Don't think that Orario's cuisine system is the same as those ancient times when food was merely cooked to be edible.
With the descent of the gods, various forms of enjoyment have rapidly developed. Spices and basic cooking methods such as frying, boiling, and grilling have matured throughout Orario.
In fact, due to the craftsmanship and experience of the gods combined with the magic-filled environment, the quality of ingredients in Orario surpasses that of Earth.
But that's about it.
Ryou was not afraid at all.
On Earth, before he traveled through, the collision and fusion of Western and Eastern cuisines and the maturity of molecular gastronomy had elevated Earth's culinary standards to another level.
In this world, regarding culinary knowledge, Ryou considered himself second to none; no one, mortal or god, would dare claim the first spot.
Knowledge was one thing, but his other advantage was his "golden finger."
Apart from combat skills, the system could be exchanged for any other life skill. Not only was this extremely cheap, but it was also instantly usable without any obstacles, making it the perfect helper for traveling, killing, and arson.
After deciding to stay at the Hostess of Fertility, Ryou immediately targeted the system store.
[ The initial stage of Medicinal Cooking, 100 energy points—from Hisako Arato... "Food Wars." ]
The mid-stage of the Medicinal Cooking, 300 energy points.
Exchange!
Exchange!
Exchange!
Ryou immediately exchanged for the mid-stage Medicinal Cooking skills without hesitation. A large amount of culinary experience was instantly crammed into his brain by the system.
Perhaps the techniques were a bit raw, but with his extraordinary physical prowess, any lack of experience could be completely compensated for by his refined skills.
This level of culinary skill was comparable to the protagonist Yukihira Soma's post-Academy Festival, akin to the lower-ranked members of the "Elite Ten."
Mama Mia's cooking was indeed good, but unfortunately, it was just good. Not only could it not compare to the main characters of "Food Wars," but it also fell short of the supporting characters.
It was time to showcase his true culinary skills!
Just as Ryou picked up the kitchen knife, the powerful aura of a culinary master suddenly burst forth.
Mama Mia, who worried that Ryou might set the kitchen on fire, was stunned by his aura the moment she reached the kitchen door.
In Ryous hand, the kitchen knife drew silver lines in the air, and the spices and ingredients were instantly cut into perfectly even sizes.
Meanwhile, parallel incisions were made on the pork ribs for better flavor absorption.
With a flick of his hand, he deftly placed the ribs onto the grill.
Then, he demonstrated how to sprinkle spices like conducting a symphony. As the final handful of cumin-like spice was tossed, the kitchen was instantly filled with an intensely rich aroma.
Then the aroma wafted out from the small kitchen, quickly permeating the entire tavern.
"What is that? It smells amazing!"
"Mama Mia, is this your new dish? Give me a serving!"
"Me too!"
The tavern's patrons began shouting.
Meanwhile, the black-haired catgirl who was doing the dishes in the kitchen with Ryou was hit even harder by the scent. Her cheeks flushed red, her lips glistened suspiciously, and she almost unconsciously followed Ryou around.
The dish was so well-prepared that Mama Mia knew she had already lost it without even tasting it.
However, Ryou wasn't satisfied with just that. He tossed the roasted pork ribs into another frying pan, seared them lightly, drizzled a few drops of lemon juice, and then finally plated the dish.
With the final touches, not only did the aroma seem to be locked inside, but the color of the pork ribs also became more vibrant, as if they were cast in gold.
The plating itself was meticulously designed by Ryou, with various vegetables and sauces complementing the golden, fried pork ribs in the center, creating what looked like a finely crafted piece of art.
"Please!"
Ryou presented the finished dish to Mama Mia.
Mama Mia gave him a deep look, picked up a knife and fork, and gently cut into the pork ribs.
Boom!
An even richer aroma burst forth, and within the intense blend of grease and spices, there was a hint of fresh, elegant lemon. The richness and freshness complemented each other perfectly.
Even patrons a full ten meters away couldn't help but drool at the smell.
Mama Mia slowly put a piece of the golden pork ribs into her mouth, immediately experiencing a contrast of crispy and tender textures.
Then, the various flavors exploded, increasing tenfold, yet they didn't feel chaotic. Instead, it was as if a master conductor had orchestrated a magnificent symphony with dozens of spices.
Mama Mia felt as if she had become an adventurer battling the floor boss alone, overcoming countless hardships to finally defeat the boss, causing her level to soar to Lv. 10, with her strength skyrocketing...
