Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 56

Around lunchtime, the cooking contest began, but it wasn’t until late afternoon that the judging could commence.

The first contestant to step forward was Sugar, with a gleam in her eye for the gold coins.

“Ahem.”

The pretentious attitude with which Sugar presented his dish didn’t surprise me.

“Sugar cooked diligently for Bell!”

What clinked onto the plate was a single gold coin.

She had worked hard to decorate it, and around the portrait of the first king embossed on the gold coin was a picture of flowers that she had painted with her hands.

I picked up the gold coin gracefully, as if it were a long-awaited gift, and popped it into Sugar’s mouth.

“Next.”

“Mmh!”

Sugar exclaimed, gobbling up the decorated gold coin in her mouth.

The next contestant was Vivian.

Rather than spending time in the kitchen, she had been holed up in her laboratory all afternoon.

What she brought forth was a potion contained in a small glass bottle.

“With this potion, all the nutrients you need for a day are fulfilled.”

In terms of creativity and efficiency, she passed.

Perhaps Vivian, being a carnivore, had managed to simulate the taste of a high-grade steak?

I cautiously took a sip of the potion.

“This is…….”

What should I say?

“It tastes… tasteless.”

“Yes! To ensure it appeals to everyone, I made it colorless, odorless, and tasteless.”

A heartbreaking glimpse into the future.

Eating this kind of food three times a day might fulfill your daily nutrients, but it would leave your soul empty.

No, wouldn’t something this colorless, odorless, and tasteless just be high-calorie water?

Injecting calories into water, what an incredibly dangerous creation of food.

“Next.”

Following the dejected exit of Vivian, Sir Penadel stepped forward with a spit-roasted whole pig.

It was so massive that it filled a table meant for four.

“It’s a whole roasted pig.”

“I can see that.”

Penadel seemed to feel the need to emphasize something, adding without prompting.

“I used freshly caught ingredients.”

Sir Penadel was nowhere to be seen in the kitchen, so he must have been out in the yard wrestling with the pig over the fire the whole time.

Firstly, there seemed to be no issue with sourcing the ingredients.

The problem lay in how toughly the pig was roasted; so vividly did it remind me of its life that I worried it might open its eyes and make eye contact with me during the meal.

Even though I hadn’t caught it myself, I couldn’t help but feel a discomforting sense of guilt as I tasted the roasted pig.

“This is…….”

Unconsciously, my eyes widened.

It was amazing.

It captured the taste of the pig perfectly.

So vividly, I could taste the fur and dirt of the wild pig, along with its gaminess.

Having spent all day roasting such a magnificent pig over the fire, Sir Penadel must have worked hard. I couldn’t bring myself to say the taste was awful to his face, so I carefully redirected the conversation.

“Sir Penadel, have you tasted this?”

“Yes, it doesn’t suit my palate.”

Phew!

“Next.”

Cheshire smirked at Penadel Kyeong as he confidently presented his dish.

My mouth fell open in shock at Cheshire’s dish on the judging table.

I was speechless.

After presenting a dish so shocking that it left even Belinda speechless, Cheshire proudly said.

“It’s Truffle Risotto, Master.”

“…….”

“I’ve added plenty of expensive mushrooms for health benefits.”

What good is it for health?

It looks like… it’s been left at room temperature for three months, growing mushrooms like porridge.

It’s the kind of visual that might make even health nuts hesitate, despite usually consuming oil for health.

“Next.”

“Master? You haven’t even tasted…”

“Hmph. Step aside, sewage. To serve such waste as food for humans… You should apologize to the mushrooms by bowing your head and asking for forgiveness.”

Oh, I knew I could count on you, butler!

What Terry served was a very normal-looking pasta.

I let out an inward cheer at finally having a dish that looked like a dish.

I know what this is, it’s basil pasta!

“Introducing Terry’s Poison Pasta. But now with added antidote.”

Excuse me? It’s not just regular basil pasta?

“The green hue here comes from the poisonous herb Amphisin. It paralyzes the entire body upon contact with the tongue. However, this piece is not intended for lethal purposes, so I’ve generously topped it with the antidote. To add a twist of flavor, I’ve slightly enhanced the paralyzing effect, so your tongue might tingle a bit every time you take a bite.”

