The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 98

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 98. The Final Round (5)
Jin-woo leaned close to my ear and whispered softly.
“Hyung. Did you see that shoulder shrug earlier? It was so childish. Seriously.”
“I saw it. You’re right. Haha.”
“I’m speechless. What nerve does he have?”
“…I have to give credit where it’s due. He is a classically trained chef, after all.”
“If that’s classical, then I refuse to be classical.”
“Wow. You’re fierce?”
“Because to me, hyung is the tradition.”
“Oh… flattery too. Does that get me anything?”
“You know the microphone is on right now, right? I’m risking my life saying this. This isn’t flattery.”
“Then?”
“If I’m willing to stake this much, it’s sincere. Hehe.”
“That’s fun.”
Since entering the competition.
Jin-woo seemed to be genuinely enjoying this moment.
In any case, the score was now tied across the board.
‘One to one to one.’
I turned my gaze to the wok.
The next dish was already prepared.
‘Let’s pick up the pace.’
* * *
From this point on, everyone was of one mind.
The tempo accelerated. In other words, the cooking speed increased.
* * *
I was the first to push my cart out.
“The next dish is miso pork belly rice bowl.”
“A rice bowl suddenly? Here?”
“It will be more savory than you’d expect.”
“Hmm?”
That was all the explanation I gave.
As I lifted the lid of the stone pot, the aroma of miso filled the hall.
A rich, deep fragrance.
It was the scent created by the pork belly fat mingling with the miso.
Lee Sae-rom blinked her eyes.
“Wow… doesn’t this smell exactly like home cooking?”
“Exactly. Isn’t this about the time you’d be missing home food?”
“What? Why?”
“Because quite some time has passed since we started filming?”
“What kind of logic is that! But since this is fun, I’ll give you a point in advance!”
“No cheating allowed!”
“You heard that, right? I’m fine with it, but the MC said it’s not allowed?”
“Yes, I heard.”
“Please remember that clearly.”
“Of course.”
“My goodness. I’m doing this for fairness….”
“I’ll remember.”
“Well then! Let’s taste it right away!”
One spoonful.
Sonny chewed the rice first, then stopped.
Slowly, she chewed once more.
Her eyes narrowed.
“…Why does this feel so familiar yet like I’m tasting it for the first time.”
The button was pressed.
Lee Sae-rom, Im Ha-yun, Sonny, Han Jae-won. Green.
Oh Tae-sik, Jang On-gyu. Red.
Four in favor, two against.
“Four in favor, two against! Majority approval! One point added!”
[+1 point]
* * *
As I returned to the cooking station.
I noticed Jeong Si-woo moving.
He was walking quickly too.
It was different from his usual precise and orderly movements.
He looked like someone being chased by something. Tension was evident on his face.
‘He’s rushing too much.’
Jang Han-su, noticing this, picked up the microphone.
“Oh, it looks like our next chef is already prepared! It’s Chef Jeong Si-woo!”
Jeong Si-woo’s cart came in quickly.
He greeted hastily and introduced his dish right away.
“It’s tuna tataki. Served with mustard dressing.”
Tataki. A method where only the surface is seared strongly while the inside remains raw.
The plate was set down.
The char marks on the tuna’s surface were distinct. The mustard dressing was spread thinly in yellow.
“Tataki! This is a bit different from your usual cooking, isn’t it?”
“My heart is in a hurry.”
“Ha ha. I hope it tastes as good as your urgency!”
“Yes. I hope so too.”
Ha-yun picked up her chopsticks.
One piece.
I chewed.
Her expression wavered subtly.
“…The mustard is a bit strong.”
“I think you were in too much of a hurry.”
“This is… not the usual taste.”
Jeong Si-woo’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
Lee Sae-rom placed a piece in her mouth as well. She tilted her head.
The button was pressed.
Oh Tae-sik, Jang On-gyu. Green.
Lee Sae-rom, Im Ha-yun, Sonny, Han Jae-won. Red.
2 favorable, 4 unfavorable.
“2 favorable, 4 unfavorable! Majority rejection! No points!”
Silence fell.
He had received -1 point.
“….”
Jeong Si-woo lowered his head.
He said nothing.
* * *
As the atmosphere grew heavy.
Ern Kim, who had finished his dish, moved.
He was unhurried.
Rather, he seemed at ease.
He appeared to regard even Jeong Si-woo, who had been with him, as a clear opponent. His distinctive competitive spirit had awakened.
When thinking of a competition.
There was nothing wrong with thinking that way.
“….”
With Ern Kim’s weighty movements, the cart entered.
“Truffle butter steak. No sides.”
“Are you going for a speed strategy?”
“No. That alone is sufficient.”
“Ooh. I’m looking forward to it!”
A thick chunk of meat. Truffle butter melted and dripped across its surface.
Im Ha-yun cut into it with her knife.
The cross-section was a vivid crimson.
One bite.
She closed her eyes.
Silence stretched on.
Finally, she opened her eyes.
“…Perfect medium rare.”
“Thank you.”
The button was pressed.
