"I didn't expect you to actually dare to come. I thought you'd be scared and run away, not daring to show your face here.
And Alice, you're mixed up with him too? Okabe-kun's charm is truly something."
Seeing Okabe appear at the Shokugeki venue, with Alice Nakiri standing beside him, Azami Nakiri's expression was cold, his words laced with clear sarcasm.
Beside them, Erina Nakiri opened her mouth as if to say something, but after seeing Azami Nakiri's cold gaze, she lowered her head and remained silent.
"Of course I dared to come. My purpose here is to defeat you, save Erina from her ordeal, and prove to the world that your philosophy is wrong."
Although he was only five years old, thanks to frequent training and his high combat power which promoted his development, Okabe was already 1.35 meters tall.
Standing before Azami Nakiri now, though he was much shorter, the aura he exuded was not the least bit weak. A palpable tension, like swords clashing, formed in the air.
"Under the banner of doing what's best for a friend, you intend to take a daughter away from her father. What an arrogant and selfish notion."
"Under the banner of doing what's best for your daughter, you're actually just trying to prove your own culinary philosophy. You haven't educated her as the next generation at all; instead, you control her when she disagrees. We don't usually call such a person a 'father'."
Hearing Azami Nakiri's sanctimonious words, Okabe couldn't help but laugh, his voice filled with contemptuous mockery.
"No matter what you say, after today, you should get out of the culinary world.
Rest assured, I won't kick you out of the Nakiri family. You will witness with your own eyes how my daughter climbs step by step to the pinnacle of the gourmet world!"
Faced with Okabe's words, Azami Nakiri wasn't angered. He simply looked at him with a placid expression. After all, no one would bother getting angry with someone whose future was already ruined.
At that very moment, the sound of footsteps came from outside the Shokugeki arena.
"Mama, Grandpa!"
An excited voice cried out from Alice Nakiri. She then trotted forward and threw herself into the arms of Leonora Nakiri, who had just entered through the door.
"You little rascal, you didn't even wait for me, running over here with Little Okabe on your own!" Leonora Nakiri feigned annoyance as she looked at the pouncing Alice Nakiri.
But upon seeing her guilty and uneasy expression, she ruffled her hair and said, "I'll let it slide this time since you were with Okabe, but don't go off on your own next time. Mama will worry if she can't find you."
"Okay! I'll definitely wait for you next time, Mama!"
Seeing that Leonora Nakiri wasn't angry, the guilt on Alice Nakiri's face vanished instantly, replaced by a wide smile as she buried her head in her mother's embrace, acting spoiled.
Erina Nakiri watched this heartwarming scene, a clear look of envy in her eyes.
She wanted to run up and greet them too, but after catching her father's somewhat cold gaze, she ultimately stayed put. To the approaching Senzaemon Nakiri, she quietly offered her greetings: "Grandfather, Aunt Leonora, good morning."
"Little Erina, good morning to you too."
"Azami Nakiri, I've heard all about what's been happening here. It seems you've done quite a few things to Erina. The child was never like this before."
After greeting Erina Nakiri who was beside Azami Nakiri, Senzaemon Nakiri turned to Azami, his previously calm voice instantly turning cold.
"Father, my method of educating Erina is for her own good." Seeing Senzaemon Nakiri approach, Azami Nakiri gave a slight bow, his tone maintaining a superficial respect, but his eyes showed no sign of yielding. "In this dog-eat-dog culinary world, one can only stand at the summit by completely abandoning personal emotions and pursuing ultimate perfection."
Hearing this statement, Senzaemon Nakiri took a step forward, the cuffs of his kimono stirring without a breeze.
This old man, known as 'The Demon King of Cuisine,' now radiated a terrifying aura, causing the atmosphere in the Shokugeki arena to freeze.
"Absurd!" Senzaemon Nakiri's voice boomed like a clap of thunder. "Is your so-called perfection turning Erina into a puppet with no will of her own?"
Azami Nakiri's mouth twitched. "Father, you should know better than anyone how precious a talent the God's Tongue, passed down through the Nakiri family for generations, is. I am merely helping Erina maximize this talent, preventing her from being disturbed by pointless emotions."
"Talent?" Hearing Azami Nakiri's words, Senzaemon Nakiri sneered as if recalling something. "Do you think talent is everything? The path of cooking lies in the fusion of heart and skill. You have stripped Erina of her love for cooking. How is that any different from stifling her talent?!"
Standing to the side, Okabe keenly noticed that when Senzaemon Nakiri said the word "love," Erina Nakiri's shoulders trembled slightly.
