Hi guys, sorry it took so long heres the new chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 74
"I am Melk! The knife Sharpener Melk!" The person said
Aiko looked at the figure, A person wearing a blue top with a dark blue vest with a large V shape opening showing wrapped bandages on his chest, with white pants and black boots. She was expecting the person to be older.
'He's Melk? But he's young..'Aiko thought
"How many years has it been since i've seen this many people?" Melk paused. "And what's more this is the first time i've seen two who are so utterly dumbfounded." Melk Blinked while seeing Toriko's astonished face, his eyes bugged out and jaw dropped, Komatsu having the same expression. "This is a first for that."
Aiko and Shina on the other hand had curious looks. Shina raised a curious eyebrow at Melk's direction.
'Melk's voice sounds...different..sounds a little raspy it sounds so forceful.' Shina thought. '
"We just never expected Melk-san to be such an incredibly stylish and handsome young man." Komatsu spoke up.
"What did you expect me to look like?" Melk replied
"Well I was expecting you to kind of look like some kind of ogreman." Komatsu commented.
"Well I was kind of picturing you to be some big muscle guy with a cape draped on and a helmet with horns, kinda like a viking." Toriko commented
"Don't listen to all the rumors." Aiko said walking towards Melk. "I just thought you'd look a bit more muscular, but looks can be deceiving."
"I don't think I can even imagine such a character." Melk said. "Well, regardless, the rumors around the world may not have been far off." Melk raised the knife closer to his face eyes shining while looking at the blade. "You are my first guests in a long time."Melk went over and opened the door to the house. "Allow me to welcome you."
"Thank you very much! All right!" Komatsu cheered happily.
"Thank you." Aiko and Shina said smiling. Walking with Toriko behind them.
Aiko and Komatsu's eyes lit up as they looked at the interior of the home looked at the blades that were hanging against one of the walls.
"So this is Melk-san's workshop?!" Komatsu said smiling.
"So many knives in the making." Aiko said softly admiring the finished knives on the walls. She warned Shina about the objects in which the girl stayed in her spot not knowing which place would be okay for her to be, Shina just stood there cautiously.
"Oh..you can take a seat here miss." Melk said "Allow me." He took a chair placing it near a empty table."Take my...hand, i'll guide you." Melk took her hand.
'His hand...it's calloused a sign that he works a lot outside...yet it feels different than a man's hand.' Shina thought taking a seat.
"Thank you." Shina said
"Wow, look at these Komatsu." Aiko said in awe at the unsharpened knives.
"They sparkle like diamonds.." Komatsu said
"And there's tons of incredibly rare natural materials." Aiko chimed in looking around.
"This place is like an amusement park for a chef! I wonder what its like for Melk-san to sharpen a kitchen knife here." Komatsu wondered.
Toriko walked in as he looked at the ground before looking at everything else as he saw that there were multiple slash marks. "What are these marks?" He asked
"Ai-chan, look at these! Sentoku Knives." Komatsu said "Far surpassing Santoku Knives that cut meat,fish, and vegetables."
'Komatsu sounds so happy.' Shina smiled softly. 'I'm happy that he's enjoying himself.'
"These knives are all-rounder that can cut thousands of ingredients." Aiko said in awe at the craftsmanship.
"Just one cost 5 million yen. They're Melk-san's masterpieces." Komatsu said his eyes lit up at them."So this is a Sentoku Knife before it's been sharpened huh?"
"Even if it's incomplete it looks beautiful..it reminds me of one of her knives...the curve of it looks similar to it." Aiko said in awe, Her eyes practically sparkled as she looked at the blade. "I wonder how sharp it'll be once it's complete." She reached her hand out to touch the blade.
"It's so beautiful." Komatsu said his hand reached up as well.
"DON'T TOUCH THAT!" Melk yelled snapping Aiko and Komatsu out of their trance and making Komatsu jump in surprise.
"I'm so sorry!" He exclaimed only to stumble and knock into the rack of knives.
"I'm sorry!" Aiko apologizing.
Toriko's eyes widened as he saw that one of the knives was wobbling and was about to fall towards the girl.
"Aiko, look out!" Toriko yelled out as he ran over to her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her out of the way.
