"...That's... that's the dragon-shaped armband, a symbol of a Super Chef, only awarded to those who pass the Chinese Super Chef examination!"
Swallowing hard, a slightly chubby boy in the crowd pointed at Leah's arm, his voice thick with uncontrollable shock.
"A Chinese Super Chef?!"
Hearing the boy's words, the others around him also reacted, their eyes fixed on Leah's arm, eager to get a closer look.
The vast majority of them had never seen a Chinese Super Chef's armband before.
Leah, seeing this, fearlessly raised her arm, displaying the dragon-shaped armband for all to see.
"And surrounding the dragon emblem are stars—that's the special insignia of a One-Star Super Chef!"
Such a formidable chef… was merely an ordinary teaching assistant here?!
Gulping, someone with sharp eyes noticed the subtle details on Leah's armband.
Stars encircled its emblem!
That was the mark of a One-Star Super Chef!
"Oh, this is nothing," Leah said, then looked at Dylan who was watching the scene unfold, a little embarrassed, and nudged him forward. "Boss Dylan's uniform is the truly impressive one! It's practically a model for us all; I dream of wearing it again."
Dylan touched his head, looking a bit sheepish.
"Don't you often wear it secretly?" Dylan said, looking at Leah who was enjoying the show. He pushed her out. "Besides, I just leave that uniform in the closet. You can wear it whenever you want, no need to be sneaky."
"Hehe, I got caught."
"But I was sure I was being really secretive. How did you find out? Could it be that my brother told on me?!"
Seeing Dylan's faint, teasing smile, Leah didn't feel awkward at all. She just let out a cute "hehe" and then feigned annoyance.
"You bro knows about this mess too? Whatever. That perfume scent on you... how could I forget it?"
"Eh…!? Was it the perfume that gave me away…"
Hearing Dylan's words, Leah had a moment of realization.
When she first joined the Dark Cooking Society, she would often sneak into Dylan's room when he wasn't there, open his wardrobe, and wear his Super Chef uniform.
The seven shining stars on its left sleeve—who wouldn't be captivated by that?
She had thought she was being so secretive and that Dylan was oblivious. But to think he knew all along and pretended not to… a sudden wave of emotion washed over her. What was she to do?
"Don't look at me like that. This lot is all yours. Anyone who doesn't meet the requirements isn't allowed to pass, not a single one!"
Dylan glanced at the stunned faces behind him, pondered for a few seconds, then finally turned around, his voice echoing through the crowd.
"This is the first, and also the last time I will ask this.
Is there anyone among you who cannot endure such conditions? I can let you withdraw from the school directly. In any case, with your current skills, continuing will inevitably lead to failure. You all know this in your hearts."
Silence…
One second, two seconds.
No one responded to Dylan. Everyone hung their heads low. No one wanted to drop out, but staying here seemed like it would be incredibly tough.
If they couldn't complete the tasks Dylan set…
They recalled Dylan's initial words: "Anyone who dares to resist will be thrown off a cliff by me."
Though it sounded like a joke, they knew Dylan was dead serious! And he certainly had the aura of a fierce taskmaster.
"If no one steps forward, then I'll assume you accept my conditions. From now on, you must obey me unconditionally!"
"I'm a very reasonable person. As long as you complete the assessments I set, I will give you everything you desire!
Don't you truly want to drag down those geniuses who always looked down on you! To take their place?!"
Dylan's final words were powerful, carrying an inexplicable authority that made the silent crowd's blood boil with a sudden fervor.
"Yes… I want to! How could I not?! I think about it every day! If only I were more skilled, I could stand out at school, and the girl I like wouldn't be pursued by others!"
Among the downcast youths, a curly-haired boy suddenly lifted his head, his eyes shining as he looked at Dylan, his initial hesitation transforming into unwavering determination.
"Very good. What's your name?"
"Kinbi Kenji!"
The curly-haired boy—no, Kinbi Kenji—looked at Dylan with firm resolve.
"Alright, I'll remember your name!"
