Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 56

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 56

The cooking competition that started around lunchtime could only begin judging in the late afternoon.

The first contestant was Suga, whose eyes had turned to gold coins.

“Ahem.”

What Suga presented with an arrogant attitude was exactly what I had expected.

“Suga worked hard cooking for Bell!”

What came clattering onto the plate was a single gold coin.

As if she had decorated it with great effort, around the portrait of the founding king engraved on the gold coin were flower drawings that Suga had painted by dipping her hands in paint.

I elegantly picked up the gold coin as if praising her and put it in Suga’s mouth, saying.

“Next.”

“Uwasheo!”

Suga exited while chewing and munching on the gold coin she had decorated herself.

The next contestant was Vivian.

Instead of spending time in the kitchen, she had been holed up in her research lab all afternoon.

What she brought out was a potion contained in a fist-sized glass bottle.

“This one potion will fulfill all the nutrients you need for a day.”

At least it passed in terms of creativity and efficiency.

Since Vivian is a carnivore, maybe she recreated something like premium steak flavor?

I carefully took a sip of the potion.

“This is…”

How should I put this.

“Tasteless.”

“Yes! I made it colorless, odorless, and tasteless so it wouldn’t divide preferences.”

What a heartbreaking future food. If you ate this three times a day, your daily nutrients might be fulfilled but your soul would feel empty.

No, more than that, if it’s this colorless, odorless, and tasteless, isn’t it just high-calorie plain water?

Pouring calories into water – what a tremendously dangerous food has been born.

“Next.”

Following Vivian who exited dejectedly, Penandel brought out a whole roasted pig skewered on a spit.

It was so enormous it filled the entire four-person dining table.

“Whole roasted pig.”

“I can see that.”

Penandel felt he needed to make some appeal, so he added an explanation unlike himself.

“I used fresh ingredients that I personally caught and butchered.”

Penandel wasn’t visible in the kitchen either, so he must have personally caught a pig and wrestled with fire in the courtyard all day.

At least the ingredient procurement method seemed fine.

The problem was that he roasted the pig so roughly that it looked so vivid I was afraid the pig might suddenly open its eyes and make eye contact with me throughout the meal?

Feeling an uncomfortable guilt as if I had personally slaughtered it, I tasted a piece of the roast.

“This is…”

My eyes widened without realizing it.

It was amazing. He had brought out all the pig’s flavors.

It was so vivid I could taste the fur and dirt of the pig that had frolicked in the wild, along with the gamey smell.

He must have suffered in front of the fire all day roasting such a large pig whole.

I couldn’t bring myself to say it tasted terrible to his face, so I spoke as indirectly as possible.

“Did you taste this?”

“Yes, it didn’t suit my palate.”

Hey!

“Next.”

Chaser mockingly brought out his food confidently, sneering at Penandel.

My mouth fell open in shock at Chaser’s food on the judging table. I was speechless.

Chaser, who had presented such shocking food that it rendered Belinda speechless, said proudly.

“It’s mushroom risotto, Master.”

“…”

“I put in lots of expensive mushrooms, so it’s healthy.”

What good does being healthy do.

It looks exactly like… porridge that’s been left at room temperature for three months with mushrooms growing on it.

Even elderly people who would eat oil if told it’s good for their health by health professionals would hesitate saying ‘Ah, this is a bit much’ upon seeing this visual.

“Next.”

“Master? You didn’t even taste…”

“Hmph. Step aside, amateur. How dare you present such waste as food for humans to eat. You should bow your head and apologize to the mushrooms.”

Ooh, I knew I could count on you, butler!

What Terry brought out was pasta that looked very normal.

At this dish that finally looked like actual cooking, I cheered internally.

I know what this is! It’s basil pasta!

“Behold, Terry’s special poison pasta. But now with antidote on the side?”

What? It’s not ordinary basil pasta?

“This appetizing green color was achieved using the poisonous herb ampesin. It’s a poison that paralyzes the entire body the moment it touches your tongue. But since this work isn’t for killing purposes, I generously topped it with antidote. I left a bit of the paralyzing effect for a taste reversal, so your tongue will probably tingle every time you eat it.”

What’s that… scary.

Do assassins normally eat things like this?

“…Next.”

“Master! If you try it once, you’ll surely be unable to escape from this tingly charm! Just try one bite!”

To think he made something like that in the kitchen. Sorry, but I’ll have to make the employees do a deep clean of the kitchen.

The final contestant was Leo at last.

Leo nervously placed a simple plate in front of me.

“It’s fried eggs.”

Perhaps thinking his result was insignificant, Leo’s expression looked a bit gloomy.

But even removing the rose-colored filter from my eyes, Leo’s fried eggs were perfect.

A perfect circle with a glossy sheen

A proper soft-boiled consistency that looked like it would flow out smoothly if poked.

I could tell without even tasting it. This was the ultimate fried egg!

“Pass.”

“What?”

In front of the bewildered Leo, I elegantly cut the fried egg in half with a knife.

The rich yolk flowed out smoothly, and the moment I put it in my mouth.

“Victory!”

My goodness, could fried eggs be this delicious.

Even without rigging the contest, Leo’s food was the best.

“The winner is Jui-bam-tol. And everyone.”

Concluding this amazing competition where there were five participants but only one ultimate fried egg that satisfied the judge, I said.

“Today we’re eating out.”

After all, eating out is the best.

* * *

Since it was still festival season, any somewhat famous restaurant was fully booked.

In the end, I had to use the cheat key of “I’m Belinda Blanche” to barely secure seats at the steak house I had taken Vivian to when we first met.

And the war began from that moment.

“Ch-Chaser! U-using magic is cheating!”

“Drinking meat like water is also cheating.”

“I brought some leftover sauce from making pasta earlier, would everyone like to try it?”

“This butler is now trying to assassinate me outright?”

【The true winner is Suga. There must have been match-fixing!】

“Chef, could you tell me the recipe for this roasted pork?”

I sat at the head of the table, placing cut meat on Leo’s plate while swallowing a sigh.

Everyone was chattering so much that I was so distracted I couldn’t tell if the food was going into my mouth or my nose.

This wasn’t the kind of dining out I had in mind.

I had imagined enjoying course meals elegantly and gracefully at a more formal place.

‘Still, it’s not bad though.’

In my previous life, I was always pressed for time and money, often eating alone.

So this kind of liveliness was very unfamiliar, but on the other hand… yes, it’s not bad.

I glanced sideways with amusement at Leo, whose cheeks were bulging as he stuffed meat into his mouth and chewed.

When he first came to the manor, he was so timid and watched my every move that he ate like a bird, but now he had grown into a fine warrior who would never let anyone take away his bowl.

“Jui-bam-tol, you were quite good in the cooking competition.”

I pushed orange juice toward Leo and spoke with feigned aloofness.

Then, timing it carefully, I delivered my apology as gently as possible.

“So I’ll take back what I said about you being weak, frail, feeble, and fragile.”

Unfortunately, this was the best I could do right now. Belinda would never make pitiful sounds or apologize to others.

‘Really, why is Belinda’s personality so twisted?’

As I was once again reflecting on Belinda’s terrible personality, Leo, who had been hesitating, fidgeted with his glass and whispered.

“What about soft and squishy?”

“I’m not taking that back.”

I pinched Leo’s cheeks, which were soft like rice cakes, just enough not to hurt, and spoke mischievously.

“You’re still this soft and squishy.”

Leo pouted his lips and protested timidly.

“I-I’ll get tough soon…”

Leo was always cute, but when he pretended to sulk like this, he was ten times cuter than usual.

I felt like I couldn’t control the corners of my mouth, so I hid my smile by pretending to drink.

“Alright, I’ll look forward to it. By the way, what wish are you planning to make with your prize?”

“Hmm… well…”

Leo groaned and pondered for a long time before finally answering.

“I don’t want anything right now. I already have plenty.”

That’s a somewhat disappointing answer. I have so many things I want to give you, but you say you already have enough.

It would be nice if you were a little more greedy.

“Then tell me when you think of something you want later.”

Hopefully you’ll think of something you want before you meet Ophelia and leave me.

Or at least before I leave this country…

Having such thoughts, I suddenly felt strange and looked at the people sitting around the table.

Looking at the familiar faces chatting casually, I had this thought.

I used to think I wouldn’t have any regrets when leaving this country.

This wasn’t my hometown, I had no family here, and no friends who would miss our parting.

But later, when I leave Jenos Kingdom and feel lonely in a foreign land, I might find myself missing today’s noisy dinner table more than my previous life, I thought without realizing it.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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