Chapter 53: Cook Off!

Xiangling went inside the ruins and we went after her after saying goodbye to Olaf. We entered the ruins and managed to catch up with her. The ruins had large stone structures with vegetation growing on them. The ruins seemed to have  power as the doors and devices seem to function

“Slow down! It's dangerous in here.” said Paimon huffing

“Ingredients don't stay fresh for long! We need to get going before they expire!” said Xiangling

“Yeesh, she's quite the fighter… Seems foraging for ingredients takes more than just luck.”

“Hey, Xianling. I know you want that Regisvine as soon as possible but these are unknown territory. Who knows what we might encounter? So it is better to slow down and stick together to avoid needless danger. We will help you so don’t worry.” I said

Xiangling was a bit ashamed of her behavior. “Okay, sorry for running in head first. Let’s move carefully.” we all nodded and continued deeper into the ruins.

As we went deeper we were stopped by a group of hilichurls. Our group got ready to fight them. Lumine took out her sword and Xiangling took out her spear. I equipped the Zero-One driver to my waist. Xiangling saw this and was curious.

“What is that?” she said

I only smirked. “Let me show you.”

[Jump!]

[Authorize]

[Progrise!]

[To-bia ga rise!]

[Rising Hopper!]

[A jump to the sky turns to a Rider Kick]

Xiangling was surprised by my transformation. She was seeing the grasshopper jumping around and the appearance of my armor.

Xiangling had stars in her eyes. “Amazing! What is this? A armor? Is this a new invention?”

“Question later. Let’s defeat them first.” I said

We defeated all the hilichurls with relative ease. After the battle, Xiangling asked me about the belt and armor and tried to explain what I knew to her as much as possible. We continued to move forward. We passed through many traps and fought many hilichurls and slimes.

In one particular hallway, Sharp ice icicles were raining down from the ceiling. “Yikes! Look over there, The icicles up ahead are falling! Uh, let's be careful not to get hit... It will definitely hurt.” said Paimon

We dodged the icicles as we ran down the hallway as fast as possible. We somehow made it and no one was injured. We continued forward fighting more slimes and avoiding traps. We reached a large door and judged how cold it was. The Regisvine is behind this door.

“What we're finding is behind this door. Everyone! Be careful.” I said

Everyone nodded and we opened the door. The Cryo Regisvine is standing in the middle of the room.

It was a large vine with leaves on its base root. The color was bluish-white and had an eye with four branches spreading out.

“It's huge!” said Paimon

“Hee-hee, this is perfect! Come to me, my little treasure!” said Xiangling

The Regisvine sent icicles toward us and we all moved out of the way.

“Whoa! My ingredients are attacking me!”

It seems to be enraged by this comment and slammed down to send a wave of ice to Xiangling. I jumped toward her and grabbed her to move out of the way.

“Probably it’s best to not anger it more.” I said

Lumine tried to attack its eye but was swatted away by its branches. Seeing we were at a disadvantage, I took out the Flaming Tiger progrisekey

[Fire!]

[Authorize]

[Progrise!]

[Gigant flare!]

[Flaming Tiger!]

[Explosive power of 100 Bombs]

“Woah! Now it is a tiger!” said Xiangling

“Xiangling! There is a corolla in its roots help me destroy it!”

Xiangling got serious and nodded. We both ran and rushed to its roots. The Regisvine saw this and tried to stop us. It sent icicles at us and ice was accumulating in the ground exploding. We dodged them and sometimes I burned the icicles while Xiangling infused her spear with pyro destroying the icicles.

We reached the base and saw the corolla. Xiangling stabbed it with her pyro-infused spear and I sent flames toward it. The corolla cracked and got destroyed. The Regisvine was in pain and fainted slumping on the ground. Seeing our chance we all bombarded it defeating it.

