As night descended, the city's lights flickered to life. People trickled out of their workplaces, either retreating to the warmth of their homes or seeking solace in a tavern, indulging in a drink or two. Meanwhile, a heavy downpour lent a distinct charm to the city's atmosphere.
Past seven o'clock, the tavern opened for business, though the relentless rain kept customers away. After serving a few patrons, Zane found himself with unexpected free time.
"What a miscalculation. Had I known this downpour was coming, I would've closed early," he sighed, leaning on the counter.
Just as he considered shutting down for the night, the door creaked open. To his surprise, the new arrivals were none other than Erina Nakiri and her ever-present aide, Hisako.
Erina's golden hair cascaded gracefully, each movement exuding elegance and nobility. Tonight, she was dressed in a stunning princess gown, the swaying fabric accentuating her refined presence. Even amidst the pouring rain, she retained an air of undeniable grace.
Despite Erina's overwhelming presence, Hisako's pure, sweet appearance and gentle demeanor left their own impression on Zane.
"Ah?" Zane blinked. "Isn't that Erina?"
Given her attitude toward commoner cuisine the night before, he had assumed she'd be too proud to return. Surely, she had spent the entire day trying to recreate his dishes, only to fail. And yet, here she was—standing in his tavern, drenched from the rain.
"I guess…" Zane smirked. "You probably went back and tried to replicate my dishes using your God Tongue, but it didn't turn out the way you expected, right?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Erina stiffened, her face flushing slightly. "I wouldn't waste my time recreating your 5,000-yen cuisine. I— I just happened to be passing by and got caught in the rain. That's all! I only came in to take shelter—nothing more!"
"Oh, really?" Zane raised an eyebrow. "So it has nothing to do with the fact that my cooking left such an impression on you that you couldn't resist coming back for more?"
"No!" Erina shot back, her cheeks turning even redder. "I told you—I have no interest in your food! I wouldn't waste my time thinking about it!"
"Mmmhmm, sure," Zane chuckled. "Your mouth says one thing, but your actions say another. I've seen plenty of people like you."
"You—! You're the worst!" Erina huffed, clearly at her limit. Damn it! He knows I couldn't figure out his cooking, and now he's just rubbing it in!
"Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you," Zane said, waving a hand dismissively. "I was actually thinking of closing early tonight, but since you're here, it's the perfect opportunity. I just came up with a new dish."
Erina's flustered expression shifted to one of shock. "A new dish?"
She narrowed her eyes. "You're saying this one will surpass last night's beef burger, fish and chips, and chocolate brownies?"
Zane smirked. "That's right."
In an instant, a mix of emotions flashed across Erina's face—astonishment, excitement, anticipation, and doubt. I haven't even figured out those three dishes yet, and now he's created something even better?
"Listen, those dishes last night? I made them using nothing but leftover scraps," Zane explained. "Stale toast, tofu dregs, rice bran… stuff even the average person wouldn't want to touch."
Erina's brows furrowed. "Wait… you mean… those weren't even your best?"
"Of course not." Zane rolled up his sleeves. "But this new dish? It'll be on a whole different level."
A Dish That Represents the Peak of Cuisine
There's no absolute "best" when it comes to fine dining—everyone has their own preferences. But some dishes are regarded as the pinnacle of their respective cuisines:
• Peking Duck, the pride of Chinese cuisine.
• Authentic Italian pizza, a global favorite.
• French foie gras, a symbol of luxury.
• Japanese sushi, a true art form.
• Indian curry, rich with complex spices.
For Erina, the "best" dish was one that could satisfy her God Tongue.
Last night, she had been on the verge of saying: "This is the most perfect dish I've ever tasted."
But her pride wouldn't allow her to admit it in front of Zane.
And now, before her eyes, Zane was preparing something entirely new.
His latest creation—Reincarnation Spring Rolls.
Masterful Knife Skills
Zane began by washing an assortment of vegetables: mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, bamboo shoots, and bell peppers. Then, he took out a slicing knife from his Peacock's Charm kitchen set.
Despite being a slicing knife, it bore a striking resemblance to a wide-bladed sword, with a thick spine and an incredibly sharp tip. Under the dim light, the blade gleamed dangerously.
"Huh?" Erina's eyes widened. "That knife…"
Her intuition told her this wasn't an ordinary kitchen tool.
Zane ignored her reaction, narrowed his eyes, and—
Swish!
The rhythmic sound of chopping filled the room. In an instant, the vegetables were diced into impossibly fine pieces.
Hisako gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief.
Up until now, Zane's knife skills had been a mystery. Last night, when he made the three fast food dishes, he hadn't even needed a knife.
But now that she could see his technique up close, the sheer speed and precision left her awestruck.
"Miss Erina…" Hisako swallowed hard. "His knife skills are… incredible."
Erina remained silent, her eyes locked on Zane's movements.
"At Totsuki, the most talented chefs—like Senior Dojima and Senior Kobayashi—have exceptional knife skills," Hisako continued. "But when I watch them, I feel like, with enough practice, I could someday reach their level."
She took a deep breath. "But Zane's knife skills? No matter how hard I train… I may never reach that level. Even in a lifetime."
Erina's hands tightened into fists. Just who is this guy?
Zane, meanwhile, calmly continued his work.
With the vegetable filling prepared, he moved on to the next step—the sea bream.
A Rare Ingredient
A massive sea bream was placed on the cutting board, its scales shimmering under the kitchen lights.
In the world of Japanese cuisine, sea bream is considered a "godly" ingredient. Out of the 170 types available in seafood markets, only 48 are truly delicious. And among those, only 16 are considered five-star quality.
Zane's sea bream was one of those top-tier varieties.
"Such a rare ingredient…" Erina muttered under her breath. If he had used this quality of food last night, I might have been completely overwhelmed.
She looked away, unable to suppress the flicker of anticipation in her heart.
Zane swiftly cleaned the fish, removing its impurities and scales with practiced ease. Then, he placed it on the cutting board—head up, back facing outward, belly down—and made a precise incision along the skin.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
With a series of clean movements, he peeled the entire skin off in one perfect motion.
Erina's breath caught. His technique was completely different from before—meticulous and delicate, in stark contrast to the aggressive chopping she had just witnessed.
"How many more skills does he have…?" she murmured, unable to look away.
And then—
Ding!
Zane brought out another knife.
A strange, unfamiliar blade covered in steel rings and small holes.
Erina's eyes widened.
"Huh? What kind of knife is this?"