People in Zongman: My Dimensional Cuisine

Takatsuki Sen didn't continue. She could sense that there were definitely people among these people who didn't know about the other world, such as Hisako and Yukiko. Their reactions to her were unusually normal, so normal that it was as if they didn't know her identity. This could be considered a signal from her sixth sense.

"That's no problem, so, where are the people?"

Takatsuki Sen paused for a moment, turned around and saw that there was no one there, but the door was still lit. Takatsuki Sen turned around and ran back inside, only to hear a voice say, "Hey, don't be so reserved. I told you, you don't need to think so much!"

Lucifer and the others were taken aback. Reserved? Could she be a very introverted child? The next moment, Lucifer and the others were all stunned. No wonder, they had all met Kirishima Touka before.

After all, during the summer vacation, when Lucifer and the others were recalling the customers who had come to the shop for Nakiri Managi and the others, Kirishima Touka had appeared, and at that time, Rantabi and the others still remembered to complain that this behavior was strange.

Now that they actually saw Kirishima Touka, who was somewhat reserved, or rather, nervous, with her head down, their previous thoughts of making fun of her were completely shattered. Both her previous reactions and her current performance made them feel inexplicably sad.

Anyone with a sound mind could guess what she was afraid of. Lucifer smiled and said, "Let's find a place to sit first, and we can talk about it later. There's no need to be so reserved."

Touka Kirishima looked up at Lucifer and the others, and seeing no disgust or fear in their eyes, she breathed a slight sigh of relief, though her tension remained.

Takatsuki Sen seemed much more at ease, simply pulling Kirishima Touka to find a seat. Kasugano Sora coughed lightly and said, "Oh dear, if I remember correctly, isn't Auntie Kisaki about to have her trial?"

Yukiko perked up at the mention of this topic, laughing as she said, "Yeah, I'm here right now, so I definitely have to go see it live. Let me tell you, Eri used to be absolutely charismatic in any debate back in school, and I bet she'll be even more outrageous now."

Kasugano Sora gently squeezed Caitlin's hand. Caitlin was startled for a moment, but immediately reacted and nodded, saying, "Yes, we also talked to Ms. Kiyoshi. We'll go and observe in person. Ms. Kiyoshi seems to have a really good attitude. She's especially happy today."

Upon hearing this, Yukiko asked with some confusion, "Eh? Is Eri happy today?"

"Yeah, especially near the end of the workday, he'd be sitting there with a cup of coffee, staring at his phone, occasionally lost in thought, and then finally giving a satisfied smile, though I don't know what he was looking at."

Fujimine Yukiko paused for a moment, then yawned and said, "I really can't understand that. I'm sleepy, I'm going upstairs now."

As soon as Fujimine Yukiko finished speaking, she ran upstairs. Judging from her quick movements, she didn't seem sleepy at all. Caitlin, Lucifer, and the others exchanged glances, all with smiles of triumph.

Hisako was also told by Erina to go upstairs to rest in order to be in good spirits for the Autumn Election. Alice also said that she would go upstairs after finishing her tea, and that she planned to prepare some semi-finished ingredients to study the dishes for the competition tomorrow morning.

Hisako nodded and obediently went upstairs. Alice sighed and said, "Hisako, you should tell her as soon as the match is over, otherwise it's really a bit inconvenient."

"Save your breath. If you hadn't happened to draw the lot during the summer, you wouldn't have known until after the fall election."

"Um... let's not talk about that now, Sister Caitlin! Did Aunt Fei really say the same thing as you did today?"

"That's true, Ms. Fei was very happy today, and it's also true that she'd been looking at her phone the whole time after get off work. Wei and I don't know what she was looking at. The strangest thing is, Ms. Fei was so happy today, yet she didn't come to the restaurant for dinner. How strange..."

Wei nodded and said, "Yeah, I was talking to Caitlin and me on our way back today about whether Ms. Fei would come over tonight, but she didn't..."

"That's really strange. Could it be that Sister Xiaolan is chatting with her?"

"It's not chatting, it seems like she's browsing the web? Or some kind of software, anyway it's not chatting. Ms. Fei keeps swiping up and down, and only types a few words every now and then. How could it be chatting? It's more like she's searching for something."

"That must be from browsing online stores. I guess they found something they wanted to buy. I'm happy if I find something I like."

"Maybe...that's not the point!"

Everyone turned to look at Takatsuki Sen and Kirishima Touka. Shinonono Tsuka immediately ran over and said excitedly, "Wow! Eto, you really brought them! You're so reliable!"

"After all, this is no small matter, so I naturally have to do it myself. I'll leave it to you. But before that, could you find a way to make Xiao Dongxiang like a normal human being?"

