According to the records, hearing that clear, delicate meow meant the most crucial part of [Cat's Orange] was complete.
What remained?
Eating the golden acorn that had fused with all the base materials.
And then?
Feeling the changes [Cat's Orange] brought to his body.
Arthur didn't hesitate. He took the golden acorn straight out of the iron pot.
It looked several sizes smaller than when he had tossed it in. Its shape had rounded out, and its color had turned a pale gold.
It looked a little like a golden jujube.
It smelled a little like one, too, carrying the distinctive fragrance of jujubes.
After studying it for a few seconds, Arthur tossed the dramatically transformed golden acorn into his mouth.
Its texture was a little mealy, yet it was full of rich, oily juices. Although the first bite lacked the crispness he had expected from a jujube, being able to chew freely without a pit brought a rush of sheer satisfaction. The savory, salty flavor was just right, too-at least, it was nowhere near what fifty grams of salt would taste like.
That savory richness paired with the soft texture...
Steamed flower rolls cooked in an iron-pot stew!
Arthur's eyes lit up. His throat bobbed as he swallowed everything in his mouth.
Although the standards of the "mystical side" dictated that this transformed golden acorn should be called a "ritual object," its appearance and texture-especially the latter-made it impossible for Arthur to think of it that way.
In the end, he settled on calling it "food."
After all, who used flower rolls from an iron-pot stew as a "ritual object"? This wasn't Harbin, where even frozen pears had to be plated and artfully arranged.
Was it good?
"Delicious!"
Arthur answered without hesitation.
He wasn't saying that against his better