Century Soup

A massive beast's claw rose high and sent the adorable girl flying with a brutal blow. She sailed far away, toward the forest beyond the valley.

"Lisanna!!!"

Elfman watched, his eyes filled with pain.

He charged toward the forest like a madman. Thorny branches cut wound after wound into his body, but he seemed not to feel a thing, searching desperately for that tiny figure.

Nothing... Nothing... Still... nothing!

He searched the entire forest, then even combed through the area beyond it, but Elfman couldn't find his little sister.

A terrible thought surfaced in his mind.

His adorable little sister had died a horrible death, without even leaving behind a body.

The sky darkened, and raindrops soon began to fall, drenching Elfman as he knelt in despair.

He felt as though his heart were being torn apart.

"It's all my fault..."

"My weakness is why Lisanna..."

A towering magical shadow, dozens of meters tall, suddenly loomed over Elfman. Each step of its massive body made the ground tremble.

Thud~ Thud~ Thud~

The heavy footsteps seemed to pound in time with Elfman's heartbeat.

He looked up and saw a terrifying creature with two horns growing from its head.

Long, snow-white hair trailed from its head down to its calves. Jagged fangs protruded from its lower jaw, and muscles bulged all over its body. A few drops of blood glinted on the tips of its right claw.

The Beast King.

Looking at the terrifying monster, Elfman felt no fear anymore. All he had left was rage!

He would kill it, even if they both died!

Charging recklessly, Elfman swung his fist.

But in the next instant, something strange happened.

The enormous "Beast King" rapidly shrank in Elfman's eyes, until it became a familiar human figure: a terrified man named "Elfman."

That's me?!!

Then... who am I?

Elfman looked at his own body. White hair fell from the back of his head to his waist. Two huge horns rose from his forehead, and his arms were covered in crimson fur.

The enormous figure froze.

How could this be... The monster that killed Lisanna with its own hands... was me...

I'm the one who deserves to die!

Claws glinting with a cold light pressed against his chin. All it would take was a little force to pierce his skull.

Below him, "Elfman's" terrified expression froze, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a faint, triumphant smile.

That's right. Go ahead and die.

Then I'll take over your body!

Just as the enormous figure was about to end his own life, an untimely voice rang out.

"Elfman, aren't you awake yet? It's time to eat."

Big sister!

The enormous figure hesitated. If he died irresponsibly, what would happen to big sister Mira?

"Big brother Elfman, hurry up and get up!"

Another familiar voice came from somewhere, bringing tears to the enormous figure's eyes. It was Lisanna's voice.

In a daze, the enormous figure saw a scene unfold.

A handsome white-haired boy rescued Lisanna from "his" claws at the last possible moment.

Then he treated "him" like a ball, easily beating "him" down.

I see. Lisanna didn't die!

"You're the one deceiving me, Beast King!"

At Elfman's roar, his huge monster body vanished, leaving only a muscular human in its place.

Across from him, "Elfman's" disguise could no longer hold. It turned back into a magical beast, though not in the form of the giant creature from before.

This was Elfman's mental world. Now that his will had awakened, the Beast King's presence here had become incredibly weak.

Elfman tackled the Beast King to the ground and unleashed a flurry of punches. His enormous fists hammered like pile drivers, pounding the Beast King's head into the dirt.

Unable even to howl, the Beast King glared resentfully at the human straddling it. It would use the last of its consciousness to seal away the heart of the human who had taken its power.

"Big brother Elfman, if you don't wake up soon, big sister's going to get mad. Stop sleeping!"

Lisanna's voice rang out again. Her adorable voice made Elfman shudder. He heard only one thing in her words: big sister Mira was going to get angry.

Elfman's momentary distraction made the Beast King think it had found an opening. It gathered all its strength and slammed a blow toward his forehead.

Smack!

Elfman slapped away the Beast King's sneak attack. In his own mental world, an awake Elfman was invincible.

He said nothing, merely seized the two horns on the Beast King's head and wrenched them apart. As the Beast King struggled, he drove the horns into its eyes.

