Tonkatsu! Since Pata is the one making it the taste will definitely be out of this world. I'm already looking forward to eating myself into a food coma. The tentacles draw back into the kitchen area and we continue walking into the employee dining hall to take a seat.
As we walk past Pata's kitchen area he catches sight of Jade and shuffles closer while leaving his tentacles to handle the pots and pans. How does he keep controlling the tentacles without looking? Is it a skill? If so, I want it!
"Who's this scaly beauty? Guy, my man, did you get a girlfriend in the dungeon? She looks a little bloodthirsty and violent, you sure you can handle her?"
Jade's face becomes annoyed and she frowns deeply. She gives Pata a blood-curdling glare and looks over to me.
"Who is this freak and is he always like this?"
"I wish I knew. I've only met him twice do I don't know how he usually acts but he seemed pretty similar the last time. His name is Pata and he's a scylla. He's a real monster and works as the employee dining hall's chef. His personality is very boisterous but the food he makes absolutely divine to the point where you won't be able to stop eating once you've taken the first bite."
She nods and turns to Pata. He looks to be completely unfazed by her death glares and is simply scanning her with interested eyes and great expectation.
"Well, Pata, I'm Jade an employee in this place. I'm single and plan to keep it that way so if you make another comment on the matter I'll bite you."
"Pata understands. Young ladies these days are all so aggressive, I liked young Navi so much better. Anyways, if you're an employee, what's with your looks? Aren't y'all put under a spell that makes you look human?"
"Apparently, I mutated and was told that the spell isn't strong enough to completely restore my human looks."
"A rare specimen then, I wonder how you would taste if I made you into consommé? Or maybe a full roast would be good... Ah, the possibilities are endless yet there is only one and I'm not allowed to touch her."
Pata seems to sink into his own little world of cooking while murmuring very disturbing things. He is muttering with a feverish fervor while at least three of his tentacles are wildly swinging butcher knives through the air.
At the sight of Pata's behavior, even Jade seems intimidated or at least put off and backs away slowly.
"Let's just take a seat for now. I'm sure he will eventually turn back to normal."
Jade nods while casting a slightly worried glance at Pata and follows me to one of the tables. We sit down at one of the tables and wait. Not long after, Pata stops his crazy raving and goes back to cooking while whistling a strange song.
"Is the food here really that good?"
"I've only had two dishes so far, the steak and pizza. I ate too much of either and if I just think of the taste, texture, and smell they had my mouth begins to water. I have no doubt that this Tonkatsu will be of a similar nature. We can count ourselves lucky if we can still think straight after we walk out of here."
"I find it hard to believe that. How can something be that good when the chef isn't even concentrating on cooking."
"It's irresistible, believe me. You will soon see what I mean by yourself since it's hard for me to describe the feeling using words."
While Jade still doesn't look convinced we are both presented with a plate brought by Pata's tentacles. The smell, as I had anticipated, is heavenly to the point where I have to struggle to not stuff my face instantly.
"It smells addictive."
Jade is right, addictive is a good word to describe it. I grab the knife and fork before casting one last glance at Jade. She is visibly straining herself to keep from eating but her hands are already reaching for the cutlery. All resistance is futile.
I gently cut through the crust of fried bread crumbs and into the pork below. The heavenly scent is instantly enhanced and makes my mind go crazy with anticipation. I use the fork to stab a piece of meat and place it in my mouth where a flood of flavor is instantly released.
My mouth closes involuntarily and I start to chew. The bread crust has a slight crunch before the meat sets of another explosion of flavor in my mouth.
The side dish is rice that seems to glitter like starlight. The second my eyes fall upon the rice I'm seized by the overwhelming urge to stuff it into my mouth. I load some rice onto my fork and stab another piece of the tonkatsu to deliver it to my mouth.
The rich and savory taste of the meat promptly combines with the mild flavor of the rice. The result is a delightful feeling of fluffy perfection that spreads immense satisfaction through my body.
Quickly my plate is empty and even licked clean only for Pata to replace the plate with a new one and another portion on top of it. My mind is drowned in a blissful sea of Tonkatsu and rice.
After God knows how many plates Pata stops serving more as I'm about to burst. I look over to Jade wanting to check on her and find her staring at me with wide-open eyes.
"Why are staring? Did you finally realize how terrifyingly delicious this food is?"
"Well, yes, but... How can you eat that much?"
"I don't know, though I do feel like I am about to enter a food coma. How about you, holding up okay?"
"I also feel like I'm about to pass out from overeating but the taste was definitely worth it."
"I'll have to go take a nap now."
"Good idea."