[Akarin's Note: Yahallo~ It's me Akarin. As the translator, I want to give you some important warnings (Must Read) before you start this novel to avoid confusion:
1. Genre & Story Focus: This novel focuses mainly on Slice of Life and Cooking. The Harem element does exist and the MC is a "carnivore" (does not reject women and is experienced), but the romantic development proceeds alongside a relaxed daily life. Do not expect heavy action constantly.
2. Timeline Warning (Very Important!): Many readers are confused at the beginning. Ren's shop has been open for over 3 YEARS when the story starts.
[Warning: Minor Spoiler below regarding the shop's timeline. If you do not wish to be spoiled, please skip to point #3.]
Proof: In Chapter 25, it is mentioned: "I never said the shop had only been open for a few days. You'd know from Kobayashi Rindou's chapter~ It's been over three years already." So, if Ren appears to be very close to certain characters (like Rindou, Yumiko, or others), it is because they have known each other for a long time before Chapter 1 started.
3. MC Character (Ren) & Lore: Ren is a transmigrator, BUT he seems to know nothing about anime plots or character backgrounds (e.g., he doesn't know Totsuki is an elite school, or the powers of specific characters). The author does not explain why he doesn't know (whether it is amnesia, he never watched anime, or it's a parallel world setting). Just consider this an Alternative Universe (AU) where the MC enjoys life without the burden of the plot.
4. Inconsistency & Harem: Since this is a massive Chinese crossover fanfic, there might be some character details that are slightly Out of Character (OOC) or lore clashes between anime. Just enjoy the sweet interactions and the food! The harem here develops naturally (and sometimes moves quickly behind the scenes).
Happy reading and get your snacks ready, because the food descriptions might make you hungry! ~Akarin]
Chapter 1: Dimensional Restaurant
In a relatively quiet place, an inconspicuous but very clean street corner, a tall, silver-haired young man wearing a mask was walking forward with his hands in his pockets.
"Hmm?"
As the young man was walking forward, he suddenly heard a sound from his phone. He took it out and saw who was calling, immediately frowning, but after thinking about it, he decided to answer.
The vibration persisted against his palm, a relentless buzz that seemed to demand attention much like the caller herself. He slid his thumb across the screen, bringing the device to his ear with a sigh that was lost in the ambient noise of the street.
On the other end of the phone, a black-haired girl sat quietly in a chair and said, "Finished fighting?"
Her voice was deceptively sweet, carrying a lilt of innocence that completely contradicted her surroundings. The young man narrowed his eyes slightly, glancing at the empty street ahead as if visualizing the chaos on the other side of the line. He adjusted his mask, his voice calm and steady.
"Finished. What do you need?"
The girl showed a hint of a smile, propping her forehead with one hand and holding the phone with the other. If one could ignore the pile of people lying on the ground at her feet, spitting blood and groaning in agony, it would have been a beautiful picture. She sat atop the carnage like a queen on a throne of broken bones, her dark eyes gleaming with a terrifying mixture of adoration and bloodlust.
The girl licked her lips and said with some pleasure, "Then let's meet tonight! I want to have a good fight with you! If I win, you're mine!"
The declaration was bold, dripping with the obsession characteristic of her clan. To her, violence and love were indistinguishable currencies, and she was eager to spend both on him.
The young man held the phone away for a brief second, wincing slightly at her intensity, before bringing it back. "I don't participate in Kengan Matches anymore," he said, his tone carrying the finality of a retired veteran. "And if you want to beat me, you're still far from it. But if you come for dinner tonight, you are very welcome."
[Akarin's Note: Kengan Matches are unarmed gladiatorial combat events sponsored by wealthy businesses to settle disputes.]
The girl on the other end of the phone was completely stunned, not even noticing the people still spitting blood under her feet. Her beautiful foot in high heels pressed down even harder, and a scream could even be heard—a sharp, jagged sound that pierced the air but failed to register in her lovestruck mind.
"Eh?" She blinked, her murderous aura momentarily replaced by confusion.
The girl gritted her teeth and said, "Whether I can beat you isn't up to you to decide! And what do you mean by 'dinner'?!"
"It's exactly what you're thinking," the young man softly said, a hint of amusement coloring his voice. "My Restaurant has become full-time, so I welcome you to come for dinner~"
He didn't wait for her rebuttal. After speaking, the young man hung up the phone, slipping it back into his pocket. He could almost imagine her throwing a tantrum on the other side, likely taking it out on the poor souls beneath her heels.
Looking at the small shop in front of him, a smile appeared under his mask.
It was a modest establishment, sandwiched between larger, more modern buildings, yet it possessed a charm they lacked. The wooden facade was polished, the glass spotless, and a small sign hung above the door, swaying gently in the evening breeze. The young man opened the shop door, and a floral scent wafted in—a mixture of fresh wood and subtle herbs that instantly relaxed the nerves. It wasn't very large, but it was extremely clean, making people feel very warm.