Elfman suddenly jolted awake, startling Lisanna.

"Big brother Elfman, you're finally awake."

Looking at the sweet smile on Lisanna's face, Elfman's eyes immediately filled with tears. He pulled his little sister into a deep embrace.

"Lisanna, I'm so glad you're okay. I'm so glad..."

His words dissolved into sobs. Lisanna could feel what her brother was going through, so she wrapped her arms tightly around his muscular frame and comforted him.

At some point, Mira had gotten up. She stroked her younger siblings' heads, tears streaming down her face.

"It's all right now, Elfman."

It was a touching scene, but Noah wasn't especially focused on the siblings' affection.

[Otherworld Commission completed]

[Reward: One pot of Century Soup]

[Client's review: This is the first time I've seen meat like this. It's a shame the butcher handled it so crudely.]

Amid pure white magical light, a steaming earthenware pot appeared.

Noah caught the pot and dispelled the magic.

The pot was warm to the touch, as if it had just come off the stove.

Whether Noah submitted the Beast King's meat or received Toriko's reward, it was all completed in an instant through the Prayer magic.

It was as if there were no barriers between the worlds at all.

This magic seemed a little too powerful.

A rich, sizzling aroma wafted over. Noah glanced at the meat roasting over the fire, and his stomach growled at just the right moment.

The smell of roasted meat stopped Mira and her siblings from crying. Mira glanced at Noah, who was beckoning her over.

Now that things had come to this, they might as well eat first.

Lisanna watched as Noah moved the meat to the edge of the campfire and set the earthenware pot over it. "Huh? Big brother Noah, where did you get that pot?"

"Don't worry about the magic."

Noah casually brushed her off, then asked, "Did you bring any bowls or spoons?"

Mira looked awkward. She had brought her younger siblings on a mission, not on a camping trip. Why would she have brought those household items?

This Mr. Noah seemed far too relaxed.

They didn't have bowls or spoons, but they had time to make some.

Mira glanced at Elfman. He understood immediately and activated Take Over magic, transforming both arms into powerful beast claws.

He picked a nearby tree. Elfman's claws flashed down, sweeping through the air like a net as wood shavings fell in a steady shower.

In less than three minutes, he had made four wooden bowls and spoons.

Elfman respectfully handed a wooden bowl to Noah, showing him the utmost respect. If this man hadn't appeared out of nowhere, Elfman would have caused a tragedy he'd regret for the rest of his life.

Noah nodded to Elfman. Whatever else, he respected a man who charged into danger for his family.

Turning around and lifting the lid, Noah could hardly wait to try the delicacies of this other world.

Clear, transparent.

It looked just like water soup. If the liquid inside hadn't been rolling from the heat, Noah would almost have thought the pot was empty.

But the beautiful rainbow-colored aurora rising above the pot, along with its intoxicating aroma, proved the cook's exceptional skill.

[Century Soup: A natural delicacy from this extremely cold region. After it was depleted, a chef managed to recreate it with relatively ordinary ingredients—a miracle.]

[Effect: After the first serving, it will deeply repair and purify the consumer's body.]

[Side effect: The satisfaction of its delicious taste makes the consumer smile uncontrollably for 30 to 60 minutes.]

Reading the Prayer magic's description of "Century Soup," Noah found it a little strange. A smile that lasted an hour? Could that really count as a side effect?

The four of them each took a bowl of Century Soup.

Its rich, delicious flavor spread through their mouths.

Describing the soup's taste with just the word "delicious" felt too shallow, but they couldn't think of a better word for it.

Lisanna and Elfman experienced an incomparable sense of satisfaction, unlike anything they had ever felt in their lives.

Aside from its delicious taste, Mira could feel the injuries and old wounds her body had suffered rapidly healing under the effects of the Century Soup.

It was as if she had been reborn.

Even Noah noticed subtle changes in his body. The flow of magic and blood energy within him became smoother, and the circulation of his inner energy grew more efficient.

It was a clarity that seemed to reach from within to the surface.

Before they even realized it, the delicious Century Soup had brought beaming, over-the-top smiles to all four faces.