This was exactly why Loki found it so interesting.
There were countless things she didn't know about the myriad worlds.
She would never be bored again.
Taking Emiya in and bestowing her blessing on him had been the best decision she had ever made.
After Haruhi Suzumiya took her seat, Emiya glanced at the judges' panel.
There had originally been five judges. With Haruhi added, there were now six.
A three-to-three tie was very possible.
So Emiya waved to Erina Nakiri.
"Erina, come be a judge too."
"Me?" Erina froze.
The people sitting there were either gods or spirits. Even Takashi Natsume, the only human among them, possessed immense spiritual power and could interact with spirits.
In other words, they were all extraordinary figures.
Was she really qualified to sit among them?
Even though she was a young lady from a prestigious family, that status didn't seem to mean much in front of people like this.
Takashi Natsume spoke gently.
"Miss Erina Nakiri, please come. Otherwise, if there's a tie, we won't be able to decide a winner."
Loki and the others didn't object.
Gin Dojima, always quick to read the room, immediately had a seat prepared.
Seeing that everything was settled, Erina nodded and said cautiously,
"Then... please guide me."
Haruhi Suzumiya couldn't help but comment,
"You're way too stiff. Seriously, are you some kind of rich girl or something?"
Emiya chuckled.
"You're actually right. Erina Nakiri is a genuine, bona fide young lady. This entire competition venue belongs to her family. And all the chefs here graduated from the school her family runs."
"That's insanely amazing!" Haruhi's eyes lit up.
"In a sense, yeah. It really is impressive," Emiya admitted.
An ordinary chef could never reach this level.
Anyone who did was already far removed from being ordinary.
To have this much influence over an entire industry within a country meant her family was exceptional.
Erina blushed, momentarily unsure how to respond.
Since many of them were meeting for the first time and didn't quite know how to interact without causing offense, Emiya naturally took on the role of mediator.
Time passed quickly as they talked.
Before they knew it, the shokugeki was nearing its end.
Both main chefs had completed their dishes.
It was time to serve.
The first to present his dish was Kojiro Shinomiya.
Because there were now seven judges, he hadn't prepared the signature rustic dish from the original story.
Instead, he chose a highly popular French dish.
Onion gratin soup.
To be honest, Emiya wasn't particularly fond of onions.
But the dish in front of him looked genuinely appetizing.
Especially the golden-brown crust on top, which resembled bread pudding.
"Erina, introduce the dish," Emiya said.
Erina nodded.
"Onion gratin soup is also known as the 'Queen of Soups.' It's one of France's most famous dishes. It usually takes two to three hours to prepare. The texture is soft, smooth, and deeply savory. I believe Kojiro-senpai won't disappoint us."
Emiya wasn't surprised by the choice.
Kojiro Shinomiya was known as the Magician of Vegetables.
Vegetable-based dishes were his specialty.
"The Queen of Soups, huh," Emiya said softly. "Hearing it described like that, I really should try it."
He picked up his spoon.
Loki and the others did the same, tasting the dish carefully.
The moment the soup entered his mouth, Emiya's taste buds were instantly overwhelmed.
The flavor traveled from his tongue straight to his heart, as if it were carving something open in his chest.
A profound sense of fulfillment washed over him.
The last time he had felt something like this was when he ate Erina Nakiri's breakfast.
But this feeling wasn't weaker.
If anything, it might have been stronger.
For a brief moment, Emiya felt his body grow light.
He fell into a food-induced illusion.
As expected of the world of Shokugeki no Soma.
No one here could be underestimated.
What else could he say?
This was very Shokugeki no Soma.
Emiya noticed Loki's calm expression and felt slightly surprised.
But he quickly understood.
She was a goddess.
Before descending, she must have tasted countless delicacies in the God Realm.
Just consider her nemesis.
Hestia.
A genuine goddess of the hearth.
There was no way she wasn't an excellent cook.
Even if the two of them were always at odds, with Loki's thick skin, she had definitely tasted Hestia's food before.
And Hestia wasn't the only skilled cook among the gods.
So even in this world, Kojiro Shinomiya would need another ten thousand years before he could make Loki lose her composure.
After everyone finished tasting Kojiro's dish, it was Megumi Tadokoro's turn.
Even though the change in judges had forced Kojiro to alter his dish,
Megumi hadn't changed hers.
She still made the Rainbow Terrine using seven kinds of vegetables.
This was the very dish that had once prompted Kojiro Shinomiya to threaten her with expulsion, leading to this private shokugeki.
Unlike the original story, where she hesitated and needed Soma Yukihira's encouragement, this forcibly calmed Megumi showed no hesitation.
She walked forward confidently and placed the Rainbow Terrine before the judges.
"Please enjoy."
After the onion gratin soup, Emiya already felt full.
He thought he wouldn't have much appetite left.
Yet when he saw the Rainbow Terrine, he still picked up his knife and fork.
He cut a small piece and brought it to his mouth.
...Delicious.
It wasn't as impactful as the onion gratin soup.
But there was no denying it.
This was an excellent dish.
It deserved to be called delicious.
So far, Emiya had eaten dishes from three people in this world.
First was Erina Nakiri's breakfast.
Second was Kojiro Shinomiya's onion gratin soup.
Third was Megumi Tadokoro's Rainbow Terrine.
In terms of deliciousness, her dish ranked third.
That was only natural.
She wasn't at their level yet.
Even so, Megumi Tadokoro's cooking was still very, very good.
"I've decided."
Loki put down her knife and fork.
She suddenly grabbed Megumi Tadokoro's hands.
"Megumi Tadokoro, join my Familia and become my child."
"Huh?"
Even though she was maintaining her forced calm, Megumi was completely stunned.
~~~~~
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