Shinonono sat down opposite Kirishima Touka and said with a smile, "You really are a child who looks aloof, but has very clear eyes. Your name is Touka?"

Takatsuki Sen didn't speak again, and Kirishima Touka knew it was time for her to speak up for herself. Kirishima Touka nodded and said, "Yes, my name is Kirishima Touka."

"It's quite an elegant name, very much in line with your temperament. However, before everything begins, I don't mean to reopen your wounds, but I need to know why you want to become human, and how strong your desire is for 4.4 to become human. Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

Touka Kirishima pursed her lips, while Shinobu Tsukasa watched her with a smile. After a long while, Touka Kirishima finally spoke, her voice trembling slightly, "I..."

As Kirishima Touka uttered that word, she gritted her teeth, her hands clenching unconsciously on her lap. She felt a buzzing sound in her brain for a moment.

Lucifer and the others frowned slightly. They felt that this was no longer just a scar; it was perhaps the final blow from the pent-up pressure and pain that had brought her to the brink of collapse after seeing hope.

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Chapter 216 Kirishima Touka's Collapse Can Only Be Her (Please Subscribe~)

At this moment, Touka Kirishima's mind was completely blank. Everything around her seemed to have fallen silent in an instant, and she could only hear the sound of her own heartbeat, which made her breathing a little rapid.

Kirishima Touka suddenly covered her mouth, and Shinonono Tsuka was also stunned for a moment. This reaction was so strong. To be honest, she almost couldn't bear to ask. This reaction was more convincing than any answer.

Mordis swallowed hard and whispered, "It sounds like a very painful past, let's not talk about it now..."

Just as Shinono was about to speak, she saw Kirishima Touka raise her head, her eyes filled with determination, and say softly, "I can... If this is an admission ticket, I can afford one."

"Why do I want to become human? How much do I yearn to become human? In our world... no one knows where ghouls came from, they only know that ghouls and humans have a predator-prey relationship."

“We are monsters... We can only be active at night, hunted by the White Poison. Ghouls eat people because they can only eat people. From birth, it is a predetermined fate. Many people do not even live to adulthood before being killed by the White Poison, their kagune is dug out and they become test subjects, turning into cold corpses.”

"Most ghouls hunt actively, but there are still many ghouls who don't want to admit that they are monsters. They refuse to hunt humans, and as a result, they are either killed by the White Poison or starve to death."

"Blood bags...corpses, these became the only thing these ghouls could use to alleviate their inner burdens and survive. To live... was simply to live. They no longer knew what sunlight meant...it wasn't something that belonged to them..."

"Why do I want to become human? I've lived in this kind of environment since I was little. My younger brother left, and I was raised by my uncle. I've longed for friends and to experience the kindness around me since I was little. What was school like? What was university like?"

"I don't know... For ghouls, living is the meaning of being born. Knowledge, school, many ghouls can't even write their own names. I'm lucky, I have a place where I can curl up and live carefully, and survive carefully."

"I don't have to suffer from hunger like those ghouls, I don't have to hunt like wild beasts, and I even have the opportunity to go to school. I don't want to waste this opportunity; I want to go to university, so I study hard. I've made friends, human friends..."

Touka Kirishima said with a somewhat vacant look in her eyes, "Human friends... they are very good to me. One of my best friends is very lively, straightforward, and kind... I try my best to avoid making friends like that, but I am still attracted by her sincere and passionate enthusiasm."

"I feel like I've been very lucky with my life. I have access to education, I don't go hungry, I have family and friends. I'm very fortunate... but being a ghoul has turned my friends' kindness into the cruelest weapon..."

"At school, everyone gets along so well. When friends gather for lunch, their brightly colored and plentiful lunches, or the sweet bread they munch on, don't belong to me..."

"For lunch, I just sit and put on my headphones to block out everything as much as possible to do my homework, to pretend that I am a good student who never forgets to study. My friend, my best friend, cares about me a lot. If it's just coffee and water, I will suffer from malnutrition."

"Is it because you don't have time to cook? Or what?" Before I could even process these questions, I saw her warm smile and an identical bento box in front of me. She had gotten up early to prepare it, especially for me. Every dish and every seasoning was made with her care.

"I don't know how delicious this food is, it must be really good, but... I'm a ghoul, and this food tastes disgusting, so disgusting it makes me want to vomit. This is my friend's gift, the purest kindness!"

"But I couldn't give a decent evaluation, not even a word about whether it was salty or bland! I could only force myself to swallow those things under her expectant gaze, and then say expressionlessly, 'Delicious,' or 'So-so!'"

"I kept holding it in, holding it in! That nauseating feeling! It wasn't just vomiting, my stomach was churning! After school, I went back to that corner coffee shop! I didn't even have time to say 'I'm back' before I ran to the restroom and locked myself in a stall!"

