Baron didn't know what was more terrifying—the flame-haired demon girl licking her dagger in his direction… or the fact that the System just dropped a notification about a magical cooking contest.
[SYSTEM QUEST UNLOCKED!]
🥘 Trial of Taste: Feed Your Fate
Objective: Prepare a soul-linked dish with the waifu most bonded to you.
Failure: Will result in instant elimination (and public humiliation).
Reward: +3 Affection Points, +1 Potential Kiss Scene, ??? Hidden Perk
Baron blinked at the glowing message. "Okay, no pressure."
"You're my partner," Aria said flatly, her arms crossed beneath her, uh, generous chest. "Try not to poison me this time."
"ONE time I mistook holy salt for astral laxative and you never let it go."
The rest of the harem stood in a semicircle, arms folded, eyes narrow. Even Luna—the catgirl rogue with a tail that twitched when jealous—was watching too closely.
And then there was Eirene, the elf priestess, smiling like she'd already blessed his gravestone.
Baron sighed. "Let's just get this over with."
They were given fifteen minutes, one stove, and two soul-bonded spatulas.
The real challenge? The ingredients shifted depending on their emotions. Magic cooking was soul-reactive—if you doubted your partner, your soup would curdle. If your feelings were impure? The food combusted. Literally.
And Baron's feelings were a chaotic blender of lust, confusion, and regret.
"Okay," he muttered. "Let's make tempura."
"Tempura?" Aria raised an eyebrow. "That's not even fantasy food."
"You want me to deep-fry our souls or not?"
Ten minutes in, and their tempura batter began… speaking.
"I'm sorry, what did it just whisper?" Baron asked, staring as the golden liquid shimmered and hummed.
Aria didn't blink. "Did it just say 'I crave validation'?"
[SOULBOND TEMPERATURE: RISING]
Warning: Your unresolved tension is boiling the batter.
Baron looked at Aria. Aria looked at Baron. They both lunged for the frying pan.
They collided in the middle, chest-to-chest, eyes locked, breath shared.
And that's when the jealousy meter exploded behind them.
The rest of the harem gasped. Luna's tail shot straight up, hissing like she'd seen a dog.
Eirene's holy staff glowed ominously.
Even the demon girl Xyla—who never talked—hissed, "Oh, hell no."
[SYSTEM ALERT!]
New Skill Acquired: "🔥 Passive Harem Instability Aura"
This aura increases romantic chaos the more physically close you are to any waifu.
"You broke the batter," Aria whispered, eyes wide.
Baron stared at the pan. "No, I broke reality."
In the end, the dish was submitted: Soul-Fried Tempura of Desire.
It moaned when bitten. Literally. The judge was scarred. But they won.
Which, naturally, made everything worse.
Back at camp, Baron sat by the fire, head in hands.
"You know this will only spiral," he muttered.
A soft rustle. Aria sat beside him.
"Why did you choose me for the contest?"
Baron looked at her. "Honestly? You're the only one who doesn't look like she'd kill me in my sleep."
A pause.
"…Except maybe after dinner."
She cracked a small smile. "That's fair."
But just before she turned to leave, she said it softly—like it cost her something:
"I didn't hate the soul link."
And with that, she disappeared into her tent, leaving Baron with a glowing notification.
[NEW TITLE UNLOCKED: "Fryer of Hearts"]
+1 Affection (Aria)
+2 Jealousy (Everyone Else)
He groaned. "I'm going to die from romance-related injuries."
❤️ END OF CHAPTER 6
✅ Enjoyed the chaos?
→ Add to Library to stay updated with new chapters!
→ Vote with a Power Stone to keep this harem alive (and Baron barely so)!
→ Drop a comment: Who should Baron "accidentally" bond with next?
🎁 Send a gift if Baron made you laugh, cry, or secondhand cringe.