Chapter 82
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Grand Chef Korea - "No Way" Kills People!
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1.
Lee Seohwa and Han Chaeyoon, who had gone to check out the ingredients, returned with a noticeably different attitude from when they left.
"Why are they so excited?"
"Who knows?"
The two approached, smiling faintly and tapping the ground lightly with their steps. Their gait was so light that anyone could see they were thrilled.
"H-Hey, this place is amazing! Just like Chef Han Seojin said, they really have everything!"
Lee Seohwa explained with her arms spread wide, like a child visiting an amusement park for the first time. Her cheeks were flushed red.
"Coming here has made me realize once again that the amount of ingredients an individual can prepare is inevitably limited."
Han Chaeyoon nodded, holding her chin as if she'd gained some insight.
"So, have you two decided on your dishes?"
"Hmm... If anything, there are too many options, so it's hard to choose. The setup here allows us to make anything we really want."
Lee Seohwa crossed her arms and furrowed her brow. Her eyes darted around as if selecting from a mental menu.
"Have you decided, Miss Han Chaeyoon?"
"Autumn is the season of harvest, the most abundant time. So, roast turkey comes to mind first."
"Isn't roast turkey a bit ordinary? And it'll take too much time. Given its size, the cooking time will be long."
Han Chaeyoon nodded at Lee Seohwa's point.
"I know that! That's why I'm struggling to decide. I want a dish that screams autumn, something abundant that offers a variety of flavors."
"Think about it some more. Since it's handling the main for the four seasons, it's the most important part."
"Yes!"
Han Chaeyoon replied politely again, making Lee Seohwa let out a hollow laugh. People's speech patterns varied so much it was absurd.
"By the way, Miss Kang Yerim, have you decided on your dish?"
"Since it's the finale, I'm thinking dessert. Something light and refreshing rather than heavy."
"Sounds like a good direction. Summer and autumn are heavy, so a crisp finish would be perfect. What are you planning to make?"
"Maybe panna cotta topped with a berry or citrus coulis."
Yulim and Lee Seohwa tilted their heads. It seemed like a completely new dish to them. Han Chaeyoon, however, smiled.
"Good idea. But if the panna cotta is too sweet, it might feel heavy."
"Yes. That's why I'll adjust the sugar amount."
"Perfect. You can really tell Sister Kang Yerim is great at cooking. It'll evoke winter while being a great closing dessert!"
"Thanks."
As we chatted and laughed, Lee Seohwa raised her hand slightly.
"Um, what's panna cotta and coulis?"
"Italian sweet pudding! Coulis is a sauce made by pureeing fruit and straining it. Think of it like simple syrup."
"Aha."
The two nodded as if finally understanding.
'It's not an everyday dessert.'
I'd only had it at noble banquets in the other world. The good memories made me want to make it this time.
"So, our winter dessert is set. Now we just need to settle the earlier seasons. Anyone decided?"
"M-Me...!"
Surprisingly, Yulim raised her hand.
"What dish?"
"How about mugwort and shrimp porridge, with a light angelica welcome drink?"
"Great idea. How'd you come up with that?"
"I-I'm familiar with mugwort and shrimp... And the neighbor grandma sometimes ground angelica and gave it to me as juice, saying it's good for you."
"Nice. Yulim, go with that. Now, summer and autumn are the issue..."
"I've decided too!"
Han Chaeyoon clapped, beaming.
"What is it?"
"Foie gras! Plus chestnut soup with smoked duck breast. And some pickled celery!"
"Hard to imagine from the description..."
"It's inspired by fine dining from around the world! But the flavors aren't too complex. I'll save some for you to try."
"Thaaanks."
Lee Seohwa said with a light laugh.
"More importantly, Lee Seohwa, when are you deciding?!"
"I've decided too."
"What?"
"Summer is a main too, but back-to-back heavy dishes could be overwhelming. So, kung pao chicken."
"Kung pao chicken?"
This time, Yulim and I tilted our heads. It was a name neither of us had heard before.
