"Oh no, Hana-yama'in is here!"
A waiter rushed in, shouting.
"What? Hana-yama'in? Shouldn't she be coming next month?"
"Why is she here so early this year?"
The chefs present all changed their expressions!
Satou looked confused and asked, "Class monitor, who is that Hana-yama'in?"
Izayoi Tsuki said with a solemn expression, "She is said to be a very famous food critic. Many diners consider her reviews to be gospel, but it is said that her tongue is quite venomous."
"More than just a venomous tongue? That person also has a nickname, 'The Demoness of the Culinary World.' Even for well-established restaurants, she gives merciless reviews."
Miss Sakai said from the side, "It is said that two very popular high-end restaurants previously had their business severely affected due to her negative reviews and eventually had to close. She is an existence that gives the culinary circle a headache just by mentioning her name."
"That is indeed the case."
Mr. Mita suddenly walked in and said, "Every year, Hana-yama'in comes to our restaurant to taste a dish, but fortunately, each time she has given a good review."
Hearing Mr. Mita's words, the chefs present all relaxed their expressions.
"However, even though she arrived a month early, we cannot be complacent. We must treat her as our most important guest."
Mr. Mita said in a deep voice.
Everyone listened and nodded.
"Next, please put forth your full effort and each prepare your most skilled dish for Hana-yama'in to taste."
Mr. Mita said.
"Manager, what about Satou?"
Izayoi Tsuki suddenly asked.
"Him? Let's not. Based on past experience, this time should also smoothly receive Hana-yama'in's approval."
Alpha said indifferently.
His words were echoed by many chefs around. If Satou's dish were to displease the other party, it would be a loss rather than a gain.
Mr. Mita also hesitated for a moment, but still said, "Then Satou, you also prepare one dish."
"Manager, won't this be too risky?"
Alpha asked with a frown.
"It's fine. After all, it's an intern's work; we don't even know if the other party will taste it."
Mr. Mita said.
Once the manager left, everyone in the kitchen became busy.
"The host's mission difficulty has been upgraded."
"Upgraded mission: Recognition of the Gourmet."
"Mission description: Create a dish with fantasy ingredients and gain the approval of a picky gourmet."
"Mission reward: Two Almond Cabbages, plus the Hand-pulled Cabbage recipe."
"The host can choose the upgraded mission or the original mission. If the original mission is chosen, the reward remains unchanged."
The system suddenly said.
Satou looked at the upgraded mission, couldn't help but frown, and asked, "What if I choose the more difficult mission but fail to complete it?"
"The original mission will be voided."
The system said.
"I see."
Satou became troubled. If he didn't choose the upgrade, he would get one Almond Cabbage. If he chose the higher difficulty mission, the reward of fantasy ingredients would become two plus a recipe, but if he failed, he would no longer be able to complete the previous mission.
Such a difficult choice.
Finally, Satou gritted his teeth and said, "I choose the upgraded mission!"
"Beep, the host has accepted a higher challenge. Please complete it as soon as possible."
...
In the Kagurazaka-ya hall, all guests were temporarily asked to leave.
Hanayama-in Natsuki sat alone behind a long dining table, arms crossed, expressionless.
The Kagurazaka-ya waiters continuously brought one dish after another to the table.
The restaurant's chefs stood by, nervously awaiting her evaluation.
Satou also stood among them, observing this food critic known as the Demoness.
To Satou's surprise, this food critic, who struck fear into the hearts of all chefs, was not old at all; she looked only two or three years older than Satou.
With long golden hair, fair and delicate features, and cold, stern eyes, Satou almost thought he was seeing Erina Nakiri in a trance.
Of course, the two only shared a similar aura; their appearances were not alike.
In comparison, Satou felt that the Tsundere was cuter.
"Please enjoy the dishes prepared by all the chefs in our restaurant."
Mr. Mita calmly walked over and said in a deep voice.
Hanayama-in Natsuki nodded, scanned the dining table, and pointed with her finger, saying, "Then let's start with this steak."
It was a pan-fried steak, Alpha's creation.
Hanayama-in Natsuki delicately cut a small piece with her steak knife and tasted it.
Alpha couldn't help but swallow, his heart filled with tension.
The other chefs were also in the same state.
However, Hanayama-in Natsuki didn't give an immediate evaluation. She only took one bite, then put down her knife and fork, pointed to a plate of tempura, and said, "Next is the assorted tempura."
Satou remembered that this dish was the work of the uncle dressed in traditional Neon chef attire.
Soon, she finished tasting all the dishes on the table, but each time she only took one bite and offered no comments.
Finally, she tasted Izayoi Tsuki's chicken curry rice.
Only when Hanayama-in Natsuki put down her chopsticks and delicately wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin did Mr. Mita step forward and ask with some trepidation, "Hana-yama'in, are you satisfied with today's dishes?"
"Hmm, the taste is the same as the past two years."
Hanayama-in Natsuki nodded.
Hearing her evaluation, Mr. Mita and all the chefs let out a collective sigh of relief.
Hanayama-in Natsuki had given their restaurant good reviews in the past two years, so if the taste was the same this time, there shouldn't be any problems.
However, Hanayama-in Natsuki's next words froze everyone's smiles on their faces.
"Therefore, I choose to give a bad review."
She spoke indifferently.
"This, why is this? Didn't you say the taste was the same as before?"
Mr. Mita's forehead was covered in cold sweat, unsure what had displeased this female demon. "Is it the service quality, or something else?"
"What displeases me is the taste of the dishes."
Hanayama-in Natsuki said coldly.
This made everyone even more bewildered.