"Yes, I will heed Shuu-sensei's teaching." Shun answered solemnly.
There was no lingering sadness or dragging out the farewell—everything that needed saying had already been said.
That very day, Shun prepared to leave Shokurin Temple.
Before departing, he once more bowed in the manner of a disciple to Chin Chinchin and Shuu-sensei, thanking them for their instruction and grace as teachers.
The afterglow of sunset stretched Shun's shadow long; that back figure brimmed with confidence, ready to face every challenge to come.
Miyoko stood at Shokurin Temple's gate, watching Shun's silhouette vanish into the sea of trees.
"I have to work even harder. I absolutely can't fall too far behind!" she vowed inwardly.
Walking within the "Sea of Trees," Shun paused and glanced back toward the secluded temple. Then he drew a deep breath and turned his eyes to the boundless Human World.
—Time Skip—
A month flashed by in the blink of an eye.
During that month, Shun's figure was often seen around several renowned adventure zones near the Gourmet City and at the IGO Central Wholesale Market. He didn't rush to clear the system's arduous long-term quest; instead, he treated this span as crucial "break-in" time for his newly gained power, steadily piling up experience.
With the fine energy sensing and control of his initially mastered Shoku-Gi, along with the robust strength granted by his evolved Gourmet Cells, he moved with ease in capturing beasts. From capture-level-teens beasts to peculiar plant-type ingredients in the twenties, he kept aiming higher, honing both battle technique and ingredient-handling skill.
The [Ingredient Compendium] function proved extremely convenient while exploring—able to probe a creature's data and save him plenty of time.
He made frequent trips to the Central Wholesale Market: selling part of his catches, buying supplies, and sniffing out information. Before long, he'd made a bit of a name for himself in that area. Quite a few ingredient traders remembered the young face who always brought in top-grade—and sometimes downright rare—finds, and in private they started calling him the "Rookie King."
It was also during this period that he crossed paths, briefly, with one of the Four Heavenly Kings—Toriko.
It was just a single encounter, nothing deep. But from Toriko's few offhand words, Shun confirmed the current timeline… the "plot" hadn't truly begun yet, and Toriko hadn't met Komatsu.
When that month of foundational tempering ended, Shun felt it was time to attempt higher-grade ingredients and make preliminary preparations for the system quest. His first target: Hotel Gourmet.
And before setting out for the truly dangerous captures, he decided to go to one place—also Hotel Gourmet.
On the one hand, to rest up a bit; on the other, and more importantly, he wanted to meet—then taste the cooking of—one of the future protagonists of this world, a genius chef still in the midst of growth: Komatsu.
Hotel Gourmet is a renowned IGO-affiliated establishment—lodging and dining in one—primarily used by the IGO to entertain important figures from member nations. The hotel soars over a hundred floors high, with most levels open to the public.
On this day, Shun arrived at Hotel Gourmet.
20F—the floor for ordinary diners. The ambiance was nice, but it was packed, likely because it was the meal rush. The air was rich with scents from a medley of dishes.
Shun didn't linger here. His goal was clear.
He went straight to the dedicated elevators for higher floors, presenting his IGO Gourmet Hunter credentials.
Thus, Shun reached the 50th floor.
The elevator doors slid open; a waiter was already waiting by the entrance.
"Welcome, honored Hunter. How may we assist you?"
The profession of Gourmet Hunter is officially recognized and supported by the IGO. Powerful Hunters are respected the world over—especially in an IGO-run hotel.
Shun's access to the 50th floor alone was proof enough of his capability.
Without wasting words, he told the attendant directly, "I need a quiet private room. And… I'd like to designate a specific chef to prepare my ingredient."
Bringing your own ingredient for a chef to cook isn't unusual at Hotel Gourmet—or at other high-end restaurants.
"May I ask which chef you'd like to designate? We can arrange any chef currently available," the attendant replied smoothly.
"Komatsu," Shun said, straight to the point.
A hint of difficulty crossed the attendant's face. "You… you mean Head Chef Komatsu? It's just that Chef Komatsu, he…"
"If I say the ingredient is the heart and prime loin of a capture-level 30 'Thunder Yak,' what then?" Shun's smile was mild.
The attendant's expression changed at once.
There are certainly Hunters who can bring down a level-30 beast—but not many.
"Capture level 30—Thunder Yak!" the attendant blurted, his earlier hesitation instantly replaced by shock and respect. He gave Shun a more careful once-over: young, yes, but those steady, confident eyes and the faint, uncommon pressure radiating from him left no room for doubt.
"My deepest apologies, Hunter-sir! That was discourteous of me!" He bowed quickly, tone turning even more deferential. "Please wait just a moment—I'll report this to our Director of Dining at once. By regulation, handling a private ingredient of such grade requires the director's special authorization, but I'm sure he'll agree!"
The attendant hurried a short distance away and spoke rapidly into his internal comms, voice low and urgent.
Shun waited patiently, eyes roaming the 50th floor. Compared with the 20th, it was calm and refined. The patrons were well-dressed—mostly IGO affiliates, wealthy magnates, or gourmets of real standing.
In the air, he could pick out layered notes of high-grade spices and the mellow aroma of painstakingly crafted cuisine.
Before long, a middle-aged man in a suit arrived at a brisk pace with two deputies in tow. His hair was immaculately combed; gold-rimmed glasses framed a professional smile, though surprise and scrutiny flickered in his eyes.
"Welcome, esteemed Hunter," he said with a polite half-bow. "I'm the Director of Dining here—Tanaka. I've been told you've captured a Thunder Yak and would like our Head Chef Komatsu to prepare it?"
"That's right."
Shun didn't add more. He simply took a custom cold-box from his spatial ring and set it on the service cart the attendant pushed over.
He lifted the lid just a sliver. Even through that narrow gap, a surge of energy—fierce life force laced with a fine crackle of thunder—spilled out at once.
Even already in a captured state, the meat thrummed with astonishing power. As expected of a capture-level-30 beast.
…
(End of Chapter)
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