88. [I Am the Chosen One, and the Only One]

"Before, I was being considerate of Aunt Rin's health."

"But now that she's fine, I don't have to hold back."

"To be honest, having no eyebrows and wearing that weird makeup makes Aunt Rin really ugly."

"At least, it's not my type."

Critical hit.

Those words nearly sent Nakiri Mana straight to the afterlife.

"Pfft!"

"Akira Sawamura, you actually said it out loud!"

Erina couldn't hold back—she burst out laughing.

Even though she also thought her mom looked weird, she never dared to say it!

They say lies don't hurt people—

But the truth? The truth cuts like a knife.

"Eririn, I'm an honest and trustworthy boy."

"Waaah! Eririn, I don't want to live anymore—just let me die!"

Nakiri Mana threw herself into Erina's arms, crying her eyes out.

"Yay! That means I won!"

Leonora threw up a victory sign.

"Of course you won."

"It's literally the difference between a white swan and an ugly duckling."

"Most people evolve from ugly ducklings into swans—"

"But Aunt Mana devolved from a swan into an ugly duckling."

"Akira Sawamura, you bastard! My mom isn't that ugly!"

"Pfft!"

Leonora completely lost it and started laughing.

"Waaaahhh!"

Hearing Erina's words, Mana cried even harder.

"Compared to normal people, she's still a beauty."

"But compared to her old self, she's ugly as hell."

"You forgot that when I was a kid, I called her 'Big Sis Mana'?"

"And who got mad about it?"

"You, Eririn—you always forced me to call her 'Aunt Mana' instead."

"Now that I actually call her 'Aunt Mana,' you're unhappy?"

Akira sighed dramatically.

"Sigh! But time moves on, and people change."

"'Do not mock the white-haired one wearing flowers—"

"Time may pass, but true beauty never fades.'"

As he spoke, he reached behind his back—

And, like a magician, he pulled out a violet and placed it gently in Leonora's silver-white hair.

"Akira-chan, what does that mean?"

Leonora blinked innocently.

She didn't understand the meaning—

But she could feel the burning jealousy coming from every other girl in the room.

That alone told her this line was lethal.

Hehehe… Akira-chan's favorite is still me after all.

"It means:"

"'A white-haired beauty wearing flowers—do not mock her."

"Time may pass, but a true goddess will never lose her charm."

"Ohh! That's totally me!"

SMOOCH!

"Love you the most, Akira-chan!"

"You idiot!"

"Akira Sawamura, you moron!"

"Are you seriously reciting poetry for a Nordic woman?"

"She doesn't even understand it!"

All the childhood friends were losing their minds.

Did he really just write a whole poem just to praise Leonora?!

Before, when he quoted:

"If I was born when you were not, if you were born when I was not…"

At least that was in English—

And it was easy to translate.

But this line?

Yeah. Good luck translating this one.

"I just said it because it came to me!"

"When inspiration strikes, what can I do?"

"This is just what I felt in the moment."

Hearing those words, Mana felt like her heart had been stabbed.

She no longer wanted to live.

The childhood friends were so mad they could barely speak.

And just as they were about to cry from frustration—

Akira dropped a nuclear bomb into the conversation.

"By the way, Aunt Mana—"

"According to my sources, Erina's biological father is returning soon."

"What?!"

Mana immediately stopped crying.

She wiped her tears and stared in shock.

"Where did you hear that?"

"China."

"Centuries ago, China gave birth to a legendary chef's organization."

"They were called the Dark Culinary World."

"Their goal—"

"Was to use food to control the entire nation."

"Wait, what?!"

"How the hell do you control a country with food?"

"Through 'Chef's Hearts.'"

"A 'Chef's Heart' can be used for good—"

"Or for evil."

"Creating food that addicts people psychologically isn't that hard."

"Every member of the Dark Culinary World was an elite 'Dragon Chef.'"

"Their strongest chefs were on the verge of reaching the 'Dragon King' level."

"So what happened to them?"

"I'm guessing they failed, right?"

Yukino asked confidently,"So, they were really defeated?"

"That's right. A Dragon Chef from China completely drove the Dark Culinary World out of the country."

"Their original goal—to control a nation through food—failed in China."

"But in a small way, they succeeded in Tōtsuki."

"It's only natural that they're targeting Tōtsuki now."

"Their current headquarters is in America."

"They've evolved. They are no longer just a secret society of chefs—"

"They've become a coalition of multinational food conglomerates."

"Erina's father has already joined them."

Compared to the Dark Culinary World from hundreds of years ago,

The modern Dark Culinary World is filled with capitalists and landlords.

"When they can't win in a food war,"

"They use economic tactics."

"When economics fails,"

"They resort to dirty tricks."

"Aunt Mana, you need to go back and warn Grandpa Senzaemon."

"He needs to prepare for Erina's father and the Dark Culinary World now."

"Otherwise, they'll catch you off guard."

"In my opinion, half of the current Tōtsuki Elite Ten are completely unreliable."

"They have issues, and they're likely to betray you when it matters most."

Akira's voice was serious.

"Or better yet—move Tōtsuki Academy inside Academy City."

"With strict monitoring of all personnel."

"If Erina's father dares to set foot in my territory,"

"We'll beat him to death with sticks."

"They play dirty? So can I."

"I'm not joking."

"He legally changed his surname to Nakiri."

"His Japanese name is Nakiri Azami."

