Chapter 79: The Food Overlord
The round pie crust gave off a golden glow, illuminating the night sky.
Its perfection was such that just looking at it conveyed a satisfying, crisp texture. Every single spectator held their breath.
"…Beautiful."
A sincere compliment slipped from Mana's lips. It was the praise from her mother that Erina had longed for more than anything.
However, Erina was no longer a child who would show open joy at such words. What mattered was what came next. Only the taste would be evaluated—nothing else.
The fork sank into the pie crust, cutting off a single bite. The quiche, wrapped in steam, was brought to Mana's mouth. It was the moment a masterpiece created by the "God's Tongue" challenged the "God's Tongue" itself.
As those connected to the cursed pinnacle of human taste watched with tension, Mana, after finishing her chew, fully relaxed her cheeks.
"…~~~!!!!"
There were no words, no exaggerated movements. Mana simply clenched her small fist and trembled faintly as waves of emotion surged through her.
It was a reaction that made her impression of the taste obvious at a glance, but Erina couldn't relax until she heard the words. As if sensing that, Mana smiled gently at her daughter.
"…You've improved, Erina. …It's delicious."
"! …Yes. …Mother."
There was no need to explain the ingredients used or the cooking method. Before the "God's Tongue," only two words existed: bad or delicious. It was the most understated yet most noble form of judging.
"Just as the name suggests, it's a fusion of quiche and eggs benedict. …Why these two dishes?"
"That is… a secret."
Erina's signature dish, eggs benedict, and the quiche that had saved her heart. While the former was fine, explaining the latter was simply too embarrassing, so Erina quietly closed her mouth.
Mana didn't press further and began eating the second bite. From any perspective, she looked like someone simply enjoying a blissful meal.
"…Mana. …Ugh, uuu…!"
"…Erina. …You've truly grown."
Azami wept for his wife and daughter, while Senzamon wept for his daughter and granddaughter. The family cursed by the "God's Tongue" had overcome that curse. It would have been stranger not to cry at such a fact. Even Alice had tears in her eyes from overwhelming joy.
After eating half the quiche, Mana placed her fork on the plate. Naturally, she couldn't finish the entire thing, so she had exercised restraint. She let out a satisfied sigh and smiled peacefully.
The special ability passed down through the Nakiri bloodline—the "Ohadaki"—and its higher form, "Osazuke," which granted "Ohadaki" to others, had activated. Nearly every spectator in the venue had been stripped down to their underwear. It was the greatest proof that Nakiri Mana had tasted true deliciousness.
"—Next, please judge my dish."
It was a dish so perfect one might think the champion had already been decided, but for Mana, the next dish was the real main event. The chef who had openly complained to her, become her daughter's lover, and boldly declared his confidence.
Mana reached for the dish Santoku Shogo had presented.
And she was utterly caught off guard.
"…This is—an omelette?"
Expecting something extraordinary, what appeared was the most basic of basic egg dishes. The dish was so perfectly simple that not only Mana, but the entire venue felt like they had been hit with a sudden anticlimax. —However, those watching this final weren't limited to the venue. The match was being broadcast live across the country, and soon the entire world tilted their heads in confusion.
"Would you like to try it too, Nakiri-san… I mean, Erina? This is my serious dish—my 'Special Killer Recipe.'"
No one could dismiss it as "just an omelette." Neither Mana nor Erina could doubt the dish before them. That was why Erina quickly took her seat as well. She sat beside Mana and stared at the presented omelette.
Its egg surface was more beautiful than any omelette she had ever seen, but beyond that, there was nothing else to praise at first glance. Even the aroma, which should have stimulated the imagination, fell far short of Erina's "Quiche Benedict."
"Named… No, never mind. The name doesn't matter. —Please enjoy."
After boldly calling it his "Special Killer Recipe," he treated it so casually. Perhaps due to his extreme fatigue, Shogo wore an expression of complete satisfaction as he urged Erina and Mana to judge it. He only added, "Ah, please use the knife and fork."
"…Then, let us begin the judging."
"…Yes."
Since there hadn't been time to make two full portions of the "Special Killer Recipe" for the finals, Erina and Mana would share one dish. As instructed, they cut it with knife and fork, and both were shocked by its unexpectedly heavy texture for an omelette.
"This cross-section… is beef? And there's sauce inside…!"
"You wrapped beef in pâté, then encased it in pie dough and baked it. It's the British classic—'Beef Wellington.' To think you would wrap that in egg… The trapped aroma overflowing from the cut surface…! How interesting…!"
Unlike Erina, who tried to refuse, Mana showed her resolve. She brought the second bite to her mouth and began analyzing the taste while maintaining her consciousness.
"…The doneness of the meat goes without saying. In fact, it's too perfect. …You intended to let Erina go first from the very beginning, didn't you? Otherwise, such precise doneness would be impossible."
"It was just a coincidence. Pure coincidence."
Shogo lightly laughed it off, but Mana was certain. He had calculated everything and cooked so that the dish would be judged in its absolute best state.
The skill of using frying pans with different heat levels was so refined it didn't seem possible. For the first time in her life, Nakiri Mana felt genuine fear toward a chef.
"Three layers of egg, not just one, envelop everything. How can you roll it up so beautifully…? You changed the cooking method for each layer so that the flavor deepens with every bite. The pâté surrounding the meat is made from pork, chicken, and several finely chopped vegetables sautéed in olive oil. The meat juices released there were kneaded into the pie dough, amplifying the aroma's impact! The gentle taste of the egg suddenly shifts, overpowered by the fierce strength of the meat…!"
"Erina, here, try the second bite."
"Ah… w-wait—nngh!!"
Erina tried to refuse, but her body instinctively accepted the offered bite. Unable to withstand the second shock, she let out a sensual moan.
"Erina! …Kuh, even I… even my 'God's Tongue'… becomes nothing more than an ordinary tongue before this dish…!! What terrifying… violently delicious flavor. A dish of this level of perfection… I've never experienced anything like it—!!"
Erina and Mana, who had previously been exempt from the "Ohadaki" explosion, finally had nowhere to run. Overwhelmed by the deliciousness, they too were struck by the "Ohadaki."
""—Nnaaaaaaaaahhh!!""
The clothes of both mother and daughter vanished simultaneously.
In a venue filled with bare skin, only Santoku Shogo remained fully dressed in his cook's uniform. That alone was proof of the victor. It showed the entire world who the strongest young chef truly was.
"…S-Santoku, Shogo…! How did you… create such a dish…?"
Unlike Erina, who had happily lost consciousness, Mana maintained her dignity as head judge until the very end.
She demanded the answer everyone sought, but she had asked the wrong chef.
"—My body moved on its own."
On this day, Santoku Shogo made his name resound across the world and solidified his reputation as a chef. Along with elevating the Santoku Group's standing in the culinary world.
BLUE Main Tournament — Finals.
The Shokugeki against Nakiri Erina.
Winner — Santoku Shogo.
A chef had appeared who obtained Nakiri Erina, the successor of the Demon King of Food, and gained worldwide fame.
He was a chef who would undoubtedly dominate the entire culinary world in the future.
Some called him—the Food Overlord
The boy who had done everything laughed with the purest joy of his second life.