A Stalker and Breakfast

--- Chapter 50 ---

Tenma stretched his body and started doing light workouts. He was not too worried about meeting the Hashira because he knew that the masked fellow wouldn't appear directly before them. 

The masked demon slayer hid not too far away, observing the inn like a hawk. If Tenma didn't have a sharp and sensitive sense, he wouldn't be able to locate this guy.

This guy can lower his presence as much as he wants, though he must still be 'extremely' still. If he were a sniper, Tenma would have thrown his spear at him now.

"That guy's character is still as steady as I remembered..." Tenma's mouth couldn't help but twitch slightly.

Shadow Hashira, Jin Kagemaru. 

Tenma has met this person many times in the Limitless Path, befriending him countless times. He also becomes his enemy a few times because he wants to see another possibility in this world. 

However, one thing is for sure. Jin Kagemaru is a strong man with 'firm' principles.

When he trusted someone, he'd trust it 100%.

However, if Shadow Hashira distrusts someone, he'd become his worst nightmare without ever changing his mind.  

That's why first impressions matter for Jin Kagemaru. He likes to see that someone is true to themselves. He could see one's emotion from expression alone.

Ironically, Jin Kagemaru wore his mask because he didn't want people to see his true self. 

Honestly, even Tenma has only seen Shadow Hashira's face three times in the simulations. Each ends tragically.

Fifteen minutes later, Tenma finished his workouts. 

He commented in amusement, "He really can stand still, huh?" 

One hundred meters from the inn, a masked man sat and hid in a lush tree branch, watching the inn with a hawk-like gaze. His presence was so thin that even squirrels and birds stayed around him.

Even his breath is just like a weak wind in the morning, flashing by.

Yet those hawk-like orange eyes stared at the inn intently.

"According to the route, at least two demon slayers were involved in the general-level demon raid last night. After tracing the route, I found the hooves mark to the north." 

"Even though the mark disappeared after half a mile, I can still find the trace of activity before moving to this village." 

"Some villagers said five people entered this village late at night. Two of them were wearing demon slayer uniforms." 

"They are currently resting in the inn." 

The masked man blinked and thought, 'Still, what is this feeling brewing in my chest? I felt like a wild beast was watching me.'

Although Shadow Hashira didn't dare to say he was the strongest demon slayer in this era, he's still a powerhouse that's quite well-known in Japan, and not many people could defeat him.

Yet, facing this ordinary-looking inn made Shadow Hashira feel like he was going to enter a tiger's den.

Jin Kagemaru believed his intuition. If not, he wouldn't be alive after so many battles against demons.

'Should I make a move or not?' He was in a dilemma. 

Because of the general-level demon's threat, Shadow Hashira must truly inspect what happened last night. It's just the usual procedure to prevent the same thing from happening again. 

After five minutes of deep thought, Jin Kagemaru decided to stay on the spot and observe more. Since this 'unknown' group has the strength to kill the general-level demon, he shouldn't underestimate them.

Unknown to Tenma, this stalker decided to wait a little longer.

Well, Tenma doesn't care much about Shadow Hashira. He walked down the stairs and saw the innkeepers preparing breakfast.

"Ah, Yadoya-san, can I borrow your kitchen?" asked Tenma with a smile.

The innkeeper was stunned by this sudden question. The man tilted his head in confusion as he couldn't understand Tenma's intention.

He looked at Tenma's robust figure and replied, "Sure... But what are you going to do in the kitchen?" 

"What else are you doing in the kitchen besides cooking?" Tenma replied with an amused laugh.

Under the innkeeper's shocked eyes, Tenma grabbed a kitchen knife and started cutting the veggies the inn supplied. He picked miso paste and tasted it before putting it into the strainer, slowly rubbing it into cold water in the pot.

As the fire under the pot boiled the water, Tenma added the veggies and other seasonings. He also made some hard-boiled eggs and roasted river fish.

All this happened in under ten minutes, shocking the innkeeper to the very core.

"Y-You!" The innkeeper didn't expect someone of Tenma's stature to have such skills. It was a 'typical' assumption, and Tenma didn't take it to heart.

Tenma smiled, "What's the matter? Never seen someone cooking before?" 

"Well, take this as compensation for your ingredients."  

He scooped miso soup into a bowl with one hard-boiled egg and roasted fish as the sides. Then, he handed the tray to the dumbfounded innkeeper before bringing the hot pot and dishes away.

"..." The innkeeper held the tray while staring at Tenma's muscular back dumbly.

What the fuck?

What am I? 

Where am I?

The innkeeper looked down at the tray, seeing the shimmering golden miso soup. He gulped instinctively because the aroma alone stirred his appetite. 

Although the innkeeper was doubtful because Tenma seemed to use too much miso paste, he still picked up the bowl and sipped it gently.

"Hot! Hot-!" The innkeeper roared in pain, but he couldn't stop sucking the liquid down his throat. It was too damned good.

No, it's heavenly!

He picked the boiled egg, peeled it, and ate it in one smooth motion.

"ORAAAAAAAA!" This time, he felt his body energized. The egg's yolk is runny but filled with many spices that trigger warmth in his body. 

Lastly, he looked at the roasted fish. 

The innkeeper is full of anticipation and bites on the crispy skin. 

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH~!!!" 

A moan echoed on the lower floor, making everyone who stayed in the inn at the time feel goosebumps all over their bodies. They believed it was a perverted ghost that haunted this place.

Meanwhile, Tenma didn't care much about the effect of his food and knocked on the girl's rooms.

"Everyone, it's time for breakfast!" Tenma called them out. 

Shinobu was the first to come out, followed by Mitsuri, Kanao, and Eri.

Eri was sleepy, hugging Tenma's thigh with a drool on her face.

"Cute." Tenma put down the pot, patting Eri's head gently. 

They had breakfast in Tenma's room and opened the window to let the fresh air in.

"So good~!" Mitsuri rubbed her cheek happily, sipping Tenma's delicious soup. 

Shinobu nodded, "The soup is good for someone who just woke up. It warms you up for the day." 

"The egg! The egg is yummy!" Eri nibbled on the hard-boiled egg like a hamster.

"All of you are wrong. When you get to the fish, you will realize the soup and egg is just an appetizer." Kanao commented seriously. She looked like a full-blown food connoisseur.

All the girls glanced at the golden roasted fish on their tray and ate one in curiosity. Their eyes widened because the fish was 'completely' stuffed with rice!

Washing it down with the miso soup makes this breakfast come into a perfect circle, allowing their body to warm up and ready for the day.

They are ready to fight!

"God's Tongue, how scary..." Shinobu mumbled in amazement. 

"God's Tongue?" Mitsuri tilted her head, staring at Tenma as if looking for an answer.

Tenma stuck out his tongue and replied, "It's the inherent ability of my tongue that allows me to taste beyond that of even the most seasoned food and ingredient experts. With it, I can detect even the tiniest imperfections in any dish with only a single taste."

Mitsuri's eyes widened in disbelief, "That is so amazing..." 

"No, this is simply a godsend ability!"

"Of course." Tenma was proud of his God's Tongue. Weirdly enough, it is also his momento of a certain girl. 

'Erina, we will definitely meet again in the future.'