After absorbing a massive amount of Food Luck, Kael finally sensed that there was nothing left in the area for him to take. His ability only allowed him to absorb Food Luck that wasn't attached to a person.
In other words, he could absorb the Food Luck lingering around Acacia Shrine—but not the Food Luck bound to people like Zonge or Komatsu. Unless, of course, he killed them.
But honestly, killing someone with high Food Luck wasn't that simple.
If he tried to forcefully eliminate Zonge right now, who knew what kind of ridiculous twist fate would pull? For all he knew, Food Luck might drag Monkey King Bambina straight into the Human World the next second.
After all, Zonge looked exactly like Bambina's late lover. You could only say that monkeys and humans had very different standards of beauty.
There was another way—reach the level Acacia and the others attained in their later years. At that height, even Food Luck couldn't interfere.
But Kael wasn't there yet.
And he wasn't some bloodthirsty maniac either. If someone from the Gourmet Corp had that kind of Food Luck, he wouldn't hesitate to kill them. Even if Starjun showed up in front of him, the result would be the same.
But Komatsu and the others? Kael had his limits.
As he left, he noticed the old shrine priest watching him openly. Kael met his gaze, gave him a small nod, and walked away.
He had no intention of getting involved with the man. As for the ingredients missing from the shrine compared to the original story, Kael didn't plan to interfere. With Toriko and Komatsu around, things would work out on their own.
Then—
"…Huh?"
A wave of chaotic noise filled his ears. At the same time, everything around him seemed bathed in a golden glow.
Kael froze, speechless.
Because his Food Luck had grown too strong, the ingredients around him were actually speaking—each one hoping he would cook it.
This was one of the most bizarre traits of the Toriko world.
In other worlds, ingredients were living beings too. Their instinct was to fear death. But here? If an ingredient recognized a chef, it would willingly offer itself up.
They were alive—and yet they would walk straight to the cutting board without resistance.
"Can this thing be turned off…?"
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the voices abruptly vanished.
Kael blinked.
Then he laughed.
So it had an on-and-off switch. That was convenient.
He estimated that his current Food Luck was already beyond Komatsu's and Zonge's. In other words, he had likely become the number one in Food Luck in this world—and it was still increasing.
No one else would ever catch up.
With that settled, Kael returned to Gourmet Town and began perfecting his own Century Soup.
The framework was already there. He just needed a little more time to complete it.
Setsuno knew he had reached a critical stage. She made sure no one disturbed him and let him focus entirely on his work. As for her, she continued her usual daily routine.
Until she noticed Komatsu.
Although she had already taken Kael as her disciple, when Komatsu came to dine with Toriko, Setsuno immediately sensed something special about him.
His cooking skills weren't outstanding. He didn't have Gourmet Cells. His appearance was ordinary.
But he had a pure heart.
Modern chefs rarely possessed something like that anymore.
When she learned he was a head chef at a Gourmet Hotel, she was even more surprised.
A pure heart wasn't entirely rare among billions of people—but maintaining it as time passed was.
Take Otake, for example. Back in culinary school, he had worked just as hard as Komatsu and Nakaume. Back then, he probably had that same purity.
But once he stepped into society, it faded.
Komatsu and Nakaume were different. Even after facing reality, they had preserved that heart.
If a pure heart was precious, then one that endured hardship without being corrupted was even rarer.
That realization made Setsuno pay closer attention to Komatsu.
Of course, his immense Food Luck also played a part in drawing her focus.
Food Luck didn't just affect ingredients and safety—it shaped growth as well.
In canon, Komatsu's rapid development wasn't only because Toriko dragged him around the world to handle rare ingredients.
Setsuno's guidance had been crucial.
Her help had saved him countless detours.
Now, drawn by Food Luck, she decided to give him a push—though she had no intention of formally taking him as a disciple.
After Komatsu finished drinking her Century Soup, Setsuno asked casually, "What do you think of it?"
Komatsu lit up immediately, describing every flavor he had detected. He even suggested ingredients he might substitute—since many of the original components were things he had never encountered before.
He couldn't identify them precisely, so he replaced them with ingredients within his experience.
Setsuno was genuinely impressed.
