[Rocks signed in and received 75 points.] [Natsuki Minamiya signed in and received 80 points.] [Elysia signed in and received 85 points.] [Kevin signed in and received a One-Way Teleportation Talisman ×1.] [Saku Hayashi (Group Leader)]: “A teleportation talisman?
It wouldn’t be particularly useful under ordinary circumstances, but for Jailbird Kevin, who has been imprisoned in the Sea of Quanta for over a thousand years, it can take you directly back to the real world.” If Kevin returned, Otto would have to think twice before causing trouble.
However, Otto would undoubtedly find some way to deal with the situation.
After all, he was the ever-cunning Otto Apocalypse.
[Kevin]: “It has some use.” The Sea of Quanta was not truly capable of trapping Kevin.
The problem was that he did not know the exact coordinates of Earth in the real world.
If he searched blindly and had particularly bad luck, Finality might wipe the surface clean before he managed to return.
By then, everything would be over.
However, there was no need to rush.
He remained in regular contact with Gray Serpent, and the Herrschers had only recently begun appearing.
The world was still far from reaching the final stage.
Even without this teleportation talisman, Kevin would eventually receive Gray Serpent’s “delivery,” allowing him to leave the Sea of Quanta and return to reality.
Wait…
Jailbird Kevin?
Well, he had admittedly been imprisoned in the Sea of Quanta for a very long time.
[Rocks]: “Good grief!
Things beyond my world are outrageous.
Even an ancient monster like Imu should only be around a thousand years old.” Rocks clicked his tongue, stunned by Kevin’s age.
Now this was a genuine ancient monster.
Judging by the Group Leader’s wording, Kevin had merely been imprisoned for more than a thousand years.
His actual age might be even more outrageous.
Compared with Kevin, Imu was practically a loli.
[Natsuki Minamiya]: “Long-lived races such as vampires can survive for an extremely long time as well.” Natsuki thought of vampires and the other races of demonkind.
Their strength was generally superior to that of humans, and their extraordinarily long lifespans were something ordinary people could never hope to match.
The vampire Primogenitors in particular were practically immortal.
They were extremely difficult to kill, and their regenerative abilities were absurd.
Natsuki’s own lifespan was also far longer than that of an ordinary human, so she could understand such long-lived beings.
[Elysia]: “Wow!
So you’ve lived for that long, Kevin?
The Kevin I know only recently graduated from university and started working as a programmer.” [Kevin]: “A programmer…” That was a career Kevin had never imagined.
Back in high school, how could he possibly have planned so far ahead?
Becoming a warrior had been even more unimaginable—until he personally witnessed the horrors of the Honkai.
Still, this was good.
MEI should be safe in that world.
Kevin sincerely wished them well, but his own battle had not yet ended.
…
“Saku, have you visited any of your teachers recently?” Tsurara asked.
When Tsurara had first discovered that Saku Hayashi possessed Gourmet Cells, she had taught him several of her own techniques.
Unfortunately, most of them were unsuitable for him, so she had introduced Saku Hayashi to several experienced seniors who could teach him other skills.
“I met Madam Setsuno, but Old Man Jiro and the others weren’t there.” Saku Hayashi shrugged.
Tsurara had initially wanted him to study cooking under Setsuno.
However, Jiro, who happened to be present, became interested in Saku Hayashi and spontaneously decided to teach him a few Knocking techniques.
Through his connection with Jiro and the others, Saku Hayashi later met Ichiryū and received some guidance from him as well.
Afterward, he became acquainted with Jiro’s grandson, Teppei, and learned several regeneration techniques from the Gourmet Reviver Yosaku.
Even Saku Hayashi had never expected to encounter so many teachers.
His progress was slower than someone who specialized in a single field, but his skill set was far more comprehensive.
However, despite learning Knocking, Gourmet Reviver techniques, and numerous other abilities, his culinary skills remained mediocre.
He had never found enough time to study cooking properly under Setsuno.
Eventually, he gave up on becoming a chef.
Having Tsurara as his partner was more than enough.
That was right.
Tsurara was his partner.
“Even now, it still feels like a dream.
So many famous powerhouses became your teachers, Saku.
Your Food Luck must be extraordinary,” Tsurara said emotionally.
In this world, nearly every unbelievable event could be explained through Food Luck.
“Perhaps.
Food Luck is far too mysterious for ordinary people to see or touch.” Saku Hayashi remained noncommittal.
