After wrapping up their affairs, Setsuno and Kael set out together for the Old First Biotope, traveling aboard Setsuno's jellyfish camping beast. Honestly, camping beasts like this were absurdly convenient.
According to Setsuno, she had tamed this jellyfish camping beast in the Gourmet World, and it had followed her ever since. While it wasn't considered especially powerful by Gourmet World standards, it was more than sufficient in the Human World.
The Old First Biotope was located within the Hungry Triangle, an area perpetually shrouded in a terrifying, ultra-colossal Hungry tornado. Under normal circumstances, no one dared approach this place—getting too close was basically a death sentence.
Even truly powerful individuals had little interest in coming here. The area bordered the Gourmet World, meaning some marine creatures from the Gourmet World would occasionally wander in. Their strength wasn't outrageous—usually just over capture level 100—but that was still more than enough to deter most people.
All things considered, the Gourmet Corp had seriously underestimated the situation.
The Seven Gourmet Miracles all possessed unique qualities. Take the Gourmet Pyramid, for example. On the surface, it looked like nothing more than a pyramid, with no obvious features at all. In reality, however, it had once been a gathering place for the Red Nitros.
The so-called pyramid was merely the tip of the tallest structure in their city—the vast majority of it had long since been buried underground.
The value of the Gourmet Pyramid went without saying. Not only were there many Red Nitros in suspended dry sleep, but there was also a cookbook left behind by the Gold Chef, Jiji.
It recorded countless preparation methods for rare and ultra-rare ingredients. For any chef capable of understanding it, that book was nothing short of a supreme culinary grimoire.
As a Red Nitro, Gold Chef Jiji possessed astonishing culinary skill—likely second only to Frohze. Given how long he had lived, it stood to reason that he shouldn't have been inferior to her by much.
Unfortunately, whether Red Nitro or Blue Nitro, the Nitros' growth ceiling was fixed.
Unlike humans, they couldn't rapidly improve their abilities. As a result, Jiji's cooking remained perpetually one step short of Frohze's level. Still, with sheer time and experience, he had developed preparation methods for countless ingredients.
Before Komatsu learned to hear the voices of ingredients, nearly all methods for preparing the Eight Kings' ingredients were based on Jiji's notes. Frohze was the lone exception—when she forcibly prepared GOD, she relied on something else entirely.
That woman was an absolute monster. Even without hearing the ingredient's voice, she used her divine cooking techniques to force GOD into submission. The price she paid was her life.
Everything inside the Gourmet Pyramid was undeniably priceless. And if that was the case, what about the other Gourmet Miracles? Naturally, most of them were connected, in one way or another, to the Nitros.
The Old First Biotope that Kael and Setsuno were heading toward was no exception. Although Acacia had shamelessly renamed it "his kitchen," the place had originally been constructed by the Nitros.
It had once been a settlement of Red Nitros, and this particular group had been far from weak. The massive dome that enveloped the entire Old First Biotope was crafted from a type of shellfish native to the Gourmet World.
Its hardness surpassed even diamond, yet the Nitros had used it to construct a dome of such staggering scale.
More impressively, the dome could mimic weather patterns, perfectly reproducing external climate changes.
Riding the jellyfish camping beast, Kael and Setsuno plunged straight into the raging storm. Though terrifying in appearance, the storm posed little threat to true powerhouses—and even the jellyfish camping beast was unfazed. After all, it was a genuine creature of the Gourmet World.
In truth, the storm itself wasn't the most dangerous aspect. The real danger came from the ferocious beasts caught up and hurled into the air by the tornado.
Many beasts, once swept inside, formed bizarre and deadly ecological niches. Even if an intruder managed to withstand the storm, they could still be torn apart by the creatures lurking within it.
Fortunately, the jellyfish camping beast could conceal its presence. In no time at all, the two of them slipped through the storm's outer barrier.
"I really don't get what the Nitros were thinking," Kael said. "Wrapping their own home in a storm like this—was that really necessary?"
Back when Kael had asked about the Old First Biotope, Setsuno had explained its situation in detail, including the fact that it was built by the Nitros.
In her eyes, Kael was already strong enough to learn about the Nitros. He was bound to encounter them eventually, so it was better to prepare him in advance rather than have him caught off guard later.
"Maybe it was just some strange hobby of theirs," Setsuno replied.
She thought it was overkill as well. Any creature too weak to pass through the storm wouldn't even make it close before being devoured by sea beasts.
As for those strong enough to cross the storm, the tornado served little purpose beyond being mildly annoying. Its defensive value was practically nonexistent.
In the end, Setsuno could only chalk it up to the Nitros' peculiar tastes. Hearing that, Kael nodded in agreement. The Nitros were an intelligent race, but they were nothing like humans.
If he remembered correctly, the Nitros were obsessed with building labyrinths. The Gourmet Pyramid was the prime example—turning your own home into a maze wasn't something most people would ever consider.
Yet the Nitros had done it. And not just once.
As the two chatted about the Nitros, they made their way toward the entrance. Setsuno had been here before, so she naturally knew where it was.
Neither of them had any intention of breaking the dome. They weren't Girm, after all. That guy had shattered it simply because he found it troublesome—but this wasn't his moment.
