Everyone was given a cup of instant noodles, and tendrils of fragrant steam drifted out from beneath the lids.
It was that unmistakable, synthetic aroma of artificial flavoring—the kind that pierced through the air like invisible hooks, teasing every god's appetite until their stomachs growled in unison.
In Gran's previous life, there were people who loved that smell more than anything else.
But for the gathered gods—beings who had never even heard of instant noodles—just the scent alone was enough to make their mouths water uncontrollably.
"What… what kind of smell is this?! I, a God of Destruction, am actually tearing up because of it!"
Champa held the noodle cup in both hands, glaring at his angel with watery eyes.
"Vados! Didn't you say that my Dondon Bird Eggs were the most delicious food in all of Zeno's universe?"
Vados went speechless. She couldn't exactly tell him the truth—that she'd just been flattering him all this time.
"You fat slob, how's the food from my Universe Seven now?" Beerus laughed triumphantly.
Even he hadn't expected that the food Gran brought this time would have such terrifying power.
They hadn't even tasted it yet—just the smell alone was enough to drive gods crazy.
What would happen once it actually touched their tongues?
It'd probably be divine detonation!
"Beerus, you bastard! Why does your universe get to have food like this?!"
Champa shouted hysterically, clutching his cup of noodles.
He had always claimed that his Dondon Bird Eggs were the most delicious in existence
but now, the mere thought of that made every cell in his body cringe with shame.
"Pffft!"
Seeing Champa's expression, Gran couldn't hold back a laugh.
Champa whipped his head around instantly, making Gran flinch.
He coughed twice and quickly said,
"Lord Champa, time's up. You can start eating now."
The moment those words left his mouth, everyone—who had been barely holding back—ripped open their lids like a pack of wild beasts.
The next second
"Ahhhh~"
"Mmmmmm~"
"Ohhhh~"
"Hnnnn~"
Whis and the others slurped noisily, their voices blending into a chorus of exaggerated moans.
Champa didn't care about shame anymore—he dove in headfirst.
"Too good!"
"This! This is true cuisine! What garbage have I been eating all these years?!"
"I'm bringing so much of this back with me!"
Beerus roared with laughter.
"Hahahaha! This is Universe Seven's gourmet pride! What do you say now, fatso?"
Champa pouted and muttered through a mouthful of noodles,
"Fine! Your universe wins this time!"
Hearing their exchange, Gran couldn't help but chuckle.
Even he—who had eaten instant noodles countless times before—still found them irresistibly delicious.
That was the power of instant noodles.
The power of additives!
Eight divine beings squatting by the roadside, slurping noodles—it was a scene so bizarre it became its own spectacle.
Their divine robes, the cheap cups in their hands
to any passerby, they looked less like gods and more like a bunch of well-dressed beggars.
A human walked past, paused, and then tossed a zeni bill their way.
Then another.
And another.
Before long, there was a pile of money in front of Gran.
Beerus blinked in confusion.
"Gran, why are they throwing money at you?"
He recognized the currency—Whis had just used it to buy their noodles earlier.
Champa snorted.
"You bonehead. Obviously, they're offering tribute after witnessing our divine dining! Now hurry up and eat—we'll need more money to buy more noodles!"
He was secretly envious of Universe Seven's mortals. Such insight!
Gran's face darkened.
Tribute?
More like they think we're homeless!
Of course, he didn't dare say that aloud. If they got angry and blew up Earth over instant noodles, that'd be ridiculous.
He sighed internally.
"To think… I, a candidate God of Destruction, would one day be mistaken for a beggar…"
As he bent down to collect the bills, a small voice piped up nearby.
"Mommy, that little boy looks so pitiful!"
"You've got money, don't you? Give him some more."
"Okay, Mommy!"
A young girl walked up and tossed a thick wad of bills into Gran's hands.
He looked up—and his eyes widened slightly.
The girl's face was round and doll-like, framed by soft blue hair tied with a red ribbon.
Her clothes bore the unmistakable logo of the Capsule Corporation.
West City… of course.
Then that meant
Little Bulma.
"What's wrong, little brother?" Bulma asked innocently, holding her mother's hand.
"You can't live off instant noodles. Take this money and buy some real food."
"Little brother?"
Gran twitched.
You were born in Age 733. I was born in 731. And you're calling me little brother?
Still, Saiyan children were smaller than humans. Even though Bulma was only seven, she was taller than Gran, who was over nine.
So her calling him "little brother" wasn't exactly strange.
Gran pocketed the money, took a deep breath, and smiled.
"I'm actually older than you. You should call me big brother."
Bulma's eyes narrowed.
"This beggar's trying to take advantage of me?"
With her already-high IQ, she instantly grew indignant.
"Give me back my money!"
Gran smirked.
"It's already in my pocket, so it's mine now."
"You're awful! You're a terrible beggar!"
The two of them bickered like squabbling children.
The nearby gods groaned—couldn't these two mortals keep quiet?
Especially Beerus.
Did that human girl just call my disciple a beggar?
Beerus handed his cup to Whis and straightened, divine coldness flashing in his eyes.
He raised a single finger toward the little girl. A violet glow formed at its tip.
"Destr—"
"Lord Beerus!!"
Gran broke into a cold sweat and shouted hastily.
"What?!"
"Please… don't hurt her."
Beerus frowned, then lowered his hand.
"Hmph. Fine. I'll let her live—since you asked."
He waved off the destruction energy and went back to his noodles as if nothing had happened.
Gran exhaled in relief.
He turned to the still-fuming Bulma and said softly,
"You almost died just now."
"You're the one who's about to die! Give me my money back!"
Gran smiled faintly.
"Consider it payment for saving your life."
He studied her for a moment.
So this is Dragon Ball's heroine… even as a child, she's beautiful.
After a pause, he added,
"Here's a bit of advice: if you ever meet someone named Vegeta… don't get involved with him."
"Vegeta?" Bulma blinked.
She didn't know who that was—but why shouldn't she meet him?
"Why not? You're such a nosy beggar!"
Gran shrugged.
"Suit yourself. He and I have a grudge. Even if he survives, he'll spend his whole life under my shadow."
With that, he signaled the gods to take off, and they soared into the sky.
"Mom! They can fly!"
Bulma covered her mouth, eyes sparkling in awe.
END OF CHAPTER
3 IN 1 - BE A MEMBER, GET 3 ONGOING STORIES!!
35 CHAPTERS AHEAD!!
Disciple of Beerus - MrBehringer's Secret
👉 patreon.com/MrBehringer