Chapter 432: Aoandon Watching Horror Movies
Aoandon was completely taken by surprise. It seemed so unlikely that the owner of such a beautiful and luminous shop would have a taste for tales of horror and the grotesque.
At that moment, Ren was not preparing Chinese cuisine for her. Since his guest wished to learn about things from another world, he decided it was best to avoid Eastern food., he needed to select something she had certainly never tasted before. French cuisine, he concluded, was the perfect choice.
Aoandon turned to Lucifer, her expression tinged with confusion. "Lady Lucifer, are those grotesque things you mentioned also a form of yokai?"
Lucifer paused to consider the question, a faint shiver running through her. "No, no, no… In a sense, it would be more accurate to call them specters. Whatever they are, they are certainly not ordinary… grotesque beings…"
She had wanted to say 'scary,' but with so many people watching, could she, the Queen of Hell, admit to being afraid of ghosts? Her pride would never allow it! She would not be afraid of mere specters! In that instant, the Queen of Hell's peculiar sense of dignity flared to life once more.
Aoandon, however, was alight with anticipation. She adored hearing such bizarre stories. "Lady Lucifer," she said, a note of wonder in her voice, "are these all strange tales from this world?"
Lucifer's mind flashed with images. Sadako crawling from a television set, the cursed videotape, the rattling croak of Kayako… She gave a quick shake of her head, then immediately corrected it with a nod. "Hmm… and they aren't just your garden-variety bizarre, either…"
"Oh! I am truly looking forward to this!" Aoandon exclaimed, her eyes gleaming.
Lucifer waved a hand, a touch of helplessness in the gesture. "What is the most terrifying strange tale you have ever heard? It will be something along those lines."
"Perhaps the Nyunai Suzume… or the Futakuchi-onna…" Aoandon offered after a moment of thought.
Lucifer, having looked them up, let out a soft sigh. "In that case… you might find these modern ones quite frightening. They are considerably more outrageous…"
Aoandon had always considered the tales of the Nyunai Suzume and her ilk to be the pinnacle of terror. Could there truly be entities even more frightening? A thrill of excitement coursed through her.
Yakumo Yukari, too, was intrigued. The Hyakki Yagyō, the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, was a famous legend, and she was well-acquainted with the stories of the Nyunai Suzume and the Futakuchi-onna. Both were indeed rumored to be terrifying yokai.
As they spoke, Ren emerged, pushing a dining cart before him. A rich, complex aroma wafted through the air, causing Aoandon to pause. The scent was intoxicatingly fragrant, yet entirely unfamiliar. It was not the perfume of flowers, but the deep, savory perfume of food.
"Pan-seared foie gras, a creamy mushroom bisque, and non-alcoholic champagne," Ren announced. "Please, enjoy."
Before her sat an exquisitely beautiful dish, radiating a decadent aroma. In a tall flute, the champagne shimmered like liquid yellow crystal. Aoandon took a deep breath, letting the scent wash over her. This deep fragrance was unlike anything she had ever encountered.
Ren smiled gently. "I suspected you might not be accustomed to a knife and fork, Miss Aoandon, so I have taken the liberty of cutting it for you. You need only use the fork. Everything on the plate is edible, except for the tableware, of course."
Aoandon nodded, eagerly lifting a piece of the seared foie gras with her fork. The moment it touched her tongue, an explosion of flavor unlike any she had ever experienced bloomed in her mouth. The richness of the cream and butter, the deep, savory essence of the foie gras, and the subtle, sharp enhancement from the pepper combined into a form of deliciousness she never knew could exist.
She could find no words to describe the sensation. For a moment, she wondered if she was even eating correctly. The way it melted so softly, releasing a mellow fragrance that was entirely new to her, was so divine it felt as though she might swallow her own tongue.
She couldn't stop. Ren, anticipating this very reaction, had been generous. Instead of the tiny portion typical of traditional pan-seared foie gras, he had plated two large, thick slices, more than enough for Aoandon to savor.
She was completely immersed in the rich aroma, lost in an ultimate indulgence of taste and texture she had never before known. It was the kind of dish that needed no introduction; its purpose was understood at a glance.
This was Aoandon's experience. After several bites of the foie gras, she used her fork to spear a slice of the white pear arranged on the side. The fruit, true to its name, released an indescribably delicate fragrance as she bit into it. That hint of fresh sweetness, that juicy crispness, cut cleanly through the preceding richness, adding a refreshing clarity while allowing the mellow aroma of the liver to linger.
The flavors complemented each other perfectly, elevating the entire experience to another dimension. Following this with a sip of the crisp, bubbling champagne created a moment of pure bliss. Her taste buds were utterly intoxicated.
When she finally finished with the rich, velvety, and impossibly smooth creamy mushroom bisque, no further words were needed. Such a masterful display of flavor had successfully conquered Aoandon, securing her complete and total surrender.
Yakumo Yukari watched as Aoandon, despite her clear enjoyment, maintained an impeccable, ladylike grace with every bite. She nodded to herself in approval. 'Truly a legendary yokai,'she thought.'So attentive to etiquette. A proper demon, just like myself!'
Naturally, Yakumo Yukari would never voice such a self-aggrandizing thought aloud. Had she done so, Yuuka Kazami would have undoubtedly been unable to resist taking action.
"Mmm, so delicious… What an exquisite taste…" Aoandon murmured, her eyes closed in contentment.
Ren looked at her and replied softly, "Thank you for the compliment, but this is nothing special. These are just some relatively ordinary dishes."
Yakumo Yukari's eyebrow arched. "Ordinary? Oh my, Shopkeeper Ren, you certainly say the most surprising things."
Ren sighed, a feeling of helplessness washing over him. Why did he always feel as though his words were being twisted into some kind of humblebrag?
Aoandon looked up at Ren, her eyes shining with renewed anticipation. "Shopkeeper Ren, Lady Lucifer mentioned that you enjoy stories of horror and the bizarre. Is that true?"
Ren nodded. "That's right. I am indeed quite interested in such things. And you… oh, of course. I nearly forgot you are Aoandon. You must be very interested in these stories as well, correct?"
Aoandon nodded enthusiastically. Ren thought for a moment. "In that case, I'll find some films for you to watch. Lucifer, would you care to join?"
Lucifer slapped the table with an impatient hand. "I absolutely do not want to watch such bizarre things!" she yelled.
The sudden outburst silenced the room, and she found everyone staring at her. Lucifer's mouth twitched. She cleared her throat delicately and called out, "Pandemonica!"
"Boss, what is it?" Pandemonica replied, her tone flat.
A mischievous smile spread across Lucifer's face. "Pandemonica, aren't you curious about these ghosts and monsters?"
Pandemonica considered it for a second. "Aren't they just skeletons?"
Lucifer's eyebrow rose. "Pandemonica, why don't you go watch with Aoandon? It's very interesting, and not skeletons at all~" she cooed.
"Eh? Oh… alright."
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