Chapter 74
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Grand Chef Korea - Shredding Radish Strips
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1.
"What all of you need to do is simple. Just julienne the radish."
Chef Han Seojin picked up a single radish and headed to the prep station. She first trimmed both ends, then smoothly peeled the skin. After halving the remaining cylindrical radish, she immediately began slicing.
Tak-tak-tak-tak-tak—
The steady sound of knife meeting cutting board echoed evenly. She grabbed the half-moon slices and started julienning them into strips.
"...Wow."
Admiration burst from the contestants. It was truly flawless knife work, without a single wasted motion.
"The strips should be about 7cm long and 2mm thick. Some margin for error is allowed, but straying too far from the standard means immediate elimination."
She spoke calmly while her knife never hesitated by even 1mm. Her gaze turned our way, but her hands moved with perfect precision.
"Length, thickness, cutting speed, shape—everything is under evaluation."
Having finished julienning one radish, she set down her knife.
"This is how it should look. If you're unsure about the length or thickness, come feel them for yourselves. That'll give you a sense of it."
At Chef Han Seojin's words, the contestants swarmed forward.
"Um, let's go too!"
At Seol Yurim's cry, I nodded and approached the prep station. I picked up one of the radish strips from the board and felt it with my hand.
'So this is the length and thickness.'
I grasped it instantly and handed a radish to the girl. She touched it and marveled.
"Wow, it has to be sliced this finely...! This mission won't be easy either..."
"Can you handle a kitchen knife well?"
"...No. Honestly, I don't think I'm that good at it."
True enough, this kind of knife work favored those with extensive practice. It was less about talent and more about effort and experience.
Considering Yurim's age, she was bound to lack the sheer volume of practice. I couldn't shake the thought that she might be eliminated in this mission.
"Unnie. What should I do?"
Sure enough, she wore a worried frown, her fingertips trembling slightly.
"All you can do is trust in the effort you've put in so far."
"Wh-what if I can't trust that?"
"Then you get eliminated."
I shrugged. Yurim hung her head with a sullen expression.
"It's not like there's no strategy at all."
Worried she might start crying, I spoke up again.
"......A strategy?"
"Yeah. Remember what I said earlier? If there are too many people, the judges might set up a filter."
"Yes."
"Grand Chef doesn't usually have basic skills tests. That means this mission was probably made on the spot."
Even if it had been planned ahead, it didn't matter. The goal would be the same anyway.
"Wh-what's the purpose of this mission, then?"
Yurim tilted her head at my explanation.
"To cut down the number of contestants. Evaluating all 50 would be impossible. There's only so much food people can eat."
"That makes sense. So, how can I survive?"
"Hang in there as long as you can. Once the numbers drop below a certain point, they might stop judging."
"What if... it's the opposite? What if they only pick a set number and eliminate the rest?"
"Then... tough luck."
"What's that supposed to mean!"
The girl pouted and scolded me. I chuckled and patted her shoulder.
"If you go in thinking just to endure, you won't even last what you could. Trust your preparation and just give it your all."
"...Got it. No confidence, but I'll do my best."
Chef Kang Taeyeon stepped forward and clapped. The noisy room fell silent.
"If you've all checked, return to your stations."
At his command, the contestants retreated.
"This mission will take a very long time. If you're already thinking of just holding out until the end, quit now."
Yurim flinched at Chef Kang Taeyeon's cold warning. Had he overheard our conversation?
"That lazy mindset will never make you a Grand Chef."
A heavy silence pressed down on the warehouse. Amid the tension, Chef Moon Taeo spoke up.
"Alright, grab as many radishes as you need and return to your stations."
With that, contestants rushed to the pile of radishes on the floor. They took varying amounts, but most filled both arms.
"Unnie, how many are you taking?"
Instead of answering Yurim, I quietly picked up just one radish.
"...Just that one?"
"Yeah. They said take what you need. This is enough for me."
The key to this mission wasn't 'how many' but 'how well.' No need to grab extras, right?
"That makes sense, but..."
"No need to copy me. Better if you take a lot."
