After tasting Shun's dish, Terunori was utterly convinced.
In that instant, he made up his mind.
Thud!
Before everyone's astonished eyes, the Eighth Seat of the Elite Ten dropped to his knees.
He looked up at Shun's tranquil face. A storm of feelings surged through him, then settled into yearning—and reverence.
This was the ultimate flavor he pursued… The family recipes he had treasured as a ceiling now felt like child's play before this man!
This is true Chinese cuisine!
This is the path I should truly be following!
Without hesitating, Terunori bowed on the floor and shouted toward Shun, "Shishō! Teach me! Please teach me the true Way of Chinese Cuisine! Teach me the Way of—"
Halfway through, he remembered the wager's confidentiality—and those four words "Way of Food Secrets," mysterious and, in his bones, immensely important.
That could never be shouted in public.
Terunori flushed, then paled; thinking fast, he swallowed back the word "Secrets," and switched mid-sentence: "—the Way of… the Ultimate! Yes! Please teach me to pursue the ultimate in food! Please take me as your disciple! I'll pay any price to follow you and learn!"
That sudden correction—and his even humbler plea—left the crowd stunned.
It wasn't his phrase "ultimate in food" that shocked them; to most, that just sounded like culinary devotion.
It was Terunori's act itself.
Plenty have lost a Shokugeki and ranted, or even cried. But losing—and then begging to become the winner's disciple? For many, this was a first.
Some in the stands wondered if they'd misheard.
"Discipleship? Terunori-senpai is older than Shun, right? Is that… even normal?"
"An Elite Ten kneeling to a freshman for tutelage? That's a first at Totsuki!"
"Is he serious? Just because he lost one Shokugeki?"
"You don't get it! That dish made the Commander fully robe-burst! I'd kneel too!"
Murmurs swelled like surf—disbelief, shock, even a hint of absurdity.
The scene overturned their sense of the Elite Ten's dignity—and hammered home a visceral understanding of Shun's strength.
This wasn't just a win. It was the kind of victory that made the other side willingly lay down pride and honor alike.
The Polar Star crowd traded looks, at a loss.
"D-Discipleship? Is Shun-kun going to take Terunori-senpai as a student?" Megumi whispered, face full of wonder.
"This… is not the plot twist I had in mind," Yuki gaped.
"Heh. Now this is getting interesting." Satoshi smiled, eyes narrowing with amused curiosity.
Miyoko said nothing, slight frown hinting at deeper thoughts.
On the judges' dais, Senzaemon's gaze was fathomless as it rested on kneeling Terunori and unruffled Shun. His face betrayed nothing, but the faintest nod suggested approval for a chef who'd cast aside vanity to pursue the ultimate.
Shun regarded the breathless, rambling Terunori with the same calm eyes.
Just as he weighed how to handle this, a chime sounded in his mind.
Ding!
Detected: opponent Kuga Terunori seeks a master–disciple bond with the host and is aware of partial extranormal information.
[Shokugeki Contract Template] post-processing routine ready: perform memory softening and cognition-rationalization now?
After adjustment, subject will retain intense reverence for host's culinary mastery and the fact of defeat.
Memories related to "Way of Food Secrets" and other extranormal concepts will be blurred; reverence will be rationally redirected toward "Chinese culinary technique" itself.
As expected, using the system artifact for this Shokugeki was the right call. While his power remained limited, people like Terunori must not learn of the other world.
Without hesitation, Shun answered silently: Confirm.
An unseen light swept Terunori. His eyes went vacant for a heartbeat—then cleared.
He was still kneeling, still full of burning reverence and a hunger to learn—but the "Way of Food Secrets" and that overreaching sense had been gently erased.
Now, in Terunori's mind, only one iron brand remained: Shun commands a supreme culinary mastery beyond his understanding.
Shun gazed at Terunori for a moment in silence.
He hadn't intended to take a disciple. But he might not remain at Totsuki for long—and leaving someone to handle matters here could be useful.
Besides, Terunori's talent and devotion to Sichuan cuisine were real. Kept close, he would be valuable.
With that, Shun said, "Terunori, by our wager, your seat passes to me. As for discipleship…"
He paused. Terunori held his breath.
"I won't take you as a disciple—for now. But I'll allow you to follow me and learn. I'll point out where your cooking falls short."
"Really?!"
Terunori's despair flipped to joy.
"How much you learn depends on your insight and your conduct. Also, dismantle the narrow mindset in your research society. Stop that mindless copying of your recipes. Can you do that?"
Though not formal discipleship, guidance from Shun was the greatest boon Terunori could imagine right now.
He snapped his head up and answered without a heartbeat's doubt: "Yes, shisho—no, Shun-sama! I'll overhaul the society completely. I won't betray your expectations!"
Shun nodded and said no more. Amid gasps and chatter, he left the hall.
Thus, with overwhelming dominance, Shun won the Shokugeki and took Terunori's place as the new Eighth Seat of the Elite Ten.
By that very day, the news raced through Totsuki—stirring up another tidal wave.
(End of Chapter)
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