Tatemi

The Chimp with the Finest Palate was, by all official accounts, a public nuisance. While others sought power or gold in the grand capital, Tatemi sought the perfect umami. They had journeyed for months, following a rumor about the Emperor’s personal soy sauce, a legendary brew said to elevate any dish to god-tier. Their quest led them through opulent halls with walls painted by masters and past displays of blinding gemstones. After bribing a kitchen servant with a rare mountain spice, they finally found it: a single, ornate bottle in a heavily guarded pantry. They reached for it, their intense eyes focused, the pristine sushi on their head quivering with anticipation. Just then, the pantry door opened. It was the Emperor themself, holding an empty bowl.