"I cried while vomiting up all the food my friend had prepared for me, vomiting until I was shaking all over, and finally collapsed on the ground! I'm a monster, I know that every time this happens! My best friend! Is my food!"

Even if I have no appetite for her, even if I won't hurt her, it still doesn't change this fact! I've had enough. I don't want to live like a monster, hiding in a dark corner! Like a wild beast standing on a cliff edge collecting the bodies of those who committed suicide or died in car accidents!

“I don’t want to spit out that delicious-looking bento box like poison anymore. I really want to tell her how it tastes. I don’t want to live like a monster or hide like I’ve done something wrong just because I want to live, even if I haven’t hurt anyone.”

"Without a name, even Night, the only active member of 110, has to operate in the dark! I want to face her kind smile with my head held high. I... I want to know what it's like to live in the sunlight... So, whether it's an experiment, a devil's deal in a novel, or being locked up as a guinea pig, I don't care. I can afford the payment..."

"If I am... worth this price...."

Touka Kirishima's voice grew louder and louder, from calmly telling her story at the beginning to a feeling of collapse later on, with a sobbing voice and eyes that looked like she had grasped at a straw. Sitting opposite her, Tsukasa Shinobu's heart skipped a beat.

Lucifer and the others also fell silent. Kirishima Touka's outburst made Yuno Ayatsuki feel her helplessness, despair, and collapse, as well as her purest yearning for hope.

Takatsuki Sen, seemingly unaffected, smiled and said, "So, Touka is the most suitable candidate I can think of. Mrs. Shinono, are you satisfied with this experimental subject?"

"That's her! No, wait..."

"It can only be her!"

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Chapter 217 Kirishima Touka's Happiness, Kirishima Touka's Wish Fulfilled (Please Subscribe~)

Touka Kirishima was also stunned for a moment. Before she could come to her senses, she was hugged tightly. Looking up, she saw Shinobu Natsuki saying with a look of pity, "Touka! You don't have to live like this anymore! I'm so sorry! Although I know that people who have been through this must yearn to become human, I didn't expect that your heart is already so fragile, Touka."

Touka Kirishima also felt a strange pang of sadness. The last time she received such a hug was from a friend, but that was out of friendship. This time, she vaguely felt a special kind of warmth.

Asuna and the others no longer felt the fear that they had before, which was a basic human instinct. Shinonono Tsukasa turned to look at Lucifer and the others, and Lucifer said with some helplessness, "You should be glad that Chifuyu isn't here, otherwise you would definitely be dead."

"Um... let's not talk about that now! Lucy! You guys have a way, right? Preserve the ghoul's kagune, you know what I mean!"

"That's possible, but shouldn't you keep some samples first?"

"Oh right! Touka! We need to draw a little blood from you now as a sample. Don't worry, it won't be much. Hmm... just think of it as a school physical exam."

Kirishima Touka nodded without saying anything, and cooperatively raised her arm to roll up her sleeves. Just as Shinonono Tsuka was about to run upstairs, she saw Yakumo Yukari casually throw out a set of medical tools from the side. Kirishima Touka was also stunned. Where did this come from?

"Purple, where did you come from?"

Yukari Yakumo propped her chin on her hand and said, "When you said you were waiting for the experimental body, you mentioned that you needed to draw blood and get some kagune fragments or something. So when Eirin went back, she mentioned that we should prepare some medical tools so you wouldn't have to go out and buy them later."

"Reliable!"

"When people donate blood, the amount of blood drawn is usually determined by their weight, but it is unknown whether this applies to the physical condition of ghouls, although their physical condition is definitely much better than that of ordinary humans."

While bandaging Touka Kirishima's arm, Shinonono Tsukasa said with a smile, "So, the minimum amount is two hundred milliliters of blood, which will not cause harm to the human body. For ghouls with better constitutions, a fluctuation of one or two hundred milliliters is definitely not a problem."

"However, we don't need that many. These blood collection tubes are standard five milliliters. Hmm... let's round it up and draw six tubes, that's thirty milliliters."

"A normal nosebleed is about five milliliters, while a boxer might bleed tens of milliliters when hit in the nose. So it won't have any effect on your body, and it won't even make you feel any discomfort."

Lucifer and the others nodded in agreement. They had watched the Kengan matches before, and even when someone was punched in the nose, the bleeding was unstoppable, let alone vomiting blood, and there was no problem at all. Thirty milliliters would not have any effect on a slightly growing child with a normal physique.

"Only...only thirty milliliters?"

"Oh, this is called a control experiment. Six vials of blood. Give one vial to Eirin to study the special medicine. I'll keep the other five for myself. For now, we can study the blood. When we make a breakthrough, we'll need some Kagune fragments, just a little bit. We'll draw some blood samples after the transformation in the next day or two as a control."

