Ryougi Shiki, standing beside him, was in a similar situation. Her already loose kimono had slipped slightly, revealing her delicate collarbone. Her languid and noble posture even made Nakiri Erina stare blankly, her face flushed.
In the eyes of the girls, Ryougi Shiki indeed resembled a graceful young master more than a neutral beauty.
Unexpectedly, the setting of the ripped clothes in the Shokugeki had actually become a fixed skill.
If there was a chance to summon the chefs from Master Chef, wouldn't they be able to eat food that glowed?
"There's no need to compare, is there?"
Nakiri Erina crossed her arms, and it was obvious from the diners' expressions that what Shen He had made was just ordinary food.
"Indeed." Jeanne d'Arc glanced at Shen He, a little embarrassed, and stuck out her tongue. "Erina's is even more delicious."
Whether it was the ingredients, the taste, or even the artistic conception, Shen He was completely outmatched. No, it should be said that there was no comparison at all. The Saintess had never eaten anything so delicious.
Ryougi Shiki hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Nakiri Erina's cooking is more delicious."
A look of joy immediately appeared on Nakiri Erina's face.
Compared to Jeanne d'Arc, Ryougi Shiki's evaluation made her happier. This person had just looked down on her.
As a Chef, there was nothing more fulfilling than conquering others with food.
"Can't be helped," Shen He could only shrug.
The other party was a genius girl Chef from the Shokugeki world. He hadn't expected to be able to make more delicious food from the start.
"In that case, these cooking tools are mine." Nakiri Erina took a deep breath, suppressing her excitement.
Although it was a bit unfair, with these legendary cooking tools, plus the new ingredients from another world, she was confident that she could truly stand at the top of Totsuki Culinary Academy, even surpassing that person!
"Have you forgotten about my little princess?" Shen He interrupted Nakiri Erina's thoughts with a smile, "There's still one judge left, isn't there?"
"What!?" Nakiri Erina's eyes widened.
Only at this moment did she realize that the caviar she had made had only been tasted a little at the last little girl's table, while Shen He's Cream Cake was almost finished.
"Violet." Shen He walked over, gently cradling Violet on his lap. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the cream off her face, then asked with a chuckle, "Which one tastes better?"
"Cream Cake." Violet pointed to Shen He's creation almost without hesitation.
Nakiri Erina's chest heaved violently, indicating that she was very angry at this moment.
During a Shokugeki, there were instances of biased judging, but that was only possible when the food was very similar. Even the judges had to give convincing reasons. However, now, even an ordinary person could tell the difference between the cake Shen He made and the dish she made.
This was blatant cheating! It was a disgrace to the sacred Shokugeki!
"Reason?"
Nakiri Erina bit her lip, her eyes slightly red.
She had already decided that Shen He was going to renege on his promise. As the young lady of the Nakiri family, this was the first time she had encountered such a thing.
"Although I dug a hole, I didn't cheat." Shen He held Violet in his arms, affectionately pinching her little face, and asked, "Violet, why do you think my Cream Cake is more delicious?"
"I don't know why." Violet was a little confused, then tilted her head and thought for a while, "If delicious means wanting to eat, then I want to eat the Cream Cake more, because that was the first time Violet understood that there were delicious foods in the world, so I think it's the most delicious food in the world."
"...What is this?" Nakiri Erina couldn't understand at all.
How could cake become the most delicious food in the world, a food that ordinary people eat?
"Isn't it already very clear?" Shen He squinted slightly, "You've eaten delicacies from mountains and seas since you were a child, but Violet, when she was young... was always like a beast on the battlefield, eating raw meat and drinking blood. The first thing I gave her to eat like a normal person was Cream Cake, can you imagine that?"
茹毛飲血... For a chef, this is a terrifying term.
Culinary skills are just an extra enjoyment after filling your stomach, while 茹毛飲血 (eating raw meat and drinking blood) represents the eating habits of ancient people who only ate to survive without any culinary skills. Nakiri Erina looked at Violet, who was as delicate as a princess of a kingdom, and couldn't imagine that she had ever lived such a life.
