When the beginning was announced, Sakura and I both started busying ourselves with ingredients and preparations. Even in normal cooking, handling the ingredients is as important as the recipe itself, let alone when preparing medicinal food.
Medicinal cooking has three ideas behind it: support, strengthen, and remedy. Many would believe that food and medicine don't go hand in hand or that dieting is the only thing remotely connected to health, but they would be mistaken. Even without involving any mystical power, the kinds of food you are eating can impact your health.
The most important aspect of medicinal food is to support the body. It's the strongest point of this field of medicine and the reason that brought its creation, as one can find the origin of the idea behind it in traditional Chinese healing practices, which mostly tried to assist the body with its natural healing.
This is in contrast to modern medicine, which itself attacks the source of the trouble but, more often than not, would also lead to damage to the body, weakening it. That's why medicinal food is never a cure. It only helps with healing.
Of course, if one involves mystical forces in the mix, they would be able to do much more, especially with the addition of things like Cultivator's Alchemy, magical herbs, and ingredients from mythical beasts.
The second point, strengthening, is a consequence of the first, as helping the body leads to increasing its performance. This is the reason why even healthy people also eat such foods, especially the ones who are old or weak.
The last part, the remedy, is self-explanatory. In the end, all medicine exists to heal.
As the cooking was underway, I found myself with fewer tasks to complete and more things to wait for, so I started to listen to what the announcer and commentators were talking about.
-"Miss Erina, do you have any insight into the dishes both the contestants are preparing?"-The announcer started the subject to keep the audience entertained.
-"Sakura is cooking a rather classical salmon with soy sauce. It's an elegant dish served in many restaurants, but also something almost all could do at home. Of course, the distinction between a home meal and a high-class one is the skill of the chef, so no one can look down on the commonness of the recipe."
-"Indeed, even simple stir-fry can be worlds apart depending on who prepares it. But what about contestant Yue? While I believe he is preparing bouillabaisse, the ingredients do not match the traditional recipe I know."
-"He indeed is cooking bouillabaisse, but rather than Mediterranean fish and shellfish, he uses ones native to the coast of Japan. What I'm more fascinated by are the spices he is using. While I recognize most, some are foreign to me, which shocks me."
-"Yes! At first, I thought it was my lack of knowledge, but it seems there is more hidden in those herbs. Miss Momo, can you share some insider knowledge about those?"
-"Yuchi uses many strange plants when he cooks. Some of them are tasteless, while some are awful, but all his serious meals would include some mix of them."
-"Taste awful? Why would a chef include them then?"
-"Momo asked Yuchi the same question once, and Yuchi answered that: 'To me, cooking is just a hobby. If I'm to be truly serious, I must stop being a cook.'. Momo is still lost on the meaning behind it."
-"Stop being a cook?"
-"Miss Erina, do you have any idea about this cryptic answer?"
-"I'm not sure, but I believe that what Yue means by that is that he is not cooking food but preparing something else. Maybe something to the difference between a painter painting walls and an artist painting paintings?"
-"I see. While painting is a process in both, they have entirely different meanings. Contestant Yue is also preparing food, but he is not cooking but doing something else. But, what could that be?"
-"I'm not sure if my idea is correct..."
-"Erinacchi may be right. There is another quote from Yuchi that Momo remembers. 'The beauty is on the inside, so let's help it come to the surface.' Lately, Momo has become cuter, so it might have something to do with it."
-"A nice quote! Does contestant Yue work with some cosmetic company? I think that many present here in the audience came here not only for his cooking."
-"No, Yue doesn't work with or for a cosmetic company. I believe that he is involved in some pharmaceutical business, but I'm not well informed."
-"Momo can also confirm that Yuchi doesn't use any of that himself. All his beauty is purely natural."
-"What an enviable trait. Aside from his talent, I think this must be the most coveted part of contestant Yue."
-"Yes, but be sure not to place all of his achievements on the talent. While Yue is definitely talented, he never slacks off when it comes to things he is doing."
-"Erinacchi is right. Calling it a talent overshadows the effort Yuchi puts in his daily life."
