Ice and Fire — Alice’s Culinary Challenge

At most taverns, eel rice is the staple dish—comforting and predictable.

But at Zane's Tavern, things are different. Here, even a dish like soy-glazed cod becomes something extraordinary.

The cod had been marinated in a balance of soy sauce for saltiness, miso for umami, and honey for sweetness. Slowly roasted at a low temperature, the fish retained its tenderness while its juices remained sealed within.

"This is incredible," the Director said after a bite. "You slow-roasted this, didn't you?"

Zane nodded subtly.

"And to counter the fattiness of the cod… aged mandarin peel juice from China? Genius."

The rich, buttery texture of the cod melted in his mouth, the glaze perfectly harmonizing with the citrus's brightness. A satisfied sigh escaped him.

Only in this Tavern, he thought, could a weary man like him find such relief.

Across the table, Mana Nakiri was on her second plate of magical Mapo tofu. Despite her God Tongue's infamous curse of culinary boredom, she couldn't stop eating.

For the first time in a decade, father and daughter were eating together, talking—living.

The Director looked up, stunned.

"Am I dreaming?"

"The entire plate… cleaned?"

Mana's stomach was visibly full, and her eyes still sparkled with longing for more.

He had never, not once in his life, seen his daughter eat this way.

Suddenly, the Tavern stirred. A breeze slipped through the cracks.

Then came the storm.

Curtains flapped violently, and the walls creaked. It felt like a beast howling through the wooden beams. The Director shielded his eyes.

"This… This is Pulse Transmission!" he gasped.

Then—silence.

Just like the Comet Fried Rice, Fiery Ice Snapper, and Arhat Vegetarian Dish before it, the Mapo tofu had broken the curse.

Mana Nakiri had been conquered. Right before his very eyes.

Ten years of pain and helplessness—undone by one meal.

He raised his bottle and drank deeply, eyes wet.

"All these years, I pushed the Jade Generation Plan… all so someone could create a dish that would save Erina and Mana…"

Zane said nothing.

Later that night, under the soft glow of paper lanterns, the Director rose to leave.

"Zane, on behalf of the Nakiri family, thank you. If it weren't for your food, tonight could have been another tragedy."

Zane gave a modest shrug. "I'm just a tavern owner. Customers come, I serve."

"No," the Director said firmly. "You solved the culinary world's most tragic puzzle."

Mana stepped forward. "Father… are you heading back to Totsuki?"

"I am," he nodded. "But seeing you enjoy food again… I can rest easy."

"I've always felt like a failure—as a daughter, and as a mother," Mana said softly.

"You're not," he whispered. "And I'm proud of you."

They embraced briefly—then parted with quiet understanding.

Once the Tavern had emptied, Zane prepared himself a late-night snack—beef dumplings, using leftovers.

Crispy on the outside. Juicy and savory on the inside.

"Owner, your cooking is always amazing," Sonoka said as she bit into one.

"Take tomorrow off," Zane told her. "The Tavern's closing for a day."

She blinked. "Huh? But why—?"

"Don't ask. Just rest," he said coldly—but there was warmth behind the words.

Sonoka's heart fluttered. He was worried about her.

"Why are you staring at me?" he asked.

"N-nothing," she said, flustered. "I just realized… food really can make people happy."

[Ding!]

[Sign-in successful.]

[Reward unlocked: Culinary Skill – Suspended Cutting!]

Unlike before, this wasn't a recipe—but a skill. Suspended Cutting: slicing ingredients mid-air with expert precision.

It was famously used by Ikumi Mito during her match against Soma.

But the system's version? Far harder.

Designed for dissecting slippery anglerfish, it required extreme precision and anatomical knowledge. A single mistake could ruin the dish—or cause injury.

Zane exhaled.

"Anglerfish, huh? This'll be a challenge…"

7:00 AM. The Third Day of Training Camp.

At a bustling venue capable of holding over a thousand people, the breakfast test began.

Tourists began flooding in. Students stood behind food stalls, numbered and ready. Among them—

Alice Nakiri.

She blinked in surprise as she spotted Erina at the next stall. Then, her eyes sharpened.

"So, cousin… fate or rivalry?"

"More like your bad luck," Erina replied, calm and confident.

Alice smirked. "We'll see. I'll make you regret it with my dish!"

With that, she whipped out molecular gastronomy tools and ingredients—eggs, mousse, syrups. Her hands moved with controlled energy.

She baked ladyfingers, trimmed and shaped them, coated them in syrup, then layered them with frozen mousse. A whipped egg mixture formed a delicate dome.

Into the oven at 180°C for five minutes.

When it emerged—golden and aromatic—she poured preheated rum over the omelet and lit it aflame.

A dramatic whoosh followed. Gasps echoed through the crowd.

"Mommy! It's on fire!" a little girl squealed.

"I want that one!"

As the flaming omelet landed on her plate, the girl cut into it with wonder. Yolk and mousse flowed like molten gold. The aroma was heavenly.

She took a bite, her eyes lighting up.

"Mom, it's so good~"

Other tourists, drawn by the spectacle, quickly lined up. The taste sealed the deal.

Alice beamed with pride.

But when Erina saw the dish—her expression changed.

"Wait… this isn't like last night's omelet…"

She narrowed her eyes.

Then it hit her.

Her cousin had evolved.