At this point, Erina Nakiri's cheeks quickly flushed, then she stood on tiptoe and leaned her face close to Hoshino Sora's ear: "Husband, thank you this time."
Her voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear, especially the four words 'Husband'. Erina Nakiri said them very seriously; a loss was a loss, and a promise had to be kept.
"I should thank you too, for letting me win the championship."
Hoshino Sora said with a smile. Although Nagiri Mana didn't say who was better or worse because of her exceeding the time limit, he didn't think he would lose, but winning without a fight was also quite good.
"There's no 'letting me win'; you won against me with your skill. Although I don't accept this outcome, you did make a dish better than mine within the allotted time. The first dish I made definitely couldn't have beaten yours."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Erina Nakiri gently shook her head; she acknowledged his strength, and his victory was within her expectations and acceptable range.
Furthermore, she did indeed mess up the first dish due to complicated feelings, but fortunately, she later received Hoshino Sora's guidance and finally made a dish that satisfied her mother, becoming her private chef. Otherwise, she would have truly had to leave with regret this time.
"Let's find a time to compete again."
Looking at the moon high in the sky, Hoshino Sora murmured softly, winning like this was not his original intention; he imagined a competition where both sides gave their all, but he would still be superior.
"In the long years to come, you can challenge me as many times as you want, I'm always ready!"
Looking at the boy so close, Erina Nakiri suddenly smiled sweetly, then followed his gaze to look up at the sky. After the influence of the 'Bestowal' just now, the sky was now clean without a trace of impurities.
"It's getting late, let's head back. Did the Special Executive give you the Legendary Cooking Utensil?"
"Yes, she asked me to give it to you. It's truly amazing; such a small pot can accelerate the fermentation of ingredients.
What used to take a month for fermentation now only takes an hour in here, 720 times the efficiency! I wonder what the principle is."
Hearing Hoshino Sora mention the Legendary Cooking Utensil, Erina Nakiri took out the Nine Revolutions Dragon Pot that her mother had given her earlier. Its main color was purple, symbolizing nobility and mystery.
The carving details on the pot body were exquisite, revealing a winding dragon pattern that ran through the entire pot. The dragon's lines were smooth and its posture elegant, and various gems were inlaid on this dragon pattern, making the entire pot body appear even more luxurious against the purple background.
Additionally, the spout and lid of the Nine Revolutions Dragon Pot were also uniquely designed. The spout curved slightly upward, resembling an open dragon's mouth, vividly lifelike. The lid was integrated with the pot body, with a precious pearl embedded on top, which not only enhanced the overall aesthetic but also made it convenient to hold.
"Compared to the Disassembly Knife I obtained, the Nine Revolutions Dragon Pot is several levels higher in appearance. Even if it weren't a Legendary Cooking Utensil, it would still possess extremely high value."
Taking the Nine Revolutions Dragon Pot from Erina Nakiri's hand, the entire pot weighed about 1000g, slightly heavier than a typical pot, and felt good to hold. He would experiment with its special features later when they returned.
With this thought in mind, Hoshino Sora flipped his hand, and the Nine Revolutions Dragon Pot disappeared, reappearing in his storage backpack.
"Let's go back to the dorm. Get a good rest tonight. We'll charter a bus back tomorrow morning."
Stretching, then patting Nakiri, Hoshino Sora turned and walked away. Erina covered her backside with a silly grin, then quickened her pace to follow him.
However, just as the two were about to descend the city wall and passed the staircase entrance, a sack flew directly out of the darkness and enveloped Hoshino Sora.
Hoshino Sora naturally couldn't be caught. He swiftly dodged the sack, then struck out with a palm, using great force. Although he pulled back some strength at the last moment, it still…
"Crack—"
The sound of bones shattering echoed. Hoshino Sora looked indifferently at the scene before him, then heard gasps from the other side. Without hesitation, the person who ambushed him turned and fled.
And he jumped directly out of the stairwell window, doing a front roll, and quickly ran into the distance.
"What the hell…?"
Seeing this, Hoshino Sora frowned, his brows slightly furrowed as he watched the fleeing person's back. Then, he exchanged a glance with Erina Nakiri beside him, and both quickened their pace, jumping out of the window as well.
With their physical prowess, catching up to the ambusher was naturally very easy, but they didn't follow too closely. If the other party discovered they were too fast and lost the will to escape, it would be troublesome.
He had just obtained the Legendary Cooking Utensil, and then he was ambushed. Hoshino Sora would not believe for a second that there was no causal relationship here.
Therefore, to uncover the truth, Hoshino Sora decided to follow and see who had sent him. Although the city wall of Tenshukaku was not high, it was still over four meters. Jumping down with a broken arm yet remaining unharmed indicated that the fellow had martial arts skills.
His mind raced. Although he didn't recognize the fellow, given how Oriental Academy and Dark Cuisine World had frantically searched for the Legendary Cooking Utensil earlier, it was clear the person came from one of those factions.
Which faction was it?
Hoshino Sora was full of questions, and Erina Nakiri was equally bewildered. She was even more confused than Hoshino Sora, and at the same time, filled with anger. To ambush her man on her territory, how audacious!
A sharp glint flashed in their eyes, and the two quickly moved through the castle. However, though they were fast, the surrounding terrain was undulating, and houses were stacked one upon another. If they pulled back even a little distance, by the time they came to their senses, the other party had already disappeared without a trace.
Helplessly, the two could only slowly stop. They had already reached the residential area; once the opponent entered here, it was like a fish entering the ocean, very difficult to catch.
However, due to the previous instinctive reaction, Hoshino Sora had directly fractured the arm of the person who ambushed him, possibly even a severe fracture, so he didn't suffer any loss.
Moreover, this could be considered a clue, but in the vast sea of humanity, relying on this clue to find someone would take forever. One could only say that fellow was truly lucky.
If only he had sped up from the very beginning.
"You go back first. I'll go ask Grandfather what's going on. He should know something."
With a small frown, Erina Nakiri turned to Hoshino Sora and spoke, then strode towards Senzaemon Nakiri's residence, her heart filled with frustration.
"I'll go with you."
Seeing Erina Nakiri's expression, Hoshino Sora quickened his pace and followed her. Soon, the two arrived at Senzaemon Nakiri's residence. He raised his hand, bent his finger, and knocked on the door.
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