Chapter 196: A Solitary Bonfire is Also Lively
At this moment, the four little girls all had their mouths open in surprise, looking at Ren.
There were only two possibilities for not getting injured in a Kengan Match.
The first was to surrender as soon as they entered the ring.
The second was to possess such overwhelming speed and power that they did not give the opponent even a single chance to hit them or resist.
Obviously, they preferred to believe the second option.
In the underground world where they operated, only by winning consistently could a combatant earn the full commission.
If a fighter relied on surrendering to survive, no employer would have hired them long ago, let alone reached the status Ren held.
Cerberus said with a bright smile, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
"Rindou-san said before that Master... Ren-kun, Ren-kun, Ren-kun has never lost a Kengan Match!"
"And Ren-kun also had two friends who fought in Kengan Matches come here to eat before!"
Courage looked at Ren with sparkling eyes, her admiration for the chef reaching a new peak.
"Mr. Ren is really amazing, you've never lost a match! Then your two friends must be very amazing too, right?"
Ren thought for a moment, the faces of those two "monsters" flashing through his mind.
"They're quite amazing, but one is a total stoic who barely speaks, and the other is a complete battle maniac."
"And that battle maniac... he never gets particularly obedient no matter how much you fight him."
Lanterby said with a giggle, finding the description amusing.
"Eh? Stoic? Battle maniac? Gets more excited the more he fights?"
"Are there really such people in the Kengan Matches? They really are a group of oddballs~"
Unlike the energetic Lanterby, Decora felt a chill run down her spine as she processed the descriptions.
"Stoic... a fighter who is famously stoic... I only know one such Combatant at that level..."
Courage also reacted, her face turning slightly pale as the realization hit her.
"The... The Thai God of War, Kaolan Wongsawat?!"
Decora nodded slowly, her professional instincts as a WGO officer cataloging the sheer weight of that name.
Before they could dive deeper into their shock, Lucifer handed her half-finished ice cream to Ren.
She did it with a naturalness that suggested they had done this a thousand times before.
"I can't eat any more, it's yours. Take it."
"And yes, it's that Kaolan. The other one is called Kure Raian, right, Ren-kun?"
Ren smiled and nodded, not minding at all as he took the melting ice cream from Lucifer and began to eat it.
Lucifer snorted when she saw him take it so readily, a flicker of satisfaction crossing her heart.
"Consider yourself sensible... at least you know not to waste what I give you," she thought.
"I suppose I'll talk to you a bit more now~"
Ren let out a sigh, looking like he had a slight headache just thinking about the Kure clan's prodigy.
"Raian, that guy... I always feel like he won't be obedient unless you beat him to within an inch of his death."
"I'm really fed up with him having to be thrashed every single time before he can sit down and eat properly~"
Courage swallowed hard, her throat feeling dry as she looked at Ren.
To hear someone talk about the "Taboo Descendant" of the Kure family as if he were a disobedient pet was beyond her comprehension.
"Mr. Ren is really amazing... The rumored monster from the Kure Family and the Thai God of War are actually his friends..."
"Hm? Although those two are a bit abnormal, they're not bad to their friends."
Ren continued to enjoy the ice cream, his expression calm and unbothered.
"It's just that Raian likes to play the 'tsundere' part, and honestly, a man being tsundere is a bit disgusting..."
Lucifer, hearing the word 'tsundere', stiffened for a micro-second but quickly buried her face in her phone.
She was busy scrolling through something, her fingers moving quickly across the screen.
Courage spoke with a hint of genuine regret in her voice.
"It's a pity, Mr. Ren. We never got to see you fight with our own eyes."
"Now that you've opened this shop, there probably won't be a chance to see it again. It's really a shame~"
Lucifer, while still focused on her phone, spoke up casually.
"Ren will represent Hyakkaou Private Academy in this Kengan Annihilation Tournament."
"But from what I heard, it seems like he'll only fight five matches..."
The four girls reacted as if an explosion had gone off in the small restaurant.
"Eh?! Really?!"
"Then there's a chance to see it! When is this Kengan Annihilation Tournament happening?!"
The questions overlapped in a frantic, excited chorus.
Lucifer flicked a lock of silver hair over her shoulder.
"I heard Kirari say it's scheduled for around the end of the month~"
Hearing this, Courage and the others were all delighted, their previous regret replaced by pure anticipation.
If it was the end of the month, their WGO duties would be finished, allowing them to witness the legend in person.
Lanterby was exceptionally excited, her energetic nature making it hard for her to stay still.
