"Two and a half months isn't long," Zed replied with a grin. The synergy of his trio's growth had not only accelerated his Food Honor mastery but unveiled a revolutionary path.
The Second Generation Melk wordlessly retrieved two ornate boxes from her workshop. Mirajane leaned in, curiosity alight. "Are these… for Erina and Hisako?"
Inside lay two kitchen knives, their edges glinting with otherworldly sharpness. The blades hummed faintly, as if charged with Gourmet Cell energy. "These surpass anything I've forged," Melk II said. "You saw the scars on Melk Mountain—one test strike split it cleanly."
Mirajane gaped. Melk Mountain, a 4,000-meter peak, cleaved by a casual swing?
"Top-tier Melk Knives," Zed explained. "In skilled hands, they could slice cities. But they're not for Erina and Hisako yet." He sealed the boxes into his Gourmet Demon's void-pocket. Their current strength would reduce Nakaume Gourmet School to rubble.
Before leaving, Zed gifted the smith a Rainbow Fruit. Its aroma erupted, drawing frenzied beasts until Zed's aura repelled them. "A Rainbow Fruit?!" Melk II breathed, clutching the vibrant fruit.
"Here's a parting gift." Zed and Mirajane mounted Tatsu, now too colossal for conventional travel. The beast's strides cracked the earth, outpacing trains as they raced toward Nakaume Gourmet School.
Tatsu's speed carried Zed's group swiftly to Nakaume Gourmet School, where Erina Nakiri and Hisako Arato awaited. Both had neared Four-Star Chef status—a milestone that would further elevate Zed's Gourmet Journey.
Nakaume Gourmet School
"Are these… our knives?" Erina asked, eyeing the sealed boxes.
"Yes," Zed replied, "but these are too dangerous for them to wield at the moment."
Chef Sumire inspected the blades, her awe palpable. The knives shimmered with a cold, otherworldly edge, as if carved from starlight itself. "These surpass even my finest knife. A single swing could level this academy."
Zed stored the knives back into his Gourmet Demon's void-pocket. "You'll wield them once you master Life Erase (Shōmei). Until then…" He produced Ruby Crabs and Rainbow Fruits, their prismatic hues dazzling the room.
Chef Sumire's eyes lit up. "Melk's Stars! Could you spare some?"
"Of course." Zed handed her a pouch of the universal seasoning. The ground crystals glinted like powdered gold, their aroma sharp and metallic. "A token of gratitude for mentoring them."
A few days later, Zed's group stood before Setsuno's private restaurant, its weathered building housing the legendary chef within. Cracked wooden beams and faded lanterns exuded a timeless charm, as if the building itself had been preserved in amber.
"This… this is where Grandma Setsuno cooks?" Mirajane whispered, incredulous.
"Appearances can deceive," Zed said. "She's over 500. Gourmet Cells stretch lifespans."
A gasp rippled through the group.
Nono, Setsuno's apprentice, greeted them. "Teacher awaits." Inside, the canteen's retro decor—rickety stools, soot-stained walls, and a hearth crackling with Flame Salamander embers—felt paradoxically alive.
Grandma Setsuno emerged, her pink hair stark against wrinkled skin. "Zed. Jiro-chan underestimated you." Her voice, though raspy, carried the weight of centuries. "Come. Let's discuss your training inside."