Lucifer at this mont could be said to be exceptionally excited.
She sat gracefully at the polished wooden counter of the otherworldly restaurant. Her slender legs were crossed, and her signature crimson eyes sparkled with a rare, child-like wonder. No matter what angle she viewed it from, this entire situation was simply too stimulating for the Queen of Hell.
She absentmindedly stirred a cup of freshly brewed tea, the aromatic steam curling upward. However, her mind was entirely focused on the endless possibilities of the multiverse. She was already thinking about what Pokémon she should try to get her hands on besides the legendary w.
"I wonder if there are any Pokémon in that world that can actually produce cooking ingredients..." Lucifer mused aloud, leaning her cheek against her palm. Her sleek tail swished rhythmically behind her, a clear indicator of her soaring mood.
Lucifer thought for a mont, tapping her manicured fingernail against the porcelain teacup. "I'll just go and see when the ti cos."
"Ash should be coming over once he manages to catch that Abra. Although that child looks a bit too passionate and seems like a chaotic little kid, he's still a good boy, no matter what."
"Even from a brief interaction, I can feel his personality. He's the type to go all out for his friends, soone completely trustworthy."
Ren nodded in agreent, standing on the other side of the counter while absentmindedly polishing a perfectly clean ceramic plate. To be completely honest, he had genuinely planned to find a Pokémon that could produce ingredients.
As a chef who was borderline obsessed with elevating his craft, the prospect was too tantalizing to ignore. Because no matter what, this could be considered sourcing ingredients directly from Another World, right?
Even if the fundantal taste might not be drastically different from high-end Earth ingredients, the true advantage lay in its absolute naturalness and mystical composition.
For example, if a Pokémon like Alcremie could produce fresh cream, this cream would be born purely from positive energy and natural sweetness.
[Akarin's Note: Alcremie is a Fairy-type Pokémon introduced in Generation VIII. Its body is made entirely of whipped cream, which becos richer and sweeter when it is happy. In the Pokémon universe, pastry chefs often partner with Alcremie to create world-class desserts.]
Ren's mind imdiately began conjuring up culinary blueprints. If I could get my hands on Alcremie cream... the texture would be impossibly ethereal.
It wouldn't have that heavy, cloying aftertaste of mass-produced dairy. It would dissolve on the tongue like sweet morning dew, carrying rich, fragrant vanilla notes that artificial processing could never dream of replicating.
It was infinitely more interesting than the heavy cream he currently ordered from premium suppliers. There would undoubtedly be a magical difference in the final taste profile of his pastries.
(Sowhere in the Pokémon world, a wild Alcremie sneezed: Just say you want to catch ! Just feed sweet berries!)
Lucifer thought about being surrounded by many cute, fluffy little creatures in the near future and suddenly felt a profound sense of greatness wash over her. It was a lifestyle befitting a queen. But thinking of this, Lucifer suddenly thought of a technicality within the restaurant's rules and asked doubtfully, "Ren, then tell ... if Pokémon aren't officially considered 'custors' by your restaurant's standards, are Digimon considered custors?"
This unexpected question made Ren pause. He slowly lowered the dish towel, his brows furrowing in genuine contemplation.
He thought for a mont, staring blankly at the warm ambient lighting of the ceiling. "I'm not too sure about that question either," he finally said. "Probably not... Why do you ask that?"
Lucifer tilted her head, her silver-white hair cascading elegantly over her shoulder. "Think about it logically. The Myotismon we saw before was incredibly similar to humans."
"He possessed high intelligence, wore sophisticated clothing, and could even converse eloquently."
"So, it stands to reason that many Digimon should be able to evolve into humans or at least humanoid forms. If that's the case, shouldn't they be recognized as legitimate custors?"
[Akarin's Note: Myotismon (Vamdemon in Japanese) is an Ultimate-level Undead Digimon from the Digimon Adventure series. Modeled after a classic aristocratic vampire, he is highly intelligent, articulate, and possesses a completely humanoid appearance.]
Ren stroked his chin, realizing her logic made a lot of sense. He imdiately closed his eyes and ntally connected to the restaurant's overarching system, tentatively asking for a clarification on the rules.
A mont later, a translucent blue screen popped up in his vision.
[System Notice: To clarify the Host's inquiry—standard Pokémon are not considered formal custors. Similarly, standard Digimon are not considered formal custors. However, once a creature evolves or transforms into a distinct 'humanoid' or 'human-equivalent' state possessing sapient communication abilities, they are granted full patron rights.]
The result made Ren sowhat exasperated, letting out a long, heavy sigh.
"So the shop really does use that specific thod to determine who is a custor," Ren muttered, rubbing his temples. "But I suppose that's good. No matter what, we've finally learned a definitive way to determine the threshold for new custors."
Ren nodded, a wry smile tugging at his lips as he sighed again. "It really is just exchanging their fundantal identity for cuteness and human privilege, huh?"
"But Pokémon's innate powers are all quite magical. I wonder if Mr. Tony's ridiculous idea of doing intense scientific research with an Alakazam can actually be realized..."
At the ntion of the billionaire playboy, Lucifer's eyes narrowed dangerously, a dark, demonic aura briefly flickering around her form. "I'm not entirely sure if his little science experint will work, but I do know this: if Tony Stark dares to co here again, I'll teach him a thoroughly good lesson! I really can't let him off so easily after his constant, annoying chattering!"
Ren chuckled nervously, wiping down the mahogany counter. "You're bound to the restaurant during operating hours. Can't you move?"
"Hmph," Lucifer scoffed, crossing her arms proudly and causing her impressive chest to heave slightly. "I can just have the Pokémon do it, or I can order Cerberus to bite him."
"Or better yet, I can simply drag him to Another World for a painful, hands-on lesson. Huh? Actually, thinking about it now... that sounds quite interesting."
A terrifying, sadistic smirk curled onto Lucifer's flawless lips.
Ren silently mourned for Tony Stark in his heart. It seed that next ti, if Tony Stark didn't possess the absurdly precise, ego-stroking conversational skills of soone like Eishi Tsukasa to talk his way out of trouble, he might really get taught a painful, demonic lesson.
anwhile, in an entirely different universe, located within the sleek, hyper-modern confines of the Stark Tower penthouse in New York...
The expansive workshop was bathed in the cool, blue glow of a dozen holographic displays. The faint sll of soldering iron, ozone, and stale, days-old coffee hung heavily in the air.
Tony Stark sat in his custom ergonomic chair, casually tossing a small wrench onto a cluttered workbench. He rubbed his bloodshot eyes, groaning as his stomach let out a hollow, demanding rumble.
The sliding glass doors to the lab hissed open. The sharp, rhythmic clack-clack-clack of designer heels echoed against the polished floor. Pepper Potts stepped into the room, holding a sleek tablet and looking impeccably sharp in a tailored charcoal pencil skirt and crisp white blouse.
"Pepper, do you have any work plans tonight?" Tony asked, swiveling his chair around to face her, a charismatic, albeit exhausted, smirk playing on his face.
Pepper paused, her fingers hovering over her tablet. She eyed him suspiciously, knowing that tone all too well.
"No, Tony. I managed to clear the evening schedule. What are you up to?"
Tony stood up, stretching his stiff back until a satisfying pop echoed in the quiet room. "I just suddenly rembered how unbelievably delicious Ren's food is."
"That multidinsional restaurant... the flavors are literally out of this world. Would you like to have dinner together tonight? A proper date?"
Pepper's lips twitched upward into a small, amused smile, though she maintained her professional facade. "Are you paying?"
Tony flashed his million-dollar grin, walking over and resting a hand on her shoulder. "Of course I am! But... you bring the money."
Pepper dropped her hands to her sides, staring at him blankly. She let out an exasperated breath.
"Tony! How is that any different from paying?!"
"Hey, hey, Pepper! Be reasonable!" Tony threw his hands up in mock defense, his eyes dancing with amusent.
"You should know by now, I don't even carry a wallet. I don't have cash on , and even if I did, I certainly don't have bills of such small denominations for a simple dinner."
"So, naturally, as my highly capable CEO and lovely partner, you'll need to handle the trivial money problem."
Pepper pinched the bridge of her nose, fighting the urge to smack him with her tablet. She sighed, shaking her head in defeat.
"Alright, alright. I'll humor you. When are we leaving?"
"I have to admit, I'm really looking forward to the food at this restaurant in Another World that you've been incessantly raving about."
"Oh, and I definitely want to see the legendary Lucifer and this supposed Hellhound you ntioned!"
Tony glanced at the sleek, digitized clock projected on the glass window. "It's only three in the afternoon right now! We'll go at eight tonight."
Pepper furrowed her brows, giving him an incredulous look. "Then why on earth are you telling so early?"
"To remind you not to eat dinner!" Tony said playfully, tapping her nose.
"Trust , Pep. You're going to want to save every square inch of stomach space for this."
Just as Pepper and Tony Stark were happily bickering and discussing what to eat for dinner during their afternoon break, back in Ren's universe, the evening had already begun to drape a blanket of stars over the city.
The street lamps outside the restaurant flickered to life, casting a warm, golden glow against the pavent. The post-dinner rush had finally subsided, leaving the interior of the shop pleasantly quiet, save for the gentle hum of the refrigerators and the soft, ambient jazz playing off Ren's phone.
It was right at that ti, just as Lucifer and Ren were finishing their idle talk about the specific rules of different custors from various worlds, that the shop door suddenly made a sound.
Cling-a-ling~
The small brass bell above the door chid weakly. The heavy wooden door opened just a tiny crack, letting in a sharp gust of chilly night air that swept across the floorboards.
Both Ren and Lucifer instantly noticed the shift in temperature and the soft noise. They turned their heads toward the entrance in unison, only to see the door swiftly and silently pull shut again, as if whoever had opened it had suddenly lost their nerve.
This peculiar scene made Ren frown slightly. It made him think of a specific soone's existence—soone incredibly shy—but it wasn't very realistic for them to be wandering around at this late hour.
However, Ren wasn't the type to ignore a potential guest standing out in the cold. He wiped his hands on a pristine white towel, tossed it onto the counter, and walked purposefully toward the entrance.
He gripped the brass handle and pulled the door wide open.
At first glance, the street outside appeared empty. The cool night wind rustled the leaves of a nearby ornantal tree. Ren habitually turned his head to look down the alleyway beside the shop, and his eyes imdiately caught a small silhouette.
Standing pressed against the brick wall, trying to blend into the shadows, was a young girl. She was deep in thought, staring down at her worn shoes, her delicate shoulders hunched inward as if trying to make herself as small as possible.
Ren's expression softened instantly. He let out a gentle sigh and said sowhat helplessly, his voice warm and inviting, "Since you're already here, why don't you co in? It's cold outside."
The girl flinched in surprise, her head snapping up. Her large, timid eyes t his. "Hmm… Ren-nii… I… I was just passing by…"
Grumble~
Before she could finish her painfully obvious lie, a loud, undeniable, and deeply hollow rumble echoed from her stomach, completely shattering the quiet atmosphere of the alleyway.
The girl's already pale face, which looked a bit alarmingly malnourished under the streetlights, instantly turned a violent, burning shade of crimson. The blush spread rapidly down to her delicate neck, and she squeezed her eyes shut, mortified, burying her face into the soft plushie she was holding to hide her sha.
Ren couldn't help but smile at the painfully adorable reaction. He stepped out, closing the distance between them, and gently reached out to rub the girl's head. Her silver hair was incredibly soft to the touch.
"Alright, alright," Ren chuckled softly, his tone laced with absolute fondness. "Co in quickly. I'll make you sothing warm to eat."
"Oh…." the girl squeaked, a tiny, embarrassed sound escaping her lips as she obediently let him guide her toward the warm, inviting light of the restaurant.
As they stepped through the door, the rich, lingering aroma of savory broth and sweet pastries imdiately enveloped them.
[Akarin's Note: Kasugano Sora is the main female protagonist of the visual novel and ani 'Yosuga no Sora'. She is a frail, quiet, and highly reclusive girl with a deep, codependent attachnt to her twin brother, Haruka. She is rarely seen without her signature black rabbit plushie.]
Lucifer, who was still lounging elegantly at the counter, turned to look at the girl who walked in trailing slightly behind Ren.
The Queen of Hell paused for a mont, her crimson eyes widening a fraction as she took in the new arrival. "You know this child, Ren?" she asked in genuine confusion. "Heavens, what a beautiful and delicate little child."
"Thank you for the complint, Onee-san…" the girl whispered, her voice as soft as a falling feather, hiding halfway behind Ren's back. "But… I'm not beautiful…."
Lucifer imdiately waved her hand dismissively, her stoic, demonic persona crumbling in the face of such overwhelming cuteness. She hopped off her barstool and practically glided over.
"Nonsense! I don't need to fool you about this; you really are a very delicate, beautiful little girl! What's your na, sweetheart?"
Lucifer genuinely found her absurdly adorable. The girl was dressed in a gothic-lite white sundress with intricate black lacework that hung loosely on her frail fra.
She had long, twin-tailed silver-grey hair that shimred under the shop's lights, flawlessly fair skin, and incredibly delicate, porcelain-like features. She literally looked like a fragile, masterfully crafted doll brought to life.
The most important detail, however, was that she was holding a slightly worn, black rabbit doll tightly against her chest, clinging to it like a lifeline. No matter how you looked at her, from her timid posture to her soft, trembling voice, she was a concentrated weapon of mass adorableness.
The girl awkwardly clutched the fabric of Ren's sleeve, peeking out nervously at the stunning, silver-haired woman hovering in front of her. She whispered, "My na is Sora… Kasugano Sora…."
"Sora," Ren said gently, patting the hand that gripped his sleeve. "It's alright. You don't have to be scared."
"Lucifer is a very kind person. Although she's a bit of a massive tsundere sotis, she's also very cute."
Lucifer's maternal smile instantly vanished, replaced by a fierce, embarrassed scowl. She glared at Ren, her cheeks puffing out indignantly. "I am not a tsundere!"
Ren smirked, gesturing toward her with his free hand. "See? Isn't her reaction interesting?"
Lucifer's tail lashed through the air with a loud swish. "You've had enough, Ren! Keep talking and I'll bite you!"
Ren raised an eyebrow, entirely unfazed by the Queen of Hell's threats. He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. "Are you sure about that?"
"Hmm… Hmph!" Lucifer grumbled, turning her nose up to the ceiling with a dramatic huff. She then imdiately looked back down at the timid girl, her expression lting back into a puddle of absolute affection.
"Sora is giving you so face right now! Sora, co over here with ."
"Just tell Ren exactly what you want to eat, and he'll make it for you, no matter what it is."
Kasugano Sora let out a soft, lodic laugh, the tension finally leaving her frail shoulders as she looked at the completely undignified, flustered Lucifer.
That tiny, musical giggle instantly acted like a critical hit to Lucifer's heart. It made Lucifer feel that this fragile girl standing in front of her was truly a living doll, far too adorable for this chaotic world.
Lucifer simply had zero resistance to cute things—whether it was fluffy Cerberus, adorable Pokémon, or sweet, timid girls. She imdiately stepped forward, gently grabbed Kasugano Sora's free hand, and pulled her toward the most comfortable booth in the restaurant.
"Sora is really just too cute," Lucifer cooed, completely ignoring the chef. "There's nothing good to say to this big pig's trotters over there."
"Just ignore him. Onee-san will keep you company while he cooks."
"Eh?!" Sora squeaked, glancing back frantically over her shoulder. "Ren-nii…."
Ren chuckled, walking behind the cooking station and tying his apron securely around his waist. "Don't worry, I'll give you a small, sweet gift later for dealing with her, Lucifer."
"Sora is completely fine. Lucifer doesn't bite people, right?"
Lucifer, currently busy tucking Sora into the plush seating of the booth, nodded proudly without thinking. "That's right, that's right, I don't bite people… Wait, no!"
"I never bite people anyway! Wait, no! I really will bite you, Ren!"
"Eh… Sothing seems wrong with what I just said…"
Realizing her own tangled words, Lucifer's face burned a bright, furious red. She slamd her hands on the table, glaring daggers at the grinning chef.
"Hmph! Ren! You tricked !"
[Akarin's Note:
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