Smell and Taste—A Bond Beyond Logic
Among the five senses, smell and taste shared an inseparable connection.
For most people, this relationship was simple.
But for Nakiri Erina, who possessed the God Tongue, it was an absolute truth.
She could analyze and deconstruct any flavor with unrivaled precision.
To her, ingredients could not lie.
No matter how cleverly disguised—
A beef patty made from toast… was still toast.
To think someone could fool her with such a cheap trick?
How naive.
AChallengetotheGodTongue
"Different ingredients—"
"Will always have different tastes, textures, and aromas."
"These things cannot be erased, only masked."
Erina spoke with absolute certainty, her arms crossed as she scrutinized the dishes before her.
"And yet…"
She narrowed her eyes at Zane.
"You've willingly exposed every trick behind your so-called 'Western fast food'—"
"Do you not realize how self-defeating that is?"
There was no challenge in tasting something she already understood.
With her God Tongue, she could deconstruct flavors before they even touched her lips.
And yet—
Zane merely smiled.
"Flavors can be manipulated," he said.
"In cooking, the right balance of sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty can trick the human palate."
"The same way a painter blends colors to create an illusion—"
"A chef blends flavors to reshape perception."
His words carried an undeniable confidence.
It irritated her.
"Enough talk," Zane continued, gesturing toward the plate.
"Go ahead and taste it."
"I guarantee—these three dishes will shatter your understanding of food."
TheGodTongue'sJudgment
Erina scoffed, but she picked up the burger anyway.
"I will taste it," she declared.
"For a dish like this—"
"I must personally uncover its flaws."
She lifted the golden-brown bun to her lips and took a bite.
And then—
Her mind went blank.
TheFirstBite—A StaggeringRevelation
The moment the patty touched her tongue, a wave of flavor burst forth.
It was soft yet elastic, pressing gently against her teeth—a texture unlike any burger she had ever had.
Not crispy. Not dense.
Instead, the bun had an almost silken quality, a delicate sweetness that lingered.
And then—
The sauce coated her palate, its umami richness soaking into every corner of her mouth.
She could taste the depth of the teriyaki glaze, the subtle kick of mustard, the layered complexity of oyster sauce blended with vegetable juice.
It wrapped around the patty, amplifying its taste tenfold.
And yet—
Her God Tongue—
Could not taste the toast.
ACrackinHerConfidence
Erina's hands trembled slightly.
"This… this doesn't make sense…"
Her mind raced.
"The patty is made from toast—"
"Then why can't I taste the toast?"
And that aroma—
The undeniable scent of seared beef—
How?
How had he replicated the Maillard reaction without using meat?
Her heart pounded in her chest.
Was this truly possible?
Could there exist a cooking method capable of deceiving even the God Tongue?
Even…
My mother, Nakiri Mana…?
No.
That was impossible.
And yet—
She found herself taking another bite.
TheSecondBite—TheTruthWithintheTaste
This time, Erina focused.
She analyzed every element of the burger.
Theoretically, a patty made from toast should be dry.
But this one wasn't.
Because the sauce had been crafted specifically to counterbalance that weakness.
Its stickiness mimicked the juiciness of real beef, creating an illusion of moisture.
Every detail had been meticulously planned—
Every flaw corrected before she could even identify it.
Zane had anticipated everything.
That realization sent chills down her spine.
She—Nakiri Erina—was being outplayed.
And for the first time in years—
She didn't hate it.
FallingfromGrace
Slowly, her pride gave way to instinct.
Her grip on the burger tightened.
She took another bite.
Then another.
And another.
Her once graceful demeanor disappeared.
No longer eating with the elegance of a refined gourmet—
She devoured the burger with ravenous hunger.
Each bite overwhelmed her senses, pulling her into a state of pure, unfiltered enjoyment.
AShockingSight
"Wh—what's happening?"
Hisako stared, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Miss Erina… is eating like—"
"Like a normal person?!"
For as long as she could remember, Erina had never eaten this way.
She was always poised. Always composed.
Yet now—
She clutched the burger like a lifeline, sinking her teeth into it without hesitation.
Hisako nearly dropped her tray.
"Could it be…"
"That this fake beef burger…"
"Has conquered the God Tongue?!"
TheWeightof a Revelation
Hisako felt a lump in her throat.
She had served Erina for years.
She had witnessed countless culinary masterpieces.
And yet—
Lately, Erina had become disillusioned.
Food that once excited her now bored her.
Even gourmet dishes from the greatest chefs failed to impress her.
Her palate had become so refined, so demanding, that ordinary food had become worthless in her eyes.
But now—
In this small, unassuming tavern—
A burger made of toast had left her completely enthralled.
Was this a miracle?
Or had Zane somehow rewritten the rules of cooking itself?
Hisako swallowed hard.
She didn't know the answer.
But one thing was clear—
For the first time in years—
Erina was truly, deeply enjoying a meal.
And her hands—
Simply couldn't stop.