Listening to the words of this person, who was not the supreme commander of lesbian magical girls, Keli felt it was a bit troublesome.
He had thought it would be a straightforward case with a clear target, but he didn't expect it would require investigation.
However, on second thought, if it was truly something, he and Kazuma might be able to detect it just by smelling it, which would save them the trouble of being investigators. So, he nodded.
Although he didn't understand what Keli and Kazuma were talking about, Nakiri Senzaemon felt somewhat relieved when he saw Keli nod.
Totsuki Academy is the leader of the Japanese culinary world, but many of those who study at Totsuki Academy are heirs to major domestic and international gourmet groups. If something were to happen to a few of them, he would have an undeniable responsibility.
Moreover, the continuous stream of high-level chefs graduating from here is the reason Totsuki Academy holds such a transcendent position. This place, as the foundation, is of utmost importance, which is why he was so anxious to find people who could solve the problem.
"Since that's the case, I will arrange identities for the two of you immediately, which will also facilitate your movement within the school. Your residence has also been prepared. As an unprofessional person, I will not offer any suggestions to the two of you. If you need to investigate anything, you can always ask Totsuki Academy staff for assistance.
I entrust the matters here to you."
As he spoke, the white-haired old man sat on the sofa with his hands on his thighs, bowing slightly to Keli and Kazuma.
"You're too kind." Seeing this gesture, Kazuma, whose genes kicked in, also bowed in response while sitting.
"It was originally my intention to cook and entertain the two of you today, but I am too busy with matters to spare the time…"
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Nakiri Senzaemon left.
And when Keli and Kazuma walked out of the reception room, someone immediately brought them two badges.
Kazuma took a badge and looked at it.
"Totsuki Academy Elementary Division, Pastry Consultant."
Keli casually picked up the other one Kazuma had left and looked at it.
"Totsuki Academy High School Division, First Year, Dean of Students.
I thought it would just be a student identity, but it turns out to be a teacher."
Keli hung the badge on his chest.
This identity arrangement seemed to facilitate their access to various places. They could enter individual culinary clubs as consultants, and the school infirmary and male and female dormitories as the Dean of Students.
Under the guidance of the staff, the two arrived at their residence, where everything was fully prepared, including various daily necessities, and even Totsuki Academy teacher uniforms and chef uniforms that fit their sizes.
Twenty minutes later, Kazuma, having changed into a teacher's uniform, adjusted the badge on his chest, and holding a thermos, knocked on Keli's door.
He noticed that Keli seemed to have asked the staff to send a guitar case and was currently slinging the case over his back, adjusting the strap length.
"Huh? Keli, you can play the guitar? But even if you can, why carry it here?"
"It's nothing, I just had them get me a fire axe and a chainsaw, and I had nowhere to put them." Keli weighed the guitar case on his back, then turned to look at Sato Kazuma.
"What about you?"
Facing Keli's question, Kazuma adjusted his collar.
"I think since we've accepted their offer, we should start investigating early. Let's go for a walk around the teaching building first."
Keli chuckled.
"You, wouldn't you be trying to put on airs in front of the students just because you used to be a student and suddenly got a teacher's identity?"
"Ahem! Dean Keli, please mind your words. As the newly appointed consultant of this school, how can I ignore the students' state during class?"
Despite Keli seeing through his thoughts, Kazuma's face remained unblushing and his heart untroubled. Anyway, before finding any anomalies, he would just treat it as a trip.
Keli chuckled, tightened the guitar case on his back, and followed him out.
It was morning at this time, and as a culinary academy famous for its internal competition, where only 20% or even fewer students normally graduate from this hellish place, the second class was currently in session.
Keli and Kazuma rode their small mobility scooters to the teaching building, as directed by the staff, and began exploring floor by floor.
Kazuma had originally wanted to show off some of his Dean of Students' special skills, like instantly apprehending one or two students who were daydreaming in class.
But the result left Kazuma greatly disappointed.
Looking through the windows of each classroom, he couldn't find a single lazy student.
Students in culinary theory classes were all diligently taking notes while watching the teacher explain and demonstrate on the podium. Students in practical classes were mostly engrossed in a life-and-death struggle with their dishes at their own cooking stations.
In this dreadful school, theory classes were mostly in the junior high division. By the time students reached the high school division, almost all courses were practical. If a student failed or received the lowest evaluation five times in practical classes, they would be directly expelled.
Under this system, even without any homework, students' remaining free time was almost entirely spent diligently studying cooking, fearing that they might be directly expelled at any moment.
A high-pressure atmosphere, no less intense than in the military, permeated every corner of this academy.
Only Keli and Kazuma, as outsiders, felt nothing, occasionally stopping at the doors of some classrooms to sniff the cooking aromas emanating from within.
Kazuma even managed to exude the air of a visiting dignitary just by walking down the corridor, hands behind his back, thermos in hand, pointing at everything he saw.
After sweeping through the junior high division, neither of them found anything unusual. However, what was very abstract was that the first and second years of high school did not even have classes in the same location, so after discussing, they decided to split up and check.
Keli was responsible for the first year.
It was the season when the deep red Hikan cherry blossoms had not yet fully withered, and the pinkish-white Ishiwari cherry blossoms had not yet bloomed. Keli strolled through the corridors of the high school division, watching the blood-red cherry blossoms sway outside the window.
He took a slight breath, carefully distinguishing whether there were any scents in the air, among the pungent aromas of various spices, that would stimulate his appetite.
Recalling the information Nakiri Senzaemon had given him, he shook his head slightly.
"While his urgency to deal with it is somewhat reliable, the fact that he's reached the point of asking for help means he himself knows there's likely a problem at the school. But even so, he hasn't suspended classes.
Is that old man hiding something from us?"
Walking with his head down, Keli mentally sorted through the details of the situation.
"Ahem!"
However, as he walked, Keli heard a cough.
"Student, were you eliminated, and that's why you're wandering around here?"
Keli looked up slightly, and a man wearing glasses came into view. The man seemed to have intended to block Keli's path to get his attention, but Keli was so engrossed in his thoughts that he almost bumped into him, forcing him to cough as a reminder.
"Ah, it seems you don't recognize me, student. That's a pity. I am Ryouzan Etsuya from the second-year division. If you have any confusion about your future, you can talk to me."
The other party acted as if Keli would surely know who he was upon hearing his name, slightly narrowing his eyes, awaiting an exclamation.
Upon hearing the name, Keli seemed to recall such a character in Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, who was apparently the Ninth Seat of their Totsuki Ten Elite.
So, Keli nodded.
"Hello, Ryouzan student, may I ask why you're not attending class properly and are wandering outside? Which class are you in? I'm going to give you a failing grade."
P.S.:
Ryouzan Etsuya: From Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma.
Known as the Alchemist of Cuisine, other Ten Elite members commented that if he focused on culinary arts, he might have the skill to surpass the First Seat. However, he himself is passionate about using the status gained from being a star chef to network and build a business empire.
But, honestly, compared to cooking for others, it seems more enjoyable to be the one paying to eat.
His specialty is creating better recipes for fast-food restaurants and pre-made meals to help businesses thrive, but he is also a mercenary and very stingy individual.
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