"Shut up! You're interfering with my review! Be careful or I'll give you zero points!"
Looking at Hoshino Sora's smug expression, Eri Nai's fists instantly clenched. Her face turned crimson, and she slammed her fist on the kitchen counter in frustration. Her body leaned slightly forward, and the violent movement caused the fullness of her upper body to tremble.
Because it was a front-row observation, Hoshino Sora found it incredibly satisfying, and a faint fragrance wafted to his nose! Sometimes he really wondered if it was a vacuum inside (covering face).
"Then take your time reviewing, there's no rush, but in the end, I want the answer I'm looking for."
Having enjoyed the feast for his eyes, Hoshino Sora was no longer in a hurry. The main reason was that if he continued, Eri Nai would jump up and down. Although he found bullying Eri Nai very interesting.
However, admission was more important right now, or to be precise, he was more eager for the system rewards.
"Hisako, this is for you."
Glancing at Hisako Arato, who was standing dryly nearby, Hoshino Sora turned around and brought over the mock crab he had reserved earlier, while also eagerly offering a spoon.
"For me? Thank you."
Hisako Arato took the dish Hoshino Sora handed her, her movements a bit awkward, looking somewhat surprised, but more so touched. However, she didn't show it, only nodding gently.
The next moment, she shifted her gaze to the bowl, and the aroma wafting to her nose caused her mouth to water profusely.
She scooped a large spoonful with the spoon and put it into her mouth. The rich crab aroma instantly bloomed in her oral cavity. The texture was dense and tender, the taste savory and fresh, and a sticky sensation instantly filled her entire body.
That feeling was as if countless crab-like, but actually just egg-like, sticky unknown substances climbed up from her feet, quickly covering her body. The slight suction generated on them made Hisako's face flush.
This feeling... so strange!?
She had never eaten a dish like this, nor had she ever felt this way. Hisako Arato's face was flushed, and she clasped her legs together. At the same time, she reached out to support herself against the kitchen counter, her body trembling uncontrollably, clearly greatly affected by this dish.
She now understood why Eri Nai had turned into that state. This was simply an impact that couldn't be resisted by will. An intense feeling of comfort swept from deep within her body to her limbs, making her whole body feel numb and weak!
What an amazing dish!
Admiring it in her heart, looking at the bowl of mock crab emitting a rich crab aroma in her hand, Hisako could no longer care about her composure and immediately began to devour it.
She ate for a while, then stopped, leaning against the kitchen counter, making unintelligible sounds from her mouth. The tide of pleasure coming from deep within her body prevented her from finishing the dish in one go.
In contrast, Eri Nai had much greater patience. Aside from the initial impact that caused changes in her body, after that, there was no abnormality except for her blushing face.
This was normal, after all, she was the princess of food who grew up eating all kinds of high-class dishes, and she had extremely high resistance to gourmet food.
"I can tell you've worked hard during this time. I'll barely give you a passing grade. Accept it with gratitude!"
Looking at Hoshino Sora's smug face, the words of praise were stuck in her throat and couldn't come out. Finally, she could only turn her head and speak in as calm a tone as possible.
"Then I really have to thank the Eri Nai chief examiner for her generosity, allowing someone with my mediocre cooking skills to pass the assessment."
"Of course. The other contestants' dishes are ready too. I'll go over now."
Watching Eri Nai's stubborn and tsundere appearance, Hoshino Sora pretended to agree and nodded. There was still plenty of time in the future; he would make this guy genuinely say it was delicious sooner or later.
The harder her mouth was now, the stronger the satisfaction would be when it was finally pried open. Take it slow. Moreover, her shy look, where she didn't dare to meet his gaze after speaking falsely, also made her seem very cute.
That's right, Eri Nai was avoiding his gaze, simply because of the unfair evaluation earlier. The moment their eyes met, she would frantically look away, like a startled fawn, which was quite adorable.
Shaking his head, Hoshino Sora turned his gaze behind him. At this moment, Yukihira Soma had already poured the egg from the "Yukihira Style · Egg Rice" onto the rice. The meat jelly hidden in the egg had also melted from the heat of the rice, emitting a strong "chicken" aroma.
