Chapter 81: Shokugeki

"... he just forgot all the spells even Leviosa!"

 Hermione waved her hand while explaining how Harry passed the first task in the tournament. 

"We worked for weeks while practicing movements and chanting the spells, and... he just forgot. Luckily, he managed to pull through in the end."

"As far as I've seen, your friend isn't a fan of studying." 

Winter sounded in while sipping her delicious tea. 

After all that delicious food, everyone was mostly back to normal and just talking.

"The influence of that redhead?" 

Shinoa guessed.

"Yes, he and Ron are more into Quidditch." 

Hermione expressed her dissatisfaction and clear misunderstanding.

"Magical games have always been interesting to most people."

 Rias shrugged. 

"Instead of Quidditch, we have Rating Games. They attract a lot of aristocrats and other high-ranking devils even my brother attends, and he's Satan."

"In our world, it's cooking and everything related to it. I think I might even demonstrate to you how it's done." 

Erina said this while looking quite pleased with the conversation and the gathering to reveal her true self.

"Are you going to challenge some unfortunate schoolkids?" 

I raised an eyebrow and smiled. 

"I think that wouldn't be fair, given the gap between your skills and theirs."

I said I was genuinely still unable to express the overwhelming joy said I was her food in words.

"Hmm, I won't ask them for anything or set any humiliating conditions but just a demonstration."

Erina crossed her arms under her chest and glanced away, clearly embarrassed by my words but also pleased by them. 

Who doesn't like deserved praise?

"Wow, this will be interesting! Finally, we'll see Erina's skill in action!" 

Shinoa exclaimed.

"If I cook anything, it's only potions..." 

Hermione whispered quietly.

It was nice to temporarily forget about potential galactic problems, alien gods, and dark multiverses and simply enjoy ordinary conversation. 

Once we finished the tea after lunch, Erina decided to show us around the mansion and the academy. 

The academy was located on a mountain and consisted of multiple interconnected buildings.

Chefs from all over the world aspire to attend this academy, as graduating from it is already a ticket to the top of the culinary world. 

Considering Erina's popularity, we couldn't go unnoticed.

"Erina! Are these your friends?" 

A girl with pink-purple hair emerged from one of the buildings, apparently where classes were being held.

She was dressed in chef's attire and held a knife in her hand, with traces of something red on her uniform and face.

"Hisako? Don't you have classes? You're not skipping, are you?" 

Erina asked her.

At this point, Hermione took a step back as she approached and began waving her arms with a knife.

"No! I finished! After your instructions, everything was easy." 

She explained, and it felt like... she was jealous of Erina's attention to us but more like one friend being jealous of another friend spending more time with others.

"Hmm, no wonder." 

Erina nodded proudly.

"Is she your friend? Do you have a friend with such an attitude towards people?" 

Shinoa smirked.

Hisako tightened her grip on the knife and shot a "scary" look at Shinoa.

"Of course, I have friends, not just you, and don't get any wrong ideas!" 

Errina snapped sharply, and her eyes widened slightly.

"Hehe, tsun-tsun." 

Shinoa commented.

"Yes, we're Erina's friends, and we came from abroad." 

Rias hurriedly said when sensing with her demonic senses that Shinoa might get under Erina's skin and she might say something unnecessary.

"From far away." 

Hermione nodded while Winter looked at Hisako with her "cold" gaze, which she also noticed and flinched. 

We simply got used to her look and understood that she looked at everyone like that. 

All this time, we were still being followed by some men, but they were most likely Erina's guards... her grandfather wouldn't leave her alone with us.

Erina sent her "secretary" on errands and led us to one of the buildings of the Tōtsuki Academy. 

Meanwhile, I continued to "analyze" the world's energy, which was useful and proved that I was in a completely different multiverse or even reality. 

In my world, there are many different energies that became much clearer to me after reading the books by Thoth and Arion. 

These kinds of powers include magic and the emotional spectrum. 

There was no emotional energy which means there are no spirits embodying these emotions. 

However, there was a lot of life force here. It wasn't as much as in my world, but it's still pretty impressive. 

The life energy literally flows in torrents in this world, and I can feel it with my Ki. 

The life force can make monsters show up here that can even give Nobles a hard time in Shinoa's world. 

It was quite logical that there was a Talent Ki (B) and much more in the shop.

"... this is Shokugeki Arena." 

Erina pointed to a really huge arena capable of accommodating thousands of people.

"A huge arena, I think comparable to the Amity Colosseum in Atlas... just not flying." 

Winter nodded, genuinely interested in Erina's explanations. 

After all, all our worlds are more similar in history, countries, architecture, and time, except in Winter's. 

Winter's world is completely different. There are no same continents, countries, cities, or traditions.

"Hmm, as far as I know, during important tournaments, the top of this arena opens to show the moon, which serves as a timer." 

Erina explained while putting her finger to her lips, and her eyes suddenly lit up.

"I just remembered about a club that needs to be disbanded... I'll demonstrate it to you soon."

"I'm scared of her smile..." 

Shinoa whispered quietly, hiding behind my back.

"Poor members of that club..."

 Rias said sympathetically.

According to what she said, Erina remembered the club she thought should be disbanded. 

It was the Chan RS Club because she considered it unsuitable for the academy. 

After all, they didn't make delicious dishes... so she headed straight to that club president to challenge him to a Shokugeki.

There was a lot of talk about the Shokugeki while Erina kept showing us around the academy. 

However, the Shokugeki wouldn't start immediately because it had to be reviewed by the Council, including Erina herself. 

She couldn't make a decision on Shokugeki immediately because she was a participant.

She could speed up the processing, and she did so, and the Shokugeki would take place today in a few hours.

"They all take cooking too seriously..." 

Hermione grumbled at one point, causing Erina to freeze.

"Hermione." 

Erina said it in such a way that Hermione shrank and lost the confident look she had just had. 

"Cooking here is sacred. It's what most people live for."

"If these are the traditions of this world and its values, then we need to watch our tongues." 

Winter shook her head, with whom I had already had a conversation, and she handed me Dust of various kinds. 

"I don't quite understand it either, but this is not our world. We're guests here."

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean that... I just... wonder if these tournaments and Shokugekis are really necessary? You said that losing could ruin someone's life..." 

Hermione couldn't understand.

"Hmm, this academy gathers the best of the best. Those who don't strive for the top don't deserve to be there. There are always losers and winners. The former losing could cost them everything, which should push people to improve and not stand still. For the latter, winning means they're on the right path and will only strengthen their belief in themselves and what they're doing." 

Erina explained for a moment. 

"This academy and the path of a chef are the same as magic in your world. If you want to be the best, don't stand still and grow and improve. That's how it is if you are expelled from the academy. You will almost certainly put an end to your career as a chef again. But those who graduate from here... are the best of the best." 

Erina explained with fire in her eyes.

"I see... It's really hard for me to understand this. But the example with magic is clear." 

Hermione grabbed the wand from the pouch on her belt with a single movement of her hand. 

"The same can be said for our Rating Games. They determine who's right and who's not, who will get everything, and who will lose and owe what they put on the line." 

Rias nodded, perfectly understanding how it all worked.

"Don't be so serious."

 I put my hand on Erina's shoulder, and she froze in place again. 

"We all understand how important cooking is for you and respect your opinion and dedication. We're just not from here you know." 

I tried to smooth things over just in case, but I understood that Erina was far from stupid and was well aware of everything. 

There had already been a few conversations in the chat that were like this. 

"I-I understand, um. Let's move on." 

She abruptly turned her head away from me, hiding her face, and strode off. I heard some strange laughter from Rias a little behind us. 

We had already spoken with Rias in Nakiri's mansion, where she told us how things were and what was going on. 

Well, it looks like we'll have to visit her world too.

An hour later, we were back at the mansion after touring the entire academy. It took quite some time but no one looked tired. 

They had their auras open, which made them super strong, and almost everyone had some other type of energy, like magic, demonic power, or even just Ki.

"I'm so hungry for all sorts of food." 

Shinoa remarked.

"Your academy is several times bigger than Kuoh." 

Rias said, sitting on a couch in the room. 

"You even have a Tea Ceremony Club; you should've brought Akeno."

"..." 

However, Winter was completely online right now. 

I created a laptop and connected it to the local network that gave Winter access. 

Winter was carefully browsing everything that interested her.

"Don't you have any classes? You're also a student." 

Hermione asked Erina.

"The members of the council are given certain privileges especially since I've already completed everything ahead of time." 

Erina proudly shared her achievements. 

While we had time before Erina's Shokugeki, Rias and I discussed her training and current power level. 

Well, she definitely doesn't measure up to her brother, or even to me. 

Although I became much stronger, Rias was still at the level of a Third Progenitor from Shinoa's world. 

However, she could not injure herself because she possessed Destruction power. 

This power could easily destroy me if I didn't defend myself carefully because it literally turns things into nothing. 

She would lose to Cepheus even at the same speed... 

Then it was time for the Shokugeki. 

Erina had prepared the best seats for us where we could watch her victory. 

Specifically, VIP seats are at the top. She was full of confidence, and that was a good thing. 

There were five people sitting as judges. I didn't know them, but most likely they were there to ensure fairness.

"I can already feel the shiver running down my spine... it's so exciting." 

Shinoa informed us.

"I agree, it's... even the first trial with dragons wasn't like this. The atmosphere here feels like it's on a completely different level." 

Hermione said.

The conditions of the Shokugeki were simple. If Erina won, her opponent would disband the club; if she lost, she would lose her place in the Elite Ten. 

The culinary theme was seafood. 

Erina often glanced in our direction, trying to demonstrate her skills, and... it really looked amazing.

 She seemed to change abruptly and become serious, and the atmosphere around her became completely different and sharper.

Furthermore, I also felt a keen interest from other people sitting in the VIP seats.

There were other members of the Elite Ten who were curious about who we were.

Especially some old man who wasn't an ordinary person. I also felt Ki developed from him.

He was sitting right beside me...

"What?"

 I glanced at the old man who continued to stare at me.

"...Are you friends with Erina?" 

He finally decided to speak.

"Yeah, and you seem a bit old for the Elite Ten." 

I remarked, and he seemed taken aback for a moment before laughing.

"Haha, wow, such disregard for your figure, I haven't felt in a very long time." 

He said and... slightly pulled down the top part of his kimono. 

"Do you really not know who I am?"

"Am I supposed to know everyone who's reached their retirement age?" 

I raised an eyebrow.

"I am Senzaemon Nakiri, Erina's grandfather. I am known throughout the world as The Food's Demon King!" 

Senzaemon proudly declared, and Shinoa barely held back laughter just a bit to the side.

"Um, okay?" 

I said it somewhat uncertainly, as I didn't know how to react.

"Do you still not understand who you're dealing with?" 

Senzaemon asked more seriously while looking me straight in the eyes.

"With an old pervert who loves to strip off his clothes?" 

I said, and after those words... his kimono completely fell off, revealing the old man's muscles.

He just stared at me dumbfoundedly as if trying to make something out. 

"But since you're Erina's grandfather, I should still show a little respect..." 

I gestured with my hand, and his kimono slipped back on him, causing his eyes to bulge out.

"After all, you raised a wonderful granddaughter."

I said this while looking at Erina who was literally shining in the arena. 

She did everything perfectly at the right speed, neither too fast nor too slow.

"Stop making fun of old people because he might have a heart attack." 

Shinoa snapped at me.

"Indeed..."

Rias said while covering her smile with her hand.

...

patreon.com/Sothisq

You can find up to 20 advance chapters on my patreon.

💎DROP MORE POWER STONE💎