Dual-line operation.
Holding a fish-killing knife, in just a few blinks of an eye, he descaled, deboned, and filleted an entire black fish. At the same time, the oil for seasoning was being fried in a pot next to the cutting board.
Taking a quick look, there were green onions, ginger, garlic, star anise, bay leaves, cardamom, sand ginger, white atractylodes, fennel, and... why were there spices he had never seen before?
Judging by the order, the green onions, ginger, and garlic should be added first, followed by the blanched spices for frying. A rich aroma instantly filled the kitchen. Hoshino Sora's eyes seemed to glow as he quickly analyzed the proportions of the known spices in the pot.
This was the beauty of the Spice Equation!
"Is he making Boiled Fish..."
Looking at the chili and Sichuan peppercorns being fried in another pot, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but mutter softly. This was a classic in Sichuan Cuisine. The method wasn't difficult, but it wasn't easy to do well either!
Master Mao handled it slowly, unhurriedly, without any wasted movements. His every step seemed to be etched in his mind; this was the decades of experience of an old chef.
Watching him cook was simply an art!
Hoshino Sora forgot the time, just standing at the doorway, staring blankly at the Master's movements. Mao Jinyu naturally noticed him, but he didn't drive him away, continuing to work methodically, tacitly allowing him to learn by observation.
He laid bean sprouts and other side dishes at the bottom, then the fried fish bones and fillets, evenly placed the chopped chili and Sichuan peppercorns directly on top of the fish fillets, and then poured in the heated seasoned oil.
In an instant, a rich aroma spread from the pot throughout the entire kitchen. This was an aroma tide several times more intense than before!
And it was multiplying at an exponential rate.
"Take it out."
After finishing a large pot of Boiled Fish, Mao Jinyu raised his hand to wipe the non-existent cold sweat from his forehead, his breathing noticeably heavier, as if he had used a great deal of strength.
"Okay."
Nodding, Hoshino Sora, suppressing his appetite, took the dish handed to him by Mao Jinyu. That aroma was truly irresistible to humans. He finally understood why Alice Nakiri had such high praise for this restaurant when she arrived.
If it were him, he would also recommend it everywhere! This restaurant has such amazing dishes!
His mind was devoid of other thoughts. At this moment, Hoshino Sora's only thought was to bring the dish outside, then pick up his chopsticks and devour it. He had a feeling that after eating this dish, his Gourmet Cell would undergo another change.
Compared to this aesthetically pleasing, fragrant, and flavorful pot of Boiled Fish, Far Moon's dishes seemed like small fries. This kind of soul-deep attraction, to be honest, was a first!
It was clearly just an ordinary-looking Boiled Fish...
Ordinary yet not ordinary.
There seemed to be a faint golden light, subtle and indistinct, on the sizzling, oily Boiled Fish. Although not obvious, Hoshino Sora's repeatedly evolved vision could barely observe it.
But for ordinary people, this was an aesthetically pleasing, fragrant, and flavorful Boiled Fish. No, to be precise, it was a Boiled Fish that, once eaten, would make you unable to eat any other Boiled Fish for the rest of your life!
"It's Boiled Fish! The last time I had it was two or three months ago. Hurry and try it, this is a taste that makes people feel happy!"
"Ah Gulu~"
Looking at Hoshino Sora slowly approaching with the Boiled Fish, Xiang Ling's face was full of pleasant surprise. Then she closed her eyes and vigorously wiggled her small nose. The intense aroma made her lose control a little.
Guoba, hearing her voice, responded with two barks. At this time, Hoshino Sora also put down the Boiled Fish, and Mao Jinyu followed behind him, holding chopsticks and bowls.
"Gulp..."
Taking the chopsticks, Hoshino Sora, ignoring the heat, swallowed a mouthful of saliva and began to devour it. It was firm yet smooth, spicy and fresh. As soon as he ate it, his tongue began to act unruly.
The extreme numbing sensation, a numbing sensation that became more addictive with each bite. The heat from just being taken off the stove further stimulated the numbing flavor. Before he could even chew a couple of times, the fish fillet had already slid down his throat.
