"The scent is really unique."

"I've been smelling something savory for a while ago."

"Plating is perfect for you."

Before I taste the food.

The judges' assessment was fairly good.

No one said anything bad, and most of them responded well.

Of course, I didn't say much of a compliment. But maybe this is natural because we haven't tasted it yet.

Gulp.

A day swallowed a dry saliva.

He's been through a lot more nerve-wracking than this so far, but it's inevitable that he's nervous when time comes.

To be judged by others for something you do.

Of the situations you can encounter in your life. As nervous as this, few things have been expected at the same time.

"Wow, it smells so savory...Chef …. Can I just scoop it up and eat it?”

"It's a kick with chicken and pickles underneath. You can mix it well."

"Aha! So, like this, like this?"

Giovanni, who smiled at the day's answer, mixed the day's food well with a small spatula.

Then, it was well distributed into five small bowls.

Judges must taste all 16 dishes.

When they were full, it was a big deal, so they all shared it to eat little by little, and when they were full, they said they could not make a fair evaluation.

"Well, it's just plain on the surface."

"Certainly, the concentration is soupy. Don't you think so?"

"It's actually my first time seeing a bean called Seo Ri-tae. I can't predict the taste."

Sour, thick, and sweet bean soup.

Chewy chicken, vegetables that add texture, and even handmade pickles that finish neatly.

It could be a combination of what it tastes like.

"Hmm?"

"Hooray."

"Hey, what did he say?"

Each of the judges, who tasted the food, looked surprised.

The reason was simple.

"Isn't it too different from what you imagined?”

"I agree. It's an unimaginable taste."

"How do beans taste like this? Chicken too. This is how it blends in?

"At first, I was wondering why I put in chicken. But there's a reason for everything."

All the judges were also those who played a tune to the food.

Even those who haven't cooked at the chef level eat and enjoy much more dishes from all over the world than chefs.

It was people who had trained their tongues.

But there was a taste in the day's cooking that even those who dared not imagine.

"Is it working?"

One day, watching such judges, I felt comfortable with my tightened heart.

The strength of the spine loosened for a while, and the mood also eased.

I survived.

I don't know what rank it will be.

However, this is certainly enough. I think I can make it to the top 8.

The goal of the day is, of course, number one. To win first place and challenge Michelin with Adam.

But from now on, there is no need to hang on to the first place.

Getting a good ranking doesn't mean there's much benefit.

It was enough to simply survive to the final round. The wind of the day was rather small. I was ambitious.

"Hmm."

All eyes were on him at the sound of breathing out.

Adam.

He opened his mouth carefully.

After his eyes looked through the day...I headed to the chefs behind me.

"Chef Tanaka, Chef Kuhulin, Chef Damond. Come out here."Three people whose names are called.

The judges wince in surprise at the sudden situation.

"Hey, what the hell is going on!"

"We don't know. Someone in the world knows what Adam thinks."

"Is that a problem, now? Just take it. Hurry up and take it close! Hurry up!!"

Bacon, who was watching, blushed red face and spat steam out of his nose.

His head was full of this one thing.

[This is definitely a funny situation!]

Stomping, stomping.

The three chefs, whose names were called Adam, carefully walked out, reading his countenance.

Not a day could imagine what Adam was thinking.

"Amazing.

With just one word, he grabbed Chairman Lee's air.

This place was now moved by Adam.

Is this what a master is?

Tanaka shrugged his shoulders as he looked at the day with a half-hearted expression.

But I didn't do anything for a day, so I just shake my head.

Adam stood up when all three chefs lined up.

A little bit of Haru's cooking was poured into the remaining tasting bowl and served with a spoon.

"Try it.”

"Do you mean this……?"

"Do you just eat?"

Adam nodded quietly instead of answering.

The chefs slowly tasted the day's cooking.

Only the sound of them chewing food resonates gently.

Gulp--.

"How do you like it?"

"It's... delicious."

"It's a taste I never thought of. The scent was just savory, and it's very rich."

"I didn't know beans would taste like this. It's unique."

"Is that all?"

"……yes, well."

"Hmm. And again."

An air of cynicism ensued.

Tanaka shut up, and the other two chefs were desperately searching for and squeezing out other words like a child who was called to the teacher.

Adam, who looked at them for a while, sighed very small. As if I can't stand it.

"Your food was simple. Of course it was very delicious. In particular, Chef Tanaka's jiracisushi was more delicious than most sushi dishes I had in Japan."

