"Uh, Erina…"
Ryuji swallowed hard as he watched the swaying hips and long, snow-white legs of the girl walking in front of him.
"If it's too much trouble, I'll cook my own food from now on. Your cooking is just too good… It's making me feel weird."
"Weird?"
Erina tilted her head in confusion, glancing back at him.
"What do you mean by weird?"
Ryuji hesitated for a moment, but seeing the genuine curiosity on her face, he decided to be honest.
"Well… how do I put this? Eating your food makes me feel like I just took an aphrodisiac."
The second he finished speaking, Erina's expression grew even more puzzled.
"Aphrodisiac?"
"Yeah. It's probably a difference between our worlds. In mine, no matter how good the food is, there's a limit. But in yours… that limit doesn't seem to exist."
He swallowed again. Even a simple meal made from low-quality canned beans and luncheon meat had him burning up inside. If Erina were to put in even the slightest bit of effort—if she really let her culinary talent shine—Ryuji wasn't sure what kind of disaster that would lead to!
He might actually lose control of himself!
So, this had to be stopped—immediately!
"Hah?"
Erina tilted her head again, completely failing to understand his concern.
Sure, the Nakiri family had a… unique trait—when they ate something incredibly delicious, their clothes would explode off. But because of her God Tongue, Erina had never experienced that reaction herself.
And now, he was saying food could work like an aphrodisiac?
She'd never heard of something so ridiculous.
Sure, some dishes could make people feel more passionate, but the effect faded quickly—it wasn't something that lasted the way Ryuji was describing.
Still burning up even now?
That was just… absurd.
"Don't say things like that," she scoffed. "Besides, are you doubting my cooking skills? And who would ever be attracted to a guy like you? You get out of breath just from moving a little!"
She huffed, crossing her arms, but in the end, she chose to believe him.
After all… Ryuji had actually asked for it.
"Fine. Since you brought it up, you can cook your own meat. But I'm warning you—the texture of this meat is strange. It feels like a fusion of countless different types. Even I'm not sure how well I can prepare it. But if you mess up and make something terrible, you still have to eat it. No wasting food!"
Erina waggled her finger at him before handing over ten portions of meat.
"Got it!"
Ryuji breathed a sigh of relief. At least now, he didn't have to worry about any unexpected side effects.
—
Back at their base, they had plenty of water thanks to the lake.
The two of them started cooking separately. Ryuji wasn't particularly skilled at grilling meat, but under Erina's guidance, he managed to avoid completely ruining it.
Meanwhile, Erina had entered her serious mode.
"Hoo… A completely unknown ingredient."
She took a deep breath and ran her fingers over the strange piece of meat in front of her.
From its texture to its marbling, everything about it was perfect. The fat distribution was just right—ideal, even.
And that was exactly what puzzled her.
Something this flawless shouldn't exist.
Yet, when she tasted it… she could detect the flavors of countless different animals.
"Let's see just what kind of dish I can create from you."
Despite their limited resources, her chef's instincts burned strong.
She took out a carefully collected cooking knife, sterilized it in boiling water, and set to work.
Her blade danced as she swiftly portioned the meat, preparing to season it with every ingredient she could find.
Her movements were sharp, precise—almost divine. She looked like a valkyrie in battle, exuding confidence and power.
Ryuji found himself mesmerized by her.
But compared to her, his task was much simpler.
Before long, his meat was cooked. Taking his portion, he climbed onto the base's perimeter wall to keep watch—just in case the smell attracted any wandering wolves.
Fortunately, there were no signs of a wolf pack in the area. However, as Erina cooked, the aroma of the meat continuously teased Ryuji's senses.
He couldn't quite describe the feeling—it was simply meat, a fragrance so rich and tantalizing that despite having already eaten three large pieces of roasted meat, he still craved more.
"As expected of a world from a gourmet anime… this level of cooking is just ridiculous."