"This means he has the legal right to inherit everything from the Nakiri family."

"I will not allow the Dark Culinary World to sink its claws into Japan."

"They are no longer just a group of evil chefs."

"And the Japanese government?"

"They'd probably be happy to see Nakiri Azami take over."

Alice hesitated,"Uh… isn't beating him to death a bit too much?"

"I mean, he is Erina's dad, after all…"

This was a crossover world.

Anything could happen.

What if this didn't follow the original story?

What if Nakiri Azami tried to kill Grandpa Senzaemon and Aunt Mana?

"I already said—"

"The Dark Culinary World isn't just a bunch of chefs anymore."

"If Aunt Mana and Grandpa Senzaemon have an 'accident'—"

"Tōtsuki will belong to Nakiri Azami."

"They're now a coalition of multinational food giants."

"Do you really expect capitalists to be benevolent?"

"Hundreds of years ago,"

"A simple food war was enough to drive them out of China."

"But now?"

"Even if they lose a food war, they'll use dirty tricks instead."

"This isn't just about Tōtsuki."

"If the Dark Culinary World controls Tōtsuki, they'll monopolize the entire food industry."

"This affects everyone."

"And China is too close to Japan."

"Their real goal is to use Japan as a stepping stone to reclaim China."

"If they fail, they can just run away back to America."

"But we can't run."

"You all live here. You are the owners of this country."

"So act like it."

So arrogant.

And yet, it sounded so reasonable.

"…Are you trying to take over an entire country?"

Kanzaki asked, speechless.

"You're a princess, aren't you?"

"I have legal inheritance rights to Japan."

This bastard was getting ridiculous.

"Too bad. I'm not worth anything anymore."

Kanzaki rolled her eyes.

"Actually, Kanzaki, I just got a brilliant idea."

"Shut up, Akira. I don't want to hear it."

Kanzaki immediately covered her ears.

"With your brain and Rainmiya's crazy logic, I don't even want to imagine what you're thinking."

"Kanzaki, you should become an idol!"

"Hah?"

"Japan is full of otaku. It's a lost cause."

"So why not let Lacus help you gain popularity?"

"With her backing,"

"You could become the next world-famous singer."

"And then…"

"You use that insane popularity to run for Prime Minister."

"And when the time is right, reveal your identity as a princess."

"Because, let's be honest,"

"Most real-life princesses are ugly as hell."

Kanzaki actually agreed with that.

She was too beautiful—

Even among royalty, she was treated as an outcast.

That's why she was hidden away and raised as a shrine maiden.

"You're literally the only gorgeous royal princess."

"That alone would skyrocket your popularity."

"If you don't become Prime Minister, I'll be shocked."

"So? What do you guys think of my plan?"

"Listen to the applause!"

"If you think this plan is genius,"

"Give me some applause!"

"Show me your support!"

…

Silence.

Dead silence.

Everyone's mouths twitched.

They had no words.

"Heh."

Kanzaki was the first to roll her eyes.

She knew this bastard's brain didn't work normally.

He literally fast-forwarded to making her the Prime Minister.

Is this even something a normal person can come up with?!

"Kanzaki, look at Lacus."

"Her father is the leader of the Southern Union—"

"But the real leader is her."

"She's the one who united all the member nations."

"As her fan, don't you want to become a leader like her?"

Akira kept brainwashing her.

"You're really pushing for me to become Prime Minister."

Kanzaki sighed, completely exhausted.

"Of course!"

"I need a country's power to control."

"How else am I supposed to advance world technology?"

"If you want something done right, do it yourself."

"Relying on others is pointless."

"You ladies are all rich, noble heiresses."

"You don't need to worry about survival."

"Ordinary people spend their whole lives struggling."

"But you guys?"

"You're gonna waste away and turn into middle-aged old ladies like Mana?"

Nakiri Mana: …

"AAAAHHHHHHH!"

"THIS LITTLE SHIT—"

"ONCE I CAN STAND AGAIN, I'M KILLING YOU!"

"You'll get wrinkles, lose elasticity, and feel insecure about standing next to me, Leonora, and Ryoko."

"This is a horror story."

The girls were terrified.

"But the reality is—you'll age before us."

"We almost forgot to ask—"

"Why is it that you, the biggest womanizing bastard here, also don't age?"

"Because I'm a once-in-a-lifetime martial arts genius, obviously."

"According to Rainmiya, my genes mutated in a positive way."

"My bones are tens of times harder than a normal person's."

"And because of that, my bone marrow and stem cells are also different."

"…So, basically, you're a freak of nature."

"You're the real cockroach that refuses to die."

Kiryuuin Chisato pointed at him, her face full of jealousy.

This childhood friend of hers had been hiding too much.

"My success comes from years of relentless effort."

"Though… I guess I have to thank Mother World for blessing me too."

"Akira, let's make babies!"

Kagura's eyes turned into hearts as she pleadingly stared at him.

"I refuse."

"You have to grow up first."

"…You were hiding all of this from us?"

The childhood friends felt like they never actually knew this shameless womanizer.

"Since I was a child, I've known—"

"I am different."

"I am the chosen one."

"I am the only one."

"I just had to silently grow stronger,"

"And one day, I would shock the entire world."

"No matter how amazing my talent is,"

"As long as I'm a kid,"

"Some random adult could still beat the shit out of me."

Akira folded his hands behind his back,

Turned away from everyone,

And faced the sunset,

Declaring arrogantly.