Chapter 81
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Grand Chef Korea - Team Mission
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1.
"We sincerely welcome all of you to the fourth mission of Grand Chef."
Chef Kang Taeyeon stepped up to the podium and looked down at us as he spoke. The contestants listened intently, mouths shut.
"Up until now, we've been testing each of your individual skills. But a kitchen isn't some easy place where one person can handle everything on their own."
The contestants began to murmur at his words. They could vaguely guess the direction of this mission.
"Good cooking comes from a good kitchen. And a good kitchen is only completed when roles are properly divided and everyone collaborates."
"We judges believe this: To become a Grand Chef, you must be able to create a good kitchen."
The two chefs spoke in turn. People's gazes shifted back and forth between them.
"The fourth mission of Grand Chef Korea is a team mission."
Chef Kang Taeyeon paused for a moment. At that instant, all eyes turned to him, and the tension in the room spiked.
"The theme of this team mission is the Four Seasons. Form teams of four. Each of you will handle spring, summer, autumn, and winter."
"You can decide your teammates through discussion. We'll give you 30 minutes to form teams and plan your menus."
"Begin!"
As soon as Chef Han Seojin finished speaking, the contestants scattered quickly. Voices discussing team formations echoed from here and there.
"Hm."
No one was approaching me. As the star of the finale in episode 1, I figured at least someone would talk to me.
'But to think I'd be ignored like this.'
To be precise, it wasn't total ignoring. Some glanced at me as they passed, and a few even headed my way.
But they hesitated and turned to others instead. Probably because of my image.
'Can't be helped.'
Just like Hero Arbel traveled the world gathering companions, I'd have to recruit teammates to tackle this mission.
"Um, unnie..."
A voice came from beside me as I pondered who to team up with. I turned to see Yurim greeting me with an awkward smile.
"Um, unnie, if you don't have a team yet... want to do it together...? I, I think it'd be good..."
"Sure."
I'd been planning to approach her anyway. Her offering first was perfect for me.
"Then we'll need two more. Anyone in mind?"
"Wh-what about Seohwa unnie...?"
I nodded reluctantly.
"Better than a stranger. Her skills seemed decent. But where's Lee Seohwa?"
"Sh-she's over there..."
I'd been pretending not to see, but Yurim pointed right to her. I thought she was surrounded by people and hard to spot.
"Then you go invite her, Yurim?"
"M-me?"
"The thirsty dig the well, as they say. You suggested teaming with her, so shouldn't you take the lead?"
She bit her lip. She fiddled with her sleeve hem, then clenched her fist.
"O-okay! I'll go talk to her...!"
"Yeah. I believe in you."
Yurim stiffly approached Lee Seohwa cautiously. She seemed tense amid the crowd.
I needed to find one more, so I turned and scanned the room. My eyes caught a group where contestants were especially clustered.
'...Han Chaeyun, was it?'
At the center was none other than Han Chaeyun. Her blonde hair sparkled under the lights, making her presence undeniable.
'Unexpected.'
My first impression of her wasn't great, but others seemed to like her.
"Huh?"
Our eyes met incidentally.
She'd been laughing and chatting with those around her moments ago, but now she stared straight at me.
Then someone spoke to her from the side, and she smiled as if nothing happened, resuming the conversation.
"Hm."
It piqued my interest a bit, but probably nothing. She was so popular; no way she'd team with me.
"Unnie! I brought her!"
Lee Seohwa looked at me with an awkward smile. Yurim beamed like a triumphant general.
"......Good job."
I patted Yurim's head. Honestly, I thought it'd fail. But she actually brought her.
"So now we have three. Need one more... Anyone in mind?"
"No. Not really."
I looked at Yurim. She shook her head.
"M-me neither."
We fell silent. No clue who to pick for the last spot. We'd need some info to approach someone.
'Should've paid more attention to others.'
But that wasn't my style. I'd never been very interested in people, and after that other world, it got worse.
Comrades you'd laughed with yesterday could be cold corpses today. That was the battlefield. For an ordinary person like me to survive, total detachment was the only way.
"How about this."
As we pondered, Lee Seohwa spoke up cautiously.
"Why don't we decide our seasons first among ourselves? Then find someone who fits."
"Th-that sounds good...!"
"That won't work!"
We turned at the voice from behind. A blonde woman stood with hands on hips, eyeing us.
'Han Chaeyun?'
Why'd she come here all of a sudden?
"Pardon? What do you mean? Why not?"
Lee Seohwa frowned slightly at her.
"Because I'm joining your team!"
Seol Yurim and Lee Seohwa both looked at me. Their eyes trembled; they were clearly flustered.
"What do you mean barging in like that? Explain clearly so we understand."
I stared straight at Han Chaeyun. She flinched and averted her gaze. Her confident posture deflated.
"J-just like I said... I want to join Kang Yerin's team..."
"Why our team?"
Lee Seohwa asked. Yurim nodded beside her.
"My dad always said: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Your team looks strong, so here I am!"
Han Chaeyun switched to casual speech again. Her tone changed with the interlocutor—classic bully to the weak, meek to the strong.
"O-our team looks strong?"
Yurim furrowed her brows, baffled.
"Obviously. First, Lee Seohwa did Chinese dishes in missions 1 and 3. The Sambujeom lacked polish, but nailing the flavor shows serious skill."
"Th-thanks...?"
"Then Seol Yurim. Your culinary knowledge isn't deep or broad."
Yurim wilted at the blunt words. She already knew it herself.
"But you've got talent. I think your lack of preconceptions sparks that flash of genius."
"R-really?"
"I don't lie about cooking. You can trust me."
"Th-thank you...!"
Yurim's cheeks flushed. Even the shy girl looked thrilled.
"Finally, Kang Yerin unnie just cooks amazingly. Based on her performances so far, she's undisputed number one and a top contender for the win."
"Yerin unnie really is on another level."
"Hate to admit it, but yeah..."
Seol Yurim and Lee Seohwa nodded in agreement. The sudden praise barrage heated my face. It was embarrassing.
"That should explain why I want in. So, what's the verdict?"
"I'm fine with it."
I spoke first.
"M-me too."
"Same here."
Yurim and Lee Seohwa followed suit.
"Great! We're a team now! Let's do our best for this mission!"
Han Chaeyun grinned and slipped right in.
"Team's set, so let's divvy up seasons. Anyone have a preference?"
I figured she'd claim hers first, but surprisingly, she asked us. It caught me off guard.
"Summer!"
Lee Seohwa raised her hand high.
"Makes sense. Chinese cuisine's fiery wok hei and spice fit summer's hot, vibrant theme. Anyone else want summer?"
"I-I'm good."
"Me too."
"Then Seohwa takes summer. Next, Yurim, what season do you want?"
Han Chaeyun bowed slightly to me before asking Yurim.
Worried about offending me, she yielded the next pick to Yurim too.
'Not a bad kid.'
I'd worried she'd disrupt things, but this attitude was fine.
'No need for me to step up.'
Having someone take charge made it easier for me. The leader always has it toughest.
"I-I want spring. It seems the easiest..."
"Hah!"
Yurim jumped, eyes wide at the sudden shout. Han Chaeyun glared intently at her.
"None of the four seasons are easy! Every role matters equally! You can't approach it so carelessly!"
"S-sorry..."
Yurim bowed her head hastily.
"Yelling was wrong, Chaeyun. But she's right. This isn't just making individual dishes—it's completing a course meal."
"C-course meal?"
"Yeah. Don't know the starting season yet, but if we go classic from spring... Yurim, you'd handle the appetizer."
"A-appetizer's the first dish that sets the tone for the whole team...! It whets the appetite..."
"Exactly. Screw up spring, and it hits me directly."
Yurim paled.
"I-I never thought of that... I figured just focus on my own dish..."
"That's why it's a team mission."
"So, again: Spring?"
Yurim pressed her lips tight at Lee Seohwa's question. Her eyes darted confusedly.
"Well... um..."
"FYI, no season's easy."
"Time's short! Decide quick!"
At Han Chaeyun's urging, Yurim squeezed her eyes shut and yelled.
"Spring...! I'll do spring!"
"Good. Spring's yours. Now just us two... What do you say?"
Lee Seohwa alternated glances between us. I nodded toward Han Chaeyun, yielding first pick.
"Th-then... can I take autumn, Yerim unnie?"
"Sure. I'll do winter. How about the order? Classic? Or mix it up?"
"Unless you've got a killer idea, classic is safest. Mess up experimenting, and we all drop out."
The other two nodded at Chaeyun's words.
"Great! Order: spring, summer, autumn, winter! Now menu brainstorming. Think solo, then share!"
"I'll check the ingredients corner first. Need to see them to get ideas."
"Me too!"
Lee Seohwa and Han Chaeyun headed to the ingredients, leaving me and Yurim.
"Yerin unnie, decided on your dish?"
"Yeah."
"R-really? What is it?"
Her eyes widened with curiosity. That expression made me want to tease.
"It's a secret. I'll tell you soon."
"What is it!"
"But when you hear it, you'll be shocked."