Chapter 25: One update + 5K collections and extra update, the player becomes the only winner...

Glancing at the NPC curiously, the player silently pulled out a pool of snail fluid mixture and threw it onto the grill along with the headless, dead fish corpse, the lively crayfish, and the last purple mushroom.

So, under the watchful eyes of the crowd,

A string of steaming purple grilled fish - freshly baked!

Without any formalities or fancy processing, simple ingredients are piled up to create the most original delicacy——

Apart from the fact that it may be fatal if consumed, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it!

Marui Bunta: "..."

Others: “…”

Everyone took a step back.

"Hey, this is no joke. How about we call 120 first?"

"Can this thing really be served? I don't think it needs to be eaten. Even smelling it will make you miss tomorrow's sunrise..."

"But this guy looks like he really thinks this thing is edible..."

“…”

“………”

"Why don't we call the police and arrest him now."

There was a slight pain in his forehead, and Marui Bunta endured it again and again.

He tried hard not to recall the raw materials and process of making the purple grilled fish in front of him.

Take a deep breath, for the safety of everyone.

Marui hesitated again and again, and opened his mouth to persuade the younger generation again.

At the very least... for the personal safety of the judges (like him), please think this over more carefully!!

As a result, when he looked up, Mushroom Head didn't even blink and chopped down the knife.

"Pah!" A fish with its belly ripped open and dying in an extremely miserable way twitched and twisted as it rolled towards him.

There was even a strange light flashing in the fish's eyes.

Marui Bunta: "..."

...It's a nightmare scene that would wake you up in the middle of the night!!

Marui Bunta couldn't help but choked up.

Because Yagi Kei's actions were too rough, even the fish's corpse was still bleeding,

With a "Puff", several lines of blood sprayed onto the pale and bloodless cheeks of the younger generation.

A bit bloody,

A bit scary.

Plus those dark, empty fish eyes that stare at people straight on.

Marui was about to speak when he suddenly stopped.

The people who had gathered to watch the fun also stopped.

At this moment, everyone had only one thought in their mind:

Mom, mom...so scary QAQ!!

I feel like if I say anything that doesn't agree with him, he'll definitely kill me right there and then!

The player who watched the NPCs retreat in unison: "?"

Marui Bunta: "..."

Others: “…”

Marui said weakly: "It's okay, Kei... As long as you are happy..."

Others: "Yes, yes, yes, Yagi, just be happy! Really! Just be happy!! Don't worry about us!"

The player looked at the group of NPCs with the [Fear] debuff in a strange way.

But right now he has more important things to do.

——No one said that [Event Mission 2: Sharing a Recipe!] actually requires a full ninety-nine grilled fish!

Damn, the fish in the player's backpack are almost running out!!

Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up!!

So the contestants near Yagi Kei just watched him blankly as he walked to that station and took out all kinds of messy ingredients from some other dimension.

Snails, shells, pine cones, red mushrooms, citrine, and garbage...

Wait, can those last two really fit in?!

Everyone's complaints reached their peak at once, but Yagi Kei's movements seemed to be at double speed, so fast that it was dizzying.

All the food was thrown onto the grill in small portions.

There were some curious contestants who came closer to see what magical dishes this mushroom head was making.

As soon as I got closer - suddenly, the grill glowed brightly!

Unexpectedly, the grill was filled with colorful grilled fish that were as black as charcoal and emitted a faint purple/green/yellow/red and even rainbow light!

[Delicious Colorful Grilled Fish: Beautiful and Delicious! ]

Onlookers: “——Eyes, ahhh my eyes!!”

Marui Bunta, who had anticipated this scene and temporarily closed his eyes, said: "..."

"……well."

While everyone was still covering their eyes and running around shouting 'My eyes' crazily,

Yagi Kei turned around and ran away with the bucket on his head without looking back into the next level.

In the audience, Echizen Ryoma, who was bored and drinking grape-flavored Ponta, caught a glimpse of a familiar figure jumping and tumbling outward.

"Hmm?"

He squinted his eyes and saw who it was from the chaotic movements.

"Hey...that guy, why are you leaving now?"

Momoshiro Takeshi was attracted by the barbecue process next to him. He wiped his saliva and turned around curiously, "What's wrong, Ryoma, who did you see?"

Just as Echizen Ryoma was about to speak, he saw the person who had just run out in a mess turn around and sprint back with a bucket of water on his head.

…and it looks just like the dish.

He muttered softly.

Following Ryoma Echizen's gaze, Takeshi Momoshiro immediately saw Kei Yagi happily jumping around with a small bucket on his head.

He laughed out loud. "So it's Keina, so energetic. But isn't he a contestant this time? Why is he still running around with a small bucket?"

The next second, he watched Mushroom Head stop in his tracks.

He walked towards that station without even looking, took out a tennis racket and a small stool from somewhere, and started fishing on the court in full view of everyone.

Taocheng Wu: "..."

Echizen Ryoma: “…”

Although I’ve seen this guy fishing in a bucket with a tennis racket before…but every time I see it, I still doubt the world.

Is this possibility...real?!

The other players on the field were immediately attracted by the action of this short bean mushroom head. They stretched their necks and stared in amazement.

Contestant A: "No, what is this guy doing? Is he trying to be funny?"

Contestant B: "I don't know, I don't know... He looks like he's fishing?"

Contestant C: "But who fishes with a tennis racket?! And—he's fishing in a bucket!!"

Not only the contestants, but also the audience who had never seen such a scene were confused.

Until I saw Mushroom Head quickly pull out a huge anchovy from the narrow bucket with a tennis racket.

Jumping around, wagging its tail,

1.6m tall anchovy,

It's even longer than the person who caught the fish.

Contestant: “…”

audience:"……"

In unison, everyone wiped their eyes.

"Well, what is that... Is today, April Fools' Day?"

"Anchovies, are they anchovies?"

"But that's a 1.6-meter-tall anchovy!?"

"It's even longer than that shorty!!"

"Illusion! This is an illusion!! It's definitely a trick!!"

Marui Bunta had already covered his face with his hands and buried himself in the table.

Ahhhh, it was Keina who did this, but why does he feel so embarrassed?!

Marui Bunta roared incompetently, while the only two people present who remained calm were Genichirō Sanada and Masaharu Niou, who seemed to be immersed in their own culinary art.

In fact, if you look closely, you can see that the two men's jaws are clenched and their eyes are fixed on the grill in front of them, as if they are afraid that any movement will ruin their posture.

Fishing one and waiting for another is too slow, so the player came up with a good idea.

He carried the bucket next to the oven, aligning both sides and calculating the angle precisely.

A fish caught from a bucket with a swing of the hand will leap in a parabola that will just land it on the grill.

Without any warning, without any pain at all—he died!

Everyone was stunned, their faces turned left and right, and their heads shook wildly like a fan.

I watched helplessly as the sound of water breaking suddenly appeared on my left.

There were two "click" jumps and a series of intense and exciting "sizzling" sounds on the right.

Immediately following, a burst of colorful light, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, suddenly erupted—

A charcoal-black, colorful grilled fish is freshly baked!

“…”

“………”

"Mom wild, crazy life."

"Although, that fish... he hasn't processed it yet, right?"

"...So this is...the original flavor?"

"I see! That makes sense!!"

Marui Bunta: God damn, it's so authentic...don't force explanations on everything!!

Racing against time, the player fished one after another, and finally before the end of the competition time, he made 100 "Scorched black as charcoal, colorful grilled fish"!

The audience in the auditorium have slowly put on their sunglasses.

After all——if I don’t do this, I won’t be able to resist the radiation attack of the Colorful Grilled Fish! !

When the production time was over, the contestants presented their entries one by one.

The player used his left and right hands to pile up ninety-nine grilled fish.

Everyone who passed by was terrified.

Judges: “…”

Everyone looked silently at the ninety-nine grilled fish dishes piled high along the way.

"So, do you want to eat now?"

"...Why don't you contact the hospital in advance?"

"It's better to die sooner rather than later...it's better to die later."

"I think so too."

The judges discussed the matter and unanimously sent Bunta Marui, who was familiar with Kei Yagi, to negotiate.

Marui Bunta: Bitterness.jpg

He coughed and said, "Well, Kyu, Kyu, the judges unanimously agreed that your performance deserved a spot as the finale!"

He discussed carefully, "So how about we let the others take over for now...?"

Yagi Kei: "..."

Yagi Kei: “Oh.”

Mushroom Head stood silently at the end of the line, carrying ninety-nine plates on his shoulders.

Marui Bunta returned to the judges' seat and pulled the corner of his mouth hard.

"It's okay, it's okay... We can start now."

While the judges were enjoying the food prepared by the contestants in front of them, they were also waiting in fear for their death.

Including Marui Bunta, who just watched Yagi Kei's order getting closer and closer...

Until the charred grilled fish with dazzling colorful light finally lay in front of him with its eyes open.