“Besides, there are people whose Food Luck is even stronger than mine.” He was referring to that zombie…
No, wait.
He meant Zonge.
Despite appearing to be nothing more than an ordinary, rough-looking man, Zonge could reach places where only the final contenders remained.
He had even survived an embrace from Bambina, the Monkey King of the Eight Kings.
As for someone capable of consciously harnessing the power of Food Luck, Joa was probably the only one in this era.
Joa was currently using Froese’s body to secretly cause trouble across the world.
…
Chomp, chomp…
Saku Hayashi sat on his bed and continuously stuffed food into his mouth.
He had already been eating for more than half an hour, but his stomach had not expanded in the slightest.
Everything he swallowed seemed to disappear into a bottomless abyss.
“This should be enough.” Saku Hayashi rubbed his stomach.
Not everyone who possessed Gourmet Cells housed an Appetite Demon.
There was a considerable difference between having one and not having one.
Any techniques known by an Appetite Demon could also be used by its host without the host needing to spend additional time learning them.
For example, Toriko possessed his extraordinary sense of smell, Zebra possessed his talent for sound, and Starjun possessed his ability to manipulate flames.
Their Appetite Demons were also extraordinarily proficient in those respective abilities—so proficient that they had become famous for them.
Kaka, one of the Three Chefs, once said that Gourmet Cell Demons could also be described as appetite itself.
Both Nitro and these demons were born from Gourmet Cells.
They were physical manifestations of appetite.
The demons inside Toriko and the others had existed for an extremely long time.
Some Appetite Demons took up residence inside their hosts later in life, while sufficiently powerful appetite energy might even give birth to an entirely new Gourmet Cell Demon.
Saku Hayashi could vaguely sense that an Appetite Demon existed within his Gourmet Cells.
He had never seen it, but his intuition told him that he would discover its identity after absorbing enough Appetite Energy.
Since his Gourmet Cells had come from the chat group, there was a high probability that his demon did not originate from this world.
Hopefully, it would not disappoint him.
As soon as that thought arose, Saku Hayashi’s consciousness entered another space.
There was no light here, yet the darkness did not frighten him.
Perhaps that was because this space was somehow connected to him.
Besides, Saku Hayashi had already visited this place several times.
This occasion was different.
Something ahead of him seemed to be drawing him forward.
In the distance, a sphere of gentle light stood out brilliantly amid the darkness, appearing almost like the center of the entire world.
Saku Hayashi froze for a moment before slowly walking toward it.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap…
Within the silent space, every footstep sounded exceptionally clear, as though each one landed directly upon his heart.
With such an obvious light guiding him, there was no possibility of losing his way.
Saku Hayashi arrived directly before it.
Inside the light stood a massive table covered by a small mountain of assorted ingredients.
Saku Hayashi immediately recognized them as foods he had previously eaten.
However, the food did not hold his attention.
His gaze was completely drawn toward a particular figure.
“Holy shit!” Saku Hayashi rubbed his eyes.
After confirming that he was not hallucinating, he could not stop himself from swearing.
“Is that really you?” Saku Hayashi was extremely familiar with the creature currently devouring the food.
The moment he saw it, an utterly absurd feeling arose within his heart.
It was a large blue-gray cat.
How could Saku Hayashi possibly fail to recognize one of the most memorable animated characters from his childhood?
Surely this could not be his Appetite Demon.
It was actually Tom!
That was precisely why Saku Hayashi found the situation so absurd.
At the same time, he felt strangely nostalgic.
After hearing Saku Hayashi’s voice, the large cat turned its head.
A delighted, almost human expression appeared on its face as it walked toward him.
Tom pulled out a piece of cardboard and a pen from behind his back, then began scribbling on it.
Although the writing was messy, Saku Hayashi could understand most of it.
Tom, you can speak.
Couldn’t you just open your mouth and explain?
According to Tom’s message, a mysterious voice had asked whether he wanted to visit a place filled with endless delicious food, where he would also have an owner who would not casually throw him out of the house.
For Tom, that sounded like paradise.
He had immediately selected [Accept].
Upon arriving in this space and discovering a massive pile of food in front of him, Tom had started feasting without hesitation.
“I see.
Welcome.” Compared with those ferocious and terrifying Appetite Demons, Tom was undoubtedly much more pleasant to look at.
More importantly, he felt incredibly familiar.