Although this aroma was not as strong as the mock crab, it permeated most of the examination venue. Seeing this, Hoshino Sora immediately strode forward, wanting to get a share.
Because the moment Eri Nai said he passed the assessment, a system prompt sounded in his mind.
Task completed: Unlock Far Moon Chapter
Task Reward: Gourmet Cell (Modified)
[Gourmet Cell (Modified)]: Eating high-level gourmet food can strengthen physical fitness, bring more acute sensory abilities, and each upgrade will cause certain changes in the body.
Current level: lv1
The moment the system prompt sounded, Hoshino Sora felt as if something had been added to his body. There was a very mysterious feeling, and his strength seemed to have increased significantly.
Interesting setting.
He came to Eri Nai's side, looking at the egg rice emanating a strong "chicken" aroma in front of her. Eri Nai's mouth quickly began to water, but she didn't rush to eat. Instead, she first twitched her nose, sniffing the aroma in the air.
"Slowly cooking the chicken over low heat perfectly brings out its fresh flavor, which is quite different from traditional egg-mixed rice; it's a good idea."
Looking at the fully revealed egg-mixed rice, Erina Nakiri unusually did not disparage it. The rich aroma already indicated the dish's quality, and this commoner chef was more formidable than she had imagined.
Because her attention had been entirely focused on Hoshino Sora before, Yukihira Soma was, to her, just an ordinary examinee. Coupled with the palatable dish he presented, she naturally wouldn't be as verbally abusive as in the original work.
Hoshino Sora observed this change but said nothing, simply focusing his gaze on the egg-mixed rice Yukihira Soma had presented, and handed Erina Nakiri a pair of chopsticks.
"Can I try some? I was in such a hurry this morning that I didn't even have time for breakfast."
Having just acquired Gourmet Cells, Hoshino Sora felt an inexplicable craving for the dish before him. The strong aroma stimulated his taste buds, causing copious salivation. If not for his strong willpower, he probably would have pounced on it already.
"Are you the examiner or am I? What does it have to do with me that you didn't eat breakfast? But I can only eat a few bites, so I'll leave the rest to you, to avoid wasting food."
Looking at Hoshino Sora, who had suddenly appeared beside her, and taking the chopsticks he offered, Erina Nakiri rolled a cute eye at his 'rude' request, but she didn't refuse.
Watching the two bickering, Yukihira Soma stroked his chin, nodding thoughtfully, then spoke, astonishingly: "You two are… that. Yes, that! A couple!"
He searched his mind for a while, thought for a long time, and finally came up with the most apt description. This kind of bickering, yet not entirely bickering, was very much like some couples at their school.
"Who's a cou—a couple with him?! Just because of this commoner chef, even though his cooking tastes pretty good, and he's a bit handsome, and brave, but, I…"
Hearing Yukihira Soma's hesitant words, Erina Nakiri almost spat out her rice. She turned to glance at Hoshino Sora's handsome face beside her, her face blushing all the way to her ears.
Even her speech became incoherent, clearly showing she was somewhat flustered. It must be said, this reaction was quite adorable, at least much better than the tsundere attitude she had displayed at first.
"Not a couple. Strictly speaking, our relationship should be considered master and maid."
Compared to Erina Nakiri's incoherence, Hoshino Sora was much calmer, though his words made Erina even more agitated.
"That's all in the past! Now I'm the examiner. If you dare to speak nonsense again, I'll fail you!"
"Yes, yes, I won't speak."
Hearing Erina Nakiri not deny the past, Hoshino Sora nodded in satisfaction, then made a zipping motion over his mouth, indicating he would no longer speak.
Seeing this, Erina Nakiri pouted, showing a sulking expression, then once again picked up her chopsticks, angrily grabbing a large portion of the egg-mixed rice and continuing to taste it.
"Xingping-jun, you used 'aspic,' right?"
"That's right, those square pieces are aspic I made from chicken wings. Aspic refers to a food made by cooling gelatin-rich meat broth or fish broth until it solidifies into a jelly-like substance.
I slowly simmered chicken wings with bonito broth, sake, and light soy sauce, then cooled the resulting broth until it solidified, cut it into small pieces, and sprinkled them over the hot rice. The melted chicken wing broth then 'gloops' and coats the egg."
