After seeing Miyoko off, Shun sat alone in the kitchen, lost in thought.
The dough he'd been kneading still rested on the cutting board. Sunlight fell through the window, gilding its surface in a faint sheen of gold.
Right now his head was full of one thing: the transfer exam in half a month.
He kept replaying scenes from Shokugeki no Soma in his mind.
Erina-sama—that proud girl with the God Tongue—would be his proctor.
"Tch… this is a pain…" Shun muttered under his breath.
According to canon, Erina-sama's judgment of food bordered on ruthless.
Raised on her father's warped food philosophy, she acknowledged only so-called "noble" cuisine.
And what Shun did best were the people's dishes of Chinatown—beef chow fun, xiao long bao, mapo tofu.
All of which, in Erina-sama's eyes, would likely be "commoner fare" unworthy of note.
He stared at his own palms, still dusted with flour.
He'd spent years in a kitchen, sure—but with his past life's "take-it-easy" mindset, his cooking was good enough for ordinary diners, not for swaying a hyper-picky ojō-sama. Nowhere near enough.
He didn't want to fail his dad.
"The exam theme in the story was 'egg'. I'll try something first… Yeah—omurice."
Murmuring to himself, Shun took three eggs from the fridge. Their shells glowed with a warm luster in the sun.
He tapped one open. The yolk slipped into the bowl like a tiny sun afloat in clear whites.
"Just a normal egg."
Tapping the rim with a finger, he frowned at the bowl. "Ordinary ingredients, ordinary cooking… how am I supposed to move the God Tongue?"
Silence pooled in the kitchen.
Then, in his mind, a cold, mechanical chime rang.
Ding! Critical challenge detected. System booting—activation complete!
The bowl almost fell from his hands. The egg swayed wildly inside.
A system!
Fifteen years—fifteen! At last, the transmigrator's golden cheat had arrived.
"System, why are you only activating now? Were you hiding in me for fifteen whole years?" Shun asked in his head.
"Bound to host upon transmigration. Activation condition: host must desire to improve and act positively toward growth."
Shun's cheek twitched.
"So you've been playing dead because I wanted a chill life for fifteen years?"
"More precisely: the host lacked the Heart of a Chef."
Images flashed across his retina—fifteen years of slacking.
At seven, yawning during knife-skill lessons, carving crooked radish cuts while Dad corrected him.
At ten, while Dad was out, casually serving a sloppy dish to long-time regulars; afterward, Dad had to apologize door-to-door to calm things down.
At thirteen, deliberately dialing back the fire even though he could have perfectly reproduced Dad's signature dish, settling for "good enough."
Just last month, Miyoko gifted him a precious black truffle—he minced it and tossed it into fried rice like it was nothing, without the slightest sense of reverence.
Seeing it all, Shun finally got it.
He'd taken "lazy salted fish" way too far.
After Mom died, Dad pinned all his hopes on him. He couldn't keep coasting like this.
Right then, Shun set his resolve: work hard, level up, fulfill his parents' hopes, and never tarnish the name of Liu's Restaurant.
He steadied his breathing and focused on the freshly awakened system.
"System, give me a quick self-intro."
"Designation: Gourmet Traversal System. Function: facilitate host's travel between Shokugeki no Soma and other gourmet worlds to acquire extraordinary culinary arts."
A translucent screen unfolded across his vision.
[Gourmet Traversal System]
Host: Shun
Culinary Rating: 36
(Influenced by knife skills, physique, fire control, knowledge breadth, etc.)
Note: Ordinary people rate 5–15. Ordinary chefs 15–50. Higher is better.
Traversable Worlds: [Cooking Master Boy], [Toriko], [One Piece], [Naruto]
Energy Points: 100 (starter grant)
Note: Each traversal consumes energy. More travelers = higher cost.
Skills: Chinese Cuisine (Beginner), Fire Control (Beginner)
System Appraisal: You're a novice—but with limitless potential.
Shun's heart pounded—equal parts excitement and nerves.
Simple and clear: the main function was world travel to train.
"System, can I go to Toriko right now?"
"Yes. Cost per traversal: 50 Energy."
He thought a moment, then decided not to rush. First, use the system to shore up his fundamentals.
"Got any newbie packs or quests to boost my cooking fast?"
Ding! Newbie Quest issued—
[Newbie Quest: Improve Yourself]
Objective: Go to Shokurin Temple and learn [Food Honor (Beginner)].
Reward: +100 Energy, [Food Honor Blade].
Shun blinked.
Shokurin Temple?
Wasn't that the training sanctuary from Toriko?
If he could complete training there, his culinary rating would skyrocket.
He drew a long breath to settle his racing pulse.
The system had opened a door; he had to seize it.
He didn't jump straight into a portal. First, he packed light and explained things to Dad: he'd be away half a month for training—prepping for the transfer exam.
Dad listened and, of course, supported him wholeheartedly.
Once everything was set, Shun faced the leap.
"System—initiate traversal to Toriko, destination: Shokurin Temple!"
Ding! Consuming 50 Energy. Traversal commencing!
A surge of white light burst forth. His vision swam; the world wheeled and changed.
When he opened his eyes again, he stood before an austere temple.
Ancient groves embraced the compound on all sides.
"So this is… Shokurin Temple?"
He looked up the stone steps toward the main gate.
Above the doors hung a carved plaque—three bold characters: Shokurin Temple.
…
(End of Chapter)
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