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

These adjustments are very subtle and may not even be noticeable individually, but when combined, they are enough to sow the seeds of disharmony deep within the sense of taste.

However, from an appearance standpoint, her stewed beef is an enticing deep red color, the sauce is just the right consistency, and it has a rich sheen. Paired with carefully carved carrot flowers and blanched bright green pea shoots, the artistic presentation even surpasses Shido's simple and unpretentious warmth.

As for our on-site reactions and commentary...

Ai Yamabuki: "Wow! Hououin has fully recovered! Look at that perfect browning and exquisite plating!"

Ye Ying Mai: "Her operational precision has returned to its peak. Her appearance score is comparable to that of Wu He."

Fujihakama Mii: "Majikku! A battle of aesthetics!" (The camera cuts to the two's perfectly presented kitchen.)

Audience: "Amazing! Both look so delicious!" "It's impossible to tell which is better!"

On the judges' panel, Ms. Xiaozhu looked at the two works with admiration; Origami Tobiichi observed them carefully; and Reine Murasame narrowed her eyes slightly, as if she had a premonition that the competition in terms of flavor would be more complicated.

When the stewing time was over, the two of them finished plating the dish.

Shido's "Heartfelt Stewed Beef in Red Wine" looks warm and full, exuding a comforting and enticing aroma.

Chika's "Gap in Balance" red wine braised beef brisket is like a work of art, with impeccable color and presentation, and exudes an equally enticing, even more complex aroma.

Two seemingly perfect dishes were presented side by side. The final outcome would depend on the judges' extremely discerning palates, their ability to detect the subtle nuances of flavor hidden beneath the perfect surface. The tension of the tasting session was thus heightened to its peak.

In front of the five judges (plus the trio who shared a vote, making a total of five votes) were two plates of seemingly impeccable red wine stewed beef.

Shido's work is full of warmth, while Chinatsu's work is exquisitely beautiful. The alluring fragrances intertwine, filling everyone with anticipation.

"Now, let's begin tasting—the second round of dishes!" Yamabuki Ai announced loudly.

The judges picked up their knives and forks and first cut into Shido's stewed beef. The beef was stewed until extremely tender, requiring almost no effort; it separated easily with a light touch of the fork.

As you put it in your mouth, the rich and mellow sauce instantly coats your taste buds. The aroma of red wine, the fat of beef, the sweetness of vegetables, and the complex fragrance of spices blend perfectly, creating a warm, mellow, and soul-stirring sense of satisfaction.

The flavor is perfectly balanced, with a moderate level of saltiness and sweetness, a slight acidity that's just refreshing, and a lingering meaty aroma and sweetness in the aftertaste.

Teacher Xiaozhu's eyes lit up after taking a bite: "Wow! It melts in your mouth! The taste is so warm and comforting, it makes my whole body feel warm! Just like the feeling that Wuhe gives off, gentle and reliable!"

Origami Tobiichi calmly analyzed the taste in her mouth: "Perfectly cooked, the meat fibers are fully softened. The extraction rate of flavor substances is very high, and the balance of various elements is excellent. The completion rate is over 95%."

Murasame Reine spoke softly, as if talking to herself: "...The synergistic effect of monosodium glutamate and inosinic acid is significant, the fat emulsification is ideal, and the taste is smooth. Pleasure rating: A+."

Finally, the trio shared a portion: Ai: "It's so delicious! Shido-kun is truly the best!" Mai: "The flavor is simple and direct, but it conveys emotions extremely effectively." Mii: "So satisfying! A taste of peace!" They all expressed their appreciation.

Next, the judges turned their attention to Chinatsu's braised beef, which resembled a work of art. The beef was equally tender, and the sauce glistened enticingly. However, once the food entered their mouths, subtle differences began to emerge.

The initial taste was also extremely tender and rich in soy sauce flavor, but gradually...

