Multiverse Gourmet Hunter

After entering Wuu Volcano, Haruto leaped onto a stack of eight layered rocks and took out the entire ear of BB Corn.

He peeled back the husk, revealing rows of plump, perfectly rounded kernels packed tightly together.

Their rich sweetness filled the air, and merely looking at them was enough to stir his appetite.

It took a fair amount of effort to pry a single kernel free.

Once he succeeded, Haruto stored the rest of the BB Corn away.

Now it was time to cook it.

BB Corn had to be heated slowly, and both sides needed to receive precisely the right amount of heat.

Otherwise, the kernel would burn before it could pop properly.

That meant Haruto had to move it gradually downward across the layered rocks, using the volcano’s natural temperature gradient to raise its heat little by little.

He was not worried about the difficulty. Temperature control was one of his strengths.

The only inconvenience was the amount of time involved, but Haruto had more than enough patience when BB Corn was waiting at the end.

Before beginning, he laid out a piece of Magma Rat hide.

The material could withstand extreme temperatures and possessed excellent insulating properties.

Once everything was ready, Haruto placed the BB Corn kernel on the uppermost and coolest rock.

He allowed it to slowly adjust to the volcanic heat, absorbing warmth little by little while carefully turning it at regular intervals.

When the kernel’s internal temperature matched the surface of the rock, he moved it down one layer.

Time passed quietly as the sun sank beyond the horizon.

Haruto remained beside the kernel throughout the process, focusing intently on every change in temperature.

At last, he moved the BB Corn onto the lowest rock, whose surface had reached twelve hundred degrees Celsius.

Once the kernel itself reached the same temperature, it began to shake and swell.

Haruto held his breath, his gaze fixed upon it.

The kernel expanded to its absolute limit.

Then it exploded.

Bang!

A thunderous pop rang through the volcano.

Countless pieces of fluffy BB Popcorn burst into the air like clouds of cotton candy.

Carrying an overwhelmingly rich sweetness, they slowly drifted back down and covered the rocks around Haruto.

He reached out and caught one of the weightless pieces in his palm.

The snow-white popcorn was so light that he could barely feel it.

Haruto brought it close and inhaled gently.

An incredibly pure sweetness rushed straight into his mind.

It felt like the warmest breeze of spring, carrying the richness of butter and grain with a delicate hint of fresh sweetness beneath it.

The aroma alone left his entire body feeling refreshed.

Haruto wasted no time and placed the BB Popcorn into his mouth.

The instant his teeth closed around it, the soft texture melted across his tongue, and an intense sweetness swept through his senses.

It was rich without being cloying, leaving behind an irresistible flavor that lingered long after the first bite.

A single piece completely conquered his palate.

His body moved almost on its own.

Haruto reached down, grabbed a handful of the freshly fallen popcorn, and stuffed it into his mouth.

At that moment, he felt as though he could eat an endless amount.

The more he ate, the more addictive it became.

With every chew, the flavor deepened in layers.

The gentle sweetness grew richer and more mellow as the popcorn dissolved between his teeth, turning into a fragrant warmth that soothed both his tongue and mind before sliding softly down his throat.

It was delicious.

So delicious that stopping felt impossible.

Instead of satisfying his hunger, the extraordinary flavor only made his appetite grow stronger, awakening the urge to eat even more.

While Haruto was happily devouring the BB Popcorn, a deafening explosion suddenly erupted from Wuu Volcano.

Boom!

The ground trembled lightly as a massive cloud of volcanic ash burst from the crater and surged high into the sky.

The ash soon spread overhead and began drifting down like gray snow.

It settled across the ground, over the Wuu Jungle, and onto the BB Popcorn surrounding Haruto.

He looked at the falling ash, and a pleased smile appeared on his face.

"It seems even Wuu Volcano has decided to provide the perfect seasoning."

Haruto picked up a piece of BB Popcorn dusted with a thin layer of ash and placed it directly into his mouth.

A faint salty savoriness joined the popcorn’s pure sweetness.

