Caught in the Act

"Smells amazing!"

"So amazing!"

"Woof, woof!"

"You're incredible!"

"Indeed."

"This may sound exaggerated, but this is only the second time in my life I've tasted something so delicious."

"Yes, the first was last night's Egg Fried Rice."

Just beyond the door.

March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng heard the praises coming from the kitchen.

They easily recognized the voices of Asta, Himeko, Welt, and Peppy.

Not only that.

They also confirmed one thing.

That rich aroma was coming from this very room!

For a moment, March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng all sucked in a breath of cool air, making a tiny contribution to universal warming.

What was going on?

Were they sneaking a special meal behind our backs?

Asta was cooking?

Wait, seriously?

Asta knew how to cook?

According to the researcher, wasn't Asta making dog food?

"Could Himeko and Mr. Welt be..."

March 7th looked at Stelle in shock.

"Risking their lives to taste dog food, all to improve life aboard the Express!"

Stelle finished the thought with a grief-stricken expression.

March 7th looked at Stelle, her face full of agreement.

Watching these two goofballs, Dan Heng couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from twitching.

The next time anyone told him March 7th was a complete airhead, he would be the first to object.

Nonsense!

There was clearly a Stelle, too!

Inside the kitchen.

Asta, Himeko, and Welt had abandoned their earlier wild approach of devouring each bun in a single bite.

Each steamer held only eight buns, and they had eaten so quickly that barely any remained.

Jiang Yao, by contrast, ate bite by bite with exquisite elegance.

Not only did it let him savor the deliciousness to the fullest.

More importantly, it made the experience last!

After all, every second spent eating food like this was pure pleasure.

Was it better to have one quick shudder, or to stay firm and keep going?

The latter, obviously!

And so, Asta, Himeko, and Welt followed Jiang Yao's example, savoring every moment.

The improvement was immediate.

Little by little, uncontrollable smiles of bliss spread across their faces.

The looks they gave Jiang Yao were especially strange—anyone would have believed their gazes were practically sticky!

In truth, though, they were simply amazed by Jiang Yao's cooking.

How could someone turn the simplest ingredients into the ultimate delicacy?

Well, Asta, Himeko, and Welt had absolutely no idea that the filling was True Sting meat.

After all, aside from Jiang Yao, no one in the universe knew how to cook a True Sting that approached the level of an Emanator of Propagation.

Just as the four people and one dog were enjoying themselves.

Whoosh!

The door swung open.

Asta, Himeko, and Welt froze.

A sudden wave of embarrassment rose within them.

Clearly, they knew their expressions were a little undignified.

They hardly matched their usual bearing.

It was only natural to feel embarrassed.

More importantly, the newcomers were none other than March 7th! Stelle! Dan Heng!

Uh-oh.

Caught in the act~

"What are you doing?!"

March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng asked in unison.

The scene inside the kitchen was even more shocking than they had imagined.

Jiang Yao—they recognized this Drifter.

But the way Asta, Himeko, and Welt were looking at Jiang Yao was utterly outrageous.

There were even traces of grease at the corners of their mouths.

It was genuinely hard to imagine what mental state they were in.

But once the three entered the kitchen and breathed in its aroma.

Their cravings were stirred up again.

"Wow! It smells so good!"

March 7th spotted the buns immediately.

She couldn't help swallowing.

There was no hiding it!

"Well, well! Here we were worrying about your breakfast, and it turns out someone's been secretly acting as our guinea pigs!"

Stelle's voice was sour.

To think she and March 7th had imagined dozens of scenarios in which Himeko and Welt met with disaster.

They had considered countless possibilities.

But they had never imagined!!!

—Never imagined that the two had come here for delicious food!

Most importantly, they hadn't even told them about food that smelled this good.

Most, most importantly, they had known the food here would probably taste better, yet still let the others eat something inferior?

Was that reasonable?

Unless you include me, your Stelle is gonna get mad!

Dan Heng glanced at Stelle. At least look at those three when you say that. How convincing can you be with your eyes glued to the buns?

Still...

Dan Heng's nose twitched almost imperceptibly.

It really did smell wonderful.

Very tempting.

It made his appetite surge.

Even though he had already eaten so much...

"You didn't tell them?!"

Himeko and Welt looked at each other in shock, speaking in unison.

After a brief silence.

Himeko and Welt spoke in unison again, their voices faintly reproachful:

"I thought you would tell them."

Everyone: "..."

"So, what are you doing?"

March 7th stood with her hands on her hips, looking at everyone.

At that, Himeko and Welt exchanged a glance that clearly said, Quick, think of something.

Stelle looked at March 7th with an expression of newfound understanding.

See? What did a master of playing dumb look like?

This was a master of playing dumb!

Surely no one actually thought March 7th was an airhead?

March 7th was asking a question she already knew the answer to, taking a step back to gain ground!

She was making Himeko and Welt feel guilty.

Gao... absolutely brilliant... Stelle thought.

Then she watched March 7th walk over step by step, as though her soul had left her body.

"I want some, too!"

March 7th stated her request.

Himeko and Welt exchanged another glance and breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness it's you, Little March!

Stelle's mouth fell slightly open.

Well, March 7th! Even an honest-looking girl like you has betrayed us, huh?

"Reporting in! I wanna eat, too!"

Stelle wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, darted past March 7th, found herself a seat, and waited to be fed.

"..."

Dan Heng sighed.

Fine. Not only had their earlier worries been unnecessary.

Now he had a new problem.

Where do I sit?

In all honesty.

Dan Heng was craving some, too!

Seeing three more people suddenly seated around the table.

Asta let out a forlorn sigh.

Damn it!

I arranged so many lavish dishes for you. Why did you still manage to find this place?

It wasn't that Asta was unwilling to share.

The problem was that Jiang Yao was leaving with them!

Each of you is ravenous enough to eat Jiang Yao's cooking every single day.

But what about me?

I'll be all alone!

The more she thought about giving way, the angrier she became.

Asta could only sigh silently and be the overlooked victim.

Then she seized the chance to take an extra steamer of buns.

There were only ten steamers in total.

Originally, everyone could have eaten two, but now...

Someone was bound to get fewer than two.

But that someone definitely won't be me, Asta!

Jiang Yao didn't mind Asta's little maneuver.

On the contrary, he was delighted that the rich lady was enjoying her food.

The happier the rich lady was with her food, the more secure the rest of his life would be.

"Hehe, perfect timing. Come try the Xiaolongbao I made."

Jiang Yao swallowed his final bite of bun.

Only then did he rise and get a steamer each for March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng.

The kitchen was a little short on chairs. After all, Asta had never imagined that so many people would gather where she made dog food for Peppy.

So Dan Heng nearly ended up sharing a table with Peppy... no, getting the same treatment.

Fortunately, March 7th, Stelle, Himeko, and Asta could squeeze together.

Pretty girls snuggling together—hooray!

Hmm, the next chapter should be out at six in the evening. Unless something unexpected happens, daily updates will stay the same as before, at six in the evening~