She shook her head to force herself out of the illusion, finding herself staring at an empty plate with only bones left.
What terrifying cooking!
What a terrifying man!
For someone like her, a top-tier adventurer who had gone through countless bloody battles and whose will was as strong as iron, to be so tempted and bewitched by Ryou's cooking was unimaginable.
This man's cooking is terrifyingly powerful!
He must stay!
"You are now the head chef of this tavern," Mama Mia decided on the spot.
Ryou's face showed no surprise at all.
The cooking skills of Hisako Arato should indeed be like this.
At this moment, Mama Mia noticed that almost all the staff were staring at her with resentful expressions.
"Mama Mia, that's so unfair, enjoying something so delicious all by yourself..." The black-haired catgirl was the most seduced by the smells. Her usual reverence for Mama Mia was completely forgotten, and she looked on the verge of a yandere transformation.
The other young female staff members subconsciously nodded in agreement.
Mama Mia's face darkened instantly. The things this young man makes are so tempting; how is that my fault?
At this moment, Ryou came out holding two large plates, each neatly arranged with several aromatic pork ribs.
"Actually, I grilled more..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the young female staff members pounced on him, enveloping him in a sea of soft fragrances and warmth.
"Ah! Chloe, that piece is mine, Nyaa!"
"Baka Anya, first come, first served!"
Ryou witnessed for the first time how women could be more frantic than men.
After finally extricating himself, he immediately noticed Syr wiping the tables with a sullen expression.
Although his emotional intelligence wasn't particularly high, he was at least at a normal level. He quickly realized what was going on and ran back into the kitchen.
When he came out again, he was holding two small plates with pork ribs.
"Here, I saved this portion just for you," Ryou said, placing one plate in front of Syr.
"Hmph~! At least you have a conscience! I might just forgive you a little~"
Syr grabbed the plate and was about to happily dig in when she suddenly realized she had been acting like she was pouting at a boyfriend. Her face immediately turned red.
However, as she ate the ribs, a sweet smile quietly appeared on her lips.
Ryou then brought the other plate to the elf girl. "Miss Ryuu, this is for you."
Ryuu was one of the only two staff members who had not joined the scramble. She had remained indifferent, going about her tasks.
"Sorry, I'm a vegetarian."
Ryuu politely declined his offer, maintaining her distance.
Seeing the cold-faced elf girl, Ryou helplessly shook his head.
"If Ryuu doesn't want it, I'll take it!" The black-haired catgirl immediately ran over and snatched the ribs from Ryou's hand.
"Ah! Chloe, that's so sneaky! You've already eaten the most, Nyaa!" the brown-haired catgirl immediately shouted.
"Baka Anya, there's never enough of such good stuff!" The black-haired catgirl laughed gleefully.
Ryou smiled as he watched the young female staff members playfully bicker. As for the patrons who were eagerly watching...
Sorry, but I didn't stay here to become a chef. Want to eat? That depends on my mood~
His impressive culinary skills won over Mama Mia so completely that she even broke her long-standing rule of not hiring male staff.
However, Mama Mia's decision caused a bit of a stir.
"Mama Mia, didn't you say you'd never hire male staff?" some of the more inebriated adventurers couldn't help but tease. Some even looked at Ryou with faces full of envy, jealousy, and hatred.
For men, this tavern was like paradise. Energetic catgirl maidens, cute human girls, and aloof yet exquisite elf girls created a garden of blooming beauties.
Moreover, unlike the women from the pleasure district who had been worn down by endless use, the girls here exuded an aura of pure innocence, obviously untouched and in full bloom.
The allure of these lustful men was at its peak. Previously, due to Mama Mia's formidable strength and the tavern's strong backing, they didn't even dare to flirt with the female staff. But now that Mamat Mia had broken her own rule, some of them couldn't hold back their discontent.
"If your cooking skills reach his level, I'd hire you too. Besides, I hired him as the head chef, not a regular staff member. Or do any of you have any objections?" Mama Mia glared, her intense aura as a top-tier adventurer sweeping across the room, silencing everyone.
"Nope! No objections!"
The adventurer who had spoken raised his hands in surrender.
However, just because they didn't dare confront Mama Mia didn't mean they wouldn't turn their hostility towards the seemingly frail Ryou.
