Chapter 103
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Grand Chef Korea - Yeokjisaji (Put Yourself in Others' Shoes)
1.
The parking lot submerged into silence. Everyone froze on the spot at the unexpected theme.
"...Chef Han Seojin. Surely, you don't mean I have to compete against Yurim who is next to me right now? And one of us will definitely be eliminated?"
"Yes. That is correct."
As Han Seojin nodded firmly, Lee Seohwa squeezed her eyes shut and dropped her gaze to the floor. Yurim wore a dazed expression.
"...Yerin unni."
Chaeyoon called my name. When I looked back, she was smiling. I thought she would be shocked, so it was a bit unexpected.
"They say enemies meet on a single log bridge... we ended up facing each other like this in the end, didn't we?"
"I know. What you said might really come true."
The two of us looked at each other without a word.
"How do you feel right now?"
"I'm a little scared, but excited at the same time. Because this... is a moment I've wished for so much."
Chaeyoon's eyes sparkled.
"And I thought I would definitely face you someday, Unni."
"Really?"
"Yes. Because my goal is winning, and I believed you would definitely be on that path, Unni."
"Should I say I'm honored?"
"If you wish, Unni."
At that single remark, a smirk escaped me.
"Just a few days ago, a kid who was about to give up because she couldn't make a single sandwich... is confident today?"
"Unni told me. To keep thinking and try challenging myself. So this time, I'm going to try crashing into the wall called 'Unni' with all my might."
"It will probably be like hitting a rock with an egg?"
"You never know the length until you measure it. There's also a saying that small peppers are spicy, right?"
Han Chaeyoon's hands were trembling slightly as she spoke. Conscious of my gaze, she flinched and clasped her hands tightly together.
"Do your best. I'll wish you luck."
"You too, Unni."
"Well... I think you'll need it more than me."
Facing each other, we shared a short but heavy silence. More than words were contained within our gazes.
The staff filming us from the side was beaming. It was a face that said they got a good scene.
'The atmosphere in other teams is bloody too.'
Just an hour ago, they were colleagues who celebrated survival together and built friendship. But at a single word from Chef Han Seojin, we immediately became enemies.
As expected, there are no eternal enemies nor eternal friends. Especially inside a competition program like this, even more so.
'Lee Seohwa and Yurim suddenly became a bit awkward too.'
True, Yurim must be flustered as well. They were on the same team just a moment ago, but now they've become enemies. Lee Seohwa isn't the type to be cruel enough to cut off a relationship at once either.
Actually, what caught my eye more than them was the team of Ji Seungwoo and Han Sorin, who took 2nd place in the previous mission.
"Those two looked like they were going to date, but the moment the match was announced, the atmosphere became chilly right away."
"...I know right."
As I spoke casually, Chaeyoon flinched slightly and answered quietly.
"I rather think it's a relief I was on a team with you. Since I was able to get a bit closer through this opportunity."
"...Me too. I really learned a lot from you, Unni. I couldn't say it because I was shy all this time... but right here, I want to say thank you."
Although she still showed signs of being young, her heart was more serious than anyone else.
'She wasn't a bad kid even when I first saw her.'
I slowly exhaled and deliberately put on an evil smile. Still, I should take on the villain role here.
"And there's one more reason. Do you know what it is?"
"What is it?"
"Because if it's you, I feel I can eliminate you without guilt. We are opponents who promised to take each other down anyway. Aren't we?"
Chaeyoon widened her eyes for a moment, then pouted her lips and shouted.
"Just you wait and see! Like dripping water pierces a rock, that arrogance of yours will hold you back, Unni!"
"Then, I shouldn't let my guard down and must do my best too?"
"...T-That's a bit. Can't you just... let your guard down a little...?"
Chaeyoon bowed her head slightly and trailed off. That appearance was so cute that I ended up bursting into laughter.
"Let's really do our best. Okay?"
"Yes!"
Our handshake captured by the camera. The staff filming that scene gave a thumbs up and nodded.
"Now now, since the atmosphere seems to have settled a bit, we will guide you through the rest of the seventh mission."
Chef Han Seojin clapped her hands and gathered people's attention.
"This mission will be conducted as a 1-on-1 battle, and of the two people, only one person survives."
"There is one single exception. If behavior of losing on purpose is confirmed, both sides will be eliminated."
Chef Kang Taeyeon said with a serious face. It was a stance that he wouldn't tolerate cheating at all.
"Of course, there wouldn't be anyone like that here though."
"Then, we will reveal the seventh mission right away."
As Chef Han Seojin gestured, a staff member came out holding a scroll. When she slowly unfurled it, large Chinese characters were revealed in the center.
[易地思之]
It was written like that there.
"...Yeokjisaji (Put yourself in others' shoes)?"
As I muttered, Chef Han Seojin nodded and said,
"Correct. The theme of this mission is exactly Yeokjisaji. If you look at The Art of War, the phrase 'Jipijigi Baekjeonbultae' appears."
"It means if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles."
Chef Moon Taeo gave a supplementary explanation. Following that, Chef Han Seojin opened her mouth again.
"Then I will ask. How well do you know your own cooking? And how well do you know the cooking of the enemy who was your colleague until just a moment ago?"
At her voice, the parking lot began to fill with tension again.
"There is only one way to confirm that. To cook it yourself, and taste it yourself."
Chef Kang Taeyeon stepped forward and spoke.
"In this mission, you must make a total of two dishes."
He held up two fingers and continued.
"One is the dish you are most confident in yourself. And the other is your opponent's dish."
"Ah, so..."
