As an Eight-Star Chef, and someone who inherited the mastery of a Dragon Chef like Kaiyu, Kael's understanding of cooking was on a level no one else present could hope to reach.
So whenever the girls asked him anything, Kael always answered with the simplest, most precise solution — often providing more than one.
He even shared a few minor tricks with them. In the Dark Cooking Society, those tricks were so common they were practically street-level techniques…
But in the World of Food Wars, they were priceless.
"Kael-san is incredible. No matter what we ask, he hits the nail on the head — and he even has backup solutions. And these techniques…" Arato Hisako glanced at Erina.
To Kael they were nothing. To them, they were treasures.
"Kael-san, we can't just take these for free. Once we're back, I'll talk to Grandfather about giving you proper compensation."
Erina Nakiri might be completely clueless in everyday common sense, but she was extremely clear about etiquette like this.
Kael could give freely. But they couldn't take freely. That much, they understood.
Kael nodded lightly in agreement. As expected of the Nakiri heiress — in matters like this, she handled things properly.
The group chatted along the way as the plane sped across the sky. A few hours later, they landed, then transferred to a private car and went to their accommodations.
After dropping off their things, they headed straight for WGO Headquarters.
Kael planned to take his Star Rating Assessment immediately. No need to wait until tomorrow.
He intended to stay here for a few days anyway — might as well finish the official business early so the rest of the time could be spent exploring.
By the time they reached the WGO building, it was already night. But since today's Examiner was Mana Nakiri, Kael could come at any hour.
And because the examiner was Mana, Kael wanted to test a new toxin he had developed — one designed specifically to suppress taste.
If Mana's condition came from the burden of the God's Tongue, then maybe a toxin that dulled taste might help her… Even if only temporarily.
He had never met her before, so this was the perfect chance to run a test.
It wouldn't harm her. Kael knew exactly how his poisons worked.
Of course, simply suppressing taste wasn't a permanent solution.
Mana's position at the WGO depended on the God's Tongue — if she completely lost it, even as a Nine-Star-level chef, she could never remain the WGO's sole Special Executive Officer.
So the long-term cure couldn't simply be "removing" her ability. Kael was sure he'd find a real solution later. For now, this was only a preliminary attempt.
If it worked, Mana could at least eat something again.
Right now, she was surviving on nutrient fluids. Her body was so weak she could barely walk.
A slightly strong breeze could probably knock her down. She couldn't even travel by plane anymore.
Years of being unable to eat normally had left her with secondary illnesses and extremely low immunity.
If not for the WGO's full medical facilities and personal doctors on standby, Mana would have collapsed long ago.
If Kael succeeded, she could finally begin nursing her body back to health — only stopping the medication when she needed her God's Tongue.
As they approached the WGO building, Erina's expression grew tighter, her heartbeat speeding up.
Kael's Divine Hearing picked up every rapid thump — easily over 120 beats per minute.
He didn't say anything.
No one could talk her out of her anxiety. She had to face her mother herself.
After stepping out of the car, Alice Nakiri stuck closely to Erina's side, walking shoulder to shoulder. Hisako was on the other side, but Alice still wasn't reassured.
"You've arrived. I'm Ann, First-Class Executive Officer of the WGO and Secretary to Lady Mana Nakiri. Please follow me."
She'd clearly been waiting for them.
Ann led the group into a room decorated entirely in Japanese motifs.
There, seated inside, was Mana Nakiri.
Kael only needed one glance to understand her condition. On the surface she looked fine, but her skin told him everything.
If she continued like this, she wouldn't last another ten years —
And that was assuming she didn't get sick.
At her level of fragility, a moderate cold might cost her half her lifespan.
"…We should come back later." Kael stepped back from the doorway.
He was here for an assessment, but this moment belonged to the mother and daughter who hadn't seen each other in years.
Alice and Hisako immediately stopped as well, both anxious but understanding. This was something only Mana and Erina could resolve.
Erina stepped into the room alone.
The others waited outside — not to eavesdrop, but because Mana's health was dangerously unstable. If she experienced extreme joy or sorrow, something could happen.
At first, only faint voices could be heard — too soft for anyone but Kael to distinguish.
Mana was apologizing.
No matter what reasons she'd had, abandoning her own daughter was a fact.
Now that truth was laid bare, and once Erina understood the circumstances, her tears started falling.
And as soon as Erina cried, Mana completely broke. She could maintain dignity before the entire world…
But never in front of her own daughter.
They held each other and cried.
With the knot untied, they finally talked — for over an hour.
Kael redirected his attention away, deliberately tuning out with his Divine Hearing. He had no interest in intruding on their moment.
When the door finally opened again, everyone immediately noticed their red eyes.
There was no hiding they had cried.
Inside, introductions were exchanged — though Mana already knew every detail about them.
Especially Kael. She had almost certainly investigated him thoroughly. Fortunately, he had nothing to hide.
"At last, we meet, Kael. Is it alright if I call you by your name?"
Mana's voice was gentle. Her position was high, but Kael was the only person capable of saving her life — she couldn't afford arrogance.
"That's fine. Just my name is enough."
As long as she didn't give him some weird nickname.
"In that case, let's begin your assessment. No conditions, no time limit — simply prepare one dish for me to taste."
To her, this assessment was just a formality. She already knew he was an Eight-Star Chef.
This was only to give the outside world a proper explanation.
Ann led Kael into the kitchen next door.
"This kitchen is yours to use freely. Any ingredients you need, just tell me."
"No need. What's here is plenty."
He wasn't planning anything extravagant. Just a gentle Medicinal Cuisine porridge to soothe the stomach — infused with his test poison.
Any qualified Eight-Star Chef could make an Eight-Star dish effortlessly.
He didn't need a flashy Specialty for this.
His cooking was finished quickly:
Yam and Mutton Congee, mild and warm.
Mana's stomach couldn't handle anything stimulating. Even if she tried normal food, she vomited immediately.
"This is for healing the stomach? But… Lady Mana can't keep any food down. She'll just throw it up again," Ann murmured.
Countless chefs had tried such dishes. All had failed.
Still, she escorted Kael back to Mana's room.
"It seems ordinary at first glance… Let me ask, is this your strongest example of Poison Cuisine?"
Mana knew exactly what Kael specialized in. And this bowl looked far too plain. Which meant it likely contained something she couldn't detect.
"Correct. It's Poison Cuisine. So, Special Executive Officer… do you dare try it?"
Kael didn't hide anything. Mana's God's Tongue couldn't identify the toxin, but it could detect ingredients she'd never encountered before.
Combined with what she knew about him, there was no point pretending.
"Kael-san, is this poison really safe for her?" Erina asked anxiously.
A toxin that merely made a normal person woozy… Could easily kill someone as fragile as Mana.
"Relax. I evaluated her condition thoroughly earlier. This won't harm her."
Kael wouldn't make such a rookie mistake.
"In that case, I'll try it."
Before Ann could stop her, Mana lifted the bowl and drank a spoonful.
Immediately, her eyes widened.
"My taste… it's being suppressed!"
She sensed it instantly — even the God's Tongue's magnification of flaws was fading.
The moment the congee touched her tongue, Mana nearly gagged as usual. Every time she ate, that reaction came first.
But this time… She forced herself to endure.
She never vomited in front of others. She always waited until she was alone.
But now, something changed —The nausea began to weaken. The overwhelming sensory assault faded with it.
The congee… actually didn't taste unbearable anymore.
Mana swallowed it.
Then closed her eyes and simply waited — for the suppression to stabilize.
Kael saw her reaction and knew immediately: It worked.
With her God's Tongue subdued, she couldn't detect imperfections —But she could finally eat like a normal person.
For Mana Nakiri… That alone was a miracle.
___________________________
*The Bonus Chapter*