Watching a Kengan Match live was a dream for many who followed the underground circuits.
Anne, however, remained the most observant of the group, looking at Ren with a curious tilt of her head.
"But, didn't Mr. Ren say he wasn't fighting in Kengan Matches anymore?"
"Why did he suddenly accept a commission again? Did the President of Hyakkaou offer an irresistible reward?"
Ren smiled and shook his head, his gaze softening as he thought of the blue-eyed President.
"The President of Hyakkaou doesn't really 'manage' me, and I'm fighting for her for free."
"After all, she came to me personally and asked, so I decided to help out~"
Lucifer whispered under her breath, her voice sharp with a hint of jealousy.
"What do you mean 'free'... Kirari even practically gave herself away for free just to get you there..."
Lanterby was stunned for a moment and asked with wide eyes.
"So Mr. Ren is helping out his girlfriend? Is that how it is?"
Ren didn't answer directly, instead looking at Cerberus who was tugging at his sleeve.
"Hm? Cerberus, what do you want to say?"
"Master... Ren-kun, Ren-kun, Ren-kun! Kirari is bullying Sonoko again in the group chat!"
"Eh? Isn't that a daily occurrence by now?"
"But this time she was taught a lesson by Yumiko-san! It's very lively now, you should see the messages!"
Ren just smiled and shook his head, imagining the scene.
Kirari Momobami was a force of nature, but even she had no intention of resisting when facing the gentle pressure of Fuji Yumiko.
Yumiko was undoubtedly the 'big sister' figure who could keep even the most chaotic members of their group in line.
While the conversation at the counter was buzzing with energy, the atmosphere at Saitama's table was a different kind of "lively."
If there was anything that could make a person go to a restaurant and realize exactly what they were craving, the Dry Pot was it.
A solitary bonfire probably refers to dry pot dishes like this.
The scorching flames from the alcohol blocks roasted the already cooked food from beneath.
Whether it was the starch of the potatoes or the savory fat of the meat, the heat brought out a second life in the ingredients.
Chili peppers, onions, and potatoes were piled high, with a few slices of pork hidden at the bottom like a surprise gift.
You only truly know that feeling of satisfaction when you dig deep and find that hidden, charred piece of meat.
That unexpectedness is the best part of the culinary experience.
Although the dish is served in a pot roasted by flames, it had been stir-fried in a high-heat wok beforehand.
This double-cooking method made the dish even more fragrant, locking in the 'Wok Hei'.
[Akarin's Note: Wok Hei translates to "Breath of the Wok," referring to the complex charred aroma produced by stir-frying over extreme heat.]
The soft, tender, and savory potatoes were perfectly transformed, their edges becoming crispy while the centers remained fluffy.
As the flame beneath the pot continued to roast, the flavors became richer and more concentrated over time.
Potatoes are a strange and magical ingredient; they are one of those rare foods that almost no one on earth dislikes.
Because of this, even a simple pot of dry pot potato slices could feel exceptionally luxurious.
At this moment, Saitama was completely immersed in this state of culinary bliss.
He leaned over the small flickering "bonfire" on his table, his eyes reflecting the blue flames as he ate.
The food was hot, delicious, and free—a solitary bonfire party that was anything but lonely.
The warmth of the pot accompanied him, chasing away the chill of the night.
Eating bite by bite, the sensation of heat intensified in his mouth.
At first, he could put the slices directly into his mouth, but soon he had to blow on them carefully.
Every dry pot is like a brilliant strategist; it knows how to lure the enemy in deep with its initial aroma.
By the time you realize how hot and spicy it truly is, you are already caught off guard and unable to stop.
When you fall in love with the taste from the first bite, you crave more and more.
As his chopsticks moved rhythmically, wisps of hot steam floated up, making the atmosphere even more tempting.
There was no way to retreat; his patience was being ignited by this delicious heat.
Even if his tongue burned slightly, he still wanted to put the next slice into his mouth immediately.
Ren glanced over at the bald hero and smiled softly when he saw Saitama eating so heartily.
"As expected, night-time restaurants are much more interesting than the daytime rush~"
"Right, Lucifer?"
"Hmph... I suppose you aren't entirely wrong," she replied, finally putting her phone down.
A day's exhaustion, a day's irritation, all were being purified in this unnoticed late-night diner.
In this small space, they each experienced their own unique tranquility.
The moment the flame ignited under the pot, the solitary bonfire feast became just as lively as any grand celebration.
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]