Slowly falling to my death, I wonder: what damn sadist brought me to a mashup world?
At the same time, I also curse myself for casting a spell at point-blank range on a dragon that, looking back now, looks very familiar—well, just one more regret in my death.
"BOOOOMMMM!"
Strangely enough, the new Totsuka Saika fell so far that there was an explosion. Curious, right?
> POV: Mysterious Dragon
"Ahhhh, what happened? What happened? I... what did I just do?" our newly arrived dragon wondered.
She had originally come to this strange world following a friend of hers, but upon arriving, she was extremely surprised: the first thing she saw was a human, and upon seeing him unconscious, his eyes turned golden from the magic. Now that her eyes had returned to their usual blue, she scolded herself for being so impulsive.
She hadn't meant to do that. As part of the Harmony Faction, she was supposed to be in favor of not harming humans, but if so, she had truly messed up.
Shaking her thoughts to another time, she immediately took her human form.
After a flash, a woman with short, black hair, tinged with purple at the tips, appeared. A long, spiraling unicorn horn adorned her forehead, and her deep blue eyes stood out even more.
Her attire consisted of a light brown scarf, a dark blue leotard, and a purple kimono with a navy obi fastened at the bottom. Bandages around her legs and sandals completed the ensemble, along with a cobalt blue and turquoise tail.
With the transformation complete, she ran to where she had sent the human flying. Upon arriving, she realized the state she had left him in and was horrified.
The poor girl with the short, silver hair was bleeding profusely. Her breathing was shallow and slow.
Quickly, he used healing magic, thus halting the young woman's untimely death. With her wounds now healed, he wondered: What should he do now...?
>>> Next morning, Saika's apartment <<<
"AHHH!" I immediately sat up in shock, uncovering the futon covering me. I frantically scanned my surroundings and realized... I'm in my apartment?
But I... I thought I died. Was it all a dream?
Ding: Congratulations, Host: Survived the event: "Have you played EldenDragonRing?"
Shit. I'm still here. The stupid system is still in front of me. But how did I survive? Do I really have plot armor?
Well, it's not worth thinking about. I'll find out eventually. Lying back in bed, I wonder: why am I so unlucky? Or is it just part of my character development?
"Do you wish to receive the rewards for mission completion?" the floating text in front of me says, snapping me out of my intrusive thoughts.
I immediately mentally accept.
"Congratulations, you have received: Rare Ability – Rindō Kobayashi's Culinary Talent.
Description: You know that anime where just eating makes you lose your clothes? Yes, that one exactly. Now you too possess said ability on par with Rindō Kobayashi, a specialist in exotic cuisine and knife techniques. She also possesses vast knowledge of ingredients, carving, slaughtering methods, and an insatiable curiosity for all things culinary, qualities that led her to the second seat of the Tōtsuki Elite."
"…"
Okay… I almost died, and I don't know how I survived.
Of course I'm going to accept it, but it offends me greatly!
Now that's a skill worth dying for. I mean, who the hell hasn't dreamed of cooking that well?
" I quickly sit up, now in a much better mood, looking for signs of how I got here.
But aside from my clothes, which have blood all over them, curiously, I don't have any wounds. I have no idea how I got back.
Besides, the dragon that attacked me... I'm almost 100% sure it was Elma.
What gave her away? Simple: the enormous unicorn horn on her forehead.
So, using my two active neurons, I deduce that she was the one who brought me here. The means she used? Who knows. But if I see her again, I hope I can thank her for not killing me. Because, if anything, it was my fault for reacting so badly.
I mean, it couldn't have been very pleasant to be greeted with a "AVADA KEDAVRA" at point-blank range.
But that was because I was misinformed about which dragon was coming for me.
Stupid system!
If you'd given me more details about the dragon, maybe I would have resolved all this more diplomatically.
Ahh... well, no time to cry over spilled milk.
Looking at the clock on my nightstand, my biological clock seems to be ticking. So I immediately start my routine for school.
Before I know it, I'm back at the school gates.
Now then... how the hell am I going to survive our spinster teacher?
I mean, I don't think she's very happy that I snuck out yesterday without saying anything.
Taking a deep breath, I was about to enter the school… but I felt someone approaching me from behind.
Which was bad… My hands moved on their own, activating Miu Fūrinji's combat skills.
I grabbed the hand of whoever was about to touch my back and, with a swift movement, threw him forward.
The boy—whom I now recognize as Tobe Kakeru—fell, and was possibly unconscious from the blow, because I was literally watching his soul slowly escape from his inert body.
"Sai-chan… what…?"