Teacher Xiaozhu frowned slightly, trying to organize her thoughts: "Hmm...it's very, very delicious, the flavor is very rich...but, I don't know if it's just my imagination, but after eating it, the back of my tongue seems a little...dry? Or is the sourness a bit too pronounced?"

Origami Tobiichi's pupils contracted slightly after taking a bite, as she keenly noticed the problem: "The initial taste impact is strong, but starting in the middle, the high acidity disrupts the richness, and the finish has a slight bitterness from the excessive vanilla. The saltiness becomes more pronounced after the sauce cools down. The balance is broken. The completion rate is about 85%."

Murasame Reine pinpointed the problem precisely: "...Acetic acid content was detected to be about 15% above the standard, interfering with the taste buds' perception of umami. The peak saltiness in the later stages exceeded the comfortable range. Excessive thyme volatile oil produced a slightly irritating aftertaste. There was a minor error in the technical execution."

The trio (after discussion): Ai: "Hmm... at first I thought it was amazing, but after eating Shido-kun's and then this, something just doesn't feel right..." Mai: "The flavor is complex, but the harmony is lacking. There's an internal conflict." Mii: "Subtly unbalanced..." They also sensed that indescribable disharmony.

[Voting Session]

The tense moment has arrived.

Origami Tobiichi pointed directly at Shido without almost any hesitation: "Shido Itsuka's cooking is superior in both flavor balance and overall presentation." (Inner monologue: Shido's cooking is perfect. Unquestionable.)

Murasame Reine calmly voted for Shido: "...From the perspective of flavor harmony and the stability of technical execution, Itsuka Shido's work is more in line with the standard."

The trio (sharing one vote) had a brief but heated discussion. Although they found Chinatsu's dish visually stunning, the lack of harmony in its taste led them to ultimately vote for Shido.

"We think... Itsuka's food is more enjoyable to eat!"

The score instantly became 3-0, with Shido taking the lead.

All eyes were now on Ms. Kozuma and Hiroto Tonomachi, who remained.

Ms. Kozuki's face was full of conflict as she looked at Chinatsu's beautiful dish and savored the warm taste of Shido's cooking.

Ultimately, her honest feeling about the deliciousness itself triumphed over her pity for the "perfect appearance," and she looked at Chinatsu with a hint of apology, but still raised her hand:

"Well... although Phoenix Inu's cooking is like a work of art,... Itsuka's cooking makes me feel happier and more satisfied... so I vote for Itsuka."

4:0!

All the pressure fell on Hiroto Tonomachi.

Hiroto Tonomachi looked at the two dishes in front of him with an unusually conflicted expression.

He first gazed at Chika with deep affection, inwardly roaring: (Chika, even if your cooking is poison, I still…!)

Then he picked up his fork and took a bite of Shido's. "Mmm! Shido, you're really something!"

He had to admit his brother's skill. Then, with an almost reverent feeling, he took a bite of Chika's dish. At first, his eyes lit up!

(As expected of Chika! The flavor! The complexity!)

But then, the overly prominent sourness, the gradually increasing saltiness, and a slightly discordant vanilla bitterness began to linger in his mouth.

His brows furrowed, his expression shifting from rapture to confusion, and then to a barely perceptible hint of...disappointment?

He closed his eyes, seemingly trying to discern and convince himself. But taste buds don't lie.

Finally, he suddenly opened his eyes, his face filled with immense guilt and pain. He could barely look at Chika, and with all his might, he pointed at Shido, his voice trembling with tears:

"I'm so sorry, Chika! You'll always be number one in my heart! But—"

"But Shido's cooking... it's just too perfect! Absolutely flawless! My... my tongue has betrayed my soul! I give my vote to Itsuka Shido—!!!"

5:0!

Round Two, the battle of "cooking time and flavor"—Winner: Itsuka Shido! The score (Shido: Chinatsu) is now 1:1!

The entire room erupted in uproar! It had passed by an overwhelming unanimous vote!

