Chapter 439: Lord El-Melloi II
The venue for the Chef God Cup was a bizarre, massive structure that occupied eighty percent of the space within the surrounding walls. It seemed to be a reckless hodgepodge of five different architectural styles. Aside from the initial Roman and Greek sections, which shared a certain aesthetic similarity, the other styles were drastically different. It began with a Roman-style temple, yet the platform in front featured an inverted Great Pyramid; each layer of protruding golden stone bricks served as stairs, impossibly suspended in place. Beyond that was a palace of ancient Chinese immortals, primarily in mysterious black, and at the very top sat a magnificent, shimmering pavilion.
Guarding this entrance was a girl in red.
Her dress, red as flame, trailed behind her like a tuxedo tail, while the white, translucent fabric in front shrouded her legs—a design perfectly suited for dancing.
She loved art, loved sports, and loved everything beautiful. She pursued what she loved with all her might and chased the people she loved with all her heart.
Her vitality seemed frozen in midsummer, like a rose permanently in full bloom. Her passion was like a torch of red flowers, appearing to burn according to her will and enthusiasm, and time seemed eternal—lasting until the very moment her life were to fade.
Likewise, she admired those who used passion and effort to achieve their goals. When a person lived this way, seemingly dull tasks transformed; they could always accomplish things that those who viewed the work merely as a job or a task could not.
"I am very satisfied! You have all brought out your strength and presented me with dishes worthy of me. Whether it's the glowing cuisine or the piping hot tempura shrimp, the little piglet was as cute as me too! I am truly happy~!" Nero laughed, eyes squinting and mouth wide open.
The Red Emperor stopped acting cute, gave a cough, revealed a serious expression, and scanned the five chefs in front of her. "Ahem! Now, I shall announce my decision! You—all of you have passed, da!!!"
The audience in front of their televisions gasped in surprise.
"All of them!" "Well, this makes the later stages even more something to look forward to," someone remarked.
The internet began to stir. "But will this cute blonde beauty appear again later? Does anyone have her profile? She's too mysterious; I can't find anything." "She calls herself Nero, but the only search results online are for a chubby tyrant from two thousand years ago?" "It must be a stage name. She even pulled out a flaming sword; could she be cosplaying Devil May Cry 4?" "Betting is open! International bookmakers are the house, and the odds are out. If you guess right, you'll be rich overnight~!"
The five judges at the top of the venue were also conversing. The dishes prepared by the five chefs below were not wasted; kitchen staff sent them to the top floor for the judges to taste.
"Wait! I was looking forward to an Emperor with the same reputation for tyranny as the First Emperor, but now it seems she's just a cute little girl who's easy to handle! I cannot accept this!" Yu Meiren slammed the table in a temper, making the dishes on it bounce. She said, highly dissatisfied: "There wasn't even a single human eliminated! Isn't this rule a bit too loose?!"
Caesar used a knife and fork to cut into the roast suckling pig and delivered it to his mouth, smiling. "Now, now, Fairy, don't be impatient. I never intended to eliminate anyone from the start. Regardless, they are the treasures of humanity; I want to observe their potential a bit longer. Of course, you don't need to hold back—force these four to exhaust every trick they have up their sleeves!"
"Ahahahaha, that's true, it's much more interesting that way! Next is my turn, isn't it? My reliable strategist has already gone over. Come, let's eat!" the Conqueror King, Iskandar, said with a laugh.
"Indeed. If only we could have them eliminated by the gatekeeper you hired. Everyone, let's also taste the pinnacle of this world's cuisine," Boudica said, clapping her hands with a smile.
"Yu-chan, this glowing dish is delicious, chu! Try it, chu." Beni-enma held the dish to Yu Meiren's mouth.
"Enma-chan... thank you." Yu Meiren opened her mouth. Master Liu's dish melted in her mouth, and the peerless beauty revealed a complex expression. "Mmm... delicious, but I am so frustrated!"
"That's great!" In the break room, watching the live broadcast, Erina jumped up in excitement. Fortunately, there was no one around, so the young lady smoothed her long hair, restoring her usual proud and elegant queen persona.
"Hmph! Kid, consider yourself lucky!" Pablo glanced toward Shirou and snorted.
However, Shirou's mind wasn't on this; he ignored the French chef and walked toward Nero.
"Ugh! Damn it!!!" Pablo discovered he had been ignored and trembled with rage. "Hateful masked bastard, soon you'll have nothing left!"
"Right... that Nero... the blue Saber and the black Saber didn't come... right?" Shirou snuck over and whispered to the Red Saber. Since seeing her, he had been confused, suppressing his feelings for the sake of the competition. Now, he peered around, even looking up at the palace.
"What? Chef Mask X, are you an acquaintance of theirs?" Nero heard the question, crossed her arms—highlighting her magnificent chest once again—and said triumphantly: "Umu! I haven't seen the blue King, but if you're talking about that cold-faced motorcycle woman, she
didn't come! Because even though I can't agree with that personality at all, her face looks quite similar to mine."
"Artistic aesthetics are truly complex; even an ice beauty like that is favored by people these days. Once I thought about how the public's attention would be divided, and since Caesar only invited me, I used a few schemes to keep her away, da!" Nero held her head high, nose tilted, looking quite pleased with herself.
"I... I see." Shirou felt a sense of relief, yet also a bit of regret. Human emotions were truly complex.
"Masked man, thank you for the delicious food. Do you have any other questions?" Nero asked with a smile, hands on her hips.
"No." Shirou waved his hand.
"Then!" Just then, under the Roman white marble columns, the red Emperor girl raised both hands to the crowd. "Gentlemen, my mission has ended. Now, climb the stone steps behind me and head into the palace hall; the person in charge of the next level is waiting for you."