“♪ Got myself a Cryo Regisvine, cook it up for dinner time... ♪” Xiangling was singing while getting parts of the Regisvine to be used as ingredients

“♪ Even better if it's paired with a bit of swine... ♪” Paimon also sang along

“Stop encouraging her!” said Lumine

“Lighten up a little! What in the world could bring more joy than finding rare ingredients?” said Xiangling

After a while Xiangling got all she needed from the Regisvine. As we were about to leave she saw a boar frozen in ice.

“Wait, there's something else here too!”

“This must be the boar the hunter was chasing. But Paimon's never seen one with this pattern before.”

“Where have I seen this before? Hmm... Aha! It was in the ‘Historia Naturalis Liyue!’ This pattern is unmistakable. It belongs to a breed of boar that went extinct 300 years ago!” exclaimed Xiangling

“Wow! How is this one still alive after so long!?” said Paimon

“Must be from the Regisvine freezing it and preserving it.” I said

“What a great coincidence.”

“I read that this boar was hunted to extinction because its meat was so highly prized. Cryo Regisvine and extinct boar. Not one, but two priceless treasures!” Xiangling was getting excited

“This'll be our winning ticket.” said Lumine

“Right. Now let's get back to Springvale!”

…

Forest of Springvale

A group of treasure hoarders are gathering

“Hey, boss are you sure there are treasures here?” said a grunt

“Shut up! All you have to do is follow me. I’ve heard there are strange fruits appearing in these woods. As long as we get those and rip off a merchant saying it is a rare fruit. We would be rich!”

“As expected of the boss. You’re genius makes us look like children.”

“Ha! Ha! Ha! Of course!”

The hoarders continued into the forest and saw a strange fruit. It was a reddish-purple fruit with vines sprouting on top looking like a lock. The treasure hoarders came closer to it and inspected it.

“Boss, is this the fruit?”

“It has to be. I have never seen or heard of this fruit before.”

The boss smelt the alluring aroma of the fruit and reached out for it.

“It smells amazing…” the boss plucked a fruit from a tree and opened the fruit revealing its core. It was pale pink and inviting the boss to eat it.

*Chomp* The boss ate it at it tasted delicious but he felt something wrong.

“AAAH!”

The grunts were alarmed “Boss!? Are you okay!?”

The boss trashed around before his skin was slowly changing green and claws start appearing in his hands.

“AAH! WHAT IS HAPPENING!”

He kept on screaming before he stopped but what stood now was not human. It had a green tough shell on the upper body and a large right hand with large claws. It had a long neck and the face looked like a turtle with horns and red eyes. It was the Byakko Inves.

The grunts were scared seeing what happened to their boss. “Aaaah! Boss is that you!”

*RAARGH!* The Byakko Inves jumped on his previous henchmen

“AAAAHHHH!”

…

We headed back to Springvale and saw Draff and Olaf talking to each other.

“Uh... Are you sure this is Springvale?” said Olaf confused

“Yes. For the millionth time, yes! But I don't know any of the people you're looking for.” said Draff

“That is not possible, they all live in Springvale. They are my neighbors and friends.” said Olaf

“This is strange, what is going on?” said Draff

We came up to them and asked what was wrong.

“What happened?” I asked

“This hunter here is asking if his family is here in Springvale but I have never heard of them.” replied Draff

Lumine looked at Olaf and remembered the frozen boar.

“I think I see what's going on here.”

“What is it?” asked Paimon

“He's talking about Springvale a long, long time in the past.”

“How long? ...Surely not hundreds of years!?” said Paimon

“Er... Does that really make sense?” said Xiangling

“He and the boar were both frozen.” said Lumine

“Oh! Like the way that you keep food fresh!”

“Still, it's hard to believe…” said Draff

“But it doesn't seem like there's any other sensible explanation.” said Paimon

“Okay so... What's your name?”

“Olaf.”

“Olaf? I'm sure I've seen that on my family tree! I can't remember which generation it was from... but it was definitely on there.”

