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Erina was stunned.
The existence of her Gourmet Cells was a secret known only to her. Not even her grandfather, Senzaemon, had any idea. Yet this intruder had just laid it bare with a single sentence.
She stared at Akio in disbelief. "How do you know that?"
He gave a crooked smile. "Take a guess."
"…Don't tell me you've also been inside the Gourmet Sanctuary?"
Akio tilted his head. "Gourmet Sanctuary? Explain."
"You mean… you don't know?" She blinked.
"Should I?" He raised a brow, then released his hold, freeing both Erina and Hisako.
Erina didn't attack again. She already knew she wasn't his match.
"You really don't know anything?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "If you've never been to the Gourmet Sanctuary, how can you possibly know about Gourmet Cells?"
"I don't just know about the cells," Akio replied. "I know you've got a Gourmet Demon inside you. A Black Slime."
"A… Gourmet Demon? What's that supposed to be?" This time, it was Erina's turn to look lost.
"You don't know?" Akio blinked.
"Should I?" she shot back.
Akio rubbed his forehead. "…Alright. Looks like we've got a lot to compare notes on, Erina-san."
She was silent for a moment, then finally said, "Follow me."
"Erina-sama," Hisako began anxiously, but Erina cut her off.
"You're coming too, Hisako. There are things you deserve to know."
Seeing the determination in her mistress's eyes, Hisako swallowed her protest and bowed. "Yes, Erina-sama."
Erina led Akio through the halls of Tōtsuki until they reached a sprawling facility. From the outside, it looked like nothing more than a three-story building. But inside was a massive kitchen, lined with tools and ingredients of every kind.
Akio counted an entire row of industrial refrigerators. The rest of the equipment was just as overwhelming.
"This is my private kitchen," Erina explained. "Without my permission, no one is allowed inside."
Hisako added proudly, "It's one of Erina-sama's privileges as the First Seat of the Elite Ten."
First Seat?
If Akio remembered correctly, in the original storyline Nakiri Erina had been the Tenth Seat.
But now—she was First.
Interesting. This world was getting more and more entertaining.
Erina led Akio up to the third floor, into a private office. She plopped down onto the sofa with a soft thud, then gestured at the seat across from her. "Sit."
Akio didn't bother with manners and dropped into the chair.
Behind Erina stood her loyal secretary, Hisako, glaring at Akio like a hawk. The kind of look that said if he so much as twitched wrong, she'd launch herself at him without hesitation.
"What would you like to drink?" Erina asked.
"Coffee's fine."
"Hisako, pour him a cup."
"Yes, milady."
Hisako clearly wasn't thrilled about serving him, but for Erina's sake she complied. She brewed him a steaming cup using the finest beans available.
At least Akio thought so—the aroma was rich, and the taste wasn't bad either.
"Now," Erina crossed her arms over her chest, eyes fixed on him, "you can start explaining. What exactly is a Gourmet Demon?"
"I can." Akio nodded easily. "But—equivalent exchange. Once I tell you about the Gourmet Demon, you'll tell me about the Gourmet Sanctuary."
Erina gave a short hum of agreement.
Akio wasn't worried about her going back on her word. Even if Erina had awakened her Gourmet Cells, she was no match for him. Handling an ojou-sama like her would be child's play.
So he told her—about the origins of Gourmet Cells, and about the demons tied to them.
Erina listened silently, sinking deep into thought when he finished.
Hisako, on the other hand, muttered under her breath like she'd just heard a fairy tale. "That's impossible…"
"It's hard to believe," Erina admitted calmly, "but I trust what he's saying."
"Milady…" Hisako looked at her, fell quiet, then simply accepted it. If Erina believed it, she would too.
Akio chuckled. "Alright then, your turn. Tell me about this Gourmet Sanctuary."
"Very well." Erina's expression grew serious. "I first encountered it about a year ago. In fact, I was the one who named it."
"A year ago, my cooking hit a wall. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't break through."
"I was frustrated, lost, restless… and then one night, I suddenly found myself in another space entirely."
Suddenly?
Akio's eyes flickered. That word caught his interest, but he didn't interrupt, letting her continue.
"I had no idea how I got there. There weren't any people, just food—strange, extraordinary foods."
"Things I had never even imagined. Cigars that grew on trees. A massive boar with crimson skin. Mushrooms that tasted like chocolate. Grass that sprouted strands of spaghetti…"
"In short, the place was overflowing with bizarre and impossible ingredients. So I called it the Gourmet Sanctuary."
"Since then, I've returned to it again and again, each time tasting its incredible foods."
"The ingredients I brought back pushed my cooking forward in leaps and bounds. Before long, I surpassed every student in Tōtsuki Academy and became the First Seat."
"My physical abilities improved as well, until eventually I awakened my Gourmet Cells."
"Hold on a second." Akio suddenly raised a hand, catching on something odd.
"You just said there weren't any people in this Sanctuary, only food, right?"
Erina nodded. "That's correct. No humans, not a single one. At least, I've never run into anyone else there."
"In that case…" Akio leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. "How did you even know you'd awakened Gourmet Cells?"
That was the real mystery.
"..."
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