Chapter Thirty-Four: "Yellow Dragon" and "Vermilion Bird"

Nemesis was actually quite easy to deal with; all her actions were simply for fun, just to pass the time. Tempted by Hao Ren’s promise of snacks, Nemesis quickly let go of him. As for Shiina, she was even simpler—under his orders as her lord, she followed without a second thought.

As for the angel…

Hao Ren watched as Kanade Tachibana slowly walked away, holding the coupon for Mapo Tofu. Surprisingly, she was easy to handle as well—though just before leaving, she shot Hao Ren a puzzled look, glancing between the dry, burnt coupon and his damp self.

Frost-patterned bags are truly useful.

After giving Nemesis and Shiina a bit of a lecture, Hao Ren and his companions managed to dry their clothes, at least shedding their drenched, bedraggled appearances.

“Idiots, is everyone awake yet?” It was Yuriko, the leader of the idiots, her voice crackling over the intercom. “The guild’s been abandoned and blown up together with the angel. This is a notification to all personnel: report immediately to Old Guild. All weapon resupplies will be conducted there. Everyone must assemble at Old Guild before the angel revives. I repeat…”

It seemed Kanade Tachibana had already fought Yuriko and the others. Perhaps he should go check things out.

“Shiina, you know the way to the guild, right? Let’s go take a look.” Shiina no longer seemed particularly hostile toward the angel. It appeared that, after realizing she was an anime character, she was starting to question her past actions.

Guild communications channel B17.

The lowest level connected to B17 used to be an enormous underground cavern, once filled with weapon factories, now a wasteland of ruins.

“There’s no way we can go down and look for anyone, right?” Hao Ren, a bit acrophobic, gazed down at the sea of flames below.

Boom! With a thunderous crash, a figure shot out of the inferno, heading straight toward Hao Ren’s position.

He quickly pulled the two girls back.

It was Kanade Tachibana, a pair of angelic white wings unfurling behind her, feathers shimmering beautifully in the light.

“My lord, step back!” Shiina, holding her two short swords, blocked Hao Ren’s front, expression grave. The little dog plush still dangling from her waist, however, ruined the atmosphere somewhat.

“Are we fighting?” Nemesis’s hair transformed into several blades, a weapon resembling a black hoop materialized in her hand, and a dark mist began to swirl around her body, her eagerness unmistakable.

Confronted by the two girls’ challenge, Kanade Tachibana drew her twin short swords as well, activating her Guard Skill: Distortion. An invisible barrier shimmered around her, glinting with flashes of light.

Why did this scene feel so familiar?

Hao Ren suddenly realized—wasn’t this just like the Bounty Phantom versus the Sanctuary Knights? Even the weapon skills were strikingly similar!

“Stop, stop, we’re not here to fight,” Hao Ren hastily stepped between the three.

Kanade Tachibana finally seemed to notice him, staring for a full ten seconds before sheathing her swords and pulling something out of her skirt pocket.

Only now did Hao Ren realize skirts could even have pockets.

“My meal coupon… it’s been burned…” Although Kanade herself appeared unharmed, her clothes were clearly singed, and she looked quite dejected as she produced the half-burned coupon.

Though Hao Ren wasn’t responsible for the coupon’s destruction, the sadness in the girl’s eyes made him feel a little guilty. But the Mapo Tofu coupon was gone.

He scrolled through his skills.

Sichuan Cuisine Master…

It seemed he would have to cook it himself.

“How about this: come with me to the cafeteria kitchen. I can make Mapo Tofu; I promise it won’t be any worse than the lunch lady’s.” Even though he’d never made Mapo Tofu before, Hao Ren chose to trust his skill.

“You can cook?” Kanade tilted her head, visibly skeptical.

“Of course. Just watch me.”

And so, Hao Ren temporarily recruited the angel into their party.

Academy’s main cafeteria, kitchen.

Hao Ren’s group knocked out the patrolling teachers and snuck into the deserted cafeteria.

Not wanting to show favoritism, Hao Ren summoned everyone from the Summoner’s Hut. The first thing he encountered were the resentful gazes of Shiki and Saeko. Apparently, when a summoned entity entered the hut in perfect health, they could choose to rest or watch the outside world through the summoner’s eyes. In other words, everything Hao Ren had done these past two days had been seen by the two girls. While they said nothing, their silent protest was even more terrifying than words.

After much coaxing and with the help of Nemesis and the others, the two girls finally decided to forgive him—for now. There would be a reckoning later.

Wiping cold sweat from his brow, Hao Ren felt he had narrowly escaped death. Kanade, who had been by his side all along, had witnessed everything but showed little reaction.

By the way, Nemesis had already mended Kanade’s clothes—a truly all-purpose bioweapon.

With Hao Ren’s group now numbering eight, the workload was considerable. Shiki and Saeko volunteered to help. Fortunately, the cafeteria still had the ingredients for Mapo Tofu; otherwise, Hao Ren might have had to commit seppuku under Kanade’s mournful gaze.

Cooking process omitted…

Item: Medicinal Mapo (Yellow Dragon)—instantly restores 100% stamina, cures all status ailments.

Item: Spicy Mapo (Vermilion Bird)—instantly restores 10% stamina, continuously increases rage for a period of time.

What a bold, domineering system naming scheme! And what’s with this “rage” stat? He didn’t even have that attribute.

And why did these dish names feel so familiar?

Hao Ren glanced at the other seven, who had already started eating. Aside from Kanade, who chewed calmly, everyone else was suffering from the spiciness. Shiki and Saeko, of course, confirmed that white rice with Mapo Tofu was the only true way. But they were drinking so much water—just one small piece of tofu needed a full glass—yet they couldn’t stop. Even the aliens, like Yami and her companions, were sweating profusely, alternately shouting “spicy!” and swallowing more, on the verge of their limits but unable to resist. They’d better be careful when “picking flowers” later—a euphemism for going to the bathroom, as used by girls in the eleventh district.

Was it really that delicious? Hao Ren was puzzled.

Come to think of it, he vaguely remembered a system notification earlier, but he’d been too busy cooking to pay attention.

He checked his skills again and discovered that “Sichuan Cuisine Master” had vanished, replaced by a new skill: “Trails Cuisine.”

Skill: Trails Cuisine (no level). Recipes must be researched or collected; can prepare dishes with special attributes. Currently mastered recipe: Medicinal Mapo Tofu.

Medicinal Mapo Tofu—when making this dish, there’s a chance to create “Medicinal Mapo Tofu”: instantly restores 40% stamina, cures all status ailments; “Medicinal Mapo (Yellow Dragon)”: instantly restores 100% stamina, cures all status ailments; “Spicy Mapo (Vermilion Bird)”: instantly restores 10% stamina, continuously increases rage; “Dark Matter”: eating or throwing it will have unpredictable effects.

It was actually the Trails series’ cooking skill!