Chapter 44: Excited Senzaemon and the Queen's Appetite
At this moment, the sky was a brilliant, cloudless blue, stretching endlessly over the winding roads that led to the culinary heart of Japan.
A sleek, black luxury sedan, polished to a mirror finish, glided smoothly along the asphalt, heading toward the prestigious Tootsuki Academy. The car's engine hummed with a quiet, expensive power.
In the passenger seat sat the scruffy-looking "uncle" who had just finished a life-changing bowl of ramen at Ren's Restaurant. Joichiro Yukihira leaned back against the leather headrest, his eyes tracing the passing landscape of lush greenery and distant mountains with a faint, nostalgic smile.
Driving next to him was a sturdy man with short, spiky hair and a physique that strained against his immaculate business suit. His hands gripped the steering wheel with practiced ease, but his expression was a mix of exasperation and fondness.
"Joichiro..." Gin Dojima sighed, glancing at his old friend. "You just suddenly showed up without saying anything, dragged me out of a meeting, and forced me to be your chauffeur. What exactly do you want to do?"
Joichiro turned his gaze from the window, his smile widening into a grin that took years off his face. "Gin! Isn't it great to go to the old man's place for a free meal? I'm only calling you because we're good friends. It's a reunion!"
Gin's brow twitched. "That's no reason for me to drive you personally. I have a resort to run! It seems like it's a pretty urgent matter, right? Is it because of Azami Nakiri? Or did Soma burn down the kitchen again?"
Joichiro's expression softened, a hint of seriousness replacing the mirth. He sighed deeply, the weight of years pressing down on his shoulders for a fleeting moment. "As for this matter... if it succeeds, Azami's little rebellion won't even need to be dealt with. It cuts the problem at the root. Never mind, let's talk when we get there. I don't want to jinx it."
"You're really mysterious today," Gin huffed, stepping on the accelerator as the road opened up. "We're almost there. It's a rare chance to get a free meal from the Commander, so don't be soft-hearted. I expect top-tier ingredients."
"Don't worry," Joichiro laughed, slapping Gin's shoulder. "The old man will definitely not be stingy when it comes to this matter. Drive faster! I can already see Tootsuki's gate!"
"Alright, alright. Don't rush the driver."
Inside the Nakiri residence, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation.
Senzaemon Nakiri, the "Demon of Food" and the absolute ruler of Tootsuki, had temporarily stopped all his work. He sat alone in the reception room, a traditional tatami room overlooking a meticulously raked zen garden.
Although he sat with the imposing presence of a mountain, his hands resting on his knees in a posture of meditative calm, his behavior betrayed him. His occasional sharp glances at the grandfather clock ticking in the corner and his frequent looks toward the sliding shoji doors indicated that his mood was far from relaxed.
The faint sound of tires crunching on gravel and the hiss of brakes echoed from the courtyard.
Senzaemon's lips unconsciously curved upwards into a small, triumphant smile, but he quickly composed himself, smoothing his kimono. He remained seated, projecting an aura of absolute authority.
The doors slid open.
"Yo! Old man! We're here! Where's dinner?" Joichiro's cheerful voice shattered the serene silence.
"Yeah," Gin added, walking in behind him, loosening his tie slightly. "I drove all this way. I expect at least A5 Wagyu."
Senzaemon glanced at the two legendary alumni, the former First and Second Seats who had once ruled the academy. He chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "You two haven't changed. Alright, sit down first."
He clapped his hands twice. Servants immediately appeared, silent as shadows, bearing trays of exquisite Kaiseki cuisine. Within moments, the low table was filled with a feast fit for royalty—sashimi that glistened like jewels, simmered vegetables cut into artistic shapes, and grilled fish that still sizzled.
Senzaemon waited until the servants had retreated before speaking. He didn't touch his chopsticks. He looked intently at Joichiro.
"Joichiro, don't rush to eat. First, tell me in detail what that kid Ren said."