"I admire your courage, but chasing girls isn't just about being good at cooking. However, a capable man does indeed have an advantage when pursuing girls compared to someone who isn't, so your thinking isn't wrong."
"Does anyone else here want that? Or is it that, apart from him, no one else even dares to dream of it? If so, you might as well go back. You'll never succeed."
"We can do it! I want to, too! I want to pull down those who have always been high and mighty, those who never gave me a second glance!"
"But no matter how hard I try, I can never shake off the title of a laggard. The truth is, I'm just that weak. Maybe I just don't have any talent for cooking…"
A short-haired girl's voice trailed off as tears welled in her eyes. She had once cut her hair short as a sign of her culinary dedication, and now it had grown back to a shorter style.
But her determination had been useless. A laggard was still a laggard; nothing had changed…
"Lift your head and look at me! What's your name?"
"Aomi… Aomi Wakime ."
Aomi Wakime raised her head, wiped her tears with the back of her hand, and looked at Dylan with fiery eyes. She truly wanted to become stronger!
"Good. Then let me tell you, even a chef without talent can make up for it with diligence.
During this special training, I will be watching you closely to see if you are as diligent as you claim."
"Yes! I understand, Professor Dylan!"
"I want to as well! Those top students always look down on us. We might be a bit lacking in cooking skills, but it's not like we're morally bankrupt! What right do they have to look at us that way?!"
"Count me in! Sooner or later, we'll drag them down into the mud…"
"Let's take them down…"
As one underachiever after another voiced their determination, more and more students were stirred up. Thinking about how they were usually looked down upon by those with better grades, a fire ignited in their hearts.
Tōtsuki Academy, it could be said, was the most challenging of environments. For those like them at the bottom of the culinary ladder, their very existence here felt like a mistake.
"Very good. Then let me see your resolve, brats!"
"Yeah!"
Seeing the boys and girls thoroughly fired up, a satisfied smile appeared on Dylan's face. This was exactly the effect he wanted.
If these kids couldn't muster any motivation, then even with his abilities, he would be helpless in this situation.
.
They were young, after all. A little prodding was all it took to unleash their inherent vitality.
"Keep at it, brats."
After saying this, Dylan glanced at Leah beside him. The young woman nodded slightly, indicating she would take good care of them.
Waving his hand, Dylan turned and walked away.
.
Meanwhile, in Hotel Residential Area C.
"You can go back to sleep after completing one dish. The first ten students to finish will receive points according to their rank, from one hundred down to ten."
"Hurry, hurry!"
"There are points as a reward! I'll definitely make it into the top ten!"
"Mom, I'll definitely stay!"
A man in a black suit and sunglasses watched the students anxiously rushing towards the cooking stations, his face stern.
"Yes, Professor!"
Scenes like this were unfolding on every floor of the hotel.
Because the hotel was located in the city center, surrounded by many famous scenic spots, and it was currently peak tourist season, many guests arrived daily.
This led to a surge in demand for food, and the hotel's chefs were shorthanded.
Under these circumstances, the Tōtsuki students, whose skills were decent enough from the mid-term assessment, could be put to good use.
And so, a new round of assessment officially began!
.
"So tired! My shoulders are killing me. I only got 58 points today. That teacher is so strict. I thought I did pretty well this time," Yūki Yoshino complained to Ryōko Sakaki, pouring warm water over her head in the hot spring bath before shaking her hair vigorously, a look of utter bliss on her face.
"I also think you did okay. But before you complain, maybe you should look at my score. Only 53 points! It's unbearable!"
Ryōko Sakaki, also dousing herself with a basin of warm water, clenched her fists, her face full of annoyance. She felt she deserved at least a 60+, but only got 53.
"Speaking of which, Megumi is really amazing. She's like a different person these days. And this time, she's the only one of us who broke 60!
What on earth happened to make Megumi so incredible!"
As she spoke, Yūki Yoshino reached out and hugged Megumi Tadokoro, who was beside her, her face full of envy.
This girl used to be the straggler among them, but after just a few days, how did she suddenly become the leader?!
"It's nothing special, really. I just went bungee jumping with Professor Dylan."
"The moment I jumped from that hundred-meter height, it felt like everything in life lost its meaning. Then, when I realized I wasn't dead, some things I couldn't see through before, I instantly understood."
Hearing Yūki Yoshino's question, Megumi Tadokoro subtly looked away, though she too was surprised she could get such a high score.
In their assessment area, she had become first with 68 points, and a blond boy was second with 67 points.
Before, this was something she wouldn't even dare to imagine.
"Bungee jumping? That sport where you leap from the sky and feel life transcended?
Could it be that in the instant you jump, you can achieve great enlightenment?!"
Hearing Megumi Tadokoro's words, Yūki Yoshino released her, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Maybe I should try it too? Perhaps my cooking skills will improve drastically after I come back, at least enough to break 60 in the exam."
Yūki Yoshino suddenly said, a hint of eagerness on her face.
"Give it up. Megumi went bungee jumping to overcome her psychological barrier. You going would just be for fun; it wouldn't do anything except scare you," Ryōko Sakaki said bluntly. This girl was really dreaming. Megumi became stronger because she was inherently skilled; she just couldn't bring it out before.
"Aww… too bad."
Hearing Ryōko Sakaki's words, Yūki Yoshino let out a resigned "aww," then her gaze shifted to Ryōko's chest, a disappointed look on her face.
"By the way, don't we usually eat the same meals? Why is there such a big difference in our development…"
"Ah! Just talk, don't touch!"
"No more talk, take this! Righteous Rubbing Attack!"
The more Yūki Yoshino looked, the stranger she felt, and she angrily reached out, wanting to touch what she herself didn't possess.
"Damn it, if you're going to be like that, then don't blame me for what I do next! Megumi, don't think you can stay out of this!"
"Eh…!?"
Feeling her body being invaded, Ryōko Sakaki resisted with a flushed face, then launched a counterattack, simultaneously pulling Megumi Tadokoro into the fray.
For a moment, the hot spring bathroom was filled with a joyous atmosphere.
.
"Speaking of which, what do you think of Professor Dylan?"
After the merrymaking, fatigue set in.
Soaking in the hot spring pool, Yūki Yoshino spread her arms and legs, assuming the most relaxed posture possible, while asking Megumi Tadokoro and Ryōko Sakaki for their opinions on Dylan.
"A very responsible and handsome teacher. Why? Are you suddenly talking about Professor Dylan because you like him, Yūki?"
Ryōko Sakaki sat with her legs together, her elbows resting on the edge of the hot spring, her long red hair pinned up, her demeanor exceptionally graceful.
Hearing Yūki Yoshino's words, an interested expression immediately appeared on her face. Were they finally going to talk about romantic interests?
"I wouldn't say like, but I definitely have a good impression. And he's so knowledgeable! It's really hard to imagine there's such a perfect teacher in this world!"
Yūki Yoshino gazed at the ceiling, her cheeks slightly flushed from the steam of the hot spring, her eyes narrowed comfortably.
"I… I actually do like him. Yes, that's right, it's 'like.' I'm sure of this feeling in my heart."
Hearing Yūki Yoshino's words, Megumi Tadokoro also looked at the ceiling, a faint blush on her face. Her mind was filled with the image from yesterday, of Dylan holding her as they leaped from the sky.
The accelerated heartbeat at that moment couldn't be faked. Although there was the suspension bridge effect from jumping from a high place, there must also have been some genuine affection for him.
After all, even before jumping, the moment she reached out and held onto him, her heart was already racing!
"Eh!?"
"Really?!"
Hearing Megumi Tadokoro's confession, Yūki Yoshino and Ryōko Sakaki exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.
"But it's true, Professor Dylan is too amazing. He exudes a mature charm, even though he's not that old.
Although his lessons are very strict, he's very gentle with people outside of class. It's quite normal to fall for him."
Yūki Yoshino said, her movements causing ripples in the water. Thinking about Dylan's teaching demeanor, he indeed possessed a scholarly beauty.
Humans, after all, are the ultimate creatures; they naturally view those more capable than themselves through a beautifying filter, thinking everything they do is good.
"Now that you mention it, I think I might be a little smitten too.
But such an outstanding man must have many admirers. Megumi, you'll have to work hard. Be careful Professor Dylan doesn't get snatched away."
Ryōko Sakaki also chimed in. She too had a considerable good impression of Dylan. Just the fact that he was handsome and serious about his work was enough to attract her.
"That's right, that Alice Nakiri seems to have a thing for him too. They're always exchanging glances, and their eyes practically stick together."
"Indeed, and not just her, I think that…"
Once the topic turned to romantic gossip, the atmosphere immediately livened up, the girls' faces beaming with excited smiles.
And somehow, through continuous discussion, an idea was planted in each of their hearts: 'Dylan is excellent and worthy of affection.'
.
"Hmph, hmph~"
Having just finished her bath and wearing a pristine white bathrobe, Erina Nakiri emerged from the women's bath, humming an unknown tune, ready to return to her room to rest.
She was in high spirits, but as she passed a corner in the hallway, she bumped squarely into a man, nearly falling to the ground.
"Your hand is on my—"
"Professor Dylan, it's you."
Feeling his hand on her waist, Erina Nakiri was about to push him away and scold him, but then she realized it was Dylan.
Instantly, she retracted the words she was about to say.
"Don't be so clumsy. Watch where you're going. You were lucky it was me; if it had been someone else, you'd be on the floor right now."
"Do you know where Alice is?"
Feeling the softness in his arm, Dylan, who had instinctively steadied her, was surprised to find it was Erina Nakiri. He couldn't help but sigh at how fate worked.
"You're the one who bumped into me, okay!
As for where Alice is, I don't know. She's not in the same assessment area as me. By the way, can't you just call her…"
"It's because she didn't answer that I'm looking for her."
Hearing Erina Nakiri's words, Dylan couldn't help but look at her as if she were an idiot.
If a phone call could reach her, why would he be wasting his time searching like this?
"Then she's probably still bathing, and her phone is outside. Every floor in this hotel has its own special hot spring bath. Professor Dylan, you should try it too, it's super comfortable!"
After being steadied, Dylan removed his hand. Erina Nakiri stretched contentedly, ignoring his gaze, and said excitedly.
It was clear that the hot springs here were indeed very comfortable, otherwise, this young lady wouldn't be recommending them so enthusiastically.
"Not for now, I still have some things to take care of. By the way, you need to study hard in this assessment. The teachers
are all Super Chefs from China."
"If you slack off and aren't serious just because they're teaching basics, you'll definitely be surpassed and then ruthlessly trampled underfoot."
Dylan shook his head. Although he wouldn't mind relaxing, he had many things to handle next.
The most important of which was to go to the market, which was about to close, to purchase ingredients. He couldn't entrust this matter to others, so he had to do it himself.
"I understand. After attending your classes, Professor, I understand the importance of basics. I would never slack off just because it's simple."
Seeing Dylan didn't have time, Erina Nakiri's face showed a hint of regret, then she nodded seriously, indicating she wouldn't be lax.
"See you later then. Rest early tonight. Things will be easier starting tomorrow."
As he spoke, Dylan waved his hand and disappeared down the corridor from Erina Nakiri's sight.
"Speaking of which, where did Professor take those laggards? I'm a bit curious, but since he's already gone, I guess I shouldn't ask."
Looking at the spot where Dylan had disappeared, Erina lightly touched the place on her waist where he had held her.
Feeling the lingering warmth, Erina Nakiri's mood was rather peculiar.
To hide this peculiar feeling, she couldn't help but mutter to herself, trying to divert her attention, though the blush on her face was undeniable.
"Maybe I'll play cards with Hisako tonight. But I have to wake up early tomorrow morning, it's so annoying…"
"Or maybe I should just go to bed early. But I feel a bit unwilling. It's rare to get out like this; I should do some activities."
"Ah, my heart is beating so fast!"
_____
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