The Gourmet Demon

The next day at noon.

This was also the last day of the third day.

After Hayashi woke up, Kanna and Tohru also woke up at the same time.

He went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash up.

Behind him followed two sleepy dragons, one big and one small, also brushing their teeth and washing up together.

After everyone finished and came out.

Hayashi prepared to go downstairs to cook.

Tohru stayed on the second floor to clean.

Kanna prepared to go downstairs to water the flowers.

But just as Hayashi reached the second floor.

Pochita ran out, barking at Hayashi.

"Woof~!" (The sunflowers have seeds!)

"?!" Hayashi immediately perked up.

"They have seeds!?"

"Let me see!"

Hayashi took Kanna and rushed straight to the back yard.

Opening the door.

Under the sunlight, the three sunflowers swayed in the wind, their huge flower buds heavy but not bent down like ordinary sunflowers would be from the weight, instead standing straight up.

Sensing Hayashi coming out.

The sunflowers' green leaves even waved, more vivid and lively than yesterday.

"Have you produced seeds? Let me see."

Hayashi walked forward and looked at the flower buds.

Sure enough.

The seeds were arranged in order, looking really neat!

Kanna stood on her tiptoes to look, then turned to Hayashi and asked: "What are sunflower seeds?"

"Food."

"Food!"

Hearing about food, Kanna perked up too.

Almost all of yesterday's worry and panic was gone.

"Wait for me a moment."

Hayashi went to the kitchen and brought out three basins.

He picked up one basin and said to the caramel sunflower.

"I'll try using vibration to shake out all the seeds at once. Bear with it for a moment. If it's uncomfortable, tell me and I won't shake anymore in the future."

Kanna watched carefully.

The specific operation was simple.

Hayashi first placed the basin in front of the sunflower's bud, catching underneath.

Then with his other hand.

He held the base of the flower bud.

Finally using his ability: Tremor-Tremor Fruit, ultrasonic fine vibration!

In an instant.

Fine vibrations occurred on the caramel sunflower.

More powerful than a massage gun.

But not with the large amplitude of a massage gun!

Soon.

The seeds rattled down into the basin.

Hayashi withdrew his hand, set the basin aside, and first asked about the sunflower's condition.

After all, this was a monster sunflower, renewable.

Not like ordinary sunflowers which were one-time use.

"How did that vibration feel? Does it hurt or feel uncomfortable?"

The caramel sunflower had no immediate reaction.

After a while.

It finally released its emotions and thoughts as if with a delay.

Caramel sunflower: Happy, comfortable, smooth, wants more!

Indicating that this vibration not only shook out all the seeds at once.

But also made its whole body comfortable, with much smoother magic flow!

"It has this function too?"

Hayashi patted it and shook it again, making it tingle on the side.

Then he looked at the seeds.

One flower bud wouldn't have too many seeds really.

About 1000-2000 grains.

Looked like a lot.

Actually just half to one bag of normal market sunflower seeds.

Hayashi picked one up and tasted it.

"Crunch~"

Mm, sweet.

"I want some too~"

Seeing this, Kanna reached out her hand.

"Here, try it first. I'll roast the rest before eating." Hayashi handed her a few.

Kanna took the seeds and put one in her mouth.

Then ate it shell and all...

"Sweet~"

Seeing this, Hayashi quickly taught her.

"Don't eat sunflower seeds with the shell. Use your teeth to crack it and eat the fruit inside."

"Crunch~"

He demonstrated once after speaking.

Kanna tilted her head, a bit puzzled: "Why can't I eat it? Are sunflower seed shells poisonous?"

"No, but the shells don't taste good."

"But cracking them is hard. Eating them together is simple."

"You'll learn with practice. There's no soul without cracking them. Practice first, and when I roast them they'll be easier to crack."

"Mm, I'll listen to Hayashi."

Hayashi grabbed another small handful for Kanna.

Right after.

He felt the anxiety of the other two sunflowers.

They also wanted to be shaken.

"Coming, coming."

Hayashi took out another basin and began shaking the salty one.

Same as before.

Catch and shake.

The seeds all rattled out and were caught.

Hayashi patted it.

Then moved to the original flavor aloof sunflower.

Continued the same operation.

Finally producing three basins of seeds, about 5000+ grains, enough to crack for quite a while.

If it was one batch every three days, that would be completely enough.

As for the three sunflowers.

They were still swaying comfortably there.

"Kanna, after you finish eating, water them. I'm going to cook."

"Mm."

Hayashi returned to the kitchen.

The left pot started roasting sunflower seeds.

The right pot started making luxurious golden fried rice.

Finally both finished at the same time.

The seeds were filled with the aroma of fruit.

Hayashi found three jars and stored them separately.

Then called Tohru down to eat.

