Food Wars: Tavern

Among many beef dishes.

Zane's smoked beef can be described as an absolute masterpiece!

Especially when the last sprinkle of salt, which had also been smoked, created a rounded and smooth overall sensation when tasted.

And it's precisely because of this sensation that made Rindō Kobayashi unable to stop.

In the end, with a completely open appetite, Rindō Kobayashi no longer ate with the previous elegance, but lifted the plate directly.

Quickly using her chopsticks, she kept putting pieces of beef into her mouth.

Before long, she had eaten the entire plate of smoked beef!

"Sigh~"

"So satisfying!"

Since she was at the tavern, she could truly experience how happy a foodie's life is!

Although she had become the second seat of the Ten Elites before this, she still had a lazy and indifferent attitude.

In the academy, she didn't seem to care about many things.

In her eyes, life should be about eating and sleeping, and only this carefree life could be considered happy.

So compared to Totsuki Culinary Academy, she actually preferred to stay at the tavern.

Just like today, drinking and eating heartily, chatting with the handsome owner, Zane!

Of course, speaking of this owner, while being handsome is one thing, the most important thing is his incredible culinary skills.

Even just this smoked beef, it would be impossible for Rindō Kobayashi to recreate such a perfect dish for over ten years.

This guy always puzzles her, but she can't explain exactly what's different about him.

...

Gurgle, gurgle!

Gurgle, gurgle!

After finishing the smoked beef.

Rindō Kobayashi picked up the sake bottle next to her again, poured the remaining sake into the cup, and drank it all at once.

On one hand, Zane made every dish perfect, as if he could produce a thousand flavors.

On the other hand, he also brewed sake with many flavors, so that after finishing the smoked beef, drinking such fragrant sake was an extremely enjoyable taste experience!

Later, possibly after drinking some sake, Rindō Kobayashi's delicate face looked a bit flushed and shy under the soft yellow light.

"Zane, although I don't want to admit it, your cooking skills are truly unparalleled. If you were at Totsuki Culinary Academy, that strongest first seat of the Ten Elites, Shinomiya, wouldn't stand a chance against you! If only I had met you earlier, I wouldn't have been so enchanted by you."

Setting down the sake cup, in the gentle yellow light, Rindō Kobayashi's face looked fair and clear.

She seemed ethereal, elegant, almost without a trace of worldly flavor!

At this moment, upon hearing Rindō Kobayashi's words, Zane, on the other hand, just shrugged, seeming indifferent.

He probably thought she was a bit drunk and not thinking straight.

In fact, since the tavern opened, his culinary skills had received a lot of recognition.

So, he had heard a lot of praise and compliments!

...

"Zane."

"Could you bring me another bottle of sake?"

"You still want to drink?"

Looking at the somewhat tipsy Rindō Kobayashi, Zane couldn't help but ask.

"Yes!"

"If it's such good sake."

"If I don't drink my fill, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

Rindō Kobayashi, staring at the empty bottle on the table, couldn't help but open her mouth slightly and stick out her tongue, as if she were still immersed in the fragrance of sake.

After that, she lifted her head slightly, and with misty eyes, she stared at Zane intently.

Zane felt uncomfortable under her gaze, so he had to comply with her request and took out another bottle of Japanese sake from the liquor cabinet and placed it in front of her.

Seeing this, Rindō Kobayashi happily uncorked the bottle and began to savor it.

Dong!

Dong!

Dong!

As the clock hanging on the wall reached the numeral "12", the tavern finally came to closing time!

Seeing Rindō Kobayashi already asleep on the table, Zane had to push her in a helpless gesture and whispered in her ear, "Rindo, it's already midnight."

"It's closing time at the tavern, so you shouldn't sleep here anymore."

"Chef Zane, how can you use shadow clones, can you actually create several figures from one!" 

Usually, those lively golden eyes were now unfocused.

As if a deep invisible spring, that people can't see through.

If you look closely, you can see that Rindō Kobayashi's cheeks are thoroughly flushed, showing strong signs of drunkenness.

Then, with a "thud," she unexpectedly slumped onto the table again and fell asleep.

Zane furrowed his brow deeply, truly not expecting Rindō Kobayashi to be so heavily drunk.

"If I had known, I wouldn't have brought her another bottle of sake."

Seeing this, Zane could only sigh helplessly and then helped Rindō Kobayashi up.

However, the heavily intoxicated Rindō Kobayashi unexpectedly opened her arms, hugged Zane's arm loosely, holding onto him tightly!

Gasp!

This was trouble! Feeling the soft touch, Zane immediately froze.

He lowered his head slightly, looking at Rindō Kobayashi lying in his arms.

Her long eyelashes, the rosy cheeks, the cute pouting face she made while sleeping; indeed, she had a unique charm!

"Rindo."

"I... let me help you get some rest."

"Mhm!"

"Thank... thank you!"

The sleepy Rindō Kobayashi just replied with a mumble.

In the end, Zane could only princess-carry Rindō Kobayashi to the room on the third floor of the tavern, gently lay her on the bed, and tuck her in.

At that moment, Rindō Kobayashi lying on the bed, eyes closed, looked peaceful in her sleep.

Her soft breathing and faint smile seemed to indicate that she was having a very beautiful dream!

"She's sleeping so soundly!"

Seeing her particularly lovely sleeping face, Zane couldn't help but get more captivated the longer he looked.

Finally snapping out of it, he got up quickly, stealthily walked out of the room.

...

[Ding dong!]

[Today's tavern revenue exceeded 500,000 yen, rewarding 50 gourmet coins.]

[Ding dong!]

[Since the tavern opened, the host has finally achieved the milestone of 1000 orders, unlocking the check-in feature for today.]

[Ding dong!]

[Would you like to check in?]

At that moment, as the tavern closed for the day.

The system's notification sound continued to ring loudly in Zane's mind.

"Hmm?"

"The check-in feature is unlocked?"

Upon hearing this, Zane's was a bit puzzled.