Anime Collector: Starting With the Malevolent Shrine-Chapter 216 ⟴ Let This Senior Show You How It’s Done

"Terrible! Next!" The spotlessly clean plate sat before him as Kishibe elegantly wiped his mouth.

Despite being full, he had to admit the taste wasn't bad. Unable to resist, he had cleaned off Terunori's mapo tofu completely, only now realizing how mediocre the previous dishes had been.

The short, spiky-haired blonde before him ranked among Tōtsuki's Elite Ten — though not in the top positions — yet possessed remarkable skill.

'What a shame. This food selection wasn't meant for you all. If I let you face Inspector General Daiki, I'd be finished.' Kishibe gave the young man a regretful look, delivered his cold evaluation, and had staff take the plate away for washing.

Terunori stood stunned at this evaluation. Seeing the "judge" devour his food earlier, he'd thought he'd passed.

If his cooking was so terrible, why had the judge eaten it with such enthusiasm? Was this head judge even qualified?

"Judge, are you serious? If my cooking was so inedible, why did you clean the plate down to the last crumb?" His temper finally flared.

From the start, he'd found this food selection utterly unprofessional — amateur judges, amateur venue, amateur requirements.

Just as he was about to demand what had failed to qualify, Etsuya thrust his arm out to block him.

"Kuga, stop making a scene! This is a food selection event — you're disgracing not just yourself, but all of Tōtsuki!" Adjusting his glasses with one hand, he maintained an elegant, composed demeanor reminiscent of Kojirō.

"Hah? I'm making a scene? Nobody has passed the test yet, and since when does one person constitute a proper judge?" Terunori shouted, disregarding etiquette. His outburst only drew sneers from the observing chefs.

What chef doesn't believe their talent is heaven-sent? Even as a member of Tōtsuki's Elite Ten, his youth betrayed him.

"Enough of this nonsense. If you're not up to par, you're not up to par. Step aside and let me show you what real cooking is."

Etsuya raised his number card and swept Terunori aside with one hand, his commanding presence catching Kishibe's attention.

With practiced grace, he brought out his cooking utensils. Ingredients seemed to dance through the air as he poured fragrant red wine into the pan. The rich beef aroma intensified under the wine's influence, and an unshakeable confidence played across his face.

His masterful dish, perfected over a full night's work, showcased his understanding of senior Kojirō's cooking philosophy. Adding precise amounts of vegetables to enhance the beef's complex flavors and savory aroma, Etsuya worked with the precision of an alchemist.

From outside, Megumi Tadokoro and the others watched in awe — this was the true caliber of Tōtsuki's Elite Ten, far beyond their own abilities.

Even Terunori, now seated on the ground, could only stare at Etsuya's movements with wide, trembling eyes, rendered speechless.

When Etsuya lifted the iron pot, the aromatic beef emerged, and everyone waiting — including Eishi Tsukasa — turned to watch the Judge's reaction.

Kishibe picked up his knife and fork, tasted a small bite, then met Etsuya's confident gaze. After a moment of careful consideration, he lifted the plate and, while Etsuya watched with unwavering assurance, dropped it in the trash.

"Next!"

His cold voice rang through the venue, leaving all the chefs stunned — how could cooking of this caliber not pass?

"What kind of joke is this? I poured everything into perfecting this dish, and you say it doesn't pass? Tell me what's wrong with it!" Etsuya's confident smile shattered as he lunged for Kishibe's collar, demanding answers.

Eishi and Terunori quickly grabbed him, with Terunori letting out a bitter laugh, "Eizan, get a grip! If we're not good enough, we're not good enough. Stop making a scene — you're not just embarrassing yourself, but the Elite Ten's reputation!"

His words struck Etsuya like a slap as Terunori gripped his pant leg firmly.

"Get off me!" The enraged businessman no longer cared about Kishibe's explanation — he just wanted to shake off this humiliating restraint.

The other chefs stood silently, watching the drama unfold. Etsuya's dish had clearly surpassed the others — if even his masterful creation couldn't pass, what hope did ordinary chefs have? Many felt their spirits sink.

"Heh... giving up so easily?"

A cold laugh cut through the silence. All eyes turned to see Kojirō, who stood with an imposing air as he adjusted his glasses.

Th𝓮 most uptodate nov𝑒ls are publish𝒆d on ƒreewebηoveℓ.com.

"Life at Tōtsuki has made you soft — made you forget a chef's true struggles. Cooking is war. Did you think this was merely child's play? Very well, let this senior demonstrate what real cooking means."

His presence commanded attention, each step radiating confidence as he strode through the venue.

Kishibe watched Kojirō with bewilderment — what was this man thinking? Being male meant automatic disqualification; this was an absolute rule.

The cabinet had only kept the entry requirements open for appearance's sake. Otherwise, male chefs wouldn't have even been allowed to apply.

But before Kishibe could voice his objections, Kojirō had already begun preparing his dish, boldly naming it "The Légumes Magician!"

By using his former title as the dish's name, he was staking his entire legacy on this victory!

❊❊❊

T/N: If you want more Chapters like this, check out my Patreon! Take a look at my other translations too, you might like them!

For just $1.50 you can access all the extra content, descriptive images, and the smuts (this one has a lot), costs only $2!

That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)

https://www.patreon.com/collection/827183