Behind me, a dim-witted girl with a bow in her hair was dumbfounded by the scene.
Yuigahama Yui looked at me in bewilderment. I just… quickly apologized and ran away.
"Wait, Sai-chan…!"
I didn't hear her. With practiced movements, I changed my shoes and entered the school building, avoiding the gazes of many who had seen the scene and were now looking at me in dismay. "Ahhh, this is embarrassing." Should I erase the minds of all these randoms?
Oh, wait... I still don't know Legilimency. It's canceled, it's canceled.
>>> Inside the classroom <<<
When I entered the classroom, I was immediately greeted with stares from all the students.
I just stood there, nervous...
Until I thought of doing the stupidest thing I could think of.
I put my hands to my head, stuck out my tongue, and closed my eyes.
"Te-he~"
...
Everyone's eyes went even more blank, I think. But it didn't matter. I quickly moved to my seat.
After a few moments, Yuigahama and Tobe arrived.
Apparently I didn't kill him.
In this situation, I really didn't know what to do. Should I apologize?
Luckily for me—or maybe unluckily, as I would find out later—the bell rang, and with it entered our eternally sexy, single teacher.
And it seemed she knew how to read minds or something, because I felt her gaze as if saying,
"You're thinking something rude about me, aren't you?"
A chill ran down my spine, so I quickly looked away.
Unfortunately, it didn't seem to do much to avoid her attention.
"Saika... I'll see you after school in my office," she said, with such a wicked smile that the entire student body shuddered.
"Yes, sensei," I replied, my eyes lowered.
With that, the class began.
Classes continued as normal.
Although, to be honest, I was seriously considering dropping out of school altogether.
I mean, what for? There are so many ways to make money, and with this stupid system, I'm sure I can do more.
Just by having magic and Kobayashi Rindō's damn talent...
I'm made for people begging for their money.
>>> A few hours later <<<
"I'm really sorry, Tobe-kun," I said, bowing slightly to the boy who, honestly, seems like an idiot. But hey, it's all for the sake of keeping up appearances.
"All right, all right, Sai-chan. I didn't expect your karate lessons to take you to such a point... should I join the karate club too?"
"Idiot, what are you saying? You're already part of the soccer club, how do you expect to manage two clubs?"
"Yeah, yeah, Tobe is really an idiot!"
"Ahhh, Hayato! These two are really cruel!"
And so, the popular clique became lively again after I apologized.
What a bunch of idiots... but hey, who am I to judge?
I had to make up that shit about karate classes and blah blah blah...
Really, playing at being a teenager sucks.
But, these morons aside, the girls in this world do have excellent genetics.
As I apologized, I couldn't help but sneak glances at Miura's beautiful thighs, Yuigahama's excellent curves, and even the fujoshi looks really good.
Perks, I guess.
Although…
I look left and right, on alert. I guess there's no multiversal FBI, or I'd be screwed already.
Still, those disgusting specters are still haunting the living room.
I'm definitely going back tonight to eliminate them. I mean, I'm still feeling the euphoria of casting the "Expecto Patronum."
With that, I sat back down. It was time to try my god-level food again. Time for these mortals to get a taste of the real thing.
I already made it for breakfast, and oh my… I've literally been eating dirt combined with cardboard my whole life…
Now then, let the show begin.
>>> Miura Yumiko <<<
Chatting animatedly with her clique, Miura Yumiko mocked the idiot Tobe and his friends.
Such was the life of one of Sobu's queens: everything was perfect.
She had friends who did her bidding, she had good looks, and the only thing she lacked was...
She looked at Hayato Hayama, the boy she liked, and wondered:
"Does he really not notice my feelings for him? Is he that dense...?"
Did he really expect her to confess herself?
"Silly Hayama," she said to herself silently.
But, in the midst of her thoughts, something strange happened.
The room fell completely silent.
Everyone seemed absorbed.
Miura also turned her head to where everyone was looking.
And at that moment...she felt it, or rather, smelled it.
A scent so delicious, so penetrating and enveloping, that it left her completely stunned.
Everyone gulped unconsciously. Some even drooled a little without realizing it.
And a single thought took root in everyone's minds:
"I WANT TO EAT. I WANT TO EAT. I WANT TO EAT. I WANT TO EAT."
Saika, of course, had put her all into it.
He clearly remembered one particular episode of the anime, one that, as a fan of sweets, had a profound effect on him.
He had always wanted to try the "Mushroom Millefeuille with Duxelles Filling."
And luckily, the ingredients were within his limited budget, so preparing it was no problem.
And so, to everyone's incredulous gaze, Saika popped the sweet treat into her mouth.
