Chapter 82
After dividing the ingredients, Kobayashi Rindo immediately hugged a slab of the Elephant Kong meat. Ignoring the fact that it was freezing cold, she carried it straight back to the restaurant. In a corner of the kitchen, Mineo quickly set up a grilling station. At this moment, Rindo and Mineo didn't even need to speak; their division of labor was perfectly harmonious.
One washed the ingredients while the other started the fire. Before long, Rindo had placed the thawed slab of Elephant Kong meat onto the grill rack.
As the temperature from the flames rose, the surface of the meat quickly turned a beautiful golden brown.
There was absolutely no need to brush it with oil; the natural fat contained within the Elephant Kong meat itself began to sizzle, releasing an aroma that would leave any chef utterly entranced!
Kobayashi Rindo stood before the grill, greedily inhaling the scent wafting from the food. From childhood to adulthood, this was the first time she had ever encountered a food that possessed such a dense, wild fragrance.
The surface of the Elephant Kong meat crackled and popped, droplets of rendered oil sliding down the side of the roast. At that moment, Rindo's eyes reflected nothing but endless surprise and anticipation. Just what kind of flavor did Elephant Kong meat actually have!?
Under Rindo's masterful and expert grilling techniques, the dish—Charcoal Grilled Elephant Kong Meat—was soon complete.
Unlike her usual cooking process, because of her bet with Mineo, Rindo hadn't applied any sauce or seasoning to the surface of the meat.
Why were ingredients from the world of Toriko so legendary? The reason was simple: the ingredients born in that world already carried a vast array of rich flavors, even without any seasoning or processing.
This Elephant Kong meat was certainly no exception!
Even with just a simple grilling, the pure, primal aroma radiating from the meat easily surpassed that of a regular roast enhanced by spices.
Then, the moment Kobayashi Rindo impatiently took a bite of the grilled meat, the shock in her heart expanded without limit. Her teeth sank in gently, and rich, pure, delicious meat juices gushed out instantly.
Kobayashi Rindo could have sworn that, since the day she was born, she had never encountered an ingredient that could radiate such a pure, beautiful, and complex flavor without any processing.
This Elephant Kong meat had, without a doubt, shattered her entire worldview!
Crocodile meat, python meat, lizard meat!
They could all get out of the way right now!
Only these special ingredients in Mineo's possession were worthy of being called true "wild game," you understand!?
It was a flavor that was dominant and wild, one that could completely conquer a person's heart even without any seasoning. It truly made her unable to stop eating!
Even though she really didn't want to admit defeat!
Even though she really didn't want to call Mineo "Daddy"!
Even though she really didn't want to acknowledge the ingredients in front of her!
But now, under the assault of the incredible deliciousness radiating from the Elephant Kong meat, Rindo realized she couldn't betray her own heart!
Seeing Kobayashi Rindo standing silently in front of the grill, Mineo walked over to her with a smirk.
"Well then, Student Rindo!"
"Is the taste of this Elephant Kong meat enough to shake your soul?"
"You did all the processing yourself, without adding a single grain of seasoning. The aroma of the meat itself is quite something, isn't it?"
"So... should Student Rindo be ready to admit defeat in our bet now!?"
Seeing Mineo's smug, victorious face, Kobayashi Rindo gnashed her sharp little fangs. She was incredibly annoyed!
Arrogant! How can this guy be so arrogant!
Fine, this ingredient is indeed amazing. It has completely turned my worldview upside down!
I can even say that the deliciousness of this so-called Elephant Kong meat has completely conquered me!
But... do you really intend to make me call you 'Daddy'? Where is your sense of gallantry? Where is your manly generosity!?
Even though her heart was screaming to throw this annoying Mineo onto the grill to be roasted and eaten, Kobayashi Rindo was the type of heroine who took responsibility for her actions.
Gritting her teeth tightly, she glared fiercely at Mineo. Finally, through her thin red lips, she squeezed out the words with great difficulty.
"Daddy!"
"Eh!? A little louder please, I didn't hear you!"
"DADDY!!!"
"Ah, my sweet, darling daughter Rindo is so obedient!"
"You jerk, I'm going to bite you to death!!"
Kobayashi Rindo instinctively reached for the folding baseball bat in her backpack. However, a few seconds later, she sighed and tossed it aside.
Sitting on the sofa with a pout, Rindo shot a look at Mineo.
"I realize it now! You... you did this on purpose to trap me!"
"You calculated that I'd fall for it, didn't you!"
"Takamine Mineo, you're something else. You're really something!"
"I, Kobayashi Rindo, have traveled through the worlds of school and cuisine, and this is the first time I've suffered such a huge loss!"
"But I'm a big-hearted lady, so I won't hold it against you! Considering you treated me to this Elephant Kong meat and broadened my horizons, I'll overlook the fact that you took advantage of me and set a trap."
"As compensation, I'll buy all those magical ingredients in your storehouse. I'll pay you market price, you don't mind, right!?"
"Pay me market price? I'm telling you, Rindo, do you even know the market value of those things? Even if you offered all the money in the world, they are items with a price but zero stock! Sell them to you? Not a chance!"
"Come on, Mineo, don't be such a cheapskate! I've known you for several years now, we're at least friends, right! Look, you called once and I came all this way just to see you. Isn't it a bit rude to treat me like this now!?"
"I've never claimed to be a polite person! Being polite is exhausting. Compared to being a gentleman, I'd much rather be the villain."
"Then what do you want me to do? My curiosity and my tongue have been completely captivated by your ingredients! Do you really intend to just kick me out and send me home??"
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
50 Power Stone = 1 Bonus Chapter (Up to 5 bonus chapters per week).
Read ahead and support the story on Patreon: patreon.com/FaaanzKun
✅ 45+ chapters ahead of WebNovel
✅ 5 new chapters every day (Monday–Saturday), exclusive on Patreon
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —