It was as if they had passed through space and arrived in a forest shrouded by night. The trees swayed, and moonlight, shattered into fine silver threads as it filtered through the leaves, sprinkled onto the damp moss below. Suddenly, a single point of emerald light floated up from the darkness, followed by a second, and a third...

Countless fireflies began to dance before them. The forest was gradually illuminated by their glow, transforming into a dreamlike forest of fireflies. A stream flowed silently, reflecting the moving specks of light, its surface becoming another firefly forest—ethereal and shimmering, as if it would shatter at the slightest touch. Occasionally, a firefly would dip low, its tail-light grazing the water's surface. In that instant, reality and illusion intertwined, making it impossible to tell if a firefly had fallen into the stream or if a star had risen into the night sky.

Such a scene was nothing extraordinary for Tohru, Lucoa, or Fafnir, but for Kobayashi and Makoto Takiya, it was breathtakingly beautiful and utterly refreshing.

"It's so beautiful," the two of them murmured, standing by the stream and gazing at the spectacle.

...

After being amazed countless times, witnessing countless strange sights, and having countless interesting experiences, Kobayashi and her friends were completely captivated by the meal. Even Fafnir was no longer wearing his usual stoic expression.

"Coming right up... this dish is Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions!" Ryohei Tanaka announced. After plating the classic Shandong dish, Jashin-chan helped move it to the counter and introduced it.

"Sea cucumber..." Kobayashi stood up, took a plate in surprise, and looked down at it curiously.

The sea cucumber was plump and full, coated in a deep, amber-colored sauce that seeped into its folds. The scallion segments were braised to a golden brown, soft but not mushy, with slightly curled edges. The entire dish radiated a dark golden light.

Most Japanese people don't particularly enjoy sea cucumber. For some, its texture isn't appealing, and it's also difficult to prepare, requiring a certain level of skill and patience that most people don't have. Furthermore, Japan is a country with a thriving fishing industry and an abundance of seafood. In such a culinary culture, people tend to prefer seafood varieties that are easier to cook and have a better texture. In terms of eating habits, the Japanese favor sashimi, typically slicing seafood and eating it raw with wasabi and soy sauce. This simple, natural way of eating is not suitable for sea cucumber, as it would taste very fishy. Consequently, it's not a popular ingredient in Japan.

Kobayashi herself disliked sea cucumber. She had tried it once before and found it fishy, with a terrible, tough, and coarse texture. Eating it had been an ordeal.

But the braised sea cucumber in front of her had no fishy smell at all. Instead, it exuded a rich and enticing aroma of scallions. Trusting in Ryohei's culinary skill, Kobayashi picked up a piece. The jade-like sea cucumber, coated in sauce, trembled on the tips of her chopsticks. The deep amber sauce dripped down its folds, and its thick, gelatinous layer jiggled enticingly, looking as if it might slip off at any moment.

'It's so springy...', Kobayashi thought, a flash of surprise in her eyes, her anticipation growing stronger.

She put the piece in her mouth. The rich fragrance of scallions immediately filled her senses, and the savory-sweet sauce bloomed on her tongue. As she bit down, she was met with an astonishingly smooth, tender, and springy texture. The rich gelatinous quality clung to her teeth as she chewed, releasing the unique umami of the sea... The deliciousness was so overwhelming it startled her.

"Whoa—!" Kobayashi exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand as she looked down at the dish in utter amazement. "I can't believe... sea cucumber can be this delicious!"

"The scallions are amazing, too!" Takiya said, closing his eyes and tilting his chin up slightly, savoring each chew. "The outside is slightly caramelized, while the inside is soft... It has absorbed the essence of the sauce, creating a wonderful contrast with the springiness of the sea cucumber."

"Really?" Kobayashi glanced over and quickly tried a piece of scallion, finding it to be exactly as he described. The two elements combined to create a rich but not greasy texture and a deep, savory flavor with a long-lasting aftertaste.

This was a monster-level delicacy!

...

BOOM!

In the middle of the city, the ground suddenly cracked open. Countless scallion roots, as thick as giant trees, burst forth from the earth. Massive, twisting stalks of green and white intertwined, rapidly forming a hundred-meter-tall scallion monster. Its green leaves, like giant scythes, swept through skyscrapers, shattering glass curtain walls with a deafening crash. The monster's roots burrowed underground, causing the entire street to ripple like waves, sending cars flying and people screaming in terror.

Meanwhile, in the nearby sea, a huge splash erupted as a colossal, dark-brown creature slowly crawled from the shallows toward the city. Its slimy surface glistened eerily, and countless sucker-like orifices writhed on its body, spewing a foul-smelling ooze. This giant sea cucumber monster met the scallion monster in the city. Instead of attacking each other, they bizarrely began to merge. The scallion roots wrapped around the sea cucumber's body, and its slime seeped into the scallion stalks, ultimately creating a single, grotesque scallion-sea cucumber monster.

The city fell into despair. As people screamed and fled, a red-and-silver giant suddenly landed with a thunderous crash.

Kobayashi Ultraman had arrived!

...

"Uh..." Coming back to her senses, a strange expression appeared on Kobayashi's face. She never would have thought that eating braised sea cucumber would lead to her becoming Ultraman and fighting a monster. What a trip!

Takiya, on the other hand, was having the time of his life. Every man dreams of becoming Ultraman, and in a way, his dream had just come true. He was so worked up he felt the urge to stand up and strike a pose.

"Incredible, incredible..." Kanna-kun murmured, her eyes closed in bliss as she savored the taste of the scallion and sea cucumber. This had become her catchphrase for the evening; she said it after almost every new dish.

Tohru had to admit that Ryohei's culinary skills were superior to her own. She felt as if she had just found a new path to follow.

...

About half an hour later—

"Ah... I can't, I can't eat another bite!" Kobayashi leaned back, slumping in her chair. She patted her noticeably protruding belly and looked at Ryohei with a mixture of satisfaction and regret. "Ryohei-kun, you don't need to prepare my portion anymore."

"I'm about done, too," Takiya added.

"Humans have their limits, after all," Fafnir commented without looking up from his pearl meatballs.

"You got that right!" Takiya said to him with a laugh.

"Alright," Ryohei replied, still busy at work. He smiled at Kobayashi and Takiya. "Then please, just sit back and relax for a bit."

"Okay," they both replied.

"..." Kobayashi pushed her glasses up her nose and lazily turned to look at Tohru, Kanna-kun, and Lucoa, who were still eating heartily. A hint of envy appeared on her face. "This is the first time I've ever been jealous of your huge appetites."

"Hmm?" Tohru turned her head, a bit of some unknown sauce on the corner of her mouth. She licked it off with her small, pink tongue and blinked her beautiful orange eyes. "Do you want to keep eating, Kobayashi?" she asked. "I could use some magic to help you digest everything quickly."

"No, thank you," Kobayashi said, breaking into a nervous sweat. She quickly waved her hands. She wasn't that desperate.

"Magic really is convenient, isn't it?" Takiya said with a laugh, taking a sip of soup.

~~~

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