[Arc5] - 61. The Seven Deadly Sins' Special Menu
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"What is Escanor up to?"
"No idea. Maybe he ran into a thief who also wanted to enter Merlin's lab."
Ban and Meliodas squatted by the roadside, observing the Holy Knights lying incapacitated around them. Ban crouched down simply because it was comfortable, while Meliodas squatted solely to get a glimpse under Elizabeth's skirt.
"Meliodas, you could see it even without crouching," Cyd commented dryly as he checked the self-proclaimed "New Generation" Holy Knights, while subtly warning Elizabeth. Unfortunately, the unsuspecting princess had no idea, cheerfully hopping about to help Cyd move the knights.
"Vice-Captain, these New-Generation knights indeed became Holy Knights through improper means," Gowther said, striking a cute pose as he appeared beside Cyd, using his body to block Meliodas's view. Meliodas's gaze instantly died upon seeing Gowther's skirt.
"By reading their memories with my magic [Invasion], I found that these knights boosted their power by drinking [Demon's Blood]."
"Demon's Blood? That doesn't sound good," Cyd mused, stroking his chin and waving Ban over. "Ban, as an experienced chef, tell me if there's anything impure inside these guys."
"Vice-Captain, they're people, not ingredients. Besides, it's his Majesty's right to decide on any punishment," King, now in his young form to save magic, sighed, resuming his role as the voice of reason.
"Since it's a request from the Vice-Captain, I'll reluctantly inspect them," Ban cracked his knuckles, swinging his Sacred Treasure onto his shoulder and moving toward one of the knights.
"Vice-Captain, do you know how to make authentic hand-beaten beef balls?"
"That's enough, Ban! The Vice-Captain just wanted you to inspect, not cook them!"
"Tch, no sense of humor," Ban shrugged, kneeling beside a knight and pressing a hand on the chest plate. "Hmm… rock-solid? Armor, of course..."
In less than a second, Ban hooked his finger, and the knight's chest plate fell into his hand. With the armor removed, the knight's chest suddenly puffed out… revealing she was a woman disguised as a man.
Just as Cyd thought Ban might switch targets, he placed his hand firmly on her chest and started squeezing.
"Ban! How could you betray Elaine? Didn't you say you preferred petite ones?" King, now in his adult form, nearly burst, preparing to turn Ban into sashimi.
"Hold on, King. Look at Ban's expression," Cyd intervened, pointing at Ban seriously. "See that look in his eyes? I recognize it; that's the look of someone finding excessive fat while judging meat quality!"
King squinted at Ban, and sure enough, the expression wasn't one of interest but of assessing meat quality.
"Hey, you two, have you considered the knight's feelings?" Meliodas slapped both King and Cyd on the shoulders, implying he was more concerned for the conscious knight than Ban.
"But Ban's meat-inspecting technique is still flawless," Meliodas squatted next to Ban, watching Ban's finger movements intently. "Ah, such finesse! Any woman wouldn't be able to resist this, and it could even enhance her… with enough time, they could grow by two sizes, easy."
Nearby, Guila turned her head away, horrified. She'd narrowly escaped that "growth boost" herself!
"Captain, let it go. Ban's refined his [Snatch] ability down to an art form," King said, picking Meliodas up by his collar with the Spirit Spear.
"His Sacred Treasure, Courechouse, makes attacks unpredictable. More importantly, its [Super Concentration] trait allows Ban to focus entirely on inspecting ingredients, even detecting microbes to pull out with [Snatch]. That's his new skill, [Expanded Perception]."
Meliodas snapped his fingers, seemingly recalling something, and a brilliant smile spread across his face. "Oh yeah, Ban does use..."
"About done," Ban said, standing up and shaking out his hand, leaving the knight humiliated and on the verge of tears. Just as she tried to protest, Ban hefted his Sacred Treasure.
"Whew," Ban exhaled, his muscles swelling slowly.
"W-What are you doing?" The knight's voice trembled as Ban, silhouetted against the sun, looked terrifying.
"Processing the meat," Ban straightened his Sacred Treasure, his usual playful expression turning serious. "As a chef with eight years of experience, I swear to process this piece of meat thoroughly."
"W-Wait, I'm not meat, wait…" Regardless of her pleas, Ban ignored her, entering a heightened state of concentration due to his Sacred Treasure's trait. His terrifying stance brought tears to the knight's eyes.
"No, don't—"
"ORA ORA ORA ORA—"
Ban's staff whirled fiercely, his arms and staff producing countless afterimages that overwhelmed the knight, the dark blood splattering in graceful arcs across the ground.
"Ban's always used his Sacred Treasure for meat preparation."
Meliodas shrugged, while Guila beside him widened her eyes in horror at the brutality of it. This stance looked more like he was pounding her into a meat patty.
Even with black blood splattered on her face, Guila was too shocked to react.
"All done." Ban spun his Sacred Treasure in a finishing move, dispersing a ring of black blood around him.
"Vice-Captain, the meat has been thoroughly processed." Ban returned to Cyd's side, smiling proudly. "Guaranteed free of impurities."
More than impurities—it could almost be fully cooked, Guila thought, feeling queasy. Maybe she should take a look at what's left of her friend, just to prepare herself mentally.
But as she turned around, she froze. Instead of a mangled mess, she saw a girl, her face flushed red and panting heavily.
"Hm, Jericho, you're alive."
"We're a legitimate tavern; we don't harm our patrons," Meliodas smiled, sticking a bill onto Jerica's face without changing his expression.
"That'll be ten gold coins, for the [Sin of Greed] specialty massage, detoxifying and beautifying. Be sure to come back!"
"Elizabeth, remember this," Meliodas turned to a still-stunned Elizabeth, introducing, "this is the [Boar Hat] Tavern's specialty service."
"So, Lord Meliodas, what do you call this specialty service?" Elizabeth asked, giving an awkward yet polite smile.
"A name?" Meliodas rubbed his chin thoughtfully and snapped his fingers.
"[Forced Sale]."
"Aren't we supposed to be a legitimate tavern!"
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