A feeling of 'it's finally here' filled everyone's heart, and everyone was even a little moved.

Facing the colorful charred fish corpse, the judges looked at each other in confusion, and no one dared to be the first to take a bite.

"Hahahahaha, Yagi-san's special dish is really unique, very personal...characteristic!"

"Yeah yeah,"

"Why don't we ask the audience to help us decide? After all, such a good thing should be shared—"

“Yes, that’s right!!”

This was the most emotional episode the judges had today.

But the players have already done everything.

The innocent spectators in the front row who were about to be dragged into the abyss were quickly given a plate of colorful charcoal grilled fish by the players.

Even Ryoma Echizen, who was hiding in the crowd, was singled out by the players and taken advantage of.

Echizen Ryoma: “…”

Momoshiro Takeshi was the only one who was passed over and protested: "Why did you pass me over?!"

Echizen Ryoma immediately extended his hand and said, "Senior Atao, if you want to do it for me, I have no objection."

Momoshiro Takeshi immediately shut up and even backed away a bit: "Hahaha, just kidding, why would I steal yours, Ryoma~"

Echizen Ryoma: “…”

Taocheng Wu: "..."

"……well."

With the attitude of "I've come here", "The worst that can happen is death", and "If I don't die, I've gained something",

The judges and the audience quickly stuffed the grilled fish into their mouths without blinking.

One second, two seconds, three seconds,

Momoshiro Takeshi held his breath and looked at Echizen Ryoma's reaction through the gaps between his fingers.

Genichirō Sanada and Masaharu Niou also stayed close to Bunta Marui, ready to call the school doctor immediately if anything went wrong.

But, no.

Players looked at the rising number behind [Activity Mission 2: Sharing of Cuisine!],

1, 11, 23...67, 79...81, 94...100!

“This, this is——”

Marui Bunta closed his eyes tightly and clenched his teeth: "What kind of—"

Sanada Niou stepped forward and said, "Cheer up! Marui!!"

"What's wrong with you! Ryoma! Don't scare me!!" Momoshiro Takeshi panicked.

Echizen Ryoma opened his eyes suddenly.

Several people around exclaimed in amazement: "——How delicious is this!!"

Momoshiro Takeshi was extremely worried: "......?"

Sanada and Niou, who each grabbed Marui, said, "......?"

"The fresh and lively taste of the fish flesh blooms on my tongue! I feel like I've been stripped naked and jumped into the sea, swimming freely with the fish!!"

The man who was shouting this quickly stripped off his shirt and swung it around. He even reached down and was about to take off his pants and walk naked. However, the man who was still conscious hugged his thighs tightly, blocking his vital parts.

The onlookers were already going crazy, "Cut it off! Cut it off quickly!! This part can't be broadcast!!"

"No, no, no, it's clearly a forest! The smooth, soft, and charred flavor of pine cones and mushrooms mixed together! It's wonderful!"

Turning around, I saw a row of figures of different heights squatting in the bushes, all with their butts sticking out and plates on their heads, cosplaying as mushrooms and performing a cappella in four parts: Ah ↑ Ah ↑ Ah ↑ Ah ↑.

"Ah! Is this heaven?! There are citrine everywhere, and why is there garbage? Never mind!! Hahahahaha I'm going to be rich!!"

This is someone who goes directly into the trash can, picks up the trash and stuffs it into his pockets, then puts the trash can on his head and scratches everywhere.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

“Ahahahahahaha!!”

For a moment, the sky above the entire Rikkai University was filled with increasingly violent laughter.

The player silently watched the NPCs being killed one by one in [chaos].

Player: “…”

The player said nothing and just brushed the juice.

Momoshiro Takeshi turned his head and caught a glimpse of the afterimage. Although he felt that the thing in Yagi Kei's hand looked familiar, the scene of everyone going crazy was even more shocking, so he didn't pay attention to it and let it go.

Seeing the younger generation diligently distributing water one by one, Sanada and Niou were deeply moved.

"Right! That's it! Follow Yagi!"

"Give them some water and let them rinse their mouths to relieve the pain and they'll be back to normal!!"

The few people who were not roasted by the fish immediately helped out based on the principle of friendly assistance.

"Niou, I'll hold Marui down, and you take the opportunity to fill him with water!"

"Hmm, it seems like this is the only way."

Sanada and Niou worked together, one clamped the other pried open his mouth.

Taking the paper cup in his hand, Niou took a closer look and was the first to notice something was wrong. "Hey Sanada, why does this thing look a little weird...?"

