35. New Volumes And A New Manga

Over a week later, Ryūhei finished the third and fourth volumes of Dragon Ball, the fourth volume of One Piece, and the first volume of Shokugeki no Sōma.

When he first got the full overview of the Shokugeki no Soma manga in the first volume, he was quite flabbergasted. It turned out that the manga contained lewd elements where everyone would feel the climax of sexual arousal after eating delicious food.

As long as he didn't draw sex scenes in his manga, he didn't need to worry about the outcome. Even if Madame Ping wanted to punish him again when she felt the manga was improper, he could just run away before she caught him.

From the story itself which involved cooking battles, the Shokugeki no Sōma manga was quite impressive. From cooking preparation, taste explanation, etc. Even the ingredients used for cooking were explained in detail. So, he believed that the Shokugeki no Sōma manga would be popular among chefs and cooks.

After Ryūhei opened the Shop, he added a new poster in front of his shop. The poster was drawn with a young man wearing a white headband serving a dish to a customer. And under that, it said "A new manga, Food Wars: Shokugeki no Sōma."

And on the standing board, he wrote the third and fourth volumes of Dragon Ball as well as the fourth volume of One Piece released today.

Since everyone in Liyue was already familiar with the manga, Ryūhei no longer needed to print the first chapter for promotion like he did on the first day of the shop's opening.

At that moment, he spotted Xiangling outside of the Wanmin restaurant.

"Xiangling!" Ryūhei waved his hand as he called out to her. She was together with a strange red panda as well called Gouba who was surprisingly intelligent enough to help Xiangling and her father to run the restaurant.

Xiangling turned to him, wondering why he called her.

After Xiangling stood before him, Ryūhei said,

"As I promised, I drew a manga that you will surely like." Then he pointed behind him with his thumb. And the direction was the poster he just put on the wall.

Xiangling lit her eyes as she understood the moment she saw the picture.

"Eh, Food Wars? Lemme see, lemme see!"

Xiangling immediately dragged Gouba inside the shop and picked up the new manga before unwrapping the seal to read it.

But when she flipped the manga, Atsuko said to her.

"Miss Xiangling, you haven't paid."

"Oh, hehehe. I almost forgot." She laughed nervously in a silly manner. Then, he picked two thousand Mora from her pouch.

After paying the manga, she started to read where the main character challenged his father in a cooking contest, but was crushed completely.

"Nearly 500 matches but never won once. However, he was not discouraged by the defeat and tried to improvise."

Reading at this point, Xiangling asked Ryūhei.

"Ryūhei, when will the next volume be released?"

Ryūhei simply replied.

"Around a week later. Why do you ask?"

"Ah, I still have time then. Actually, I want to go on traveling to improve my cooking skill while challenging chefs on my way. And I'll be traveling around Liyue before going to Mondstadt as my last destination. From the first few pages of this manga, I can already see that the story will be interesting and lots of food will be served. Too bad you didn't open a shop in Mondstadt."

"Mondstadt, huh?" Ryūhei held his chin. He definitely wanted to open there, but he thought it wasn't time for him to open there yet.

"By the way, why do I feel like there's something lewd in this manga?"

"Hmmm, it must be your imagination."

"Is that so? Well never mind. In that case, I'm going." Xiangling was satisfied after reading the manga even for only a few pages. And it would be great if Ryūhei could draw the second volume before Xiangling left for Mondstadt as entertainment for her during the trip.

"Well, thank you for the patronage."

After seeing Xiangling leave, he walked inside and told Atsuko that he needed her to take care of the shop. After that, Ryūhei left.

Working for two weeks at Manga Impact, Atsuko felt lucky that she was hired by someone from the same nation. She was grateful to accept Ryūhei's offer at that time. And as a result, not only did her salary increase after the manga shop became popular, but she also got used to communicating with other people fluently which she was previously unable to do.

She heard that Ryūhei planned to open this kind of shop in Inazuma City. And she hoped that he would bring her there. However, knowing the situation in Inazuma made it impossible for him to open a shop there. Unless Ryūhei intends to fight the Electro Archon.

Thinking about that, Atsuko shuddered.

"There's no way, right?"

But she immediately shook her head to dismiss such a negative thought.

— — — —

When Ryūhei arrived at a certain building in Feiyun Slope. And that building is the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

He saw a lady standing in front of the door.

"Hello, I have an appointment with the consultant. Can I meet him?" Ryūhei greeted her.

"Hello. You must be the one that the director and consultant talk about a lot. Please come in!"

"Thanks."

After going inside, he was greeted by Hu Tao.

"Hehe, a new client is coming."

"Director, I don't think I fall into the "client" category."

"I wasn't referring to clients in the business sense. Everyone who enters this mortal realm will be a client of mine...sooner or later…hehehe." Hu Tao grinned.

"That's kinda dark, Miss Director."

"Just call me Hu Tao! Anyway, our Parlor welcomes advance reservations! When you choose us, you'll never have to worry about what might be around the corner. But be sure to book the right date! Speaking of dates, if you're struggling to decide, please do come and talk it over. I'd hate to see you still alive and kicking when your big day comes."

He knew that Hu Tao was an eccentric girl. But who wouldn't say that the girl was not cursing people with her proposal?

Even though Ryūhei knew that the job at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was noble, he still wasn't used to Hu Tao's curse words.

"You called me an assistant the other day, but now it's back to being a client again."

"It's your fault to reject my generous offer."

"What a drag." Ryūhei facepalmed.

At that moment, Zhongli came out of his office and walked toward them.

"Thanks for coming, Ryūhei." Then he turned to Hu Tao. "Excuse me, Director. But, I need to go with him."

"Eh, am I your director? Why did you bring him instead of me?" Hu Tao pouted cutely.

Without changing his expression, Zhongli replied.

"Hmm, you can say that I need his company to go to the Northland Bank for our new sponsor."

"Northland Bank, huh? Hehe, then you can go."

Ryūhei didn't understand why Hu Tao changed her attitude after hearing about the Northland Bank from Zhongli. However, he guessed that Hu Tao must dislike Fatui or the people from Snezhnaya. That was why she looked like didn't want to go to the Northland Bank.

— — — —

After leaving the parlor, Ryūhei whispered to Zhongli.

"Mr. Zhongli. Can you please not appear in my mind when you want to ask me something? I thought I fell into an illusion, you know. In the first place, how come you appeared in my mind? Is that also an Adeptus Art?"

While Ryūhei was doing his usual morning routine, he suddenly fell into an illusion and tried to break free from it before Zhongli suddenly appeared and calmed him down. Then Zhongli asked Ryūhei to come to the parlor after finishing his morning routine. That was why he came to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

Regarding Ryūhei's question, Zhongli just nodded.

"That's right. It's an Adeptus Art. Also, calling you through the technique is convenient since you already know my identity."

"Sigh… Then why did you ask me to accompany you to the Northland Bank?"

Ryūhei wondered why Zhongli brought him if he just wanted to talk about the sponsor for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Then, Zhongli replied.

"To meet the Crimson Witch of Flame. A person affiliated with someone I want to contract with."