With that, I carried my radish to my assigned station.
"...What? That's really all?"
"One radish?"
"Show-off."
As I passed the other contestants, their murmurs reached me. Ignoring them, I stood at my prep station.
"Alright, begin!"
Once everyone was ready, Chef Kang Taeyeon shouted. I pulled the knife from my board.
Tak, tak—
I trimmed the ends, gripped it firmly, and peeled. The white flesh gleamed smoothly.
I halved the radish and laid the half-moon cross-sections flat on the board. Then I raised my knife.
Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat—
Without a hint of hesitation, I moved my hand. The knife tip sliced through the radish grain in steady rhythm.
Half-moon pieces piled up on the board. I tilted them at an angle and spread them out. Then gripped the knife again.
Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat—
As I focused intently, I sensed someone approaching from the front. Looking up, three people were staring at my board.
"Kang Yerin?"
I met Chef Kang Taeyeon's eyes.
"Yes."
"Compared to the others, you've got very few radishes. Just the one, right?"
"Yes."
"Any reason you only took one?"
"You said take what you need. I figured one was enough."
I kept slicing as I talked with them.
I couldn't see the board clearly, but true mastery didn't rely on eyes alone. A real chef used everything at their disposal.
"Such confidence."
The three chefs inspected my strips, then moved to the contestant on the right—the guy who'd just whispered 'show-off' about me.
"Jung Ki-hoon. See this? This is the right length and thickness. But yours is all wrong."
Chef Kang Taeyeon showed him my strips as he explained.
"I-I'll try harder. I'm just a bit nervous right now..."
"No. This is a lack of basics. Jung Ki-hoon."
"Yes..."
He squeezed his eyes shut, as if sensing his fate.
"Remove your hat and leave Grand Chef Korea. Good work."
"...Understood."
Jung Ki-hoon placed his hat on the station and shuffled out of the warehouse. His retreating figure looked utterly pitiful.
With one elimination announced, the surrounding knife sounds grew even quieter. Everyone shrank back.
"Bae Seo-jin. Isn't this too thick to call a julienne?"
Kang Taeyeon picked up one of my strips and approached the contestant to my left.
"At my house, we eat them this thick..."
"Didn't we already explain? 7cm long, 2mm thick? So why bring up how you eat it at home now?"
"......Sorry."
The man bowed his head at the sharp critique.
"Bae Seo-jin. Remove your hat and leave Grand Chef Korea. Good work."
"Ah..."
Bae Seo-jin sighed deeply, set his hat on the station, and left the warehouse.
With eliminations on both sides, I figured it was my turn. But Kang Taeyeon took another step forward.
"Seol Yurim."
The contestant there was the butter girl, Yurim. She froze, trembling, and stopped slicing.
"Y-yes...!"
He scanned the strips in her bowl, then spoke.
"Do you even know what you're slicing? Look closely and cut properly. Do you want to go home? Should I send you now?"
"N-no! I want to stay! I want to go all the way to the finals!"
"Keep this up, and I'll have to eliminate you. Be more precise."
"Y-yes, got it!"
Fortunately, Seol Yurim avoided immediate elimination. She must have been a bit better than the others.
"Kang Yerin."
Kang Taeyeon, back in front of me, met my gaze. I didn't look away.
"Yes."
He stared at me for a moment, then extended his hand.
"Congratulations. You've advanced to the next round. Head upstairs and rest."
"Understood."
I shook hands with Chef Kang Taeyeon and headed straight to the second floor. Contestants' eyes followed me as I passed each station.
Gazes mixed with envy, awe, jealousy, even anger.
"She really passed with just one radish."
"Insane... So jealous..."
Halfway up the stairs, I turned. My eyes met Yurim's. She beamed and mouthed silently.
'Congratulations.'
"Slice faster."
I gave a small smile and that advice, then continued up.
On the second floor, I grabbed a drink from the table. After twisting off the cap and taking a sip, I leaned on the railing and looked down.
'How will it go...'
My passing was expected. The real question was Seol Yurim. Could she survive this mission?
'Hard to say.'
Still, I hoped she'd make it.