"Stir-fried chicken with peanuts, chilies, and veggies. Like chicken, but spicy is the key feature."
"Just control the spice level and it should be fine?"
"Right. If it's too spicy like in China, the judges might not taste the next dishes. I'll tone it down."
"Great! All set then. Let's rest a bit."
The front timer showed exactly 3 minutes left. Perfect timing to wrap up.
"Other teams are still deciding."
Yulim muttered, and Lee Seohwa nodded in response.
"Picking seasons, ordering them, assigning parts in the course—it's not simple. That's why they gave 30 minutes."
"Our team did settle it pretty smoothly compared to others. Thanks to considering each other?"
Shouts and curses echoed from other teams even now.
"That too, but we got lucky. Everyone wanted different parts. Chefs often covet summer or autumn, especially autumn."
"Because autumn is the main?"
"Yeah. And few want winter's dessert. It's not simple."
"Then thanks to Sister Yerim, our team went smoothly!"
As Yulim finished, eyes turned to me. I met their gazes blankly.
Yulim and Han Chaeyoon averted their eyes almost simultaneously. Lee Seohwa held out but eventually looked away.
"Time's up. You'll start cooking soon, but first, some announcements."
As the timer hit '0', the judges took the stage. Some teams were still debating, but Kang Taeyeon ignored it.
"Judging is five teams today, five tomorrow—over two days. For accurate evaluation, please understand."
"Tomorrow's group has a clear advantage then. Extra day to plan."
Several contestants nodded.
"To balance, we'll distribute paper now. Write dish names, descriptions, and intent as detailed as possible."
"Judging bases on what you write. Taste is still paramount."
A measure to minimize Day 2's prep advantage.
"Tomorrow's teams will face stricter completeness checks. With practice time, it's fair."
'This might make more teams want Day 1?'
"All 10 teams get individual dish scores and course completeness. Lowest total five teams... eliminated."
The room froze at the bombshell. No one expected half to drop here.
"Finally, stick to your own dishes. Spring handlers do only spring. Helping others means instant elimination."
Kang Taeyeon glanced at me while saying it. Why look now?
'Surely not a rule targeting me?'
Paranoid. Just coincidence.
"Now, draw order. One rep per team presses the button."
"Who'll go?"
"I've never won a draw once. Pass."
Lee Seohwa bowed out first.
"Me too."
I passed too. My luck tanked since the other world. Or good luck, but I didn't see it that way.
"Just me and Yulim left. Who? You?"
"I-I'm pretty lucky at this stuff...!"
Surprisingly confident from Yulim. Not chickening out; confidence up. Or she truly believed her luck.
"Fine. I yield this time. Draw for us."
"Yes! I'll get a good number for everyone who trusts me!"
With Han Chaeyoon yielding, Yulim clenched her fist determinedly.
"What's the best number?"
"We're all confident cooks, so Day 2 would be ideal."
"Agreed."
I nodded at Lee Seohwa.
"Day 2, second or third looks best."
"Got it. Worst?"
"Day 1 first. Most pressure, no prep."
Han Chaeyoon pondered briefly.
"S-So avoid Day 1 first...!"
"Yeah. Dodge the worst, not chase best. All decent except 1."
"No way we draw it? 1/10 odds."
"Right. No way it's us?"
Watching them laugh it off made me uneasy.
'"No way" kills people... Usually spells doom.'
I hoped not. But my chest tightened.
"I'll go!"
Yulim strode to the machine. Contestants clustered, coordinating.
"Yulim's first!"
"Please not 1. Not 1...!"
Yulim pressed. A ball rolled out.
Gulp-
She picked it carefully, opened slowly. Froze reading the paper.
"......No way."
Her hand trembled. Head down, she handed it to approaching Chef Han Seojin.
"Team Seol Yulim, number 1."
Cheers erupted. Relief at dodging the hated slot.
"Thaaanks!"
"Good karma!"
"Ah...."
Blessings around; sighs from us. Lee Seohwa and Han Chaeyoon clutched faces.
'Knew it.'