-"Right, no one who ever found himself standing here, in the finals of the Autumn Election, did so be pure talent. Nobody should discredit countless hours spent perfecting the craft. But now, it seems that contestant Sakura is ready to serve her dish. Let's stop with our discussion and move to the judges' table."
Taking a look at Sakura's dish, I could see that it, as always, had a perfect amount of everything. One would feel full after such a meal while not overeating.
No matter where, Sakura's sisterly or even motherly character would always be present, though it was reserved for those close to her. For anyone who was her enemy, only a swift and cold blade awaited.
That care was now the core of her meal, and the moment judges tasted Sakura's food, they instantly could feel the intentions behind this meal. Sakura never cared about winning. Only making a tasty meal that all would like mattered to her.
This doesn't mean that she didn't try her best to achieve victory. The fact that Old Man Nakiri lost his kimono showed that. The praises from three judges also proved that her dish was beyond even some seasoned chefs.
None of the judges had an issue with her craft, and they all quickly finished Sakura's dish. Now that my meal was also finished, it was my turn. After serving plates to the judges, I waited for their questions.
-"Now, Yue, let's get the cat out of the bag. What did you prepare?"-Old Man asked a question everyone wanted me to answer.
~"It's bouillabaisse."
-"We both know that it's not all."
-"Yue, this should be a medicinal dish, right?"-Leonara spoke after smelling and looking at some visible herbs.
~"Indeed, it's as Miss Leonara said."
-"Hou? Not a common field, why did you research it, Yue?"
~"I have deep ties to the medicinal industry and healing."
-"Then let's dig in. In the end, the taste is the king."-Chef Dojima spoke, bringing everyone back to reality.
Both Old Man and Leonara also agreed that no matter what benefits food may bring you. Here, only taste decides the outcome. Before speaking anything else, the three of them decided to have a taste first.
After the first bite, when they normally would start asking about some details about the cooking, they kept quiet and continued to eat. This surprised everyone, as no matter the meal those three had before, they never forgot their job as the judges.
The silence continued for the five minutes they needed to finish cleaning the plate, and only when there was no drop left did they return their attention to me.
-"You have some explanation to do, Yue. How about you start with what kind of magic have you done to this dish?"-Old Man took the lead once again.
-"This is illogical. How come you could create such a perfect fusion of herbs? I often work with many different spices, but I was never able to create such a perfect blend, yet here you have done so with plants that are not perfect for cooking."-Leonara spoke with perfect Japanese despite having trouble finishing some simple sentences before.
-"I can feel that the effect of this meal is not something negligible, far beyond what I would expect. Almost as if I just took some protein blend for training, if not even stronger."
~"To answer those questions, the herbs I used here are not something accessible to anyone. They were created by fusing many other plants with using them for medicine in mind. Cooking is my hobby, so I would often create things to make it easier for me, especially as Horticulture is something I pride myself in."
-"Hers that don't exist anywhere else? You definitely brought something new to the table. Haha!"
-"Student Yue, can you send me some of those herbs?"
~"Not all can be provided, but I believe some agreement between the Nakiri Research Division and our R&D can be reached, but that would require input from some other people."
-"Sure! Let's exchange contact information later."
-"Ehem. Before everything else, we should announce our decision."
-"Indeed. I believe you two agree with me."
-"Of course."
-"Yes."
-"Then it's official."-Old Man took a brush and wrote on a big scroll before showing it to everyone.-"Champion of the 91st Autumn Election, Yue!"
After a short silence, the whole audience erupted in cheer. The trio of Erina, Momo, and the unnamed announcer also joined the judges on the stage, wanting to ask some more questions.
-"Director, can you tell us some reasons behind this verdict?"-Asked the announcer.
-"To be honest, both dishes were perfect. No mistakes were made while making them. Taste was also superb."
-"Yes. The reason why Yue emerged victorious comes to two things: innovation and difficulty."-Chef Dojima took over the explanation.-"When we can't decide what dish is better by the taste, we would have to judge as chefs."
