Marvel: Beginning with the Collection of Shinra Tensei

The visitor was Nakiri Erina, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl with waist-length golden hair. She wore a white blouse under a blue school blazer, her pleated skirt accentuating her shapely legs. Her youthful outfit radiated vitality. However, her slightly haughty yet charming face added an intriguing contrast, making her even more captivating.

Beside her stood an elderly man, Nakiri Senzaemon, her grandfather and the headmaster of Tōtsuki Culinary Academy.

"Alright, alright, I knew you'd bring this up as soon as you arrived. Everything's ready," Han Yu said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, nodding at her. This girl seemed to be fixated on challenging him, always clamoring for a culinary duel as if she were more competitive than any boy.

Erina hailed from a world where food and chefs reigned supreme—a realm Han Yu referred to as the "Food Wars World." Her culinary skills were highly praised by regulars at Han Yu's tavern, often described as "just a hair behind Han Yu's."

This slight gap spurred Erina's relentless competitive spirit. She repeatedly challenged Han Yu to duels, or shokugeki. If not for her striking appearance, Han Yu might have already grown tired of her persistence.

Han Yu turned to the elder beside her and greeted him with a smile, "Senzaemon, sir, welcome."

Senzaemon let out a hearty laugh, patting the somewhat pouty Erina on the shoulder. "Mr. Han, I apologize for the trouble she's causing again. Please don't take it to heart."

Han Yu smiled and shook his head. He stared at Erina for a moment, making her blush slightly before he turned to address the other patrons in the tavern.

"Today's another trial day. Be sharp with your evaluations—don't let little Erina cry again," he teased.

The remark elicited hearty laughter from the regulars, even Senzaemon chuckled. The laughter was good-natured, without a hint of malice, so Erina didn't take offense.

"Alright then, what's at stake this time?" Han Yu asked. Each duel had a wager; the winner could make the loser fulfill a pre-agreed condition, no matter how absurd. As long as both parties accepted the terms and the duel began, the loser had no choice but to comply.

Erina replied, "I haven't decided yet, so let's keep it within reason for now."

She challenged Han Yu because she had rarely won against him. In her world, Erina's culinary skills were among the finest of her generation, but against Han Yu, she always fell short. That only fueled her determination to duel him time and again.

"Alright then," Han Yu said with a grin, "my usual condition applies—if you lose, you'll teach me one of your recipes. Deal?"

"Of course, no problem. Let's start already!" Erina declared eagerly.

Han Yu chuckled. Cooking was something he genuinely enjoyed, especially since he had a discerning palate. Living in a foreign land where authentic home flavors were rare, he often had to rely on himself to recreate them.

"Haha, this is a treat! We get to taste Erina's cooking too. Looks like we're in for a feast!"

"Exactly! Let's get started. If you need any ingredients, just say the word—even dragon meat, and I'll go fetch it!"

Ultron glanced at the laughing patrons, skeptical of their seemingly outlandish claims. But in their worlds—unlike the Marvel Universe—dragons were real, and these people were the pinnacle of their respective realms. If Han Yu genuinely requested rare ingredients, they could likely deliver.

Erina scoffed lightly, her pride evident as she confidently headed to the kitchen. Han Yu followed closely behind.

"These people are seriously waiting for the boss's cooking? Does that mean he's been holding back this whole time?" Ultron wondered. He observed the patrons, who, despite their casual chatter, kept glancing toward the kitchen. Their restless tapping on tables or floors betrayed their anticipation.

Han Yu's culinary skills were undeniably impressive—good enough to succeed in any world. But to captivate these extraordinary individuals, his cooking had to be far beyond ordinary.

In the kitchen, Han Yu glanced at Erina, who was entirely focused on her cooking. Her dedication and immersion in the process made her all the more mesmerizing.

Noticing the gaze from her side, Erina lifted her head, meeting Han Yu's eyes. She let out a soft "hmph," turned her head, and resumed cooking, acting as if Han Yu had somehow offended her.

Han Yu chuckled and shook his head, already accustomed to her tsundere demeanor. While Erina could be haughty in personality, her approach to cooking was exceptionally serious. Every culinary duel she entered, she gave it her all. Facing someone like her, Han Yu couldn't afford to approach things half-heartedly.

To do so would be disrespectful to his opponent and irresponsible to himself.

"Alright, let's do this! It's been a while since I've cooked seriously!"

A gleam lit up in Han Yu's eyes, and his entire demeanor shifted. In that moment, he exuded an almost radiant energy, as if he were the sun itself, his brilliance illuminating everyone around him.

Erina sneaked a glance at Han Yu, her admiration for him surpassing even his awe for her. She had never thought there could be someone her age who not only met but exceeded her standards in both appearance and skill.

Since meeting Han Yu, Erina had been utterly captivated by his cooking, though her pride kept her from admitting it outright.

"This time, I will win!" she resolved silently. Shaking off her wandering thoughts, she focused all her attention on her cooking.

An hour and a half passed, and both Han Yu and Erina finished their dishes. Han Yu waved his hand, and from outside the kitchen, sets of tableware flew through the air, landing neatly in front of each patron. The sight of this immediately lit up their eyes—it was the signal that the dishes were ready!

Ultron and his two companions, Pietro and Wanda, couldn't quite understand the others' excitement. It's just food, they thought. These people didn't seem ordinary, yet their behavior resembled that of starving individuals.

The moment the kitchen curtain was pulled aside, an otherworldly aroma filled the room, hitting Ultron and the others like a powerful slap to the face. Whatever dismissive thoughts they had were instantly obliterated.

"What is this smell? It's incredible!"

Ultron, astonished, spoke aloud. Although he was a super-intelligent robot who didn't need to eat, he could simulate taste based on online reviews. In a way, he was a unique kind of foodie.

"The food I've eaten before doesn't even come close to this," Pietro said unabashedly, swallowing hard. The aroma alone was enough to make their mouths water. If the food was this tempting before it was even seen, they doubted they could resist the urge to devour it once it was served.

Among the trio, only Wanda displayed a hint of restraint. Yet even she couldn't hide the hunger written all over her face, her eyes glued to the kitchen door. The scent was far too tantalizing for anyone to ignore.

"It looks like you've never had the pleasure of tasting Han Yu's cooking before," remarked Xiao Yan, the Flame Emperor, amused by their reactions. "Since you're his employees, I'll let you have the first taste this time."

"First taste? What do you mean? Isn't everyone eating at the same time?" Pietro asked, puzzled by the notion.

"I have no objections," Tang San, the Sea God, chimed in, nodding in agreement.

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