Kapitel 36: Tamako, the Fearsome Mother-in-law

(A/N: Hey, you! Don't forget to comment, review, and add this story to your collection!)

--- Chapter 36 ---

Upon pushing the door and entering the house, Tenma smelled a pleasant scent wafted in the air. He smiled faintly because the aroma was coming from broth making.

"Hmm, it smells good~!" Eri sniffed with her little nose. "Tamako-san's cooking skill is indeed better than mine."

"Me too..." Kanao sighed helplessly.

Kanao and Eri have learned how to cook from Tenma, but they struggle to master his cooking skills due to the vast knowledge, intuitions, and techniques required.

Not to mention, they also have to train their Martial Arts

They couldn't defeat Tamako, who wholeheartedly focused on improving her cooking skills. Even though she didn't receive Tenma's guidance for a year, she still left Kanao, Eri, and others in the dust.

Second to Tenma only, such a statement is not an underestimation.

Tenma quietly removed his slippers and stepped gently onto the wooden floor, careful not to alert Tamako, as he moved to the now-renovated living room.

The living room now has furnished brown wooden floors, concrete walls, sturdy wooden beams, and a kotatsu in the center, facing the western-style fireplace. Burning logs inside the fireplace crackled, warming the entire house with an airflow-heating design.

It's hard to believe this living room used to be cramped, which forced Tenma and six others to sit shoulder-to-shoulder around a kotatsu.

Tenma glanced to the left, slowly peeking at the elegant, feminine figure wearing a green kimono in the harmonious-looking kitchen.

She has fair skin, an attractive face, black hair tied in a bun, and soothing brown eyes. Besides that, her restrained bosom, thin waist, hourglass figure, and swaying bubble butt are very enticing.

Gulp~!

Tenma couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

He hurriedly shook his head gently, 'What are you thinking, Tenma? She's your mother. Curb your unholy thoughts.'

Amused by Tenma's struggle, Iris pretentiously said, 'You know people in my universe don't have problems with marriage between family members because genetics are our biggest breakthrough. On top of that, Tamako is your adopted mommy.'

'Hehe, it's okay, Tenma. This Marchioness understands. You're in puberty right now, and the raging hormone is doing wonders, especially after you completed the 3rd Stage of Stellar Transformation. Why not take Mommy Tamako right here, right now?'

[Pervert!] Hestia called Iris out.

'Hahaha, I am! AND I'M PROUD OF IT!' Iris laughed out loud.

[...]

"..."

Kanao and Eri looked at Tenma, admiring Tamako from behind, and glanced at each other.

They had to admit Tamako's transformation is nothing but a shocker in the last four years. She turned from a poor farmer to a refined woman in the most magical way. Even some high-class women in the big cities didn't have Tamako's dignified atmosphere.

Jealousy?

Kanao and Eri couldn't even afford to be jealous. After all, Tamako is akin to a second mother to them. She has been kind to them all this time.

'No, not now.' Tenma murmured, causing Iris's smirk to widen.

After that, Tenma entered the kitchen confidently and said, "Kaa-san, I'm back."

"Ma-kun~!!" Tamako was shocked by his voice. She turned around, and her eyes immediately lit up.

She threw herself at Tenma's muscular chest and hugged him tightly.

'Aaah, I miss MA-KUN SO MUCH~!'

'His smell has become more manly~!'

'And all this muscle...'

Tenma caught Tamako, hesitantly holding her waist.

Smooch!

Tamako pecked Tenma's cheek charmingly, "Ara-ara, my Ma-kun has become more handsome. What should I do~?"

"Haha, you too, Kaa-san. You have become more beautiful." Tenma chuckled, praising her back.

"Mmm, what a smooth talker~!" Tamako cheerfully responded.

After hugging for a few minutes, Tamako reluctantly stopped and glanced at Kanao and Eri. "Ah, Kanao-chan, Eri-chan, you're also here."

"Sorry for the intrusion, Tamako-san." Kanao greeted me with a calm smile.

"TAMAKO-SAN~!" Meanwhile, Eri straight up running to hug Tamako.

