Ch.368Chapter 368 – Beach Cooking Competition – 1

Karen’s suggestion and Mina’s opinion combined to create an unexpected cooking competition at the imperial resort.

There were eight participants, and only one person serving as judge.

“Since we’re all participating, I’d like you to be the judge.”

That person turned out to be me.

“But is it really okay for me to be the judge?”

“Of course it is. After all, this cooking competition will determine who gets to spend the night with you based on the results.”

I never agreed to such a thing… but I don’t dislike it.

The reason they’re competing against each other is ultimately to secure time where ‘they alone’ can have me to themselves.

And if it’s a cooking competition, wouldn’t that be considered healthy competition?

‘If they fought over possessing me, this household would turn to dust in an instant.’

Hmm, with a Heavenly Demon and an Archmage present, perhaps I should say ash rather than dust?

Anyway, they’re not physically fighting, and my opinion as the person concerned is being actively considered.

This is because of the nature of cooking, which is the theme of this competition.

The essence of cooking is ‘taste.’

No matter how well something is prepared, if it lacks ‘taste,’ it’s not cooking.

The bread eaten by the poor and the bread eaten by wealthy nobles are the same in that they are both ‘food.’

But are hard, dried, twisted bread and soft, glossy, aromatic bread the same food?

Poor people don’t eat delicious food because they lack money, but if they had money, they would choose to eat delicious food.

Preferring tasty food is a natural instinct.

Therefore, cooking should make food delicious even if the ingredients seem unappetizing.

That’s the essence of cooking.

‘In that sense, this cooking competition is ultimately about making food that suits my taste.’

The cooking competition being held here now has only one judge—me.

This means that whoever prepares the dish that best suits my palate will win the opportunity to spend time with me tonight.

Of course, since we’re determining rankings, your position in line will naturally be pushed back depending on your placement.

“If you want to cooperate, you’re welcome to do so.”

I didn’t plan to place any special restrictions on the cooking competition.

Humans are social beings who cooperate, so they’ll certainly work together to increase their chances of winning.

“However, cooperation is limited to two people per team.”

“Can’t we have three people?”

“That would be difficult for me. Besides, if three people gather, someone will end up alone or in a pair anyway.”

If teams of up to three people were allowed among the eight participants, we’d end up with configurations like 3-3-2 or 3-2-2-1.

In that case, it would be better to either have 4 vs 4, or limit teams to two people or individuals.

“Hmm, how about we form pairs? A good cook paired with someone less skilled.”

“Oh? That’s a great idea!”

I found myself applauding Sister Regina’s suggestion.

If skilled and less skilled people form teams, no one will avoid those who aren’t good at cooking.

“So two people will form a team, but you must cook without fighting. The cooking must be done in front of me. If you fight while cooking, I’ll give you the lowest score possible.”

I added a few conditions because I didn’t want to see them fighting.

I disliked the idea of them fighting and becoming awkward with each other, and above all, if they fought, this resort could turn into ‘a place that used to be a resort.’

‘If I return after destroying this place, I won’t be able to face my father-in-law.’

You might say I could restore it with my abilities, but innocent bystanders could get caught up and hurt.

I can do many things, but I can’t bring back the dead. That remains the domain of gods.

“Now then, everyone gather your ingredients, and we’ll present the completed dishes at dinner time.”

“Agreed.”

“I agree too.”

“I also agree.”

With everyone’s approval of my proposal, the cooking competition finally began.

The eight women formed teams on their own, creating four groups that quickly scattered in different directions.

Meanwhile, I went to the cabin and lay down under the parasol on the terrace.

The slightly hot air dissipated with the cool breeze, and the parasol blocked the scorching sunlight.

What could be better than this?

“This is truly heaven.”

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As the cooking competition began, the women of Pathos, divided into four teams, had only one thought in mind:

‘The best ingredients make the best dishes!’

This was the only thought in the minds of these women in swimsuits.

Cooking is the act of making food as delicious as possible, even with ingredients that might not seem tasty.

Therefore, the basic common sense was ‘using delicious ingredients = making delicious food.’

Another commonality among the women of Pathos was that they all knew how to cook to some extent.

‘Cooking, huh? Should I make Pathos’s favorite home-cooked meal?’

Regina had learned to cook during her adventurer days to save money while eating delicious food.

And since she had been in charge of meals while living with Pathos, she continued to cook regularly.

‘Eastern continent cuisine would suit my husband’s taste perfectly. I should prepare some nourishing food today.’

Unlike orthodox martial artists who had to practice while eating special fasting pills, Cheon Hyeryeong had mastered the Heavenly Demon Divine Technique that allowed her to train while enjoying food.

Therefore, she was knowledgeable about food and had experience cooking herself.

‘The most important thing is the cook’s mindset. With the right mindset, you can see things that were previously invisible.’

Eterna had learned basic food preparation and cooking as part of the Pantheon’s fundamental practice of helping the poor.

Additionally, as an inquisitor, she had created multiple false identities and acquired knowledge suitable for various social positions.

‘I can make home-cooked meals. I learned from my mother.’

Mina, who came from a commoner background, had experience helping her mother cook since childhood.

Although limited to commoner cuisine, she could still make decent food by combining what she had seen and heard at the academy.

On the other hand, there were those who were relatively poor at cooking.

‘Ugh, but I’m actually not good at cooking.’

Elena, Mina’s friend, had been taught since childhood that she only needed to be good at magic, and above all, she was a noble.

Noble women generally don’t cook, so she had lived a life far removed from cooking until now.

The only thing she knew how to make was chicken stew for someone with a cold.

That’s why she was now moving together with Mina.

‘If I had known this would happen, I should have properly taken those bride lessons my mother suggested.’

Aisen had learned the basics from her mother but hadn’t progressed to advanced lessons.

In that sense, she was moving with Cheon Hyeryeong, who had occasionally reviewed her swordsmanship.

According to Cheon Hyeryeong, it was because there was no one else with hair color similar to hers.

‘C-can alchemy be applied to cooking too?’

Emelda had an excellent eye for cooking ingredients, but her cooking skills were average.

This was because most of the dishes she made were primarily adjusted for her own taste and nutritional content.

So she was moving with Regina, because Emelda and Regina were preparing “something” together.

‘I’m not familiar with cooking. Pathos probably isn’t used to imperial cuisine, so that might be difficult.’

Finally, Karen was moving with Eterna.

Even for her, who had lived multiple lives by turning back time, most of her cooking experience was limited to food shared with soldiers on the battlefield.

The food she made to boost morale was little more than flour porridge with almost no seasoning, but the soldiers ate it deliciously nonetheless.

The women of Pathos were moving with people who could complement each other’s weaknesses.

And the first thing they were doing now was securing ingredients.

‘I need to find something that tastes good, is nutritious, and above all, good for “that”!’

They were currently at a beach adjacent to a forest.

This meant they could gather ingredients from both the forest and the sea simultaneously.

“Become ingredients for my husband!”

Cheon Hyeryeong was using her Heavenly Demon martial arts to defeat spiritual beasts living in the sea.

“If you dig the ground like this, you can find many healthy ingredients?”

Eterna was using her field experience to find ingredients hidden in the soil together with Karen.

The others were also hunting or gathering ingredients.

When the women returned to the cabin with all their ingredients, what they found was…

“Lord Pathos?”

All that remained in Pathos’s place was a single note.

[Borrowing your husband for a bit – Epitrina]