Chapter 353: A Smoking Red Tiger
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
A ferocious spicy aroma wafted through the air, and all of the customers around Schonard were drawn to his spicy grilled fish. Everyone had seen that an insanely spicy option was available, but no one had ordered it yet.
The large grilled fish was over half a meter long, and encompassed almost half the entire table. There was a dense layer of red chili peppers covering the fish, revealing only its head and tail. Just looking at that bed of peppers struck one with the urge to down a glass of ice-cold water, and the aroma wafting from the dish was quite formidable.
It was indeed very insane.
Mag had suggested that he order the insanely spicy level, and he actually did it; he really was a brave warrior. Everyone was looking forward to seeing his reaction after eating the fish. There was an orc who had a medium spice grilled fish, and his leather belt had snapped in half.
Vivian also glanced at Schonard’s grilled fish with a hint of surprise in her eyes. Due to her condition, she couldn’t eat too much spicy or stimulating foods.
As such, she was forced to eat a bland diet at home every day, and she was really craving some actual food. She did want something with flavor, but it was clear that the insanely spicy level was not for her. Her illness was most likely incurable, but she still wanted to live for a few more years.
However, if her body could permit it, she actually really did want to try the insanely spicy level grilled fish, just to see exactly how insane it was.
Schonard looked at the bright red grilled fish in front of him, and he could barely open his eyes in the face of its insanely spicy aroma. He was suddenly regretting his decision.
However, he quickly sensed the admiring gazes from the customers around him, and even Vivian seemed to be paying attention to him. As such, he was immediately reinvigorated, and he whipped his red hair to the side as he put on a nonchalant expression. He picked up his chopsticks, and extracted a morsel of fish meat.
Many of the customers in the restaurants had paused to stare at Schonard. Mag had just finished cooking a portion of Yangzhou fried rice, and he also stopped to look at Schonard with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. He also wanted to see what reaction Schonard would have after eating the insanely spicy grilled fish.
Vivian had already extended her chopsticks toward her own fish, but she slowly withdrew her hand as she stared at Schonard. She knew that Mag hadn’t suggested the insanely spicy level to Schonard because the former was a kind person. Mag appeared to be quite amicable, but he had quite a sharp tongue, and was definitely not some benevolent restaurant owner.
Schonard was thoroughly enjoying his time in the spotlight. Even though it was quite awkward that he had failed in his attempt to reserve the entire restaurant, he was now taking a step that no one had taken. In the process, he had also successfully drawn Vivian’s attention to him.
“So what if there are a few more chilis in here than normal? Heh, let me conquer this so-called insanely spicy level.” Schonard wore a disdainful expression as he made his declaration, and placed the morsel of fish meat into his mouth.
“Boom!”
The spicy juices poured into his mouth, and he felt as if something in his mind had just exploded. He was stunned for several seconds before returning to his senses, upon which his tongue had gone entirely numb. He felt as if he had just taken a sip of molten lava rather than a bite of fish.
His mouth was scorching hot yet completely numb, and it felt as if it didn’t even belong to him. He couldn’t even spit out the fish, as his mouth was unconsciously chewing on.
After biting into the fish, its succulent flesh melted in his mouth. Even though his entire mouth had already gone numb, he was somehow still able to clearly taste the sumptuous fish and its crispy skin. Even though the scorching sensation in his mouth wasn’t alleviated as a result, the delicious taste distracted him somewhat from his pain.
The instant he placed the fish meat into his mouth, his head of red hair completely stood on ends as if he had been electrocuted. His face turned red, then green, and then back to red, making it appear as if he were a human traffic light.
The most impressive of all was the fact that smoke was rising from his head like it was a chimney, and it was as if his red hair had been set alight.
“Wow, a smoking red tiger! That’s awesome!” Amy’s mouth was slightly agape as she clapped her little hands together.
“Pffft…” Vivian immediately burst into laughter upon hearing that. She was simply too adorable; Vivian was completely unable to suppress the urge to hug her.
“The insanely spicy level really is insane. Look at him; there’s smoke rising from his head! His new nickname should be red lion!”
“No, you forgot the smoking part!”
“Hahaha, Amy is so adorable! I want to abduct her.”
“You’d be sorry if you tried; she’s got two 10th-tier magic casters looking out for her.”
“After this ordeal, that guy will probably never want to eat anything spicy ever again. Looks like we have to be careful when we talk to Mag in the future. Otherwise, if he recommends an insanely spicy grilled fish to us, we’ll have to finish it even if we cry the entire time.”
All of the customers burst into laughter upon seeing that. Schonard was the one who had ordered the insanely spicy grilled fish. He was the perfect case study of a flexer who failed.
The insanely spicy level is not just adding a bit more chili than usual. Mag looked at the black chili pepper on his chopping board. That was the legendary insane chili paper. As the name suggested, it was insanely spicy, and was a refined version of Naga Viper pepper that the system had grown in this world.
It contained an extremely high level of capsaicin, but after the system’s refinements, the damage and stimulation it caused to the body was minimized. However, it was named the insane chili pepper for a reason, so it was impossible for it not to have side effects; it was just that those side effects were all acceptable for the average person.
Hopefully, the delinquent will learn how to be a decent person now. Mag turned away with a smile, and continued cooking.
Schonard could hear the Vivian and the customers’ laughter, and was slightly enraged. He had still underestimated just how the spicy the dish would be. However, he didn’t have the spare mental capacity to focus on his anger. His chopsticks were flying through the air, shoveling morsels of fish meat into his mouth. His mouth had already become completely numb, and only the delicious fish could slightly alleviate the burning sensation, so he could only eat without pause.
The flavor of the fish was simply too exquisite. Schonard had never had such delicious fish in his life, and he simply couldn’t—and didn’t want to—stop. As he ate, tears flowed uncontrollably down his face.
He basked in pain and pleasure with tears and snot running down his face, and had completely forgotten that he was trying to show his gentlemanly side to Vivian.
This is the first time I’ve ever seen a man cry from eating chili peppers. Vivian cast a disdainful glance at him before having a taste of her own fish. Her eyes immediately lit up as she did so, but her expression then quickly changed as she could feel the strapping around her chest tearing open…