Right after Aletta left, Erina opened her eyes again and noticed the messages in the chat group.
[Erina Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 2): How should I put it… this fried rice is simply ordinarily good. It doesn't have anything particularly impressive about it.]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Then out of a hundred, how many points would you give it?]
[Erina Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 2): By my standards, eighty points.]
[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 5): Eighty points? That low?]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): That is a bit low. To me, the French fruit pudding here is absolutely a hundred out of a hundred.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): That's probably just because you've only eaten pudding from this restaurant, so you think it's the best.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): I trust Erina's judgment. If she says so, then that means the fried rice is only worth eighty points.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Besides, Erina's scoring standards are extremely strict. Scoring eighty from her already proves this fried rice is an excellent dish.]
[Erina Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 2): Mhm, Eriri is right. While it's only eighty points for me, for ordinary people it's already something very rare.]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): Alright then.]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): So how many points would Aoi-nee's cooking get in your evaluation?]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): I'm curious about that too.]
[Eris (Level 3, Stage 6): Same here.]
[Erina Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 2): Isn't it obvious? Full marks, of course. Compared to Aoi-nee's cooking skills, I pale in comparison.]
[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 5): Erina's full score… just how delicious must it be?!]
[Eris (Level 3, Stage 6): Hearing all this only makes me look forward to it more.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): When you leave Victoria's side later, you can just use a Cross-Boundary talisman to come to our world. Then you can taste it yourselves.]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): ...]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Well, Natsuki-chan, tempted? Want to come along?]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): Hm… I'll think about it.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Why don't we just hold a gathering? After all, Eriri hasn't had a proper big party since she returned.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): And it would also be a good chance for the newcomers to truly get to know everyone.]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): True, we haven't had a proper gathering since the New Year party. It's already been half a year.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Good idea. I agree. Let's set it for tomorrow.]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Yay! Another gathering!]
[Moeha Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 1): Oooh! That's amazing!]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Then it's settled. Natsuki-chan, Frieren-chan, Victoria, Eris, and Lalatina—don't forget to come!]
[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 5): Don't call me Lalatina!]
...
Before long, about ten minutes passed, and Erina and the others finished the dishes they ordered.
After tasting the food here, Erina had no interest in staying any longer.
Just as she had said in the group, she only came to judge the cooking—just to see if anything here could impress her.
She had no intention of criticizing or interfering with the restaurant.
However, just as they were about to pay and leave, the manager, who had been waiting for this moment, stopped them.
"Ladies, how was the fried rice? Did it suit your tastes?"
The manager didn't immediately bring up the matter of the school uniforms. Instead, he chose to start the conversation through the evaluation of the dish.
"It was decent. Nothing particularly surprising, but for ordinary people it's already remarkable. I can tell you've put in real effort in your cooking."
Erina made no attempt to hide anything, giving her most honest evaluation.
"I see. I'm sorry I couldn't satisfy you. I've taken your valuable opinion to heart. I'll work even harder to refine my cooking in the future."
Although the manager wasn't very pleased with Erina's judgment, he didn't press the issue. In his eyes, everyone had different tastes, and it was impossible to make a dish that everyone would love equally.
He didn't mind, but Aletta, who had come along out of curiosity, clearly did.
"That's not true at all. The manager's dishes are all very delicious…"
Although Aletta had her own favorites, to her, every dish the manager made was a rare delicacy. But her words were not acknowledged by the manager.
"Enough, Aletta. Don't say that. Everyone has different tastes. Perhaps my fried rice simply doesn't suit this guest."
"I understand, Manager."
Hearing his words, Aletta no longer argued. The trace of dissatisfaction faded from her face, and she bowed apologetically toward Erina.
"I'm sorry, dear guest. I was too rash."
Erina, however, was displeased. The manager's words might have sounded normal and without malice, but to her, they were an insult to her professionalism.
That alone was enough to make her lose her composure.
"Manager, I cannot accept what you said. I have never judged a dish with bias. Your words are an insult to my 'God Tongue.'"
Her sharp gaze bore into the manager. The oppressive force radiating from her eyes made him unconsciously step back several paces.
This scene immediately stirred excitement among the group members watching the livestream.
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Are they about to fight? Anticipation.jpg]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): At this point, wouldn't a cooking duel be the only reasonable outcome?]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): I don't think that's necessary…]
[Eris (Level 2, Stage 5): I think it sounds fun! It's just a cooking contest, not a battle to the death. Besides, it'd be nice to see Erina's cooking firsthand, hehe.]
As the group discussed, the commotion around Erina and the manager also drew the attention of other customers in the restaurant, who turned to watch.
