Free Web NovelChapter 338: Chapter 198: That One
Chen Ze’s idea to experiment with the glasses still wasn’t realized, because just as he was about to put them on, Hastur came in.
"It’s really rare for you to come to my restaurant," Chen Ze said with surprise as he looked at Hastur, as he hadn’t seen Hastur for quite a while.
"What’s so strange about it? I’ve just been gaming a lot recently, so I didn’t feel like eating out," Hastur said, rubbing his eyes and yawning. Combined with his current girlish appearance, he looked inexplicably cute.
"What have you been playing lately?" Chen Ze was a bit curious, knowing that Hastur played a wide array of games, after all, Hastur bought a lot of stuff.
Hastur had the basics, like a computer, as well as a PS, PSP, and even a Switch.
And also a mobile phone, but these were all things Hastur bought himself, using his own money, so Chen Ze never interfered.
"Princess Connect! That guild battle has been exhausting to the core," Hastur rolled his eyes. He had been getting very little sleep lately, although he didn’t really need to sleep anyway.
"I haven’t played it, do you want to eat something?" Chen Ze wiped the table, then moved the little braid that Ronna made to the other side.
"Hmm... let me think, just whip up something for me to eat, and bring me something to drink too," Hastur said, slumping unceremoniously onto the table, looking like a complete slacker.
"Hey, hey, is it really okay to be like this? After all, you’re a streamer with over five million fans on that little broken station," Chen Ze twitched the corner of his mouth. That image, if seen by the fans, would probably earn a "So cute!" response.
"What’s the big deal, just hurry up and get me something to eat," Hastur squinted, stretching lazily.
Then Chen Ze went back to the kitchen, where he had already thought of what to make for Hastur. The first choice was naturally the Edelman Wild Boar tail.
"Let’s cut it in half first." Chen Ze picked up the cleaver and smoothly halved the boar tail.
Next was dealing with the seasonings, but Chen Ze wasn’t too confident about this part.
The same ingredient doesn’t just pair with any food, and even more so, an Edelman Wild Boar tail and a regular pig tail have huge differences in taste and meat quality.
It’s like insisting on using the method for stir-frying mushrooms on matsutake mushrooms, which vastly differ in culinary methods and price.
But Chen Ze didn’t have the experience of preparing an Edelman Wild Boar tail, so he could only try, slowly figuring it out.
"It has to be a success... don’t fail..." The time-consuming cooking made Chen Ze value the Edelman Wild Boar tail very much.
[You have made an Excellent Braised Edelman Pig Tail, gaining 9 points of otherworldly cooking experience]
Chen Ze sighed with relief; getting an excellent rating proved that the cooking method was viable, it was just the ingredients that needed improvement.
Chen Ze hesitated for a moment, then cut three small slices from the other half of the Edelman Wild Boar tail, combined the seasonings using the same method as before, and then tasted it himself.
Though Hastur couldn’t see it, Chen Ze still didn’t want to touch the customer’s dish; that would be disrespectful to the customer.
"I feel like I added a bit too much salt, and this chili isn’t fragrant enough, should I change to a different kind of chili?" Chen Ze muttered after tasting it.
The origin of the chili is a key factor, although this is also related to the variety of chili.
Like with the national brand Lao Gan Ma, after they changed the chilies they used, the taste became different from before.
Chen Ze wrote down these things in a notebook, and then he started making the other dishes.
"Got the pig’s tail, now let’s have a taro and cabbage soup, and pair it with smashed cucumber," Chen Ze quickly decided what he was going to serve Hastur today.
Since he had made taro and cabbage soup before, Chen Ze was able to make it even faster this time. After setting it to simmer on low heat, he started to work on the smashed cucumber.
"This pig’s tail might feel a bit greasy if eaten too much, even if it’s not, smashed cucumber is quite an appetizing dish," Chen Ze efficiently prepared the dishes.
"Manager... Yo, Hastur, you’re here too," Chen Ze had not finished when he heard Nyarlathotep’s voice coming from outside. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
"Why are you here? Weren’t you always at the Church working on your invention?" Hastur glanced at Nyarlathotep, a bit displeased. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"Why can’t I come? Besides, I haven’t taken the robot that the manager promised me last time," Nyarlathotep sat down as well, right across from Hastur.
"Nyarlathotep, would you like something to eat?" Chen Ze came out to ask, then went upstairs to carry down the robot that Tony Gou Dahu had brought over last time.
"Me? Just get me something convenient to eat, something that will help pass the time," Nyarlathotep treasured the robot as if obtaining a precious item.
"Something to help pass the time and is also convenient to eat?" Chen Ze immediately thought of his skewers. Barbecue was a decent choice for passing the time.
"Just a moment, please," Chen Ze went back into the kitchen, but he still brought out the dishes he made for Hastur, along with a large bowl of rice.
"How’s everything been lately?" Hastur suddenly asked.
"... No changes," Nyarlathotep glanced at Him, puzzled.
"That one seems to show no signs of awakening yet," Hastur picked up some chopsticks, tried a piece of pig’s tail, and nodded in satisfaction.
"If He had awakened, I wouldn’t dare to eat here," Nyarlathotep smirked—just idle talk.
"But I feel there’s a force seeping into the world I occupy," Hastur devoured his rice eagerly, today’s cuisine was very appetizing.
Nyarlathotep lifted His head and looked at Hastur, His face serious.
"Who is it?"
Hastur opened His mouth, seeming to deliberate whether to reveal His name or not, but if He did, that might alert the other immediately.
"Although I am just an avatar, I vaguely remember that force. It should be that One," Hastur pointed towards the wooden door across from Him.
And Nyarlathotep understood at once, nodding thoughtfully.
"That One, huh..." Although unclear why that One suddenly wanted to infiltrate that world, could that world sustain His greatness?
Nyarlathotep was skeptical about this, but the world’s repelling force should prevent too powerful entities from entering. Even if they tried, they would be weakened and constrained—the stronger the entity, the greater the constraint.
"Nyarlathotep, here are your barbecue and Thunderbrew Lager," Chen Ze came out.