"Tch! He's just a pretty boy who can cook well," sneered an adventurer with an Eastern appearance, the target of his disdain obvious.
"That's right! In Orario, strength is everything," echoed a bear-man adventurer, glaring at Ryou.
Ryou raised an eyebrow. He wasn't the type to endure insults without retaliation. Since they were provoking him, he'd take the opportunity to settle things once and for all.
Just as Mama Mia's anger surged, ready to toss out these drunken fools who couldn't control their mouths, Ryou spoke up.
"Mama Mia, it seems I need to add another condition…"
Ryou pointed at the ringleading adventurers. "My food will not be sold to these people!"
"What did you say!"
"Are you looking down on us!"
"We're noble adventurers, and you're just a mere cook!"
The adventurers at that table were instantly furious. The other adventurers in the tavern watched with anticipation, relishing the upcoming drama. After all, seeing a so-called "winner in life" get taken down a peg was always entertaining.
"I'll teach you what it means to respect the strong," the bear-man adventurer, the most hot-headed, staggered forward and threw a punch at Ryou.
The reckless bear-man adventurer didn't realize that several powerful presences, including Mama Mia's, had locked onto him, their gazes filled with concealed killing intent, targeting his vital points.
However, when they saw Ryou's movements, those powerful auras vanished as if they were mere illusions.
His expression remained unchanged as he threw his punch, a faint magical glow flickering on his arm.
Bang!
A loud noise echoed through the air, revealing a somewhat comical scene: one fist as large as a cooking pot, and the other only about a fourth or fifth of its size. The two disproportionately sized fists collided in midair.
The result was astonishing. With the sound of bones breaking, the tall bear-man adventurer immediately clutched his deformed hand and screamed in pain.
To make an example, Ryou didn't intend to let this provocateur off easily.
He stepped forward, grabbed the bear-man adventurer's collar with one hand, and lifted him.
This created an even more ridiculous scene: a slim young man, about 1.8 meters tall, lifting a bear-man over 2.5 meters tall and at least two or three times his size with one hand.
It was like a short person lifting a giant with one hand—an utterly absurd image.
But the surrounding adventurers didn't laugh.
They knew that even an ordinary bear-man without any blessings had strength comparable to a top-level LV1 adventurer.
This particular bear-man adventurer was somewhat famous, having recently overpowered a LV2 adventurer in strength while still being a LV1.
Now, he was completely overpowered by Ryou, raising questions about his strength and level.
"You're right; in Orario, strength is everything. With strength, you can do whatever you want," Ryou said calmly, echoing the adventurer's earlier words.
"Also, shouldn't I add: that beauties are only for the strong?"
The bear-man in his grasp was drenched in sweat and terrified, unable to respond.
Ryou shrugged and then threw the massive bear-man toward his companions.
With his strength and the bear-man's weight, the three adventurers trying to catch him were immediately knocked down.
"You! Just you wait!" The leading adventurer, intimidated by Ryou's strength and Mama Mia's menacing presence, threw down a bag of valis and scurried out of the tavern with his companions.
Ryou watched their retreating figures, then scanned the faces of the other customers, especially those who had been jeering earlier.
Those who met his gaze either lowered their heads, looked away, or pretended to talk to their companions, avoiding eye contact.
Satisfied that his point had been made, Ryou nodded. The demonstration served its purpose, and he no longer had to worry about being disturbed by these low-level pests.
Mature and level-headed, Ryou didn't act out of mere spite.
To achieve the best effect, he had gauged the threat level of his opponents beforehand, finding that the strongest among them was still slightly weaker than someone he had previously defeated, Anastasia.
A group of adventurers with a max level of LV2 was perfect for making an example.
As for stronger adventurers, Ryou wasn't worried at all.
After all, high-level adventurers had fought their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, their minds tempered and resilient. They wouldn't be so easily distracted by beauty to cause trouble for him.
Moreover, with Mama Mia's formidable LV6 strength as a guarantee, and his rapidly terrifying growth rate thanks to the system, he had little to fear.
What Ryou didn't notice was that his series of actions were like a lion asserting dominance over a pride of lionesses.
Several female staff members looked at Ryou's back with shy expressions, their fair faces tinged with a suspicious blush. Especially Syr, whose eyes sparkled with a pearly luster, fixated on his back.
Watching this scene, Mama Mia sighed helplessly. For the first time, she wondered if she had made a mistake.