Although Sanada also noticed it, it was more important to rescue Marui who was about to crawl into the trash can. He gritted his teeth and said, "Never mind, just drink it!"

At the same time, the others were also in a panic, but they managed to clamp down on the fish and pour the juice into the mouth of the grilled fish victim one by one.

Momoshiro Takeshi locked Echizen Ryoma's throat, "Ryoma, I'm sorry for trying to get you back to normal as soon as possible!"

With a loud bang,

The player looked at the rising numbers on the task panel.

51…67, 79…81, 94…99!

"vomit!!"

“Ugh… Ugh!!”

"What did you two give me to drink..."

Marui, who had barely regained consciousness in an instant, pinched his neck in disbelief.

Niou and Sanada looked at each other in confusion, "No... isn't it just ordinary water?"

Marui screamed: "——This is called ordinary water?!!!"

"This is clearly a sticky, disgusting mixture of a week-old dead rat, three-month-old rotten fish and shrimp, and something else. Ugh, my mouth! My mouth, ahh ...

Marui Bunta fell to the ground and rolled around.

Like him, the others who were hit also roared and growled with difficulty.

If I didn't know, I would have thought they were about to mutate.

"A-Senior Tao...what hatred or grudge do you have? How could you actually poison me..."

Taocheng Wu was bewildered and stretched out Erkang's hand: "No, Longma - listen to my explanation -"

"Bang!"

“Bang, bang!”

“Bang, bang, bang!!”

After a few consecutive sounds, a bunch of people fell to the ground in a mess.

The lucky ones in the crowd looked at each other in confusion.

No, no, from just now until now...what on earth has happened!?

Genichirō Sanada and Masaharu Niou pondered deeply.

It seems that after eating the grilled fish made by Yagi Kei...

"Drink water,"

"Oh... thank you," Sanada and Niou took the cup handed to them while thinking and drank it in one gulp.

“…”

“………”

"Dongdong!" Two sounds,

The player withdrew his hand and frowned as he looked at the two people lying on the ground who didn't even have time to say their last words.

It’s strange, why can’t the number of people for the last Guizhi mission be refreshed?

At the same time, the player received a taskbar prompt:

【Congratulations on successfully defeating all opponents! 】

[Since all the contestants present have withdrawn from the competition, you have automatically advanced to the 'Most Popular Dish'! ]

Momoshiro Takeshi stared at the paper cup for a while before realizing, "Wait a minute—Sanada-kun! Niou-kun, this thing can't—"

"……drink."

He stared at Sanada/Niou, who was lying on the ground with his eyes open and a dark green liquid slowly flowing from the corners of his mouth. He turned his head stiffly and met Yagi Kei's dead fish eyes again.

Taocheng Wu: "..."

Momoshiro Takeshi: "Um, haha, I'll pretend I didn't see it. How about letting me go?"

Player: “…”

The player takes a step closer to him.

Momoshiro Takeshi: “……!”

Momoshiro Takeshi: "I can do it myself! I can do it myself!! Let me do it myself!!"

So, right under the player's nose, the NPC snatched the player's juice and drank it all.

[Emergency Mission: Spreading Gui Juice (100/100) (Completed)]

Oh! So the last one is here.

Although I don't know why, I fell asleep.

It’s great to be young.

[Activity Mission 1: The Beginning of Cooking!]

Please strive to become the 'most popular dish' in the Rikkai University junior and senior high school barbecue miso competition! (1/1) (Completed)]

The player who had completed all three tasks at once hummed a cheerful tune while checking in, turned around, double-jumped, and sprinted away from the crime scene.

[Congratulations on receiving the strawberry seed pack, random new map key x 1, 5000 yen]

Congratulations on receiving 2500 yen, 1000 cooking EXP, and a portable stove and kitchenware set x 1.

[Congratulations on receiving 2500 yen and 500 cooking EXP]

【Tip: Strawberry seeds are now available in the seed store! 】

Oh! Strawberry Seeds—The Player is Here!!

A strawberry seed bag can only produce fifty strawberry seeds, which is still two hundred and fifty short of filling the player's three hundred plots of land.

It’s still early, let’s go buy some seeds first!

With the navigation turned on, the player rushed towards the coordinates of the special NPC while chewing onions.

Seiichi Yukimura is finishing up his physical examination for the day.

Although the attending physician spoke gently, he still mentioned politely that the chances of a 100% recovery after surgery were not high, let alone an immediate return to the court.

