Shirou's Thirty Million Avatars

"I hate chefs, and I hate cooking even more."

"Huh...? Didn't you already decide to take down Totsuki through proper means?"

"That's true, but it doesn't mean I'm giving up what I'm good at. I'm going to establish a new chef academy and crush Totsuki from every angle. Totsuki? Hmph!"

"Even though you don't plan to learn culinary skills?"

"Who says the chairman of a chef academy has to be a master chef?"

"True... haha..."

Slime Shirou shifted back into his slime form, hopped onto Sakurai Shirou's head, and asked lazily:

"This is just misdirected anger, isn't it? The one you hate is Nakiri Mana alone, not the entire Totsuki Academy."

"No, I hate the whole Totsuki." Sakurai Shirou paused. "And as for misdirected anger, I've never cared whether that woman lives or dies."

"Lies! Lies..." Slime Shirou said in rapid succession.

This guy!

Sakurai Shirou realized instantly—he'd suddenly turned into a slime and jumped onto his shoulder just to probe his feelings while talking.

But even knowing that, he couldn't fight it.

After all, their power was identical, making it hard to shake him off.

"I've never cared about that woman. I hate Nakiri Mana only because she cost me my first pot of gold back then."

"Lies! Lies..."

"By now, I've long forgotten that woman completely."

"More lies!" Slime Shirou chuckled lightly, then said seriously, "The Water Shadow has the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu. It's still a very rough version, but you might want to give it a try."

"Ha... Don't say such stupid things. Why would I ever do that?"

"You're tempted. In that instant just now, you thought: when I get back, I have to try it."

"Shut up!"

Sakurai Shirou reached out his right hand to peel the slime off, but it dodged calmly.

"A tsundere man isn't cute at all, you know. Besides, we're the same person—you can't hide anything from me."

"Hmph! In the Food Wars World, who doesn't know? I, Sakurai Shirou, keep my word and never lie."

"Ooh...! Impressive! But that line is so ridiculously fake, I can't even look at you."

Was this guy getting back at me for my earlier sarcasm?

"That's right, exactly." Slime Shirou suddenly grinned. "Heh heh... Who told you to be so cocky just now?"

"You! I'll give you a year's worth of rations for a hundred thousand people."

"Really?"

The slime instantly jumped off Sakurai Shirou's shoulder, transformed into his slime king form, and said excitedly:

"I want rice and vegetables! Also, I want the recipes from your world—as many as possible."

"Cooking skills are what matter. What's the point of recipes?" Sakurai Shirou asked instinctively.

"If you strictly follow a recipe, you can make dishes above average. The rest is just practice. Recipes set the floor, cooking skills set the ceiling—how could they be useless?"

"Fine. I'll have them to you within three days."

"Once it's ready, just leave it here. I'll pick it up when I have time. Oh, and I want food too—I want to taste the most delicious dishes in the Food Wars World."

"Food? How am I supposed to give you that? Leave it here too?"

"No need. Go eat a meal, then come shake my hand."

"Can't do it. I have no sense of taste."

"That's easy. Drink a Recovery Potion. Besides, I've trained Life Return to its highest level—the injury on your tongue is nothing."

"Life Return?"

Sakurai Shirou recalled the Life Return technique derived from the Six Powers, and with a thought, his body began to slim down.

In an instant, he went from a potbellied fat man to a scrawny youth.

"Too skinny! You look just like Zepp and Sanji after two months of starvation." Slime Shirou warned.

"Mm."

Sakurai Shirou adjusted his state, and his body gradually filled out, quickly becoming that of a healthy young man.

Messy black hair paired with an oversized outfit—not particularly handsome, but clean-cut fit the description without issue.

Food Wars World.

"Back, huh? Feels like it's been a long time."

Sakurai Shirou let out a light sigh, picked up the office phone, pressed a few buttons, and quickly dialed a number.

"Shiraishi, put the plan on hold."

"Yes, boss!"

"I'll notify you once the new plan is ready."

The original plan was to force all Totsuki Academy teachers to resign through a series of methods like kidnapping, extortion, and hypnosis.

At the same time, do everything possible to prevent Totsuki from hiring new teachers and students.

