"Mm, hmm..."
A sudden weakness in her legs, accompanied by waves of impact from deep within her body.
As if anticipating it, Erina Nakiri reached out to steady herself on the table, her breathing noticeably heavier than before.
But as she prepared to taste the third spoonful, the plate in front of her was already completely empty, not even a trace of the sauce remaining!
To be precise, the plate was empty just as she finished her second spoonful. Rindo Kobayashi had eaten the most, finishing a third of it herself.
At this moment, the young girl's cheeks were exceptionally flushed. The unique numbing and spicy qualities of the Mapo Tofu made her body feel somewhat hot, and her breathing grew heavy.
"Mmm~"
She closed her eyes, trying to alleviate the sensation, but in an instant, she fell into an illusion.
Influenced by the flavor of the Mapo Tofu, she felt as if she had entered a hot pot made of special white chili oil!
Countless streams of white chili oil crawled over her body, relentlessly attacking inwards. The faint stimulation from the capsaicin made her want to cry out.
This feeling! It was truly a coexistence of pain and pleasure!
The others experienced something largely similar. The numbing, spicy, and hot Mapo Tofu plunged them into illusions. When they came to their senses, the rich white chili oil seemed to have invaded every part of their bodies.
Although there was no outward change in them, the vivid scenes from the illusion and the tangible sensations in their bodies remained fresh in their memories.
"This feeling is truly! Ah!"
On the other side, due to the effect of her "God's Tongue," Erina Nakiri's thighs went taut, her hips tilted slightly forward, and her entire body arched.
The others looked over and saw her five fingers gripping the table tightly. The intense impact caused her eyes to roll back, and she nearly fainted.
The aftertaste.
It fully erupted a minute after eating the white Mapo Tofu!
Though the others' tongues weren't as sensitive as the "God's Tongue," they too leaned on the nearby tables, gasping for air with rapid breaths.
"What a terrifying dish! This is the first time I've ever felt like this after tasting a dish! It's truly an incredible sensation!"
Looking at the empty plate before her, devoid of even a single drop of soup base, Rindo Kobayashi's eyes were wary, as if she were looking at something taboo.
Although Megumi Tadokoro and Yuki Yoshino said nothing, their flushed cheeks spoke volumes. That sensation left them both expectant and shy.
Expectant to once again be covered by the chili oil, to feel the waves of stimulation it brought; shy of the intensity of the stimulation, as if Dylan were invisibly orchestrating it all.
Thump.
"Please accept me as your disciple, Master Dylan!"
At the same time, a "thump" echoed in everyone's ears, snapping them out of their reverie. They all turned their gazes towards the sound.
Then they discovered the person kneeling was none other than Terunori Kuga, who had been questioning Dylan's skills since morning!
At this moment, Terunori Kuga was looking at Dylan with an earnest expression. Seeing that everyone's attention was drawn to him, and Dylan also looked over, he immediately began to kowtow.
He had nothing he wanted to say; he only wished to express his sincerity through this.
Bang, bang, bang.
The sound of his head hitting the floor was exceptionally clear in the quiet classroom. Dylan watched everything before him without much change in his expression.
It was as if he had known all along.
And indeed, it was true. After becoming the leader of the Dark Cuisine Society, countless people had come to challenge him. There were also many who, after failing, immediately knelt and begged to become his disciple.
After all, in the culinary world, finding a good master was incredibly difficult!
For this reason, there were even beautiful women who offered themselves, but in Dylan's eyes at the time, they were merely skeletal hags coveting his fame.
Although he was prepared to build a harem, he wasn't one to accept anyone indiscriminately. Otherwise, if someone grasped his weakness, he would fall into a state of eternal damnation!
A physical relationship devoid of emotion was, to him, less fulfilling than making a couple more dishes. That, at least, would make him feel content and satisfied.
However, while Dylan could handle it calmly...
The others couldn't.
The sudden change surprised everyone present, especially Rindo Kobayashi, who covered her mouth with her hand, her face full of astonishment.
That Terunori Kuga, who was usually so incredibly proud, was now bowing his head and kowtowing to someone not much older than himself?!
Was the skill gap so vast that he had abandoned the idea of surpassing him and instead decided to become his disciple?
