Once the theme was announced, everyone sprang into action. This time, Megumi Tadokoro moved fast. The nervousness on her face was gone—replaced by something sharp and determined.
Her thoughts were simple: I can't let my family suffer because of me. She knew too well what it felt like to be mocked and looked down on. The last thing she wanted was for her parents to face that same humiliation because of her failures.
So even though the anxiety still lingered in her chest, she kept reminding herself—I don't have the right to be nervous. If I mess up and cause trouble for my family again, I'll never forgive myself.
All that mattered now was passing this assessment.
Nearby, Daigo Aoki and Shoji Sato couldn't help sneaking glances at her while cooking. When they saw Megumi finally showing the same focused intensity she displayed back at the Polar Star Dormitory, both of them were stunned.
They'd overheard Kael's earlier conversation with her. They hadn't expected his words to hit so hard—to snap her completely out of her fear like that.
They exchanged a look of pure admiration. To calm someone like Megumi with just a few sentences? That was no small feat.
The dorm residents had been trying for years to help her overcome her crippling nerves. Every single one of them had failed. Eventually, even they'd given up, figuring it was just something she'd have to deal with forever.
But Kael had done it effortlessly.
He hadn't even looked directly at her since—the faintest rustle of her movements, the rhythm of her breathing, was all he needed to tell she was fully focused now. And she was—completely absorbed in her cooking, pouring everything she had into the dish before her.
"Done!"
Before long, Kael once again finished his dish well ahead of everyone else and carried it to the three judges.
"So fast! What did he even make to finish that quickly?"
Whispers rippled through the room. Just like in the Two-Star exam, everyone was baffled. To them, such speed was impossible unless he'd made something ridiculously simple.
But that wasn't the case. His Five Divine Senses gave him an overwhelming edge. Every step of the process—preparation, seasoning, timing—was perfectly optimized.
Even during cooking, his heightened sight, hearing, and smell tracked the food's progress with pinpoint precision. He didn't need to baby the dish or constantly adjust the heat. He could cook aggressively—borderline recklessly—and still nail the result every time.
Anyone else using such brute-force methods would've ended up with something burnt and inedible.
For most chefs, heat control was the hardest skill to master. But Kael's senses let him monitor the flame, the bubbling of oil, the shifting aromas, and even the texture changes through touch.
He didn't have explosive fire abilities like Leonard "Leopard Head" Yan, but calling him an expert in flame control wasn't an exaggeration.
"To finish so quickly and still produce something flawless… it's a shame we didn't see how he did it," one of the judges said after tasting his dish.
The other two nodded in agreement, equally regretful. The venue had cameras, but it was too large, and there were too many participants to catch every detail of his technique.
Kael had heard the same thing in his previous exam—the judges always wanted to know his secret, but none ever saw it.
Naturally, he passed without issue. Once the judges signed off on his success, they handed him his Three-Star Chef certification right on the spot.
The proof of completion was immediate—he could use it at any WGO branch or even the headquarters to update his official license. His rank in the organization's database would be updated automatically.
As Kael started packing up his tools, a soft voice called from beside him.
"Um… excuse me! Could I ask you not to leave just yet?"
He looked over, slightly puzzled. "Huh? Something wrong?"
Megumi shook her head quickly. "No, it's just… even though the exam isn't over yet, I really think I'll pass this time. So I'd like to thank you—with a meal!"
Her tone was earnest, her expression bright. She hadn't even finished her dish yet, but the confidence in her movements said it all—she was going to pass.
And she knew exactly why.
If it weren't for Kael's words, she would've panicked and ruined another exam. He'd given her the push she needed, and she wanted to show her gratitude in the only way she could afford to.
She was still a student, and it was break season—money was tight. She couldn't give him an expensive gift, but a homemade meal? That she could do.
Kael smiled faintly. "In that case, I'll wait for you outside."
He hadn't planned to stick around—his goal was just to update his license and leave. He'd already made a good impression on Megumi; he could follow up after the school term started.
But since she'd taken the initiative, it would've been rude to refuse.
Megumi's eyes lit up. She flashed a cheerful, relieved smile before turning back to her station and diving into her cooking again, her motions steady and confident.
Kael walked off to exchange his certification for the new Three-Star license, then returned to the main hall to wait.
As the minutes passed, chefs began trickling out of the testing area—most with slumped shoulders and bitter expressions. Clearly, they hadn't passed.
A little later, the mood shifted. A few candidates emerged smiling—successful ones. Not long after, Megumi appeared alongside Aoki and Sato.
One look was enough to tell how it went. Aoki and Sato looked disappointed—no surprise there.
Megumi, on the other hand, was radiant. Even with her chef's hat slightly askew and a bit of flour on her cheek, her bright smile made her look every bit the sweet, cheerful girl next door.
She scanned the hall, quickly spotting Kael among the small number of people still waiting. Most participants had come alone and left immediately after their results.
Seeing him, Megumi's face lit up. She jogged over, nearly bouncing with excitement.
"Thank you so much for your help! I passed the exam!" she said, bowing slightly before adding, "Oh, right—I never introduced myself properly. I'm Megumi Tadokoro, and I'll be joining Totsuki's high school division soon!"
Aoki and Sato hurried to catch up, each giving quick, polite introductions of their own.
And just like that, Kael found himself surrounded by three grateful Polar Star students—one shy, two loud, and all three looking at him with newfound respect.