Ray carried a tray of freshly baked egg tarts over to Erina and gently placed one in front of her.
"Orange Puff Pastry Lava Egg Tart. Please, enjoy."
Erina Nakiri's gaze fell upon the egg tart.
In terms of presentation alone, it was indeed flawless.
She gave a slight nod, her expression remaining largely unchanged.
"It looks decent enough. I suppose I can reluctantly... give it a taste."
As she spoke, Erina picked up a knife and cut into the crispy pastry crust.
With a soft crunch, the warm, molten center instantly flowed out. The orange-tinted filling, carrying a rich milky aroma, spread across the plate with an enticing, glossy sheen.
She cut off a small piece and placed it in her mouth.
The flaky, crispy crust exploded between her teeth, bringing with it the savory richness of butter and the subtle brininess of the Salt Orange.
Immediately after, the warm filling slid down her throat—silky, dense, and sweet without being cloying.
The rich milky aroma and the refreshing scent of oranges intertwined, perfectly neutralizing the heaviness of the cream. The lingering aftertaste felt as though countless tiny orange fairies were dancing gracefully upon her tongue.
The ultimate deliciousness assaulted her taste buds, causing Erina's body to go limp. She subconsciously let out a soft moan, the tail end of her voice carrying an imperceptible tremble.
Her cheeks flushed a deep, alluring crimson, and a layer of mist clouded her eyes.
Half-slumped over the table, her consciousness seemed to float up to the clouds. Before her eyes was a golden grove of orange trees, with sunlight filtering through the leaves—warm and incredibly cozy.
Ray watched Erina's reaction, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he quietly withdrew his gaze.
*It seems my 'drugging' skills have improved!*
As the last bit of the molten center slid down her throat, Erina didn't hesitate. She reached out and took a second Orange Puff Pastry Lava Egg Tart from the tray.
This time, she didn't bother with the knife and fork, taking a direct bite out of it.
Watching Erina's actions, Hisako Arato's eyes widened slightly, a trace of curiosity welling up in her heart.
Having been by Lady Erina's side for years, she knew exactly how picky the God Tongue could be.
For ordinary dishes, Lady Erina would typically only take a single bite.
To think that Ray's Orange Puff Pastry Lava Egg Tart actually made Lady Erina go for seconds.
Noticing Hisako's curiosity, Ray offered the plate in her direction.
"Would you like to try one? I happened to make quite a few."
Hisako's gaze lingered on the golden crust for a brief moment.
The pastry was baked to perfection, its edges slightly curled and gleaming with an enticing caramel hue. She could faintly smell a subtle orange fragrance mixed with the sweet scent of custard, teasing her appetite.
However, Hisako quickly lowered her eyelashes and gently shook her head.
"I apologize, Ray, but I am currently working."
As the head examiner, it was Lady Erina's duty to taste the dishes, which was perfectly justifiable.
But as Erina Nakiri's secretary, her current task was to assist the examiner in completing the evaluation.
Naturally, it was inappropriate for her to partake in the food.
Ray didn't press the issue. He simply smiled and picked up an Orange Puff Pastry Lava Egg Tart from the tray for himself.
With a light pinch of his fingers, a crisp crunch echoed as a few flakes of pastry fell into his palm.
Paying it no mind, he tossed the crumbs into his mouth, then took a bite of the tart, chewing slowly with a look of utter contentment.
"Hey! Ray!"
Soma Yukihira's voice called out from the side.
Holding a spatula, he stood on his tiptoes and peered over, his eyes sparkling.
"Can I get a taste of that orange egg tart you made?"
"I'm seriously super curious about how it tastes!"
Ray glanced up at Soma and replied calmly.
"Finish your own dish first. Don't worry, I still have plenty of tarts left."
Hearing this, Soma nodded and gave a crisp response.
"Alright."
He immediately turned back to wrestle with the eggs in his pan.
While Soma continued to busy himself with his cooking, Erina finished her second egg tart.
She gently pressed her fingertips against her lower lip, a rare hint of bewilderment flashing through her eyes as she fell into a long silence.
Ray's dish left her momentarily at a loss for words on how to evaluate it.
Strictly speaking, this Orange Puff Pastry Lava Egg Tart had far exceeded her expectations.
The pastry crust had distinct layers; with a single bite, it crumbled perfectly. That faint, elusive orange fragrance perfectly neutralized the greasiness of the puff pastry.
The filling was even more exceptional. As the warm, molten center flowed over her tongue, the rich orange scent wrapped in the mellow thickness of custard exploded in her mouth.
Sweet but not cloying, rich but not overwhelming—the two flavors blended together flawlessly, creating a naturally harmonious taste that left her God Tongue unable to find a single flaw.
Yet, it was precisely this perfect taste that gave Erina an unprecedented sense of surprise.
Her God Tongue could accurately discern the ratio of every ingredient in a dish, detect the subtlest differences in spices, and even taste the exact heat control used during cooking...
But faced with the elusive orange fragrance in this pastry, she was completely stumped.
There was no bitterness from orange peels, nor the sugary stickiness of orange juice. The orange scent seemed to seep out from the very bones of the pastry—crisp and clean.
It made it entirely impossible for her to taste exactly what method Ray had used.
This curiosity even overpowered the sheer amazement on her taste buds.
After a long silence, Erina finally looked up. Her gaze fixed straight on Ray, a newfound seriousness in her eyes.
"You pass."
The requirement for this exam was simply to make an egg dish capable of satisfying her God Tongue.
Ray had not only achieved this, but he had done so exceptionally well.
The standard of this egg tart alone was on par with the students of Totsuki Academy's high school division.
Such a level of skill was naturally more than enough to pass the transfer student exam.
As for whether Ray could establish a firm foothold within Totsuki Academy, that would be his own business.
*But... where exactly did that orange fragrance in the crust come from?*
Erina's fingertips curled subconsciously. The curiosity in her heart grew wildly like vines, but the words were swallowed back down just as they reached her lips.
Taking the initiative to ask someone else for their culinary secret would be tantamount to admitting that there were flavors her God Tongue couldn't decipher.
Ray had no idea just how rich Erina's inner monologue was.
Hearing the word "pass," the smile on his face deepened, and his hanging heart finally settled.
Next, he just needed to keep an eye on Soma and make sure he didn't do anything stupid.
Soon, Soma strode over with a white porcelain bowl in hand.
The bowl was filled with perfectly separated scrambled eggs, boasting an enticing golden hue.
He placed the bowl on the dining table in front of Erina, his tone brimming with confidence.
"Thanks for waiting!"