Aiko held her breath as Toriko had yanked her out of her previous spot. "T..thank you." Aiko whispered and then looked down as Toriko let go of her.
Komatsu's eyes widened as he saw that the knife had sunk into rock floor causing an indent in the floor leaving only the handle peeking out.
"It pierced into the stone floor!" Komatsu exclaimed, "Just how sharp is it?!"
"So those marks were made by kitchen knives?" Toriko commented as he looked at other marks on the floor. "Melk Kitchen Knives." he walked over to the fallen blade, "Knives so sharp that some require a license to use one. I've heard stories of amateurs carelessly using them and suffer serious injuries." he picked up the knife from within the stone ground, "But to think they're like this before they're even sharpened?"
"You'd best not touch that." Melk said"The raw material for that Sentoku knife is a Warner Shark tooth They have unrivaled strength and sharpness."
"Did you say Warner Shark?" Toriko repeated, "That a Capture Level 55 shark. So you're saying you ask others to provide your raw materials?"
Melk frowned, "No, i don't commission anything, the materials for the knives and whetstones are all supplied by me, personally. Watch your tongue."
"Melk," Toriko paused, "There's no way you can capture a Warner Shark. I don't think you've got that much raw power."
"H-Hey..." Komatsu stuttered.
"What are you doing?…"Aiko muttered out looking at him then at Melk.
Shina raised a curious eyebrow listening to the whole thing. 'Does he suspect the same as i do in Melk?' Shina thought.
"How would you know, without finding out?" Melk challenged.
Toriko only pulled his right arm up in the same fashion that he used to prepare his Knife attack. Without even blinking he swung his arm at the ground causing a large gash to appear on the floor in a puff of smoke. Toriko rubbed his hands together making the clashing sound.
"Finding out?" Toriko chuckled, "Yeah Right."
"H-Hey, please , wait!" Komatsu intervened.
' What's with Toriko-kun?!' Aiko thought looking back and forth between the two people in front of her.
"Sorry for wasting your time with that." Toriko said "Who cares if you supply your raw materials or not."
"He's right." Aiko said intervening the tense atmosphere. "We came here because we need-"
"Outside" Melk interrupted
"Huh?" Toriko said
"Get outside! Right now." Melk stated while glaring at Toriko
"Melk-san?"
The five stood outside with Melk glaring at Toriko who stood across from them.
"If you want to know how much power i have, then you can find out first hand." Melk said
"Hey, let's apologize." Komatsu whispered as he stood next to Toriko.
"He's right, Fighting won't get us anywhere please stop before things get ugly." Aiko whispered.
"Be quiet, Komatsu, Aiko." Toriko said as Melk took out a knife that was on him.
"I'll be testing something as well."Melk held out the knife in front of them, "The sharpness of my new knife."
"I knew it! The rumors of his cruel side and cutting wild beasts to test his knives were true!" Komatsu whimpered.
"Komatsu." Shina said
"Don't worry Komatsu." Aiko reassured the chef. "Toriko-kun is strong."
"But you don't know how strong Melk-san is!" Komatsu exclaimed
"I will fight…together with this marvelous blade." Melk swung the blade out in front of them.
"Oh? Okay then. I'll take you on." Toriko said, "I dunno why you're so offended, but it looks like i hit a nerve on something really important to you. Something you can't yield on... Something you have to protect. Regardless, there are some things you can't find out unless you seriously exchange fists."
Melk said nothing, he swung his blade across them causing a plume of smoke to erupt.
"Oops, not fists. A kitchen Knife to another Knife!" Toriko finished raising his hand up. Melk acted quick swinging the knife towards Toriko. The bluenette counterattacked by swinging his own Knife towards Melk cutting through the attack making Melk raise his knife in defense to stop from being injured.
"What?!" Melk exclaimed 'Using his hand blade, he cut through my kitchen knife?!' Melk thought before directing the attack elsewhere and knelt down.
"Toshi boots!" Melk swiped the knife against the part of their boots making it pristine again. Aiko's and Komatsu eyes widened as Melk stood up with a knife that was completely fine.
"With just one scrape and the chipped knife is back to normal!" Komatsu commented
"That's amazing!' Aiko exclaimed
"Take this! Uroko Giri!" Melk shouted swinging the knife sending consecutive attacks toward the bluenette.
"Alright then!" Toriko charged at Melk dodging the attacks and grabbing Melk's wrist, making Melk let go of the knife and flipping him over slamming him into the ground.
"That was pretty damn sharp." Toriko praised as he looked at the knife that had sunk into the ground in similar fashion as the other one in Melk's house.
"Just who the hell are you?!" Melk shouted as Komatsu,Shina and Aiko ran towards Toriko.
"Toriko-san!" Komatsu called out
"Toriko-kun!" Aiko said
"Toriko?" Melk repeated.
"How could you do that to Melk-san?!" Komatsu scolded.
"He's right! You could've hurt him! Or worse! We didn't come here for you to pick a fight?!" Aiko scolded him.
"I didn't have a choice. This guy was.." Toriko started.
"Didn't have a choice? Of course you have a choice you blue haired dummy!" Aiko scolded. "Just for that i'm not making you those steam dumplings that you love so much!"
"Ah, No! Please Aiko!" Toriko said "C'mon! Please anything but that! You know how much i love the way you make em!"
"Nope. Not until you learn not to pick a fight with people!" Aiko sternly said "So no more of my dumplings."
"Aiko please." Toriko pleaded.
"No!" Aiko said
"Aiko please." The bluenette said "I'll do anything!"
"Hmm...anything?" Aiko asked her eyes twinkled. "Well….there is this new pie shop in town that i really want to go too."
"I'll take you there." Toriko said
'They act like a real couple.' Komatsu thought seeing the Bluenette pleading with the brown haired woman. 'How can she not see that? She has him wrapped around her finger and she doesn't even know it!'
Shina couldn't help but giggle. 'He really fell hard for her.' Shina thought.
"Aiko, please, you see it wasn't my fault -"
"Toriko?" Melk said while getting up.
"Are you okay, Melk-san?" Komatsu walked over to Melk who still stared at the man. While Aiko followed.
"Are you okay?" Aiko said
"Toriko of the Four Heavenly Kings? So that's why you're so strong." Melk sighed
"Oh Yeah," Toriko grinned, "Now that you mention it, we never gave our names. So, let's hear one, too. Who the hell are you? Where's the real Melk?"
"Huh?" Aiko said while turning to look at Melk.
"Why would you call me an imposter?" Melk asked
"Why? Come on." Toriko repeated, "What kind of person would lead their way to show people through the back door?!" he pointed at the wooden door that they had walked through.
"That wasn't the front door?" Komatsu said before circling around the house to see a large entrance and a sign with the word Melk hanging over it. "So there was a sign is over here,huh?" Aiko followed and she looked to the side and saw a box with a slot opening.
"And there's a mailbox! So that means." Aiko said
"Yes." Toriko said walking over to the duo, "This is the real front entrance."
"Just like you said Toriko-san, we did enter through the back way." Shina chimed in.
"I'd guess that you're the one who made that door, right?" it was a statement not a question. Toriko said "It's clear, based on the size. This entrance is way too big for a normal size human to need."
"You do have a point, it's way too big." Aiko commented.
"This is a workshop, I have to transport large materials inside, at times." Melk explained
"Then what's with these huge stairs leading to the second floor?" Toriko pointed at the huge blocks that were climbing up the wall, "They're just as big as the one's going up Melk Mountain likely, this is a combined home and workshop made by the real Melk. The genuine Melk is shy in front of strangers, so he made an entrance on the opposite side of where you reach the summit. The real Melk must be a giant of a man, at least two meters tall. There are too many things that don't add up about you."
"Isn't it just body size?" Melk asked
"To begin with, I've heard that Melk is an old friend of my old man Ichiryuu." Toriko said as he sat down at a table.
"Friends with the IGO President?" Komatsu asked
" I don't even know how old that old man. But just from looking at you, you're clearly not the right age." Toriko explained.
"So from what you said this guy isn't The same Melk." Aiko said staring at the man.
"Melk-san" Komatsu looked at the Knife Sharpener standing there silently before finally replying.
"IGO President Ichiryuu, That's one of the few friend's names my taciturn master spoke."
"Master?" Toriko asked
" The one you call the 'real Melk' is my master and predecessor I'm the second generation!" Melk declared, " The successor of the first generation's techniques. Sharpener Melk the Second!" He introduced himself.
"The Second?!" Komatsu, Aiko and Shina repeated simultaneously.
"That's a surprise. Who would have thought that Melk had a disciple?" Toriko commented
"Just as the rumors say, he's a quiet and reclusive artisan, he never had any disciple, except for me." Melk told them.
"So, he kept his techniques a secret from everyone except his only disciple." Komatsu said gushing. "It's so cool! Like passing the secrets from a father to his only child."
"That's amazing." Aiko admired."He taught you everything he knows."
"Then why didn't you just tell us from the beginning?" Toriko said "I was sure you were an imposter."
"Toriko-san has a point." Shina chimed in "It would've cleared up any misunderstanding."
"You were being really rude to begin with, Toriko-san." Komatsu scolded."Picking a fight all of a sudden like that, and calling the second generation an imposter."
"And who are you?" Melk said getting the group's attention, Melk pointed at the trio.
"I'm sorry for taking so long." Komatsu blushed, "I'm uh...working as a head chef of Hotel Gourmet. My name is Komatsu. N-nice to meet you..."
"Wipe the stupid grin off your face. It's creepy , Komatsu!" Toriko groaned.
Aiko smiled slightly flustered. "Sorry about that, My name is Aiko, i work as a Bishokuya. Nice to meet you Melk the second." Aiko blushed rubbing the back of her head. "If you ever need anything feel free to ask."
'What's that look she's giving him for?' Toriko thought. 'I haven't seen that look before.'
"Nice to meet you..i'm Shina, i work part time at Hotel Gourmet...a..as K-Komatsu-kun's Assistant chef." Shina said while blushing.
"Hotel Gourmet." Melk said only to stare at Komatsu, "You're the Chef Komatsu who made the Century Soup?!" Komatsu blushed.
"Y-You've heard of me?" He said pointing at himself.
"Well the Century soup at Hotel Gourmet is famous." Melk explained
"Pretty amazing, ain't it? They know Your name even all the way out in the mountains!" Toriko laughed.
"I'm moved!" Komatsu gushed, "To think that Melk-san has heard of me!"
"By the way, Komatsu is also my partner" the bluenette said
"Shina is my partner, she may be blind but i can tell you the girl can cook." Aiko chimed in patting Shina on her back. The blind girl blushed at her friend's compliment.
"She's right, Shina-san has an excellent palate." Komatsu added. "Most of our guest either have the Century soup or order whatever Shina-san makes."
"A blind chef? That's impressive. Wow, what amazing guests i have." Melk said making Shina blush even more.
"Y-You're all making m-me blush!" Shina laughed nervously.
"Really, I didn't notice,"Aiko joked nudging Shina.
"Do you think that Melk the first has heard of me?" Komatsu asked
"I highly doubt it," Melk replied deflating Komatsu's joyous demeanor, "You see, the first generation has no interest at all in the outside world."
"The outside world has no idea that the current Melk is the second generation," Toriko said, "but what's he doing? Did he retire or something?"
Melk hesitated before answering, "Right now, my master is mining for raw materials to be made into whetstones."
"So He's still working?" He said
"That's amazing." Komatsu said "He entrusted you to be the second generation while he continues out in the field to gather materials."
Shina nudged Komatsu seeing that they were getting out of topic, Komatsu looked over at Melk who had an impassive look on his face.
"Um, Melk-san" he said getting Melk's attention, "Actually, we came here to ask you a favor."
"Not just one favor!" Toriko piped in.
"An order for a kitchen knife?" Melk guessed.
"Yes, that's right!" Komatsu answered
'I hope he gets it.' Shina thought. Her cloudy eyes looked up, listening to the conversation. 'I just wish i can see..just to..see that smile...but right now with my condition i can only see very faint shadows...at this rate my vision will be completely gone.…'
Meanwhile with Isi….
"I hope Lady Shina is doing well." Isi said as he finished polishing the silverware. "It's been so long since i've seen her smile like that with Lady Aiko and friends."
Suddenly the phone ran, he picked it up.
"Hello? Oh, Doctor...yes everything is fine, yes she's taking the supplement that you prescribed her ." Isi said. "Ah...no She's not here she left with her friend to get some ingredients, yes.. i'll tell her when she gets back to call you back, to follow up on her and notify her on her next appointment."
