Toriko: Gourmet Chat Group-Chapter 367 - 366: Kenji’s Full Course Menu (Grand Finale)
Chapter 366: Kenji’s Full Course Menu (Grand Finale)
The Paradise of Food—The Final Land.
Gentle, multicolored light flowed slowly between heaven and earth. Stepping off the Astral Express, Kenji and the others instantly felt wrapped in pure Gourmet Energy, constantly nourishing their bodies.
The sheer size of the continent before them was breathtaking. You couldn’t see the end; it was more like a universe contained within a landmass.
"Is this smell... the aroma of gourmet food?" Apollo asked in surprise.
Logically, a robot like him shouldn’t have an olfactory module, only the ability to detect chemical components. But right now, he truly felt an aroma he had never experienced before.
This scent was magical. Even non-biological, non-carbon-based life forms could clearly perceive it.
For Apollo, it was a novel and rare experience.
"This is the origin aura of the Gourmet Universe. It only exists here, in the First Land," the White Ogre explained.
The Final Land is also the First Land.
For the Gourmet Gods, this is the First Land, the starting point of the Gourmet Universe. Their origin is here. For those who explore the Gourmet Universe, this is the final destination they strive to reach.
Ingredients that are top-tier outside are everywhere here, as common as dirt. Even rare "God Ingredients" can be found easily.
Most God Ingredients, blooming with various lights, have a spirit, like nature sprites.
"The nutrition here is too abundant."
Kenji touched his silky long hair. Just a short while after entering, his short hair had grown all the way to the ground. Every strand shimmered with golden light.
Luckily, his eyebrows and body hair didn’t grow wild, or he’d look like a hair monster.
Everyone else underwent the same change. Their hair grew vigorously, turning them all into long-haired beauties (and men).
Old Black: "..."
At this moment, a world where only Gourmet God Old Black was hurt... was achieved.
Why does your hair grow so lushly upon entering the Final Land, while I’ve lived here for over 10 billion years and still can’t grow a single blade of grass on my head?!
Looking at the Sun God Apollo, who hadn’t changed, he found some small comfort.
(Apollo: You’re comparing yourself to me?)
"What ingredient is that tree?" Komatsu asked curiously.
It was incredibly tall. Its top almost touched the Gourmet Barrier, supporting the sky like a heavenly pillar.
"The Gourmet Pillar Tree. The Pillar of Food."
"Its developed, tough root system spreads beyond just the Final Land. Over 10 billion years, it has probably extended to all Gourmet Universes... most people just can’t see it."
"As long as the tree doesn’t fall and the roots don’t break, the Final Land will exist forever," Old Black said.
In fact, he couldn’t imagine anything capable of hurting the Gourmet Pillar Tree. Even his full-power strike couldn’t leave a scratch.
This tree existed before the Gourmet Big Bang. It withstood the impact of the Big Bang and remained unscathed.
"Is that fruit growing on it... the so-called ’Ultimate Ingredient’?" Toriko licked his lips.
"No."
The Gourmet Gods shook their heads, speaking in a strange tone. "The fruit on the tree is indeed far superior to most God Ingredients, but it is not the Ultimate Ingredient."
"In fact... we have never seen the Ultimate Ingredient. When we were born, we received a message from the void that the Ultimate Ingredient is here... but we know nothing else."
"Perhaps... there is no Ultimate Ingredient at all."
Over time, most Gourmet Gods had come to treat it as a joke. Otherwise, why couldn’t they find it?
"No. The Ultimate Ingredient definitely exists. It’s just... a bit special," Kenji shook his head, speaking with absolute certainty.
"Kenji, have you sensed it?"
Atashino asked in surprise. This place was too big, and with the interference of Gourmet Energy, perception was greatly limited.
"I have found it. It’s this."
Kenji smiled and made a grasping motion in the air. A glass of water appeared out of thin air in his hand.
"Isn’t this... just a glass of ordinary water?" Gudako sniffed it. It had no smell.
"Wait. Ordinary water? How can there be ordinary water in the Final Land?" Coco exclaimed, realizing the key point.
Any food placed in the Final Land would become extremely delicious due to the Gourmet Energy (marinated in flavor). How could there be anything ordinary?
Even a wildflower by the roadside would become a super-delicious food here.
"Look again."
Like magic, the glass of water in Kenji’s hand turned into a bowl of rice, then into a Puffer Whale, then into a Hot Planet...
Various ingredients transformed in his hand without any energy fluctuation, as if created from nothing.
Everyone watched in confusion, not understanding what was happening.
"Is it... ’Imagination’♪?" Elysia pondered, her eyes lighting up as she voiced her theory.
Kenji nodded. For Shimabukuro (the author) to come up with these bizarre ingredients, imagination played a huge part.
So... you could say there is no Ultimate Ingredient.
The definition of food is too broad. Everyone has their own tastes. How could there be a definitive "Ultimate Ingredient"? Who would define it, especially in a Gourmet Universe?
But the Ultimate Ingredient does exist here. It is Imagination. Any ingredient you can imagine... is delicious.
To a starving person, a bowl of rice and a glass of water is the most delicious food, the Ultimate Ingredient.
In everyone’s heart, there is an Ultimate Ingredient that belongs to them.
"Can you create these ingredients just by imagining them?" Old Black asked, puzzled.
This Ultimate Ingredient... was too ethereal.
"This is a kind of ’Gourmet Logic.’ It can only be used here in the Final Land."
"I think... therefore it is..."
"There is an egg... with the freshness of a Puffer Whale, the sweetness of a cantaloupe, the spiciness of a Mars Hell Chili... Just like that."
A palm-sized egg appeared in Kenji’s hand. Everyone could be sure this was a food that had never appeared in the universe before.
The Gourmet version of ’Ork Logic’ (Waaagh!)... roughly like that.
"Hiss... this is simply the power of a Creator," Old Black gasped, sighing with emotion.
The types of food were fixed... but now, a food that had never existed before was born.
"Sort of. But it can only be applied to food. The Ultimate Ingredient: [Imagination]."
" The time has come. Main Dish confirmed." Kenji felt a bit emotional. His Full Course Menu was complete.
The unique Ultimate Dish, [Imagination], could not be captured by anyone other than Kenji.
He was the first to discover it in the Final Land. Ownership belonged to him, but he could share it with others.
Hors d’Oeuvre: Puzzle Mayfly ( A puzzle made of "delicious" pictures )
Soup: Cryophoenix Amber Soup ( A miracle of rejuvenation )
Fish Dish: Mermaid’s Tears ( From a mermaid with a low crying threshold )
Meat Dish: Space Taipan Snake Meat ( Self-serve snake meat )
Salad: Polar Star Cabbage ( Hundred-Wealth Arrives )
Dessert: Hot Planet ( A "memento" of first forming a partnership )
Drink: Melon Slush Comet ( A ’melon-eater’ in space )
Main Dish: Imagination ( Imagination is endless, ingredients are endless )
"Congratulations. For my Drink... I’ll take that. The fruit of the Pillar of Food. It looks a lot like a coconut, with an indistinguishable scent." Toriko looked at the Gourmet Pillar Tree. The scent was too complex.
Kenji and Toriko confirmed their entire Full Course Menus here. Everyone offered their congratulations.
"Since we’re in the Final Land, let’s all eat together."
Ichiryu suggested. Everyone gathering to enjoy ingredients... that was his favorite way to eat.
"Woohoo! That’s a great idea!"
"Eating in the Final Land... what a great decision."
"Let’s have a banquet! Eat your fill! We won’t go home until we’re drunk!"
"Feast! Feast!"
"..."
Ichiryu’s suggestion was unanimously approved. Everyone cheered. The harmonious atmosphere even infected the Gourmet Gods, smiles appearing involuntarily on their faces.
So pure. No intrigue or deception. Just sitting together to eat. Laughter makes food taste better.
God Ingredients were everywhere in the Final Land. They gathered materials on the spot.
Gourmet Hunters and Chefs worked together to cook. The difficulty of cooking God Ingredients was high.
"Picnic Mat Seeds!"
Teppei took out four seeds. As a Gourmet Reviver, he did what Revivers do.
The seeds sprouted instantly upon planting, spreading out to weave a massive picnic mat.
"Great spot," Teppei sighed. He didn’t even need to do anything else.
A while later, the God Ingredients were cooked, piled into a luxurious mountain on the picnic mat. The cooked aroma was elevated to another level, permeating the entire Final Land and making mouths water.
Food really does glow.
"Apollo, you’re just going to stand there watching? Won’t you eat some?" Tsukasa Kadoya asked.
"I’ll pass. This Gourmet Energy is enough. I can feel the deliciousness too," Apollo shook his head.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Food has to be eaten to be enjoyed," Tony Stark said sympathetically.
Chewing and swallowing... that is enjoying food. Absorbing energy to taste flavor... loses the essence of tasting food.
"Those of us with small appetites will sit at one table." Shizuka Hiratsuka drank some wine. The energy in the God Ingredients was too abundant; she had to pause after every bite.
"Doesn’t matter. As long as we can enjoy the deliciousness of the food," Shiho Miyano shook her head. The Crystal Blueberry Cake was so sweet... a smile appeared on her face involuntarily.
"Exactly. Delicious ice cream is so satisfying to eat... and I don’t have to choose!" Cynthia sighed with emotion, a look of bliss on her face.
...
"Burp... It was delicious. So satisfying."
Everyone was immersed in the gourmet feast. In the end, everyone’s bellies were round. They rubbed their big bellies, burping, shouting how enjoyable and satisfying it was.
It was the first time the Gourmet Gods had eaten like this. They found they actually enjoyed this relaxed atmosphere.
Kenji lay on Elysia’s fleshy lap, a satisfied smile on his face. Enjoying food together... Subarashii.
Everyone suddenly looked at each other and smiled, speaking in unison:
"Thanks for the meal!" (Gochisousama deshita!)
——(End of Main Story)
