With everyone's attention focused, the Top Ten Challenge was finally about to begin.
Crowds had gathered outside the Moon Academy—students, tourists, parents, and chefs from across the World Zone.
But before the main event, there was still one more test to be held.
The Transfer Student Examination.
When Kaizen heard that term, he couldn't help but show a slightly confused expression.
The Moon Academy was divided into two levels—junior high and high school. Most high school students came directly from the academy's own junior division. After all, Moon Academy had already gathered most of the world's talented young chefs early on.
But inevitably, some gifted individuals slipped through the cracks.
That's where the transfer exam came in.
Aspiring chefs within the designated age range who hadn't studied in Moon Academy's junior division could still earn a place—if they passed this test.
However, passing was no easy feat.
The Moon Academy wasn't looking for average cooks. They wanted overlooked geniuses.
To pass, a transfer candidate had to demonstrate clear superiority—something more than just scraping by.
...
The exam took place in a large open square. The format was simple: sales-based cooking.
Candidates prepared dishes on-site, and the Moon Academy would randomly select 100 spectators nearby to act as tasters.
If more than 80 out of 100 approved the dish, the candidate passed.
Different people had different tastes, and with competition among candidates making similar dishes, comparisons were inevitable. The weaker dish would be rejected.
Thousands had applied to take the transfer exam.
And this was already the filtered group.
Among dozens present, only two or three might actually pass.
Compared to the Hunter Exam's brutal elimination rate, this wasn't much easier.
...
"Kaizen."
Menchi walked up beside him.
She handed him four tickets.
"These are for you."
They were examiner passes—each allowing the holder to judge the dishes prepared in the transfer exam.
"With these, the four of you can act as examiners. You'll get to taste the candidates' food and give it a score."
Kaizen hesitated.
"Is that... really okay?"
"Of course," Menchi replied. "Examiners for this test aren't necessarily professional chefs. The hundred tasters are chosen at random."
Kaizen accepted the tickets with a nod.
"Have fun. I've got work to do."
"Got it."
...
After the recent battle with the Fallen, Menchi and the others had entered a period of intense activity. Kaizen understood why.
Gourmet Paradise had dispatched more than four teams to handle the Fallen threat, but despite the urgency, no one else had shown up.
It wasn't due to a lack of communication. Menchi had sent out alerts immediately—so had other team members.
The real issue lay inside Gourmet Paradise itself.
By the time Kaizen and the others returned, Linne had already cleaned everything—removing the people behind the obstruction.
But it left many roles vacant, and too much work for too few hands.
Kaizen suspected part of the chaos was tied to Linne.
...
A moderator's voice echoed through the square, introducing the format of the transfer exam.
In the center stood a tall, elevated platform.
"Candidates whose names are called—please come forward!"
One by one, the applicants stepped onto the stage.
Among them, Kaizen spotted a familiar face.
The boy from the shop in the World Zone.
...
"The selected examiners, please step forward!"
Kaizen and the other three followed the crowd toward the platform.
People around them murmured in surprise. Some looked on with envy.
"The transfer student exam... begins now!"
Kaizen stood in front of a crystal panel, waiting as the candidates began to cook.
According to the data, the World Zone had contributed 15% to Kaizen's Observer Will.
The recent confrontation with the Fallen added another 3%...
With everything else taken into account, his progress had now reached 20%.
He had a feeling today's exam might boost it a bit more.
...
Soon, the first wave of dishes was ready.
Examiners began lining up for tastings.
"The flavor's not bad."
"As expected from those who made it through the initial screening."
"Compared to average cooks in the World Zone, their level's clearly higher."
Kaizen eventually reached the boy from the shop.
The boy recognized him instantly.
"You're the guest from the other day, right?"
"That's right."
"The dish I've made today's different from last time, but it's still good. I hope you won't be disappointed."
Kaizen smiled but stayed quiet.
They'd met once, but that didn't mean he would show favoritism.
This was a critical exam—potentially life-changing.
He wouldn't risk another person's future for the sake of a familiar face.
Kaizen accepted the dish and moved aside to taste it.
...
Tessia, Shizuku, and Sally joined him with their own plates.
Kaizen took a small bite.
His eyes lit up.
"Not bad."
It was even better than the dish he'd tasted in the store last time.
"Maybe this is the kind of cooking he's truly best at."
...
Time passed.
Cooking wasn't just a skill—it was hard physical labor, too.
Serving dish after dish to a hundred examiners took its toll.
Kaizen could see sweat pouring down the candidates' faces. Some had already soaked through their clothes and were quickly changing into fresh ones to avoid affecting the flavor with body odor.
The exam pushed on.
...
"The examination period is now over."
"Candidates, please stop cooking."
"Examiners, begin scoring."
A wave of relief washed over the candidates—followed by renewed anxiety.
Their futures hung on the judgment of a hundred tasters.
...
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (1047 chapters in total)