Though the other girls didn't speak, their faces were also filled with shock, finding themselves in an awkward situation, unsure whether to stay or leave.
At this moment, they were all complaining inwardly.
How could someone ask to become a disciple in front of so many people! Do you think this is New Year's and you're asking for a red envelope?! And he's even kowtowing so forcefully.
"No."
Looking at the man who was continuously kowtowing and then staring at him with a fierce gaze, Dylan refused without hesitation.
"Why?"
Seeing Dylan's decisive refusal, Terunori Kuga's body stiffened. He looked up, asking in disbelief.
This guy had just been expressing admiration for him, even patting his shoulder encouragingly. How did he become so cold in an instant?!
"I just don't want to, that's all. There's no special reason."
Taking on a disciple meant taking responsibility. If Alice Nakiri hadn't helped him back then, Dylan wouldn't have accepted her as his disciple. This applied even more so to others.
Although he quite admired Terunori Kuga's courage, admiration was one thing; actually taking him as a disciple felt like it would be troublesome.
Moreover, courage without skill, in his opinion, wasn't much to look at. It was only because he was somewhat reminiscent of his younger self that he had praised him a couple of times.
Did this guy misunderstand something?
Back when he dueled with the powerhouses of the Dark Cuisine Society, the price of failure was one's limbs!
More severe punishments included having a shameful mark branded on one's chest, losing the qualification to be a chef, and some who lost were even thrown into the Yangtze River to feed the fish. Such wagers had existed!
Fortunately, he won in the end.
He won every single battle.
With his astonishing track record, after passing the Dark Cuisine Society's Lin Chef examination, he obtained the title: General of a Hundred Victories, Dylan.
It signified his invincibility, victorious in a hundred battles!
At the same time, he also earned the respect of all the powerhouses in the Dark Cuisine Society, because it was inherently a place where the strong were admired.
People began to feel it was an honor to be challenged by him. Each time, they would do their utmost to prepare, and no one mentioned the punishment for the loser anymore.
That was also the year Dylan's skills improved飛快 (rapidly)!
"Just... don't want to..."
Watching Dylan, whose eyes seemed to be gradually glazing over, as if he wasn't paying him any attention, Terunori Kuga muttered to himself, momentarily unsure of what to say.
This reason was so blunt. He couldn't find any angle to persuade him, and it even choked back many of the words he wanted to say.
"Really, not even the slightest possibility?"
Terunori Kuga looked up, asking with a hint of unwillingness.
He had struggled internally for a long time before finally making up his mind, only to be rejected so mercilessly?!
"None."
Dylan shook his head, his expression unchanging.
This guy came looking for trouble because he didn't believe in his cooking skills, wanting him to get out of Tōtsuki.
Now that he lost, he wanted to become his disciple and learn all his techniques. How could there be such a good deal in the world?
If it weren't for the pleasant evening he had spent with Alice Nakiri last night, leaving him with pent-up excitement that had nowhere to be vented, he wouldn't have agreed to this battle.
He was willing to accept anyone's challenge, but if they were too weak, he would usually have to consider it, and refusal was the norm.
Just like Ryo Kurokiba back then.
Unfortunately, Alice Nakiri wasn't with him, otherwise, it would have been most appropriate for her to handle it, and she could also gain some dueling experience.
A white figure flashed through Dylan's mind—that girl was going to compete with Ryo Kurokiba.
However, he really didn't expect Ryo Kurokiba to actually make it to Tōtsuki Academy without Alice bringing him. Did he apply himself, or was he invited?
Dylan couldn't help but wonder.
Had the gears of fate begun to turn?
"Sorry to have made a fool of myself. Can I call you Teacher Dylan in the future? I'm very interested in your classes and might skip other classes to attend yours."
Hearing Dylan's firm words, Terunori Kuga slowly stood up from the ground, not looking too dejected, but rather with an eager expression.
"That's up to you. As long as it's during class time, I'll answer any questions you have. Also, regarding your Mapo Tofu, don't add pepper powder to it anymore."
"Pepper and chili, these two types of spiciness are different. When mixed, they can easily affect each other's flavors. It's better not to add it at all."
Looking at Terunori Kuga's already cold plate of Mapo Tofu, Dylan identified the problem after just one bite.
Of course, there were also issues with the heat control, which wasn't particularly precise, but these could be remedied with practice.