Thinking of everyone in the club who worked hard for Rikkai University's victory, Yukimura's mood was shrouded in a faint gloom.

“Bang, bang, bang!!”

“Bang!!”

Yukimura, who was about to start, said: "..."

This familiar way of knocking on the door has evolved to the point where you can tell who it is just by hearing it.

He sighed, got out of bed in his hospital gown and opened the door.

I checked the time by the way, it was 3:30 in the afternoon.

According to my conversation with Liu today, the middle and high school students should be holding a joint barbecue miso competition.

Why did Yagi suddenly come to him?

With a slight doubt in his heart, Yukimura, with slightly disheveled hair and the aura of a sickly beauty, opened the door and said softly,

"Good afternoon, Yagi, are you here today too?"

Mushroom Head ignored everything and went straight in through the gap between Yukimura and the door.

Yukimura: "..."

He wanted to sigh again.

Yukimura just watched as Kei Yagi inspected his ward every time he came.

It's just like a cat patrolling its territory with its tail up... It seems a bit rude to say that.

Damn it... Well, Yagi Kei touched here and there, but regretfully found that he still couldn't take anything away, so he turned around and stood in front of Yukimura.

Yukimura smiled: "What's wrong, Yagi, is there something you want to tell me?"

Player A clicked on the special NPC.

Bring up the strawberry seeds quickly!

Yukimura: “Yes…?”

The player hits A twice in a row.

Looking at the junior who could only pat his chest because he was not tall enough, Yukimura felt a little relieved.

Yukimura: "Don't worry about me. How was today's BBQ Miso Contest? Did you have fun?"

Player: “…”

Player: “?”

What's going on! Where is the player's seed store?

He actually tricked the players into visiting the NPC’s personal storyline!

Yagi Kei just went through the NPC story with dead eyes.

Finally, the dawn of victory has arrived!

Yukimura: "By the way, last time I asked my family to visit me, I brought some new seeds. Are there any you like?"

The seed store page is finally open!

As expected, strawberry seeds were available in the store, and the player bought 250 of them at once, and also took 50 tulip seeds with him.

Looking at the junior who was diligently holding the seed bag above his head and throwing it into the other dimension, Yukimura's expression softened a little.

"Well... I also prepared some fertilizer, I hope you can use it."

[Congratulations on receiving fertilizer x20]

Player: “……!!”

The special NPC is so human! He even gives players gifts!

Players' favorability towards him has increased!

I touched my backpack and found that there was still some left!

Yukimura paused, and took a big step back when he saw his junior suddenly raise something that almost poked his eyes.

Yukimura, terrified: "..."

...I almost thought Yagi was here to assassinate him,

Yukimura touched his chest with lingering fear.

Looking closely again, Yagi Assassin... the thing he raised was a plate of grilled

Grilled fish?

No, can this really be considered grilled fish!?

The fish's eyes were open after death, but why... was the charred fish body glowing with a rainbow of colors?!

Yukimura smiled but was confused.

The player attacked him again.

Urge.

Yukimura: "Hmm...Give it to me, thank you..."

The player waited for a while as they watched the special NPC accept it.

Yukimura Seiichi and Yagi Kei looked at each other with big eyes.

Yukimura: "...?"

Why don't you feel good about it?

Is it because the gift is not enough?

The player touched his backpack again.

Yukimura, who was lost in thought while holding a colorful but charred grilled fish, was tickled again.

He looked down and saw Mushroom Head trying hard to lift up a cup filled with some liquid and hand it to him.

Yukimura couldn't help but feel soft-hearted and accepted the second gift from Kei Yagi.

Forget it…so what if it’s a burnt grilled fish? You can tell at a glance that it was made by the younger generation himself.

As a senior, he should accept it well.

Yukimura: "Thank you, Yagi, I like it very much."

[Yukimura Seiichi’s favorable impression +10]

After receiving the notification that the favorability had increased, the player turned around and walked away from the window sill.

Left behind, Yukimura, with one hand holding the grilled fish and the other holding the sauce, watched the short kid climb out of the window with a faint smile on his face...

“……!!”

"No!! That's the fourth floor, Yagi—you can't go that way!!"

-----------------------

The author has something to say: Yukimura: My heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally died.

Thanks to Ah-Nez for supporting 1 mine for Bagui's entry into the new Bingdi map~

Thanks to Xia Yu for supporting 1 mine for Bagui's entry into the new Bingdi map~

Thanks to Cheng Gong Zhen Liu for supporting 1 grenade for Bagui's entry into the new Bingdi map.