"My apologies, miss. That wasn't my intention."
The manager bowed awkwardly to Erina, not expecting that an offhand remark would provoke such a strong reaction.
Seeing his sincere apology, Erina didn't know what else to say. Her displeasure gradually faded away.
Just as the group members thought the conflict had ended, an unexpected figure appeared in the restaurant.
With the clear sound of a bell, Nekoya's door was pushed open, and a fiery red figure carrying a massive iron bucket stepped inside.
However, since everyone's attention was still fixed on Erina and the manager, no one noticed her entrance.
But the group members watching the livestream recognized her immediately.
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Looks like the real show isn't over yet~]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): That's the Red Dragon, one of the Six Pillar Gods, right? Doesn't she usually only come when the restaurant is about to close? Why so early this time?]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Idiot, isn't it obvious? She was drawn here by Erina and the manager's conflict.]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): But that hardly warrants her coming in person. Erina and the manager didn't even have a real conflict—it was nearly resolved.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Just watch and you'll see why she came. In any case, with her strength, there's no way she'd be a threat to Erina or Alice.]
[Asuna Yuuki (Level 7, Stage 2): True.]
In the memory images Eriri had shared, although the powers of the Six Pillar Gods weren't detailed, the group members at least knew their general level classifications.
The figure before them, known as the "Red Queen," the Red Dragon, had been described in Eriri's memory images as possessing the power of Level 6, Stage 5.
While that level was already at the ceiling of this world, to Erina and Alice it was nothing worth mentioning.
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Could it be that she came here because of Erina's cooking?]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): How could that be? She doesn't even know Erina is a great chef.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Really? Then how about a bet? If she came because of Erina's cooking, I win. If not, I lose.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): As for the wager—same as always, how about it?]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Sure, let's bet! Even if I lose, it's no big deal!]
As Eriri and Chika struck another wager, the Red Queen was already approaching Erina and the others.
By this point, it would be impossible for the other patrons not to notice her.
Not only the customers, but even the manager, who had just apologized to Erina, looked on in astonishment.
Sensing the terrifying aura radiating from the Red Queen, all the diners, led by the Great Sage Artorius and his friend Tatsugorou, showed expressions of fear.
Though they didn't know who this horned red-haired woman was, they instinctively knew she was someone far beyond what they could ever provoke.
They immediately shrank back, not daring to look toward Erina's side again.
Erina and Alice, however, had long since noticed the Red Queen's arrival.
As for the reactions of the other customers, the Red Queen wasn't surprised at all. The reason she usually came only right before closing time was precisely to avoid causing this kind of disturbance.
She regarded Nekoya, its manager, and its staff as her personal treasure. Whenever the restaurant opened for business, she would keep watch over it, ensuring that no fool would harm her treasure.
Naturally, she had seen clearly the conflict between Erina and the manager.
But her reason for coming this time was not to protect her treasure. It was Erina's words that had piqued her interest, to the point that she was willing to break her own rule.
"Welcome. Why are you here so early today?"
Completely unaware of the tense atmosphere, the manager smiled warmly at the Red Queen, treating her as a regular customer.
"I came because I found something interesting."
The Red Queen smiled back at him, then turned her gaze toward Erina.
"I heard what you said just now. Since you judged the manager's cooking as only 'not bad,' does that mean you can make something even tastier?"
"Of course!"
Erina nodded without the slightest hesitation.
When it came to her cooking, she could never be humble. Her pride would not allow it.
"In that case, why not have a cooking match with the manager? Let me and the other guests judge whose dish is superior."
The Red Queen looked at Erina with full confidence. In her eyes, there was no one in this world who could refuse her suggestion.
Yet Erina immediately shook her head.
"While the manager's cooking is good, in my view it still falls short. A match without challenge holds no meaning for me."
Just as her pride would never let her be humble about her cooking, it also would not allow her to duel someone so far beneath her.
Hearing Erina's words, even the easygoing manager felt a little disheartened. But he wasn't the type to insist on competing, so when Erina refused, he simply thought to let the matter drop.
Unfortunately, the Red Queen had no intention of letting it end there.
"Empty words won't convince anyone. Or is it that you don't actually have such skill, and you're just boasting?"
Though she smiled, her words were a clear provocation.
Such a childish attempt at goading had no effect on Erina. She was about to refuse again—when suddenly, she heard Eriri's voice echo in her mind.
Her expression shifted slightly. Though she seemed unwilling, her look softened into one of helpless indulgence.
Then she turned toward the Red Queen. Her eyes gleamed sharply, and her lips parted as she spoke softly:
"I accept your proposal."
—
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