But adding pepper powder to Mapo Tofu was a classic mistake.
"Don't add pepper powder to it? It will cause its flavor to clash with the chili..."
Dylan's words left Terunori Kuga somewhat dazed.
Then, as if he had just reacted, he picked up a spoon, scooped up some of the Mapo Tofu from his own plate, closed his eyes, and savored it carefully.
"The spiciness of pepper is more of a bitter spiciness, which is distinctly different from the spiciness used in making Mapo Tofu."
That was the meaning behind Dylan's words.
Feeling the taste on the tip of his tongue, Terunori Kuga delved deeper and deeper, finally discovering that hint of bitter spiciness at the core of the heat!
"So that's it! I always thought there was a slight dissonance in the aftertaste when I made this dish. So this was the reason!"
Opening his eyes, Terunori Kuga's face was filled with excitement, as if he had solved a world-class problem. And indeed, it was true.
At his culinary level, it would take him at least ten years, or perhaps even a lifetime, to discover this subtle error.
Because of this mistake, many Special-Grade Chefs would also make it, and then it would be passed down from generation to generation, becoming an erroneous tradition.
For ordinary people, even if pepper powder was added, they wouldn't be able to taste it, so it didn't have much impact.
But for skilled experts, even the amount of one gram of pepper powder was enough to conclude that the dish didn't taste good.
"Alright, it's getting late. Next, I have to give individual lessons to these three. There's nothing else for you here, you can go back."
Looking at the alarm clock on the wall, it was unknowingly already one in the afternoon. This was also the time he had agreed upon with Erina Nakiri and the others.
However, the fact that these three managed to arrive more than ten minutes before the agreed time was enough to show their sincere passion for cooking, which was very good.
"But I still want a bit..."
Hearing Dylan's words, Terunori Kuga was still somewhat reluctant to leave. Just as he was about to say something, Rindo Kobayashi pulled him away first.
"Then we'll take our leave first."
"This is my LINE number. Teacher, remember to add me. If I have any questions about cooking, I can also ask you through LINE."
As she spoke, Rindo Kobayashi slipped a piece of paper into Dylan's hand, simultaneously flashing a bright smile.
With that said, she grabbed Terunori Kuga by the back of his collar and left, the whole movement smooth and uninterrupted, as if rehearsed countless times.
"Alright, don't mind them anymore. Regarding the Yu Xiang Rou Si you prepared earlier, I'll only teach it once. How much you learn is up to you."
Clapping his hands to regain the attention of Erina Nakiri and the others, Dylan took out the prepared ingredients and began his cooking lesson.
This was their reward for their excellent performance in class.
Night fell, and the sky gradually darkened.
After the afternoon's teaching session, Dylan went home for dinner, then left again under the pretext of taking a stroll, returning to the teaching building area.
At this moment, the teaching building was pitch black. Because it was the weekend, it was eerily quiet, giving off a sinister and strange atmosphere.
Click.
The classroom lights turned on. Dylan blew warm air onto his hands, then looked towards Hisako Arato, who had just arrived at the classroom door not far away.
"Not a minute more, not a minute less."
"Welcome to the place of dark special training, Miss Hisako Arato. May I ask, do you wish to become stronger?"
Looking at the exceptionally beautiful girl before him, Dylan somehow had a microphone in his hand. He turned the volume to maximum and spoke in an impassioned voice.
"I do! Please teach me, Teacher Dylan!"
Seeing this scene, Hisako Arato swallowed.
Subconsciously, she felt he was a bit unreliable, but thinking of Dylan's incredibly powerful skills, she took another step forward and earnestly requested him.
"Then I shall impart to you the art of Chinese stir-frying. You will be able to master any dish with ease, allowing it to present its best flavor. Are you willing?"
Putting down the microphone in his hand, Dylan approached Hisako Arato and said this.
"The stir-frying method produces too much oily smoke. Student will not learn, student will not learn."
Hearing Dylan's words, Hisako Arato waved her hands repeatedly to express her unwillingness.
She didn't want to be around Lady Erina smelling of oily smoke; she would definitely be嫌弃 (disliked/disdained) by her!
"Then I shall teach you Western sauce preparation. No matter the ingredient, as long as the corresponding sauce is used, it can become incredibly delicious."
Hearing Hisako Arato's refusal, Dylan wasn't too surprised. Stir-frying indeed wasn't quite suitable for this young secretary, so he changed his approach.
"Sauce preparation is too limited. Student will not learn, student will not learn!"
Hisako Arato continued to shake her head. Western sauce preparation wouldn't help her much; it wasn't what she wanted to learn.
"You! You won't learn this, and you won't learn that. Then why did you come here?"
Dylan feigned anger, turning his back as he spoke, acting as if he didn't want to bother with her.
"Student wishes to learn the way of medicinal cuisine, to nurse the body of the person I respect, and at the same time, to carry on the legacy passed down by my family. Please grant my request, Teacher!"
Seeing Dylan like this, Hisako Arato couldn't help but feel anxious. She trotted over to face him and spoke in a pleading tone.
"In that case, do you have the determination to endure hardship?"
Lowering his head to look Hisako Arato in the eyes from less than a centimeter away, watching her slightly flickering gaze, Dylan asked the question he most wanted to know.
"I do! Student can endure hardship! As long as I can become stronger and keep the person I want to protect healthy, student is willing to endure hardship!"
Although her eyes flickered somewhat, Hisako Arato's voice was firm. Clearly, she had already made her decision when she came here.
"Very good. I hope you can remember what you just said, and no matter how much hardship you endure, don't complain!"
Hearing Hisako Arato's firm Japanese, Dylan suddenly clapped his hands and said with a smile.
"Ah? Eh!"
Looking at Dylan's demeanor, the tense atmosphere instantly dissipated. Hisako Arato's expression changed; she suddenly felt as if she had been tricked!
"Alright, since you've made up your mind, let's start training tonight."
"From now on, you must come here every night at eight o'clock. If you're late, perform poorly, or fail to satisfy me, you'll get your bottom spanked, you know."
Smack~
As he spoke, Dylan somehow produced a ferule, tapping it against a nearby table while speaking, creating a crisp sound.
"Eh... Eh eh eh?!"
Seeing the ferule that appeared from nowhere, Hisako Arato's face changed slightly, almost thinking she had boarded a pirate ship.
"If you want to surpass the old-timers, you must put in effort beyond what ordinary people can achieve. If you want to give up, then get out now!"
"Think about it. After you surpass Erina, that young lady's shocked, unwilling, and finally admiring expression – isn't that much better than you lowering yourself to flatter her?"
The ferule continuously struck the table. Dylan's voice seemed to possess some kind of magic, subconsciously influencing Hisako Arato, making her unable to resist believing him.
"Make... Make Lady Erina... show an expression of admiration towards me?!"
Hisako Arato muttered to herself, closing her eyes as a small scene already played out in her mind.
"Hisako, Hisako, how do you do this?"
"You're really amazing! It feels like you know everything. Compared to you, I'm so lacking. From now on, let me call you Lady Hisako!"
"Since you have expectations, then act quickly! First, show me everything you currently know. Make your most skilled dish!"
The ferule struck the table once more. Dylan tossed over a bag filled with various Chinese medicinal herbs.
Scattered out along with it were various other ingredients.
"I hope you can endure it and successfully transform in the end, Hisako!"
"Yes!"
Hisako Arato nodded seriously, then looked at the bag of ingredients before her, beginning to hesitate about what to make to satisfy Dylan!
"Make the first dish that comes to your mind! Act now! Those who dilly-dally cannot become good chefs!"
"Yes!"
The ferule lifted and fell, making a crisp sound. Under the lights were the young man's slightly excited face and the girl's suppressed and restrained shame.
However, as long as she could become stronger.
And make Erina Nakiri call her Lady Hisako!
She was willing to endure the trials here!
At this very moment, a hint of madness had appeared in Hisako Arato's eyes.
_____
Greetings! ✨ Walnut here!
🔥 AN INCREDIBLE OFFER IS ON THE TABLE! 🔥
We're only 13 members away from our 65-member goal! 🎯
The second we hit it, 10 BONUS CHAPTERS for ALL STORIES will be released to everyone. No exceptions!
🪦 Your membership is the key. Let's make it happen!
100 powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone! 5 reviews = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone!
Secure your early access before it's too late!
👻 patreon.com/Walnutchan