Rather than diminishing its flavor, the salt made the sweetness stand out even more, balancing it perfectly and adding an entirely new layer of depth.

"Delicious."

Haruto could not help praising it aloud.

Then he suddenly remembered something.

"Right—the Wuu Star Fruit."

He took out one of the fruits, which resembled a small crystal perfume bottle.

After opening it, he discovered several brown five-pointed stars inside, each roughly the size of a fingernail.

Haruto brought out a simple grinder and crushed the stars into a fine brown powder.

He then mixed the powder with several other seasonings in carefully measured proportions.

Before long, he had produced a bowl of sauce with a warm color and a uniquely savory aroma.

Haruto picked up another piece of BB Popcorn, coated it with a thin layer of sauce, and put it into his mouth.

The flavor struck him like an electric shock.

The popcorn’s soft sweetness blended perfectly with the rich, savory taste of the Wuu Star Fruit.

Every element was balanced precisely, unfolding in layer after layer across his tongue.

It was even more delicious than before.

Haruto completely lost himself in the meal.

One piece followed another, then another, as he continued eating from night until the eastern sky began to pale and the first rays of dawn filtered through the morning mist.

The amount of BB Popcorn produced from a single kernel was supposedly enough to feed more than a hundred people.

Haruto ate every last piece by himself.

He rubbed his pleasantly full stomach, thought for a moment, then took out another BB Corn kernel.

Using the same method, he popped it and carefully stored the fresh batch away.

This supply was meant to be enjoyed slowly in the future.

Once that was done, Haruto turned his gaze toward the depths of Wuu Volcano, interest flashing through his eyes.

He planned to explore the area.

If Magma Rats could survive inside the volcano, then other plants and animals must live there as well.

He might discover another valuable ingredient.

Having made his decision, Haruto headed deeper inside.

Plenty of discarded Magma Rat pelts lay scattered along the path.

Haruto had already experienced their remarkable insulating properties, so he gathered every intact piece he could find.

A material capable of resisting and blocking extreme heat would be highly useful in volcanic regions and might prove valuable again someday.

After storing the pelts, Haruto continued onward, constantly scanning the surroundings for potential ingredients.

Before long, he stopped.

A small plant grew from a crack in the volcanic rock ahead. It had thin branches, bright green leaves, and clusters of round red fruits hanging from its stems.

The fruits were tiny, glossy, and perfectly plump.

They looked exactly like miniature tomatoes, so bright and appealing that they seemed certain to be sweet and refreshing.

Haruto also noticed signs that Magma Rats had eaten some of them, confirming that the fruits were edible.

He approached and plucked one.

It felt slightly cool in his hand, and its skin was smooth. When Haruto brought it near his nose, a rich tomato fragrance greeted him, fresh and enticing.

"A cherry tomato?"

After a moment’s consideration, Haruto placed it into his mouth and bit down.

The plump flesh burst instantly, flooding his mouth with juice.

A refreshing sweetness spread over his tongue first.

Then, without warning, an overwhelming wave of heat erupted through his mouth like magma bursting from Wuu Volcano.

The spiciness was fierce and immediate.

It swept from the tip of his tongue to its root, across his gums and down his throat, before surging straight into his nose.

The burning sensation was so intense that his lips began trembling involuntarily and his tongue went numb.

Haruto opened his mouth and rapidly drew in air, trying to relieve the sudden inferno as astonishment filled his eyes.

"This is... a chili pepper?"

Its appearance and fragrance were identical to a miniature tomato, and its flesh was just as juicy.

Yet it concealed an unbelievable level of heat.

This was no tomato.

It was an exceptional chili pepper disguised as one.

Even with Haruto’s tolerance, the sudden blast of spice left him struggling for a moment.

Yet beneath that heat remained the tomato’s refreshing sweetness and fruity aroma, producing a strange and unforgettable flavor.

Once the initial surprise passed, delight flashed through Haruto’s eyes.

A tomato-shaped chili with such intense heat and distinctive flavor was an incredibly rare seasoning ingredient.

It might be perfect for creating an entirely new condiment.

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