A beautiful girl who transmigrates into a Herrscher of the Void is treated like an elf and conquered

The morning sun lazily shone on the streets of Tengu City, but it could not dispel the dark cloud of "corporation death" in Phoenix Inu's heart.

She stood in front of the entrance mirror of the apartment building, looking at the blue-haired beauty in the mirror who was wearing a standard school uniform but somehow managed to make it look like a "limited edition," and took a deep, deep breath.

(The next day... Great, Phoenix Inu Chika, you did it! As long as I'm not embarrassed, it's everyone else who's embarrassed. Aha, please bless me so I don't do anything new today.)

She skillfully put on the Fool's Mask, adjusting the "life is meaningless" expression on her overly delicate face into a cold "don't touch me" look.

At least, this thing makes her seem unapproachable, reducing unnecessary attempts to strike up conversations...maybe.

With a feeling akin to visiting a grave, Chika pushed open the door and stepped onto the "execution ground" leading to the school.

However, the playwright of fate (most likely Aha himself) seems to have felt that yesterday's fun wasn't enough.

She hadn't gone far from the apartment building when, at an ordinary corner, she bumped into the person she least wanted to be alone with at that moment—Itsuka Shido.

Shido obviously saw her too.

His body visibly stiffened, as if he had been instantly captured by an invisible "awkward position".

His gaze, like that of a startled bird, swept erratically across her face before jerking away as if burned, fixing his eyes on the telephone pole beside her.

It was as if a peerless manual on "How to Safely Coexist with a Beautiful Girl Who Seems Like an Elf and Can Read Minds" had suddenly sprouted from it.

His cheeks flushed red at an alarming rate, turning red all the way to his ears.

(Ah... it's Shido.)

Chika felt nothing; she even felt a little amused.

(Why does he look like he's seen a ghost so early in the morning? Oh, right, he seemed to have been quite frightened yesterday.)

(His facial expression control completely collapsed. It seems Fraxinus's post-match analysis last night was extremely effective.)

Adhering to her principles of "maintaining her persona" and "seeing how awkward he can get," she was preparing to greet him in a bland tone, following the script: "Wuhe Tong..."

Before she could finish uttering three words, Shido jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, almost shouting as he interrupted her: "Good morning! Good morning, Phoenix Institute!"

His voice was urgent and loud, attracting the curious glances of several students on their way to school.

Shido panicked even more, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet. His eyes darted around, but he dared not look at her. He exuded a strong aura of "I feel guilty, I'm nervous, I'm sorry, what should I do?"

Qianxia raised an eyebrow slightly, a playful smile curving her lips beneath the mask.

(This reaction... is even more intense than yesterday. Did Kotori give him a special training session last night using "High-Risk Pokémon Handbook: Scream and Run"?)

Little did she know, Shido's CPU was currently undergoing a severe overload.

Last night's terrifying speculations in the kitchen ("reading memories", "Chiin is a hostage"), Kotori's roaring order "Don't be charmed", and the soft touch and dependent gaze that kept playing uncontrollably in my mind... all these factors combined.

Seeing Chika at this moment was like seeing a paradoxical bomb that simultaneously described "extremely dangerous" and "extremely cute".

His eyes darted around, but he didn't dare to look her in the eye. He didn't know what to do with his hands and feet, and he exuded a strong aura of "I feel guilty, I'm nervous, and I'm sorry."

Chika raised an eyebrow slightly.

(This reaction... is even more exaggerated than yesterday. Did Fraxinus and his gang give him some special training last night? Was the content "How to Stay Away from Suspicious Pokémon"?)

"Good morning, Itsuka-kun." Chika changed her address smoothly, her tone still flat, as if she hadn't noticed his unusual behavior. "What a coincidence."

"Y-yes! What a coincidence!" Shido replied dryly, his gaze drifting to a roadside tree as if it had suddenly sprouted the most beautiful flowers in the world. "Um... shall we... go to school together?"

He extended the invitation almost reluctantly, following Kotori's order to "maintain a friendly facade," but his body language screamed, "Reject me now!"

(That's really strange. But it's also quite interesting.)

Chika chuckled inwardly, deciding to let things take their course and see how far this charade could go.

"Mm." She nodded gently, then took a step.

And so began an even stranger journey together than the one that took place after school yesterday.

Shido was almost completely on edge, deliberately maintaining a "socially safe distance," and his walking posture was as stiff as a robot that had just learned to control its own body.

He glanced at Chinatsu several times out of the corner of his eye, his lips moving as if trying to find a safe topic to break the suffocating silence, but in the end, it all turned into a few muffled gasps and his ears turning even redder.

The awkward atmosphere permeating the air was almost tangible.

Chinatsu, on the other hand, had a completely "whatever" attitude. She was happy to have some peace and quiet, enjoying the relatively fresh morning air (automatically filtering out the source of the intense anxiety emanating from her).

