Multiverse Gourmet Hunter

Once she had finished explaining all the fundamentals, Nurse Joy began teaching Haruto the complete Poffin-making process step by step.

From washing and peeling the Berries and weighing them precisely, to balancing the ratio of Warm Wheat flour and Moomoo Milk, deciding when to add Sweet Honey, and controlling the temperature of the oven, every stage followed a clear standard.

The actual process of making Poffins was not especially complicated. What mattered most was the maker’s control over the ingredients and sensitivity to heat.

Those happened to be two of Haruto’s greatest strengths.

As a professional chef, his grasp of ingredient ratios and temperature control was already exceptional.

Once he understood the production process, he felt completely confident.

”Let’s see what kind of result I can get.”

Following Nurse Joy’s instructions, Haruto began preparing his first batch.

His measurements were exact, and his stirring remained perfectly steady as every ingredient blended together seamlessly.

His movements flowed without pause or hesitation, and he did not make a single mistake.

Before long, Haruto’s first batch of Poffins emerged from the oven.

The round treats were arranged neatly across the table. Their colors were perfectly even, their surfaces carried a warm sheen, and a gentle fragrance slowly spread through the kitchen.

Nurse Joy stepped closer for a careful inspection before picking one up and tasting it.

Her pupils contracted sharply.

Disbelief filled her face.

The dense, smooth texture, rich Berry fragrance, and perfectly balanced sweetness were every bit as good as the Poffins she made herself.

In fact, the way the flavors blended together was even better.

”This... This is a Dense-grade Poffin?!”

Nurse Joy’s thoughts descended into complete confusion as she abruptly looked at Haruto.

”How is that possible?”

”Are you sure you’ve never made Poffins before?”

Even as she asked, she knew he had no reason to lie. More importantly, she trusted Lorelei.

Nurse Joy stared at the Poffins in a daze.

When she had first begun learning, she had spent an entire week producing nothing but dull, unappetizing Foul-grade Poffins.

After more than a month of daily practice, she had finally succeeded in making her first acceptable Rich-grade batch.

Then came a full year of devoted study and countless failures before she mastered the techniques needed to create Dense-grade Poffins.

As for the highest grade, Fragrant Poffins, she had researched them for several years without ever succeeding.

Yet Haruto had produced Dense-grade Poffins on his very first attempt.

It made all the effort she had put in over the years feel almost ridiculous.

Seeing her stunned expression, Haruto waved a hand and explained,

”It isn’t because I’m some kind of genius. I’m already a professional chef, so I’m highly experienced in handling ingredients, controlling heat, and balancing proportions.”

”Poffin-making follows the same basic principles as ordinary cooking. The ingredients and form are different, but the foundation is the same, so it’s naturally easier for me to learn.”

From Haruto’s perspective, making Poffins really was simple.

As long as the proportions were precise, the oven temperature remained stable, and every possible source of error was eliminated, it would be almost impossible to produce an inferior batch.

”Is that really all there is to it?”

Nurse Joy blinked, only half understanding and still finding it difficult to believe.

”It is,” Lorelei said seriously from beside them.

”Haruto is the finest chef I’ve ever encountered. Making Poffins would genuinely be easy for him.”

Lorelei had personally tasted his cooking, and the memory of its extraordinary flavor remained vivid.

She had no doubts about his ability.

With Lorelei speaking so highly of him, Nurse Joy finally managed to calm down somewhat and reluctantly accepted that making excellent Poffins might truly be effortless for a top-class chef.

Since Nurse Joy had no more questions, Haruto prepared to try again.

He drew his Melk Knife.

His entire presence changed at once.

His gaze sharpened with concentration, and an invisible sense of pressure seemed to settle around him.

Haruto selected a fresh assortment of Berries.

The blade flashed, reducing them to perfectly even pieces.

He then personally ground the Warm Wheat into flour.

As he stirred the ingredients, every rotation followed exactly the same speed and rhythm.

This time, Haruto also altered the order of several steps and applied additional preparation techniques to certain ingredients.

The oven gave a soft chime.

An overwhelmingly rich fragrance surged through the kitchen like a wave.

It drifted beyond the shop and into the alley, drawing curious glances from pedestrians passing outside.

The finished Poffins gleamed with brilliant golden light.

Each one was smooth and plump, resembling a piece of finely polished jade. Their fragrance was deep and enduring, refreshing the mind with a single breath.

”Fragrant Poffins!”

Nurse Joy covered her mouth, her eyes widening as she cried out in disbelief.

”They’re the highest-grade Fragrant Poffins!”

The quality she had failed to reach after years of research had just been created before her eyes.

That distinctive golden sheen was the unmistakable mark of a Fragrant Poffin.

There was no possibility of mistake.

Lorelei also stared at Haruto in astonishment.

She had assumed he would require several attempts before gradually discovering the method for producing the highest-grade Poffins.

She never imagined he would succeed on only his second batch.

Haruto picked up one of the golden Poffins and nodded with satisfaction.

”Not bad.”

He handed one each to Nurse Joy and Lorelei, then placed another into his own mouth.

It melted immediately.

An incredibly dense texture and layers of complex Berry fragrance unfolded across his tongue. A warm, abundant energy followed, spreading gently through his body.

Not only did it taste far better than an ordinary Poffin, but it also contained a strange power that soothed both body and mind.

’So Fragrant-grade Poffins possess an additional effect.’

Haruto considered the discovery quietly.

He would study the precise nature of that effect after returning to Professor Oak’s laboratory.

For now, however, he had already mastered Poffin-making, so there was no reason to remain.

Haruto wiped his hands and turned toward Nurse Joy.

”Thank you for teaching me. I’ve learned what I needed, so I won’t trouble you any further.”

He was just about to leave when Nurse Joy called out,

”Wait!”

Coming back to her senses, she hurried forward and stopped him.

A faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she asked nervously,

”Um... Haruto, I’m sorry. I was supposed to be the one teaching you, but now...”

”Would you be willing to teach me how to make Fragrant-grade Poffins?”

She had dreamed of mastering them for years.

Now that the opportunity stood directly before her, she refused to let it slip away.

Haruto agreed without hesitation.

”Of course.”

Nurse Joy could not replicate his knowledge of ingredients, his control over heat, or the assistance provided by the Melk Knife.

However, Haruto had already fully understood the essential principles behind Fragrant Poffins.

The balance of energy within the ingredients, the smallest fluctuations in temperature, and the complete fusion of every flavor...

With those insights, he could certainly help Nurse Joy avoid unnecessary mistakes and break through the wall that had held her back.

The moment he agreed, Nurse Joy’s face lit up with delight, and she thanked him repeatedly.