Chapter 85
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Grand Chef Korea - Everyone Could Be Eliminated Here
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1.
"How was your break over the past three days?"
Chef Kang Taeyeon, standing on the platform above, looked down at us and asked. The contestants gave all sorts of different responses.
"Everyone's answers are all over the place. Those confident in their cooking said 'yes,' while those who aren't said 'no.'"
Silence fell over the judging hall. Some nodded, while others averted their eyes.
"Let me say it again—you're all chefs. At the very least, you have to believe that the food you make is the most delicious in the world, even if it's just for yourself."
Kang Taeyeon scanned the contestants as he continued. His gaze was incredibly sharp.
"Without that belief, it's not cooking—it's just rations. We're not here to judge that. We're here to see your lives, your philosophies, your stubbornness, and the results of it all."
"Just making it into the final 40 already makes you all excellent chefs. So feel free to take pride in that."
The atmosphere softened a bit at Chef Han Seojin's words.
"But right here, half of the 40—20 people—will be eliminated."
The air froze in an instant. The contestants' breathing grew rough.
'Not exactly carrot and stick, but they're toying with the tension.'
As a viewer, it seemed like quite the spectacle. People's expressions kept changing.
"There's only one reason for elimination. Your food tasted worse than everyone else's. That's a plain fact."
Chef Kang Taeyeon's words were firm. It felt too cold, considering he'd just told them to have confidence.
"With this elimination as an opportunity to become better chefs, let's begin announcing the results."
The judging hall plunged into darkness. In that moment, all lights went out, and even the sound of breathing vanished in the stillness.
Spotlights soon illuminated the three judges on the platform. All eyes naturally turned to them.
"The called team, please come up to the evaluation stage."
Chef Moon Taeo unfolded the paper in his hand. He brought the mic close to his mouth and spoke clearly.
"Gil Taerin team."
In that instant, a spotlight fell among the contestants. Inside the light stood four men and women side by side. They all looked visibly flustered.
"Come up to the evaluation stage. Stand at your assigned seasonal positions."
At those words, the four exchanged glances before climbing the stairs to the platform one by one. They quietly took their places on the designated platforms.
'Spring, summer, autumn, winter in order, I guess.'
The lights shone on them, and a strange tension and anxiety crushed the space.
"Before announcing the results, I'll briefly explain the scoring criteria and mission pass conditions."
Chef Moon Taeo began his explanation.
"The evaluation is divided into two categories. One is the 'individual score' for each person's dish. The other is the 'team score' for the overall course completion."
"The maximum individual score for a dish is 50 points. The team score for course completion is also 50 points. Total of 100 points—75 or above passes. Understood?"
"Yes!"
"Then, let's continue with the results."
Chef Moon Taeo unfolded the paper in his hand. The spotlight began to focus on one person.
"First, Lee Minsol, who handled spring."
At his call, Lee Minsol flinched.
"Individual score: 34 points."
A short statement drew sighs from the contestants.
"The plating was fine. But the key is taste. It wasn't enough to properly fulfill spring's role."
At Moon Taeo's critique, her head slowly dropped.
"Next, Gil Taerin, who handled summer."
The light naturally shifted to his face. Soon, Chef Moon Taeo spoke.
"Individual score: 39 points."
This time, small gasps of admiration rose from the contestants. It was definitely a pretty high score.
"It was a decent dish. However, pouring the sauce over the fish skin ruined its crispiness—such a shame."
Gil Taerin clenched his fist tightly. Whether it was anger or joy, only he would know.
"Next, Kang Minsong, who handled autumn."
Chef Moon Taeo glanced at the paper briefly before looking up again.
"Individual score: 36 points."
The contestants showed no reaction this time. It was an ambiguous score.
"It was passable. But Grand Chef Korea doesn't want that kind of food. You need more research to add depth to the flavor."
"Got it!"
Finally, the light moved to the person at the winter position.
"Next, Eom Hagyeom, who handled winter."
Chef Moon Taeo spoke calmly, without a change in expression.
"Individual score: 28 points."
Gasp—contestants sharply inhaled. It was a low score.
"I question how you even made it this far. The dessert was that tasteless. Reflect on it."
Contestant Eom Hagyeom hung his head low. It was as good as eliminated already. To pass, the team score would need 47 points.
'Not easy at all.'
