The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 104

—————

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

—————

Chapter 104. Compensation
In contrast, Ern Kim was merely biting his lips.
“….”
His fists were trembling.
The assistant beside him trembled as well, fear evident in their expression. It wasn’t anger—it was terror. But it didn’t last long.
“Huff…”
He took one deep breath, then nodded. Just once.
I could feel that even this single nod was a form of acknowledgment.
* * *
Jang Han-su remained true to his essence until the very end.
“Now then! You said you’d donate the prize money, but the panel must receive their recognition first!”
He was being faithful to his role as MC.
-Chuckle… -Hahahaha.
Laughter erupted from the audience.
“By the way, the trophy comes with it too. But surely you won’t be donating the trophy as well?”
He brought forward the championship trophy and a bouquet of flowers.
“Thank you.”
“Then, a few words about your feelings?”
“It’s all thanks to everyone here. To all those who made this event possible. Because of you, I was able to do something meaningful. I’m truly grateful.”
When I said “all those who made this event possible,”
Jang On-gyu’s expression hardened for a moment.
‘How am I supposed to bear this?’
What can I do? We have a bitter history between us.
I can’t tolerate being mocked right before my eyes.
“Wow! That’s textbook perfect! There’s nothing more to say!”
“Haha. Is that so?”
“It’s a different charm from when you’re cooking. Wonderful! Now, please accept this as well!”
It was the moment I received the championship trophy and bouquet.
Ding-
[Quest Complete: Dispelling the Massive Shadow]
[Condition Fulfilled: Victory against the approaching great obstacle]
[Reward granted.]
[Passive Skill 【Transcendence of Taste’s Limits】 acquired.]
[This is an advanced skill above the existing 【Absolute Taste】.]
[You can now perceive the compositional elements of flavor down to the molecular level.]
[Stat Points +10]
[Culinary inspiration significantly increased.]
[Probability of obtaining new recipes greatly enhanced.]
System messages flooded in. My vision turned white, then returned to normal.
Transcendence of Taste’s Limits?
An advanced skill of absolute taste perception.
‘…What is this?’
Perceiving flavor down to the molecular level?
I still don’t understand exactly what this means.
‘This didn’t exist in my past life either…’
Back then, I was too busy devouring monsters. It was difficult to develop my sense of taste.
‘I had to focus more on whether I’d eat and survive or die.’
The direction of growth was different. This time, it seems something entirely new has emerged.
‘…At least it has changed.’
My tongue had transformed.
The scents drifting through this studio—what would have blended into one mass before—now entered separately, one by one.
The smell of oil. Truffle aroma. The scent of rice. The aroma of soy sauce.
Even the sweat of the people around me.
I could feel each one distinctly.
‘This doesn’t seem like an illusion.’
So this is what it means to see with your nose. It would take considerable time to adapt.
As for inspiration regarding cooking.
‘Since this activates anytime, I’ll be able to create more interesting dishes.’
But right now.
Right now, that wasn’t what mattered.
Jin-woo was crying. Beside me.
The audience was roaring with cheers.
Jang Han-su was saying something, but it was drowned out by the applause.
‘It’s not over yet. Jang On-gyu.’
I know.
The distribution lines are still in that man’s hands. The commodification structure doesn’t end with a donation.
This is a new beginning.
But today.
Just today.
‘I won.’
* * *
“Phew…”
“I feel like the tension is finally easing now.”
As the close-up recording ended, the competition came to a close.
I didn’t leave immediately.
‘There are things I need to take care of.’
And so I returned to the waiting room.
The lighting had changed to fluorescent bulbs.
Compared to the brilliant stage lights, it seemed shabby.
A silence that felt almost palpable. The roaring applause from moments ago fading away beyond a single door.
‘So that’s why celebrities love being on stage.’
Everything felt completely different.
Jin-woo followed me in from behind.
His eyes were still red. His nose too.
His mouth hung open as if he wanted to say something, but he just grinned widely.
“Sit down.”
“Yeah. Hehe.”
Jin-woo flopped onto the sofa. His legs felt like jelly.
That’s what happens when the tension drains away.
I might not have noticed it on stage. The adrenaline was holding my legs up back then.
Now that it was gone, I felt it.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah.”
“We won, right?”
“The trophy’s in my hands, isn’t it?”
“Ah….”
“Want to hold it?”
“Can I?”
“Of course. We did it together.”
“Together….”
“Go ahead.”
Jin-woo looked at the trophy in my hands, then suddenly took hold of it.
He caressed it for a long moment, feeling its texture.
“Haaah….”
Now his face showed that it was real.
I sat on the opposite end of the sofa, watching him.
Every time Jin-woo moved, the trophy gleamed under the fluorescent lights.
The words “Championship Victory” were engraved on it.
‘This is nice.’
I couldn’t understand why those four characters felt so good. Maybe I was born to crave recognition too.
Still, it was definitely a satisfying object to possess.
‘It had weight to it.’
Heavy and solid.
The more I looked at it, the better I felt.
“Hyung, my heart still won’t stop racing.”