The playfulness vanished from Joichiro's face. He put down his chopsticks, his expression solemn. He recounted the conversation in the restaurant meticulously—every word Ren had said about the "God Tongue," the nature of the curse, and his casual confidence in being able to handle it.
Beside him, Gin Dojima's reaction evolved rapidly. He went from being initially unconcerned, focused on a piece of tuna sashimi, to shocked, his chopsticks hovering mid-air. Finally, a look of pure delight and disbelief washed over his face.
"Joichiro!" Gin exclaimed, his voice booming in the quiet room. "Are you sure? Can Mana's God Tongue really be cured?! You weren't tricked, were you? There are many charlatans out there."
Joichiro shook his head firmly. "No. Gin, if you've eaten that kid's cooking, you'll know how true his words are. There is a... purity to it. A power. I believe in this matter. To be truly honest, I feel that at the very least, that kid can satisfy Mana's taste buds. He operates on a different level than us."
Gin looked at his friend, sensing the genuine awe in his tone. "It seems you've eaten that kid Ren's cooking? Is it very good? What did you eat? A full course?"
Joichiro sighed, leaning back. "You might not believe me if I tell you, but I only had a bowl of ramen. And I ordered one spring roll and a piece of tempura."
"Ramen?" Gin was startled. "Just ramen?"
Before he could question Joichiro's sanity, Senzaemon interjected with a knowing smile. "Hmm. That's the kid's standard. Simple dishes, transcendent execution. That's not a problem. If that kid dares to say such a thing, it's definitely not false. It seems I can make time for Mana to come back for a visit!"
The Commander's eyes shone with a fierce hope, a father's hope.
Senzaemon and Joichiro's reverence made Gin intensely curious. He felt left out of a momentous discovery.
"You two are so disloyal," Gin complained, pouring himself a cup of sake. "You knew about such an amazing Restaurant and no one told me. Spill the beans. Where is that Restaurant? I need to assess this chef myself."
Senzaemon, being a regular patron, quickly explained the location, detailing the street and the unassuming storefront.
Gin memorized it instantly. He breathed a sigh of relief but then frowned. "But there's still a problem. How can we contact Mana? That girl hasn't answered anyone's calls for a long time. She's isolated herself completely."
Joichiro sighed, scratching the back of his head. Then, he smiled nonchalantly, a spark of his old mischievous self returning. "Don't worry, I'll handle this. I believe Mana shouldn't kick me out, right? We have history."
Senzaemon nodded. "Of course not. After all, you, her senior, took good care of her back then. She respected you."
"Enough talk, enough talk!" Joichiro clapped his hands together. "Let's eat first! I'm starving! The ramen was great, but a man needs variety!"
"Hmm!"
Meanwhile, back at the Dimensional Restaurant.
The evening service had quieted down, leaving the restaurant cozy and warm. Ren was behind the counter, wiping a knife with a clean cloth. He looked over at the table where his two demonic freeloaders were sitting.
Lucifer was still looking sullen, her chin resting in her hand, pouting at a localized raincloud above her head.
Ren smiled and asked, "What? Still bothered by that stage play story?"
Lucifer snorted, her red eyes flashing with indignation. "Just thinking about it annoys me! 'Beloved wife'! Hmph!"
Ren thought for a moment, then leaned over the counter, his tone gentle and persuasive. "Alright, calm down. Isn't this a good thing?"
"A good thing?!" Lucifer slammed her hand on the table, causing Cerberus to jump. "They can write such an outrageous version of the story! They turned the CEO of Hell into a tragic romantic hero! And this is a good thing?!"
Cerberus, who was happily demolishing a bowl of Braised Pork that Ren had promised her last night, paused mid-chew. She looked at Ren with a puzzled expression, a piece of pork dangling from her mouth. Even to a dog's brain, the story seemed weird. Why would the Boss need a wife when she had paperwork?
