After confirming that Nakiri Erina wasn't joking, Nakiri Senzaemon sat her down and pressed for every detail.
The more he heard, the sharper his gaze became.
A currency that could exchange for abilities… even lifespan?
"…What an extraordinary place," he muttered under his breath.
After a moment of silence, the old man made his decision.
"Very well. Erina—you will open a shop there."
His tone carried absolute authority.
"We'll support you with everything we have. You mentioned you can bring ten people, correct? Then take several members of the Elite Ten with you."
He paused, glancing toward Dōjima Gin beside him.
"We'll come as well. We'll sell our culinary knowledge and gather enough points to get you started."
Although Erina had mentioned loans, Senzaemon frowned slightly.
Borrowing sounded convenient… but it also meant obligations.
He would rather struggle at the beginning than owe something unclear.
After all, decades of culinary mastery—surely that would be worth something.
Erina, however, hesitated.
"…Wait a moment, Grandfather."
With a flick of her thoughts, a translucent interface appeared before her—visible only to her.
"Let me check the shop rental cost first…"
Her fingers moved lightly as she searched.
Then—
Her face froze.
"…Grandfather, I think we should forget that plan."
She looked up slowly, her voice strained.
"Let's just… take the loan."
"…What?"
Senzaemon blinked.
"Not enough to rent?"
Erina nodded stiffly, her expression complicated.
"My entire culinary knowledge… only sold for 50 points."
"And the rent for a small shop… is 50,000 points per month."
Silence.
"…So you're saying…" Dōjima Gin muttered.
"…we'd need one thousand 'you's' just to afford one month?"
Erina nodded again, utterly defeated.
"…Exactly."
A deep sense of frustration welled up inside her.
All her pride, all her years of training…
Reduced to something barely worth a few meals in that world.
Senzaemon fell silent.
For the first time in years, the "Demon of the Kitchen" looked… slightly embarrassed.
"…Then yes. We'll take the loan."
There was no other choice.
Preparations began immediately.
Senzaemon carefully selected candidates—primarily from the Elite Ten, along with several promising students.
If they were going to step into another world, they would do so properly.
...
Meanwhile, in the Dimensional City…
Izumi, completely unaware of the commotion in Erina's world, continued strolling through his newly opened city.
Not long after—
A second visitor arrived.
A tall woman with long ice-blue hair and a commanding presence stood at the plaza.
Esdeath
Her sharp eyes swept across the surroundings.
The moment she entered, she felt it.
Her power… suppressed.
Bound by rules far stronger than her own.
"…Interesting."
Her lips curled slightly.
"So this is a world that governs the heavens themselves?"
Then, information flooded her mind—the system, the currency, the rules.
Her smile widened.
"This is… magnificent."
A place where countless worlds intersected.
A battlefield of possibilities.
Exactly the kind of place she would enjoy.
Her gaze shifted.
A group of young girls stood nearby—calm, composed.
She approached them without hesitation.
Noticing her arrival, Senju Kayo set aside her tablet.
"Everyone, focus. We have a guest."
The others immediately straightened up.
Kayo stepped forward.
"Welcome to the Dimensional City."
"How may we assist you?"
Esdeath studied them carefully.
Despite their appearance—
She could feel it.
Each one of them possessed power capable of threatening her.
"…How fascinating."
Then she smiled.
"My name is Esdeath."
"How do I exchange for points?"
Kayo nodded and began her explanation.
"You may sell abilities you no longer need, valuable items, or knowledge."
"Our system will evaluate their worth and assign points accordingly."
"Though… knowledge usually isn't very valuable."
"I see…"
Esdeath considered for a moment.
Then, without hesitation, she produced a peculiar handgun-like object.
"This—how much is it worth?"
Kayo examined it briefly, then placed it into the scanning device.
The system activated.
Data streamed across the interface.
After a moment—
"Teigu… no, a subordinate weapon."
"It's not particularly rare here."
"Approximately 1,000 points."
She looked up.
"Do you wish to sell it?"
Esdeath narrowed her eyes slightly.
"One thousand…"
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
She smiled.
A dangerous, eager smile.
Clearly, she had begun to understand just how valuable this place truly was.