The camera on the television turned to the host, Cleopatra, who held her microphone and shouted: "The first level is just the beginning! Although all five chefs passed the first trial smoothly, even more difficult challenges await them! Will someone fall to the trial of the gatekeeper and be eliminated, or will all five enter the highest level to see the five judges? Let us wait and see!"
Shirou and the others entered the Roman white marble columns, climbed the stairs, and found themselves in an ancient Greek-style hall. They had entered the second level.
Waiting for them was the man who had formed a bond with Alexander the Conqueror during the Holy Grail War—the retainer who had been acknowledged in his youth. This tall man with long black hair, a face shaped like a bitter melon, and an expression of a long-suffering worker, sat before a white-clothed dining table. It seemed he had been waiting for a long time.
Shirou felt that this Lord El-Melloi II's face and expression were remarkably similar to "himself" from the other world, who was close to dying from overwork.
"Wait, Teacher, are you okay?" Shirou asked with some concern. Although it was a different world, they had indeed shared a bond as teacher and student, and Shirou couldn't just leave the Second unharmed.
"I don't think I've ever taught a student like you, but I'm fine... I was just dragged into playing games all night and have a hangover, so I have a headache," El-Melloi II said, face ashen as he slumped over the table in pain. "Please, give me some medicine to restore my energy... no, bring me a dish."
The fastest dish prepared was once again by Master Liu. This time, he served a clear rice porridge soup. Finely chopped leaves were scattered inside, sinking calmly into the soup, looking crystal clear and beautiful.
"Come, drink this 'Health Porridge,' and you'll be fine."
"I see... thank you." El-Melloi II skeptically received the clear bowl of porridge. Even though the old man was a world-famous Chef God, he didn't think a bowl of porridge as thin as water could provide any help; the energy inside wouldn't even match a single can of cola.
The black-haired British man smelled the light fragrance of the steaming porridge and tried a small sip.
The soup flowed from his mouth into his body. In that instant, he felt his whole body warm up, his mind clear, and a comfort he couldn't put into words. The man who had been a stern "bitter melon" face only a moment ago had his expression completely relax after drinking the dish, his whole being floating in a state of intoxication.
El-Melloi II immediately lifted the bowl and drank it in large gulps. Soon, the bowl was empty, and he stared at the smooth bottom, still craving more.
"How do you feel?" the old man asked with a smile.
El-Melloi II touched the area around his temples, which had been throbbing with pain, and said in surprise: "Amazing! The headache is gone! Does Eastern cuisine really have the effect of curing hangovers? No, even... Zhuge Kongming has never seen such transcendent cooking!"
"Young man, the masked kid says you are a teacher? You are a Westerner, yet you know about my country," Master Liu said with a chuckle. "You are too kind. But speaking of Kongming, when I was young, I once witnessed buns made by a field pastry chef who followed the military strategist Zhuge. If you want to eat them, I could make them for you. The 'Four-Divine Seafood Treasure Buns' containing sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy flavors."
"No, thank you, Elder. But I have to taste other people's dishes, so I must decline," El-Melloi II said.
Master Liu seemed satisfied with this response and smiled: "I see. No rush. Come find me at the Jixia Tower in China next time; I will prepare a full banquet for you myself."
"I am deeply grateful. If I have the chance, I will definitely bring my students to China. Please, Elder, go up to the next floor." El-Melloi II shook hands with the old man and agreed happily.
"Easily done." Master Liu went up the stairs, hands behind his back, at a steady pace.
Having recovered his spirit from the porridge, El-Melloi II judged the subsequent dishes even more rigorously.
The second person to take the stage was Nakiri Senzaemon. He brought up a clay pot. The dish he prepared was "Medicated Cuisine" (Yakuzen)! Inherited from China's five-thousand-
year-old culinary culture, it focused on the Yin-Yang fusion between food and medicine, categorizing ingredients into three attributes: "warm, cool, and neutral."
This black-chicken soup contained donkey-hide gelatin (ejiao), Solomon's seal, longan, red dates, and goji berries, stewed with the warm-natured black chicken. It was specifically for nourishing Yin, building blood, and treating liver and kidney deficiency.
"Young man, I see you are very weak. Would you like me to simmer a bowl of frog soup for you to nourish your kidneys?" Nakiri-san offered kindly.
"That won't be necessary. Thank you, Elder. You pass." El-Melloi II drank the soup and felt the back pain from his old ailments diminish significantly; his stiff neck seemed to loosen up. The effect was truly impeccable.
Next to be served was Shirou. He presented a meal as ordinary as could be: chicken breast with low fat content, cherry tomatoes and celery rich in vitamins, a slice of steak, a ham sandwich, and a cup of mashed potatoes with garlic.
"You're trying to fool me with this?" El-Melloi II looked at the red-masked man with some surprise.
"Please enjoy~!" Shirou said softly and firmly. Based on his understanding of El-Melloi II from his memories, even if he served a children's meal, he could make him eat it happily.
El-Melloi II ate a bite skeptically; unexpectedly, it suited his palate, and the salt and spices were just right for him.
He discovered that once he started, he couldn't stop. He ate greedily; he hadn't eaten with such satisfaction in a long time. It was the nostalgic, "mother's cooking" flavor—easy to eat and impossible to get tired of.
After cleaning the plate, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh, wiped his mouth with a towel, and looked at Shirou. "You are very sensitive to a customer's preferences... or is it that you happen to know our group very well?" El-Melloi II rested his chin on his hand, observing him critically, seemingly interested in Shirou.
"Even if he is a counterpart from another world, the memories are linked. What a unique case. If I go back to the Clock Tower, I might be able to write a paper on this."
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