"Hehe, Eri has become taller after a few months." Tamako warmly patted Eri, who was already on her chest.

She looked at them and puffed her chest, "Well, let's have breakfast while catching up. I just made a new dish."

They sat around the kotatsu, and Tamako served them a massive bowl of Chikuzenni. Chikuzenni is 'slowly' simmered chicken and veggies. It's good for warming up the body and giving energy for the morning.

And Tamako's Chikuzenni is definitely not your ordinary dish.

Tenma could taste several gentle but sweet ingredients and delicate yet not weak broth. The amount of chicken stock and salt is perfect, which enhances each veggie's original taste even further.

He couldn't find anything wrong with this dish. Yes, even with his God's Tongue. At the very least, his God's Tongue didn't find anything wrong with Chikuzenni's taste profile.

This simple-looking dish isn't simple at all!

"How was it? Good, right~?" Tamako winked at Tenma playfully.

"This is the result of Kaa-chan's hard work!"

Tenma nodded, "Mm, I can taste it."

Meanwhile, Kanao and Eri felt bittersweet inside. Her homemade dish alone is worth millions.

Tamako puffed her chest proudly, telling Tenma and two girls about her journey to refine her culinary skill and instinct.

While Tenma was in seclusion, a few chefs from outside Japan challenged Totsuki Culinary School, but she defeated them through sheer skill. They even called her the Holy Mother of Culinary Revolution and the Demoness Who Cook, which makes her blush.

"Can you believe it! They gave me such an embarrassing title!" Tamako pouted a little.

Tenma smiled, "I think that title suits you, Kaa-san. Since my cooking is revolutionizing Japan, and you're my mother, that is."

"And the Demoness Who Cooks also sounds cool!"

"Hmph. Then, I will begrudgingly accept those weird nicknames." Tamako scoffed but inwardly punched air because her beloved son seemed like her nickname.

She only tolerated this because of Tenma.

Kanao and Eri broke into cold sweats. They recalled some famous chefs from outside Japan visiting the Totsuki Culinary School, claiming their culinary skills were the best.

However, Tamako shattered their mind and body with her cooking.

Some even rolled their eyes white and drooled like fools, as if they had lost their souls.

That's why Tamako was called Demoness.

Don't be misled by Tamako's cheerful demeanor. She also can hold a petty grudge.

'Tamako-san is scary!' Kanao and Eri thought, sipping their Chikuzenni silently.

After finishing the entire Chikuzenni Tamako made, including the one in the pot, Tenma licked his lips happily. Hehe, such a warm and delicious welcome for his return.

Tamako sat beside Tenma and patted her lap, "Do you want to lie down and relax? Eating so much Chikuzenni, you must be full and sleepy~."

"Uh, okay..." Tenma agreed with her invitation, lying his head on her soft lap. The feeling of fabric and warm thighs is just perfect.

He sighed in relief, feeling the exhaustion from one year of seclusion melted by motherly warmth.

Kanao and Eri are somewhat jealous watching this, but they don't dare to say anything.

Tamako caressed Tenma's hair, looking at his handsome face and feeling satisfied spiritually. She glanced at Kanao and Eri, flashing them a warm smile.

'What a fearsome Mother-in-law!' Kanao thought to herself, lowering her eyes a little. It's not Kanae or Shinobu that Kanao should defeat, but this motherly woman!

"I also want to sleep on Tamako-san's lap!" Eri, being the child that she is, complained about this unfair treatment.

"..." Kanao.

...

Not too far away from the Wakami Village.

A young woman with long black hair and purple tips pierced a high-level demon's head with her katana. She wore a standard Demon Slayer Outfit and pale violet haori with a white spiderwebs pattern.

"And with that, my mission is complete~!" The young woman smiled coldly, pulling her katana and drawing blood in the misty morning.

She waved her katana to clean the demon's blood and sheathed it, staring at the rising sun.

She reached for the leather collar around her fair neck and breathed deeply, "Mmm~! I wonder if Tenma-sama has exited his seclusion. He should be, right?"

"I can't wait to meet him~!"

...