"Hehe, let me open it up and take a look."
Barbara impatiently bent down and began tearing at the box.
Once it was open, it was stuffed full with spicy strips—golden yellow in color, with a faint spicy aroma wafting out, making one's mouth water uncontrollably.
"Wow, they look delicious!"
She quickly pulled out a bag, tore it open, and grabbed a strip to taste.
"Mmm… so spicy…"
The moment the strip entered her mouth, Barbara only had one impression.
Spicy!
But it was the kind of spicy that was addictive—the kind that made you want to keep eating.
So she reached in for another and stuffed it into her mouth.
"Mmm… tasty!"
Once she adjusted to the heat, Barbara found herself enjoying it more and more. With the flavor building, the fragrance spread across the entire bookstore.
"What's that smell? So good!"
"I think it's coming from Miss Barbara."
"I see it! There's a box in front of her, and she's chewing on something."
"Wait… could that be the reward she got just now? It smells amazing!"
Soon, whispers ran through the manga shop. Customers began glancing at Barbara curiously.
With spicy strip in her mouth, Barbara blinked cutely at their stares.
(⊙_⊙)
The atmosphere turned awkward.
But she quickly realized and grabbed handfuls of the spicy strips, handing them out so everyone got a bag.
Anyway, there was plenty to go around.
"Thank you, Miss Barbara!"
"Barbara is so kind and cute!"
"Ah, so this is called spicy strips? Smells wonderful, thank you so much!"
The customers gratefully accepted.
"Hmph, to think such delicacies do not exist in my eternal dominion, the Immernachtreich!"
After a bite, Fischl's eyes lit up. Her kingdom would definitely need to stock these.
Jean and Lisa tried theirs too.
"Mmm, these really are refreshing… no wonder Barbara likes spicy things so much." Lisa smiled.
"Maybe I should try snacking on them while working…" Jean thought aloud, though she hesitated. Eating while working might not look proper.
"So these are rewards from manga?"
Even Dainsleif had received a pack. Curious, he opened one and took a bite.
He ate the strip silently, eyes shut, then exhaled deeply:
"Addictive…"
He had been wandering and fighting the Abyss for so long that he rarely got to enjoy real food. The kick of the spicy strip was deeply satisfying to him.
"Shame there's only one pack."
Still, he made a note: the manga Barbara read was called Yu-Gi-Oh!. He'd return tomorrow for it.
"Boss Han, this is for you."
Barbara walked up to the counter with a smile, offering two bags of spicy strips.
"Two? How come?"
Han Feng raised an eyebrow. He had seen her hand only one to each person—even her sister. Why did he get double?
"Because the reward came from you, Boss Han. So one of them is a thank-you gift."
Barbara folded her hands in front of her, smiling brightly.
"Ohh, I thought it was because I was special to you—that you had me in your heart."
Han Feng teased.
"W-what… in my heart?! Boss Han, you're talking nonsense again!"
Barbara's face flushed crimson. She quickly scampered back toward the shelves, pretending to bury herself in manga.
"Boss, you made her blush."
Watching Barbara retreat, Noelle chuckled. Her employer really did enjoy teasing people.
"She was too cute—I couldn't resist."
Han Feng smiled, tearing open his own bag of spicy strips.
The taste wasn't exactly like the ones from his past life, but it had its own charm.
With Barbara having shared the stash, the whole shop was filled with the fragrance of spicy strips.
But everyone was careful, keeping their snacks tidy as they read. Nobody dared risk staining the precious manga and earning Boss Han's wrath.
At that moment—
Several figures stepped into the alley outside.
It was Eula, Yanfei, and Xiangling, arriving from the Good Hunter Restaurant.
"Do you smell something odd?" Yanfei sniffed the air, frowning.
"Smells like… chili?"
As a chef, Xiangling instantly recognized it.
"Could Boss Han be eating something inside?" Eula mused. "Let's go in and see."
The trio pushed open the door.
The spicy aroma hit them full force, stronger inside than out.
Everyone—including Boss Han—was chewing on something that looked delicious.
Noticing new customers, Noelle quickly set down her snack and greeted them.
"Welcome, Miss Eula, and your friends. Would you like to read manga? The fee is 100,000 Mora per person, one session per day."
"I brought them here," Eula explained, then asked curiously, "but what were you all eating just now? It smelled spicy."
"Spicy strips, courtesy of Miss Barbara."
Noelle smiled.
"Spicy strips?" Yanfei and Xiangling both looked puzzled. They'd never heard of it.
"Eula, you're here too?"
Barbara hurried over, handing each of them a pack.
"Try them! They're rewards straight from a manga."
That explanation instantly piqued their interest.
Opening the bag, Yanfei popped one into her mouth.
"Ah—so spicy!"
Caught off guard, she nearly coughed. But after a moment, she adjusted and found it addictively tasty.
She reached for another.
Xiangling was stunned.
"Th-this is incredible! If I can figure out the ingredients, I could make something that would sell like crazy…"
After a couple bites, she carefully stored the rest away. She planned to research it thoroughly once back in Liyue.
Yes, this trip to Mondstadt had been worth it.
She had eaten glowing fried rice, discovered a brand-new snack, and now—
the legendary manga awaited.
Han Feng smiled at their eager looks.
"Welcome, Miss Yanfei, Miss Xiangling."
"You… know us?" Yanfei blinked. The black-haired youth must be Boss Han, the one Eula had mentioned—but he was so young?
"Boss Han is remarkable," Eula explained. "He knows every customer who visits. Don't be surprised."
She had been here twice already. Each time, she had watched him. And each time, he had recognized newcomers instantly.
To her, this was unfathomable.
Combined with the shop's mysteries, Boss Han seemed more and more enigmatic.
"So that's how it is!"
Yanfei and Xiangling nodded, their expressions shifting.
They now looked at him with respect.
This was clearly a powerful man—one deserving reverence.
But remembering why she came, Yanfei asked,
"Boss Han, do you have any of those magical manga available?"
"I do, though at the moment only one: Doraemon."
Han Feng nodded.
Yanfei looked to Xiangling.
Xiangling shook her head firmly. "You go first. I'll wait for Cooking Master Boy."
"Alright then!"
Yanfei didn't argue. She handed over 100,000 Mora to Noelle.
"The manga is on that shelf."
Noelle pointed the way.
"Thanks!"
With her heart pounding, Yanfei headed for the shelves.
Finally, she would see the wondrous manga that Eula had spoken of!
~~--------------------------------------
To read 65+ future chapters head over to patreon:
patreon.com/YonkoSlayer