Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Magical Cooking Contest (3)
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Everyone ends up doing something impulsive at least once in life.
Spending way more than they should on a game character they like, or snapping up stocks from some random company on a whim because it "feels right." Or maybe firing off a drunken confession in a group chat at 3 a.m.
Most of those actions lack any real rationality.
Impulses are like that by nature.
The Magical Quartermaster was no exception.
She'd committed her own impulsive act—forcing Kim Siyul and the magical girls into the Magical Cooking Contest, more or less against their will.
Of course, she had her reasons.
'That fucking trash bastard.'
It was all because of Kim Siyul.
Honestly, holding the position of Magical Quartermaster, she figured she could brush off most magical complaints or magical criticisms without much trouble.
With all the magical experience she'd racked up, why would a few words dent her?
If petty stuff like that got to her, she never would've embezzled magical funds in the first place.
So she'd thought she could just let it slide.
'That prick, mocking my Magical kimchi like that, fuck.'
Until she heard Kim Siyul's magical mockery.
Even a battle-hardened Magical Quartermaster like her couldn't stomach him calling her Magical kimchi some Magical paocai knockoff...
No, scratch that.
She absolutely could not tolerate him slamming it as not even reaching Magical paocai levels.
To put it simply, he'd hit a nerve.
Hard.
So she'd shoved Kim Siyul and the magical girls into the Magical Cooking Contest. And made damn sure Kim Siyul himself couldn't participate.
She had multiple goals in mind.
She wanted them ridiculed by the other magical girls, driven half-mad under the magical pressure, and she wanted to watch those magical girls turn on Kim Siyul for landing them in this mess.
In short, using others to do her dirty work.
Thus, the Magical Quartermaster wanted Kim Siyul to pay a price.
For daring to run his mouth at her.
But.
As the ways of the world go, actions born from impulse tend to lead to one inevitable feeling.
Regret.
'I'm screwed...'
Right now, the Magical Quartermaster was regretting her impulsive decision just as much.
Truth be told, there were plenty of safer, more reliable ways to torment him if she'd really wanted to.
For a high-ranking magical girl like her, messing with low-tier soldiers was child's play.
But in the heat of the moment, her brain had frozen up, and she'd acted on pure rage.
At first, though, it had actually gone great.
Better than expected, even.
Kim Siyul and his magical girl entourage were all visibly flustered, scrambling around in confusion.
She couldn't hear their words, but the tense, hostile vibe between them was palpable.
One wrong move, and they'd erupt into a full-blown fight.
Exactly the flow the Magical Quartermaster had hoped for.
But.
The moment the hot blood pounding in her head cooled even slightly, her long-numbed reason finally pointed out the fact she'd been desperately ignoring.
The magical risks far outweighed the magical rewards.
'I must be insane...'
The Magical Cooking Contest was one of the major events.
Dealing with the theme of magical meals, with high-ranking magical generals serving as judges—no one could deny its importance.
Even getting in wasn't easy.
You needed a Magical Cooking certification at minimum, and sometimes proof of related magical activities.
Especially, you needed a recommendation letter from a verified magical sponsor.
And not just anyone could be a sponsor—minimum requirement was a mid-level magical officer with substantial service years.
Tedious, stringent magical entry rules.
But unavoidable.
Given the contest's prestige, they almost seemed too lax.
And yet.
The Magical Quartermaster had rammed Kim Siyul and his girls into this prestigious Magical Cooking Contest.
Skipping nearly all procedures, leaning on her magical connections and every trick in the book.
All for her flimsy goal of magical revenge.
A textbook case of half-assed magical handling to force them in.
'I really must be crazy!'
Looking back, it was insanely risky.
If Kim Siyul and the girls botched it at the contest and caused a massive magical embarrassment, great.
If they got hit with harsh criticism, curses, and even magically stuffed as exhibits at the end—perfect.
But.
What if their screw-up went too far?
What if they pulled off something so over-the-top it wasn't just a simple magical flop?
'We're totally fucked.'
Their entry qualifications would come under fire, and sooner or later, the arrows of blame would point straight at the Magical Quartermaster.
She was the one registered as their magical recommender, after all.
She'd volunteered for it because time was short and no convenient magical girl was around to dump it on.
'If I'd known...'
She should've forced it on someone else. The Magical Quartermaster's eyes dulled with regret.
The magical outlook was grim.
Even now, things weren't looking good.
One of the magical girls she'd bundled with Kim Siyul had already unleashed a bibimyeon disaster.
'Who the fuck mixes noodles like that!'
She'd fed the magical judges not just the food, but a dose of magical red medicine too.
A dynamic, horrifying helping.
'That fucking girl, seriously.'
A magical catastrophe.
No, a magical mega-disaster.
Teetering on the magical cliff's edge—or half over already, and that wasn't hyperbole.
This time, even her magical network might not cover it.
Precisely, it couldn't. High-ranking magical generals were involved.
And if things got even worse from here?
The aftermath was obvious.
'I'm done for, really.'
They'd definitely hold her magically accountable.
And in the process, her buried magical embezzlement scandal could resurface.
Then, it was truly over.
'No...'
All for one impulsive act, her entire magical girl career was about to go down the drain.
Maybe that's why the Magical Quartermaster unwittingly clasped her hands in prayer.
Then, watching the three magical girls submitting their dish, she prayed desperately in her heart.
For good magical reviews.
To get through this unscathed.
'Please.'
Save her.
Regardless of the Magical Quartermaster's desperate magical prayers, the head judge's calm voice echoed softly.
"Hm? You three are together?"
"Yeah, since Magical cooking can get complicated, we split the Magical prep work among us."
Sora gave an awkward smile and continued.
"It doesn't break any Magical rules, right?"
"But you only get one Magical shot at it. Any specific Magical theme?"
"Yes, our Magical theme is Magical Harmony."
"Mind sharing why you chose that Magical theme?"
Sora met the judge magical girl's eyes steadily and slowly opened her mouth.
"Well, with everyone here from different Magical nationalities, we went with Magical Harmony to symbolize understanding each other."
"Ah, now I'm curious what kind of Magical dish it is."
The judge magical girl smiled with anticipation. Sora returned a faint smile.
"It's a Magical salad."
Though it's not like any salad you know. With that, Sora carefully placed their prepared Magical dish before the magical judges.
"What do you think?"
"Definitely not your standard salad. But mixed with dressing, so it counts as one."
Soon, the judge magical girl began analyzing the Magical salad methodically.
"Rice and veggies stir-fried together and tossed in sauce, toppings are two sunny-side-up eggs, and... this is...?"
The judge magical girl's words trailed off into doubt.
Sora quickly answered her question.
"Magical octopus."
"Huh? This is Magical octopus?"
The judge magical girl tilted her head.
Sora nodded gracefully.
"Yes, we peeled off all the skin and suckers for that soft Magical texture."
"Oh, really! This is gonna taste amazing!"
Watching this scene, a smile naturally crept onto the Magical Quartermaster's lips.
The mood was warm and friendly.
The Magical flow was good.
If the results here were decent—even just passable—Magical survival was possible.
The bibimyeon disaster girl could be pinned as a solo Magical deviant.
'It's fine. This is a solid Magical recovery.'
Meanwhile, true to her word of anticipation, the judge magical girl extended her Magical chopsticks without delay.
Toward the peeled Magical octopus.
- Thud.
"Eh?"
But the Magical chopsticks never reached the food.
"Please wait just a moment."
Taishi's palm had suddenly blocked their path.
The judge magical girl voiced a quiet, slightly annoyed question.
"Why is that?"
"This Magical dish is incomplete. The final Magical ingredient hasn't been added yet."
"Is that so? Then will you finish it?"
"Of course."
Taishi swiftly added the last topping, flashing a bright smile.
"It's complete now."
Magical harmony had finally been achieved.