Chapter 396

Milim’s face lit up with delight, her eyes curving into happy crescents.

She glanced left and right, checking whether anyone was watching. Haruto was still busy preparing the next stage of the dish and didn’t seem to be paying attention to her.

Perfect.

Milim quietly reached out again.

One strip, two strips, three...

She snatched the fried beef tenderloin from the rack and stuffed each piece into her mouth as quickly as she could.

Nearby, Rimuru watched her enjoying herself with an increasingly tempted expression.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally gave in, picked up a strip of fried tenderloin, and popped it into his mouth.

"Mmm!"

His expression immediately became one of pure satisfaction.

"Th-That’s delicious! It’s so crispy on the outside, but the meat inside is incredibly tender! And it’s practically bursting with juice!"

That settled it.

With their mutual interest in food overcoming any lingering hesitation, Milim and Rimuru began helping themselves to the freshly fried beef.

Milim took one strip, Rimuru took another, and before long, the two were happily eating side by side.

The mountain of fried tenderloin on the rack was visibly shrinking.

Of course, Haruto had noticed what they were doing almost immediately.

At first, he’d intended to pretend he hadn’t seen anything. If they wanted a few pieces to satisfy their curiosity, he didn’t particularly mind.

Unfortunately, the two had apparently interpreted his silence as permission to keep eating.

And eating.

And eating.

At this rate, there wouldn’t be any beef left for the actual sweet-and-sour dish.

Haruto finally turned around and looked at the two enthusiastic thieves.

"Hey, you two. I’m not finished cooking yet, you know. If you keep eating like that, there won’t be anything left."

Milim and Rimuru froze simultaneously.

Milim still had half a strip of tenderloin sticking out of her mouth.

She hurriedly swallowed it, then slowly turned her head away.

Her eyes wandered innocently toward the sky, and she began whistling as though she hadn’t the faintest idea what Haruto was talking about.

Rimuru’s response was even more shameless.

He immediately transformed back into his slime form and adopted an expression of utter bewilderment.

The message was clear: Who am I? Where am I? What happened?

Apparently, he expected Haruto to believe that the slime in front of him had absolutely nothing to do with the person who’d been stealing fried beef just moments earlier.

Haruto stared at their terrible acting, feeling a headache coming on.

He rubbed his forehead and sighed.

"You know, the finished dish is going to taste even better than this. If you eat everything now, you won’t get to try it with the sauce."

Both Milim and Rimuru swallowed.

’Even better than this?’

They looked at the remaining fried beef, then at Haruto.

Just how delicious could the completed dish possibly be?

The two exchanged glances, clearly struggling with the same dilemma.

The beef in front of them was already unbelievably good, and resisting the temptation to eat more required an almost heroic amount of self-control.

But if waiting meant getting something even more delicious...

Eventually, anticipation won out over immediate gratification.

Milim reluctantly picked up Rimuru, hugged the blue slime against herself, and retreated to a safe distance from the cooking station.

She continued staring longingly at the remaining beef, but at least she managed to keep her hands to herself.

Haruto shook his head in amusement before returning to his preparations.

It was finally time to make the sweet-and-sour sauce.

He began by selecting several plump, fully ripened tomatoes.

Each one possessed a beautiful, vivid red color, with smooth, glossy skin.

Haruto briefly lowered them into boiling water, allowing the heat to loosen their skins.

After removing them, he easily peeled away the outer layer, cut the tomatoes open, and removed their seeds.

The prepared tomato flesh went into a fine-mesh strainer.

Using the back of a spoon, Haruto repeatedly pressed and crushed the flesh against the mesh, gradually extracting the smooth juice.

A stream of bright red tomato juice collected in the bowl beneath it.

The liquid possessed a wonderfully fresh fragrance, with the characteristic balance of sweetness and acidity found in perfectly ripe tomatoes.

Once he had extracted enough juice, Haruto reached for another ingredient.

Honey.

More specifically, it was the premium honey he’d obtained from Rimuru.

The honey had been produced by Apito, the honey-producing magical insect under Rimuru’s care.

It possessed a rich, distinctive fragrance and a mellow sweetness that never became cloying.

Haruto added an appropriate amount to the tomato juice.

Then came salt, fruit vinegar, ground white pepper, and a little water.

He thoroughly stirred the ingredients together with a spoon.

As the honey dissolved and the seasonings combined, the sauce developed an attractive rose-red color.

Even before cooking, it was beginning to release a wonderfully appetizing sweet-and-sour aroma.

"The proportions are especially important when making a sweet-and-sour sauce," Haruto explained.

Shion, who had been diligently recording his cooking techniques, immediately focused her attention on him.

"You need the right balance between sweetness and acidity. The sauce should be sweet with a little tartness, but that acidity should also come through the sweetness."

He stirred the mixture again.

