Chapter 13: Erina Nakiri – Still Have to Go to School After Traveling to Another World?

The morning sun filtered through the Mother Tree's bioluminescent leaves, casting emerald patterns across Zed's regeneration center. Erina and Hisako sat at a polished stone table, steaming mugs of Mellow Cola in hand, as Zed outlined their future.

"Go to cooking school?!" Erina blurted, nearly spilling her drink.

"Yes. Even with your skills, you need to adapt to this world's… ingredients." Zed slid a holographic brochure across the table. The projection showed chefs wrestling Shell Turtles twice their size, cleavers flashing like lightning.

Hisako paled. "We're supposed to cook that?"

"Nakaume Culinary Academy," Zed said, ignoring her tremor. "Top-tier institution. I've pulled strings with Chef Sumire—ranked tenth globally. He'll mentor you personally."

Erina's God Tongue tingled—not from flavor, but dread. Tenth-ranked? In Shokugeki, even alumni like Joichiro Yukihira wouldn't crack the top thousand here.

The Hierarchy of Chefs

Zed expanded the hologram, revealing the Human World's culinary ladder:

1–3 Stars: Master regional cuisines, handle Capture Level 10 ingredients.

4–6 Stars: Cook for celebrities, tame Capture Level 30 beasts.

7–10 Stars: Legends like Chef Sumire, who'd dueled Galala Crocodiles for their livers.

"You're… students," Zed said gently. "In your world, talented. Here? You'll relearn everything."

Hisako's grip tightened on her mug. "And if we fail?"

"You won't." Zed's voice brooked no argument. "I'm a Saiseiya prodigy. My connections opened doors—walk through them."

The Weight of "Prodigy"

Erina studied Zed—calm, assured, nothing like the flustered man who'd rescued them weeks prior.

"Three rising stars dominate Saiseiya circles," he explained. "Teppei, Pukin, and me. They say we'll surpass Yosaku and Mohyan Shaishai."

Hisako blinked. "That's… impressive."

"It's survival," Zed corrected. "Yosaku rebuilt the Flower Field—one of the Eight Kings' habitats. When Toriko lost an arm in the Ice Hell, Yosaku regrew it in minutes. That's our endgame."

Erina's mind raced. Rebuilding ecosystems. Regrowing limbs. And he's sending us to… culinary school?

Gourmet Cells: The Unspoken Advantage

Zed leaned forward, lowering his voice. "About your Cells—keep it secret. Eat what the academy serves. With the system's boost, awakening's inevitable."

Erina frowned. "And if someone notices?"

"Play dumb. Say you're 'naturally talented.'" A smirk tugged his lips. "They'll believe it. Arrogance thrives here."

Journey to Zhongmei Academy

Days later, Zed escorted them aboard a Gourmet Carrier—a living aircraft resembling a winged whale. Its maw yawned open, revealing a cabin lined with Healing Log seats that molded to their bodies.

"Half a day to Food City," Zed said, buckling in. "The academy's nearby."

As the Carrier soared, Erina gaped at landscapes below: forests where trees pulsed like hearts, rivers flowing with liquid silver, mountains shaped by millennia of battling Capture Level 100+ beasts.

Hisako gripped her armrest. "This world… it's alive."

"And hungry," Zed murmured. "Learn fast."