Chapter 31: 'Conquering' the Scarlet Devil Mansion! Everyone Becomes Captives of the Cuisine!
Gensokyo's daytime and nighttime are never peaceful.
For example, fairies causing trouble everywhere, youkai fighting for territory on Youkai Mountain, oni running into the Human Village to play...
And it's even more so in the restaurant opened by Luke.
Today, the number of guests visiting the restaurant was quite a bit more than usual.
Nanase Ren, intending to see the customers of this world;
Kirie, preparing to understand the vampires of her own kind;
Shameimaru Aya, always thinking of getting a big scoop;
Hakurei Reimu, staying at the restaurant to prevent trouble.
And the members of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, arriving on site for a group outing.
For Luke, the highlight of this night was the cuisine prepared for the guests from the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
He served dishes of different styles, types, and flavors onto the dining table one by one.
The first thing that caught the eye was the 'Seafood Paella' tailored for Remilia.
Although this dish was based on rice, it was vastly different from ordinary fast food.
Selected red devil shrimp from the deep sea were steamed and then slow-cooked in a pot with spices and vegetables until every grain of rice absorbed the rich seafood broth.
To add a touch of nobility, Luke also deliberately sprinkled a few flakes of gold leaf and garnished it with lemon zest, making the entire dish look like a work of art.
Seeing the exquisite delicacy, Remilia's eyes instantly lit up, her dignity vanishing...
"Smells good."
Remilia couldn't help but swallow.
And for the lively and active Flandre, Luke chose a 'Miniature Grilled Meat Platter' to attract her attention.
"So much meat!!"
Flandre's platter included various carefully selected small pieces of meat, such as beef, pork, and lamb.
Each piece was marinated just right, then grilled over charcoal, the surface presenting an enticing caramelized color.
To make this dish more interesting, Luke also paired it with several different dipping sauces on the side, such as sweet chili sauce, ketchup, etc., allowing Flandre to freely mix and match according to her own taste.
"Miss Patchouli's side, I chose something with a lighter flavor."
Luke turned to the magician.
This time, he prepared a 'Vegetarian Pasta Salad' for her.
The salad consisted of whole wheat pasta, fresh vegetables, and a small amount of cheese.
Drizzled with homemade low-fat sour cream dressing, it could be said to be both healthy and delicious.
Moreover, he knew Patchouli's physical condition.
Choosing such a combination could not only provide ample nutrition but also avoid triggering Patchouli's asthma attacks.
Among the companions, Izayoi Sakuya...
"Miss Izayoi's dish is 'French Gratin Potatoes'."
"French?"
"A country. This is considered their style of preparation."
The dish served in front of Izayoi used cream, cheese, and fresh herbs for seasoning.
Thinly sliced potato pieces were layered, then baked in the oven until golden brown and crispy.
This method preserved the original flavor of the potatoes while giving them a unique texture.
Finally, Hong Meiling, who remained on the side, her mouth almost drooling, finally saw her own dinner.
"This is 'Specially Flavored Corn Tortilla'."
"Ooh!"
"Inside are shredded chicken, black bean paste, and avocado sauce. Miss Meiling isn't picky about these, right?"
"Eat everything! I'll Eat everything!"
Hong Meiling nodded repeatedly.
Luke then handed it over.
The reason for choosing this dish was that corn tortillas were both convenient to carry and easy to eat.
Additionally, to add some exotic flavor, Luke also sprinkled some chili powder and lemon juice on top, making the taste richer and more diverse.
Not just these, Luke also made some common popular dishes.
Such as fried rice, fried noodles, omurice, chicken soup, etc.
"Different from the takeout ordered before, but I believe it's delicious."
Remilia was the first to taste.
She was also the first to praise.
"Delicious!"
No other evaluation.
Simple and direct.
Expressing feelings freely.
No need for flowery words;
No need for complex language either.
The deliciousness of the cuisine could be described with just a few short words.
Seeing this scene, Shameimaru Aya couldn't help but raise her right hand.
"Boss Luke! I want a late-night snack!"
"Me too..."
Hakurei Reimu couldn't resist either.
Nanase Ren was different from them, only ordering a glass of fruit juice and a portion of hot chicken soup prepared for takeout.
Kirie, who had been a spectator all along, stared at the members of the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
Luke, taking the orders, took a moment to walk over to Kirie's side.
"Not planning to go back yet? The guests from the Scarlet Devil Mansion aren't actually that special. In Gensokyo, they're more like recluses under the name 'vampire'."
"I said before, I won't go back so early."
Kirie stubbornly insisted.
Luke didn't issue an expulsion order to the guest, returning to the kitchen to prepare what Aya, Reimu, and Nanase wanted.
But just as he started, he heard a shout from Remilia's side.
"We won't make it if we finish eating! Make another portion for me! Shop owner!"
"Me, me too!"
Flandre quickly raised her hand.
Even the reserved Izayoi and the quiet Patchouli did the same.
"Count me in!"
Hong Meiling shouted loudly, still having shredded chicken stuck to the corner of her mouth.
"Coming right up."
This time Luke was going to be busy.
But for him, such busyness wasn't a bad thing.
At least tonight, he successfully conquered the girls of the Scarlet Devil Mansion with his cooking.
...
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