"A little salt helps bring everything together and prevents the flavor from becoming overwhelming. The tomatoes provide the basic sweet-and-sour foundation, while the honey gives it a richer, more rounded sweetness. The fruit vinegar adds a brighter, more refreshing acidity."

Shion nodded repeatedly, her pen moving quickly across the pages of her notebook.

She was determined not to miss a single detail.

Once the ingredients were thoroughly combined, Haruto began cooking the sauce.

He poured a small amount of oil into a clean wok.

When the oil had warmed slightly, he added the prepared sweet-and-sour mixture.

Bubble, bubble...

Small bubbles began forming across the surface as the sauce gradually came to a simmer.

Haruto reduced the heat and stirred gently with a spoon, allowing the excess moisture to evaporate little by little.

As the liquid reduced, its consistency gradually thickened.

The fresh acidity of the tomatoes, the mellow sweetness of Apito’s honey, and the refreshing sharpness of the fruit vinegar blended together under the heat.

Each ingredient contributed its own character, gradually developing into a more complex and enticing fragrance.

The longer the sauce simmered, the richer its sweet-and-sour aroma became.

Even the people standing several steps away could feel their mouths watering.

Haruto continued cooking until the sauce reached the proper consistency.

When he lifted a spoonful, the thickened liquid clung to the metal before slowly flowing back into the wok.

"Perfect."

He immediately added the remaining fried beef tenderloin strips.

With a smooth movement of his wrist, Haruto began tossing the contents of the wok.

The golden, crispy beef rolled through the thick sweet-and-sour sauce, each strip gradually acquiring an even coating of brilliant red glaze.

Haruto kept the process quick, ensuring the beef was thoroughly coated without allowing the delicate fried crust to become soggy.

Finally, he scattered a small amount of white sesame seeds over the dish.

The pale seeds stood out beautifully against the glossy red beef, adding both visual appeal and a subtle nutty fragrance.

"Done!"

Haruto swiftly transferred the finished Sweet-and-Sour Beef Tenderloin onto a prepared porcelain serving platter.

The strips formed a small, appetizing mountain.

Every piece was coated in a vivid reddish glaze, the translucent sauce gleaming beneath the firelight like polished gemstones.

White sesame seeds were scattered across the surface, while a rich sweet-and-sour fragrance rose from the platter.

The aroma was so concentrated and enticing that it almost seemed tangible.

Just then, Kagura called out from the neighboring grill.

"Haruto, the Cave Spider legs are ready!"

Haruto turned toward her.

The hard shells of the spider legs had developed a beautiful orange-red color beneath the steady heat.

He removed them from the grill one by one and arranged them neatly on a large serving platter.

The roasted legs released an intense seafood-like fragrance, reminiscent of freshly grilled crab and lobster.

That natural sweetness blended with the smoky aroma of charcoal, creating a particularly mouthwatering combination.

Haruto then prepared a dipping sauce using minced garlic, chili, soy sauce, lemon juice, and several other seasonings.

He placed the finished sauce beside the platter of roasted spider legs.

With two dishes completed, he turned his attention toward Gobta.

The enormous rotating column of beef was still turning steadily above the fire.

Gobta had taken his assignment surprisingly seriously.

Beads of sweat had appeared across his forehead from the heat and effort, but his expression remained filled with anticipation.

He hadn’t once abandoned his position.

The outermost layer of meat had already developed a beautiful reddish-brown crust.

Rendered fat glistened across its surface, making it clear that the exposed portions were fully cooked.

Rich juices slowly trickled down the towering column of beef before dripping into the flames beneath it.

Sssss!

Each falling drop produced a sharp sizzle, followed by another burst of fragrant smoke.

The combination of roasted beef, rendered fat, and toasted spices had already filled the surrounding area with an irresistible aroma.

"Not bad, Gobta. You’re doing a great job."

Haruto offered him a compliment before approaching the rotating meat with Myriad Worlds in hand.

He positioned the blade against the cooked exterior.

Then, with quick, controlled movements of his wrist, he began shaving slices from the surface.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Thin pieces of roasted beef fell neatly onto the waiting platter.

Every slice was remarkably uniform in thickness.

Their edges were slightly charred and crisp, while the meat beneath remained tender, pink, and wonderfully juicy.

Haruto arranged the slices on a serving platter before drizzling them with a sauce prepared from the meat juices and aromatic spices.

The finished beef glistened beneath the firelight, releasing a rich, deeply savory fragrance.

With that, all three dishes were ready.

Roasted Cave Spider Legs.

Rotisserie Black Iron Beef.

Sweet-and-Sour Beef Tenderloin.

Haruto arranged the platters across the banquet table.

The fragrances from the three dishes mingled in the air, creating an extraordinary combination of roasted meat, sweet-and-sour sauce, smoky charcoal, and delicate seafood-like sweetness.

