The gathering of young people wasn't overly stiff. Rias and Sona had been worried about their etiquette, but Rhodes' casual attitude allowed them to relax. Truthfully, they were fascinated by him. He was powerful but had no ego, and he was their age. Most importantly, he wasn't politically sensitive—not Church, not Fallen Angel, just a human mercenary.
His only weird habit was wearing sunglasses at night during dinner. But most powerhouses had their quirks, so they let it slide.
Rias had many ingredients flown in specifically from the Underworld for tonight—mostly exotic game unique to their realm. Even standard meats like chicken or duck tasted vastly different when raised in the Underworld compared to the mass-produced versions on Earth.
However, some of the ingredients looked... unappetizing.
"Can we actually eat this?" Asia asked, staring at a bizarre-looking creature. It looked like a monster from a sci-fi horror movie, something a mad scientist had gene-spliced together.
"Don't worry," Rias smiled. "It looks a bit strange, but once the venom sacs, stingers, and mana organs are removed, the rest is edible. It tastes better than beef, has less fat, and ten times the protein."
Rias was used to this reaction. She took a piece of meat and ate it, chewing thoroughly to show it was safe. A unique, savory aroma wafted from the dish, making everyone's mouths water. "Mr. Rhodes, would you like to try? It really is delicious."
Rhodes hesitated. If you asked him to fight an abstract, terrifying demon, he'd do it with a smile. But eating one? He wasn't so sure. The smell was incredible, but knowing it came from some "Cthulhu-looking" creature killed his appetite.
"Just try it. It's better than a three-star Michelin meal," Rias urged.
"No, I'm not that hungry tonight," Rhodes said firmly. He had to draw the line somewhere. Even if I jump off this building and fall to my death, I won't eat a bite of that.
"Whoa! What is this flavor?! This is amazing!" Irina took a secret bite and her eyes lit up. Xenovia followed suit and nodded vigorously.
The two of them were used to a hard life—cheap food, or whatever was quickest during a mission. Instant noodles and protein bars were their staples. When they'd eaten Raynare's home cooking, they were moved to tears. Now, eating the highest-quality food in the world, they felt like they were floating.
"I'll try a little too..." Asia said, using chopsticks. She had learned how to use them from living with Rhodes and was surprisingly quick. After one bite, her eyes sparkled, and she began to eat more heartily. She offered a silent prayer: This Underworld food is so good, please forgive me, Lord.
Rias and the other devils felt a slight dizzy spell from the prayer, but it passed quickly.
Rhodes looked at Lavinia beside him. Her plate was already piled high with bones. Good grief. No wonder she hasn't said a word; she's been eating since we sat down! He was glad this wasn't a cooking anime, or there would be some "clothing-explosions" happening.
"Rhodes, this is good, and that's good too. You should eat. You're so busy; you need the protein!" Lavinia didn't wait for an answer; she poked a large piece of meat into his mouth.
"I'll just eat other things—"
Five minutes later.
"This is incredible," Rhodes said, having fully joined the "delicious" camp. Since he'd been exerting a lot of energy lately, he ended up with the biggest pile of bones. Rias was delighted and even told him he could come here to eat for free whenever he wanted.
"I feel... a bit warm after eating this?" Xenovia said as she finished. "I feel like I have endless energy. I really want to go find some stray demons or vampires to fight with my holy sword."
Rias gave a soft laugh. "Top-tier Underworld ingredients don't just taste good; they replenish physical energy and nutrients. For devils with mana, they even restore a tiny bit of magical power. Since you ate so much, it's normal to feel that way."
Akeno looked at Rhodes and added, "Actually, aside from those benefits, there's an extra special effect for men... ~~~"
Sona and Rias both blushed slightly.
Rhodes: "..."
Why didn't you say so sooner?! If I'd known, I would have eaten even more!
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High School DxD : Reincarnated into the Multiverse, but it's High School DxD (216 Chapters – Ongoing)
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