Ren shrugged, his voice matter-of-fact. "Of course it's good. Think about it. If you weren't famous, how could so many people want to adapt your story? Other demons don't have so many plotlines, do they? When was the last time you saw a play about Mammon?"
Lucifer was stunned. She blinked. "Well... Mammon is boring. He just counts coins."
"Exactly," Ren continued, seeing an opening. "Besides, you also said they are mortals. They live for like eighty years. How could they possibly know the real, complete version of cosmic history? Maybe they heard a rumor about a 'fallen angel' and 'rebellion' and their human brains filled in the blanks with romance because that's what they care about."
Lucifer nodded slowly. That made some sense. Humans were obsessed with mating rituals.
Ren breathed a sigh of relief and decided to seal the deal with logic. "And you don't need to worry at all about identity theft. Let me ask you a question: Are Satan and Lucifer the same person?"
Lucifer shook her head vigorously. "Of course not! Satan is a title, mostly administrative. I am Lucifer. Our systems are different, alright? It's like confusing a CEO with a Chairman."
Ren nodded. "Exactly. But many people in this world think Satan and Lucifer are the same person. Some even think Cain, Satan, and Lucifer are all the same entity."
Lucifer was stunned. Her jaw dropped. "What?! How is that possible! Cain was a farmer!"
Ren laughed. "Of course it's possible. Ignorance breeds myth. Look at the Greek mythology system; Zeus alone has many titles, and there are definitely some misunderstood stories among them. So, relax. Zeus is definitely famous, so he has many aliases. Your current situation just proves that you're very famous, doesn't it? You are a pop culture icon."
Lucifer sat back, processing this. That was indeed the case. Only famous figures in mythology would have different myths written about them by people from different places. If she were a nobody demon, no one would bother writing fanfiction about her.
I suppose... imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? Even if the imitation is factually incorrect trash?
Thinking of this, Lucifer wasn't so angry anymore. Her vanity had been successfully stroked.
She picked up her chopsticks again, pointing them accusingly at Ren. "Let me make this clear. I'm just hungry. I haven't forgiven those mortals for their ignorance! I will write a strongly worded letter to the editor later!"
Ren sighed; she was as tsundere as ever.
But looking at Lucifer, who was now eating with great relish, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel, Ren suddenly felt that there might be a reason for Lucifer's fame. She was undeniably charismatic, even when eating.
"Mmm..." Lucifer swallowed a bite of crisp, refreshing salad. "Ren, what is this dish? It's spicy and sour."
"Oh, this? This is called Green Papaya Salad. It's a Southeast Asian dish, very good for cleansing the palate. But that can't be eaten as a main course. You need protein. Try this."
Ren slid a steaming plate across the table. A whole fish lay bathed in a glossy, dark amber sauce, the aroma of vinegar and ginger wafting up.
"What is this?" Lucifer asked, her eyes widening.
"Since today is all Chinese food, this is definitely indispensable. It's a classic from Hangzhou. Try it. West Lake Vinegar Fish."
Lucifer carefully broke off a piece of the tender fish, coating it in the thick, sweet-and-sour sauce. She placed it in her mouth. The acidity of the vinegar cut through the richness of the fish, creating a perfect balance.
"Mmm..." Her eyes lit up. "It's a bit tasty~"
Ren smirked, wiping his hands on his apron. "Just a bit?"
Lucifer looked away, blushing slightly, but went in for a second, larger piece. "It's delicious, alright! Really... you humans and your food. It's the one thing you get right."
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
As a special offer, I've opened a few limited-time tiers at a discounted price! You will get all the benefits of "The Founding Pillars" (normally $20), but at a much cheaper rate.
These slots are extremely limited:
"The Plot Uncoverer": $4.99 (Save 75% / $15.01) - Only 3 slots
"The Dedicated Fan": $9.99 (Save 50% / $10.01) - Only 7 slots
"The Lore Diver": $14.99 (Save 25% / $5.01) - Only 15 slots
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]