[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Huh? Why did Erina suddenly agree? From the way she looked before, it seemed like she was going to refuse again.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Because I made her agree.]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): ???]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): How did you do that? I didn't see any message in the chat group where you persuaded Erina.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Very simple. To avoid her missing the group messages, I spoke to her directly.]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): You can do that? Aren't you in different worlds?]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Natsuki-chan, it looks like you still don't understand the weight of Level 8, Stage 9. Crossing into another world just to deliver a message is nothing more than a trivial matter for Eriri.]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): That's right. No matter what unbelievable thing Eriri does, don't be surprised.]
[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 5): Amazing!]
[Eris (Level 3, Stage 6): Indeed. Compared to Eriri, I as a god seem almost fake.]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): So conflict really can't be avoided in the end…]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): Miss Eriri, why did you make Miss Erina agree? She didn't seem very willing to compete with the manager.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Because I think it'll be more fun this way.]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): I see…]
[Alice Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 1): Don't worry, Victoria. It's just a simple cooking contest, not a formal shokugeki. Nothing serious will happen.]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): Mm, I understand.]
Victoria had a very good impression of Nekoya Western Restaurant. Over the years, its desserts had brought her much joy. So she didn't want to see Erina and the manager stirring up unnecessary conflict.
But at this moment, she didn't have the power to stop what was about to happen. She could only hope things wouldn't get too strained afterward.
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): By the way, just now, wasn't Eriri's bet with Chika another win for her?]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Mhm~]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Isn't that obvious? Every time they bet, Eriri always wins.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): I bet Chika already knew she would lose. Maybe she was even secretly looking forward to Eriri making her fulfill the bet.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Hmph, such a sly woman!]
[Kaguya Shinomiya (Level 7, Stage 2): Exactly. This Cancer of Earth is far too cunning.]
[Moeha Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 1): Whoa, so that's the kind of person Chika-oneechan is. Truly, appearances are deceiving!]
[Toyomi Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 1): Chika-chan is so brave~]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): I'm not! I didn't! Stop making things up!]
[…]
While the group members teased Chika about the bet, Erina and the manager's cooking contest officially began.
The other diners' curiosity about the contest had already outweighed their fear of the Red Queen. Mainly because they could sense that she bore them no hostility. Otherwise, they wouldn't dare to act so casually.
Originally, the manager didn't want to agree to a cooking contest with Erina. But under the Red Queen's persuasion and the expectant gazes of the customers, he reluctantly accepted.
Fortunately, the restaurant's kitchen was large enough to accommodate both Erina and the manager at the same time.
Soon, ten minutes passed, and both had finished preparing their dishes.
When the two of them walked out carrying large plates, the diners who had been waiting instantly perked up, eyes fixed on the two servings of fried rice.
Once Erina and the manager placed their respective plates of fried rice on the counter, the Red Queen smiled as she looked at them both.
"Then let's taste the manager's fried rice first. You don't have any objections, do you?"
Although her beloved dish was red wine stew, and she had suggested using that as the theme of the contest, her proposal was directly rejected by Erina.
Not only the Red Queen, but other diners also brought up their own favorite dishes, hoping one of them would be chosen as the theme for the contest.
But without exception, all of them were rejected by Erina.
According to her, since the manager's best dish was fried rice, then it was only proper to use fried rice for their duel. At the same time, it was also to prove to everyone whether her earlier evaluation of the manager's fried rice was biased or not.
No one could argue with that, so they could only agree to Erina's proposal.
"Of course I have no objections. The result is already decided anyway."
With her arms crossed, Erina stood before the crowd, her exquisitely beautiful face filled with haughty pride.
"I don't mind either. Whoever goes first makes no difference."
The manager spread his hands and revealed a helpless expression. Although he wasn't fond of competing for superiority, now that the contest had begun, he would still give it his all. As for the result, it wasn't possible to say he didn't care at all—if possible, he still hoped to win.
As for Erina's arrogance, the Red Queen said nothing more. She simply smiled and turned her gaze toward Aletta.
"Waitress, go and divide the fried rice among the guests."
"Ah, yes, I understand."
Originally somewhat distracted, Aletta was startled when the Red Queen called her name, but quickly came back to her senses. She hurried to the cupboard, pulled out a large stack of small bowls, and divided the fried rice evenly into them before serving the eager diners.
Since the portion of fried rice wasn't large, each bowl only contained one or two spoonfuls—just enough for a taste.
But when she handed one to an elf lady, the elf refused. Because the fried rice contained meat, no matter how appetizing it looked, she couldn't accept it. She stayed only out of curiosity, not to taste the dishes.
Knowing the elf's preference, Aletta didn't press her. She simply brought the extra portion back to the counter. Coincidentally, she had forgotten to prepare her own serving, so this one made up for it.
In less than a minute, the diners finished their portions, each showing an expression of lingering satisfaction.
"Although it's not as good as fried shrimp, the manager's fried rice is indeed very delicious!"
A blond man in knight's garb expressed his admiration.
Hearing his words, the braided woman beside him nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. It's rare for our opinions to align, but this fried rice is truly delicious, on par with the fried cutlets. Though personally, I still prefer fried cutlets."
Other diners also voiced their opinions, and the once quiet restaurant grew lively with chatter.
Victoria, Darkness, and Eris, who had also tasted the fried rice, shared their views in the chat group.
[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 5): The fried cutlet is delicious, but so is this fried rice. If fried rice is only worth eighty points in Erina's eyes, then I'm really curious how good her fried rice will be.]
[Eris (Level 3, Stage 6): Indeed, I'm getting impatient already.]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): It is delicious, but in my view, still not as good as French pudding. I wonder if Erina's fried rice can change my mind.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Don't worry, it'll definitely amaze you.]
Just like the other diners, the Red Queen also found the manager's fried rice delicious, but compared to her beloved red wine stew, it still fell short. This only showed that the manager's cooking, while tasty, had not transcended human limits—it could not surpass personal preference.
Since this wasn't an official cooking competition, no one scored the manager's dish. They only needed to decide in the end which one tasted better.
Soon, it was time for the diners to taste Erina's dish.
Following the same steps as before, Aletta distributed the fried rice Erina had prepared to all the diners except the elf lady, also making sure to leave portions for herself and the manager.
But the moment she put a spoonful into her mouth, her unwilling expression vanished in an instant. Her face changed dramatically.
It wasn't just Aletta. At that very moment, the manager, the Red Queen, and everyone else present showed the same look of shock.
An overwhelming flavor surged through their souls via their taste buds, stunning them completely.
Then, one by one, their faces lit up with expressions of ecstasy, as if they had taken some indescribable drug—their cheeks flushed red with heat.
In that instant, red wine stew, fried cutlets, fried shrimp, chocolate sundaes, French fruit pudding…
All of it became meaningless.
Only this fried rice, exploding in their mouths, became their one true love.
"Why is there only this little? Damn it, I want more!"
When they came back to their senses and saw the empty bowls before them, the same thought struck everyone at once.
Some even went so far as to lick their bowls clean, desperate to taste every last trace of fried rice.
Then, with eager eyes, they turned to Erina.
"Miss, could you please make some more fried rice? This tiny portion isn't nearly enough. Don't worry, I'll pay you handsomely—please!"
The blond man, who had just finished licking his bowl spotless, stood up and begged Erina, his eyes full of desperation.
As soon as he made the request, other diners followed suit, one after another, all pleading for Erina to cook more fried rice.
The elf lady, who hadn't participated in the tasting, looked around in confusion. She couldn't understand why these people were losing themselves over nothing more than fried rice.
Meanwhile, the Red Queen's gaze burned as she stared at Erina. Anyone could tell she had her sights set on her.
The chat group was just as lively.
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Just as I predicted—Erina's cooking is a complete dimensional strike here.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Indeed. Erina's skills may not yet surpass Aoi-nee's, but they're not far off.]
[Erina Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 2): It's nothing special.]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Look at their faces! This is hilarious, haha.]
[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 5): For Erina's fried rice to taste this good—it's incredible.]
[Eris (Level 3, Stage 6): It's not enough!]
[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 6): I was ignorant. You were right. It's only because I'd never tasted true cuisine that I thought French pudding was the best.]
Victoria's face was still flushed from the overwhelming taste, her eyes full of disbelief. Moments ago, she had thought the exaggerated reactions in Shokugeki no Soma were simply dramatization—but now, she realized they were real.
After all, she had just experienced it herself.
[Arche (Level 7, Stage 2): Look at the Red Dragon's eyes. She doesn't seem to have good intentions toward Erina.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Obviously. She wants to monopolize Erina's cooking.]
[Asuna Yuuki (Level 7, Stage 2): Hopefully she won't get beaten too badly by Erina.]
[Alice Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 1): Damn it, Erina's skills have leveled up again. Looks like I'll have to keep working hard. One day, I'll surpass you.]
[Erina Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 2): Alice, I suggest you give up on that unrealistic fantasy.]
[Alice Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 1): Don't get cocky, Erina!]
[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 8): This is way too exaggerated…]
Watching the livestream, Natsuki Minamiya swallowed hard as she looked at the faces of the diners. If Eriri's words had only tempted her a little before, now she was desperately craving a taste.
Thinking of tomorrow's gathering, she immediately made up her mind.
No matter what happened, she was going. Not even Jesus could stop her!
—
—
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven