Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 199 - 198: The Unyielding Tanaka Hikari

Chapter 199: Chapter 198: The Unyielding Tanaka Hikari

The second day of the residency training, 7 PM.

The first basement floor of the Far Moon Palace.

This was a remodeled underground kitchen, spacious and well-equipped. Dojima Yin had already come here to ventilate and turn on the lights in advance, so when Xia Yu and his group arrived, they inhaled fresh air without the slightest feeling of stuffiness.

Soon, Shigong Xiaoci Lang arrived as well.

He wore his signature pristine white chef’s uniform, with a clear distinction between his jacket and pants. His tall and slender figure was accentuated by a red scarf around his neck.

"Not bad, it’s very quiet here," Shigong commented, arms crossed as he observed the surroundings.

"Yo—"

The kitchen door opened, and the three judges called by Dojima Yin arrived.

Sekishou Hei, one of the graduates, a squint-eyed male currently working at the Ginza Sushi Shop.

Mizuhara Fuyumi, the second seat of the 79th batch of Far Moon’s Ten Masters, head chef of the Italian restaurant Ristorante F, a petite woman with short hair who liked to crouch on chairs.

The third, Donato Wutongtian, a blond man with a double chin, who whistled a greeting to those inside the room.

"So many people, we’re not late, are we?" Wutongtian laughed.

Dojima Yin glanced at his watch, "Exactly seven o’clock!"

Sekishou Hei interjected, "President Dojima, what’s the situation today? Rumors are everywhere outside, students are discussing it, and other graduate instructors and hotel staff are whispering."

"Just consider it an informal food duel," Dojima Yin said, showing a serious expression, "Regardless of the outcome, it is forbidden to disclose the results! Filming during the food duel is strictly prohibited!"

"Everyone got it?"

He glanced over at Eriina Tiqie and Xingping Chuangzhen, and then his gaze stopped on Liangzi Lina wearing sunglasses.

"I’m just an audience member," Liangzi Lina put a finger to her lips, a sly smile forming, "Plus, I have a feeling something very interesting is about to happen."

"President Dojima, I apply to be a judge!"

At this moment, Eriina Tiqie suddenly raised her hand.

"Even the Divine Tongue wants to be a judge?" The graduates turned their attention to her, not rejecting but rather welcoming it. After all, the Divine Tongue was naturally suited for tasting.

"Suit yourselves."

Shigong Xiaoci Lang stood there, radiating an aura of enormous confidence.

"Alright then, Miss Tiqie will be the fourth judge, and I myself will be the fifth judge. The result will be decided by voting," Dojima Yin said.

"What about me..." Qian Rixiangzi, who had been overlooked, uttered weakly.

"You’re also an audience member," Shigong Xiaoci Lang responded.

"Well then, time is tight, let’s start the first round today!"

Dojima Yin walked to a cooking table laden with ingredients and picked up a beautifully colored cauliflower, then looked sideways at Tanaka Hikari and Morioka Makoto.

"Use these vegetables, based on Shigong’s recipe, the ’Nine Treasures French Vegetable Freeze,’ to present us a dish of proof... And you two are the head chefs, you can modify the recipe at will..."

"As for Instructor Xia, unfortunately, you can only guide from the side." He then looked at Xia Yu.

"Guidance won’t be necessary, they can both independently present dishes that prove their worth." Xia Yu smiled softly.

"Tch!"

Not far away, Shigong Xiaoci Lang was displeased with Dojima Yin’s arrangement. Clearly, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for proof was part of Xia Yu’s victory conditions in their food duel but was brought forward for use.

"At Far Moon, you must use your own abilities to prove your worth. I don’t believe they are anything exceptional, just ordinary student-level, still two idiots who can’t even grab ingredients!" Shigong mocked.

At the judges’ table.

"Did you hear that?" Qian Rixiangzi said, "What awful words, Senior Shigong, it’s because of that, no girl wants to date him, so pitiful!"

"Shigong’s personality is really terrible!" Mizuhara Fuyumi agreed.

Upon hearing this, Shigong Xiaoci Lang’s forehead veins bulged.

"Shut up—" he shouted back, "All of you, shut up!"

"You can start cooking now!"

He then coldly addressed Tanaka Hikari and Morioka Makoto.

Morioka Makoto, graciously selected ingredients, while Tanaka Hikari, as usual, was tense at the cooking table, her body trembled slightly, her mind even completely blank.

"Xiao Hui!"

A gentle hand timely rested on her shoulder. Xia Yu asked from the side, "Do you think you can stay at Far Moon?"

Tanaka Hikari looked bewildered, unsure whether to nod or shake her head.

"Then why not surrender?" Xia Yu held her cold sweated trembling hand, applying slight force, Tanaka Hikari’s other hand gripped the edge of the cooking table, her big eyes misty, "No, no surrender!"

Seeing this, Xia Yu released her, just stood by and said no more unnecessary words, "Right now, before you, is already the bottomless abyss of despair!"

"You can take one step forward, retreat is surrender."

"And now, your opponent is just yourself, so don’t think of anything extra; just put everything you have on the plate and present it to the instructors!"

Tanaka Hikari’s cheeks finally were no longer deathly pale, bearing a slight blush.

"Remember the taste of that ’Nine Treasures French Vegetable Freeze’ just now?" Xia Yu smiled, "I believe you can make equally excellent, even better dishes..."

Tanaka Hikari’s pupils were clearly filled with astonishment, "I, can I really?"

"Remember that taste!"

"Even if your hands are trembling, follow the guidance of that taste, grit your teeth, and complete the dish! Crawl even if you have to crawl to the finish line! Show the dignity of a chef walking this path!"

With that, Xia Yu turned, found a small chair to sit down, and communicated with the Chef God Space to intensify his practice in that special space.

Tanaka Hikari and Morioka Makoto needed to fight for three hours, and he would be researching for three days in the Chef God Space.

Seeing him folding his hands on the chair’s backrest, resting his head on his arms, and soon falling asleep, the crowd was both crying and laughing.

"He can sleep like this?" Xingping Chuangzhen scratched his head, his eyes filled with admiration, "I learned something. Indeed, it’s essential to conserve energy well before a big battle. Senior Shigong is truly an opponent that demands full efforts."

Morioka Makoto gathered all the ingredients and started cooking.

Tanaka Hikari still trembled, yet she bit her lip, moved the ingredients back to her cooking table, and with trembling hands, wielded a chef’s knife, slowly and steadily carving out the core of a cabbage, her movements could be described as slow as a snail.

"Truly an idiot!" Shigong withdrew his gaze, simply found a chair, and sat down.

"Xiao Hui, come on!"

Qian Rixiangzi painfully watched Tanaka Hikari clumsily move, like a toddling young girl.

"Xiao Hui, you can do it!"

Makki placed the cabbage into a boiling pot and glanced at her partner, whose eyes held stubbornness, continuing to persist in cooking despite trembling all over, silently praying in her heart.