As the dish entered him, a faint glow appeared on Hoshino Sora's body, difficult for ordinary human eyes to discern. This was his Gourmet Cell absorbing nutrients.
"So hot and so numb!"
The person who was most anticipating it was actually Alice Nakiri. She had been anticipating it from just now until this moment.
The moment she tasted Mao Jinyu's dish, her entire being became abnormal. First, her face flushed red, her thighs clamped together, and she twisted slightly, then her eyes became misty.
One bite after another.
By the third piece, she couldn't take it anymore. Her entire being was in a state of blissful ecstasy. Her skirt was already a mess underneath, and embarrassing sounds uncontrollably escaped her mouth.
Fortunately, besides Hoshino Sora, only Xiang Ling was present. Mao Jinyu returned to his room on his own after bringing out the bowls and chopsticks, his steps noticeably more unsteady than when he started.
No one noticed this detail.
Hoshino Sora was still eating the Boiled Fish fillets in large mouthfuls. Xiang Ling also gave up after eating seven or eight pieces, because the impact of this thing was too great, something her small body couldn't resist.
Slightly twisting her legs, a comfortable sensation immediately followed, and hot, spicy breath escaped her mouth.
Now two contestants had lost their fighting ability, leaving only Guoba and Hoshino Sora to fight for food. Their speeds were evenly matched, and in just three or four minutes, they finished off the remaining fish fillets.
At the same time, a system prompt sounded in Hoshino Sora's mind.
[Analyze Dish]: Boiled Fish · Mao
[Quality]: Gold (Unknown)
[Analysis 1%]: The ingredients for the dish include black fish...
Gold!?
Although he had anticipated it, when he actually saw the 1% analysis progress and the gold-grade rating, Hoshino Sora was shocked. After eating dishes for so long, this was the first time he had seen a gold-grade dish!
However, in terms of taste, he truly felt it deserved the gold-grade rating. It was just that the portion was really too small; it felt like he had just picked up his chopsticks and it was already gone.
[Gourmet Cell (Modified)]: Lv3 -> Lv4
[Universal Food Spirit]: Bronze Grade -> Silver Grade
[Item Description]: Increases the taste of dishes below Silver Grade by 80%, Silver Grade dishes by 15%, and Gold Grade dishes by 1%.
Coming to Far Moon was indeed the right choice. Not only did he gain powerful Gourmet Cell, but he also completed several evolutions in just a few days. This was definitely something a small shop could not achieve!
He looked helplessly at his torn clothes. His Gourmet Cell had successfully entered Level Four, but losing a piece of clothing with each evolution was a bit excessive. If he went out like this now, he would probably be directly arrested by the police.
"Your muscles are so well-trained."
Xiang Ling's eyes lit up as she looked at Hoshino Sora's muscular body. She got up and came to his side, poking and pressing here and there, then gripping his biceps, feeling the strength within, her face full of surprise.
"Just so-so."
"Excessive modesty is pride, guest. You still haven't told me your names."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Xiang Ling pouted. His muscles were clearly perfectly trained, yet he said "just so-so." Wouldn't it be better to admit it generously?
"Hoshino Sora."
"Alice Nakiri."
"Okay, I remember. What a nice name!"
After a simple introduction, Hoshino Sora took out his wallet to pay. After a brief chat at the restaurant entrance, the two bid farewell and left.
"So similar."
Looking at the departing pair through the window, especially Hoshino Sora, the old man's eyes held a hint of nostalgia. Only after the two disappeared from his sight did he close the window and return.
----------
"You live alone in such a large house?"
Looking at the exquisite small villa in front of him, Hoshino Sora's mouth was slightly open, his expression showing a hint of surprise. Does Far Moon give special treatment to the Nakitiri Family? In the anime, Erina also seemed to live in a large house alone.
But thinking about it carefully, it was normal. Old Man Eri Nai even specifically created the 'Unpolished Gem Generation' for Erina. Making the living conditions of his two granddaughters a little better was a simple matter.
Wait, if Old Man Eri Nai knew he treated his granddaughter like this...
Looking at Alice Nakiri, who had injured her leg, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine and shiver. However, there was a problem now: how to get her inside.
Pushing her in was certainly one method.
But...
Opening the door with the key, Hoshino Sora silently walked up to Alice Nakiri, reaching out to find a suitable position, and directly picked her up in a princess carry.
Because it happened so suddenly, Alice Nakiri could only frantically wrap her arms around Hoshino Sora's neck to prevent falling. This was a normal human reaction.
"Then let's leave it at that for now. I'll come pick you up this afternoon. I wonder what expression others will have when they see you like this."
"It's all your fault."
Alice Nakiri muttered. She didn't feel any resistance to this sudden princess carry, but she was definitely shy, especially after seeing Hoshino Sora's face.
Her gaze always unconsciously shifted elsewhere.
"Don't blame everything on me."
Hoshino Sora said helplessly, feeling that Alice Nakiri had no resistance, and quietly rejoiced in his heart. But this didn't mean he could be touchy-feely; he still needed to proceed step by step.
However, it was certain that Alice Nakiri didn't dislike him, and even had a certain degree of goodwill, even though he had bullied her in various ways.
"Then you rest first. I'm going back to the dorm. I'll come pick you up this afternoon."
Placing Alice Nakiri on the bed, Hoshino Sora said and then left the room. However, no sooner had he left than the sound of something heavy falling echoed from the room.
"What's wrong again? You..."
Looking at Alice Nakiri, who had suddenly gotten up but fell to the ground due to pain, grimacing and sucking in cold air, Hoshino Sora suddenly didn't know what to say. Did this girl forget that her foot was injured?
"I wanted to go to the bathroom. I thought I could make it by holding onto the wall."
"Sigh, although your leg isn't broken, it's still quite serious and needs a few days of rest. Let's go."
Sighing, Hoshino Sora said nothing and picked up Alice Nakiri again. She, too, skillfully wrapped her arms around his neck. It had to be said that girls' bodies were truly soft, especially now in summer, and she was wearing a skirt, with very thin clothes on top.
His five fingers pressed into her thigh, soft and yielding. A pleasant scent wafted to his nose.
Girls are truly wonderful creatures!
Hoshino Sora sighed again, then carried Alice Nakiri to her bathroom. Throughout, she kept her head down and said nothing. The surroundings were so quiet that they could even hear each other's heartbeats.
"Wait outside."
"Understood, I won't leave."
After taking Alice Nakiri to the bathroom, Hoshino Sora waited outside, then heard a clear sound of water. Thinking of something, his face immediately turned red.
Thinking carefully, he didn't seem to have locked the door just now...
No, no, love is restraint. If he opens the door and goes in now, he'll truly become a pervert!
Phew...
"You can come in now."
Her voice was soft and shy. If she hadn't truly been in too much pain to stand, she would never have let Hoshino Sora see her in such a disheveled state.
"I feel like I've become your servant."
Carrying Alice Nakiri down the hallway, Hoshino Sora said jokingly, when he should have been the one being taken care of.
"That's how it should be. If I had won that match..."
"Even if you won, a normal servant wouldn't princess-carry their master. Speaking of which, if you had won, what would you have wanted me to do? Why did you propose that Shokugeki condition at the time..."
"I just thought it would be very honorable to tame the person who spoke so arrogantly at the Freshmen Tournament. I just didn't expect your strength to be so great, but if we compete again, I will definitely win!"
With fervent eyes, Alice Nakiri said with extreme seriousness. She never believed she was inferior to Hoshino Sora. Losing was only because she was ill-prepared and performed somewhat abnormally.
Furthermore, there weren't enough ingredients on-site, so she couldn't replicate a certain dessert. Under the constraints of various unfavorable conditions, she barely lost to Hoshino Sora. This was definitely not a problem of strength!
"Then, when your leg is better, we'll find another opportunity to compete. If you lose again then, you'll have to admit defeat wholeheartedly."
Hearing Alice Nakiri's words, Hoshino Sora didn't humor her and directly proposed the idea of another match.
After several evolutions of his Gourmet Cell, his current sensory abilities had become incredibly strong. Applied to cooking, this meant more refined culinary techniques.
