Erina Nakiri had once wanted nothing more than to be the best chef in the world. That had been her dream, her purpose, her pride.
But ever since Daemon appeared in her life, a different kind of ambition quietly began to take root.
If I want to stand beside that man—not just in the kitchen, not as someone watching from the sidelines—I can't just stay a chef forever, can I?
Cooking for him and others in the chat group, watching him smile at other women while she stayed hidden behind a stove... the thought alone sent a shiver down her spine.
She didn't want that fate.
Erina Nakiri, the proud and pampered daughter of the Nakiri family, had never once thought she was inferior to anyone. She wouldn't accept being left behind.
She clenched her fist.
"Start the lottery," she said firmly.
[Ding! Congratulations to group member Erina Nakiri for drawing: Animal Bird-Bird Fruit – Mythical Zoan Type: Phoenix Form]
Miyuki Uchiha: "Huh? Is today just everyone's lucky day? A Mythical Zoan no less!?"
Yamamoto Mei: "It's got powerful regenerative abilities and can heal others, too. Not the best in direct combat or brute strength, but honestly... kind of perfect for Erina, who doesn't specialize in fighting."
Jibril: "Oooh~ A true immortal! A fantasy species I don't have in my collection yet."
Luo Hao: "Congratulations, Erina. It seems you finally gained a bit of self-preservation."
Sakura Matou: "Congrats, Sister Erina~"
Esdeath: "Keep training and refining your cooking. I love your dishes, and the next time we meet in another world, I expect both your strength and your cuisine to have leveled up."
Erina Nakiri: "Thank you, everyone."
Erina Nakiri: "Honestly, I didn't think I'd be this lucky… Daemon-san, it's only thanks to your quest that I got this chance at all. I'm really grateful."
Daemon: "Don't mention it. You're my little chef, after all—you're one of us."
Erina Nakiri: "…Hmm."
Miyuki Uchiha: "Wait, is it just me, or did she not protest being called 'little chef' this time?"
Esdeath: "Looks like someone's catching feelings."
The World of Food Wars
In the Nakiri estate, Senzaemon Nakiri stared at the strange, swirled fruit in his granddaughter's hand. His expression was a mix of awe and disbelief.
"You really drew something this valuable?" he asked, voice low with surprise.
Erina nodded, the edges of her lips curving into a rare, satisfied smile. "This fruit is a treasure even in the world of One Piece, Grandfather."
"A mythical phoenix… regenerative healing, flight, improved physical abilities. It can even treat others' injuries?" Senzaemon's eyes widened with every word.
"That's right," Erina replied softly.
The old man was quiet for a moment before clapping his hands together. "Erina, such a treasure—eat it immediately. Don't waste this opportunity!"
"Understood."
Without hesitation, Erina bit into the Devil Fruit.
Her face immediately twisted in horror.
"Ugh… it's disgusting!"
Her porcelain complexion turned pale, and she staggered slightly. The taste was revolting—but for someone with the God Tongue, it was beyond comprehension.
"Are you alright?" Senzaemon stepped forward, alarmed.
"I'll live…" Erina groaned, hand on her mouth. "I just wasn't expecting it to taste that bad."
But even as the flavor lingered, something began to stir within her.
Buzz—
Blue flames burst from her limbs, accented by hints of pale gold. They didn't emit heat, but anyone looking could sense their divine nature.
Under Senzaemon's stunned gaze, Erina's body transformed—feathers of green fire wrapped around her, wings stretching wide, and in mere moments, she had taken on the form of a majestic, mythic phoenix.
"…Magnificent," Senzaemon whispered. His eyes shimmered. "This… this is like witnessing a miracle."
Tears welled at the corners of his eyes as he gazed at the heavenly figure in front of him.
At that moment, a light voice called from outside.
"Grandpa? What are you doing in here?"
The door opened, revealing a silver-haired girl with crimson eyes—Alice Nakiri, Erina's cousin.
Senzaemon stiffened for a split second, then relaxed. If it had been anyone else, he might have silenced them. But Alice was family.
"Huh? What's that…? A phoenix? An immortal bird!?"
Alice blinked in disbelief. "That thing's gorgeous! Grandpa, did you adopt some rare species I've never heard of?"
"It's not an animal," Senzaemon said after a moment. "It's Erina."
"…Come again?"
Alice gawked. "Erina? That's Erina? Did you hit your head or something?"
But as she stared at the mythical creature, the green flames began to fade. Wings folded, feathers vanished, and Erina's human form returned.
Alice's jaw dropped.
"Eh!? It is Erina!? What—what just happened!? Are you secretly a mythical beast!?"
Alice rushed over, inspecting her cousin's body from head to toe in disbelief.
"Alice, stop! That tickles!" Erina protested, grabbing her cousin's wrist.
"Ah—!"
Alice suddenly let out a cry of pain. Her arm, now limp, hung at an unnatural angle.
"Alice!" Senzaemon gasped. "Erina, quickly—heal her! You don't know your own strength now!"
"I—I didn't mean to…"
Erina's eyes widened in panic. Without hesitation, she summoned the blue flames again and gently pressed them against Alice's arm.
Crack—
In mere seconds, the shattered bone knit itself back together. Alice's arm returned to perfect condition.
"…That's… that's impossible…" Alice stared in awe, flexing her now-healed arm. "You… you really are an immortal bird…"
Even Senzaemon was speechless, overwhelmed by what he'd just witnessed.
"I'm so sorry, Alice," Erina said, looking genuinely remorseful. "I didn't expect my body to change this much…"
Alice's tears welled again—though not from pain this time.
With an arm around her cousin's shoulder, she sniffled and asked, "So seriously… what happened to you?"
"That's right, Alice..."
Seeing that her grandfather made no move to stop her, Erina quietly began to explain the existence of the chat group to her cousin—along with a few shocking truths about the One Piece world.
"Hmm..." Alice tilted her head, brow furrowed.
"So what you're saying is... you might end up with a brother-in-law from another world? A strange one with a violent, arrogant personality—but also unexpectedly gentle to women?"
Her voice was tinged with mischief and confusion.
"A-Alice! Don't say weird things like that!" Erina's cheeks flushed red, her voice dropping as she looked away, flustered. "We don't even know each other that well yet!"
(Hmph, what is she imagining...!)
"Haha! Still so shy, Erina," Senzaemon chuckled heartily. He reached out and patted the heads of his beloved granddaughters. "But Alice isn't entirely wrong.
If this Daemon fellow truly is as powerful as they say... and if strong beings from that other world—like the so-called 'Celestial Dragon'—come here... then forming alliances now is critical. We'll need the support of the chat group's strongest."
"I see..." Alice nodded slowly, but something unsettled her deep down.
Erina... you're really going to do this? At 16, for the family's sake...?
Daemon. A powerful name from another world. A man who destroyed a kingdom with a smile—a monster among men.
Just what kind of man are you... Daemon?
[In the Chat Group]
Erina Nakiri: "[Image] Just tested it—my current strength could flatten a building. It feels incredible."
Uchiha Miyuki: "Whoa! What a gorgeous phoenix! Way better than Marco's pineapple-headed dead-fish stare. I guess the user's appearance really affects how the fruit powers manifest."
Sakura Matou: "So pretty... I'm kind of jealous."
Erina Nakiri: "You'll get something amazing too, Sakura-chan. I'm sure of it."
Jibril: "Truly exquisite. A shame we can't fight to the death—your head would make such a glorious addition to my collection. The immortal phoenix... definitely one for display!"
Erina Nakiri: "...Shivering. Terrified."
Sakura Tosaka: "Shivering~ Me too~"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Still obsessed with collecting heads, I see. You're incorrigible, Jibril."
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "That said... the phoenix form is stunning."
[Slice of life World – Kasumigaoka Utaha]
Utaha rested her chin on her hand, her long legs elegantly crossed, eyes drifting toward the glowing screen.
She should have been writing.
She wanted to be writing.
But...
He won't forget what he said... right?
The image of Erina's radiant phoenix form lingered in her mind. Power, beauty, and attention—Erina had it all in this moment.
Why am I even feeling this way? I've never gotten like this over a man before.
She let out a soft sigh, brushing a hand through her silky hair.
"Forget it. Whatever happens... happens."
[In the Chat Group]
Uchiha Miyuki: "Still can't believe you just ate it straight away, Erina. You didn't even ask Luo Hao to strengthen it?"
Erina Nakiri: "I… thought it was best not to risk it. I'm just an ordinary girl. Getting a mythical Zoan fruit was already more than I ever hoped for."
The others understood, even if she didn't say it aloud.
Everyone in the group knew what she really feared—Luo Hao's strengthening success rate was... legendarily unpredictable.
Strengthens or ruins your life—a meme born from blood and tears.
[Godslayer World]
Sitting in tranquil meditation, Luo Hao suddenly shuddered.
"...Who's slandering me again?"
[System Notification – Chat Group]
Sakura Matou: "Father... and that dirty old bug... they're here!"
Sakura Matou: "They're coming for me!!"
Sakura: "Daemon-nii! Utaha-senpai! Please—come save me!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "On my way."
Daemon: "Ready."
Mission Start: Rescue Sakura Matou
In the blink of an eye, both Daemon and Utaha vanished from their worlds.
[Back in Stussy's Room]
"Huh... Daemon Saint?"
Stussy, lazily sprawled beside the pillow, blinked in mild confusion as she sensed Daemon's sudden departure.
She stretched, yawned, and closed her eyes again.
Whatever. He doesn't need my permission.
After all, she'd already "fought" with him for hours.
Now she was full, drowsy... and ready to recharge for the next round.
[Moonlit Night – Fate World]
"No... please, Father, I don't want to go!"
A tiny girl—barely six years old—trembled in a corner, eyes wide with terror.
"That old man's lying to you! He's... he's a dirty old man and a monster! The Matou clan only uses insects—he'll torture me!"
Beside her, seven-year-old Rin stepped forward, defiant.
"I believe her! Sakura wouldn't say something like this unless it was true! That thing is disgusting—I don't trust him!"
But Tohsaka Tokiomi's brow creased in irritation.
"Rin, Sakura—this is enough. You're embarrassing yourselves."
His disappointment was clear.
He truly loved his daughters. That's why he thought he'd found Sakura a good home—better than being dissected by the Mage's Association.
But to him, a magician patriarch, his word was final.
"Hehe, Tokiomi, don't be upset," said the dirty old man with a smile that made Sakura's skin crawl. "She's just afraid of strangers. I'm sure we'll get along well in no time."
He chuckled, feigning kindness.
But inside, he was already planning.
How does this child know? She'll need to be... disciplined.
Tokiomi turned and sighed. "Enough of this. I've made my decision."
He reached forward to grab Sakura.
"Father, no!" she sobbed, curling up like a wounded animal. "Please believe me! Please don't send me there!"
Rin tried to resist, but at only seven, she had no strength to stop him.
She could only watch in helpless rage as her little sister was dragged away.
--------------------------------------
Support me at patreon.com/Arthorain and read upto 50 Advanced Chapters!