She had once let Nono taste her Century Soup as well. Nono's answer had been more complete—but it sounded like something memorized from a textbook.
Komatsu's answer wasn't as comprehensive, but he actively filled in the gaps using his own understanding. That mattered far more.
As for comparing him to Kael?
There was no comparison.
Kael's version of Century Soup was probably only days away from completion.
"Komatsu, was it?" Setsuno asked. "Would you be interested in creating your own Century Soup?"
"Create… my own Century Soup?"
Komatsu and Toriko both stared at her.
"That's right. Your own."
She smiled faintly.
"It was Kael who helped me understand the true nature of the Century Soup"
"A hundred years ago, I tasted the original in Ice Hell. But there was too little of it. I spent a century trying to recreate it."
"And I failed."
Toriko and Komatsu both looked confused. She had clearly succeeded.
"I know what you're thinking," she said. "Yes, I have a finished product now. But that's thanks to Kael."
"He captured the original Century Soup from Ice Hell and brought it to me. He told me something important—that Century Soup is a miracle born from both nature and humanity."
"That's why I couldn't recreate it before. I needed the original as a catalyst. Only then could my own version be born."
"But that isn't the end. If I can create my own Century Soup, then others can too. Kael is nearly finished with his version. Soon, a third Century Soup will be born."
Toriko and Komatsu finally understood.
"I see…" Toriko rubbed his chin. "But do you really think Komatsu can pull it off?"
He believed in his partner—but Century Soup had taken Setsuno a century to complete. Even if the final step was the real bottleneck, the earlier stages had taken decades.
Kael was different. He was monstrously talented—and her disciple.
But Komatsu?
"I can't," Komatsu blurted out immediately. "I really can't. The flavors are too complex. And so many ingredients are ones I've never even seen."
He didn't think he could match a chef like Yuda, let alone surpass him.
Setsuno shook her head.
"Young man, don't sell yourself short."
"Experience and seniority aren't everything. Talent matters. And you already possess the first step necessary to create your own Century Soup."
"You understand the spirit of exploration."
"Most chefs, after tasting it, desperately try to list the ingredients they recognize. They only mention what they've personally eaten."
"But you're different. You not only did that—you also tried to substitute the unknown with what you understand."
"You search for the essence of a dish."
"That's why you have a chance."
Komatsu's face flushed red with excitement.
This was Century Soup.
Countless top chefs in the Human World had failed to recreate it. And yet Setsuno was telling him he had a shot.
How could he not be thrilled?
"You've already tasted it," Setsuno continued. "Now, go and experiment on your own."
"You may not know many of the ingredients—but you remember their flavors. Find substitutes. Rebuild it step by step."
"If you truly hit a wall and can't move forward, come back to me. I'll help."
Komatsu shot to his feet and bowed repeatedly.
Toriko stayed quiet, but his eyes shone with support.
In truth, after tasting Century Soup, Toriko had considered adding it to his Full Course Menu. But when he tried to make that decision, something felt… incomplete.
Now, knowing Komatsu would attempt his own version, he fully supported it.
Different chefs would create different flavors.
And Toriko would gather whatever ingredients Komatsu needed.
Just then, the lid to the underground kitchen lifted open.
Kael stepped out, holding a large bowl.
"Toriko, Komatsu. Long time no see. How've you been?"
"Kael!" Toriko grinned. "We've been good—"
His voice trailed off as all three of them stared at the bowl.
Inside it, an aurora shimmered.
Century Soup.
"You did it?" Setsuno asked, eyes gleaming.
Kael smiled.
"I did. This is my Century Soup."
Toriko and Komatsu exchanged a look.
In Toriko's gaze, Komatsu saw encouragement.
In Komatsu's, Toriko saw resolve.
Kael's success proved Setsuno's words weren't empty.
Komatsu still felt inexperienced—but that wouldn't stop him.
He wasn't as flashy as Soma Yukihira.
But he wasn't afraid of failure either.
If he failed once, he would try again.
Fail twice? Try a third time.
As long as he kept moving forward, he would eventually reach it.
During the Four Beasts incident in canon, he had already shown that.
Persistence didn't guarantee success.
But giving up guaranteed failure.