“Of course it won’t.”
“Really? Are you okay?”
“Mine’s racing too.”
“You’re lying. Your expression is completely normal.”
“What’s inside is different.”
Jin-woo’s eyes widened. Then he let out a soft laugh.
“You’re human after all, hyung.”
“That’s the third time you’ve said that today.”
“Three times means it’s true.”
Jin-woo stared blankly at the trophy.
“Hehe….”
After looking around for a while, he set it down belatedly.
Then he laughed again. His teeth showed completely. For a twenty-six-year-old, his smile was remarkably pure.
That was when it happened.
Buzz—
A vibration rang out from Jin-woo’s pocket.
* * *
Jin-woo rummaged through his pocket. When he pulled it out, it was his phone.
The moment he saw the screen, his expression hardened.
[Mom]
Two characters appeared on the screen.
Jin-woo remained still for quite a while. While the phone vibrated, he just held it there.
‘….’
That guy.
He’s barely ever talked to me about family.
He’s let slip a word or two while working.
That his father opposed the restaurant. That his mother sided with his father.
That they said what kind of restaurant when he couldn’t even get a job. That they called him pathetic for not being able to earn a living.
But in the end, they respected his decision since it was what their son had chosen.
‘…Come to think of it, there might have been quite a bit.’
Anyway.
He never said anything beyond that. I never asked first either.
‘I’m not good at asking those kinds of things.’
Jin-woo looked at the trophy he’d set down for a while, then picked up his phone and stood up.
“Hyung, just a moment…. I need to step out for a bit.”
“Go ahead.”
Jin-woo headed toward the door.
He turned back once as he grabbed the handle. It seemed like he wanted to say something. I just smiled at him.
He closed the door as he left.
Jin-woo’s voice came faintly from the hallway.
“…Hello? Mom? Where are you?”
After that, I couldn’t hear anything.
‘He said he gave her a spectator pass.’
He must have given it to her quietly. Whether she came or not.
He decided on his own and delivered it on his own. Since he never mentioned it to me.
That’s him for you. He pretends not to expect anything because disappointment follows hope, yet he still hands over the audience passes as a sweetener.
‘I saw him come in earlier… hmm… I wonder if the problem comes after this?’
How will this turn out?
I have no idea. I’ll know once that bastard comes back.
“Hmm…”
The waiting room fell silent again.
The fluorescent light flickered. The air conditioner hummed softly.
From the air of the waiting room itself, I could distinguish the leather scent of the sofa, the faint warmth radiating from the fluorescent light, and the grassy fragrance of the bouquet.
Each scent arrived separately.
My newly acquired skill was activating.
‘This is going to take some time to adjust to.’
But that wasn’t what mattered right now.
‘I need to verify this properly.’
I opened the system window.
* * *
[Status Overview]
A series of numbers displayed before me.
Stamina, Agility, Mental Fortitude, Sensory Perception, Culinary Intuition.
All of them had risen significantly compared to my last awakening.
[Stamina: 76]
[Agility: 71]
Just looking at stamina and agility alone, I had already transcended the realm of ordinary humans.
If I desired it.
‘I could enter any athletic competition and win.’
But I had no interest. Cooking was everything to me.
[Mental Fortitude: 84]
[Sensory Perception: 92]
These two were excellent. Very much so.
These were the ones that truly mattered to me. Surprisingly, both were critically important for cooking.
‘Either way, it’s not bad. Good. The next part is what matters.’
I opened the skills window.
When the System Messages had poured down on stage earlier.
[Transcendence of Taste]
This had appeared.
I prided myself on understanding the system properly. I was simply retracing the path of my previous life.
‘I never imagined something entirely new would appear.’
Yet it had.
I hadn’t seen anything like this before.
‘Now I need to see it. It’s my first time, after all.’
Only now, with the competition finished, could I properly examine it.
[Passive Skill 【Breaking the Limits of Taste】]
[Grade: S]
[Type: Always Active (Cannot be Deactivated)]
My eyes froze.
For a long moment, my gaze remained fixed on that single character.
‘A passive skill with an S-grade rating?’
Cannot be deactivated.
An S-grade passive running 24 hours a day.
‘…Really?’
Perhaps because it’s S-grade. Maybe the system is being considerate since this is my first time.
Unusually for the system, the description was detailed.
I scrolled down.
[Effect 1 — Molecular-Level Perception]
You intuitively grasp the compositional combinations of ingredients.
You perceive the interactions of Amino Acids, Fatty Acids, and Sugars through sensation.
‘Amino Acids, Fatty Acids, Sugars.’
The fundamental components that make up ingredients.
Normally, machines analyze this. Food research labs insert samples into machines, run them, and analyze the resulting graphs.
With my tongue? It made no sense.
Nothing had made sense so far, but this transcended superhuman levels entirely.
[Effect 2 — Optimal Combination Ratio]
The optimal combination ratio between ingredients is displayed as numerical values.
Ratio information is provided simultaneously through taste and sight.
Twice, three times. I kept reading.
‘If I’m understanding this correctly.’

—————

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

—————