Shido looked at the result with some surprise, but more so with relief and joy. He looked at Chinatsu with his eyes filled with the excitement of "I did it".

Chinatsu appropriately displayed surprise, resentment, and even a hint of being hit hard.

She bit her lip slightly, looking at her dish, which looked perfect but failed to impress the discerning palate, with a complicated expression.

(Thoughts: Hmm...it seems the flaws were set up a little too obviously? But that's fine, it makes the loss more reasonable. Hiroto's idiot reaction was surprisingly dramatic...)

A draw! The final outcome will depend on the third round – "Intention and Creativity"! The real showdown is about to begin.

Chapter 50 A Lonely Figure on the Stage

The outcome of the second round was decided, and Ai Yamabuki passionately announced the result, which was met with enthusiastic applause and discussion from the audience.

The trio returned with their food cart full of leftover food, and were immediately surrounded by excited students. The noise of sharing the food quickly filled the entire venue.

Shido Itsuka breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his brow, and prepared to leave the stage and return to the dressing room. However, when he turned around, he found that Chinatsu Hououin hadn't moved.

She remained standing in front of her kitchen counter, arms crossed over her chest, head slightly tilted back, eyes closed.

That posture didn't seem like she was resting; it was more like a restrained silence. The spotlight had moved away, and the stage lighting was slightly dim, making her solitary figure appear somewhat lonely.

A cacophony of voices rose from the audience. Though the words were indistinct, one could vaguely make out phrases like "What a pity," "It looks so beautiful," and "Itsuka-kun's tastes much better."

(Is she... listening to these comments?) Shido's heart tightened slightly.

(Is this how you remember failure and punish yourself after listening to these comments? Because you tried so hard but...)

Recalling her previous attitude of "not hesitating to seduce" in order to win, Shido's feelings of guilt and his determination to "save" her became even more complicated.

He stopped in his tracks and looked in that direction with concern.

"Brother! Why aren't you coming in? You can see us from inside!" The door to the lounge opened a crack, and Kotori poked half her body out, a lollipop dangling from her mouth.

Seeing Shido standing there in a daze, she followed his gaze and saw Chinatsu standing alone on the stage.

Kotori blinked, looking at Chinatsu's posture as if she were "reflecting on her mistakes," tilted her head, and lowered her voice to say to Shido:

"Hey, Shido. What is she... doing? Is she unable to accept failure? Or... is this some new form of self-motivation? Or... is she punishing herself for failing?"

Her tone carried a hint of curiosity and a subtle scrutiny.

Shido's voice was low and uncertain: "I don't know... Kotori. Judging from her like this... have we... gone too far? It's just a competition, but she seems to be taking it incredibly seriously..."

Upon hearing this, Kotori gave a soft "humph" and pointed in Chinatsu's direction with her lollipop: "Silly brother, you're just too soft-hearted. That's how competitions are; once the winner is decided, the result is everything."

"Even if she used some... well... 'underhanded tactics' in the last round, it didn't change the outcome, did it? In the face of absolute strength and will, petty tricks are useless."

"A...a sneak attack?" Shido was taken aback, his face flushing slightly, clearly recalling the "accident" in the food section. "Kotori, you...you saw it all?"

“Of course!” Kotori raised her chin with a hint of smugness. “Don’t underestimate Fraxinus’s intelligence network! From the moment you choose your ingredients to every micro-expression, everything is under our surveillance!”

However, her expression immediately became a little more serious. "But... judging from her current state, perhaps she really has given it her all."

That obsession with 'winning no matter what,' even though the methods were a bit flawed, was... in some ways, quite... impressive." She swallowed the word "admirable" and changed her words to, "...impressive." (Hehe, I must win! *pulls out her little sickle*)

The brother and sister stood silently at the entrance to the dressing room, watching the girl on stage, so out of place amidst the surrounding noise, as if enveloped by an invisible barrier. Shido's eyes held worry and complexity, while Kotori's reflected analysis, vigilance, and a hint of indescribable understanding.

