Chapter 291

Watching everyone enjoy the meal so much, Haruto could not help smiling.

To him, the most precious thing about cooking had always been its ability to let someone find genuine happiness in a single bite of food.

And right now, everyone certainly looked happy.

Still smiling, Haruto turned back to the pot and served himself a bowl of the centipede meat congee.

He lifted it and took a sip.

The congee had simmered until thick and velvety, a rich layer of rice starch clinging to the sides of the bowl. It flowed across his tongue like silk, carrying the gentle sweetness of fresh rice together with the mellow savoriness released by the diced centipede meat.

The flavor was perfectly balanced—light without being bland, rich without becoming heavy.

After more than half an hour of slow simmering in the clay pot, the tiny cubes of meat had become exceptionally soft and flavorful. The slightest pressure from his tongue was enough to make them fall apart.

The warm congee slid down his throat and into his stomach, soothing the lingering numbing heat left behind by the Spicy Poached Centipede Slices.

Warmth spread outward from his stomach through his entire body, so comforting that Haruto could not help letting out a quiet sigh.

He slowly finished the bowl, one spoonful at a time, and by the time the steaming congee was gone, he felt warm from the inside out.

Haruto then tried some of the dishes the villagers had prepared.

They naturally could not compare with his own cooking, but they had their own rustic charm.

The seasoned fermented beans in particular went surprisingly well with the congee.

After finishing the spicy centipede slices, everyone else also served themselves bowls of congee.

The first sip drew satisfied sighs from nearly the entire group.

Inuyasha had been sweating heavily from the spice earlier, his tongue practically hanging out from the numbing heat. One mouthful of congee instantly brought him relief.

The moment he finished his first bowl, he immediately filled another to the brim and began slurping it down.

In less than the time it would take half an incense stick to burn, the entire large clay pot of centipede congee had been scraped clean.

By the end, Inuyasha, the others, and the villagers were all sprawled across the tatami, rubbing round stomachs with thoroughly satisfied expressions.

"You’re all full, right?"

Haruto looked at Inuyasha and the others.

Inuyasha was lying flat on his back with all four limbs spread out.

He let out a burp that still carried the aroma of meat.

"I seriously can’t eat another bite..."

Kagome and the others were in much the same condition.

"I see."

Haruto nodded in understanding.

Then he walked outside and used a branch to push aside the remains of the fire, which had already burned down to dark-red embers.

Buried beneath the ash was the pair of centipede legs he had thrown into the coals earlier.

The legs had originally gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen, but after slowly roasting beneath the charcoal, their shells had transformed into a translucent, warm agate-red.

A thin layer of crystal-clear fat glistened across the surface.

Haruto pulled the pair from the embers.

The moment they emerged, waves of heat carried the concentrated aroma trapped beneath the shell directly into the air.

Unlike the gentle richness produced by simmering, this fragrance was far more direct and primal—the pure smell of meat roasted over charcoal, mingled with just a faint hint of char.

Every head in the room immediately turned.

Haruto smiled and drew the Melk Knife.

The blade came down.

The bright red, brittle shell cracked open cleanly.

Inside was a dense strip of tightly layered meat with a glossy, milky-white sheen. Warm steam curled from the exposed flesh, while clear juices filled the fine gaps between the fibers and slowly seeped along the cut surface.

"Whoa..."

Shippō stared at the meat, his throat moving as he swallowed.

Beside him, Inuyasha’s nose twitched repeatedly.

Somehow, he felt hungry again.

Even Kagome and the others could not stop looking.

"Don’t bother staring."

Haruto glanced at them while smoothly removing the intact strip of meat from the shell.

Then he spread his hands with a teasing smile.

"You couldn’t eat another bite even if you wanted to."

Inuyasha and the others touched their swollen stomachs and immediately deflated.

That was true.

They genuinely could not fit so much as one more mouthful.

Haruto chuckled and brought out a small dish of special dipping sauce.

He had made it from Dryad pollen, Holy Snow Crystal powder, Puffer Whale fin wine, and Wuu Star Fruit, along with several other seasonings.

Using the Melk Knife, he sliced the roasted meat into pieces.

He picked up one slice, lightly rolled it through the sauce, and coated the springy white meat in a glossy red sheen.

Under the helpless stares of Inuyasha and the others, Haruto put it into his mouth.

The flavor of the special sauce came first.

A deep savory richness spread across his tongue, followed by just enough mild heat to warm the palate without overwhelming it.

Then Haruto bit down.

The first sensation was an unmistakable springiness.

The meat fibers were clearly defined and pleasantly firm, yet not the slightest bit tough.

A moment later, the scalding juices that had been sealed inside by the charcoal roasting burst into his mouth.

The concentrated savoriness swept across his palate.

Unlike meat softened through simmering, the slowly roasted centipede leg had preserved virtually every drop of its natural flavor.

The more Haruto chewed, the richer it became.

The texture remained firm without requiring effort, while the sauce cut neatly through the heavier meatiness without overpowering the ingredient itself.

If anything, it pushed the meat’s natural savoriness up another level.

There was even a subtle sweetness lingering in the finish, intertwined with the roasted flavor and refusing to disappear.

Haruto nodded in satisfaction.

He picked up another piece, dipped it into the sauce, and continued eating at an unhurried pace.

"You bastard..."

Inuyasha glared at Haruto, visibly annoyed by how much he was enjoying himself.

There was nothing he could do about it.

His stomach was so full he could barely manage another sip of water.

All he could do was watch.

Kagome burst out laughing at the frustrated look on his face.

Miroku and Sango exchanged amused smiles.

At that moment, Shippō, still clutching his stomach, suddenly seemed to notice something.

He walked over to Haruto and looked him up and down.

"Wait a second. Haruto, how can you still eat this much?"

"You ate just as much as the rest of us earlier, and you’re still going!"

Haruto swallowed the meat in his mouth and wiped the corner of his lips.

"Well, I’m also a Gourmet Hunter."

He answered as though it were obvious.

"Being able to eat a lot comes with the job."

Then he took another large bite.

The springy meat resisted pleasantly between his teeth before releasing another burst of rich juices.

"Besides, a chef has to be good at cooking, but he also needs to be able to eat."

"You can’t know what the best flavor is unless you’ve tasted enough things yourself."

Haruto’s expression carried the unmistakable enthusiasm of someone who truly loved food.

Just then, Inuyasha suddenly sensed something.

Without thinking, he raised one hand and slapped himself hard across the face.

SMACK!

The sharp sound immediately drew everyone’s attention.

"Inuyasha? What’s wrong?"

Kagome stared at him in confusion.

She had no idea why he had suddenly hit himself.

Inuyasha did not answer.

Under everyone’s curious gaze, he slowly lowered his hand.

Lying in the middle of his palm was a flea flattened almost paper-thin.

"Gramps Myōga?"

Inuyasha stared at the flea, his ears twitching with surprise—and more than a little undisguised annoyance.

The flattened Myōga wobbled once.

Then his body rapidly puffed back up.

Within moments, he had returned to his usual round shape.

He shook his head, straightened his rumpled little mustache, dusted himself off, and blinked up at Inuyasha.

"I’ve been terribly worried about you lately, Lord Inuyasha."

"I couldn’t settle my heart, so I hurried over as quickly as I could. And sure enough, you encountered such a terrifying giant centipede."

Myōga patted his tiny chest with exaggerated relief.

"Oh, thank goodness you’re all right. Truly, heaven was watching over you!"

Inuyasha was not fooled for a second.

He looked down at Myōga with open disgust.

"When we were fighting the giant centipede, you were nowhere to be seen."

"And now you show up? Your timing sure is convenient."

As he spoke, Inuyasha poked Myōga with one finger, nearly knocking the flea over.

Myōga had no answer.

His eyes darted around as he awkwardly rubbed his tiny hands together, desperately trying to change the subject.

"Well, well, that’s..."

Inuyasha immediately leaned closer.

"Don’t change the subject!"

"And where the hell have you been all this time anyway? You disappear for ages without sending a single word!"

At that question, Myōga’s flustered expression suddenly changed.

To everyone’s astonishment, he actually began looking bashful.

Both pairs of tiny hands twisted together while one foot rubbed shyly against Inuyasha’s palm.

He wriggled his entire body and spoke in an embarrassingly soft voice.

"Well... even an old fellow like me has one or two private matters that are difficult to speak about..."

Myōga covered his mouth with one hand and began giggling.

"Hehehe..."

His eyes narrowed into happy little crescents, and his entire face practically radiated springtime romance.

"What the hell are you laughing about? That’s disgusting!"

Inuyasha shuddered at the sight.

Unable to stand it any longer, he flicked Myōga away with one finger.

"Aaaah—!"

Myōga flew through the air in a graceful arc before landing directly on the edge of an iron candle stand.

The candles had been burning for hours, leaving the metal scorching hot.

The instant Myōga’s tiny feet touched it, he sprang into the air like he had stepped onto a red-hot iron.

"Hot! Hot! Hot—!"

Screaming at the top of his tiny lungs, Myōga began sprinting frantically around the rim of the candle stand on his little legs.