If, before entering Far Moon Academy, he could only produce Bronze (High-grade) dishes in his normal state, then his current skill level had completely risen. Even with new dishes, he could reach Silver (Low-grade) after two or three attempts.
The probability of producing Silver (Mid-grade) dishes had also increased significantly, depending entirely on his concentration during the actual cooking and his familiarity with the recipe.
And all of this had only taken two days.
Just these two days of breakthroughs had already surpassed three months of effort spent cooped up in a small shop. It must be said that Far Moon Academy truly is a good place for competitive improvement of one's strength!
"If I lose again, I'll call you Master whenever I see you, even if there are people all around. But we need to agree on the theme beforehand and have two days to prepare."
"Then if you win, I'll let you go and continue being your young lady."
Hearing the punishment Alice Nakiri proposed, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but feel a little tempted. Although it sounded like a simple verbal address, its significance was immense.
If this address was used for a long time, one's mindset would definitely change.
Having spent so much time together, and having had various intimate contacts, Alice Nakiri was also an exceptionally beautiful woman, with an explosive figure, and a mixed-race background. It was impossible for Hoshino Sora to say he had no thoughts about her at all.
However, pursuing someone also requires skill. Overbearing pursuit will only lead to disgust. He had deeply understood this in his previous life; a deeply affectionate person would only be called a simp.
Girls nowadays like boys who are a bit bad, a bit cool, and willing to say nice things. Of course, the most important thing is to have a good appearance. Handsome people naturally have endless Romance.
This was also the result of his practice. He couldn't say it was true for everyone, but it covered most cases.
"Seeing as you can't move, I'll just stay here for lunch. There are only a few hours left until afternoon classes anyway."
"Okay."
"You didn't eat enough earlier, did you? I'll go make you some food."
A bowl of boiled fish and half a plate of locusts, to be honest, was not enough to satisfy a young man's stomach.
"Thank you for the trouble. The kitchen is just ahead, turn left."
Feeling cared for, Alice Nakiri's heart was somewhat touched. Although this guy had done many annoying things, he seemed pretty nice.
"Got it. But before that, I need to apply the medicine one more time."
"I can do that myself."
"No, you're afraid of pain. The way you applied the medicine earlier was so timid, it wouldn't have any effect at all."
He tossed Alice Nakiri onto the bed, then grabbed her small feet, looked around, pushed the wheelchair in from the doorway, and then took out the medicated oil specifically for sprains and bruises.
"You... why are you so good to me?"
Alice Nakiri voiced her confusion. She had only become Hoshino Sora's maid because she lost the Shokugeki. Before that, the two were even considered to be in an adversarial relationship.
There was no reason for this guy to be so good to her.
He princess-carried her, helped push her wheelchair, and took such good care of her.
"What are you thinking? I just particularly like girls' feet, especially pretty girls' feet. Helping you apply medicine is just taking advantage while helping. Why not enjoy it?"
Hoshino Sora honestly stated his thoughts, then observed Alice Nakiri's reaction out of the corner of his eye. Of course, he could say pretty words, but given their current relationship, saying those words would only make him seem a bit off-putting.
The goodwill that had been so hard to build would also decrease.
So he changed his approach, expressing his thoughts in a somewhat vulgar yet masculine way, and also complimented Alice Nakiri in the process. This method allowed for advance or retreat, and even if she complained, he wouldn't feel the slightest bit awkward.
"You... that's an unexpectedly frank statement."
"What? As a maid, you can't even fulfill this small request from your master? Besides, this is all your own doing in the end."
"My two pairs of stockings."
After a moment of hesitation, Alice Nakiri still asked the question. It wasn't that she was reluctant to give them up; the key was that she wanted Hoshino Sora to say it himself.
"Those will be my reward for taking care of you all day today."
"You..."
"Isn't it normal for boys my age to be full of vigor? And no girl likes me, so I can only generate love on my own. Using some things can greatly improve efficiency."
After that, the two chatted for a long time, and Alice Nakiri gained a deeper understanding of Hoshino Sora. Their conversations gradually increased, and the topics they discussed became more diverse.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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