"Tohru!"

"Coming~"

Tohru had finished cleaning the second floor.

Before eating, he let Tohru try the sunflower seeds.

Tohru also ate them shell and all.

But Tohru's eyes still lit up.

"This is delicious!"

"Good that it's tasty. Let's eat first, then crack seeds later."

Everyone finished eating, then went to the back yard to sunbathe and crack sunflower seeds.

"Last day, huh."

Hayashi sighed.

Good thing it was only three days of being incredibly busy.

If it were always like this.

He'd either move or close shop - he wouldn't want to continue anyway.

Tohru cheered: "Last day, let's work hard!"

"Yeah!"

5 PM.

The three from Anteiku arrived.

Everyone had an afternoon meal, got ready, and started working.

6 PM.

The sun set, the midnight diner entrance was filled with people, even queuing to the alley entrance.

Tohru opened the door, and again Nakiri Senzaemon and Nakiri Erina were at the front.

Three consecutive days at the front.

They very likely used money power, buying positions or something.

But it didn't matter, as long as they weren't forcing their way.

Before 7 PM.

The Nakiri duo ate until their little bellies were full and left after paying.

Nakiri Erina looked like she really wanted to meet the chef.

But there were really too many people.

She could only leave disappointedly.

On the car ride home.

Seeing the disappointed Erina, Nakiri Senzaemon asked.

"This is the first time I've seen you want to meet a chef so badly, Erina."

"Mm..." Erina admitted.

From the aloofness of the first day, to the restraint of the second day, to the anticipation of the third day, which was today.

One change each day.

And the two had only met once.

But Erina believed she had already gotten to know Hayashi through his food.

There's the saying "handwriting reveals character."

Erina believed cooking was the same!

Someone who could make this kind of cuisine must have soul-deep qualities!

Seeing Erina's absent-minded appearance, Senzaemon sighed and made a suggestion.

"How about inviting him to Totsuki to challenge the Elite Ten? If he succeeds, he might start as the chairman of the Elite Ten, and maybe even sit in my position in the future."

Senzaemon's position was that of director general.

Never mind that the Elite Ten was already an unreachable position for most chefs.

Director general was even beyond imagination.

But such high praise.

Was now an accepted fact between them.

He was just that amazing.

"!" Hearing this, Erina's eyes lit up.

But she immediately shook her head in denial.

"Never mind whether he'd agree or not."

"The shop owner is an existence that doesn't belong to the Totsuki system. Joining Totsuki would only make him like the others, unable to create soulful cuisine."

"Being here is enough. Being himself is enough."

Erina's words.

Filled Senzaemon with surprise.

He hadn't expected his granddaughter to already understand to this degree.

Cuisine was a work that poured one's heart and soul into it.

If cooking was done for exams and passing grades, to put it harshly, one would only "go with the flow."

Totsuki was very good.

But Senzaemon also knew.

Shop Owner Hayashi was a chef who completely didn't belong to Totsuki's system.

Totsuki was: technique.

Hayashi was: the way.

"Erina, you finally understand how to evaluate cuisine from the essence of cooking itself. I'm very pleased."

"Blindly supporting Totsuki won't reach a realm that surpasses Totsuki."

"Only by tasting more of these soulful cuisines."

"Can you understand what the essence of culinary artistry truly is."

"This is also the reason we've been queuing and waiting for so long."

Hearing this, Erina understood.

She nodded and seriously said "mm."

Senzaemon contentedly stroked his beard.

Then thinking of something, he suddenly smiled and persuaded.

"Erina, you and this shop owner are the same age. You should come often in the future and exchange ideas."

What he said sounded normal enough.

But the tone was full of implications.

Moreover.

The Nakiri family was a famous noble house, with many adoptions and arranged marriages throughout the family.

Erina's father had married into the family and even changed his name.

Although the family didn't force adoptions and arranged marriages.

There was a very strict evaluation standard!

That is, whether male or female, whether cooking or tasting cuisine.

No matter what, they had to have extremely high talent for cuisine!

So Senzaemon's implied meaning was.

As long as it was him, grandfather wouldn't care how you worked it out - as long as you could unite.

After hearing this, Erina's face turned bright red.

She reached out to twirl her golden hair, looking at the scenery outside the car with wandering eyes.

"Let's... let's talk about it later. We only know each other through cuisine, we haven't really interacted yet."

Senzaemon smiled: "So after going back, add the contact information on the business card."

"..." Erina was silent for a while, realizing she indeed wanted to add it, so she agreed in a mosquito-like voice.

"Mm."

On the other side.

Midnight diner.

After Nakiri Senzaemon and Nakiri Erina left.

The impact on the restaurant was essentially nothing - in less than three minutes, their vacated table was cleaned and replaced with new customers.