Ryuji swallowed hard as he watched Erina stir-fry the freshly picked wild vegetables with meat and prepare a pot of stew. She even thoughtfully set aside a portion for him. A warm feeling welled up in his chest.
But…
"Why is it that just smelling the food is already causing problems?!"
Ryuji groaned inwardly as he struggled with his increasingly restless mind.
When he had eaten his own grilled meat earlier, everything had been perfectly fine. But now, after catching the scent of Erina's cooking, he felt an overwhelming heat rushing through his body. It was as if he were being pulled into an intoxicating realm of meat. Just the aroma alone was enough to make his senses tingle and draw his attention toward anything even remotely meaty—
Whether it was the girl's round, supple thighs or the soft curves of her chest, his gaze was irresistibly drawn toward them. The urge to reach out, to touch and squeeze, was almost unbearable.
"This is on a whole different level compared to before!"
Ryuji fought to suppress his growing desires, but the scent continued to cloud his mind, making him dizzy.
Erina, on the other hand, was experiencing something similar. Staring at the meat in the pot, she swallowed hard—a rare sight indeed. Yet here she was, unable to resist the urge.
Given the crude conditions they were in, there was no way for her to fully unleash her culinary skills. She could only bring out a fraction of the meat's potential. And yet, even that small portion was already overwhelming.
The moment she finished cooking, an almost uncontrollable urge to devour it all surged within her. But she managed to hold herself back.
Ryuji, seeing that the food was ready, dared not stay there any longer. The longer he inhaled that scent, the harder it became to keep himself in check. Without hesitation, he leaped off the wall and hurried toward the RV.
He definitely didn't want to risk losing control and doing something reckless.
"I, uh… I'll be in my room."
"Hmm," Erina murmured absentmindedly, her entire focus locked onto the plate of meat in front of her.
Ryuji sighed. Clearly, she was completely enraptured. Shaking his head, he climbed back onto the wall, determined to keep watch over the surreal landscape that surrounded them.
But then, he suddenly covered his nose.
"What kind of scent is this…?"
Erina's lips parted slightly as she panted, her breath shaky. With trembling fingers, she reached for a piece of the meat she had prepared under these incredibly makeshift conditions.
"This is… this is…"
Her heart pounded in her chest.
But the moment her tongue touched the meat, her eyes widened in shock.
A cacophony of animal cries filled her mind, each one tied to a distinct, primal flavor. The sensations flooded her senses, drowning her in an overwhelming wave of tastes that sent shivers down her spine.
The fragrance of spring, the richness of the meat—it all melded together in an intoxicating dance within her brain. Her heart raced wildly, and combined with the deliberate way she had prepared the dish to enhance the meat's flavor, it set her entire body ablaze.
But she couldn't stop.
She couldn't stop.
A body long deprived of sustenance. A spirit starved for fulfillment. And the curse that was the God Tongue.
All of it made it impossible for her to stop eating.
Even as the fiery taste of the meat threatened to consume her, she kept going. She had no choice.
"Meat… no, it's so hot…!"
As Ryuji listened to the sound of Erina devouring the meal, a sudden, suppressed force within her seemed to erupt.
"Ahhh!"
Erina let out a startled cry, her chopsticks slipping from her fingers and clattering to the ground. She clutched her chest, her voice trembling as an unbelievably seductive sound escaped her lips.
"What happened?!"
Ryuji instinctively turned his head—and the sight before him completely broke his mind.
In the blink of an eye, Erina's school uniform burst apart, shattering into countless fluttering fragments like delicate white butterflies. Her flawless, fair skin was revealed in all its glory.
He saw it all.
The snug uniform that had once accentuated her curves. The stockings. The leather shoes. And even the delicate undergarments that had guarded the most secret parts of her body—
All of it had been shredded apart by the sheer force of the explosion.
As if in slow motion, a piece of white fabric drifted toward his face. Without thinking, he caught it in his hands.
It was… her panties.
