Erina Nakiri was stunned.
Her awakening of Gourmet Cells was a closely guarded secret, unknown even to her grandfather, Senzaemon Nakiri. How had this uninvited guest seen through it so easily?
She stared at Morpheus in disbelief. "How did you know?"
Morpheus smirked. "Guess."
Erina frowned. "Have you been to the Gourmet World?"
"Gourmet World? Tell me more," Morpheus urged, sensing a major revelation.
Erina blinked. "You don't know?"
"Should I?" Morpheus countered, releasing the spatial lock on Erina, restoring her freedom.
He also freed Hisako.
Regaining her mobility, Erina didn't attack. After the earlier encounter, she knew she was no match for Morpheus.
"You really don't know anything?" Erina asked, her brow furrowing with curiosity. "If you've never been to the Gourmet World, how do you know about Gourmet Cells?"
"I don't just know about Gourmet Cells," Morpheus replied. "I also know you have an Appetite Demon inside you—Black Slime."
"Appetite Demon? What's that?" Now it was Erina's turn to be confused.
"You don't know?" Morpheus's face showed surprise.
"Should I?" Erina's eyes flickered as she echoed his earlier question.
Well, this was awkward. Morpheus was momentarily at a loss for words.
"It seems we need to exchange some information, Miss Nakiri."
Erina fell silent for a moment before saying, "Follow me."
"Miss!" Hisako protested, but Erina cut her off. "Come along, Hisako. There are things you should know too."
Seeing Erina's serious expression, Hisako swallowed her objections and nodded respectfully. "Yes, Miss."
Led by Erina, Morpheus navigated Totsuki Academy, arriving at a large culinary workshop.
From the outside, it looked like a three-story building.
Inside, it was a massive kitchen, filled with an array of cooking equipment and ingredients.
Morpheus spotted a row of industrial refrigerators alone.
The variety of kitchen tools was staggering.
"This is my private kitchen," Erina said. "No one enters without my permission."
Hisako added proudly, "It's a privilege of being the First Seat of the Elite Ten."
First Seat?
If Morpheus recalled correctly, Erina was the Tenth Seat in the original story.
But now, she was the First Seat.
Intriguing. Truly intriguing.
This world was getting more interesting by the minute.
Erina led Morpheus to the third floor, into her private office. She plopped onto a sofa and gestured to the one across from her. "Sit."
Morpheus sat without hesitation.
Hisako stood vigilantly behind Erina, eyeing Morpheus warily, ready to intervene if he made a move against her.
"Something to drink?" Erina asked.
"Coffee's fine."
"Hisako, get him a coffee."
"Yes, Miss."
Though reluctant, Hisako brewed a cup of steaming coffee using top-tier beans, respecting Erina's orders.
Morpheus inhaled the aroma—it was rich. He took a sip; the flavor was excellent.
"Now, tell me about this Appetite Demon," Erina demanded, arms crossed.
"Fine," Morpheus nodded calmly. "But in exchange, after I explain, you tell me about the Gourmet World."
Erina gave a curt nod.
Morpheus wasn't worried about her backing out. Even with her awakened Gourmet Cells, she was no match for him.
Handling a young lady like her was child's play.
So, he explained the origin of Gourmet Cells and the nature of Appetite Demons to Erina.
Erina listened, then fell into deep thought.
Hisako, meanwhile, muttered as if she'd heard a fairy tale. "That's impossible."
"It sounds far-fetched, but I believe him," Erina said, snapping out of her reverie.
"Miss…" Hisako looked at her, falling silent.
If Erina believed it, so would she.
Morpheus smiled. "Your turn. Tell me about the Gourmet World."
"Alright," Erina said seriously. "I first encountered the Gourmet World a year ago. I named it myself."
"A year ago, my culinary skills hit a wall. I couldn't progress further."
"I was frustrated, at a loss. Then one night, I suddenly found myself in another space."
Suddenly?
Morpheus's eyes flickered. That word was interesting, but he didn't interrupt, letting Erina continue.
"I don't know how I got there," Erina said. "There were no living people, just all sorts of bizarre foods."
"Foods I'd never seen—cigars growing on trees, giant crimson pigs, mushrooms that tasted like chocolate, grass that grew spaghetti…"
"This strange space was filled with unimaginable foods."
"So, I called it the Gourmet World."
"Every so often, I'd enter it and enjoy its extraordinary cuisine."
"Through those foods, my culinary skills soared, surpassing every student at Totsuki. I became the First Seat of the Elite Ten."
"My physical strength grew too, and I awakened Gourmet Cells."
"Wait a second," Morpheus interjected, catching a detail. "You said there were no other humans in the Gourmet World, right?"
Erina nodded. "Correct. No humans, just food. I've never met anyone else there."
"Then how did you know you awakened Gourmet Cells?"
That was Morpheus's biggest question.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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