"Love?" Azami Nakiri scoffed. "That is merely an excuse the weak use to console themselves."
"The culinary world has no need for such sentimental things. It only needs absolute rules and order. The strong are strong, and the weak are weak. It's impossible for the weak to become strong simply because of so-called 'love'."
His voice was impassioned, his eyes surging with emotion. This was the culinary path he had always followed!
"So you resorted to using psychological suggestions on your own daughter, turning her into this meek and submissive state?" Senzaemon's gaze swept over the silent, head-bowed Erina, a flash of pain in his eyes.
Azami Nakiri finally lost his patience, his voice suddenly rising. "Father! You've grown old! Your set of ideals is long outdated! Only by using my methods can the Nakiri family continue to dominate the Japanese culinary world!"
The moment he finished speaking, the entire hall fell into a dead silence.
Senzaemon gazed quietly at his son-in-law, as if seeing him for the first time. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. After a long moment, he finally spoke slowly, "Since you believe so firmly in your path, then prove it with this Shokugeki. If Okabe wins, you will get out of the Nakiri family and swear to never again interfere with Erina's culinary path."
"And if I win..." A fanatical light flashed in Azami Nakiri's eyes. "Not only will Okabe have to retire from the culinary world forever, but you will also hand over the position of Director of Totsuki Academy to me, and you will no longer raise any objections to my educational methods."
"You are in no position to make conditions with me. Remember your place, Nakamura Azami."
In response to Azami Nakiri's demand, Senzaemon Nakiri's voice was cold. After speaking, he strode over to the judges' table, sat down in the center seat, and swept his gaze across the venue, finally letting it rest on Okabe.
He had heard of this little one's exploits and understood that he had been the one to propose this Shokugeki. As the child of Hakuji and Koyuki, he wondered what kind of surprise the boy could bring him.
Because this was an internal dispute of the Nakiri family, there were no spectators other than Alice Nakiri, Hisako Arato, and Ikaros.
The judges were also all members of the Nakiri family.
Leonora Nakiri, Senzaemon Nakiri, and Azami Nakiri.
Although he was extremely dissatisfied with the man, he was, after all, Erina's father and a member of the Nakiri family, so he naturally occupied a judge's seat.
After being rejected by Senzaemon Nakiri, a clear look of disappointment flashed in Azami Nakiri's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He turned to Erina Nakiri, who had been standing by his side, and said, "Cook according to the methods from our special training. There's no need for major changes. Just use your God's Tongue to replicate everything you've ever eaten, and you can win this match."
Looking at Erina Nakiri beside him, Azami Nakiri's gaze held a touch of obsession.
"I understand, Father... sir."
Feeling Azami Nakiri's gaze, Erina Nakiri subconsciously took a step back, then slightly lowered her head and nodded. This was something she and Okabe had agreed upon long ago.
Neither of them would hold back; they would conduct the Shokugeki with mutual respect.
"Little Okabe, you have to do your best, okay? This aunty is your loyal supporter."
Leonora Nakiri kindly took Okabe's hand, speaking words of encouragement in a gentle voice.
She had watched him grow up; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was half a son to her. Now that he was gambling his future on this match, she truly felt for him.
However, she also knew in her heart that he was doing this for Erina Nakiri's future.
That man, Azami Nakiri, was too good at pretending. Under the guise of work, he took Erina Nakiri to restaurants in other regions and subjected her to long-term psychological control.
If Okabe hadn't discovered it in time, they would have remained in the dark for who knows how long.
By the time they found out, who knows how much damage Erina would have suffered. It could have been severe enough to leave psychological scars and affect her personality.
"Don't worry, Aunt Leonora. I am fully prepared for this match. There's no possibility of losing. Just leave the rest to me!"
Huuu...
Stepping up to his cooking station, Okabe let out a long, slow breath.
Only by actually standing here could he truly feel the pressure. This was a battle where he was betting his entire career as a chef! How could he possibly feel nothing?
Just as Okabe's thoughts were swirling, Senzaemon Nakiri abruptly stood up.
His wide sleeves rustled with the movement. He stood before the judges' table with the imposing presence of a mountain and the depth of an abyss, his sharp gaze sweeping across the hall as his voice rang out like a great bell:
"The theme is—'The Ultimate Dish of a Myriad Flavors'!"
"The time limit is one hour!"
He threw out an arm, the hem of his kimono sleeve cutting through the air with immense force, and the very atmosphere of the hall seemed to tremble.
"Now, let the Shokugeki commence!"
_____
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