Chapter 352

The moment Haruto heard the word "meal," his eyes lit up.

He certainly did not expect the Axis Cult’s chefs to be better cooks than he was, but getting to taste food from different worlds and cultures was part of the joy of traveling.

Besides, this might be his only chance to sample food prepared by the Axis Cult.

"Just so we’re clear, you’re not planning to make us join the Axis Cult after feeding us, are you?"

Haruto looked at Cecily suspiciously.

That was exactly the kind of thing the Axis Cult would do.

"Of course not!"

Cecily’s gaze drifted away as she waved her hands with obvious guilt.

"The Axis Cult is the most open-minded religion in the world! We would never force anyone to do something against their will!"

Haruto gave a dry laugh at her blatantly unnatural expression.

Still, he was not particularly concerned. If he did not want to join this bizarre religion, nobody was going to force him.

"All right. In that case, we’ll accept your hospitality."

Haruto smiled.

With that settled, he brought Kagura and Kanna along as Cecily led them into the magnificent Axis Cathedral.

The cathedral’s interior was surprisingly clean and solemn.

At least at first glance, there was nothing especially strange about it.

Several believers in blue robes were kneeling before a statue of Aqua, praying devoutly beneath their breath.

"Praise Lady Aqua! Please make my wife a little nicer to me!"

"Praise Lady Aqua! Please grant me good luck today!"

"Praise Lady Aqua! Please give me a girlfriend!"

Haruto: "..."

Kagura: "..."

Kanna: "?"

Cecily was clearly accustomed to this sort of thing.

Still wearing a gentle smile, she led the three through the prayer hall and toward the dining room at the rear of the cathedral.

"The Axis Cult is the freest and most open-minded religion in the world," Cecily explained as they walked.

"Everyone here is free to speak their mind. Whatever troubles you have, you can always share them with Lady Aqua."

"Lady Aqua is incredibly compassionate. She’ll definitely listen to the worries of every believer."

Haruto silently thought, ’Aqua definitely doesn’t have the patience for any of that.’

The dining hall contained several long wooden tables, many of which were already occupied by believers enjoying their meals.

Nobody seemed particularly surprised when Cecily entered with three unfamiliar guests.

Once the four sat down, another cultist soon arrived carrying several large trays.

Cecily enthusiastically introduced the food.

"These are all specialties of the Axis Cult! Every dish is made using holy water and ingredients blessed by Lady Aqua herself. Eat them and you’ll receive Lady Aqua’s protection!"

Haruto looked over the spread with growing anticipation.

If nothing else, the portions were extremely generous.

There was a loaf of roasted bread cut open down the middle. The crust had been baked to an even warm caramel color, its surface gleaming softly from the fat absorbed during baking.

The cut side revealed a snow-white, fluffy interior filled with tiny, evenly distributed air pockets, with thin wisps of steam still rising from it.

Next came an enormous grilled steak, nearly two fingers thick.

Its surface bore perfectly browned sear marks and was topped with a small sprig of fresh thyme.

Underneath lay a bed of thin pasta cooked just right, each strand glistening after soaking up the juices dripping from the steak.

There was also a large piece of beef brisket braised until tender, coated in a thick, glossy reddish-brown sauce. The meat looked so soft that it seemed ready to fall apart at the slightest touch.

Several slices of smoked pork belly were neatly arranged beside it, their pink-and-white marbling resembling polished marble. A translucent sweet-and-sour glaze had been spooned across the surface.

Two sausages rested along the edge of the platter, their casings lightly blistered from the pan and shining with an appetizing amber sheen.

Two smaller bowls rounded out the meal.

One white bowl contained neatly arranged slices of vivid green pickled cucumber, while a blue bowl held bright golden kernels of sweet corn.

"Well? Well?"

Cecily smiled brightly.

"Looks pretty good, doesn’t it?"

"Better than I expected."

Haruto nodded without reservation and picked up a slice of toasted bread.

The first thing he tasted was the caramelized sweetness of the crust, followed immediately by the soft, fluffy interior.

The fine structure seemed to dissolve across his tongue, releasing the deep fragrance of fermented wheat along with a faint buttery richness.

The more he chewed, the better it became.

There was just enough resistance to give the bread character without making it tough.

"The bread is quite good."

Haruto next turned his attention to the steak, which looked like the most enticing item on the table.

The moment his knife pressed into it, he could feel how tender the meat was.

As the blade passed through, pink juices welled from the cut surface and released an even richer aroma.

Haruto speared a piece and placed it in his mouth.

The instant his teeth closed, the crisp, browned exterior broke apart first, followed by a burst of hot juices that flooded his entire palate like fireworks.

The charred aroma from the grill, the beef’s natural sweetness, and the deep richness of melted fat blended perfectly together, unfolding across his tongue in layers.

The meat was tender yet pleasantly resilient, with just enough chew and no trace of dryness.

The fresh aroma of thyme had already infused the juices, cutting through the richness and making the overall flavor brighter and more complex.

Haruto chewed slowly, enjoying the sensation of the juices spreading between his teeth, and could not help narrowing his eyes in satisfaction.

The pasta beneath the steak had not gone to waste either.

Each strand was firm and springy, thoroughly soaked in the steak’s juices. Every bite carried intense beef flavor while remaining smooth and pleasantly chewy.

After finishing the steak, Haruto sampled the braised brisket.

The meat nearly melted the moment it entered his mouth, soft, juicy, and incredibly rich.

The concentrated aroma of spices blended perfectly with the beef’s natural savoriness, while the sauce had been reduced to exactly the right thickness—deeply seasoned, fragrant, and lingering long after each bite.

The smoked pork belly offered an entirely different experience.

The slices were soft yet springy, carrying a faint fruitwood-smoke aroma alongside their savory richness and the meat’s natural sweetness.

The sweet-and-sour glaze was the finishing touch.

Its acidity cut perfectly through the fattiness of the pork, making every bite feel cleaner and lighter, so it never became cloying no matter how much he ate.

Haruto then picked up one of the smoked sausages and bit into it.

Snap.

The crisp casing broke immediately, releasing tightly packed, juicy ground meat.

The smoky aroma and sharp bite of black pepper spread through his mouth at once. The flavor was intensely savory, the fat rich without becoming greasy, and the springy texture of the filling made it difficult to stop after a single bite.

After so much meat, Haruto picked up a slice of pickled cucumber.

It broke with a crisp crunch.

The cucumber was incredibly refreshing, carrying a clean acidity and faint salinity. Juice burst from it as he chewed, while the fresh flavor of cucumber immediately swept away the lingering richness from the meat.

Finally, Haruto spooned up some sweet corn.

The plump kernels burst between his teeth, releasing sweet juice across his tongue along with a faint buttery fragrance.

Their soft texture still retained just enough crispness, providing the perfect contrast to all the savory meat he had eaten before.

Haruto finished the meal thoroughly satisfied.

He had not expected the Axis Cult’s food to taste this good.

Kagura and Kanna were eating every bit as quickly as he was.

Just as the three were fully enjoying themselves, Zesta arrived carrying his own tray and sat down beside them.

"Well? Well? Delicious, isn’t it? Nobody can eat Axis Cult cuisine and still not want to join us!"

Haruto glanced at him helplessly.

The man truly never missed an opportunity to recruit someone.

"The food really is good, but that has nothing to do with joining your religion."

"How can it have nothing to do with it?!"

Zesta immediately became animated.

"All of these ingredients were blessed by Lady Aqua! Only members of the Axis Cult can eat such delicious food every single day!"

"To enjoy meals this wonderful every day while also receiving Lady Aqua’s divine protection—what could possibly be more blissful than that?"

Haruto could not be bothered arguing with him.

He simply started eating faster.

Ten minutes later, Haruto set down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth, and stood.

"Thank you for the meal. We’re full, so we’ll be heading back now."

"Eh? You’re leaving already?"

Cecily looked reluctantly toward Kanna.

"Won’t you stay a little longer? I even prepared dessert. It’s a cathedral specialty, and it’s really good!"

"No, no. We’re fine."

Haruto waved both hands.

The longer they remained here, the more likely these people were to invent some new scheme to recruit them.

"We need to go back and pack. We’ll leave for Axel first thing tomorrow morning."

They had already enjoyed Alcanretia’s hot springs and explored most of the city.

There was little reason to stay any longer.

"Tomorrow?"

Cecily had not expected Haruto to be even more impatient to leave than she was.

Still, she had no reason to object.

"All right, then. How about we meet outside the cathedral at six tomorrow morning?"

"Works for me."

Haruto nodded.

Then he grabbed Kagura and Kanna and headed straight for the exit without looking back.

Behind them, Zesta called loudly after the three.

"Haruto-san! Think about it again! If you join the Axis Cult, you can eat food this delicious every day!"

Haruto walked even faster.

Before long, the three had left the Axis Cathedral behind.

Only after they were several hundred meters away and certain nobody was following did they finally slow down.

The sun was already sinking toward the horizon.

Golden light spread across the waterways of Alcanretia, turning the rippling surface into a field of glittering reflections.

"All right. Let’s head back to the inn."

Haruto smiled.

"We’ll get a good night’s rest, then leave for Axel first thing tomorrow."

"There are plenty of interesting monsters and ingredients around Axel. We can take our time exploring once we get there."

Kagura and Kanna both nodded, anticipation clear on their faces.

The three slowly followed the road back toward their hot-spring inn, while behind them the Axis Cathedral stood magnificent beneath the golden light of sunset.