-"Yue's meal uses a recipe from the Mediterranean while adapting it to local ingredients, innovating in the process, not to mention that the recipe requires greater skill to complete than Sakura's one. All things equal, Yue showed that he is a better cook by perfectly completing a harder dish."-Finished Leonara.
-"Are any of you opposed to our decision?"
-"No, of course not!"-Anoucer defended themself hastily.
-"What about you two? As contestants, do you accept our verdict?"
-"I know well that my skill can't compare to Lord Yue's."
~"While I think there is not much difference between us, this time, I just picked a better answer."
-"Then it's final. Yue, as a champion, can you stay behind a little longer?"
~"I don't mind, but why?"
-"I'll tell you a little later. Let's go out of the arena first."
Agreeing to the Old Man's request, I answered a few questions from the announcer and reporter from the school newspaper before leaving the arena.
A short while later, I walked into a meeting room where Elite Ten was waiting along with Old Man Nakiri, Leonara, and Chef Dojima.
-"You are here."
~"Sorry for the wait. There were some questions I had to shut down rather sternly."
-"What kind?"-Rindō asked with a mischievous smile.
~"Kind that one wouldn't even dare to ask on a blind date."
-"Give us examples!"
~"One 'anonymous' person asked about my nightly preferences. As for my answer..."
-"Stop! I've changed my mind. No need to continue.-Rindō interrupted me with a red face.
-"Haha. It's good to be young."
-"Indeed, I remember how Soe was back then..."
Of the three adults, only Chef Dojima sat in silence with an awkward look.
~"May I know why you called me here, Old Man?"
-"Right, I called you here to ask you. Are you satisfied with your seat? From what I know about you, I believe that the fifth seat won't be enough for you."
~"While indeed I don't feel much achievement from that, lately I'm rather busy, so I don't have much time to waste on responsibilities in school."
-"That matter, huh? Well, I already proposed this matter before you arrived, and the current Elite Ten agreed to my proposal, so do you want to try your mettle?"
~"Tell me details first."
-"Duel, Current elite ten against you. If you win, you will inherit the first seat from the next year, making history once again."
~"Hou? How will you decide the victor?"
-"During the Moon Banquet Festival, on the last day, each of the current seats will prepare a dish of their choice. They will have time to decide on those until the Stagiaire ends, after which you will be informed what meals will be prepared. You will have to prepare a dish of the same kind."
~"So there will be ten duels?"
-"Yes, but on modified rules. The judges will be the Elite Ten, who will have to decide which meal is better. Nine seats aside from the one who prepared the meal will vote, and if you win each of those, you will win."
~"What If I fail?"
-"You will inherit your normal seat, but the opponent you lost to will be able to demand something from you."
~"Too broad."
-"Don't worry. Each of the demands will be given to you before the start of the duels so you can confirm if you wish to proceed or modify the rules."
~"This is something I can agree to. I've already planned to be present for the whole festival, so I certainly can make some time for this contest."
-"Good! I won't take more of your time then. I'll be waiting for this unprecedented Shokugeki with bated breath."-Leaving those words, Old Man left the room.
Chef Dojima soon followed, and only Miss Leonara stayed a bit longer so that we could exchange contact information. I gave her contact to Yukong directly, as, officially, she was in charge of the R&D division in this world. After that, we spoke for a short while before she excused herself to seek her daughter, who she promised to introduce to me later.
As I was not well acquainted with most of the Elite Ten, only Rindō, Momo, and Erina could be considered my friends, while Eishi and Sōmei were on speaking terms with me, I didn't stay there for long, leaving with two girls back to our dorm. We invited Erina with us, but she had to go back to prepare for her last exams the next day.
While having the usual light banter between the three of us, we returned to the dorm, deciding to have a private party to celebrate my victory. Momo took out some snacks she had made before while Rindō provided some wine she smuggled in.
Despite still being unable to become drunk, I would never complain about drinking with beautiful girls, and after two of them fell asleep, I took them to their rooms before returning to the garden and once again relaxing to the music of the zither.
Tomorrow, the Stagiaire will begin, so I spent what time was left to relax before preparing for the upcoming trial. As the sun started to rise, I started to wonder where will this test take me.