The young man casually took a bank card from his pocket and tossed it up.
It was a black card, heavy with wealth he had accumulated over months of blood and sweat. The next moment, the bank card disappeared directly into mid-air, dissolving into particles of light. A cold, mechanical voice immediately sounded inside the shop, resonating from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"[Congratulations to the host for completing the mission, taking three months, seven days, three hours, twenty minutes, and fifteen seconds...]"
The voice was devoid of emotion, reciting the data with absolute precision.
"[The host successfully earned fifty billion through legitimate means within four months! The Dimensional Restaurant has become a permanent asset! Initiating first upgrade! All skills currently possessed by the host are upgraded to permanent use!]"
The young man's lips curled up slightly. The weight of the mission had finally lifted. No more underground arenas, no more relentless accumulation of capital. He was free.
He softly said, "New shop features."
The System responded instantly.
"[First: The Restaurant's door will randomly open in all planes and will not disappear.]"
"[Second: The shop can produce any ordinary ingredients according to the host's wishes. These ordinary ingredients are common ingredients from the human world; special ingredients will be generated randomly.]"
"[Third: The host can keep guests in the shop based on their own and the guests' wishes.]"
"[Fourth: The shop rejects all prying eyes. The shop will never be damaged or polluted. The host is invincible inside the shop. The shop will undergo a second upgrade after the host receives affirmation from twenty guests from Another World.]"
After speaking, the voice completely disappeared.
The young man only felt the small shop in front of him suddenly move, like building blocks shifting under the hand of an invisible giant. The walls groaned—not with the sound of breaking timber, but with the deep, resonant hum of magical expansion. The shop continuously expanded until it doubled in size before stopping.
The exterior of the shop still looked the same, maintaining its humble appearance to the outside world, but the interior had doubled in size, and even the rooms on the second floor had increased significantly. The spatial distortion was seamless; one moment the wall was here, and the next, it was five meters further back.
The most crucial thing was that it wasn't just a simple expansion of space; the items inside the shop had also been upgraded.
For example, the original tables and chairs, which were sturdy but simple pine, had been replaced with better wood—dark, rich mahogany that gleamed under the warm lighting. The carvings on the legs of the chairs were more artistic, depicting flowing water and clouds. For example, the original knives and forks had all become fine silver tableware, arranged with geometric perfection on the tables.
The young man reached up and unclasped the mask covering the lower half of his face.
He took off his mask, revealing a face as beautiful as an immortal. His features were sharp yet elegant, his skin flawless, and his eyes held a depth that suggested he had seen worlds beyond this one. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the renovated space.
"It seems the air is also a bit fresher," he murmured, running a hand through his silver hair.
He walked behind the counter, running his fingers along the smooth, cool surface. The kitchen behind him was now a chef's paradise, stocked with top-tier equipment that would make any Michelin-star chef weep with envy.
"Hmm~ It seems I don't have to worry about ingredients either," he mused, checking the refrigerators which were now magically stocked. "I'll take a good bath and then prepare to open tonight..."
With that, the young man walked towards the second floor. The stairs, too, had changed, the wood feeling solid and reassuring beneath his feet. The small shop returned to its quiet state once more. Everything seemed as if no one had ever been there, so tranquil, so peaceful, waiting for the first guests of a new era to arrive.
At this moment, in a place quite far from the small shop, stood a very luxurious complex of buildings.
It was a sprawling campus that looked more like a royal palace than an educational institution. Manicured gardens, imposing statues, and buildings designed by world-renowned architects dominated the landscape. If one didn't know, it would be impossible to guess that this was an academy.
Its name was Totsuki Culinary Academy.
It was the ruthless battlefield of the culinary world, where only the strong survived and the weak were expelled without mercy.
At this time, inside one of the lecture halls within the academy, the atmosphere was stifling. A red-haired girl was sprawled on a desk, bored, listening to a lesson that was completely useless to her. She was idly playing with her phone, her golden cat-like eyes half-closed in drowsiness.
Her name was Kobayashi Rindou, the Second Seat of the Elite Ten Council.
She tapped her finger rhythmically against the screen, her sharp canine teeth visible as she let out a quiet yawn. The lesson was about the fundamental chemical reactions in French sauces—something she had mastered years ago. To her, this was less of a class and more of a prison sentence.
After a long while, because she was too bored, she pressed the lock screen button.
The screen lit up, displaying the date and time.
Looking at her phone's lock screen, she showed a hint of a smile. Suddenly, she froze. Her eyes widened, the slit pupils dilating as the realization hit her like a bolt of lightning.
She abruptly sat upright, the motion so sudden and violent that the chair legs screeched against the floor, which startled the girl next to her.
The girl next to her was small, clutching a stuffed cat toy with an oversized head. She looked up with wide, fearful eyes and pitifully said, "Rindou-senpai... you scared Momo-chan to death..."
The girl, or rather Rindou, ignored the complaint, turning to her companion with an excited smile that stretched from ear to ear. "Sorry Momo-chan! I'm too happy! I... I'm leaving first!"
The girl called Momo-chan was stunned. She hugged her plushie, Bucchi, tighter against her chest. Leaving? Going where? Isn't class still in session? And this is Chapelle-sensei's class!
The next moment, Momo-chan was stunned.
Kobayashi Rindou directly picked up her jacket, which she had discarded on the back of the chair, and stood up.
Roland Chapelle, the lecturer known as the "Chef who doesn't smile," stood on the podium. His expression, already stern, darkened instantly. He slammed his pointer stick against the blackboard and shouted, "Kobayashi Rindou! What are you doing?! Class isn't over yet!"
The entire class held its breath. Nobody dared to challenge Chapelle-sensei.
Nobody except the Second Seat.
Kobayashi Rindou ran out directly, her red hair flowing behind her like a banner of rebellion. She turned halfway, winking mischievously, and shouted as she left, "Teacher Chapelle! Today is the sixteenth! I have something extremely important! I'll come back to apologize later! Bye-bye!"
With that, she dashed off, the door slamming shut behind her.
Chapelle's face turned dark with anger, veins bulging on his forehead. He gripped the chalk so hard it snapped in two. But considering that Kobayashi Rindou was the Second Seat of the Totsuki Elite Ten, and today's lesson was indeed of no help to her genius, he swallowed his rage. He didn't say anything more, merely adjusting his glasses with a huff.
Just as he was about to resume teaching, hoping to salvage the dignity of his classroom, he saw a pair of purple cat ears moving in the front row.
Chapelle was startled. He looked down and saw a girl holding a stuffed bear. The girl was Momo-chan. She stood up on her chair, tilting her head, looking at Chapelle with innocent, large eyes. For a moment, both of them fell silent, a silent standoff between a strict educator and a petite culinary prodigy.
Just as Chapelle was about to speak, to demand she sit back down, he saw Momo-chan directly lift Bucchi.
She clutched the bear's paw as if waving goodbye, then quickly ran off, her small legs moving surprisingly fast. She left only a sentence trailing in her wake: "Teacher Chapelle! I'm going to chase Rindou-senpai!"
With that, she also dashed off and disappeared into the hallway.
Chapelle was truly at his wit's end. He dropped the broken chalk pieces onto the podium, rubbing his temples.
Two Elite Ten members. Two queens in the room—one was the Second Seat, Kobayashi Rindou, and the other was the Fourth Seat, Akanegakubo Momo. He was happy when these two came to class, viewing it as a sign of respect for his subject. But now they just skipped it?! And right in front of his face!
Chapelle's blood pressure was about to rise. The atmosphere in the room was heavy. The students below, witnessing this blatant disregard for the rules, began to whisper. Some looked envious, others shocked. One brave soul raised a hand, perhaps wanting to ask if they could leave too.
But Chapelle directly shouted, his voice booming like thunder, "If you were also Elite Ten, you could do that too! Sit down and open your books to page 394!"
The students below fell silent immediately, heads bowing in submission.
Elite Ten sounded easy when said aloud, but it wasn't that simple. This was the pinnacle of Totsuki; the absolute authority. Even the tenth seat, Nakiri Erina, was an existence that far surpassed ordinary students. To compare oneself to the Second or Fourth Seat was nothing short of arrogance.
At this time, outside the teaching building, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the campus.
Kobayashi Rindou tied her school uniform jacket around her waist, the sleeves knotting in front, making her already slender waist even more prominent. She took a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling the thrill of the escape.
Kobayashi Rindou took out her phone, looked at the time in the corner of her lock screen wallpaper, and said with a blush and a chuckle, her eyes shimmering with anticipation, "Ren~ I'm coming for you!"
With that, she dashed towards the school gate, her movements agile and energetic.
Behind her, a smaller figure emerged, panting slightly. Akanegakubo Momo, holding Bucchi behind her, watched Rindou's retreating back. She thought for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly as she searched her memory.
Then she softly said, "Ren... such a familiar name... I seem to have heard it somewhere..."
Inside the shop at this moment, the young man had already finished his bath, his silver hair naturally falling, damp tips brushing against his neck. He wore casual clothes now, a simple shirt that hinted at his physique without flaunting it. His strong muscles were completely unnoticeable when he wore his jacket, giving him a deceptive appearance of slenderness.
The young man looked at the setting sun outside the window, the orange light bathing the newly renovated restaurant in a warm glow. He paused, his instincts flaring up for a second time that day.
He softly said, "Hmm? Why do I feel like I'm being watched..." A knowing smirk crossed his face as he deduced the source of the disturbance in the force. "Is it that brat Rindou... Heh..."