Shen He waved his hand at this moment, and all the cooking platforms disappeared, returning to the original kitchen appearance.
Then he picked up the last plate of Caviar and took a delicious bite for himself, truly a top-notch enjoyment.
However...
"Nakiri Erina."
Shen He called out her name, and the young lady, whose eyes were still somewhat dazed, subconsciously looked up at him.
"I still know you to some extent. With your God Tongue, your definition of delicious food is probably just pure taste enjoyment, right? But for us ordinary people, this enjoyment also includes a feeling of the heart. Such as a mother's family banquet, a lover's loving dishes, are all irreplaceable food. I don't know how it is for you, but when I cook for someone I care about, I always have a warm expectation in my heart – that's the culinary art I enjoy."
In the time it took to say all that, he had already devoured a plate of Caviar.
The taste lingered, and the aftertaste was endless.
After eating such delicious food, he felt like everything he had eaten before was just... what was it even? He definitely had to keep this Chef around.
Violet seemed to notice that Shen He still wanted to eat, and brought the Caviar, which she had only eaten a little of, to Shen He.
"Master, Violet is full."
"Good girl."
Shen He couldn't help but kiss the little girl on the face.
How could he not be moved that she supported him in front of such delicious food.
"Don't you know your mouth is covered in oil?"
Ryougi Shiki glared at Shen He and used her sleeve to wipe Violet's cheek. Watching the two of them laughing foolishly, she shook her head helplessly.
On the other side, Jeanne d'Arc was staring enviously at the plate Shen He was holding. She wanted to eat some more, too.
"..." Nakiri Erina watched the scene before her and was silent for a long time.
She remembered when she was very, very young, and the first delicious meal she ate. It was the first dish her grandfather had ever made for her.
Even after eating all sorts of delicacies, she had never found that feeling again.
"I lost."
Nakiri Erina bit her lip and had to admit it.
A Shokugeki is sacred. Losing is losing.
Shen He was still somewhat surprised by Nakiri Erina's concession.
After all, he'd dug a hole, originally just wanting to teach the girl a lesson, figuring there would be plenty of opportunities to train her later.
It seemed he'd underestimated this chef大小姐.
If that's the case...
"Now, you are our family's Chef," Shen He waved his hand, "This entire kitchen is yours, including these cooking utensils, use them as you wish."
"R-really!?" Nakiri Erina widened her eyes slightly.
Wait, then it's no different from winning.
"Of course, there aren't any other chefs here," Shen He couldn't help but complain. "Aside from my little princess, I doubt anyone thinks my cooking is better than yours, not to mention you can make Cream Cake too. No comparison, right? Oh yeah, I'll give you a little body enhancement first, a perk of the job. Next time, you'll go with us to other worlds to pick out ingredients."
Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, Nakiri Erina felt a surge of heat coursing through her body.
The changes in her body hadn't really registered yet.
But at that moment, she could clearly perceive that her senses had become extremely sharp. Her vision could even make out the veins on the leaves of the vegetables, as well as her sense of smell, hearing, and... her God Tongue!
She quickly walked to the table, eager to verify her guess.
However, Shen He had just fed the last bit of Caviar to Jeanne d'Arc, and shamelessly licked the plate clean.
"Forget it."
Nakiri Erina had no choice but to carefully scoop up a spoonful of Cream Cake and put it in her mouth.
Then... her expression suddenly changed.
"Ugh, ugh, absolutely awful!" She took a large gulp of water, then spat it all out to the side. "The flour and eggs aren't mixed properly at all, the yeast powder is just thrown in, and the cream and strawberries are disgustingly greasy. It's like sleeping in a filthy sewer and having nightmares! You actually made this for your daughter to eat! It's child abuse!"
Shen He's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
This cake was the most delicious one he had ever made.
"I can't believe I lost to something so disgusting."
Although Nakiri Erina's expression was unsightly, her eyes were filled with excitement and exhilaration, because her God Tongue was really more sensitive than before.
Coupled with the legendary kitchen tools and new ingredients from another world.
Her future on the path of a chef was something even she couldn't predict.
And all of this was brought about by this wonderful journey to another world.
"Violet... right? Just wait a moment." Nakiri Erina rolled up her sleeves, strode to the kitchen counter, and a confident smile spread across her face. "I'll make some real cake..."
In Shen He's castle, things were lively once again because of the new Servant.
He didn't use the travel card to invite any extra people, not even the people from the Marvel world. It was just the Servants gathered together for a welcome party. Of course, the food at the party was made personally by the new Chef.
Although she was a little resentful at being treated like an ordinary chef, putting aside the fact that she had lost the Shokugeki, Nakiri Erina still obediently started making a real feast for the sake of the cooking utensils that could only be used here.
And after introductions were made around the table.
They were all non-humans...
Superpowers, Servants, Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, King's Orders... Nakiri Erina felt her worldview had been completely shattered.
And she wasn't the only one.
The other Servants felt the same way.
"To think... that food could be made to this degree." Accelerator stared at the steak in front of him as if it were a dangerous enemy.
"Su-super delicious!" Misaka Mikoto and Misaka Mikoto Alter had already stuffed their mouths completely.
"Please, by all means, let me take some back." Even Saiki Kusuo was conquered by the sweets.
As a chef from the world of cuisine, combined with legendary kitchenware, the resulting food was indeed beyond imagination. Shen He could even see another avenue for wealth. He could have Nakiri Erina provide some commercialized recipes, which would undoubtedly conquer the food and beverage industry of the Marvel world. This wasn't even on the same level of competition.
After all, food, clothing, shelter, and transportation would always be the pillar industries of the world.
"It's truly wonderful that I was able to summon you." Shen He sighed with emotion, reaching out to pat Nakiri Erina on the shoulder.
The only slight regret was that the scene of the clothes exploding was too small. At most, a piece of clothing would slip off, and with a little care, there wouldn't be any exposure. Still, paired with the look of enjoyment, it was a rare sight.
As a result, the young lady seemed to have been electrocuted, instantly dodging behind Jeanne d'Arc and warily glaring at Shen He.
"The, the agreement only mentions cooking, there's nothing else."
"…" Shen He was speechless. "I feel like I can't clear my name anymore."
"Who told you to look at others like that."
Jeanne d'Arc gave him a sidelong glance, protecting Nakiri Erina behind her.
"What? Master would actually do something like this."
"Master is too much."
"Erina doesn't need to be afraid, Master can't beat us."
Shen He: "..."
It wasn't without reason that chefs in the Shokugeki world held a high status. In such a short time, the young lady had become the most popular among everyone's Servants.
And why did they have to emphasize that he couldn't win? At least he could still handle Lelouch and Doctor Frog.
After this day, Shen He fully understood the benefits of having a Chef.
Because she wanted to use the legendary kitchenware for training, Nakiri Erina spent most of her time in the castle's kitchen. Shen He asked her about her family matters, and she used the excuse of "secluded research on new dishes" to brush him off.
This, in turn, made everyone, including Shen He, linger and not want to leave.
Even Servants residing in other worlds would come over regularly during breakfast, lunch, and late-night snack times, eating and taking food away. Even training dishes would be snatched up completely.
That is to say, Nakiri Erina was wholeheartedly devoted to culinary training, and her physical fitness had been enhanced; otherwise, she would have truly struggled.
Shen He even felt a little inseparable from the beautiful and delicious young lady.
So when the young lady found her and said she wanted to go to other worlds to collect ingredients, she agreed without hesitation.
"Currently, there are only two worlds with ingredients different from Earth," Shen He explained simply, "The ones I showed you before were a desolate, mutated Earth. And the one we're going to now is a real other world—and it's a world with gods. Maybe we can ask, if the God of Food has descended."
The world of the Dungeon is the largest source of otherworldly food.
Firstly, it's a pure other world, and all kinds of species are different from Earth. Secondly, as a world with a brilliant civilization, there is already some experience in what can be eaten and what tastes good.