"Hmm... all done! The blood looks just like that of a normal human, and there's no thick blood or anything like that. It's very healthy blood. But he looks too thin. I guess it's because of an unbalanced diet."

Harley Quinn tilted her head and said, "Of course! The intake of vitamins, fiber, dietary fiber, carbohydrates, etc. is too low, or even almost non-existent, so the nutrition is definitely unbalanced."

Lucifer breathed a sigh of relief and said, "So, you've finished having your blood drawn?"

"All done! Lucy, it's up to you guys! Preserving the ghoul's inherent characteristics, modifying their perception of food, and being able to consume normal food and obtain energy would be ideal."

"That's not a problem, but are you sure it's a genetic issue and not something else?"

"There's a 90% chance it's a genetic issue, belonging to the broad category of humans."

Lucifer nodded, a red glint flashing in his eyes. Kirishima Touka and Takatsuki Sen both looked at Lucifer nervously. After a long while, Lucifer said somewhat strangely, "It is indeed a genetic issue, but why does it feel like..."

Touka Kirishima looked at Lucifer nervously, while Beelzebub tilted his head and said, "You're not saying ghouls were created by humans, are you...?"

"What?!"

"Hmm, it does seem like someone did it intentionally, or maybe it's some kind of infection? In any case, it doesn't seem like something naturally occurring; it's more like a sudden change caused by some special influence. It's strange..."

Shinobu smiled and said, "If that's the case, then there must be a corresponding gene decoding agent, but we'll need to do some research. Lucy, can you handle that?"

Lucifer nodded, and a small magic circle appeared in his hand. He flashed it at Kirishima Touka and then disappeared. Kirishima Touka blinked and looked at Takatsuki Sen, who also looked puzzled.

"Lucy?"

"It's all taken care of. The Kagune and other organs are still usable, but now it can eat human food and obtain energy. This shouldn't be considered treatment; it would be more accurate to call it modification or repair."

"Magic is indeed very convenient, but if that's the case, then there must be a way to break it!"

"Then take your time to study it. But, is this girl frozen?"

At this moment, Kirishima Touka sat blankly in the chair, unsure of how to react. The thing she dared to dream about was actually happening right before her eyes.

She couldn't believe that her nightmarish ordeal had been resolved so casually? Just... just like that, so lightly? For a moment, she was filled with disbelief, excitement, and a dramatic sadness at how easily her suffering had been resolved.

Just as Kirishima Touka was about to speak, she saw Shinonono Tsukasa produce a lollipop from nowhere and put it in her mouth. Kirishima Touka was stunned for a moment, and the next moment an unprecedented taste and sweetness spread over her.

She didn't know what sweetness tasted like, but books had written that sugar was sweet, a taste that made most people feel good, happy, and joyful. Now... she could say with certainty that it really was.

But for some reason, even though I was eating candy, the sweetness in my heart seemed even more pronounced, giving me a feeling of happiness I'd never experienced before...

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Chapter 218 Touka Kirishima, the Girls Who Won't Give Up (Please Subscribe~)

Touka Kirishima's frozen expression made Lucifer and the others feel both amused and heartbroken. Many ghouls, like Touka Kirishima, have never done anything bad and just want to live, just want to live a peaceful life. However, the pressure on their minds and lives has caused them to lose many of their emotional abilities.

Seeing this, Takatsuki Sen breathed a sigh of relief and said, propping her chin on her hand, "Touka, snap out of it."

Kirishima Touka shuddered, quickly snapping out of her reverie about the sweet taste she had only ever known in books. With tears welling in her eyes, she looked at Lucifer and the others, stood up, bowed solemnly, and said in a slightly choked voice, "I will never forget this kindness. I will do anything for you without complaint."

Lucifer and the others wanted to say something, but felt that nothing they said would be appropriate. This was Kirishima Touka's own stubbornness. Just then, everyone heard the sound of a book closing.

"Miss Yoshimura, would you like an apple again?"

Takatsuki Sen paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Of course, although I'd love to try human food right now, it's not the right time yet, so an apple will do! Manager Shiraha, as expected of you."

"So, Ms. Kirishima, what would you like to eat?"

Kirishima Touka paused for a moment, then looked up and saw Shiraha's gentle smile. Kirishima Touka was also slightly taken aback. This was the store manager. She hadn't paid much attention to him when she came before. This store manager was really young and gentle.

Kirishima Touka, regaining her composure, said somewhat awkwardly, "I..."

"If you don't know what to eat, you can choose to give me the choice."

Kirishima Touka quickly said, "I...I've never researched these things before, so I don't know what to eat. Izumi-nee told me that the shop doesn't have a menu and can make any kind of dish. Manager Shiraha, you can decide for me."