Chapter 124
Haruto turned his attention back to the Puffer Whale whose poison sac he had successfully removed and began preparing it.
First, he cut off the fins. Then he carefully separated the meat from the bones.
The cleaned fish bones went into a pot filled with water, which he set over a heating magic circle.
Before long, the broth began to boil.
It gradually turned milky white as a rich, savory aroma rose with the steam and spread across the beach.
While the stock simmered, Haruto started working on the meat.
The Melk Knife rose and fell in smooth, precise strokes.
One translucent slice after another appeared beneath the blade, each piece as clear and delicate as carved crystal before being arranged neatly across a plate.
Fine veins of fat spread evenly through the flesh like snowflakes. The fresh aroma alone was enough to make Haruto’s mouth water.
Once he finished slicing it, he eagerly picked up his chopsticks.
He lifted several pieces of sashimi, each one thin enough for light to pass through, and slowly placed them into his mouth.
Haruto’s eyes flew open.
For a moment, his entire body froze.
The Puffer Whale sashimi combined the luxurious richness of the finest fatty tuna with the deep flavor and satisfying firmness of whale meat.
It was soft and almost creamy, yet retained just enough resistance between the teeth.
With the slightest chew, an overwhelming burst of freshness flooded his mouth. The flavor unfolded layer after layer, lingering and circling across his tongue.
The more he chewed, the richer it became.
The longer he savored it, the more fragrant it seemed.
As the tender fish slipped down his throat, warmth spread through Haruto’s muscles.
His entire body seemed to swell with vitality as his Gourmet Cells became extraordinarily active.
The stamina he had exhausted and the fatigue he had accumulated vanished almost instantly, leaving him overflowing with strength.
After thoroughly savoring the sashimi, Haruto eagerly picked up several more slices and dipped them into the boiling broth made from the Puffer Whale’s bones.
He swished them through the stock for only a few seconds.
The heat wrapped around the translucent flesh, turning it tender and milky white.
Haruto placed the lightly cooked slices into his mouth.
Their texture was even smoother and more delicate, yet they had lost none of their satisfying bite.
The rich depth of the stock mingled with the fish’s natural sweetness, creating such an intense burst of flavor that the tip of Haruto’s tongue almost went numb.
It was an entirely different kind of perfection.
Compared with the sashimi, Haruto found that he preferred the lightly cooked slices.
Unfortunately, no matter how long he considered it, he could not think of a seasoning worthy of the Puffer Whale’s flavor.
After finishing the meat, Haruto brought out a bottle of fine alcohol he had prepared in advance.
He roasted the Puffer Whale fins until their surfaces were golden and aromatic, then soaked them in the drink for a short while.
Haruto raised the cup and took a slow sip.
The fin’s clean sweetness blended perfectly with the deep, mellow flavor of the alcohol.
The warm liquid flowed gently down his throat, soothing his entire body.
Every pore seemed to relax at once. All distracting thoughts faded from his mind until nothing remained except satisfaction and bliss.
While Haruto immersed himself in the Puffer Whale’s exquisite flavor, Toriko, Coco, and Komatsu were enjoying their own meal nearby.
Komatsu had originally intended to serve the Puffer Whale entirely as sashimi, since that was the best way to appreciate its natural freshness.
After seeing Haruto’s method, however, he decided to prepare a pot of Puffer Whale bone broth as well.
With three Puffer Whales whose poison sacs had been successfully removed, the group could enjoy themselves without holding back.
Once they had finished eating, Toriko turned toward Komatsu, who was crying openly from excitement, and gave a soft laugh.
"So? How does a Puffer Whale you helped capture and prepared with your own hands taste?"
Komatsu answered almost before Toriko had finished speaking.
"It’s incredible!"
"This is the most delicious food I’ve ever tasted!"
Seeing the sincerity in Komatsu’s reaction, Toriko’s smile became gentler. He reached out and lightly patted the chef’s shoulder.
"A dish made from an ingredient you risked everything to capture and poured your heart into preparing really is the best, isn’t it?"
Komatsu nodded firmly, his eyes shining with conviction.
"Yes! Absolutely!"
He then turned toward Haruto, who was cleaning up his utensils nearby.
"You feel the same way, don’t you, Haruto-san?"
Haruto looked up at him and nodded seriously.
"I do."
Coco quietly watched the others, a subtle change passing through his eyes.
For the first time in a long while, he felt the urge to continue working as a Gourmet Hunter.
Just then, the sudden splash of water broke the peaceful atmosphere.
Everyone turned.
A creature with a birdlike beak and black fur slowly emerged from the sea and stepped into the shallows.
An ominous presence rolled from its body.
It was cold and mechanical, entirely devoid of the warmth of life. The pressure felt almost tangible, heavy enough to make breathing difficult.
Toriko and Coco’s expressions changed instantly as they snapped into guarded stances.
Even though Haruto had expected its arrival, the moment he saw the GT Robo, his body tensed instinctively.
He knew the machine was being controlled by Starjun, one of the Gourmet Corp’s Sous Chefs.
He also knew its only objective here was to collect Puffer Whales and that it had no intention of attacking them without provocation.
Knowing that did nothing to calm his instincts.
Haruto rose almost unconsciously, shifting his footing and raising both hands into a defensive stance.
Every part of his attention locked onto the GT Robo, unwilling to relax for even a second.
"This thing...!"
Toriko growled before shouting toward the still-confused Komatsu.
"Komatsu, get out of here! Put some distance between yourself and us!"
Komatsu had no time to understand what was happening. He merely stared blankly at Toriko’s suddenly grave expression.
No one had the attention to spare for an explanation.
Toriko, Coco, and Haruto were completely focused on the black GT Robo.
Its head slowly rotated.
Its cold gaze passed over all three of them before it raised one hand and scratched its head.
Without the slightest pause, it made no attempt to attack.
Carrying the Puffer Whales it had captured, it simply turned and headed toward the passage leading out of the underground cavern.
The GT Robo soon disappeared into the shadows.
Only then did the suffocating pressure gradually begin to fade.
The tension did not truly ease until every trace of it was gone.
"What... was that thing?"
Toriko frowned deeply, his expression more serious than ever as he continued staring in the direction it had vanished.
He had fought countless vicious beasts before, but he had never experienced such a strange and intense sense of danger.
That presence did not belong to any creature he knew.
It had been cold, hollow, and unnatural, instantly tightening every nerve in his body.
"I’ve never seen anything like it..."
Toriko’s mind filled with questions.
Coco looked equally troubled.
"That appearance... and those ominous electromagnetic waves..."
Toriko suddenly seemed to realize something and turned toward him.
"It came from the deep sea. It must have descended well over a thousand meters without difficulty. Does a creature like that actually exist?"
Coco slowly shook his head, his tone absolutely certain.
"No. That thing wasn’t alive."
No matter how intense or unnatural its electromagnetic signals had been, Coco could still clearly distinguish them from the field produced by a living organism.
Haruto remained silent.
The Gourmet Corp’s GT Robos were still undergoing secret testing. Even the IGO possessed very little information about them.
Revealing too much without explanation would only make the others suspicious.
Pretending to know nothing was the safest choice.
After the encounter, Toriko and Coco decided that they should leave immediately.
Komatsu naturally had no objections, and Haruto intended to accompany them.
The Puffer Whales had already returned to the deep sea, so there was no reason for him to remain.
Because they had already learned the route on their way in—and because Haruto’s Light spell illuminated the path—the four traveled far more quickly than before.
They moved through the twisting passages and soon saw the entrance to the underground cavern ahead.
The moment they stepped outside, however, all four stopped.
Bodies lay scattered everywhere around the entrance, unconscious and unmoving, their conditions unknown.
The only person still standing was the reporter, Tina.