Yukihira Soma extended a finger, explaining with a smile.
"Delicious! A good idea. The aspic contains the rich essence of chicken flavor. The smooth, refreshing, and rich taste of the broth, along with its saltiness, perfectly complements the tender and fluffy taste of the egg."
Closing his eyes, Hoshino Sora carefully savored Yukihira Soma's dish, slowly giving his evaluation, which made Erina Nakiri glance at him frequently because what he said was exactly what she had been thinking.
Is this guy's sense of taste really that strong?
"Thump, thump—"
His heart rate quickened, his muscles rejoiced, his cells danced. As the egg-mixed rice went down, his stomach acid rapidly broke it down, then it was consumed by the Gourmet Cells within his body.
Unable to resist, Hoshino Sora picked up another piece. The internal decomposition speed increased, and his movements became faster and faster, causing Erina Nakiri beside him to put down her chopsticks, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
"Have you not eaten in eight lifetimes?"
"I can't help it, I'm hungry."
Watching Hoshino Sora quickly finish a bowl of egg-mixed rice, Erina Nakiri complained speechlessly. After hearing his reply, she sighed softly, then turned to look at Yukihira Soma.
[Analysis of Dish]: Yukihira Style · Egg-Mixed Rice
[Quality]: Silver (Lower Grade)
[Analysis 33%]: The ingredients for the dish are eggs, chicken wings, bonito, rice...
"The taste is good, and the idea is also good. You've passed this assessment."
Although she only had two bites, it was enough for God Tongue to discern the quality of the dish. To be able to create a dish of this caliber already met the standards for entering Far Moon.
"Thank you for your hospitality!"
Hearing Erina Nakiri's words, Yukihira Soma's face broke into an excited smile. He then removed the bandana tied to his hand, striking his signature pose.
Seeing this, Hoshino Sora felt a strange sense of nostalgia.
"Come and try my dish too, Chief Examiner."
On the other side, Yumeko Jabami walked over, carrying a dish covered with a silver lid, a confident and composed expression on her face.
As she lifted the lid, a rich chili aroma wafted out. What met the eye were snow-white shrimp pan-fried dumplings drenched in chili oil, with a hint of red from a fried egg yolk underneath.
Chili? Or something else?
"Snake Eater Yumeko, is this your dish? It's more ordinary than I imagined. Let me state beforehand, I will not eat unpalatable dishes. Can your dish really satisfy my tongue?!"
Shrimp pan-fried dumplings with chili. The chili aroma was very strong, almost perfectly masking the egg's aroma. This deviated somewhat from the 'egg' theme.
"Of course! The deliciousness of a dish must be judged by tasting it. If a dish is dismissed without being tasted, then it would be too pitiful."
Placing the dish on the table, Yumeko Jabami said with a smile, glancing at Hoshino Sora beside her. He was staring intently at her dish, looking eager.
"Alright then, I'll reluctantly try your dish.
However, if it fails to satisfy my tongue, I will make you lose everything in the culinary world. Even so, are you still sure you want me to taste it?"
Eri Nai issued her final warning. She really didn't want to sample this unappealing dish. Cooking emphasizes color, aroma, and taste, and none of these were satisfactory in the dish before her!
"Since you're so hesitant, let me taste it first to make sure it's not poisoned!"
His entire body's Gourmet Cells were craving it. Looking at the prawn-wrapped egg dumplings before him, which had nothing but a spicy aroma, his body's reaction was even stronger than it had been to Yukihira Soma's egg-mixed rice.
As he spoke, Hoshino Sora could no longer hold back. He picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth.
A rich aroma exploded in his mouth the moment he bit into the egg dumpling. It was as if an entire universe was contained within. Although the outside had a strong spicy aroma, it was surprisingly not spicy when eaten. The chili only served to enhance the fragrance.
As for the texture, although he didn't know how Snake Eater Yumeko managed to make dumpling wrappers from egg whites, the pure white egg whites paired with the slightly spicy chili sauce were unexpectedly suitable.
"You put bamboo shoots in this, didn't you?"
"That's right, I put minced bamboo shoots in the filling to add texture and cut through richness. Moreover, bamboo shoots and minced pork are also a golden pair."
Crossing her fingers, Yumeko Jabami smiled with delight as she looked at Hoshino Sora, who was the first to eat her dish, then began to explain.
"The pan-fried egg yolk below must be shrimp oil, and there seems to be another layer of flavor. But this technique is truly ingenious; to be able to use pan-fried egg whites as dumpling wrappers, and there must be flour added inside."
Coming to Hoshino Sora's side, Yukihira Soma also picked up a pan-fried dumpling and exclaimed, "Even though so many ingredients were added, the flavors aren't muddled at all. Instead, everything is perfectly organized."
"Excellent craftsmanship!"
"That's right, I added rosemary to the shrimp oil, and the egg whites were mixed with flour to make them less prone to breaking."
"You two, don't forget that I'm the judge here!"
Watching Hoshino Sora and Yukihira Soma go back and forth, finishing her lines, Erina Nakiri was so anxious she almost stomped her feet. Then, she picked up the chopsticks she had just used and took a piece into her mouth.
The next moment, a wonderful sensation surged through her. The vitality of the shrimp, combined with the life force of the egg, with a hint of spiciness, was simply a divine touch. The explosion of aromatic bombs in her mouth rushed straight to her head.
Her brain became clear, and her perception of scent became sharper. These elements elevated the deliciousness of the dish to another level. What an exquisite design!
This feeling, this feeling was like broken eggs falling into the deep sea, being devoured by passing shrimp, and she, transformed into a large fish, then devoured these shrimp, simultaneously enjoying the taste of both shrimp and egg. And the pleasure generated by this big fish eating small fish was truly wonderfully incomparable!
Compared to its unassuming appearance, she could give this dish a nine out of ten for its taste and texture. The unique design made the flavor layers distinct, and there was even soup inside the dumpling!
"I apologize, I was too presumptuous earlier. This is a truly excellent dish."
Feeling an unprecedented impact, Erina Nakiri put down her chopsticks and then, to Hoshino Sora's utter shock, apologized to Yumeko Jabami. That's right, she apologized! This tsundere young lady actually apologized to someone! What kind of Arabian Nights tale was this?
"Erina-sama!"
Seeing Erina Nakiri suddenly humble herself, Hisako couldn't help but cry out in concern, but she was stopped by Erina's raised hand.
"You are qualified to join Far Moon Academy. Please shine brightly on this stage!"
Looking at Yumeko Jabami with a face full of fighting spirit, Erina Nakiri sincerely extended the invitation. At the same time, a system prompt sounded in Hoshino Sora's mind.
[Analyze Dish]: Shrimp-Embracing Egg Dumpling
[Quality]: Silver (Medium)
[Analysis 13%]: Dish ingredients include eggs, shrimp...
After that, his body emitted a faint glow. The Gourmet Cell he had just acquired evolved directly from Lv1 to Lv2 after digesting the "Shrimp-Embracing Egg Dumpling."
"It would be my greatest honor."
——————
Coming out of the assessment venue, Hoshino Sora was still immersed in the fact that the tsundere young lady had apologized, his eyes filled with disbelief. How could such a thing happen? Was that dish really that amazing?!
Silver (Medium) – this was the highest-grade dish he had seen so far. Even the grilled eel rice Erina made at his house was only Silver (Low). Thinking about it, it was no wonder the young lady had that expression.
It was precisely because she possessed the God Tongue that she could discern the quality of a dish, clearly distinguishing even the slightest differences.
And now him...
He reached out and summoned the system panel.
Name: Hoshino Sora
Age: 15
Cooking Skills: Proficient Knife Skills, Spice Equation, Spirit-Infused Flavoring, Warmth-Sensing All-Rounder
Cooking Utensils: bone removal dragon saber, Universal Seasoning Bottle, Recipe Encyclopedia (Incomplete), Profound Iron Heavy Pot
Items: Magical Fishing Rod (10/10), Magical Spices (2/3)
Talents: Infinite Stamina, Gourmet Cell
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
If you guys wanna check it out.