Plump beetles from the primeval forest

Meanwhile.

Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng were also feasting.

Lavish dishes covered the table, a dizzying spread.

Nominally, the meal had been prepared for five, but there was actually enough to feed ten.

After all, Stelle had already demonstrated her appetite back at the space station.

With delicious food before them.

Stelle and March 7th fought over every bite, making quite a lively scene.

Even someone with Dan Heng's temperament was pleased enough to eat a little extra.

Of course, the centerpiece that drew the most attention was a dish of Plump Beetles from a primeval forest.

Most insects tasted rather bland, but these beetles had tender flesh rich in fat, much like prime steak.

By rights, everyone should have been scrambling for such a substantial dish.

Yet Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng had all left it untouched.

They were waiting for Himeko and Welt to return.

Would their wait pay off?

The answer, of course, was yes.

Before long.

Himeko and Welt arrived together.

They merely looked a little regretful.

After they had confirmed that Jiang Yao's cooking was sublime, capable of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Jiang Yao had said he was a little tired and wanted to rest.

Himeko, Welt, and Asta had immediately felt rather embarrassed.

Making a patient cook for them... that really wasn't right!

But when Jiang Yao promised to provide breakfast for them the following morning.

What wasn't right?

Huh?

They had nooo idea~

Himeko, Welt, and Asta gladly agreed.

Only then did Jiang Yao leave.

Being tired and wanting to rest was purely an excuse.

The main problem was that he could eat far too much, so he had to use tremendous willpower to limit himself to three meals a day.

Not even one extra meal was allowed.

So he simply stopped cooking, or he would start craving the food himself.

Of course, Himeko, Welt, and Asta didn't know that.

After greeting Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng and informing them that Jiang Yao was perfectly fine.

Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng were delighted.

Then the atmosphere at the table instantly changed.

Stelle and March 7th, in particular, seemed ready to square off.

Because they could finally dig into the Plump Beetles from the primeval forest!

However, neither March 7th nor Stelle noticed that Himeko and Welt looked rather distracted.

Were they hungry?

Of course they were.

Asta had summoned them before they could properly start eating.

They had finally tasted the best Egg Fried Rice of their lives, yet hadn't gotten their fill.

Not even close!

But...

Looking at the table full of exquisite food, including the beautifully presented Plump Beetles.

Somehow, they couldn't stop thinking about the Egg Fried Rice they had just eaten.

Indeed, not long ago, just before leaving to see Jiang Yao, even Himeko, the navigator and a Nameless who had traveled across the galaxy, had let a smile slip as she looked at the lavish feast.

Clearly, she had been very pleased too.

But now, sorry.

Not a single dish could stir her appetite anymore.

Instead, they only made her miss that Egg Fried Rice even more.

Welt felt the same way.

If Jiang Yao found out.

He would surely have said, "Isn't this just like my son in my previous life playing MHY games until he developed gaming impotence?"

Well, perhaps the example wasn't quite appropriate, but that was roughly the idea.

"Himeko, Uncle Yang, we're digging in!"

Stelle and March 7th spoke in unison.

Then they moved their chopsticks without hesitation.

Both went straight for the Plump Beetles.

There was a story behind these Plump Beetles.

They came from a primeval forest in a distant galaxy.

Its sheer remoteness had fortunately spared it from suffering during the Swarm Disaster.

Instead, after the Swarm Disaster, fleeing True Stings had stumbled into it by accident.

And because their injuries were too severe, those True Stings with some connection to the Aeon of Propagation had soon all died.

But they had left behind a trace of their bloodline!

It was the original bloodline of the Insect Emperor Tayzzyronth, from before his ascension!

Though it was extremely diluted, so diluted that they were practically two entirely different creatures.

Still, the connection was there~

That made these Plump Beetles ideal for entertaining honored guests.

Not only that, these Plump Beetles had virtually no intelligence and acted purely on instinct, but lacked the ugliness of True Sting.

Their shells were beautiful instead, pure white.

Like white pearls from the deep sea.

Yes, and they made even tastier food.

Beef-flavored, crunchy, and with six times the protein of chicken!

Stelle and March 7th caught the plump beetles with their chopsticks.

The shells weren't as hard as they had expected.

To their surprise, they were springy and soft.

They nearly lost their grip.

That only made them more excited.

They eagerly popped them into their mouths.

Savory juices burst across their tongues.

A rich fragrance spilled out.

"Wow!"

"Mmm, ah!"

Stelle and March 7th hummed in bliss.

Their faces were radiant with smiles.

They were so delicious!

"Himeko, Uncle Yang, what are you waiting for? There's plenty for all of us, so hurry and eat!"

March 7th noticed that Himeko and Welt hadn't started eating and assumed the two parental figures didn't want to compete with the children for food.

"Exactly!"

"Himeko, Uncle Yang, dig in! This is the best dish I've ever eaten in my life!"

Stelle, thoroughly satisfied, also urged their two guardians to pick up their chopsticks.

This dish had amazed her!

She had never imagined bugs could taste so good!

"Yes, yes, you're a one-year-old baby, after all. You've got a long life ahead of you~"

March 7th didn't forget to tease her.

"This dish really is quite good."

Dan Heng was very pleased too.

At this point, Himeko and Welt only knew that Dan Heng was no ordinary person.

But no one knew that he had been the Vidyadhara High Elder in his previous life.

What delicacy hadn't he tasted?

His palate was extremely discerning!

For even him to give such praise was proof of how excellent these Plump Beetles tasted.

"Mm-hmm, all right."

Himeko and Welt reacted with remarkable unanimity.

They tried their best not to seem too halfhearted.

After all, the children meant well.

Besides...

Well, if they hadn't tasted Jiang Yao's Egg Fried Rice, they too would have considered this a rare delicacy.

The others were clearly enjoying their food.

Yet Himeko and Welt remained unenthusiastic.

It all smelled wonderful.

But how could there be such a gulf between wonderful aromas?

Still, Himeko and Welt really were a little hungry.

They each took a Plump Beetle.

The aroma grew stronger, and it certainly smelled tempting.

Yet why did they feel inexplicably disappointed?

Of course, now that the beetles were in their bowls, they couldn't just refuse to eat them, could they?

Besides, the children were enjoying them so much that they surely couldn't taste bad!

Jiang Yao's cooking was indeed sublime, but he wasn't the only good cook around.

Himeko and Welt began tasting the Plump Beetles, one after the other.

Then they chewed.

Uh...

Himeko and Welt immediately frowned.

The instant the flavor spread.

Disappointment unconsciously showed in their eyes.

Mediocre.

Truly mediocre.

The seasoning was a little too heavy.

It seemed intended to mask the Plump Beetles' inherent fishy taste.

That was understandable.

After all, these Plump Beetles really were fatty.

If they weren't prepared properly, that rich burst of juices would be a disaster.

This dish was average at best.

Nowhere near excellent.

Himeko and Welt reached their verdict inwardly.

But...

They looked at Stelle and March 7th eating with delight, and even the usually elegant Dan Heng helping himself freely to more.

Their faces all plainly proclaimed how delicious it was and how much they loved it.

At once!

Himeko and Welt exchanged a glance.

Oh no!

Could Jiang Yao have added some magic.

And broken our sense of taste?!