While internally commenting in real-time: (So the result of Fraxinus's special training is to turn him into a humanoid walking embarrassment generator? Or into a mute and clumsy robot? The effect is quite unique. Isn't this training direction a bit off track?)

(What on earth is he imagining? Is he afraid I'll suddenly pull out the Star of Eden and create a pseudo-black hole for him? Or does he think I can suddenly read his mind? Hmm... the latter doesn't seem entirely impossible?)

(But looking at him like this, he's actually more interesting than his silly kindness yesterday...)

(What is he so nervous about? Is he afraid I'll suddenly pounce on him and hug his arm again? Hmm... that's not out of the question, after all, playing the piano is quite fun...)

The two walked to the school gate in complete silence, at an extremely discordant pace.

Just before he was about to step into the school gate and blend into the noisy crowd to gain liberation, Shido seemed to have finally exhausted all his courage.

She suddenly stopped and turned around, as if she had made up her mind. Although her gaze was still somewhat unfocused, she finally dared to look directly at Chika.

"Um, that! Phoenix Institute student!" His voice was a little dry from nervousness, but his tone carried an unmistakable concern and urgency. "Please...please wait a moment!"

Chika stopped, tilted her head slightly, and asked with her eyes. (Oh? A new script?)

Chapter 34 Intelligence, Chips, and the Spatula

Shido took a deep breath, his hands unconsciously tightening around his backpack straps, and finally asked the question that had been nagging at him all the way, and was also the question that Fraxinus was most concerned about:

"Qianyuan... how is Qianyuan now? Is his injury... serious? We... we are all very worried about him. If it's convenient, could you... tell me when he can come to school? Or... could we go visit him?"

His eyes were filled with genuine worry, which temporarily overshadowed his previous embarrassment and fear.

This genuine concern made Chika pause slightly in her otherwise casual reply.

(So ​​that's what he was worried about...no wonder he looked like I did something to his buddy.)

Chinatsu instantly understood the possible directions that Shido and Fraxinus were imagining.

(They thought I had Chiin under my control, imprisoned him, or even... killed him? That's why they sent Shido to try and find out if he was safe?)

A brilliant idea instantly formed in her mind. It would allow her to respond to this "concern," maintain her persona, and incidentally... have some fun.

The indifferent expression on her face cracked like a tiny fissure in ice, revealing a faint, slightly playful and provocative smile that created a peculiar charm against her refined yet aloof appearance.

"Oh? So concerned about my brother?" She deliberately drew out her words, her icy blue eyes scanning Shido up and down as he scrambled to his feet, looking so nervous he was practically jumping around.

"It seems... you two have a really good relationship."

Shido felt a chill run down his spine under her gaze, but he still nodded vigorously: "Y-yes! We're friends!"

"Hmm..." Chika pretended to ponder, lightly tapping her chin with her fingertips, as if she was thinking about some difficult problem.

Just as Shido's heart was in his throat, she suddenly changed the subject and proposed a solution that completely surprised him:

“Telling you isn’t impossible…” The corners of her mouth widened slightly, like a cat that had discovered an interesting toy.

"However, information doesn't come for free. I heard... Itsuka-kun, you're really good at cooking? Even my good-for-nothing older brother raves about you, saying you always prepare the lunches when we go out?"

Shido was taken aback, completely unable to keep up with this leap in thought: "Eh? I guess so..."

"Very good." Qianxia snapped her fingers, the movement fluid and with a touch of cool and dashing, creating a subtle contrast with her current girlish image.

"We have home economics class today. How about this..."

She leaned forward slightly, maintaining a distance, yet exuding an invisible pressure and aura, her voice carrying an undeniable sense of challenge:

“Let’s have a competition. It’ll be a competition from today’s cooking practice class. If you win…” She paused, looking at Shido’s eyes widen in an instant, and slowly said.

"I'll tell you the specifics about Qianyuan, and even... it wouldn't be impossible for you to talk to him or even meet him after school to confirm, okay?"

“But if you lose…” Her smile turned somewhat sly.

"...Then you have to agree to one condition. As for what the condition is, I'll tell you when I think of it. So, Itsuka-kun, are you ready to accept?"

Shido was completely dumbfounded. He had anticipated countless possibilities—being rejected, deceived, or even attacked—but he never imagined that the other party would propose a cooking duel in exchange for information!

(What kind of conditions are these?!) His mind was in complete chaos.

(Winning would guarantee Chiin's safety? Losing... there's a condition? It sounds like... there's no loss? No, wait, the Elf's condition...)

However, the offer was far too tempting—direct confirmation of Chien-in's safety. This was far more direct and effective than any indirect approach.

Seeing Chinatsu's provocative "You don't dare?" expression, Shido's inherent sense of responsibility as a good-natured person and his concern for his friend instantly overwhelmed his hesitation and fear.

He took a deep breath, his eyes hardening, and though his cheeks were still flushed, he finally stopped flinching: "I...I accept! Phoenix Institute, it's a deal!"

“Very good.” Chika nodded in satisfaction, as if she had everything under control. “Then let’s see how you do in home economics class, Chef Itsuka.”

After saying that, she didn't linger. She turned around gracefully and strode into the school gate, leaving Shido standing there alone, processing the unexpected conversation with mixed feelings.

He was both relieved that he might be able to confirm his friend's safety and incredibly nervous about this unexpected cooking showdown.

Shido stood there, watching the tall, imposing figure disappear behind the doorway, then frantically pulled out his phone and quickly dialed a number.

"Kotori! Something's happened!"

A cheerful, slightly coquettish voice came from the other end of the phone: "Ah, Onii-chan~ What's up? Calling at this hour, did you finally decide to go to a family restaurant for a kids' meal tonight~?"

"No, Kotori!" Shido interrupted anxiously, "It's information about Chinatsu and Senin! It's extremely important!"

Suddenly, the other end of the phone went silent. Only a faint, rustling sound could be heard through the receiver, as if someone was quickly searching for something.

A moment later, the voice that came through was completely different. The previous childishness and coquettishness had vanished without a trace, replaced by a calm, decisive, and even slightly authoritative tone.

"What's wrong, Shido? Give me a brief report on the situation." Kotori's voice, in her commander mode, came through clearly.

Shido was taken aback by this sudden change, but he quickly recovered, lowered his voice, and recounted the contents of the bet in a very fast voice.

"...She said that if she won, she could find out about Chiin's condition, and even meet him! I... I agreed!"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Kotori's analysis, tinged with excitement and decisiveness:

"...A cooking duel? Tsk, although unexpected, this is a good opportunity to directly verify Chiin's safety! Listen, Shido, time is of the essence, there's no time to make a detailed plan for you. The battle plan is tentative: concentrate all your energy on making a dish that can completely crush her in 'taste'! This is the most direct way to leave her speechless!"

"First, we need to convince her technically before we can proceed with the 'strategy'! Okay, hurry back to the classroom, act naturally, and don't arouse suspicion. I'll let you know the specific arrangements later!"

After hanging up the phone, Shido took a deep breath, feeling his heart pounding wildly in his chest from tension, worry for his friend, and the subtle sense of disorientation brought on by the call. He clenched his fists, his eyes regaining their resolve.

(Chiin, wait for me... I'll make sure you're alright!)

He strode into the school gate, but instead of heading straight to the classroom, he turned into a quiet corner, seemingly waiting for further instructions.

As for Chika, who was walking ahead, she couldn't help but smile from behind her mask.

(Successfully. This both appeased their suspicions and added interest to the otherwise tedious home economics class. Aha will definitely like this development.)

(As for the conditions... we'll talk about them later, anyway, it's a sure thing.)

Unbeknownst to her, the instant she stepped into the school gate, behind an inconspicuous window of a distant teaching building, a cold, telephoto lens was silently locking onto her, subtly adjusting its focus.

(Target: Phoenix Institute Chika. Accompanied by Itsuka Shido to the school gate. Interaction pattern abnormal: Shido appears highly tense, while the target's reaction is indifferent. Record.)

Origami Tobiichi put down her binoculars and, expressionless, meticulously recorded her observations in her electronic notebook, a sharp glint flashing in her icy blue eyes.

A new day, born from this unexpected bet, took an even more unpredictable turn.

Chapter 35 The Awakening to the Way of Cooking

As the school bell rang, Chika stepped into the home economics classroom, sat down in a chair, yawned, and immediately felt two exceptionally intense gazes upon her.

A voice came from Itsuka Shido, who had just entered and seemed to have already adjusted his mindset.

He had already tied his apron and stood in front of his cooking counter, his eyes no longer darting away, but filled with unprecedented focus and fighting spirit.

It was as if he was about to step onto a real battlefield. His gaze briefly met Qianxia's in the air, sparking an invisible flame.

Another one came from Origami Tobiichi in the back row of the classroom. Her gaze remained calm, but the pen in her hand was quickly jotting something down in a new notebook. The title seemed to be "Target Behavior Observation Report (Part Two)".

As for Yamabuki Ai and the others who were chatting and joking nearby, they looked back and forth between Chinatsu and Shido with curiosity and excitement.

Although they didn't know exactly what had happened, the palpable sense of competition in the air was enough to excite them.

The atmosphere in the home economics class was filled with an even stronger sense of anticipation than usual.

Today's topic is "Ginger Braised Pork Set Meal"—a Japanese-style main dish that tests one's ability to control the heat and balance the sauce.

"Hey, Shido, I'll get to enjoy your cooking again today, right?" Hiroto Tonomachi playfully hooked his arm around Shido Itsuka's neck, interrupting Shido's gaze at Chinatsu.

"The miso soup last time was absolutely amazing!"

Shido scratched his face sheepishly: "It's just home cooking... I'm glad everyone likes it." He habitually looked at the kitchen counter, preparing to become the savior of the group's and even the class's taste buds, as usual.