"Thank you, Chef."

That’s right.

These were even those who heard good things from other judges, let alone castigate them.

Moreover, Tanaka's city of Chirasis is quite well received. Many were convinced that he would be at least in the semifinals.

But it wasn't Adam's idea.

"But to be honest, I had this thought. It doesn't mean anything, but it does. Isn't that too cheap?"

"……I don't understand what you mean."

The nuclear pontane has fallen.

Everyone took a deep breath at his remarks, which were not enough to say bombs.

It was the first day for a chef Adam to evaluate this long.

It was clear that something was happening.

"These three chefs finished cooking faster than the others, and so did the cooking process. Of course, I cared about the details, and it was a brilliant dish, though. It's not that other chefs don't care about the details."

"Now, I mean."

What Adam was about to say, one day I knew a little bit.

Why I called them in a day ahead.

"Especially Chef Tanaka was very laid back. It was because sushi was simpler than other foods.”

"That was a little touchy-feely just now. Sushi is not just a dish that ends with sashimi on top of seasoned rice."

"I'm not saying this because I don't know that."

"Then what do you want to say?"

"It's simple. If you're going to focus on the details. The recipe itself is simple if you want to cook. And if you dare to take your time in front of other chefs who are arrogant and absorbed."Chuck!

Adam points to a day.

His eyes glistened, and Tanaka's grinding of teeth was heard to Haru.

"I'm saying at least do this. If you've tried it, you'll learn something. Like Chef Haru, who made something more delicious than a fish that is several times more expensive than beef with just one bean."

“…….”

There was silence.

Mouth-to-mouth acerbic, and professionally, even quite rightly.

Adam, who inserted a dagger into Tanaka's heart, a rising star and a student of a chef who swept the country's Michelin.

One day I felt suffocated.

'Oh, this is Adam.’

I thought I knew it now.

Choi Han-seok, and why Bacon reacted so violently.

There were actions and words that could be said because he was a master, and that was Adam.

'Scary.'

I should feel good to hear such a nice thing, but one day I didn't.

It was just getting more and more frightening.

The days ahead with Adam felt like a distant mountain.

but

"……I'll engrave your advice on my bones."

Not as much as Tanaka.

He said so, shaking his clenched fist.

Adam then went back to his seat and told Haru.

"It was impressive. Then, go back."

"Yes, thank you."

After bowing to the judges for another day, he returned to his seat with a bowl of food.

I thought I'd talk to Tanaka, who was ahead of me, but I soon gave up after seeing his back.

It'll only add fuel to the fire if we talk more.

The other chefs' screening also ended shortly after.

The round of 16 ended faster than I thought.

One day, I won third place.

Tanaka was fourth and Jamie was second.

Only 5 days are left until the next quarterfinals.

The subject has yet to be released.

* * *

"Sigh……I've never had such a hard day in my life."

After returning to the hotel, I dived into the bed without taking off my clothes as soon as I opened the door.

It has been years since I felt so grateful for a fluffy bed, which is not enough to say fluffy.

Choi Han-seok, who was waiting for him, smiled.

I heard you won 3rd place. How can your close friends rank second, third, and fourth in a row? It's amazing. I wonder if this is a friend.

"It's amazing……. Ugh! I don't know anymore. My heart just exploded and I thought I was going to die. All I could hear was the sound of a rattling sound."

That's why we have another contest. In the past, when I swept all the Korean food competitions in the past? It's one of the hands that looked the judges in the eye. It's normal to be really nervous. Of course!

Choi did not come to the round of 16 this time.

There were many reasons.

Choi Hanseok himself said that it's not good to have ghosts in such situations. Like concentration of the day.

Crucially, that was the cheating that could happen by any chance.

If Choi Han-seok hears what the judges say while watching the chefs' cooking on the TV screen and tells Haru when he comes back.

So if the dish changes.

I mean, is that cheating or what?

"By the way, I don't know how to look at Chef Tanaka's face anymore. You were compared to me earlier. Wouldn't it be grinding a lot by now?”

That's what I don't know. But as expected, Adam Ong's personality is dead a lot."Huh? Is that dead?"”

It's not just dead, it's dead. It was Adam before. Before you even bring it up, just...…!

Knock, knock, knock!

Just as Choi Han-seok was about to give a speech, someone knocked on the door of the day.

He got out of bed and opened the door.

"Chef, have you been resting?”

"…Chef Tanaka?"

Tanaka was smiling as he looked at the day.