“So, a great-great-great-great grandfather, but with a whole load more greats?” said Xiangling

“They don't look so distantly related.” said Lumine

“What an unusual turn of events!” said Paimon

“Hee-hee, reunited at long last! Isn't that just amazing!? Olaf, do you want to come and watch a cooking competition?” said Xiangling

“Ah yes, that reminds me — Brook told me about the competition, and I've set everything up at the venue. You should come with me.”

We all went to the venue of the competition and saw Brook and another woman waiting.

“We're ready to cook. Are you?” said Xiangling

“I was born ready. Oh, and Siegfria will be my assistant for the competition.” said Brook

“I’m going to sit this one out and watch from the sidelines.” I said to Lumine and Xiangling.

“Wait, we're taking part in this too?” asked Paimon

“Of course! If Brook has an assistant, you guys will have to be mine. I'll need you by my side when the going gets tough!” said Xiangling

*sigh* “Paimon doesn't remember applying for that job…”

“Ugh, I guess there's no backing out now…” said Lumine

“Okay. Paimon'll do it for the sake of the food.”

“Then let the cooking commence! I will be your judge today. And don't worry, I may have known Brook for longer, but I will remain entirely impartial.” said Draff

“Much appreciated. Well then, Lumine, Paimon — prepare!”

Both teams started cooking their respective dishes. Each group was focused on their tasks. Xiangling was asking Lumine to fetch ingredients nearby and to control the fire. Brook and her assistant were also. They were prepping the meat meticulously and cooking it to the perfect temperature. After an hour both teams were ready to present their dish. The judges tasted them and from their expressions. The dishes must taste amazing.

“This was a fine feast. I have dined today like I have never dined before. Both chefs' dishes today were nothing short of exceptional. They were true masterpieces. And that is what makes this an extremely difficult decision. But, this is a competition and there can only be one winner — and that winner is…” Draff pauses for dramatic effect “Xiangling!”

“Whoopee! I win!” Xiangling was happy she won and was jumping around

*sigh* “I thought I was sure to win with pork chops so fresh they were practically still grunting. But it turns out that's still no match for the taste of extinct boar.”

Draff was taken aback “Excuse me? Did you say this was cooked from extinct boar!?”

“Yep, every last bit!” said Xiangling smiling innocently

“My goodness... A single mouthful must be worth a hundred thousand Mora! The amount you'd make if you sold this could support every hunter in town for years to come!”

“Hee-hee, the main thing is that you enjoyed eating it. I don't care about the Mora. Anyway, now that our judge has given his verdict, it's time for everyone else to eat too. I made plenty! Meanwhile, I want to try Brook's dish.”

Brook and Xiangling exchanged their food for a taste. Both teams had a taste and they were delicious.

“This is absolutely delicious... I'll admit it, I was beaten by the best.” said Brook

“Losing is no fun, but it was worth it for the chance to eat such superb cooking! Please Xiangling, I want some more!” said Siegfria

“This is gorgeous too! Such a perfectly layered texture. Were it not for that exquisite boar and excellent side dish, it's hard to say if I still would have won.” said Xiangling

“Paimon's turn to eat!”

“I also want as well.” I said

Olaf too wanted a taste. “I will have a taste too. Oh... My oh my... This is… This is the taste of Springvale! ...Or rather... it used to be.”

“It tastes so good I want to weep tears of joy.” said Lumine

*sob* “This is the last time I will be able to taste the food of my era…”

“Hey now... Cheer up, if you like the taste I can always make you some more!” said Xiangling to reassure Olaf

“...Really? But the boar... it's extinct…”

“The boar may be, but the taste isn't! I can simply recreate it using different ingredients. Putting a smile on customers' faces is what we chefs are called to do!”

“Th—Thank you…” *sob*

*crack**crack**crack*

We all heard the sound of branches being destroyed and it was coming closer.

“What is that? It’s coming closer?” I said

*Urgh…*

A green-armored creature exited the forest and looked right at us. I recognized this creature.

“Inves!? What is it doing here!?”

*RARGH!*