Use every despicable tactic imaginable to crush Totsuki.

But now, having found his purpose in life, Sakurai Shirou decided to abandon that plan.

His new goal was to establish a new culinary academy, defeat Totsuki, and take its place.

That meant he couldn't use the original destructive approach—it would be better to recruit the teachers from Totsuki instead.

However, before that, he first needed to taste Nakiri Senzaemon's cooking.

There was no consensus on who could make the world's most delicious cuisine, but Nakiri Senzaemon was undoubtedly one of the world's top chefs.

With that thought, Sakurai Shirou picked up the receiver and dialed another number.

"Come to my office."

"Yes, boss! I'll be right there."

A few seconds later, a sudden knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

The door slowly opened, and a shriek echoed from inside the room.

"Kyaa...!!"

"Too loud!"

Shirou frowned slightly, covering his ears with his hand, and said in a low voice:

"Shut up! I didn't call you here to scream."

"Boss? Wh-what's going on?" Minezaki Yaeko stared at Shirou, dumbfounded, stammering, "It's only been a few minutes—how... how did you get so thin?"

"I took off my makeup."

"Liar! You've never worn makeup before. And what does makeup have to do with your body shape?"

"Then an alien suddenly landed."

"Impossible! I was outside just now and didn't hear a thing."

Shirou was silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking:

"I can't think of a good excuse, so just make something up yourself—whatever sounds reasonable. Tomorrow morning, come with me to the Nakiri family."

"You're... not going to explain?"

Minezaki Yaeko paused, then asked cautiously:

"Boss, why are we going to the Nakiri family?"

"I want to taste Nakiri Senzaemon's cooking firsthand."

"Huh...? Did you already make a reservation?"

"No, but I have quite a few leverage points against Totsuki Academy. I'll toss one out as a bargaining chip."

"Boss, can I ask why?"

"Because of a promise. Also, as a future rival, I want to see the enemy's depth."

"But, Boss, don't you have no sense of taste?"

"It's back."

"No way? Can destroyed taste nerves really recover?"

"If you don't believe me, come see for yourself."

"Then... I'll dig in?"

Chapter 58: Some Things, Even If You Know, Are Hard to Counter

Section 58: Chapter 58: Some Things, Even If You Know, Are Hard to Counter

Inside a Japanese-style estate in Tokyo.

After his morning exercise, Nakiri Senzaemon sat on the wooden steps of the courtyard, holding a teacup and drinking alone.

Soon, his granddaughter Nakiri Erina, wearing her Totsuki uniform, walked over from another direction and stopped beside him.

"Grandfather, I... lately, I feel like the atmosphere at Totsuki is a bit off."

"A storm is brewing."

Nakiri Senzaemon sighed but offered no explanation.

The signs had actually appeared over a month ago.

After such a long investigation, he already knew who was targeting Totsuki.

But even knowing some things, it was hard to find a countermeasure.

"Grandfather, do you know what's happening?" Nakiri Erina couldn't help asking.

"Erina, as a chef, no matter what happens in the future, you must remember that culinary skill is the foundation."

"What exactly is going on?"

Nakiri Senzaemon didn't answer, because even if he told her, it wouldn't help—it would only add one more person to worry.

Just then, the butler hurried over from the main gate, his face anxious as he said:

"Master, a large group of people has arrived outside. They look aggressive—I fear they mean trouble."

"Oh...?"

Nakiri Senzaemon set down his teacup and was about to stand, but suddenly furrowed his brow.

In the distance, a young man was approaching, flanked by dozens of bodyguards.

Half a step behind him, a young woman in an office lady suit followed closely.

The bodyguards' waists and chests bulged, suggesting they were carrying weapons.

"Indeed, they mean trouble."

Nakiri Senzaemon studied the young man for a moment, frowned slightly, and asked:

"You're Sakurai Shirou? You don't match the rumors. Though your face is similar, wasn't Sakurai a fat man?"

"I lost weight."

Shirou paused, glanced between the two of them, and let his gaze linger on Nakiri Erina.

Seeing this, Nakiri Senzaemon abruptly stood up, blocking his granddaughter: