Multiverse Gourmet Hunter

Lei Hua offered no immediate comment on Mao’s self-assessment and instead turned toward Haruto.

"Haruto, in this round you created Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork Noodles by using shredded pork, carrot, and green pepper as the core, then wrapping them in yuba to create a smooth yet resilient noodle."

"The pork remained tender without becoming dry, the vegetables were crisp and refreshing, and the broth was rich yet clean. The balance of sourness, sweetness, saltiness, savoriness, and heat was precise, while the textures unfolded in distinct layers."

"There is no question that your dish perfectly embodied the theme of Noodles, Yet Not Noodles."

After finishing her evaluation, Lei Hua asked,

"So, what score would you give your own dish?"

Haruto met her gaze and suppressed the excitement stirring inside him before giving his answer without hesitation.

"I give myself ten points."

"I know there is no end to the path of cooking, and there are still countless ways my food can improve and become more refined."

"But these Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork Noodles are the best dish I could create at this moment using everything I’ve learned as a chef."

"So I give myself ten points."

Lei Hua studied him for a moment but once again offered no judgment. Instead, she turned toward the final contestant.

"Lan Feihong, you used potatoes to create cold noodles with exceptional elasticity."

"There was also that difficult-to-place trace of sweetness."

"The refreshing chill of the dish was almost like drifting ice."

"It was another perfect interpretation of Noodles, Yet Not Noodles."

"So, Lan Feihong, what score would you give your own creation?"

Fei met her gaze and answered just as decisively.

"I give my dish ten points."

"My reasons are the same as Haruto’s and Mao’s."

Once all three had given their answers, the Culinary Arena fell silent again.

Lei Hua looked at the three chefs before her.

By now, she had already reached her final decision.

She stepped aside and spoke quietly with the two officials for a short while. The three soon came to an agreement.

Then Lei Hua returned to stand before Haruto, Mao, and Lan Feihong, her expression more solemn than ever.

"I will now officially announce the final successful candidates of this year’s Guangzhou Super Chef Examination."

Mao’s hands clenched tightly into fists, his knuckles turning white.

Lan Feihong appeared calm, but his Adam’s apple moved unconsciously as he swallowed, while the hand hanging at his side tightened slightly.

Even Haruto’s usual composure disappeared. He looked at Lei Hua with complete seriousness as he waited for the final result.

"Haruto. Liu Maoxing. Lan Feihong."

Lei Hua slowly spoke all three names.

"The dishes created by the three of you were evenly matched in flavor, technique, and interpretation of the theme. Each of you has already demonstrated the skill and standard expected of a Super Chef."

"And in this final test, where you were asked to judge your own work, all three of you displayed the self-respect, confidence, and pride a chef should possess."

A rare, satisfied smile appeared on Lei Hua’s face.

"So this year, we will make an exception."

"Haruto, Mao, Lan Feihong—all three of you pass!"

The moment Mao heard that all three had passed, he leaped into the air.

Meili rushed toward him, and Mao immediately threw his arms around her. The two bounced around in celebration, laughing so hard that tears began spilling from their eyes.

"I did it! Meili, I really did it!"

He had traveled from Sichuan to Guangzhou carrying the hopes of Kikkaro on his shoulders.

And now, at last, he had earned the title of Super Chef.

"Congratulations, Mao!"

Meili was every bit as happy as he was.

Beside them, the tension finally left Lan Feihong’s body.

He looked at the ecstatic Mao and allowed a genuine smile to appear on his face.

Perhaps this really was the best possible outcome.

Haruto remained standing where he was, but his heart gave a heavy thump, and there was no suppressing the smile spreading across his face.

He had become a Super Chef.

A childhood dream had finally come true.

From this day onward, whenever he introduced himself, he could proudly say:

’I’m Haruto, a Super Chef.’

Once the three of them had calmed down somewhat, Lei Hua spoke again.

"Now, present the official Super Chef uniforms and badges to our three successful candidates."

At her command, three young women approached while pushing an ornate cart draped in fine brocade.

Three sets of exclusive Super Chef uniforms had been neatly folded atop it.

Each woman lifted one set and presented it to one of the newly qualified chefs.

"Put them on."

"Yes!"

The three answered almost in unison.

They accepted the uniforms and immediately began changing, each of them more than a little eager.

Once Haruto had finished, he smoothed the creases from the front of his uniform and looked down at his left sleeve.

A dragon motif encircled the emblem, surrounding the shining character for Super at its center.

The longer Haruto looked at it, the more he liked it.

After tidying themselves up, the three returned to stand before Lei Hua.

She looked at them as though she were seeing three new stars beginning to rise, each carrying the potential to illuminate the future of Chinese cuisine.

Then her expression turned solemn once more.

"Listen carefully, all three of you."

"The title of Super Chef is not the end of your culinary journey. It is merely one stage in what should be a long life devoted to cooking."

"The road ahead remains vast. If you wish to continue refining your craft and truly live up to the title you now carry, then never lose your reverence for cooking or your respect for ingredients."

"Never disgrace the name of a Super Chef."

Her gaze lingered for a moment on Mao and Lan Feihong.

In her heart, Lei Hua could not help feeling happy for her old rival and dearest friend, Pai.

Then she turned and left the Culinary Arena with the officials.

Once Lei Hua was gone, the atmosphere immediately relaxed.

Mao turned toward Haruto and Lan Feihong with a serious expression.

"Haruto-san, Fei—one day, I’m definitely going to beat both of you in cooking!"

"Next time we face each other, I won’t lose!"

"Fine."

Lan Feihong looked at Mao, his own competitive spirit beginning to burn.

"I’m looking forward to competing against you again too."

Haruto smiled.

"If we compete again, I’ll still be the one who wins."

The next time Mao wanted to beat him, Haruto certainly would not make it easy.

Still, there was a good chance he would never again have the opportunity to stand on the same competition stage as Mao and Lan Feihong.

After all, compared with going to the imperial palace to cook for people, Haruto would much rather fight his way inside.

The massive main doors of the Culinary Arena slowly opened.

Morning sunlight poured over the three new Super Chefs.

Everyone from Yangquan Restaurant had already been waiting outside for a long time.

The moment they saw Haruto and Mao emerge—and spotted the Super Chef emblems on their left sleeves—the crowd erupted into deafening cheers.

Liu Keling was the first to rush forward.

She threw her arms around Mao, tears spilling freely from her eyes.

"Mao, you did it! You really became a Super Chef!"

"Now you can finally inherit Kikkaro!"

Master Zhou Yu stepped forward next, looking at Haruto and Mao with deep satisfaction.

"Haruto, Mao, congratulations."

"You’re Super Chefs now."

The others quickly crowded around as well, offering their congratulations.

Lan Feihong remained outside the group.

He watched Mao standing in the center of the crowd with a radiant smile, Keling beside him, and made no attempt to interrupt their reunion.

From here onward, Fei had his own road to walk and his own path of cooking to pursue.

Before long, Haruto and Mao returned to Yangquan Restaurant surrounded by the others.

A celebration immediately began.

During the feast, Mao and Haruto even recreated the noodle dishes they had made inside the Culinary Arena so everyone could try them.

Eventually, the celebration came to an end and the guests dispersed.

Haruto sought out Zhou Yu alone.

"Master Zhou Yu, I came to say goodbye."

His time in the world of Cooking Master Boy had brought enormous growth to his cooking.

He had made a friend like Mao, fulfilled a childhood dream, and finally earned the title of Super Chef.

Now, it was time to move on.

What extraordinary ingredients might be waiting in the next world?

What unfamiliar dishes would he get to taste?

Haruto was already eager to begin searching for new ingredients and discovering new cuisines.

"You’re leaving Guangzhou?"

Zhou Yu looked up at him without much surprise.

As far as he was concerned, Haruto’s world had never been limited to a single city like Guangzhou.

"Yes."

Haruto nodded, then spoke with genuine seriousness.

"I gained an enormous amount during my time at Yangquan Restaurant. I’ll always remember what you and everyone here taught me."

"If you ever need anything from me in the future, just ask."

"There’s no need for that."

Zhou Yu waved the sentiment aside before giving him one final piece of advice.

"No matter where you go or what you end up doing, remember this."

"The meaning of cooking has never been about winning or losing."

"It is about bringing happiness to the people who eat your food."

Haruto nodded firmly.

"I’ll remember."

The two spoke for a while longer before Haruto finally took his leave.

When he reached the entrance of Yangquan Restaurant, he stopped and looked back at the sign hanging above the doorway.

A smile appeared on his face.

Then, in the next instant, Haruto vanished.

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