After that he hung up. 'I'll make sure Lady Shina has everything she needs when she comes home.' he thought. 'Please be safe my lady.'
"Okay! So that's the plan, we'll go and bring back Melk stardust and Melk the first!"Aiko said
"Before that, i'll be filling my stomach!" he said making Komatsu, Shina, Aiko and Melk gawk, "I'm leaving the cooking to you, guys!"
"Ah..right!" Komatsu said
"Perfect!" Toriko shouted Komatsu and Aiko followed her and saw the same squid like beast they saw earlier that day flying in the sky.
"Sky squid? Hm..yeah that would be good to have." Aiko said. "Perfect for a filling meal."
"Great, just stand back." Toriko grinned. The Sky Squid gave a screech before diving downward at Toriko. He clapped his hands together, "I give thanks to all of the ingredients in this world. Itadakimasu!" he raised his right arm, "FLYING KNIFE!" the attack headed straight at the beast completely knocking it out in one hit.
"This is Toriko's true power." Melk stood in awe as Toriko lifted up the Sky Squid and brought in into the house with Komatsu and the girls trailing after him.
"The soup is almost done, how are you guys doing?" Aiko asked wearing a white apron, her hair up in a ponytail.
"Good." Shina and Komatsu said fully concentrated in their task.
Aiko hummed along stirring the pot. She tilted her head towards Melk who seemed lost in thought looking at the trio cooking.
"Melk? " Aiko said "Is something wrong?"
"No," Melk smiled,"It's been years since someone besides me has stood in this kitchen."
'Melk..'Aiko thought 'He must have been lonely being here by himself...similar to how i felt when i was alone.'
"Then i hope this meal is of your liking." Aiko said with a smile. "I'll be sure to help Toriko-kun bring back Melk the first safely."
"That's very kind of you,Aiko-san" Melk said giving her a smile.
'I'm not jealous, i'm not jealous.' Toriko chanted in his head, seeing Aiko and Melk talk. 'I'm not jealous.'
"I'm almost done with the soup." Aiko said
"It smells wonderful." Melk complemented.
"Thank you, i hope you like it." Aiko smiled."It's one of my mothers recipes."
"Just by this scent your mother taught you well." Melk said.
Aiko turned smiling brightly at Melk's complement. "Thank you, that means a lot to me." She said
"Hey Aiko, is it done?" Toriko asked popping in cutting between the two. "It's smells so good." Toriko ruffled her hair, Melk raised an eyebrow wondering why the heavenly king's is acting a little odd?
"Thanks, it's needs a few more minutes. Shina and Komatsu are almost done with their part." She told him. "If you can't wait i placed a few snacks on the table for you." Toriko smiled patting her head.
"Thanks for waiting!" the trio said placing the dishes that they prepared, soup, salad and a large plate of sliced squid.
"Sky scum Teriyaki with plenty of honey." Komatsu said
"I made some syrup tail soup, packed with lot of hearty vegetables." Aiko said
"Along with a neo tomato and baconlettuce salad, it may look light but it's very filling."Shina said
"Itadakimasu!" Toriko and Melk said
Toriko immediately started eating, Scarfing down a whole slice of sky squid. "Yum!" the bluenette said in between bites.
"Careful, i dont want you to choke!"Aiko said while handing Shina a bowl of soup, she ladled a bowl for Melk handing it to him.
Melk held the bowl, taking a spoonful eating it. "Delicious!" Melk said
"I'm glad."Aiko said
"So eat up so you can build up your stamina."Komatsu said
"You're right, Heavy hole is an extremely dangerous place." Melk said
"Heavy hole?"Toriko repeated "So that's where the Melk Stardust is ?"
"Yes, its 30 kilometers north of Melk mountain, it falls tens of thousands of meters below ground level."Melk explained "And due to the unique magnetic feel and air pressure , the strength of gravity is amplified beyond belief there. It's the deepest cave in the human world. That is the site that you can mine Melk Stardust."
'Is it similar to when we went to the Gourmet world?'Aiko thought glancing at Toriko. 'Toriko might think it's good training. I'll do my best to help him.'
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