Chapter 200: She Felt Getting a Free Meal on Weekdays Wasn't Bad Either!
In a sunless, underground labyrinth—
Dazzling, colorful spotlights rained down like a storm. Scarlet, indigo, and gold lights exploded in the air, shattering the entire space into psychedelic fragments. The deafening electronic music was like the roar of a giant beast, the low-frequency bass pounding against the chest, turning every heartbeat into a trembling resonance.
A young man, wearing a red-and-white mushroom outfit and a cute piglet hat, extended his hand to Pino like a gentleman, pulling her into a passionate dance.
They danced until her gaze turned hazy, her breathing quickened, and her legs grew weak.
"..."
Consciousness returned to reality, and Pino was stunned once again.
'Just now...?'
Her gaze subconsciously shifted to the "Walking Mushroom Stuffed with Meat" dish, which had been passed to another part of the table.
'This mushroom is suspicious!'
It had actually made her hallucinate!
"Mmm—! It's amazing! The unique fragrance of the Walking Mushroom has perfectly soaked into the meat, and the mushroom has also absorbed the meat's flavor..."
"One bite is savory, rich, tender, and juicy... It's just so delicious!"
Seeing Pekola savoring the stuffed mushroom with a blissful expression, Pino subconsciously nodded. It's true. It's super delicious!
Compared to its deliciousness, this little bit of "toxin" seemed harmless... Pino carefully checked her own condition. She felt perfectly healthy, with no symptoms of nausea, dizziness, or anything else. She was completely relieved.
Her attention returned to the table full of glowing dishes. With great anticipation, she picked up a piece of the Typhoon Shelter Crab.
Ryohei Tanaka had prepared the washbasin-sized Coral Crab in three ways.
First, the crab legs were brushed with melted butter, sprinkled with mozzarella cheese and fresh-ground black pepper, and baked into "Roasted Crab Legs."
Second, the crab meat was chopped into pieces and made into "Typhoon Shelter Crab," one of Hong Kong's top ten classic dishes.
Finally, the crab roe was removed and combined with the Cockatrice egg to make "Crab Roe Steamed Egg." He had changed the menu at the last minute, canceling the chawanmushi.
"..."
Whether it was the stuffed mushrooms or this Typhoon Shelter Crab, both were types of cuisine Pino had never tasted before.
She curiously put a piece of crab meat, coated in fried garlic and breadcrumbs, into her mouth. As she chewed lightly, her beautiful eyes lit up.
'This is super delicious, too!'
Her white teeth closed. The crispy fried garlic and breadcrumbs immediately cascaded from the crab meat like golden sand, their toasted aroma and a hint of spice rushing into her nose.
The crab meat, still carrying the fiery wok hei, was crispy on the outside but tender and juicy on the inside. With one bite, the sweet, savory juices gushed out, colliding with the fragrance of the garlic, the umami of the fermented soybeans, and the heat of the dried chilies.
It was so delicious that Pino's mind went blank for a second.
When she came to her senses, she felt as if she had become a scuba diving enthusiast.
She didn't need a mask, snorkel, or fins. Wearing only a plain white bikini, she dove straight into the sea. Sunlight penetrated the surface, shattering into millions of flickering gold foils, casting flowing shadows of light on the seabed.
Pino moved her body gently, feeling the coolness of the water gliding over her skin. She looked down at the shallow seafloor, a truly dreamlike landscape.
Tens of thousands of Coral Crabs, large and small, were gathered densely together, their shells shimmering with iridescent colors in the light. The Coral Crabs moved slowly, weaving among each other, creating a brilliant, living sea of coral in the blue water. Those splendid colors seemed to tremble with the current, as if the entire ocean was breathing.
Pino's gaze grew hazy unconsciously.
"..."
"Ah—!"
Consciousness returned, and Pino was stunned again. Her large, beautiful purple eyes had turned into blank dots. She instinctively looked at the plate of Typhoon Shelter Crab on the table, her expression baffled.
'I fell for it again? This one causes hallucinations, too? Something doesn't seem right...'
"Pfft—!"
Poporon, who had been watching Pino's reaction, couldn't help but laugh out loud. She scooped up a spoonful of the Crab Roe Steamed Egg and said with a smirk, "I told you, you'd feel like you opened the door to a new world!"
"..." Pino's heart skipped a beat. She turned to Poporon and asked, "You mean those weird experiences after eating the food?"
"It's the boss's special ability," Poporon said. She put the spoonful of steamed egg into her mouth, closed her eyes to savor it, and let out a satisfied sigh.
"So fresh!"
The egg custard was smooth and delicate. It required no chewing; it simply melted on the tongue, releasing a rich egg fragrance. The crab roe granules then dispersed, their slightly sandy texture mingling with the silkiness of the custard. The umami surged, bringing the savory-saltiness of the ocean and a hint of sweetness, blossoming in ripples on her tongue.
'Ah—! I'm sealed!'
For a moment, Poporon felt as if she had been sealed inside the Crab Roe Steamed Egg... on a giant crab-shell bed. The pale golden custard was the mattress, dotted with orange-red crab roe. And she was sealed on top of it, naked...
"..."
Coming back to her senses, Poporon cursed inwardly. Feeling the strong aftertaste, she had to admit, Ryohei's steamed egg was unbelievably savory. It looked good and tasted even better.
She really wanted to move in with Ryohei and the others, but unfortunately, there was no room... and even if there was, it might not be appropriate.
"Um... can I learn from you?" Pino hesitated, then asked Ryohei Tanaka with an expectant look.
On one hand, she was genuinely interested and wanted to learn. On the other, she felt this would be a faster way to integrate into their little group. It was a win-win.
"I can't. I don't know how to teach it," Ryohei said vaguely, looking up at Pino. He was currently busy with a roasted crab leg.
The melted mozzarella had formed a golden-brown crust, bringing a savory, milky richness that was stringy and satisfying. The freshly ground black pepper, after roasting, released its peppery spice and woody aroma, contrasting with the rich cheese. It cut through the fat while enhancing the crab's natural sweetness.
The crab meat itself was incredibly sweet, and its flavor had concentrated after roasting. The texture was firm and springy, perfectly balanced by the heavy cheese. It was incredibly delicious.
Ryohei finished the leg, tossed the shell, and looked at Pino. "If you're free, you can come help at my shop. Weekdays include dinner, and you'll get a salary at the end of the month. The pay is the same as Poporon's and Pekola's."
"..." Pino, who had been disappointed and was wondering if Ryohei just didn't want to teach her, was immediately relieved. She thought for a moment and agreed. She felt getting a free meal on weekdays wasn't bad either!
And so, the Ryohei Tanaka Restaurant +1 member!
~~~
Get early access to 20+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter