Aboard the Eternal Snowfall, inside the kitchen.
The chefs from Totsuki were shocked to discover that the scale of this place was far larger than they had imagined. Rather than a kitchen, it was more accurate to call it a culinary complex.
The total area was comparable to that of a small town, with countless domestic-service type Angeloids moving back and forth.
The equipment was fully comprehensive—comparable to the capital's logistics department.
The storerooms contained nearly every material imaginable, and even more ingredients were being cultivated hydroponically in the agricultural section.
Although Setsuna and the shipgirls had minimal need for food, a Juggernaut had to be prepared for every possibility while traveling.
Therefore, the ship could sustain millions of people on prolonged interstellar voyages—it was a true generational vessel.
"Master said you can freely use any of the equipment here."
"If you have any questions, ask the Angeloids. Do your best—I'm waiting to taste your cooking~"
After assigning a few Angeloids to act as their assistants, Nymph left to find Ikaros.
The remaining chefs exchanged awkward looks.
"..."
"Huh… This kitchen isn't anything like what I imagined... it's way too extravagant…"
"Are we really cooking in a place like this?"
Nene Kinokuni tilted her head back, staring at the transparent dome above, where the reflection of a vast sea of stars shimmered.
Cooking under a sky full of starlight—compared to the small academy kitchens back on Earth—felt like an entirely different world.
She suddenly felt that her old dorm was tiny, not even as big as this kitchen alone.
"There's everything here… As expected of the Commander."
Alice's attention was completely fixed on the cutting-edge equipment. As a molecular gastronomy enthusiast, the Starsea Empire's technological prowess offered endless possibilities for her experimental cuisine.
"Stop daydreaming and get to work," Erina said, checking her notes. "The children who came to visit aren't under our responsibility. Including the Commander and his guests, we're cooking for about a hundred people…"
"Considering possible contingencies, we should prepare extra."
"Also, the Commander's dishes must be made separately."
Erina did a quick mental calculation.
In the past, preparing a high-quality meal for over a hundred people would've been exhausting.
Even sheer stamina wouldn't have sufficed.
Fortunately, as part of the Starsea Empire's welfare benefits, all chefs had undergone genetic ascension—their physical abilities far exceeded that of normal humans.
With numerous Angeloids assisting them, the task wasn't too difficult.
Everyone quickly got to work.
"Hmm… I can't help but notice," Rindou muttered. "The Commander brought so many girls for a celebration… and they all seem pretty close to him. Hugging and clinging and all that…"
"You don't think it's what I think it is, right? No way, right? …"
"?"
The pure-hearted Megumi, Hisako, and Erina all looked puzzled.
They knew that Setsuna had brought a large group of girls aboard, but hadn't thought further.
"Oh, I get it—he's—"
Before Hinako could finish, Mizuhara clapped a hand over her mouth.
"We're just chefs! Don't say anything stupid!!!"
...
About two hours later—
"Commander, Erina says the dishes are ready. Please come taste them."
The transmission came from Yat Sen.
"Alright, give me a moment."
Shua—Shua—
The sound of water stopped in the bathroom.
Setsuna stepped out wearing a loose robe, walking alongside Kurumi.
"My dear husband, you bully…"
Kurumi leaned against Setsuna, looking slightly weak.
Her long, damp hair cascaded down her back, her alluring, disheveled beauty exuding irresistible charm.
Sniff~ sniff~
Origami inhaled sharply.
"Perverted Commander… does it really take that long to shower?"
"Next time, you come too."
After finishing his warm-up, Setsuna felt refreshed.
"Alright."
Origami nodded immediately, without hesitation.
"???"
Erina and the others exchanged incredulous glances.
Opening strike, thunderous indeed.
Neither the shipgirls, Spirits, nor Heroic Spirits seemed surprised by the situation—it was apparently routine to them, not a single blush among them.
Setsuna could only try his best to keep his gaze away from Kurumi Tokisaki.
The chefs soon began presenting their dishes to everyone.
"The appetizers were prepared by Megumi Tadokoro and Alice Nakiri, including French-style rainbow vegetable jelly, molecular curry cuisine, and regional Kanto oden…"
"The main courses were led by Hinako Inui, Erina Nakiri, and Fuyumi Mizuhara. We used a selection of ingredients from the Akamae ga Kill world and the Overlord world, including Danger Beasts and magical creatures."
"Combining them with Totsuki-style culinary techniques, we created dishes such as squid rolls with North Sea Kraken sashimi, Ten Pieces of Tuna Ruby Orbs Sushi, and spicy chicken-style caiman…"
"Oh?"
The shipgirls leaned in curiously.
The Totsuki chefs' cooking style was flashy, each dish exuding a strong sense of individuality and artistic flair.
Megumi's was typical of rustic home-style cuisine—simple and sincere.
Alice favored high-tech molecular gastronomy, crafting dishes that looked completely alien, futuristic even.
Rindou's dishes were the boldest, blending various magical beast and Danger Beasts meats together.
"Please enjoy."
"Since we don't know your exact preferences, we prepared a variety of dishes in different styles. We can adjust based on your feedback in the future…" Erina said nervously, waiting for Setsuna's judgment.
"Hmm…"
Setsuna tasted a few bites and nodded.
"Not bad."
The Totsuki chefs' professionalism truly surpassed ordinary cooks. They could take a single ingredient and think up countless creative ways to cook it.
The flavor, aroma, and presentation—all exquisite, blending together perfectly.
Cuisine from the gourmet world had a refined, almost artistic quality to it—very different from the home-style meals he was used to.
"Whew—"
Receiving Setsuna's approval, Erina and the other Totsuki chefs let out a collective sigh of relief.
"This dish… minced meat made from five different magical beast meats, and a sauce using over twenty types of mixed spices? Very imaginative…"
"Turning Chimera meat into smoked bacon? Interesting. The raw material must've come from Tohru's homeland…"
He tasted and commented as he went, surprising the Totsuki chefs even more.
"You… also understand cuisine?" Erina asked in disbelief.
To her, Setsuna's ability to accurately identify ingredients with a single bite was almost on par with the God's Tongue.
Especially for Alice's molecular dishes, where dozens of components were fused—it was practically impossible for a normal person to discern them.
"Just a small trick," Setsuna said with a smile.
He wasn't relying on sensory ability at all, but rather on the Eternal Snowfall's AI, whose analysis and computational power were unmatched.
Out of curiosity, he'd scanned the molecular composition of each dish, seeing their structure as clearly as day.
A high-tech version of the "God's Tongue."
"Oh…"
Unaware of the truth, the Totsuki chefs looked at him differently now.
They had expected a commanding general who ruled with authority—never did they imagine he'd also have a refined palate.
It was rare; not even top-tier food critics could match that level of discernment.
Nearby, shipgirls, Spirits, and dragon girls gathered around to sample the food as well.
"Mm."
"Ah… delicious!!!"
Kanae and the Butterfly Sisters let out soft moans as they tasted their food, blushing furiously and leaning weakly on the table.
Akame and Kurome weren't faring much better.
"Ah…"
As faint murmurs escaped their lips, Setsuna caught a glimmer of golden light flashing from their bodies.
It looked almost like… a clothes-burst.
"???"
"Did you put something in there? Or is this that thing from your world—where even three and a half people can clothes-burst?" Tohru asked curiously.
"Uh… when someone experiences true gourmet bliss, their spiritual energy can surge uncontrollably, sometimes causing, um… wardrobe malfunctions," Alice explained seriously, though her words were anything but.
"The ingredients from the Starsea Empire are much more potent, so… the effect is stronger."
"But maybe because your resistance and spiritual power are higher, it didn't reach the bursting point?" she added, sounding oddly regretful.
"Ehh… it'd be nice if one day we could make the Commander clothes-burst too," she said, muttering thoughtfully.
"?"
The shipgirls exchanged looks.
They recalled how not long ago, the Totsuki chefs' dream had been to make a dish worthy of the Commander's approval.
Now, that dream had evolved—into making a dish powerful enough to make him clothes-burst.
The aspirations of chefs truly worked in mysterious ways.
Grey leaned over to whisper something in Erina's ear.
"You know… it doesn't have to happen at the dining table. There are other ways to make clothes burst too."
"???"
...
Aboard the Eternal Snowfall, several days passed in a blur.
From an external reference frame, less than an hour had actually elapsed.
Onboard the ship, however, Setsuna had already gone through several rounds of… lively activity.
"Ugh, Commander, if you keep doing that, I'm ignoring you!"
"Then I'll go find Illustrious and Indomitable. Formidable, you stay here."
"Ahhhh— come back!!!"
Some of the little girls and mini shipgirls would occasionally visit the flagship to play; they usually lived in the residential sectors.
The top deck of the bridge, however, was an adults-only zone.
Only Setsuna's oath-bound ships and those closest to him were allowed there.
"..."
In the kitchen, Erina Nakiri, Hisako, Rindou Kobayashi, and several other chefs were gathered during their break, all wearing somewhat odd expressions.
By now, they had a general understanding of the Eternal Snowfall's layout and environment.
Occasionally, when delivering meals, they overheard Setsuna's flirtations with the others—accompanied by all sorts of peculiar sounds. Even the densest person could guess what was going on.
"My, my… he certainly has energy. Should I say, as expected of the Commander?" Rindou said, clicking her tongue and twirling a small utensil in her hand.
"You're actually impressed?!" Erina exclaimed.
"Of course. Tsk, tsk… keeping up with that many girls must take a lot of stamina and spirit, right? I'm serious."
"Besides, some of them are strong. That immortal lady, that dragon—he can handle both? I'm really curious who exactly this Commander is."
The red-haired girl yawned lazily.
"..."
The Totsuki chefs had occasionally interacted with several superpowered companions—like the dragon girls or Jingwei the immortal—whose strength was beyond mortal comprehension.
Even the Butterfly Sisters, once ordinary humans, had undergone metamorphic surgeries and now possessed strength far surpassing human limits.
"Ehh…"
Megumi Tadokoro crouched to the side, blushing furiously.
She didn't dare join in this gossip about the Commander. There was also another reason—talking with these top Totsuki graduates always made her feel out of her depth.
"Totally improper," Hisako pouted.
"I only ever heard of corporate heirs doing things like that—using wealth and power to surround themselves with women."
"This is different."
Rindou waved her finger.
"You can't compare Earth to this place. And the Commander isn't some greasy old man. Even without all his powers, if he showed up at school, he'd have tons of fans, right?"
"..."
The chefs thought about it and had to admit she was right.
Even without his titles or aura of command, just his presence alone was magnetic.
After meeting Setsuna, it felt as though every guy they'd known back at the academy was somehow… lacking.
The air of a general who had fought across worlds was incomparable to any student from the ivory tower.
"I wonder if the Commander's married? Does he even have a 'main wife'? Wait—does the Starsea Empire even have marriage as a concept?" Hinako mused.
"Cough—cough—"
Belfast's voice came through suddenly.
Shua—
A holographic display appeared before them.
"!!!"
The gossiping chefs instantly jumped to attention.
"The Commander requests a late-night snack. Deliver it to location A-23. Four servings," said the maid chief curtly.
"Right now?"
"Understood."
Erina quickly volunteered to take the task—she wanted more opportunities to refine her craft.
"I'll handle it. Hisako, help me."
She tied on her apron and began working at the stove.
"Um, Lady Erina, considering how active the Commander's been these past few days, should we… maybe add some nourishment?" her pink-haired secretary suggested softly.
"...Good point. You're quite thoughtful."
...
An hour later—
Erina walked in front, followed by several Angeloids carrying trays of dishes.
Knock, knock, knock—
She rapped gently on the door.
Technically, she could have sent the Angeloids alone.
But, for some reason, she decided to deliver it herself.
Partly, she wanted to learn more about Setsuna—the Commander seemed far too mysterious in her eyes.
And partly, as a chef, she wanted to personally hear his comments and critiques.
"Oh, come in," said Tohru, opening the door in her pajamas.
"Commander, we've prepared six dishes in total: baked mashed potato with beef, white fish slow-roasted in clarified butter, and salad frittata…"
Erina introduced each dish one by one.
"And… we've also made a special mutton medicinal curry soup. I hope you'll enjoy it."
As soon as she finished speaking, she froze.
Setsuna sat with his arms around two women—Shoukaku on one side, Taihou on the other.
From the corner of her eye, she could see his hand had slipped under Shoukaku's clothes.
"Ah…"
Erina's face turned bright red on instinct.
Pfft—
Setsuna nearly burst out laughing.
"Trying to give me something to replenish my strength, are you? How thoughtful."
"???"
Her face turned even redder.
"W-well, Commander, if there's nothing else, I'll just… take my leave—"
As she turned to go, Setsuna stopped her.
"Come here."
He patted the spot beside him.
Erina hesitated, then nervously walked over and sat down.
"No need to be so scared. I won't eat you," Setsuna said with a teasing smile.
He picked up his chopsticks and tasted the midnight meal. As always, the quality was excellent.
The others praised it as well.
"Well done. As expected of the God's Tongue."
"You flatter me. We still have much to learn here…" Erina replied modestly.
"How have things been lately? Anything you're having trouble adapting to?" Setsuna asked.
"Um… no, everything's fine."
The unexpected concern caught her off guard.
"Everything here is great. The accommodations and research facilities are much better than at Totsuki," she said shyly. "And being able to travel to other worlds—it's fascinating."
"That's good."
Setsuna nodded.
It was part of his duty to check in on those he'd brought from other worlds.
"If you ever need anything, just tell Yat Sen or one of the ship's Angeloids."
He patted Erina gently on the shoulder, thinking for a moment.
"I'm very satisfied with the dishes you've been preparing lately. The shipgirls, Spirits, and Heroic Spirits all enjoy your cooking. You deserve a reward."
"Eh?"
Erina flinched, startled.
She turned and saw the shipgirls smiling at her.
"Yes, indeed. Professional chefs really are on another level. From now on, we'll be counting on you for our meals~"
"Little Erina, your dishes are wonderful," another added.
"Hm…"
Setsuna looked at her and said slowly,
"From now on, you'll serve as Head Chef—responsible for all culinary affairs of the Starsea Empire. You'll accompany the Eternal Snowfall on expeditions when necessary."
While traveling between worlds, he thought, it wouldn't hurt to have good food.
The Juggernaut was massive anyway—bringing along a few chefs wouldn't matter.
"Who knows, maybe we'll even encounter other gourmet worlds—the kind where cooking makes light beams appear and background music starts on its own. I'll bring back a few legendary cooking utensils for you then."
"Ah?!"
"M-me? Head Chef?!"
Erina's eyes widened in shock.
"But Chef Hinako and Chef Mizuhara are way more experienced than me…"
"I value your potential—and also," Setsuna smiled faintly, brushing a strand of her golden hair aside, "because I like you."
"Like… me?"
Erina froze as if struck by lightning.
"You mean…?"
"I like you quite a bit," Setsuna said with a grin, gently pinching her cheek.
He knew she was a tsundere—so he went for a direct hit.
"!!!"
Steam seemed to rise from Erina's head.
For a girl whose only exposure to romance came from manga, those words were completely overwhelming.
"I-I-I—wait!! That's too fast! Too sudden!!"
"And why me of all people?! I—I can't do anything except cook!!…"
Erina flustered, completely panicking.
She couldn't understand why someone so far above her would take an interest in her.
"Too sudden?" Setsuna asked with a soft chuckle. "You've been here for a while now, and I've eaten your cooking many times."
"Ever since our first shokugeki, I've been paying attention to you."
He leaned back on the sofa, smiling lightly.
"Ah…"
Erina's thoughts went blank for a moment.
"Also, everyone has their own specialty. You love cooking—so just keep focusing on that. I'll give you the best possible platform to pursue it."
In the Starsea Empire, not everyone needed to wield extraordinary powers or fight.
There were warriors, scientists, chefs, and even catgirls whose only duty was to be adorable.
Shoukaku decided to lend a helping hand.
"Little Erina, don't you want to give it a try? From now on, you'll get to cook for the Commander every day. He really understands your cuisine, you know? Lots of people would kill for that chance."
"Or… do you have other thoughts?"
"I…"
Erina's face flushed deep red as she struggled for words.
Honestly speaking, Setsuna was the most outstanding man she had ever met. A man who ruled a galactic empire—how could anyone else compare?
He even had his own perspective on cuisine; he wasn't just a brute who fought battles.
If this were a manga, he'd be the perfect heartthrob.
Though sudden, she knew that such opportunities might never come again.
After a long silence, she finally steeled herself and stammered out her answer.
"T-then I… I'll stay by your side and study cooking together with you. It's for the sake of improving my culinary skills, that's all…"
"Please… take care of me."
"Tsundere through and through," Setsuna said with a grin, ruffling her hair affectionately.
She still had to justify it to herself somehow—classic Erina. Without a direct confession, this might drag on for quite some time.
"Oh ho, Master's tricking another pure-hearted girl again? And right in front of me?" Jeanne Alter leaned in, pinching his cheek playfully.
She couldn't help but admire how easily her Master could win someone over with just a few words.
"She's a new companion, isn't she? You'll all help teach her," Setsuna said, tilting his chin toward the others.
"Eh?" Erina blinked in confusion.
"What?"
"Tsk, tsk… If you're going to serve the Commander, there's still a lot you have to learn," Taihou said, giving Erina a slow, appraising look.
Her figure wasn't bad—in fact, quite good even among shipgirls. Dressed in her JK uniform with a short plaid skirt and thigh-high black stockings, she looked fresh and radiant.
"Come on, let them teach you," Setsuna said with a smile, pulling Erina gently into his arms.
"Eh—eh—eh?!"
And just like that, amid their teasing and guidance—
Erina Nakiri grasped her future.
—
—
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven