By following Tsurara, an experienced Gourmet Hunter, Saku Hayashi gradually came to appreciate the vast magnificence of the gourmet world.
He encountered countless rare ingredients and exotic beasts while tasting all kinds of incredible delicacies.
In this world, almost everything within sight was edible.
The only real difference was how good it tasted.
Even the dirt beneath one’s feet might turn out to be some variety of rice or brown sugar.
As the Chat Group Leader, Saku Hayashi had received a Starter Pack perfectly suited to this world: Perfect Gourmet Cells.
There were essentially three ways to acquire Gourmet Cells.
The first was to obtain them naturally from food while eating.
The second was to inherit them from one’s parents.
The third was to forcibly implant Gourmet Cells into one’s body later in life.
The first method was far too slow and uncertain, while the chances of inheriting them through the second method were extremely low.
The third method was the most dangerous.
Success was one thing, but failure would either transform the recipient into a monster or kill them on the spot.
The Gourmet Cells contained in Saku Hayashi’s Starter Pack could be fused with his body directly.
There were no negative side effects, nor did he have to worry about suffering any backlash.
In the world of Toriko, becoming stronger without Gourmet Cells was far more difficult than it was for someone who possessed them.
Once a person acquired Gourmet Cells, simply eating would make them stronger.
However, if they failed to control their appetite, they would eventually become its slave.
Gourmet Cells had a high baseline and an even higher ceiling.
Nearly every famous powerhouse in this world possessed them.
“Miss Tsurara, what do you think of this Galala Gator?” Saku Hayashi held a massive red crocodile more than ten meters long above his head with one hand.
Before him stood a lavishly decorated restaurant.
It was not the izakaya from the original story, and Tsurara had never acquired the title “Mama Tsurara.” “Thank you for your hard work, Saku.” A woman dressed in a white chef’s uniform stepped out of the restaurant.
Compared with the first time they had met, Tsurara now possessed a mature allure between her brows.
Saku Hayashi admired her for a moment.
Her gentle and mature aura almost made him want to abandon all dignity and call her “Mommy.” Clap, clap, clap!
“What exquisite Knocking technique.” Tsurara applauded with a proud smile.
“The Four Heavenly Kings should be around your age.
I doubt any of them are as strong as you right now.” She had personally watched Saku Hayashi grow stronger.
He had gone from a powerless little brat to a Gourmet Hunter capable of standing on his own.
“The Four Heavenly Kings have remained in the Human World all this time.
Naturally, their strength has increased rather slowly,” Saku Hayashi replied with a chuckle.
More than ten years had passed.
Saku Hayashi was now a formidable Gourmet Hunter in his own right, and his strength had already surpassed that of the Four Heavenly Kings.
The planet’s main course, GOD, still had several years before it matured.
As for the other ingredients in Acacia’s—or rather, Earth’s—Full-Course Menu, some had yet to regenerate, while others had not reached the pinnacle of their flavor.
Saku Hayashi continued training step by step.
He spent most of his time cultivating in different regions and adapting to their environments.
His reputation was naturally inferior to that of the Four Heavenly Kings, but the number of extreme environments he had adapted to was something they could not match.
“Miss Tsurara, you’ve reached thirtieth place in the World Chef Ranking this time.
Perhaps next time, you’ll enter the top twenty, then the top ten…” Saku Hayashi said with a smile.
Because of his influence, Tsurara was ranked one place higher than she had been in the original story.
However, that was not particularly important.
“This is probably as far as I can go for now.
Without any major competitions, improving my ranking will be difficult.” Tsurara shook her head.
A chef’s ranking could rise steadily through exceptional culinary skill.
Making significant contributions could also improve one’s position, but participating in a major cooking competition was the fastest method.
“You’re still young, Miss Tsurara.
Besides, you don’t actually need that ranking,” Saku Hayashi said.
“Haha, that’s true.
I already satisfied my competitive spirit while working as a Gourmet Hunter.” Tsurara gave a noncommittal shrug.
She truly did not need the ranking.
Like Setsuno, Tsurara cared little for such empty fame.
As for the conveniences that came with a higher ranking, they were ultimately dispensable.
As long as she could obtain enough ingredients, she would never lack money.
Countless wealthy people would gladly spend fortunes on her cuisine.
“We’ll use the Galala Gator you captured for dinner tonight.
How would you like me to prepare it?” Tsurara asked with a smile.
“I want it served over rice, with a rich, salty, savory sauce soaking every grain of Paradise Rice,” Saku Hayashi replied eagerly, licking his lips.
Many ingredients in this world were extraordinarily delicious even without a chef preparing them.
However, proper cooking could elevate their flavor to an entirely different level.
“No problem.” Since Saku Hayashi enjoyed her cooking, Tsurara was naturally willing to satisfy his request.
…
[Soloed an Admiral has joined the chat group.] [Why Do Birds Fly?
has joined the chat group.] [Witch of the Void has joined the chat group.] [Pink Piggy has joined the chat group.] Notifications suddenly rang inside Saku Hayashi’s mind, announcing the arrival of new chat group members.
So many years had passed that he had begun to suspect the chat group had crashed.
Let’s have a look.
“Soloed an Admiral” should be the true protagonist of the One Piece world, Rocks D.
Xebec—or perhaps Davy D.
Xebec.
His record was extremely impressive.
He had shattered the Gates of Justice, stormed the Room of Flowers to confront Imu, escaped unscathed after killing a deskbound Marine admiral, and completely stolen the show at God Valley.
He had even treated the Knights of God—the so-called “Divine Performing Troupe”—like mere speed bumps at God Valley.
It had taken Garp and Roger working together to contend with him.
“Why Do Birds Fly?” was even easier to identify.
Kevin Kaslana.
The strongest warrior of the Previous Era, the origin of the Kaslana bloodline, and a man who sought to become humanity’s savior.
His presence was certainly impressive, but he was also a man who had lost nearly everything.
By now, he had become consumed by an almost fanatical obsession.
As for “Witch of the Void”…
Saku Hayashi rubbed his chin as he recalled the anime he had watched.
It had to be Natsuki Minamiya from Strike the Blood—Natsuki-chan.
She was a professional Attack Mage who specialized in spatial-control magic, earning her the title “Witch of the Void.” The final member was “Pink Piggy.” That should be Elysia, the flawless maiden.
She was the Herrscher of Human: Ego—also known as the Herrscher of Origin—a lesbian-in-chief who was pink through and through, even if one were to cut her open.
She was also one of the most popular characters in Honkai Impact 3rd.
Tsk, tsk.
Surprisingly, none of the perennial chat-group regulars such as Iron Man, Whitebeard, or Yue Buqun had appeared this time.
[Pink Piggy]: “Aaaah!
What kind of nickname is this?
How could anyone describe an adorable girl that way?” Inside the bedroom of a certain bubble universe, Elysia angrily stamped her foot.
How was she fat?
She was obviously very slender!
The nickname [Pink Piggy] made her sense a profound amount of malice.
[Why Do Birds Fly?]: “…” Within the Sea of Quanta, Kevin stood beneath a cherry blossom tree and stared at that familiar manner of speaking.
A ripple appeared in his normally impassive blue eyes.
An inhuman amount of Honkai energy surged uncontrollably from his body, causing the entire bubble universe to tremble.
“Elysia…” He could not have mistaken her.
Nor could he ever forget her.
However, this Elysia felt somewhat different from the one in his memories.
[Soloed an Admiral]: “What is this thing?” Rocks had just left the Holy Land of Mary Geoise and begun recruiting people when he was suddenly pulled into the chat group.
He was understandably confused.
How did this strange thing know that he had once gravely wounded a Marine admiral?
[Witch of the Void]: “If my guess is correct, everyone here comes from a different world.
Isn’t the Group Leader going to explain the situation?” Aside from Rocks, Natsuki Minamiya and the others quickly accepted the existence of the chat group.
[Saku Hayashi (Group Leader)]: “Natsuki-chan, I know you’re anxious, but don’t be anxious just yet.” [Witch of the Void]: “Do not call me that!” Natsuki Minamiya could not help hissing in irritation.
She hated that form of address.
It made her sound like a little girl.
[Saku Hayashi (Group Leader)]: “If everyone is comfortable doing so, please change your nicknames back to your real names.
It’ll make communicating easier.” [Pink Piggy] changed her nickname to [Elysia].
[Soloed an Admiral] changed his nickname to [Rocks].
[Why Do Birds Fly?] changed his nickname to [Kevin].
[Witch of the Void] changed her nickname to [Natsuki Minamiya].
None of them had an identity they needed to hide, so they changed their nicknames without hesitation.
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