I suppose I am quite amiable~"
Hearing this, Nami quickly chimed in. "Mm! The Shopkeeper is incredibly nice!"
Zoro nodded firmly in agreement. "Yeah. The Shopkeeper, with his strength and his character, is a man truly worthy of respect! He's definitely one of the people I aim to surpass!"
Listening to their glowing evaluations of Ren, Yuuka Kazami's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. Haven't your eyes been updated yet?! Is this man—the exact same man who takes immense pleasure in tormenting delicate, seventeen-year-old beautiful girls—really the saint you're describing?! At that moment, she had the overwhelming urge to blast each of them with a luxurious, full-powered magic cannon just to wake them up and show them what kind of devil was truly standing in front of them.
Lucifer shared Yuuka Kazami's exact sentiments. She glared at Ren with a deeply resentful expression. Out of everyone here, she was arguably the one most intimately aware of how terrifying Ren could be when his mischievous side emerged. If she wasn't, she wouldn't be hiding her tail in fear inside her very own home.
Oblivious to their internal glaring, Ren smiled. "You're praising me so much, I'm actually a bit at a loss. But... this feeling isn't bad at all~"
Clow Reed nodded, his smile widening. "Indeed, it doesn't feel bad at all~"
"What does that have to do with you?!" the woman snapped irritably.
Clow Reed replied matter-of-factly, not batting an eye. "Because I share a very similar personality with Shopkeeper Ren~ So I can relate to him quite a bit~"
The corner of the woman's mouth twitched again. Good heavens. She wondered if this dark-bellied, glasses-wearing guy had eaten too much, lacked sweets in his system, or if he was simply letting completely loose because he was about to kick the bucket!
In reality, her final guess was entirely correct. Clow Reed had thoroughly enjoyed the delicious meal, and the sheer passion radiating from Zoro's eating had ignited a spark within him, leading to his unusually uninhibited mood.
Suddenly, Zoro thought of something and looked up at Ren. "Shopkeeper Ren, do you drink alcohol?"
Ren was momentarily startled by the question. "Of course I do, but what are you looking for? You want a drinking buddy?"
"Drinking alone is way too boring~" Zoro grumbled.
Ren tapped his chin, pondering for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Clow Reed and the young lady over there have already had some drinks, and Zoro, you've knocked back quite a bit yourself. It does feel a bit odd for me to stay completely sober~"
With that, he turned on his heel and headed back into the kitchen. When he emerged a few moments later, his fingers were wrapped around a pitch-black flask.
Zoro raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "What kind of alcohol is that?"
Ren's lips curled into a lazy smirk. "A kind of alcohol you definitely can't handle~"
"Huh? Impossible!" Zoro shot back indignantly.
Ren merely smiled and popped the wooden stopper. Instead of the heavy, pungent stench of cheap wine, a sharp, crystalline fragrance wafted out, filling the air. Zoro sat stunned for a second, watching intently as Ren poured a generous measure into a bowl and silently gestured for him to try it. The swordsman scoffed; he refused to believe there was any liquor on earth he couldn't drink.
He took a confident gulp.
"Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey! What the hell kind of alcohol is this?!" Zoro sputtered, violently spitting the liquid out. His face contorted wildly. "Why is it so spicy?! And so bitter?!"
Ren watched the swordsman stick his tongue out, clearly stung by the fiery spice. "Looks like you still have a lot to learn~" Ren teased smoothly.
To prove his point, Ren picked up his black flask and gently clinked it against Zoro's half-empty bowl. Then, under Zoro's completely horrified gaze, Ren took a massive swig directly from the flask, downing the entire pot of strong liquor without his expression shifting even a fraction.
Zoro swallowed hard, the burn still lingering in his throat. But pride refused to let him back down. Looking entirely unconvinced, he picked his bowl back up and grinned fiercely. "It's just one bowl of alcohol?! Easy!"
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