After the system transmitted its information, Daiki quickly grasped its functionality. Known as the Fishing System, it was, as the name suggested, designed for fishing—but not in the conventional sense. This fishing didn't take place in the outside world, but in a unique, separate dimension.
Within this special realm was a vast pond filled with a shimmering, multicolored liquid. Beside it stood a fishing rod, seemingly ordinary but clearly meant for extraordinary use. This realm was called the Fishing Space, and it was here that Daiki would cast his line. From this mystical pond, he could reel in a variety of treasures—each perfectly suited to his needs.
The Fishing Space also served as a storage area. It could hold everything Daiki caught and allowed him to store other items for future use. The most remarkable feature, however, was that time stood still inside this space. A dish placed within would remain in its exact state—fresh, warm, and untouched by time—no matter how long it stayed there.
Living beings couldn't be stored, but even so, Daiki was more than satisfied with the advantages the space offered. Although the dimension wasn't particularly large at the moment, it would expand as Daiki himself grew stronger. As for its maximum capacity, the system didn't disclose any limits.
The Fishing Space alone was astonishing, but the system had even more capabilities. To retrieve treasures from the pond, Daiki needed bait. There were four kinds: Small Bait, Big Bait, Super Bait, and the rare Growth Bait.
Acquiring bait was straightforward. The system provided one Small Bait daily and one Big Bait monthly. Super Bait was a rarer reward, given once a year. The most unique, Growth Bait, couldn't be obtained passively—it had to be earned through personal progress.
The system had already analyzed Daiki's current situation upon activation to define a growth path. Since Daiki was a chef, his advancement would naturally tie to his culinary level.
At the moment, the system assessed Daiki as an Intermediate Chef, a tier that followed the culinary hierarchy established in the Food Wars! universe—though the manga didn't originally define such ranks in detail. In this reality, however, the hierarchy was crystal clear.
Chefs were divided into seven ranks: Lower Level, Middle Level, Upper Level, Third Class, Second Class, First Class, and Special Class.
The Third, Second, First, and Special Class chefs were associated with the World Gourmet Organization (WGO), with each level corresponding to increasing mastery and responsibility.
Although Daiki was only an intermediate-level chef for now, he still ranked among the top of his peers at Totsuki Academy.Lower-level chefs were the most common—found in everyday restaurants.Intermediate chefs included most of Totsuki's non-elite students.Senior chefs were on par with the academy's Elite Ten. Many reached this level shortly after graduation.The best alumni, like Joichiro Yukihira and Gin Dojima, had already become Third-Class Chefs by the time they graduated.Joichiro Yukihira had since ascended to Special Class, while Gin Dojima, burdened by administrative duties at Totsuki Resort, had slightly fallen behind and was now classified as First Class.
For most graduates, achieving Third Class took two to three years of smooth progression. Chefs like Kojiro Shinomiya, who faced setbacks, required longer—sometimes stalling entirely.
Second-Class Chefs were extremely rare. Simply accumulating experience wasn't enough; reaching this level required remarkable talent and continued growth. Even under Totsuki's rigorous "cruel cultivation" system, very few ever reached it.
The higher the rank, the steeper the climb. Talented chefs like Seiichiro Yukihira could rise to Special Class, but those without exceptional ability often found themselves stuck—sometimes permanently—at a particular tier.
While Totsuki alumni might plateau at Third Class, ordinary chefs usually never surpassed Middle Level, with many remaining Lower Level for life.
Even Daiki himself knew deep down that without the system's support, his ceiling would likely be that of a third-rate chef.
Despite currently performing well at Totsuki and being considered a standout among his peers during the Jade Era, much of that success stemmed from the experience he brought from his previous life. Back then, he had only run a modest snack bar—not exactly high culinary pedigree. Still, the maturity of an adult mind gave him a distinct edge, especially compared to many chefs who had been honing their skills since childhood.
That mental advantage allowed Daiki to excel in areas his peers struggled with—discipline, planning, and composure under pressure. But even with this edge, he had only managed to reach the intermediate level. That reality spoke volumes about the sheer talent of the chefs in this world.
Early on, Daiki could rely on tricks, hacks, and foresight from his past life. But over time, those advantages began to wane. Especially now, surrounded by prodigies at the Polaris Dormitory, he found the gap narrowing—and in some cases, widening against him.
Take Isshiki Satoshi and Tadokoro Megumi, for instance. They were prime examples of rapid growth and raw talent. Megumi, especially, had undergone a remarkable transformation. Once held back by extreme nervousness, she had blossomed after overcoming that hurdle—her growth curve now astonishing.
In fact, among everyone in Polaris, only Isshiki—being a year ahead—could still keep Megumi in check. The others had already been left in her dust. Daiki wasn't shocked by this. In the original timeline, Megumi's potential had always been immense. If not for her early struggles with anxiety, she might've surpassed talents like Ryo Kurokiba and others long ago.
At present, the only student who could truly suppress Megumi was Erina Nakiri. After all, the Divine Tongue was the ultimate culinary cheat code—an innate skill that gave her an almost unfair edge.
As for Daiki, he currently stood at the intermediate chef level. To earn Growth Bait, the next milestone would be becoming a Senior Chef. It wouldn't be easy.
Right now, he had three baits in total: one Small Bait, one Large Bait, and one Super Bait. A generous starter pack from the system—clearly designed to give him a running start.
"Not bad. A beginner's gift pack too," Daiki muttered with a small grin. "Let's see what this thing can do. I'll try the small bait first."
Now fully understanding how the system operated, Daiki could hardly wait to try it out. With anticipation buzzing through him, he stepped into the Fishing Space, cast his line, and waited to see just what kind of treasure the pond would offer him first.