A beautiful girl who transmigrates into a Herrscher of the Void is treated like an elf and conquered

(Okay... since you guys want to play big...)

Chika's lips curled up slightly, revealing a subtle, challenging smile.

(Then let me show you the absolute control the Herrscher of Reason has over the kitchen!)

The atmosphere of the final battle was pushed to an even more absurd and exciting climax by this behind-the-scenes operation.

Chapter 37 begins! A live broadcast of the rampage!

Location: Entrance to the Third Culinary Training Room

When all the students of Class 2-4, with the excitement of watching a good show, followed Murasame Reine to the so-called "Third Culinary Practice Room," they were all stunned by what they saw.

This isn't a school cooking classroom; it looks like the filming location for a professional cooking show!

The spacious and bright room contained several sets of gleaming, obviously expensive professional stoves and ovens. A dazzling array of extremely fresh, top-quality ingredients were neatly arranged, and there was even dedicated lighting and... several hidden workstations?!

"W-this is..." "Does our school have a place like this?!" "Wow! These ingredients are so high-class!"

Phoenix Inu Chinatsu's eyes twitched slightly as she looked at this extremely exaggerated scene.

She glanced at Itsuka Shido, who was also shocked but had a sense of mission in his eyes (clearly he had just been given something strange by Kotori).

Unable to resist speaking in a volume only the two of them could hear, his cool voice carried a clear hint of sarcasm:

"Hey, Wuhe. Isn't this a bit too much? Anyone who didn't know better would think we're filming the 'Tiangong City's Strongest Chef Competition' here."

She slightly raised her hand, gesturing towards the hidden cameras. "You've even prepared the camera positions? Next time, shouldn't you provide us with a live director and a clapperboard?"

Upon hearing this, Shido snapped out of his shock, an awkward yet polite smile immediately appearing on his face. He subconsciously scratched his cheek.

"Haha... Well... Maybe it's because the school was recently renovated, and the facilities are... more advanced? Yes, advanced! To give us a better... uh... learning experience?" His gaze was somewhat unfocused, clearly he wasn't good at lying, and his tone was dry.

Qianxia gave him a meaningful look, but didn't delve into it, simply adding:

"Oh? Is that so? The school's budget is truly impressive. Hopefully, today's 'learning experience' won't disappoint the investors."

Just as Shido was at a loss for words and could only continue to laugh awkwardly, a vibrant voice, amplified by a microphone, suddenly blared from the speakers in the room!

"Testing, testing! Microphone check! Oh—!"

Suddenly, Yamabuki Ai appeared, having taken over the host's position. She was holding a microphone that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, perhaps a thoughtful gift from Ratatosk.

Mai Ye stood beside her, pushing up non-existent glasses, pointing at something that was probably a teleprompter? Mii Fujihakama, on the other hand, had already found the best angle, her camera lens pointed at the two in the center of the room.

"Ahem!" Yamabuki Ai cleared her throat and shouted in her most passionate voice:

"Dear students and teachers! Welcome to the first-ever Dream Cooking Showdown in the history of Laichan High School!"

Ye Ying Mai calmly continued, speaking rapidly, while photos were frantically displayed on the large screen:

"Data loading complete. Battle: Phoenix Inu, the beautiful transfer student with divine abilities! VS Itsuka Shido, the stay-at-home dad who protects the class's taste buds!"

Fujihakama Mii: "Majikku! The final stage confirmed!" The shutter clicked.

Ai continued shouting, holding the host's script that she had somehow pulled out:

"This is no ordinary home economics class! This is a kitchen war where dignity and honor are at stake! The competition will be a best-of-three format! The themes are—'Knife Skills and Freshness,' 'Heat Control and Flavor,' and 'Heartfelt Intentions and Creativity!'"

Mai: "The judging panel consists of five heavyweight guests! First up is the class's most beautiful ice queen? Tobiichi—Origami!"

Origami, seated on the referee's bench, rose and waved to Shido. "Shido, no matter what kind of dish it is, I'll eat it, even if it's mixed with liquid..."

"Ahhh, the next referee is everyone's favorite, Ms. Kotama!" Mai hurriedly interrupted the origami master and began introducing the next referee.

"Hi~ Hello students~" Teacher Xiaozhu waved gently as she was pulled over.

"Next up! Our new teacher, Murasame Reine!" Murasame Reine nodded slightly to everyone.

"Second to last! It's Hiroto Tonomachi, Shido and Chiin's eternal best buddy, whose luck with women is always zero. He can only ever get close to the two-dimensional beauties on his phone, and he can never even get close to them!"

"Hey, this introduction is way too much! I'm handsome too, you know!" (Slams table)

"Finally! It's us, Mai, Mii, and Ai!"

"The outcome will be decided by their own taste buds and everyone else's!"

Mii: "The duel begins!"

The spotlight (it really shone on them!) instantly focused on Chinatsu and Shido in the center of the arena.