I shook my head.
Who could you blame when your own dish failed?
"Finally, the team score."
Everyone waited tensely for Chef Moon Taeo's words. This score would decide their fate.
"Gil Taerin team's score, comprehensively evaluating course composition and overall completion, is... 14 points."
"...!"
A suffocating silence fell over the contestants. It felt like the space itself had frozen.
"Composing a course is like solving a flavor puzzle. Each piece sometimes pushes against the others, sometimes pulls them in, ultimately forming one complete picture."
Despite the shocked silence, Chef Moon Taeo continued unfazed.
"In that sense, Gil Taerin team's four seasons were a total mess. It felt like four separate pictures, not one work."
At his words, the entire Gil Taerin team bowed their heads. The shoulders of spring and autumn shook as if crying.
"Lee Minsol's total score: 48 points. Eliminated."
As Chef Moon Taeo's words ended, red light fell over her head.
Roar—
"Kyaaak!"
Flames erupted below the evaluation stage, and the platform slowly descended. It was like dramatic staging of tossing useless food into a fire pit.
'Ruthless.'
So that's why they made the set this extravagant—all for effects like this.
'Kinda fun, though?'
The other contestants' faces stiffened, but I slightly lifted the corner of my mouth.
As long as you didn't get eliminated, none of that mattered to you. You wouldn't become the victim of that flashy staging.
That was Grand Chef's rule. In the end, just do well yourself. Same as in that other world.
"Finally, Eom Hagyeom's total score: 42 points. Eliminated."
Roar—
As Chef Moon Taeo's words ended, the last platform slowly descended. Only faint red light remained on the evaluation stage.
Drip—
Soon even the lights went out, plunging the judging hall back into darkness. Like ashes left after everything burned.
Weeeeng—
A mechanical hum echoed from somewhere. An inorganic noise, devoid of life, cut through the space.
"...At least it's good. One whole team eliminated means just 16 more drops, and we're guaranteed safe."
"Might be better to get called last."
Lights came back on, revealing the three judges on the platform. The murmuring contestants fell silent.
"Lest you misunderstand, let me clarify upfront."
Chef Kang Taeyeon picked up the mic. His voice was low and cold.
"We said half would be eliminated in this mission. But that's not an absolute number."
The contestants' eyes wavered. Confused and shocked faces mixed in the room.
"Half. That's just the minimum threshold."
A breathless silence flowed.
"If necessary, everyone here could be eliminated."
I glanced sideways—Yurim's face was deathly pale. She looked like she hadn't even considered it.
"If everyone falls short of the standard, Grand Chef Korea ends here."
Gulp—
Someone's swallow echoed loudly.
"Don't get it wrong. Someone else's elimination doesn't guarantee your survival."
Chef Kang Taeyeon silently looked down at the contestants.
"Now, let's continue the announcements. Lee Suhyeon team. Come up to the evaluation stage."
At his call, a spotlight fell among the contestants again. After the full team wipe and Kang Taeyeon's sharp warning, everyone's faces were stiff.
I turned at the touch on my side. Yurim was trembling violently, looking up at me.
"W-what do we do, unnie? If, if we all get eli, eliminated...?"
"Then we all hold hands and go home together."
"Hieeek...."
Her face went from blue to ghostly white. Her body shook like there was an earthquake.
"Don't worry too much."
I chuckled and gripped Yurim's hand tightly. Her palm was soaked in sweat. Just like mine the first time I went into battle.
"We won't get eliminated."
"B-but what if I messed up...?"
The odds of that were low. Yurim's spring dish had been outstanding. Han Chaeyun's autumn was more concerning.
"It'll be fine. Your food was delicious."
"But..."
Even my words didn't reassure her. She looked mentally at her limit. It was harsh for a girl, not even an adult, to endure.
"If you can't believe in yourself... believe in me?"
"You, unnie...?"
"Yeah. Believe in the me who believes in you. You're already an excellent chef. And you'll grow even more amazing. I guarantee it. So..."
I smiled and stroked Yurim's head.
"Have some confidence. Got it?"
"Y-yes...."
She bowed her head and sniffled. I turned my gaze forward again.
'When's our turn?'
*
In the quiet silence, Chef Kang Taeyeon with the mic spoke up.
"This is the last one. Kang Yerim team. Come up to the evaluation stage."