What… that’s… scary.

Do assassins eat stuff like this regularly?

“…Next.”

“Master! Once you taste it, you’ll surely be unable to escape its addictive charm! Just take one bite!”

I can’t believe she made that stuff in the kitchen.

I’m sorry, but I’ll have to assign the kitchen staff to do a thorough cleaning.

The last contestant was finally Leo.

With a nervous expression, Leo placed a simple plate in front of me.

“It’s a fried egg.”

Perhaps Leo thought his creation was unremarkable because he looked a bit downcast.

But even without my biased filter, Leo’s fried egg was perfect.

A perfect roundness with a glistening shine.

Just the right amount of runny yolk that would ooze out when poked.

I don’t need to taste it to know.

This is the ultimate fried egg!

“Pass.”

“Huh?”

In front of the bewildered Leo, I elegantly sliced the fried egg in half.

The molten yolk flowed out, and the moment I put it in my mouth…

“Winner!”

Goodness, who knew fried eggs could be this delicious.

Leo’s dish was the best without the need for any manipulation.

“The winner is Ratchet. And you all.”

With only five people, the judges’ satisfaction was solely pinned on Leo’s ultimate fried egg, concluding an astonishing contest.

“Let’s dine out tonight.”

After all, dining out is the best way to enjoy a meal.

* * *

Since it was still festival season, every popular restaurant was fully booked.

Finally, I managed to secure a table at the steakhouse where I had my first encounter with Vivian, thanks to my “I’m Bellinda Blanche” power cheat.

And the war began.

“Ch-Cheshire! Us-using magic is cheating!”

“Drinking meat like it’s water is also cheating.”

“I brought the leftover sauce from making pasta earlier. Does anyone want to try it?”

“Is this servant openly attempting assassination now?”

“The true winner is Sugar. There must have been cheating involved!”

“Chef, could you share the recipe for this pork roast?”

I sighed as I placed the sliced meat onto Leo’s plate, sitting at the head of the table.

Amidst all the chatter, it was hard to tell if the food was going into mouths or up noses.

This wasn’t the dining experience I had in mind.

I envisioned a more formal affair, enjoying elegant courses at a refined establishment.

‘Well, it’s not so bad.’

When he first came to the mansion, he was hesitant and watched my reactions like a fledgling bird, but now he had grown into a formidable warrior who wouldn’t let anyone take his plate.

“Ratchet, you did well in the cooking contest.”

Pushing a glass of orange juice towards Leo, I calmly added.

“And let’s cancel what I said about you being weak and feeble.”

Unfortunately, this was the best I could do for now.

Bellinda never apologizes or expresses regret to anyone.

‘Why is the real Belinda like this? ‘

While pondering over Belinda’s twisted personality once again, Leo, who had been hesitating, fiddled with his glass and whispered softly,

“That’s non-negotiable.”

I mischievously pinched Leo’s cheek like a soft rice cake, careful not to hurt him.

“It’s still so squishy.”

Leo pouted his lips and timidly protested.

“I-It’ll become firm soon…”

Leo was always cute, but he was ten times cuter when he was pretending not to be.

I hid my smile by pretending to take a drink, knowing I’d never be able to control the corners of my mouth.

“Well, let’s see. By the way, what wish are you going to make as the prize for winning?”

“Hmm… Well, that’s…”

“That’s?”

“I don’t have anything I want right now. I already have enough.”

It’s a bit disappointing of an answer. There are so many things I want to give him, but he says he’s content with what he has.

He could be a little more selfish.

“Well then, let me know when you think of something you want later.”

Hopefully, he’ll have something in mind before meeting Ophelia and leaving me.

Or at least until I leave this country…

As I pondered this, a strange feeling washed over me, and I found myself gazing at the people seated around the table.

Looking at the familiar faces chatting amicably, a thought occurred to me.

I used to think I wouldn’t feel any attachment when leaving this country.

It’s not my homeland, I have no family here, and I don’t have any friends to bid farewell to.

But later, when I leave the Kingdom of Genos and feel loneliness in a foreign land, I might find myself longing for today’s lively dinner table, more than I did for my past life.