Chapter 147: Lucoa Wants to Offer On-Site Guidance!
While preparing lunch, Ryohei Tanaka took a moment to try the unicorn tenderloin sashimi. It was his first time eating raw meat; he had always found the idea a bit too intense, both physically and mentally. But after hearing Minos's poetic description of it as "ice cream made of meat" with a "rich, milky fragrance and a sweet, nutty flavor"—and seeing how much everyone else was enjoying it—his curiosity and his trust in his own cooking skills won out.
And he had to admit, it was truly delicious. It really did have an ice cream-like, melts-in-your-mouth texture. The fat in the Dark Unicorn tenderloin seemed to have an extremely low melting point. The moment he bit down, it was as if the fat instantly liquefied, creating a delicate, creamy sensation rather than the fibrous texture of ordinary meat. The special dipping sauce cut through the richness of the fat while simultaneously enhancing the natural sweetness and flavor of the tenderloin, leaving a lingering, unforgettable taste.
...
"It would be great if we could eat something this good all the time," Minos said, licking her pink lips, wanting more after the small plate of sashimi was devoured in just a few bites. She looked longingly at the remaining sashimi in the kitchen.
"In your dreams," Jashin-chan retorted with a sideways glance, pouring cold water on her hopes. "This stuff is priceless and almost impossible to find. We're lucky to have it even once."
"Eh? Is it really that rare of an ingredient?" Ryohei asked, surprised. He had assumed Medusa had just brought an expensive, high-end cut of meat, not a priceless treasure.
"It's not that bad," Medusa said with a charming smile, her voice sweet. "But it is quite difficult to buy. Dark Unicorns are very few in number and incredibly fast, so not many people can catch them. They're often out of stock..."
"In my world, we have Light-attribute unicorns, and they're also very rare," Lucoa added, her left arm supporting her ample bosom as she tapped her cheek with a slender finger, seemingly lost in thought. "I remember the meat being very tender and having an excellent texture..."
It was clear she had eaten it before. Minos looked at Lucoa with a hint of envy. The demon world didn't have Light-attribute unicorns, and she was desperate to try one. She wondered how different it would taste from its dark counterpart.
...
As they chatted, Ryohei finished preparing lunch. The star of the show was Unicorn Steak with Pasta.
The thick-cut, glowing steaks were generously portioned and lay beautifully on the white ceramic plates, a satisfying sight in themselves. The surface was a tempting, caramelized brown, glistening with savory juices. When cut, it revealed a tender, pink interior, the juices slowly seeping out and releasing an intoxicating aroma. The pasta, coated in a silky sauce, was artfully tangled together and garnished with bright red cherry tomatoes, vibrant green spinach, and a perfectly fried egg. The steam rising from the plates carried the fragrance straight to their noses, making it impossible to resist digging in.
"Itadakimasu!"
Without much fanfare, everyone began to eat.
Ryohei cut a piece of the steak and put it in his mouth. A rich, fragrant flavor immediately filled his senses. He bit down, and once again, he was met with that incredibly tender, melts-in-your-mouth texture. But this time, it was a completely different experience from the ice cream-like sashimi. This was a volcanic eruption of sensation.
A torrent of hot, savory juices, like molten lava, burst forth from the steak, overwhelming his taste buds and forcing a look of pure bliss onto his face.
"Unbelievably tender and juicy... Every bite releases an even deeper level of sweetness!" Ryohei twirled a large forkful of pasta, savoring it along with the lingering taste of the steak. It was incredibly delicious.
"This is so good!" Medusa exclaimed, cupping her cheek with one hand, the deliciousness making her feel weak at the knees.
Meanwhile, Minos's cheeks were puffed out as she chewed on a large piece of steak, her face overflowing with happiness. 'As I thought, it's even more delicious when it's pan-seared!' The cooked tenderloin had elevated the flavor to a whole new dimension.
'This power...' Minos's eyes glazed over. 'I can't resist it!'
...
In the dark forest...
"Hiss—!"
The Dark Unicorn, covered in wounds and fleeing for its life, was cornered by Minos. It suddenly reared up on its hind legs and let out a piercing cry at the blood-red moon. In an instant, a dense wave of dark energy surged forth, enveloping it in a black cocoon of light.
"What is this...?"
The sudden turn of events made Minos stop in her tracks. She gripped her giant axe and watched the cocoon warily, a sense of foreboding creeping up her spine.
Crack—!
The cocoon shattered. A black shadow tore through the moonlight at a speed the naked eye could barely follow, appearing right in front of Minos. The two ethereal blue flames in its eyes left fleeting blue trails in the air.
'So fast!'
Minos's pupils contracted. She instinctively stomped on the ground and leaped backward, swinging her axe at the figure before her. But the figure was faster. It swiped its claws, and a sharp gust of wind left a red gash across Minos's chest.
In an instant, the roles of hunter and prey had been reversed.
...
Back in the real world...
"A duet of ice and fire, full of twists and surprises!" Lucoa praised with a smile, her mouth greasy as she cut into her steak.
"One meat, two ways to eat it, and two completely different experiences..." Yurine said, thoroughly enjoying her meal.
...
After lunch, it was nearly noon. Jashin-chan was left to clean the dishes and the kitchen.
Ryohei turned to Yurine. "Ready to go?"
"Mhm, let's go," Yurine nodded, getting up from the table. Ryohei stood up as well.
The others looked at them, confused. They had just gotten back, where were they going now?
"Yurine and I are going out," Ryohei announced. "We won't be back tonight."
Medusa blinked her enchanting purple eyes, her long lashes fluttering. She seemed to understand. She covered her slightly parted lips with her slender, pale hands, a knowing, mischievous smile on her face.
Ryohei pushed his chair in and said to Minos, "Don't worry about grocery shopping tomorrow. Wait until I get back."
"Okay," Minos replied with a tilt of her head.
"Tanaka-kun, why don't you take me with you?" Lucoa suggested, sitting up straight and raising her left hand. When Ryohei looked over, she placed her hand on her chest and offered, "As the former goddess in charge of the transmission of knowledge, I can provide you with professional, on-site guidance!"
'Guidance on what? And how professional?' Ryohei's mouth twitched. He looked at Lucoa, speechless. Anyone who didn't know better would think she was the former goddess of spreading lewd content. "We don't need it! You behave yourself!" he retorted.
Yurine also stared at Lucoa, completely at a loss for words. This shameless woman!
Medusa's expression was a mixture of amusement and something else entirely.
"The word 'behave' is not in my dictionary," Lucoa said with a tilt of her head.
"Then carve it in there right now!" Ryohei reached out and grabbed her head, giving it a light squeeze.
"Ehh? Tanaka-kun, you're so demanding!" the lewd former goddess whined playfully.
"You bet I am!"
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