Right now, Grim was still suffering undercover within the Gourmet Corp, waiting for a chance to obtain the Infernal Bee.
After Kael and Setsuno entered the passageway, a streak of red light suddenly shot out from deep within. Kael noticed it instantly and caught it in his hand.
"This is a Infernal Bee," Setsuno explained. "They're drawn to bright places and extremely rare. This one should be a guide bee—it travels back and forth between the island where Golden Wheat lives and the Old First Biotope."
They knew about this place because of their connection to Acacia. For outsiders, the only way to locate it was by following a Infernal Bee.
Kael glanced at it briefly, then used Knocking to immobilize it before slipping it into his pocket.
"I'll tame the Infernal Bee later. For now, it can help keep this place hidden."
Setsuno understood immediately. She knew others were keeping an eye on the Infernal Bees as well. She and the others wouldn't kill them outright—but Kael didn't need to.
By taming it, he could have the Infernal Bee remain in the Old First Biotope for the time being, cutting off the Gourmet Corp and Girm at the root.
Kael was actually curious how long Girm could continue staying with the Gourmet Corp if he never got what he wanted. When the final war began, Kael wondered which side he would ultimately choose.
"That's a pretty good idea," Setsuno said with a nod.
As the Gourmet Eclipse drew closer, massive changes were about to shake the world. The last thing Setsuno and the others wanted was to be distracted by matters like this.
If Kael could temporarily prevent anyone else from discovering the area, that was more than welcome.
After securing the Infernal Bee, the two of them—and the jellyfish—continued deeper into the passage. The Nitros' hobbies might have been strange by human standards, but there was no denying their talent for creating wonders.
The shell forming the dome was over a kilometer thick. It was an absurdly extravagant construction—truly befitting the Nitros.
The passage itself was beautiful as well. It was easy to see why this shell could simulate weather.
Soon enough, they emerged from the tunnel, and an overwhelming sight greeted them—ingredients, everywhere.
Within the Old First Biotope, four distinct regions representing different seasons were clearly visible, each filled with its own natural phenomena.
It was essentially a miniature super-ecosystem.
Beyond that stood a colossal structure—the device sealing the Gerold(Inferno Dragon Wolf).
The device was connected to an enormous altar, covered in Corona Sunflower. These sunflowers contained immense energy, which powered the seal.
If the altar were destroyed and the energy supply cut off, the seal would break.
Granny Ayame, the guardian of this place, was tasked primarily with tending to the Corona Sunflower and ensuring the seal remained intact. She had been chosen because the Sun Crown Sunflower was part of her Full Course Menu.
No one understood those sunflowers better than she did. And after being deeply hurt by Grim, she had grown disillusioned and chosen to come here of her own accord.
In the end, she became the guardian of the Old First Biotope. Setsuno hadn't seen her old friend in a very long time.
"Ayame's presence is over there," Setsuno said. "Let's go see her first. You can gather ingredients later. None of the ingredients here will give you much trouble—but don't touch the sealing device. What's inside is still far beyond you."
Kael nodded immediately. This place was an unquestionable treasure trove. Some of the ingredients here were ones he hadn't obtained before—like the Puffer Whale.
The capture season for the Puffer Whale had already passed by the time Kael arrived, so there were none available. Toxic ones, however, were still on the market.
He wasn't particularly attached to the Puffer Whale anyway. At his current level, it couldn't activate his Gourmet Cells. And there was no rule stating it had to be captured in a seaside cave.
After spawning, Puffer Whales returned to the deep sea. With enough strength, venturing into the depths wasn't impossible.
That said, Kael still preferred capturing one here. The Puffer Whales in this biotope lived in rivers rather than the sea, making them much easier to deal with.
Before long, the two of them found Granny Ayame. She hadn't restored her youth yet. In the original story, she only used Knocking to rejuvenate herself because outsiders had invaded.
Uncertain of their strength, she had needed to ensure she was at peak combat power.
Now that there were no intruders, there was no need.
"Ayame!"
As Granny Ayame busied herself cooking, a familiar voice suddenly rang down from above. She looked up in confusion—and then her expression transformed into pure joy.
She saw her old friend descending toward her.
Ayame had chosen to come here to avoid dealing with people after being hurt by Girm. But after so long without seeing anyone, the sudden appearance of her friend made her genuinely happy.
"Setsuno!"
She shouted back, and the jellyfish camping beast descended smoothly to the ground.
Kael and Setsuno stepped down along the staircase formed from the jellyfish's body.
"It's been so long, Setsuno. I never thought you'd come all the way here. I'm really glad to see you!"
Ayame immediately took Setsuno's hand. No matter how much time passed, the bond between old friends remained.
"It really has been a long time, Ayame…"
They chatted for a while before Ayame finally noticed Kael standing beside Setsuno.
"And who is this?"
"That's my apprentice, Kael," Setsuno said frankly. "Besides visiting you, he also wants to gather some ingredients here."
"So you've taken on a disciple," Ayame said with emotion. "I can't believe it."
When Ayame had first come here, Setsuno hadn't had any apprentices yet.
"This is my second one," Setsuno said with a smile. "Kael has an older senior sister named Nono. She just didn't come along this time."