[Chinatsu's perspective: I just wanted to cool off for a bit!]

(It's so noisy in the audience... Can these guys get this excited just from eating leftovers?)

Chika closed her eyes, her heart was actually calm, and she even felt like laughing.

She was indeed "reviewing" the performance, but the review included: (Hmm, the acidity was about 15% too high, the problem of the saltiness becoming more pronounced later was also simulated, and the vanilla flavor was too strong... Next time, if she really has to make a mistake, she can fine-tune the details to make the flaws more subtle. Hongren's lively reaction was a pleasant surprise, it really boosted the show's entertainment value.)

The reason she remained standing on the stage was purely because—

(Ah... the ventilation on the stage seems a bit better than in the dressing room... although there's still heat from the lights, it's much better than that stuffy, sweltering dressing room. I almost fainted from the heat just now, so I can enjoy this little bit of airflow while no one's looking...)

She could even feel a faint breeze brushing against her sweaty neck and back, bringing a slight coolness that made her so comfortable that she didn't want to move at all.

(Go back? Go back to that oven-like lounge? No way! Only an idiot would go back now!)

However, her keen senses quickly caught two undisguised gazes coming from the direction of the lounge.

(……Um?)

(Why hasn't that bastard Itsuka Shido gone down yet? What's he doing standing there looking at me?)

(…Damn, why is Kotori here too? Are they watching together?)

(…Wait, is there something on my face? Are you two so bored? Or am I just a good actor? They don't think I'm deeply traumatized and secretly licking my wounds, do they?)

Chika was speechless.

(Please... I just wanted to get some fresh air! What's with those pitying and inquisitive looks you two siblings are giving me? Does it have to be this dramatic?)

She felt like a monkey being stared at in a zoo, her good mood of enjoying the cool breeze ruined.

To maintain her persona, she couldn't just open her eyes and glare back or walk away, so she had to continue in that "closed-eye contemplation" posture, but inwardly she was already ranting:

(Hey, hey, hey, have you seen enough? Go and rest! Do you have to care so much about your opponent? And Kotori, you naturally evil brat, what conclusions did you draw from that little look? Does Fraxinus even care about his opponent's cooling off?!)

(Never mind, I'll pretend I didn't see it... I'll stand there for another thirty seconds, and then I'll find a corner to squat in after they go inside... Why is it so hard to find a quiet place to cool off these days...)

The "loner" on stage and the "observer" at the door of the dressing room, amidst the noisy background noise, create a scene full of misunderstanding and drama.

The real storm is quietly brewing in the countdown to the third round.

(Halftime is over, the third round is about to begin!)

Chapter 51 The Ultimate Stage for Creativity and Intention

Encouraged by Kotori's words, "Go for it, brother! Win with your sincerity!" Shido took a deep breath, turned around, and stepped back onto the stage.

His eyes were more determined than before, filled with a resolute belief in victory.

However, as soon as he stood still, he was met with an extremely displeased gaze from Phoenix Institute Chinatsu.

Those icy blue eyes no longer held the previous aloofness or deliberately feigned vulnerability, but instead carried obvious dissatisfaction and a hint of...sullenness.

(It's all this guy's and his sister's fault!)

Chika was furious.

(They stood there like two guardian deities, watching over me, preventing me from finding a well-ventilated corner to rest. I was forced to stand in front of the kitchen counter like an idiot and tough it out! What good is this little breeze?!)

She felt her back was sweating again, which made her even more annoyed, and her gaze towards Shido naturally carried a hint of resentment.

But to outsiders, it seemed more like her resentment over the previous round's crushing defeat and her readiness for the final battle.

Shido felt a little guilty under that resentful gaze.

(As expected... she still cares a lot about winning and losing. Looks like I need to take this even more seriously!)