If You Want a Gourmet Demon, I'll Deliver One to You

"Haha, call me whatever you like. I never expected Jiro to take on a disciple either." Ichiryu laughed loudly, then his expression suddenly turned serious. "I watched your battles. You don't have a Gourmet Demon inside you, do you?"

"I only had Gourmet Cells transplanted into me half a year ago." Setsuna nodded. He was not surprised that Ichiryu could see that.

Ichiryu smiled and asked, "Do you want a Gourmet Demon? Just say the word, and I'll have one delivered to you."

Setsuna was a little stunned. Could Gourmet Demons be dropped by monsters like soul rings and soul bones?

Setsuna asked hesitantly, "The Gourmet Demon you mean is...?"

Ichiryu laughed heartily. "Mine. I call him Slime Leader."

"Slime Leader?" Setsuna's eyes widened in disbelief.

If it had been any other Gourmet Demon, he might have hesitated. Gourmet Demons were like tailed beasts: both a help and a threat to their hosts. Some evil Gourmet Demons could even erode their host's body. He did not want a ticking time bomb inside him.

But Slime Leader was different. Not only was he immensely powerful, but in life, he had been a cosmic emperor like Frieza. He was also extremely loyal. Ichiryu had not let him enjoy any delicious food for five hundred years, leaving him starving and weakened for so long.

Yet after Ichiryu died, he had done everything possible to revive him. He had even been willing to sacrifice his own life to avenge Ichiryu. That kind of character made him an undoubtedly trustworthy partner.

Although Slime Leader was unlike Titan, whose mind was already completely mature, the secret of traveling through time and space would definitely be impossible to hide if he truly took up residence in his body. But Setsuna had never intended to hide it anyway. Slime Leader could serve as his "tailed beast," just like a perfect jinchuriki. If he fell under an illusion, Slime Leader could wake him from within.

As for the risks, even if Slime Leader truly tried to devour him, all he had to do was restrain his appetite. After all, he was the master of his own body. Just like Ichiryu: as long as Ichiryu refused to eat delicious food, Slime Leader could do nothing to him.

Before Setsuna could answer, a pitch-black, slime-like demon appeared and angrily demanded, "Ichiryu, you bastard! Are you betraying our friendship?"

Though he was making a huge fuss, there was no movement around them.

Ichiryu had reserved the place when he came in and asked everyone else to leave for the time being.

Coco had already fallen into a deep sleep. Clearly, Ichiryu did not want him hearing any of this.

Ichiryu explained with a bitter smile, "I'm about to enter a battle that will decide life or death. I'm not certain I'll survive. You'll be better nurtured by Setsuna's side, and besides, haven't you always wanted to enjoy all kinds of delicious food?"

Slime Leader violently slapped the pool, and the Toxic Jellyfish fainted from the pressure of his aura. "That's exactly why I can't leave! Your enemy is that brat Midora, right? If the two of us join forces, Midora won't stand a chance against you."

Setsuna secretly nodded. According to the plot he knew from his past life, Ichiryu had not only failed to use the power of his Gourmet Demon in the end, but had not even used the power of Gourmet Cells. Relying solely on his own strength, he had still nearly defeated Midora, who had used his Gourmet Demon.

Hearing Slime Leader's words, Ichiryu shook his head and said solemnly, "I've sensed a force in the shadows guiding IGO and the Gourmet Society into war. That mastermind may be manipulating everything. I can't place all my hopes on myself, and you are the wager I'm placing on the future."

Setsuna felt deeply moved. Although Ichiryu was powerful, he was also the Shanks type of person at heart, always liking to stake the future on uncertain fate.

If it were him, he would only bet on himself.

Slime Leader suddenly realized, "I get it. Your Gourmet Cells have completely degenerated. You tried to revive them, but found that it required an enormous amount of food, so you restrained yourself. Is that it?"

Ichiryu smiled bitterly. "Nothing gets past you."

"Of course. We're one and the same." Slime Leader laughed smugly, then sternly slapped the water. "You're the chairman of the International Gourmet Organization! What's wrong with consuming a little more food? You're doing it to protect this world, too."

Ichiryu gently shook his head. "You know my appetite. I was already a huge eater to begin with. If I wanted to satisfy the appetite I've suppressed for five hundred years, I might consume more than half the food in the Human World. There are still so many poor people in the world who cannot eat their fill. How could I seize their food just to satisfy my own desires?"

"You really are stubborn." Slime Leader spread his hands. "Why not hunt in the Gourmet World? With your strength, aside from the Eight Kings, couldn't you hunt any other ferocious beast whenever you wanted?"

Ichiryu still shook his head. "I can't disrupt the balance between the Human World and the Gourmet World because of myself. If I entered the Gourmet World and slaughtered recklessly, those ferocious beasts with higher intelligence might retaliate against the Human World."

Setsuna sighed inwardly. Although Ichiryu, Jiro, and Midora were fellow disciples, their ideals truly could not have been more different.

Ichiryu believed that everyone should be able to eat at the same table and that no life should be taken for the sake of desire. Jiro believed that once a life was taken, it had to be eaten. Midora was even more extreme: he could devour the world for his appetite.

Slime Leader was practically going mad as he roared, "Why are you so stubborn? If those beasts attack the Human World, just kill them all again! Kill until they're terrified. That's how I did things in the universe. I conquered planet after planet with force, and none of them dared resist."

Ichiryu merely shook his head without speaking.

At that moment, Setsuna suddenly took out a Senzu Bean and asked with a smile, "Uncle Master, would you like to try this?"

"A drinking snack? Too bad I didn't bring any alcohol." Ichiryu laughed heartily and did not refuse Setsuna's kindness. He took the Senzu Bean and swallowed it, but the smile on his face quickly froze. His eyes widened. "My appetite has actually been filled by twenty percent!"

Slime Leader was equally incredulous. "How is that possible? One tiny bean filled twenty percent of your appetite?"

Setsuna had only one thought. What a loss.

Senzu Beans restored stamina by percentage. In other words, when he had fed Mother Snake, at most five Senzu Beans would have been enough. He had effectively wasted three Senzu Beans.

Setsuna sighed and took out four more Senzu Beans. "Uncle Master, after you eat these four, your appetite should be completely filled."

After practicing Food Honor, it was equivalent to having one free Senzu Bean's worth of foundation. He no longer coveted Senzu Beans quite as much.