After three years of dormancy, the Gourmet Tyrant was born.

Even though Nao Sadazuka lost to Hisako Shinto, she still remained in second place.

But she acted as if everything was over, tidying up her tableware and kitchen utensils, taking the remaining ingredients, and leaving the stage from the sidelines with a dejected look.

As I passed by Erina Nakiri, I glanced at her, looking utterly lost in thought.

She knew that the distance between her and Lady Erina had grown even further.

"Hey, Nao Satsuka, please wait a moment."

Just as Nao Satsuka was about to leave.

"Eh?"

Lu Xuanyu's voice made her stop in her tracks.

Today, there is no student in the entire Totsuki Academy who doesn't know Lu Xuanyu.

"The ninth seat of the Ten Outstanding Individuals... Lu Xuanyu..."

"Is...is something wrong?"

"No...you're not allowed to leave?"

Nao Satsuka has always been a loner and has never had any friends.

Aside from his unwavering affection for Erina Nakiri, he had no social interactions with anyone else at school.

He is a complete socially anxious person.

She doesn't communicate with people unless they initiate a conversation.

The match was over, so all that was done was to let her return to the court and wait.

In Nao Saezuka's view, Lu Xuanyu had no other reason to talk to her.

"There should be some curry left over from the curry dish I just made, right?"

"When I saw it from the side of the screen, I really wanted to try it!"

"This looks like a very interesting and creative curry dish!"

"Can I have some?"

Lu Xuanyu said in a cheerful and straightforward manner.

"Eh?"

The only pupil that Nao Satsuka showed was filled with astonishment and surprise.

Instead of letting her go back and wait for the result, they told her not to.

Or did they want to try her cooking?

Normal people should avoid her cooking altogether.

Lu Xuanyu actually came to ask for it on his own initiative?

This kind of treatment had never been given to Nao Sadazuka before.

"What's wrong? Are you having a problem?"

"It's difficult enough, but it's such a pity!"

"Will this competition feature a truly creative 'taste-driven cooking' dish?"

Lu Xuanyu said "never mind" but showed no intention of leaving.

after all……

Who could resist a morbid girl with "Sharingan"?

.......

Xiao Hui, the champion of Venue 131B, has transformed herself! [Please subscribe!]

"Eh?"

"But...it's okay."

"I can't speak," said Nao Satsuka timidly.

He put the things he was holding on the ground and slowly opened the storage box.

The remaining dishes that were not served to the judges were taken out of a transparent food container.

They even thoughtfully brought tableware for Lu Xuanyu.

"Because...because it's unnecessary..."

"That's why the plating looks terrible..."

Nao Satsuka took it in her hand and handed it directly to Lu Xuanyu.

In her eyes, given Lu Xuanyu's status and position...

He must be a top chef who has tasted delicacies from land and sea and many fragrant dishes.

People are unlikely to be interested in "food in a food container" that looks unappetizing and smells extremely unpleasant.

Having seen so many looks of disdain and disgust, Nao Sadazuka might not be hurt, but she would subconsciously try to prevent others from showing their disgust.

As it turned out, she quickly realized that her worries were completely unnecessary...

"hiss!"

Lu Xuanyu took a breath.

He said with a happy laugh:

"They actually used squid ink as a base!"

"This smells like salted dried fish made from flying fish and mahi-mahi, doesn't it?"

"A very good idea, using lemongrass and coconut milk to increase the breadth of flavor."

"To make the salted fish curry stand out even more in terms of flavor!"

Nao Satsuka: "!!!"

Completely correct!

How can you judge by smell alone without even tasting it?

The ability to determine something so accurately just by smell!

There's only one possibility... Lu Xuanyu understands the essence of her cooking.

In an instant, Nao Satsuka's hands, which were holding the lunchbox, began to tremble.

The opponent is the ninth seat of the Ten Outstanding Youngsters!

Breaking Erina's record, the youngest member of the Elite Ten Council in Totsuki Academy history!

How could... how could someone understand her cooking?

"Aren't you really going to let me try it?"

Lu Xuanyu looked into Satsuka Nao's eyes again and asked a question.

"You...you can eat it, Lord Xuanyu..."

Nao Satsuka recovered from her shock.

He handed over the lunchbox with both hands.

Lu Xuanyu ate several bites with relish.

The sensation of taste is basically the same as the information you perceive through smell.

"Even with flaws in the ingredients and cooking time, it is still an excellent dish."

"Food is a broad concept."

"Who says that only food that looks beautiful and smells delicious can be considered gourmet food?"

"Food can also be the unknown hidden in what seems terrifying, right?"

Nao Satsuka: "!!!"

Lu Xuanyu's words were like a sharp arrow flying past.

It hit her heart squarely!

The noisy meeting room suddenly fell silent.

In Nao Satsuka's mind, there was only Lu Xuanyu's face and the words he had just spoken.

Delicious food can also be an unknown hidden within terror...

"Lord Xuanyu...Lord Xuanyu!"

Nao Satsuka murmured absentmindedly.

"You did very well. It was worth it for me to select you for the roster."

"Nao, you did not disappoint me."