Oh Tae-sik, Lee Sae-rom, Im Ha-yun, Sonny. Green.
Han Jae-won, Jang On-gyu. Red.
Four approvals, two disapprovals.
“Four approvals, two disapprovals! Majority approval! One point added!”
[+1 point]
Ern Kim returned to his cooking station, brushing past me.
This time, he didn’t even shrug his shoulders.
He simply passed by.
‘He’s confident, then.’
* * *
The score shifted rapidly.
Me: 2 points. Ern Kim: 2 points. Jeong Si-woo: 0 points.
That was the moment.
Jeong Si-woo emerged again.
This time was different.
What came on the cart was sushi. Six pieces of sushi were arranged in a neat line.
“Omakase sushi, six pieces. Each with different ingredients.”
Jang Han-su’s eyes widened.
“Six pieces at once?”
“Please enjoy them one at a time.”
The judges picked them up in order.
One by one.
Their expressions changed one by one.
No one spoke.
Only the sound of chewing filled the silence.
All six pieces disappeared.
The button was pressed.
Lee Sae-rom, Im Ha-yun, Sonny, Han Jae-won, Oh Tae-sik, Jang On-gyu. Green.
“Six approvals, zero disapprovals! Unanimous! One point added!”
[+1 point]
The audience erupted.
Jeong Si-woo lowered his head.
Deeply, and quietly.
It wasn’t over yet.
Jeong Si-woo’s assistant brought out another plate.
* * *
‘This is incredibly fast.
He seemed to be attempting a speed competition.
And rightfully so. He was alone at 1 point. If he stayed like this, elimination was inevitable.
‘The real question is whether I’ve brought a dish that will actually work.’
Could I truly demonstrate my capabilities?
* * *
“…An additional dish?”
Even Jang Han-su couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
Jeong Si-woo nodded.
“Onigiri. Three different fillings.”
“Onigiri!”
Three round, firmly packed rice balls.
Seaweed wrapped around the rice in a simple, elegant form.
Sonny picked one up and took a bite.
She paused.
“…Huh?”
Lee Sae-rom reached for one.
A single bite.
“This….”
She couldn’t find the words.
The button was pressed.
Lee Sae-rom, Im Ha-yun, Sonny, Han Jae-won, Oh Tae-sik, Jang On-gyu. Green.
“Unanimous again! One additional point!”
[+1 point]
It happened in an instant.
I glanced at the scoreboard.
Me, 2 points. Ern Kim, 2 points. Jeong Si-woo, 2 points.
A perfect three-way tie.
* * *
Jin-woo held his breath.
I said nothing.
The audience fell silent for a moment.
Jang Han-su pointed at the scoreboard and picked up the microphone.
“Look at this situation! Two points, two points, two points! A perfect three-way showdown!”
The audience erupted again.
-Wow!
-This is actually insane!
Ern Kim stepped up to the cooking station.
His back showed no sign of hesitation.
Jeong Si-woo lifted his head.
The hurried energy from before was gone.
Instead, his eyes had changed. They burned deeper.
‘Everyone’s fired up now.’
I hadn’t looked in a mirror either, but my eyes would be the same.
All three of us shared the same gaze.
Jin-woo whispered softly.
“Hyung.”
“I know.”
“All three of us scored 2 points.”
“I know.”
“From here on out….”
“This is it.”
* * *
I picked up my knife again.
It was to create the grand dish that would come next together with Jin-woo.
That was the moment.
Jang Han-su suddenly stepped forward.
“Wait, chefs. And everyone! Please focus!”
His tone of voice had changed.
‘Impressive.’
His tone naturally drew everyone’s attention.
“Honestly, I’ve been dying to say this. Do you know what the champion of today’s competition gets!?”
-100 million won!
“Yes, 100 million is correct! There’s 100 million. But that’s not all there is.”
The audience stirred.
-What? There’s more than 100 million?
-Are we doubling down?
-What else are they giving?
After building the suspense just right.
Jang Han-su continued.
“In addition to the 100 million won prize, there’s one more special prize. You’re curious, right!?”
-Yes!
“Yes! I’m curious!”
Lee Sae-rom joined in with the audience.
It was the sensibility of a seasoned broadcaster.
Jang Han-su signaled his approval to her and continued.
“When I first heard about this, I couldn’t believe my ears. Everyone should be anticipating this.”
Hearing his words, I understood.
‘Finally.’
A prize beyond the monetary reward.
Actually, I already knew about this.
I’d been waiting for this moment ever since I coordinated with PD Ga.
I wondered when it would come up. And it was now.
“Alright, let me announce it!”
“Yes!”
“Not me! This way! Come on, Judge Oh Tae-sik! Go ahead and take it!”
“Hey! What are you doing!”
As Lee Sae-rom spoke, laughter rippled through the audience while Oh Tae-sik accepted the microphone.
“Yes, I have the microphone.”
He uncrossed his arms and slowly straightened his posture.
Naturally, all eyes converged on him.
Oh Tae-sik paused, savoring the moment, before he spoke.
“Following the prize money, the gift to be presented to our champion is….”

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