Again, everyone gulped.
Immediately, complex flavors exploded in her mouth: the different types of mushrooms intertwining with the perfectly crisp puff pastry.
And yet, the star ingredient—shiitake—stood out above all else.
The use of olive oil locked in and enhanced the flavor.
Frying the mushrooms and shallots in butter further concentrated the aromas.
For the duxelles, she used chopped nuts and cream. And well, it was also supposed to have ant poison… but, huh.
Ants to provide formic acid, like in Rindō's original recipe?
No way!
He substituted that ingredient. After all, Rindō's cooking involved creatures you wouldn't normally eat, but he had his own limits.
Too bad he got Rindō's template.
He preferred Momo Akanegakubo's… but hey, you can't have everything in this life.
With the last bite gone, people slowly began to emerge from their daze.
Only to realize…
Saika was gone!
Miura and his clique came back to their senses. Like everyone else, they were completely confused.
Miura looked at the bread he'd bought—supposedly the most delicious the cafe sold—but when he took a bite…
It was like eating cardboard.
Strangely, everyone who had bought bread felt the same. Even a gloomy boy who sat at the back of the room. And yet, everyone had one thing on their mind:
"Where did he get that delicious scent?" "How can we get it?"
>>>Counseling Office<<<
"Come in," Hiratsuka said in a firm voice from the other side of the door.
I gulped. I tapped the frame a few times, pushed the door open, and walked in. There was Hiratsuka Shizuka, sitting at her desk, arms crossed, and a foreboding expression.
"Sit down, Saika," she said without even looking at me directly.
I obeyed instantly.
"Do you have any idea why you're here?"
"For... cutting class yesterday," I replied quietly, trying to sound as innocent as possible.
"Oh, just 'cutting out'?" She raised an eyebrow, staring at me. "Saika, you left class without warning, without an excuse, without even asking to go to the bathroom. Does that seem normal to you?"
"S-sorry, sensei. I didn't mean to cause you any trouble."
"I hope so," he said, sighing heavily as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I already have enough headaches with the student council without one of my more...harmless students adding trouble to my routine."
I remained silent. Obviously, I couldn't tell him that a floating system gave me a mission so terrifying that I felt it was the end of me and ran for the mountains like the coward I am.
"I don't care if it was an existential crisis, if you saw a UFO, or if you received a divine enlightenment. Next time, let me know. Understand?"
"Yes, sensei."
Hiratsuka watched me for a few more seconds. Then she let out a calmer sigh and leaned back in her chair.
"Look, I know you're going through something...weird. I don't know what it is, and honestly, I'd rather not know...for now. But don't play with your education like it's a role-playing game."
That almost got a nervous laugh out of me, but I held it in. I wasn't sure if it was sarcasm or if I'd somehow hit the nail on the head.
"Is that clear?" he finally asked.
"All clear, sensei."
"Good. You may go."
I stood up, gave a small bow, and headed for the door.
"Oh, and Saika," he added just before I left.
"Yes?"
"Next time you feel the urge to disappear, at least make up a stomach ache. It's more believable."
I nodded, left the office, and closed the door behind me… feeling like I'd just survived a mid-boss battle.
The afternoon had barely begun when Saika reentered the room, looking as if nothing had happened. Her expression was calm, her stride light, and her aura as neat as ever… but the silence that greeted him was anything but normal.
As soon as he sat down, a general murmur erupted like a spark in dry grass.
"It was him! I'm sure of it!" said a boy in the back, raising his finger accusingly as if he were in court. "The heavenly smell was coming from his desk!"
"Huh? Are you saying that glorious aroma that made me cry in the middle of lunch... was Sai-chan's?" another student replied, with an expression of deep spiritual trauma. "I thought someone was cooking up happy memories!"
Some began desperately searching their backpacks, as if looking for traces of the lost food. Others simply stared at Saika as if she'd committed culinary heresy.
In Miura's clique corner.
Yumiko Miura frowned as she crossed her arms.
"Yui... do you still smell that? Because I swear... it's like someone put a luxurious perfume in my nose, but one that makes you hungry. Does that exist?" That's supposed to exist!?
"Yumiko, it was like being embraced with flavor!" Yui moaned, clutching her stomach dramatically. "And now I'm hungrier than before lunch! And I already ate lunch!"
"And no one saw what I was eating?" Yumiko added, giving Saika a forensic look. "Mystical mushroom cake? Unicorn cake?
And in a dark corner of the classroom..."
Hachiman Hikigaya watched them silently, with his classic defeated frown and blank stare.
("So now Saika's some kind of supernatural chef... is this my punishment for avoiding the social lunch?")
ahhhh - sigh
Meanwhile, Saika simply smiled shyly, lowering her gaze modestly. She said nothing. Not a word. And that absence of information only increased the myth that had just been born.
Class 2F had a new mystery.
And I was hungry.
>>> Later that night <<<
Returning to my apartment, I threw myself onto my bed, exhausted. Too many emotions in one day.
Dragons, the troll system, my magical abilities, a teacher with the aura of a mafia boss... and on top of that, class.
"Do I really want to keep pretending to be a normal student?" I wondered aloud.
But then I saw the floating panel in front of me.
"Congratulations, new quest unlocked: 'Dinner with a Dragon, Part 1'!"
"Reward: Let's see what you get this time."
"Dinner with a Dragon…?"
Just then, there was a knock at the door, don't tell me…
KNOCK KNOCK
"Yeah, who's it…?" I approached cautiously.
When I opened it, I found a young woman with short hair dyed purple at the tips, intense blue eyes, and a glowing spiral horn protruding from her forehead.
"Good evening," she said, with a gentle smile, though her aura was intensely magical. "May I come in? I'd like to talk… about what happened."
Oh, and I was thinking of looking for her, but it seems I have the option of having my own Dragon. I mean, can Shouta the dwarf have someone like Lucoa for himself, why can't I?"
"And you are…?" I cautiously closed the door as Elma entered as if it were the most normal thing in the world to show up at someone else's house at midnight. Oh wait, didn't the same thing happen when she found Tohru?
"My name is Elma, and I'm so sorry I hit you," she hit her head as she bent over exaggeratedly.
For a second I went blank, but I quickly recovered. "It's Elma... I expected more from this dragon?"
"Oh, you don't have to apologize. It was partly my fault for panicking, too. So please raise your head." I quickly tried to raise her head, only for her stomach to suddenly start growling. That only made her blush, and she didn't want to get up.
"Are you hungry?" I ask. She just nods. "You're basically giving me a dragon on a silver platter?" Suddenly, she started sniffing the air.
"What's that smell?" she asked. "It smells like traces of butter with mushrooms." Mmm...
"That last one was my lunch. I already ate it." I don't have any more.
She looked at me, horrified. Literally, as if I'd told her cats had just become extinct.
"Nothing? Not a single scrap? Not a single corner?"
"Nope, nothing at all, wait, do you know butter?" I asked.
"I'm a cultured and hungry dragon!" she declared, as if they were synonyms.
I ran a hand over my face. I had no food. I'd already wolfed down the Mushroom Millefeuille with Duxelles for lunch, but I have ingredients... few, but I have them, even though they were meant for tomorrow's lunch.
Just then, the system decided to screw me over even more.
"Mission updated!"
"Make dinner for Elma. Reward: You want a dragon, right?"
"Warning: If you fail, you could be eaten."
"Eat?!" I yelled, staring at the floating window.
"Did you say something?" —Elma asked, smiling sweetly as she sat down… on my pillow. Why my pillow?
—Nothing… it just seems like cooking your dinner is a matter of survival,— I replied, already putting on my apron.
—Yay~! Human chef to the rescue!
—Don't call me that. I'm not the chef from "Doraemon and the Magic Kitchen!"… although that sounds like an interesting spin-off.
Elma clapped her hands, and out of nowhere, BOOM! A magic basket appeared with some ingredients I'd never seen before…
—Where did you get this?
—From the forest of eternal screams and onions that cry by themselves!
—...I'd better not ask, but hey, isn't it perfect for Rindo's skill at cooking exotic things? Elma was definitely going to be my partner.
I took a deep breath. Time to cook.
[Some time later…]
—Done,—I said proudly. "Magic meat stir-fry with a luminescent mushroom reduction and crispy singing root."
Elma floated (literally?) to the table, grabbed the chopsticks with suspicious skill, took a bite…
And froze.
"…Are you okay?"
"…My soul… is dancing the dance of a thousand winds. This… this is like my taste buds have been reincarnated as queens. WHAT THE HELL FUCK IS THIS?!"
"Only human cooking, trauma included."
"Mission accomplished!"
"Reward unlocked: +1 dragon affinity. Current level: I might destroy part of the world for the loss."
"I want more," Elma said, drooling. "More of your food! At least three times a week! I want to become your official diner!"
When she declared that, out of nowhere my mind went Ding again.
Ding: Additional Reward, Dragon Contract. Description: A binding contract that, if used correctly, can get you a Dragon slave.
"Wow, I feel like I'm starting to like this system more, though I still don't know what kind of system it is."
--- To be continued...