It was enough to overwhelm the appetite of anyone standing nearby.

"All right, everyone. Come and try some."

Haruto smiled and invited the waiting guests to begin eating.

He had barely finished speaking when Milim shot toward the table.

Her movement was so fast that she left a pink afterimage behind.

Arriving in front of the dishes, she eagerly examined each platter.

The roasted Cave Spider legs released a powerful savory sweetness.

The rotisserie beef glistened with rendered fat, its rich aroma practically begging to be tasted.

However, Milim’s attention quickly settled on the Sweet-and-Sour Beef Tenderloin.

The brilliant red glaze, the glossy sauce, and the mouthwatering combination of sweet and tart fragrances were simply irresistible.

For someone who loved sweet foods as much as Milim, the dish might as well have been designed specifically to tempt her.

Which, of course, it had.

Without another moment’s hesitation, Milim picked up a piece of the glazed beef and popped it into her mouth.

BOOM!

It felt as though something had exploded inside her mind.

The outer coating was wonderfully crisp, breaking apart with a satisfying crunch beneath her teeth.

Although it had absorbed the sweet-and-sour sauce, it had somehow retained its delicate crispness without becoming the slightest bit soggy.

And inside that crunchy coating...

The beef tenderloin was unbelievably soft and juicy.

The instant Milim bit into it, rich meat juices burst across her tongue, carrying the deep, concentrated savoriness of the Black Iron Bull.

But the most astonishing part was the sauce.

The refreshing sweetness and acidity of ripe tomatoes appeared first, followed by the rich, fragrant sweetness of honey.

Then came the bright, clean tartness of the fruit vinegar.

The flavors unfolded across Milim’s tongue in distinct layers, yet they blended together so naturally that none overshadowed the others.

The balance between sweetness and acidity was exquisite.

The sauce was sweet enough to satisfy her cravings without becoming cloying, while its tartness was refreshing rather than unpleasantly sharp.

Beneath those flavors lingered just enough saltiness and savory richness to tie everything together.

The result was a sauce that complemented the beef perfectly, enhancing its natural flavor rather than overwhelming it.

The combination of textures was equally extraordinary.

A delicate, crunchy exterior gave way to wonderfully tender beef, while the rich meat juices mingled with the bright sweet-and-sour glaze.

Milim had never experienced anything quite like it.

She pressed her hands against her cheeks, completely lost in the sensation.

For a moment, she almost felt as though she were swimming in an endless ocean of honey, tomatoes, and delicious beef.

Everywhere she turned, there were wonderful sweet and sour flavors, surrounding her in a world of pure culinary happiness.

’It’s true!’

’This really is better than honey!’

The realization made her even more excited.

Once Milim recovered from her initial amazement, her eating speed increased dramatically.

One strip after another disappeared into her mouth.

Her cheeks puffed out from all the food she was stuffing into them, yet she showed absolutely no sign of slowing down.

Even with her mouth full, she still managed to offer enthusiastic praise.

"Sho good! Ish sooo good! Sweet and sour and delicious! It’s even better than honey! Haruto, you’re amazing!"

Meanwhile, the other guests had also begun eating.

Before long, everyone was completely captivated by the dishes.

Rimuru tried some of the freshly shaved rotisserie beef, followed by a piece of roasted Cave Spider leg.

A blissful expression immediately appeared on his face.

"Mmm! This is incredible! The beef is so tender, and it’s absolutely packed with juice!"

He then tasted another piece of the spider leg.

"And this! It tastes almost like crab! It’s unbelievably sweet and savory!"

The two dishes offered completely different flavors and textures, but both were extraordinary.

Shion was enjoying herself just as much as everyone else.

However, even while eating, she hadn’t forgotten her notebook.

She continued writing between mouthfuls, apparently determined to record not only Haruto’s cooking methods but also the precise flavors and textures of the finished dishes.

If she could reproduce those sensations in her own cooking, she was certain Lord Rimuru would be delighted.

Gobta, meanwhile, had abandoned all pretense of restraint.

He was eating with astonishing enthusiasm.

His left hand held a generous portion of rotisserie beef, while his right hand gripped a roasted Cave Spider leg.

He somehow still managed to stuff sweet-and-sour tenderloin into his already full mouth.

Sauce covered his cheeks and chin, but he clearly couldn’t have cared less.

The only thing that mattered was getting more delicious food before it disappeared.

Watching Milim, Rimuru, Gobta, and the others devour his cooking with such enthusiasm, Haruto couldn’t help smiling.

As a chef, there was something deeply satisfying about seeing people genuinely enjoy the food he’d prepared.

Their delight was more than enough to make all the preparation worthwhile.

There was just one small problem.

Haruto glanced at the rapidly shrinking platters.

"Hey, don’t eat everything! I haven’t had any yet!"

He hurriedly picked up his chopsticks and joined the feast.