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Cluna wasn’t in a good mood. Everyone preparing dishes ant she wouldn’t have the Commander all to herself. However, that ti was short-lived.
Thanks to Helia’s report, Hans had tasked Cluna with diating the situation. She would have loved to teach them a lesson, but this ti was different.
Hans had entrusted this task to her. If she failed again, it would reflect poorly on her. Her accumulated experience wasn’t for naught.
So, Cluna decided to utilize her diation skills to the best of her ability. Her priority was fairness, ensuring a level playing field for everyone.
She diated any issues that arose. The other unit mbers, knowing they couldn’t face the Commander if they caused any more trouble, cooperated surprisingly well.
“The important thing is the pure, natural taste of the ingredients, isn’t it?”
Yuren, along with the other dragons, mostly preferred at. Of course, there were individual preferences, but even those boiled down to whether to eat it raw or cooked.
Fortunately for Hans, Yuren preferred cooked at. However, unlike typical at dishes, Yuren simply grilled the at without any seasoning.
Thanks to Cluna’s diation, they had managed to obtain decent ingredients. So, Yuren chose to make a whole roasted pig. Cluna clicked her tongue and said,
“Indeed, this is truly a dragon-style dish.”
“What’s so special about cooking? Just grill it over a fire, and it’s done!”
“That’s how dragons think, I suppose.”
Since dragons usually swallowed their prey whole and alive, Cluna didn’t find it strange. Yuren lifted the entire pig and placed it over the bonfire.
“Ugh, that’s barbaric…”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. This kind of natural cooking is much more delicious.”
“I used to eat like this sotis when I was with the Beastn.”
The Dwarves and Beastn, who enjoyed at, were impressed by Yuren’s roasted pig, but the Elves shook their heads. It wasn’t that Elves couldn’t eat at, but changing the dietary habits of Elves, who had subsisted on natural foods for centuries, even millennia, was extrely difficult.
Cluna was an unusual case.
“Aren’t you bothered by it, Mom?”
“I’ve eaten things like this many tis.”
“Many tis?! How?!”
“When you’re starving to death, you’ll eat anything.”
“…”
Although Cluna was smiling, the darkness emanating from behind her smile was so profound that Clara subtly averted her gaze.
‘I shouldn’t have asked.’
“Anyway, my dish is done.”
“You’re not planning to serve this on every table, are you?”
“Hmm, is that a problem?”
“We’re in the middle of a war, you know? And we have been for a very long ti.”
Giving an entire roasted pig to each attendee of the Alliance eting was definitely extravagant. They could afford it, but it wouldn’t look good when there were people starving.
Besides, the important thing was the symbolism of the Royal Knights personally preparing and serving the food. One whole roasted pig would be enough, they could fill the rest with chicken or turkey.
Having finished her calculations, Cluna nodded and approved Yuren’s dish.
“Not bad. You pass.”
“Hmm! Thank you!”
“I’ve also prepared sothing special!”
“You, you too with the at?”
If Yuren had roasted a whole pig, Ruby chose to cook beef. Dwarves were known for their mastery of fire, and Ruby was no exception.
The technique of searing the outside while keeping the inside moist was easy compared to working with tal. It also helped that Ruby had practiced cooking.
Adding vegetables and roasted potatoes completed the dish. Ruby confidently presented her steak on a plate. Cluna was genuinely impressed. It was a remarkable dish.
“Your control of fire is excellent. And it seems your practice has paid off.”
“That’s right!”
“But why did you suddenly beco interested in cooking?”
“Th-that’s a secret!”
“Hmm? Don’t tell it’s because you want to cook for soone you like…such a youthful reason?!”
“M-Mom! Calm down!!”
For so reason, Clara had to restrain Cluna, who had suddenly beco agitated. In any case, Ruby and Yuren had passed. Now, only Bayard and Clara remained.
“I-I prepared a dish that our Bear Tribe enjoys.”
“The Beastn’s cuisine varies from tribe to tribe. So tribes are known for their unusual tastes. Bayard, is what you’ve prepared a Bear Tribe specialty?”
“Y-yes.”
Bayard presented a plate of at. Raw at. The only difference was that it was thinly sliced and neatly arranged on the plate, with a sauce on the side.
“This is Yukhoe, isn’t it?”
“Ah, you know it?!”
“I tried it once when I visited the Beastn. If I rember correctly…it was ant as an insult.”
“Don’t just say it like that.”
Elves didn’t particularly like at. Moreover, serving uncooked at to an Elf was not just rude, but an insult.
“But I enjoyed it.”
“You ate raw at like this?!”
“Yes, it’s quite delicious, despite its appearance.”
“I-I don’t know what’s what anymore.”
Clara, completely bewildered, shook her head, denying the reality before her. Regardless, only Clara remained. Perhaps because it was her turn, Clara shouted,
“The dish I prepared is apple pie!!”
“Oh, the cooking utensils weren’t ideal. How did you manage?”
“I managed with sheer willpower!”
“The baking looks surprisingly good.”
The apple pie, made with apples and dough, emitted a sweet fragrance. Cluna nodded. She had been worried, but Clara had grown so much already…
As Cluna marveled at her daughter’s growth, the last person to submit her dish was Helia. Cluna was surprised to see what Helia had prepared. It was Dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken).
“What is this dish?”
“I made it for Teacher before. He ate it all without leaving a single bite.”
“Good, you’ve successfully submitted your dish. Then all that’s left is Commander Hans’ evaluation.”
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Hans felt that things were progressing smoothly with Cluna, who had a clear objective, by his side. He hadn’t expected to receive the dishes in just two days after that chaotic scene.
But the problem ca afterward. Cluna had given a passing grade to every dish. In other words, the winner would be decided by Hans himself.
What did that an?
It ant that everyone present was focused on Hans’s choice. Hans gulped and looked at the dishes before him. They all looked delicious.
Especially since Hans hadn’t expected to see Yukhoe here, he naturally gravitated towards it. Of course, he didn’t forget to sample the other dishes.
“They’re all good. I can feel the effort you put into them.”
“Thank you!”
“Th-thank you!”
“But, the dish I liked the most…is this one.”
The Yukhoe, the roasted pig, the steak, the apple pie, they were all delicious, but in the end, it was Helia’s Dakbokkeumtang that won Hans over.
Hans smiled with satisfaction.
“You’ve beco much better at cooking, Helia.”
“Thank you, Teacher!”
“Ugh, I can’t argue with that.”
“Well, things got a bit out of hand from the start.”
Surprisingly, everyone seed to accept the result readily. While everyone else had been caught up in their emotions and interfering with each other, Helia had been the only one quietly preparing her dish.
Moreover, they were too embarrassed to protest after displaying such unseemly behavior in front of a child. Hans, having confird that there were no objections, spoke.
“Good work, Helia. Is there anything you want?”
“What I want is…”
“Yes, tell .”
“…I’ll tell you later.”
But for so reason, even though Helia was the winner, she smiled bitterly and refused to state her wish imdiately. Hans couldn’t shake the feeling that sothing was bothering her.
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[Translator Notes]
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