All eyes in the class turned to them, and the atmosphere was instantly heated up to its peak by the trio.

Shido was a little nervous at the sudden formality, but he took a deep breath, looked at Chinatsu opposite him, and his eyes became serious:

"Phoenix Academy student, please take good care of me. I will do my best!"

Feeling the scorching gazes around her, Chika sighed inwardly (she still had to play the part).

On the surface, she reverted to her aloof and proud demeanor. She slightly raised her chin, a (feigned) sharp fighting spirit flashing in her icy blue eyes, responding to Shido's declaration of war, and also to everyone's expectations:

"Hmph, I couldn't be happier. Don't disappoint me, Itsuka-kun. Let me see just how much your so-called 'heartfelt intentions' really amount to."

Shido was also spurred on by these words and nodded earnestly: "Of course! My cooking is my expression of love! I will definitely make you feel it!"

Between the two, an invisible spark collided above the professional stove.

The showdown has officially begun!

Under the spotlight, the trio of Ai Yamabuki, Mai Hazakura, and Mii Fujihakama strode to the center of the field with exaggerated steps, clearly becoming the dominant force in the entire arena.

"Ahem!" Ai Yamabuki cleared her throat into the microphone and shouted in a highly inflammatory tone:

"Ladies and gentlemen! Sorry to keep you waiting! Now, the first round of the Dream Cooking Showdown is about to begin!"

Ye Ying Mai immediately stepped forward, pulled out a tablet computer from somewhere, and began to introduce it in a calm and rapid tone, accompanied by background sound effects:

"Round One, Theme—'Knife Skills and Freshness'! This tests a chef's most fundamental knife skills and their ultimate understanding of the original flavor of the ingredients!"

"Throughout culinary history, from the fish shreds and water chestnuts of the East to the tartar salad of the West, top-notch knife skills have always been about maximizing the freshness and delicate flavor of the ingredients themselves, rather than simply showing off skills!"

"Therefore, the core of this round is to use precise and skillful knife work to handle the most delicate ingredients that require the most skill, and to present a refreshing enjoyment in both taste and appearance!"

Fujihakama Mii pointed the camera at the well-stocked food preparation area, exclaiming, "Majikku! Ingredients confirmed!"

Mai Ye took the opportunity to quickly list out the key ingredients:

"The core ingredients provided for this competition include: firm and sweet red snapper! Translucent and crisp white radish and cucumber! Fresh and unique herbs such as dill and parsley! And lemon, extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt to balance the flavors!"

Ai Yamabuki took over the conversation, waving her arm and pointing at Chinatsu and Shido, her voice loud: "That's right! The two contestants need to use these ingredients to create an extremely refreshing appetizer that can conquer our taste buds and eyes in just thirty minutes!"

The trio exchanged a glance, then simultaneously turned to the camera and shouted in unison, their voices echoing throughout the entire kitchen through the microphone:

"Its name is——"

"—'Red sea bream sashimi with thinly sliced ​​vegetables and a herb-lemon dressing!'" (Masshiro no Tai no Sashimi to Yasai Usugiri Sarada Yaki Herb Lemon-zu)

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa—!!!" The audience erupted in cheers and exclamations.

"That sounds amazing!"

"Red sea bream! They're so difficult to prepare!"

"Thirty minutes?! And you need to do such precise knife work?"

With a final, forceful wave of her arm, Yamabuki Ai pointed to the already flashing timer: "Now—round one! Timer—start!"

As the word "start" fell, the timer ticked, and Chika and Shido moved almost simultaneously, heading towards the food station.

Chapter 38 The Touch of Fingertips and a Unique Culinary Heart

As the trio announced the start of the competition, the timer began to tick, and Chinatsu and Shido immediately headed towards the dazzling array of ingredients.

In addition to the core ingredients of red sea bream, daikon radish, cucumber, and vanilla lemon, there are also a large number of side dishes around which contestants can freely add their own personal flavor.

(...To win this game beautifully, we need to dominate with absolute technical skill, but...we can't go too far beyond common sense.)

Chika's gaze swept quickly across the food section, her brain working at lightning speed.

(If I show absolutely no interest in Shido and make him completely unconquerable, it might attract Takamiya Mio, who is the final boss. I definitely can't afford to mess with her now.)

(So ​​now I'm playing the proud and composed culinary girl, giving Shido what seems like an opportunity to win him over. Hmm, rational cooking and heartfelt cooking seem like a good match. Let's start with "rationality" in the first round.)

She set her sights on a few things: a small jar of top-quality salmon roe to add a burst of umami flavor; some fresh wasabi root, freshly ground for a flavor far superior to tubular wasabi; and a small bunch of elegantly shaped watercress to garnish the plate and add a subtle touch of spice.

At the same time, Shido was also thinking seriously. He thought of everyone's happy smiles when they ate the delicious food.

