Russell Archier picked up his knife and fork, cut a perfectly seared piece of foie gras, and slowly brought it to his mouth.
A second later, his pupils dilated. The corners of his mouth curled upward uncontrollably, and a flash of sheer amazement appeared in his eyes.
The rich, fatty aroma of the foie gras blended flawlessly with the mellow sweetness of the sauce, while the crisp, tender apple slices cleverly neutralized the greasiness with their refreshing fruity fragrance.
The natural flavors of every ingredient were pushed to their absolute limits, yet they complemented each other perfectly. The layers were distinct, creating a harmony that was nothing short of breathtaking.
He chewed carefully for a moment before slowly swallowing, his face filled with a lingering expression of pure bliss.
Recovering his composure, he looked up at Ray and Ryoko Sakaki.
"The heat control on the foie gras is absolutely perfect—not a fraction of a degree too high or too low. It perfectly locks in the abundant juices inside."
"The seasoning of the sauce is also handled with impeccable precision. The balance of sweet and sour pairs magnificently with the foie gras."
"Ray, Ryoko Sakaki, for this dish, I give you an A grade."
Hearing this score, Ryoko let out a long sigh of relief, while Ray felt no surprise at all.
The cooking process for this pan-seared foie gras wasn't particularly complicated to begin with, so securing an A grade was entirely within expectations.
In fact, if he had the chance to practice a few more times and handled the entire process himself, Ray was completely confident he could make the dish even more stunning.
However, there was simply no need for that.
With the judging concluded, the students had free time until the start of the next class.
Ray and Ryoko returned to their cooking station, intending to taste the fruits of their collaboration.
Ray pulled one of the plates of pan-seared foie gras toward him and gently cut off a small piece.
Before it even entered his mouth, a rich, mellow aroma pierced his nose. It was the unique milky fragrance of seared butter mixed with the dense, fatty scent of the foie gras itself. Just the smell alone was enough to make one's mouth water and stimulate the appetite.
Placing the foie gras into his mouth, the dense texture practically melted on his tongue. Not only was there no hint of fishiness or heavy grease, but it also carried just the right amount of savory umami. A lingering hint of spicy black pepper danced on the finish, offering a surprisingly rich depth of flavor.
Paired with the crispy pan-seared apple slices on the side, the refreshing crunch balanced the richness of the foie gras, while the sweet and sour fruity notes cut through the fat and elevated the umami, instantly illuminating his entire palate.
Accompanied by the carrots and potatoes—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside—the multiple textures bloomed layer by layer on the tip of his tongue, weaving together into an exquisite balance.
Ray felt that if he could pair this with a glass of red wine right now, the flavor profile would be even more full-bodied and enduring.
Unfortunately, while his actual age was old enough, the age of his current identity did not permit him to drink alcohol.
Ray and Ryoko quickly polished off the food on their respective plates.
Right at that moment, an overwhelmingly pungent stench spread through the room without warning.
Ray's expression changed drastically, his brows furrowing tightly.
However, Ryoko beside him appeared exceptionally calm.
Following the stench, Ray turned his head and saw Nao Sadatsuka carrying a plate holding a pitch-black, unidentified object, slowly walking toward the judge's table.
Wherever she passed, the surrounding students covered their mouths and noses, their faces turning pale as they avoided her like the plague.
Nao placed the plate of the black, unidentified object in front of Russell Archier and spoke in a low, hoarse voice.
"Please taste it. The Special Stinky Pan-Seared Foie Gras."
Yet, faced with this repulsive stench that made everyone else recoil, Russell Archier remained completely unfazed.
He calmly picked up his knife and fork, cut a piece of the black mystery object, and placed it into his mouth, his chewing motions remaining as elegant and composed as ever.
Even Ray couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
As expected of a man capable of serving as an instructor at Totsuki Academy.
Although he didn't mind eating stinky tofu, this was something he would genuinely struggle to swallow.
"Using the stench to completely eradicate the gaminess of the foie gras, while flawlessly fusing that same stench with the natural fatty aroma of the liver to create a wholly unique flavor profile..."
Russell Archier set down his knife and fork, looking at Nao with satisfaction before delivering his evaluation.
"Nao Sadatsuka, I give you an A grade."
"Hehehe..."
Nao let out a string of eerie chuckles, clearly very satisfied with this result.
She immediately turned and left the classroom.
Next, she had to go write her thirteenth letter of the day to Lady Erina.
After Instructor Russell Archier's class concluded, the next session was a course combining culinary theory with practical application.
At noon, Ray ate a fairly decent lunch in the academy cafeteria and took the opportunity to handle his boarding procedures.
The commute from Totsuki Academy to his house was simply too far.
Ray didn't want to waste a massive chunk of his time commuting every day.
As for the Jewel Meat and the Gate of Worlds stored in his house, no one could enter without his permission.
Therefore, Ray wasn't the least bit worried about the risk of theft.
With that in mind, living on campus was naturally much more convenient.
However, what slightly surprised Ray was that—perhaps under Senzaemon Nakiri's instructions—the dormitory he was assigned to was actually the Polar Star Dormitory.
Ray was quite happy to see this outcome.
After all, he genuinely liked the relaxed and cozy atmosphere of the Polar Star Dormitory.
Once his boarding application was sorted, it was time for the afternoon classes.
However, the afternoon sessions were entirely theoretical, covering everything from the origins and characteristics of ingredients to the historical evolution of cuisine and nutritional pairing—all professional subjects closely related to cooking.
Ray listened with exceptional focus.
If he wanted to go further on the path of cooking, these seemingly dry theoretical concepts were indispensable cornerstones.
Time flew by, and the day's classes soon came to an end.
The setting sun slanted westward, dyeing the clouds on the horizon a warm orange-red. The afterglow spilled over the architectural complex of Totsuki Academy, coating it in a soft golden trim.
Ray packed up his belongings and was just preparing to head to the Polar Star Dormitory to check in.
Before he could take more than a few steps, he ran into Ryoko Sakaki waiting by the side of the road.
"You're heading to the Polar Star Dormitory to check in, right?"
Ryoko lifted her chin, gesturing toward a bicycle beside her, her tone light and cheerful.
"I rode my bike here. Want to go together?"
They had been in the same class for the afternoon theory sessions as well.
During a break between classes, Ray had casually mentioned that he was moving into the Polar Star Dormitory.
The sheer size of Totsuki Academy was staggering, roughly equivalent to a small town.
Walking from the teaching building to the Polar Star Dormitory would take at least half an hour, if not more.
In Ryoko's eyes, since Ray was a newcomer, he definitely wouldn't have thought to prepare a mode of transportation, which was why she had specifically waited for him here.
Ray paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
"Thanks a lot."
He had completely forgotten about that. If it weren't for Ryoko, he probably would have been walking until dark before reaching the Polar Star Dormitory.
Of course, even though he was hitching a ride, Ray couldn't possibly let Ryoko pedal him around.
So, Ray took the initiative to grab the handlebars, gesturing for Ryoko to sit on the back seat.
Naturally, Ryoko didn't decline.
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