Small exclamations leaked out from the participants. Only now could they properly understand the mission theme.
"A total time of 3 days is given for this mission. During that time, you must ponder what dish you are most confident in."
"And 3 days later, you will actually make that dish and swap to eat it."
"The opponent will get the opportunity to eat the dish you made themselves and analyze it. And 3 days after that, the real battle begins."
At those words, the participants gulped.
"You may reproduce the opponent's dish exactly. Or you may completely recreate it containing your own interpretation."
"The important thing is whether you revealed your own color in the existing dish. And how much further you developed it."
"In addition, your own cooking must not stop either. If it's the same appearance as three days ago, that cannot be called growth."
At Chef Kang Taeyeon's words, I slowly nodded. There was nothing wrong in what he said.
"The content of the mission. Did you understand everything?"
"Yes..."
At his question, people answered with powerless voices. The mission theme was simple, but everyone must be feeling that accomplishing it is absolutely not easy.
"There is a saying that imitation is the mother of creation. I hope this mission becomes an opportunity for you to look back on yourself and understand another person's cooking."
*
'What dish should I make.'
The dish I am most confident in. Several things came to mind immediately, but strangely, I didn't like any of them.
'Should I go towards dessert?'
Strategically, it might be a good idea. Since Chaeyoon didn't seem very confident in desserts.
But this felt uncomfortable too. Doesn't it feel too cheap? And actually, I didn't really want to make dessert either.
'Because it's in an ambiguous position to say it's what I'm most confident in.'
I should think about it a little more. It's not like I have to decide right away anyway. Thinking for another day or two should be fine.
Knock knock-
I'm bored, should I look at the community or something. Just as I was thinking that, someone knocked on my room door. I rose from the bed.
"Who is it?"
"Unni... it's me, Yurim."
A hesitant voice coming from beyond the door. I pulled the doorknob. When the door opened, Yurim with a gloomy expression came into view.
"What's up?"
"Just, I had a lot of things to think about. I thought it might get a little better if I talked to you, Unni..."
"Come in."
I smiled and stepped aside slightly. She bowed her head and carefully entered the room.
"What should I give you to drink?"
"Water is fine."
I poured water full from the purifier and put it down in front of her. Yurim lifted the cup without a word and drank it in one go. The sound of the cup being put down echoed in the room.
"So what's the worry?"
"It's not really a worry. Just, I feel reluctant about facing Seohwa unni."
"It can't be helped. Grand Chef Korea is a competition program. To survive, you have to eliminate someone. It's been like that all along, hasn't it?"
"But this is the first time for a mission where I eliminate someone with my own hands directly. And that opponent is Seohwa unni."
Yurim's hands on the table fidgeted. Her gaze was directed at the empty water cup.
"While doing the food truck mission, really... she felt like a real older sister. She was the second reliable person I've met in my life."
"Second?"
When I asked casually, Yurim raised her head as if startled.
"Ah, the first is Yerin unni!"
I asked without much meaning, but I felt good for no reason.
"...Thanks?"
I coughed in vain once, and opened my mouth again.
"So you feel guilty that you have to eliminate Lee Seohwa, whom you got close to like... a real sister, with your own hands. Is this it?"
"That's right."
"Yurim, you're more arrogant than I thought?"
"Yes!?"
Yurim opened her eyes round and was flustered.
"Why is the premise that you will win laid out? Why do you talk as if Lee Seohwa will definitely be eliminated? Isn't it possible that you could fall?"
"Ah... that's true...?"
Yurim had a face as if she had been hit on the head for a moment.
"When we first met, you were so unconfident. Now you speak as if winning against others is natural."
"T-That is... I mean..."
"It means you changed for the better. Don't be too shocked. Chef Kang Taeyeon said so too. That a chef must believe their own cooking is the most delicious in the world."
"...He did."
"You've become that kind of chef too. A chef who believes in their own cooking, and in themselves."
"Ah..."
I smiled and spoke.
"Going back to your worry, actually there is exactly one thing I can say to you here."
"What is it?"
"Do your best."
"Do my best?"
Yurim tilted her head.
"Yeah. That is the highest courtesy you can show to Seohwa. I don't know if you will really win, but if you clash with full power and lose... wouldn't that be unavoidable?"
"That is true, but what do I do about feeling guilty..."
"That can't be helped. So are you going to lose on purpose? Or will you be eliminated instead?"
"...That's not it."
"Then the answer is out. Just cook doing the best you can. And accept the result. Because that is exactly a real chef."
Yurim seemed to ponder for a moment, then opened her mouth carefully.
"Then... will you do that to Chaeyoon unni too, Unni?"
"Yeah."
I answered without hesitation.
"Unconditionally."
Yurim looked at me, unable to say anything. Hesitation still remained in her eyes, but soon that emotion faded gradually.
What filled that place instead was 'determination'. A determination regarding the bitter but clear reality that I survive only if I eliminate someone.
"I understand. Then I will also do my best to defeat Seohwa unni. And..."
"And?"
"I will win against Unni in the finals too!"
I smirked and patted her head.
"Do well. I'll wish you luck."
Yurim nodded and rose from her seat. When she reached the door, I called Yurim once more.
"Yurim-ah."
Yurim stopped and looked back.
"You know that... just us two won't be remaining after this mission ends, right? It's not the finals?"
"Ah..."
Yurim's face, which had become fierce, went blank. Then soon, with her face red, she hurriedly turned her head.
"E-Excuse me...!"
With those words as the last, she closed the door and disappeared. Her ears, seen fleetingly through the closing door gap, were burning bright red.