Mom vs. Dad: The Great Steak Showdown!

POV: Yuuta

All I said was, "We should have steak tonight."

A harmless suggestion. A craving from my human stomach.

But apparently… those five words were enough to start a war.

Erza turned from the balcony, her voliet eyes narrowing like a queen looking down on a rebellious knight.

"My mother's Dwarven flame-seared steak was unmatched across the Dragon Clans. Even a mortal like you should know that."

I blinked, caught off guard.

"Seriously? You're challenging a guy who learned steak on Earth—home of wagyu, smokehouses, and Gordon Ramsay?"

Her smirk was dangerous. The kind that said, "I'm letting you dig your own grave."

Elena, our tiny three-year-old firecracker, clapped her hands excitedly.

"Mommy vs. Daddy! Let's gooo! I'll be judge!"

Welp. Now it's official.

Bet was already set

Round One: Prep Time

I thought I was prepared for anything. But the moment Erza unsheathed her blade—yes, literally—I knew I might be in trouble.

She sliced the beef into even, perfect cuts, her movements precise and fierce.

Flames danced around her as her fire magic flared subtly, warming the room.

She coated the pan in Ember Oil, some mystical substance from her world, and tossed the steaks in. The sizzle sounded like music.

"Medium-rare, seared in dragonflame. Dwarven style," she said, voice calm, full of confidence.

I didn't panic. I had skills.

I grabbed my cast iron skillet, the Earth style. No magic, just pure technique.

A generous sprinkle of sea salt, cracked pepper, rosemary, and butter. Simple. Classic. Timeless.

Sear. Flip. Baste.

"The secret," I said to Elena, grinning as the steak hissed under my spoon, "is love and garlic butter."

Erza shot me a look like she'd just discovered I'd insulted her ancestors. "Garlic? That's your secret?"

Elena gasped. "Garlic?!"

I winked. "Oh, yeah. It's the secret ingredient of champions."

Erza scoffed, her brow raised.

"You're going down."

Round Two: Plating & Presentation

Erza's dish? Beautiful. The steaks were marked with fiery diamond-shaped grill marks, topped with a dark berry reduction glaze, plated over roasted root veggies like something you'd see in an art gallery.

Mine? A little more rustic. Thick, juicy steak slices resting on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, with a pan sauce drizzled down like a waterfall.

Elena's eyes sparkled.

"You both are amazing!"

I stood there, apron on, towel over my shoulder like I was ready for battle.

Erza, however, was in a full-on battle dress, looking every bit the part of a warrior cooking steak like it was a sacred ritual.

The air was thick with tension.

Erza leaned in, her voice low and competitive.

"Prepare to lose, husband."

I smirked, feeling the weight of her challenge.

"I already lost the moment I married a dragon who takes cooking this seriously."

Final Round: Judgement

Elena took a bite of Erza's steak first. She froze, eyes wide, and her little hand trembled.

"It's… smoky and strong! Like a campfire!" she exclaimed.

I held my breath as she took a bite of mine. Her eyes widened even more. "But this one is juicy! Like a hug!"

Erza and I exchanged glances. The tension between us dissolved in an instant.

Then, Elena, looking torn, stood between both plates like an indecisive judge.

She wiggled in place, both plates held in her tiny hands.

"I CAN'T CHOOSE!"

I raised an eyebrow. "I think I lost."

Erza cracked a smile, her rare soft expression peeking through her usual proud one.

She walked over, brushing a finger under my jaw.

"Fine. A tie. But next time, I'm making Beef ribs."

I chuckled, leaning into the playful banter. "Then I'm doing Earth BBQ. Let's see who wins then."

Elena hugged both our legs, still chewing on both steaks. "Best steak ever!"

End Scene: Warm Kitchen, Full Hearts

We sat together, Elena between us, still savoring the two steaks like she was getting the best of both worlds.

Outside, stars glittered above, and the world outside felt calm, quiet.

But inside, the kitchen was filled with warmth.

The firelight flickered, casting dancing shadows across the room, turning our little battlefield into a haven.

And as I looked at Erza—her serious face now softened by a smile—and at Elena, our energetic little girl, I realized that this was the real win.

The food didn't matter as much as the moments we shared.

Even dragons and humans could meet at the dinner table.

Especially when love was the secret ingredient.

After the great steak showdown ended in a tie—no one really

"won,"

but Elena was happily munching on both dishes like she had scored the ultimate prize—I was left with the next challenge:

how to deal with two beautiful Dragon who had passed out in the middle of the night.

Erza and Elena were fast asleep, sprawled out on the bed.

The both of them looked so peaceful that, for a second, I almost forgot I had a one-bedroom apartment and only one bed.

Well, no matter. I had to get them both settled before I could even think about sleep.

---

I lifted Elena first, her small body warm in my arms. She was like a little bundle of energy even in her sleep, her face relaxed and angelic.

She may be a firecracker when she's awake, but when she's out cold, she's just my adorable little daughter.

I placed her carefully on the bed, covering her with the blanket.

Now for the dragon queen herself...

I turned to Erza.

Erza.

The woman who could reduce any man to a pile of mush with just a look.

Her beauty… It wasn't something you could ignore.

She was like the moon, glowing with an ethereal light that made me question every ounce of my self-control.

Moonlight reflected off her face, illuminating her in a way that made her seem otherworldly, like a goddess.

And her breathing? It wasn't helping my heartbeat one bit.

---

I carefully bent down, lifting her into my arms like she was made of glass.

Her body was surprisingly light, considering she could probably roast me alive with a flick of her wrist.

As I lifted her, her breath hit my chest, and my heart did a little double-time skip.

Okay, Yuuta, focus.

But seriously, how could I focus with her so close?

Her warmth… the way her hair smelled faintly of smoke and dragons… My heart started to race, and, for reasons I couldn't explain, my nose started bleeding.

Great. Just great.

I placed her gently on the bed, covering her with the blanket beside Elena.

I was about to crawl into the space beside them when suddenly, Erza's eyes fluttered open, glowing like fiery embers.

"Sleep somewhere else, you pervert mortal." Her voice was groggy but still sharp.

I blinked, caught off guard. Wait, what?

"Like… no kidding?"

I couldn't help but let out a sigh. It was the middle of winter. Cold wind was howling outside, and I was expected to sleep on the sofa?

Come on, there was no way I was going to freeze while they both snuggled in bed!

She blushed, her usual fiery attitude softening slightly.

"Okay, but don't try to touch me."

I nodded quickly.

"Got it. I'm just trying to survive the night here."

---

I settled into the bed, taking the far left side to respect her space, while Elena happily took the middle.

There I was, stuck in the awkward position between two beautiful women. One was my daughter, the other... well, the dragon queen.

Sleeping like this wasn't exactly easy. I had to force myself to ignore the fact that Erza's presence was so… intense.

Her body heat made it hard for me to breathe properly, and the tension in the air was palpable.

Every little sound she made, every tiny movement, sent my mind into overdrive.

---

It was, without a doubt, the most difficult night of sleep I'd had in ages.

And as I stared at the ceiling, trying to will my heartbeat to calm down, I couldn't help but wonder…

How am I supposed to survive this night ?