The very same ones he had caught a glimpse of earlier. The intricate lacework that had once hugged her supple hips had now been torn apart, barely holding together in the aftermath of the blast.
Meanwhile, Erina was drenched in sweat, her face and neck flushed a deep, feverish red.
Droplets of sweat, the size of pearls, traced down the delicate curve of her throat, sliding into the valley of her chest before pooling at the toned, yet soft expanse of her stomach.
"This…"
Ryuji's mind short-circuited. His thoughts spun wildly, trying to process the sheer impossibility of what had just happened. But in his dazed state, only one word escaped his lips:
"…Battle aura?"
This kind of thing usually happened in hot-blooded fighting anime—why was a gourmet anime character experiencing it too?!
"Ry..Ryuji… I feel so hot…"
Completely bare, Erina took deep, shuddering breaths, desperately trying to compose herself. But it was impossible. Clutching her chest, she lifted her gaze toward Ryuji, her golden eyes clouded with an overwhelming, feverish intensity.
"I have water!"
Ryuji hurriedly jumped down, handing a cup of water to Erina before quickly turning to fetch a blanket for her.
But before he could take another step, Erina grabbed his arm, her grip surprisingly strong.
"No... that's not what I need..."
Something felt off. She sensed that the restraints she had always placed on herself were gone. Her body, her emotions—everything felt unshackled, free. And beyond that, she felt an overwhelming surge of power coursing through her veins.
And it wasn't just a feeling—it was real.
With a single pull, she yanked Ryuji closer, pressing herself against him. Her golden hair brushed against his chin as she nestled into his chest, her soft, warm body radiating heat even through his thin shirt.
"Erina, this isn't right! You need to calm down!"
Without hesitation, Ryuji grabbed another bottle of water and poured it over her head. Yet, despite the cold splash, the burning heat within her didn't fade. Instead, she licked the droplets from her lips and gazed at him, her violet eyes flickering with something unreadable.
Then, without warning, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her breath trembling.
"I'm scared... so scared..."
Tears welled in her eyes as she buried her face into his shoulder. In her distress, she bit down lightly, sending a shiver through him. Startled, Ryuji tried to push her away, but his hands—by accident or fate—landed somewhere soft.
The contact sent a visible shudder through Erina. And Ryuji, feeling the smooth warmth beneath his fingertips, stiffened. His hands, roughened by days of travel and survival, pressed into her sensitive skin.
Erina met his gaze, her face flushed.
"Ryuji..."
The lingering taste of meat was still on her lips, and as their tongues brushed for a brief moment, she tasted the rich, smoky flavor of his earlier meal. It was bitter, raw—but strangely comforting. Tears trickled down her cheeks, though she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned in, surrendering to the intoxicating warmth between them.
Meanwhile, Ryuji's mind teetered on the edge.
The people in her world—those who had adapted to its culinary magic—already reacted dramatically to intense flavors. But he? He was just an ordinary human, an outsider to her world's madness. His senses were overloaded, his body struggling to withstand the sheer force of it all.
"Do you want this?"
His voice was hoarse as he held her face, forcing her to focus.
"Do you want this, Erina?"
Her violet eyes were hazy, uncertain. She had never liked bitterness before—but now, something about it felt irreplaceable. She didn't understand why. She didn't need to. Following the emotions surging inside her, she gave a small nod.
"Then I won't hold back."
With that, Ryuji scooped her into his arms and laid her on the bed.
As he pulled off his shirt, he realized that, even without any foreplay, even without setting the mood—Erina was already prepared.
At that moment, his vision twisted. Something deep inside him clicked, unlocking a power he hadn't noticed before. The sensation flooded his mind, reshaping itself into something familiar—something he could comprehend.
[Favorability System… Unlocked… Power Acquired…]
A system.
A game-like interface, separate from this world, had activated within him.
But he had no time to care about that now.
The only thing consuming his mind was the overwhelming heat.
The hot, narrow, and winding passage attracted all his attention.