After unpacking their things in their rooms, they headed to the resort's main hall, where several people had already gathered.
As Damian expected, it was Roland Chapelle standing on the stage.
"Good morning, students."
"I'll give you a general overview of this training camp."
"It will last five nights and six days. During this period, you'll be divided into groups and assigned various daily cooking tasks."
"Any student who falls below the standards set by our instructors will be sent back to the academy—failed and expelled for good."
Damian let out a small yawn as he listened to Roland. For him, this six-day camp might as well be a vacation.
"We've invited special instructors to judge your assignments. Despite their busy schedules, they've gathered for this event—former graduates of Totsuki Academy!"
When the alumni walked up to the podium, Damian's expression instantly shifted from boredom to surprise.
He didn't pay attention to Dojima Gin's speech; his eyes were fixed on the smiling Inui Hinako.
Before all the alumni left the podium, Hinako gave Damian a cheerful wave. He sighed, shook his head, and muttered, "That girl..."
"Damian, let's go first! We're playing cards tonight!"
"Sure."
The surrounding students couldn't hide their envy at how calm those two were.
After checking his group assignment, Damian went straight to his designated kitchen.
He paused for a moment when he arrived—he recognized the examiner. It was Fuyumi Mizuhara.
Fuyumi tapped the whiteboard next to her and greeted them with a calm but firm voice. "Good morning, everyone."
"This exam will demand more than just technique. It will require boldness."
The students exchanged glances, whispering to each other. Fuyumi paused briefly, then continued:
"You will be preparing... lasagna."
A wave of murmurs spread through the group. "Lasagna? That's too easy," some whispered. But Fuyumi raised a finger.
"However… it won't be just any lasagna. I want you to throw out everything traditional. No ordinary Bolognese sauce, no standard cheese and meat. I want to see creativity, boldness, and your own identity in every dish."
"You have complete freedom to reinvent the recipe. It can be sweet, savory, a fusion between cultures—I don't care. As long as, in the end, it's unmistakably a lasagna."
Silence took over for a few seconds.
"Oh, and of course," Fuyumi smiled slightly,
"Flavor is still the supreme judge. You may begin."
"The time limit is two hours..."
After finishing, she calmly took her seat, watching the students murmur among themselves about what to make.
Damian nodded to himself, realizing this wouldn't be a simple task. Just as he turned his head, he saw a familiar face.
"Damian? Awesome! This must be fate!"
Though Damian looked a bit helpless, he glanced around and replied, "Konishi, what a coincidence…"
This guy was Konishi Kanichi, president of the Don RS Club. Although a bit of an idiot, at least he was honest about his cooking.
Compared to their classmates, Konishi was far more competent.
"Take the lead, Damian! I'll do my best so we can pass this exam!"
"Konishi, wash your hands first, then wash the utensils we're going to use."
"Got it!"
Damian narrowed his eyes slightly in thought, then said, "A creative lasagna… Heh~ I just thought of something interesting."
"Damian, I've also washed the tomatoes already! Here!" Konishi had finished washing up and returned with a few tomatoes.
"Ah, thanks."
Konishi turned to grab a knife but froze when he glanced back at Damian.
"That's not for snacking! It's for the sauce, Damian!"
"And why would we be making tomato sauce?" Damian asked casually.
"Because… it's lasagna! How could we make lasagna without tomato sauce?" Konishi asked, confused.
"Did you forget the theme already? We're supposed to be creative. I'm not planning to follow the traditional recipe," Damian explained.
"We're making a seafood lasagna."
"I see. What should I do?"
Konishi swallowed nervously as Damian snapped his fingers to get his attention back on the counter.
"First, we'll make a crustacean fumet—the broth that's going to carry the ocean's flavor. Start by breaking those shrimp shells and langoustine heads. I'll take care of the mirepoix."
Tak-tak-tak-tak!
Damian moved at lightning speed, his hands a blur as he diced onions, leeks, and carrots into perfect uniform cubes. The blade sliced through the air in a sharp symphony, and even though Konishi tried to keep up, he couldn't look away.
"Toss everything into the pot and roast until aromatic. Then deglaze with dry white wine. Watch the timing!"
Konishi nodded, following instructions more carefully than usual. Damian's presence seemed to push everyone around him to their limits—a natural pressure demanding excellence.
While the broth simmered, Damian moved on to the next step: the pasta.
"We'll make thin layers, Neapolitan-style, but with a twist—squid ink. It'll give the dough color and a slight taste of the sea."
Konishi's eyes widened.
"Squid ink? In the pasta?"
"Just trust me. Use the pasta roller on level two. I want thin but firm strips."
Within minutes, the counter was covered in sleek black pasta sheets with a silky shine.
Meanwhile, the seafood was seared: shrimp grilled until lightly caramelized, squid sautéed with garlic and cayenne, and mussels steamed with fresh herbs.
"The secret here is cooking time," Damian explained. "Seafood overcooks in seconds. Everything has to be pre-cooked precisely and finished inside the lasagna."
Next came the white sauce. A classic béchamel, enhanced with the strained fumet, freshly grated nutmeg, and a touch of mascarpone for creaminess.
"Let's assemble the lasagna. Fast—but keep the layers clean."
Layer by layer, the masterpiece took shape: black pasta, seafood, white sauce, and a blend of cheeses—Gruyère, aged Parmesan, and a touch of goat cheese for acidity.
On top, Damian added a crunchy crumble made of rustic bread with confit garlic, lemon zest, and chopped parsley.
"Now into the oven. 220°C for exactly 16 minutes," he said, shutting the oven door with a soft push.
"This is gonna work, right?"
Damian crossed his arms, watching the heat brown the top of the lasagna.
"Of course it will."
Konishi's part was done, so he just stood silently, watching Damian.
Damian grabbed a champagne glass, poured in a lemon-infused smoothie, then topped it off with sparkling water. After a gentle stir, he added fresh mint leaves.
"This... is a drink?!"
"Konishi, we're chefs. Our goal is to delight our customers' palates. So think carefully about what they'd want. Don't you think eating lasagna without a proper pairing is boring?"
"As expected of you! You should totally join my research club."
Damian smirked. "Uh… I'll consider it when I get the chance…"
"Hmm!"
"The lasagna's ready. Konishi—basil leaves, chopped parsley, breadcrumbs, mustard seeds—bring everything over."
"On it!"
As Konishi turned around, Damian turned on the oven. A moment later, all the students froze, and Fuyumi slowly opened her eyes and looked in Damian's direction.
At that moment, the entire room was enveloped in a fragrance that had nothing to do with an ordinary lasagna…
(End of Chapter)
Give me some power stones there you go~😉