He wanted to create a dish that would bring happiness and refreshment to everyone. His gaze fell upon the mandarin orange; perhaps he could extract its juice to add a touch of refreshing sweet and sour citrus?

I also saw some white sesame seeds, which will add aroma after roasting and crushing, as well as tender ginger sprouts, a beautiful light pink color, with a crisp texture that can neutralize the slight fishy smell of the raw fish.

"Go, Chinatsu! Conquer those ingredients with your beauty!" This was Hiroto Tonomachi's completely pointless encouragement.

"Itsuka-kun! Show some manly spirit!" This was some of the boys' jeering.

"Phoenix Academy student is so calm, she seems very confident!"

"Shido is choosing very seriously!" This was the comment from the ordinary viewers.

The trio provided "live commentary" from the sidelines:

"Oh! Phoenix Inu has made the first move! Her target is high-grade salmon roe! What a sharp eye!" "Itsuka seems to have developed an interest in citrus fruits! How will she use it?"

On the judges' panel, Ms. Xiaozhu looked pleased: "Both students were very attentive, that's wonderful..."

Origami Tobiichi calmly analyzed: "Chinatsu Hououin's target ingredients focus more on enhancing the precision of the overall flavor. Shido Itsuka, on the other hand, tends to incorporate milder supporting flavors."

Murasame Reine looked slightly sleepy: "...the monosodium glutamate content of salmon roe...the fructose and citric acid ratio of mandarin oranges..."

Only Hiroto Tonomachi firmly believed: "Whatever Chinatsu chooses, it will be the best!"

Just as Chika reached out to take the bunch of vibrant green water celery, another hand reached out to it almost simultaneously—it was Shido. He seemed to think that the refreshing taste of the water celery was perfect for his idea.

Their fingertips unexpectedly touched the cool, slender vegetable stem at the same time.

Shido's palm, warm and slightly rough, inadvertently covered Chinatsu's fair, slender, and seemingly meticulously sculpted hand.

A sensation like being electrocuted came through!

"Ah...!" A short, soft gasp escaped Qianxia's throat instinctively. As if burned, she jerked her hand back with astonishing speed.

Shido reacted instantly, quickly withdrawing his hand as if he had touched a red-hot iron. His cheeks flushed bright red, and he stammered an apology:

"Ah! I'm so sorry! Phoenix Institute student! I didn't notice! Please go ahead! Please use it!" He even subconsciously took a half step back, looking flustered.

Chika's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a pang of regret.

(…What was that 'Ah!' sound?! And the speed at which she pulled her hand back… That's so feminine, Phoenix Inu Senin! Where's your masculinity?!)

She forced herself to remain calm, maintaining an icy expression, though her ears turned slightly red. She nodded gently to Shido and said in as calm a tone as possible:

"...It's alright. Please go ahead." But she turned around and quickly walked to the other side of the wasabi root area, as if nothing had happened.

(...) Shido watched Chinatsu's slender figure disappear quickly, then looked down at his fingers that had just touched the back of her hand. The delicate, smooth, and slightly cool touch seemed to still linger, making his heart beat faster for no reason.

(…Phoenix Academy student’s hands…so small…so soft…) He quickly shook his head, banishing this strange thought, picked up the bundle of water celery, but his mind was a little confused.

This little incident naturally did not escape the eyes of the audience and judges.

"Oh my god! Accidental contact!!" Ai Yamabuki shouted into the microphone.

"Data record: Sudden physical contact incident, reaction index of both parties soars." Ye Ying Mai introduced the unserious content with a serious expression.

“Majikku! A scene of youth!” Fujihakama Mii’s camera captured it precisely. A burst of ambiguous laughter and whispers came from the audience.

And the judges' panel....

Ms. Kozuki (blushing): "Oh my... Young people are so energetic..."

Origami Tobiichi (eyes slightly narrowed): "Unexpected contact could cause distraction and affect operational precision. We need to observe."

Murasame Reine (calmly): "...Skin contact leads to the exchange of microbial flora..."

Hiroto Tonomachi (wailing and clutching his head): "Aaaaah! Shido, you bastard! How dare you touch Chinatsu-neechan's sacred hand! Unforgivable!"

A small accident made the atmosphere of the duel even more subtle and intense.

Both of them composed themselves, quickly gathered the extra ingredients they needed, and headed to their respective cooking stations. The real battle of skills was about to begin.

Almost simultaneously, the two returned to their spotless kitchen counters and placed down the extra ingredients they had carefully selected. A silent, pungent smell of gunpowder filled the air, mingling with the fresh aroma of the ingredients themselves.

Chinatsu gently set down the jar of salmon roe, wasabi root, and vibrant watercress, her posture elegant and composed. She clasped her hands together in front of her chest, a gesture that unintentionally accentuated a certain alluring curve.

But she seemed completely unaware of it, merely raising her chin slightly, her icy blue eyes flashing with confidence and composure, and spoke first, her clear, cool voice reaching everyone's ears: