147 – The Best Cooking Contest in the World (4)
Cluna wasn’t in a good mood. The fact that everyone was preparing the food also meant that Cluna alone could monopolize the leader. But that time was not long.
Because Helia snitched in the middle. It was because the leader, Hans, had directly entrusted Cluna with arbitration. In my mind, I want to make up my mind and teach. I couldn’t do that this time.
Because Hans trusted him and entrusted it to him himself. If she failed again here, it was clear that Clue or her own score would be reduced. The experience she has accumulated so far has not been accumulated in vain.
Thanks to this, Cluna has no choice but to decide to use her arbitration skills to the fullest. The first thing Cluna chose was fairness. An environment where everyone can cook fairly.
And we mediated the problems that occurred in the middle as much as possible. In addition, if the other members have more accidents here. Because I know I can’t see the leader’s face. Surprisingly, they cooperated smoothly.
“Isn’t the most important thing is the pure taste of the ingredients?”
Most of the dragons, including Yuren, preferred meat. Of course, likes and dislikes vary from person to person. Even that was the difference between eating meat raw or grilled.
Fortunately for Hans. Yuren liked to grill meat. However, if there is something different from the usual meat dishes. Yuren didn’t use seasoning at all and just grilled it.
Thanks to Cluna’s intervention, I was able to get my hands on decent food ingredients. So what Yuren chose was roast pork. Cluna opened her mouth, sticking out her tongue.
“Indeed, you can definitely call it dragon-style cooking.”
“Is there anything special about cooking? Just roast it over an open fire and everything will be cooked!”
“Dragons might think so.”
In the first place, these dragons just devour meat alive. It was Cluna who thought there was nothing strange. Yuren picked up a whole pig and roasted it over the fire.
“Ugh, that’s barbaric…”
“It’s something I don’t know. That kind of original dish actually tastes much better.”
“I used to eat like this sometimes when I was in the Beast tribe.”
Dwarves and beastmen who enjoy meat exclaimed over Yuren’s roast pork. Conversely, the elf shakes his head. Of course, there’s no law saying that elves shouldn’t eat meat.
It was very difficult to change the eating habits of the elves, who had been eating only natural foods for as little as 100 years and as many as thousands of years. Rather, Cluna was an unusual case.
“Isn’t Mom okay?”
“I’ve eaten a lot of that.”
“You’ve eaten a lot?! How?!”
“If I’m going to go hungry, I’ll eat somehow.”
“…….”
Obviously Cluna has a smile on her lips. The darkness that radiates behind it is very deep. Clara subtly avoided Cluna’s gaze. I asked for no reason.
“Anyway, this is the end of my cooking.”
“You’re not going to serve this on every table, are you?”
“Um, isn’t it?”
“We’re at war right now? That’s a long time ago.”
It was obviously a luxury to provide at least one whole pig to those who attended the tribal union meeting. Exactly, there’s room for that, though. In a situation where there are people starving right now.
It didn’t look good to be so extravagant. In addition, the most important thing anyway was the symbolism that the members of the Royal Knights made and provided food themselves.
If it’s about one whole roast pig, fill the rest with chicken or turkey. After completing the calculations in her head, Cluna nodded, acknowledging the food provided by Yuren.
“Not bad. I’ll pass.”
“Hmm! Thank you!”
“That means I prepared properly this time too!”
“Are you meat too?”
If Yuren roasted a whole pig. Ruby chose to cook with beef. Dwarves have been able to use fire like ghosts since ancient times. Ruby was no exception.
A technique that makes the outside slightly burnt and the inside moist. Compared to handling iron, this level was very easy. Most of all, it was also thanks to Ruby herself practicing cooking.
Add vegetables and baked potatoes, and it’s finally done. Ruby confidently submitted the finished steak on a plate. Cluna was genuinely impressed. Because it was a great dish.
“Your skills in handling fire are excellent. Besides, I feel like my usual practice has paid off.”
“That’s right!”
“But why are you suddenly interested in cooking?”
“Yeah, that’s a secret!”
“Hmm? It’s not like I want to treat the person I love with homemade food… Isn’t that a fresh reason?!”
“Oh, Mom! Calm down!!”
For some reason, it was Clara who managed to stop Cluna from becoming enraged. Anyway, Ruby and Yuren got through safely. Then, all that was left was Bayard and Clara.
“Well, I prepared the food that our bear tribe enjoyed eating.”
“The food style of the Beast Tribe differs from tribe to tribe. Some tribes are famous for their unusual diet. Bayard, is what you have prepared special for the Bear Tribe?”
“Yes, yes.”
What Bayard put on his plate was meat. It’s just raw meat. The only difference is that it is sliced like vegetables and carefully packed one by one, and there is a sauce next to it.
“This is a dish called Yukhoe.”
“Oh, did you know?!”
“When I stopped by the Beast Tribe before, I ate it. Perhaps, if I remember correctly… It was intended to disrespect me.”
“Don’t say that casually.”
Elves don’t like meat very much. Moreover, serving raw meat on a plate that had not even been properly cooked to an elf was beyond disrespect and was an act of insult.
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“But did I enjoy my meal?”
“You just ate raw meat like this?!”
“Yes, even though it looks like this, it tastes pretty good.”
“I-I don’t know what’s what anymore.”
Clara, full of confusion, shook her head from side to side and denied the fact in front of her eyes. Either way, all that was left was Clara. Will it be your turn? Clara cried out loud.
“The food I prepared is apple pie!!”
“Ho, the cooking utensils must have been tough. How to prepare them?”
“Somehow, grit can do it!”
“The cooking condition is better than I thought.”
The apple pie made with apples and dough had a more fragrant scent than expected. Cluna nodded her head. I was worried about myself. I never thought I’d grown to this extent already…….
At that time, Cluna was admiring her daughter’s growth. The last person to submit the dish was Helya. Cluna is surprised when she sees the food Helya has submitted. Because it was fried chicken.
“What about this food?”
“I’ve served it to the teacher before. The teacher ate every bit of it.”
“Okay, you’ve successfully submitted your dish. Then, all that’s left is Captain Hans’ evaluation.”
* * *
Certainly, with Cluna with her purpose. It was Hans who felt that things were quickly resolved in an instant. He didn’t know that he would be able to get the dish ready in just two days.
But the problem came next. Cluna gave all of her dishes a passing grade. In other words, the winner is determined by Hans’ own choice. What does it mean?
It was no different from the fact that everyone gathered here was concentrating on Hans’ choice. Hans swallowed dryly and looked at the dishes in front of him. All of them looked delicious.
Especially because it was Hans who did not expect to see Yukhoe in person in a place like this. He naturally had a lot of hands on Yukhoe. He, of course, never forgot to taste other foods.
“Everything is fine. I can feel it was cooked with care.”
“Thank you!”
“Thank you!”
“But, my favorite food is… This.”
No raw meat, no whole roast, no steak, no apple pie. It was all delicious food. In the end, it was Helia’s chicken stir-fried soup that moved Hans’ heart. Hans smiled contentedly.
“You can make it much more delicious than before, Helia.”
“Thank you! Sir!”
“It can’t be helped.”
“Well, the twist from the beginning was a little big.”
Unexpectedly, everyone was willing to admit it. The time when we were getting in the way of each other because we were swept away by emotions. It was because Helia was the only one who had been cooking silently by herself.
And above all, I was ashamed to show such an ugly side in front of such a young kid, so I couldn’t properly argue. Meanwhile, after confirming that there was no objection, Hans opened his mouth.
“Good work, Helia. Is there anything else you want?”
“What I want…”
“Yes, tell me.”
“……I’ll tell you later.”
But why? Clearly, the winner was Helya. She smiled bitterly and refused to say her wish right away. I don’t know why, but that was Hans who kept bothering me.