10 PM, the restaurant was still packed.

Outside the midnight diner, the queue extended to the alley entrance.

Still endless streams of people.

11 PM.

Still the same.

Midnight.

The alley entrance still had that many people.

Hayashi found time to go out and look, then came back and instructed Tohru.

"Same as before, cut off the flow. The people currently queuing in the alley are enough to keep us going until 2 AM closing."

"Alright."

Tohru went to put up the wooden sign again.

The people who arrived late saw it and made sounds of regret.

Those who arrived early made sounds of celebration.

The last two hours.

Everyone worked like it was a final sprint.

Two hours straight.

Working intensely.

2 AM sharp.

After seeing off the last table.

Everyone collapsed on the sofas to rest properly.

Hayashi brought out the sunflower seeds he'd roasted during the day.

To share with everyone.

"Let's crack some seeds and rest a bit."

Everyone cracked sunflower seeds.

After Kirishima Touka cracked one, she opened her eyes in surprise.

She looked at Hayashi hesitantly.

"These sunflower seeds seem to restore stamina."

"?" Hayashi was startled.

How did he not know this?

Everyone cracked several more and found it was true!

"It really is good."

"Really works!"

Hayashi thought for a moment, then had a realization.

These were seeds produced by monsters!

So these weren't ordinary sunflower seeds either!

But seeds infused with magic power!

That's why they had the effect of restoring stamina!

"If they're tasty, eat more." Hayashi cracked a few and stood up: "I'll go make dinner, get ready to eat."

He got up to make dinner.

And checked today's sales figures.

[Today's customer flow: 4,596 people]

[Today's average spending per person: 14,537 yen]

[Today's good review rate: 100%]

Still 100% positive reviews.

This was strength.

Three consecutive days of 100% positive reviews - the system mission would definitely be completed.

Just had to wait for closing to settle.

Hayashi quickly prepared dinner and brought it out.

At the dining table.

Everyone ate and chatted.

When they were almost finished.

The three from Anteiku were somewhat silent.

"?" Hayashi looked at them strangely: "What's wrong with you? Not happy? Oh right, I haven't paid you yet."

Hayashi got up and went to the bar counter, settling their three days' wages.

Each person got a thick stack.

About six figures of yen.

But when Kirishima Touka received the money, she shook her head indicating that wasn't the reason.

She asked: "Um... won't the shop need other people's help tomorrow?"

Fueguchi Ryouko also said: "Looking at today's situation, tomorrow will be even busier, right?"

So that was the reason.

Hayashi nodded, then shook his head.

"You don't need to worry about that. Actually, I don't like being this busy every day either."

"So starting tomorrow, I have a way to make the customers much fewer, but also much higher quality."

"If it gets busy, I'll still call on you all."

After hearing this, everyone nodded, indicating they understood.

For them.

Although these past few days were tiring, they were incredibly fulfilling, and the food was excellent.

Moreover, for ghouls.

This kind of tiredness wasn't the unbearable kind.

It could only be called exercise.

So everyone felt regretful.

After finishing the meal.

Kanna flopped onto the sofa and fell asleep.

Hayashi saw the three from Anteiku to the door and waved goodbye.

"Bye, I won't see you off."

"Mm, bye, Hayashi-kun."

The three said goodbye.

Fueguchi Hinami waved her hand: "We'll come eat delicious food again next time, shop owner big brother."

"Alright."

After seeing off the three.

Hayashi casually closed the door.

"Settlement complete, settle mission."

[Check-in complete, obtained Universal Food Lottery x1!]

[Mission Complete: Leisurely Shop Owner]

[Mission Reward: Customer Group Adjustment Function!]

[Ding~, Your temporary employee: Tohru, has reached full contribution and has been upgraded from external employee to internal employee.]

[Internal Employee Benefits: The shop owner will acquire all adaptive abilities of internal employees, but needs to continuously learn on their own, while internal employees will receive a 30% boost to all attributes!]

The moment of settlement.

Countless knowledge and abilities flooded into Hayashi's mind!

His brain began brainstorming!

His spirit began magical enhancement!

Similarly.

Tohru had just been cleaning dishes.

But suddenly froze, then her body surface flickered with dim golden light, like sublimation and blessing!

As halos appeared layer by layer, then disappeared.

Until it ended.

Hayashi discovered he had learned countless magical knowledge and possessed a power called magic within his body!

But he couldn't turn into a dragon, because dragon was a species.

Unless he had a way to be reforged!

So this was called adaptive ability!

He would learn all abilities he was capable of learning!

And after Tohru came to her senses.

Her consciousness also understood that she had received Hayashi's blessing and enhancement!

In an instant.

Tohru flew over and cheered at Hayashi.

"Hayashi-san, I love you so much!!!"

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