Nakiri Erina’s figure appeared at the entrance of the rostrum.
Dressed in a well-tailored school uniform, her posture was upright, and her eyes held a hint of arrogance.
As she stepped onto the rostrum, she instantly drew the gaze of everyone below.
A teacher from the academy walked up holding an exquisite school year badge and solemnly pinned it to Nakiri Erina’s chest.
This school year badge was Totsuki Academy’s recognition of its most outstanding student.
Only students who consistently ranked at the top of the Junior High Division and whose culinary skills far surpassed their peers were eligible for this honor.
The students in the plaza looked at Nakiri Erina on the rostrum with eyes full of respect and admiration.
They had spent three years in the Junior High Division with Nakiri Erina and had personally witnessed her unattainable culinary talent.
No one had any objections to her receiving the school year badge.
The badge awarding ceremony ended quickly.
Nakiri Erina nodded slightly to the crowd, then turned and calmly walked off the rostrum.
The host’s voice rang out again, this time with a hint more reverence in their tone.
“Next, please welcome the Director of Totsuki Academy—Mr. Senzaemon Nakiri, to deliver a speech!”
*Swoosh—*
Almost the instant Senzaemon Nakiri’s name was called, the backs of all the students in the plaza straightened even more.
Their expressions turned solemn, and they even subconsciously lightened their breathing.
Senzaemon Nakiri, known as the ‘Demon King of Food,’ held immense influence in the culinary world.
Furthermore, the educational policy Senzaemon Nakiri pursued was ‘competition.’
This made the students of Totsuki Academy somewhat fearful of him…
Soon, the tall Senzaemon Nakiri slowly walked onto the rostrum.
Wearing a black coat, his face was majestic and his gaze sharp.
Just by standing there, he exuded a natural aura of authority that made the atmosphere of the entire plaza turn solemn.
Senzaemon Nakiri’s gaze slowly swept over the students below.
Seeing the tension and excitement they couldn’t hide, his expression remained solemn.
Every year at this time, he would see such expressions.
“Everyone, congratulations on successfully advancing to the Totsuki High School Division.”
“Over the past three years, you have built a solid foundation in the Junior High Division.”
“You have learned the basic skills of cooking and familiarized yourselves with the characteristics of various ingredients. Your accumulation in culinary practice goes without saying.”
“At the same time, you have also learned enough in terms of theoretical knowledge.”
[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: Read novels on 101 Kanshu.com, 101kks.com, so worry-free.]
“Culinary theory, nutrition, public health, introduction to cultivation, business management…”
“Because of this, today you are qualified to stand at the gates of the Totsuki High School Division.”
Haruto stood at the entrance of the waiting room, his gaze sweeping over the students in the plaza with their various expressions.
It had to be said that Totsuki Academy was truly impeccable when it came to basic education.
During the three years of the Junior High Division, from Knife Skills and Heat Control to ingredient characteristics, and from nutritional pairing to business concepts, the basic skills required of a top chef were broken down and taught thoroughly to every student.
Even if someone couldn’t survive the brutal screening of the High School Division, with the foundation laid over these three years, they could still find a decent job in the culinary world after leaving.
And if one could successfully graduate from the Totsuki High School Division, they would be sought after by major famous restaurants and have an extremely high starting point…
“But the trials you will face from now on.”
Senzaemon Nakiri’s voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable authority.
“Are not about skills and knowledge, but the spirit to survive as a chef!”
“Ninety-nine percent of you are sacrificial pawns born to hone the other one percent!”
These words were like a massive boulder crashing into the hearts of all the students in the plaza.
Outside the waiting room, some first-year high school students who were still trying to remain calm suddenly turned pale.
Many subconsciously clenched their fists, the light in their eyes dimming bit by bit.
They had all entered the gates of Totsuki with dreams of becoming top chefs; none of them wanted to be a so-called ‘sacrificial pawn.’
But everyone knew in their hearts that Totsuki Academy had always been a place of survival of the fittest to a near-brutal degree.
“Last year, out of eight hundred and twelve first-year students, only seventy-six successfully advanced to the second year!”
Senzaemon Nakiri’s voice continued to echo over the plaza.
“A first-year class of a thousand will have only a hundred left by advancement day!”
“As for how many can make it to graduation? You could probably count them on one hand!”
These numbers made the atmosphere in the plaza so oppressive it was almost suffocating.
Just then, Senzaemon Nakiri suddenly raised his hand, his aged but powerful finger pointing sharply at the students below.
“But you, you, and you—all have the potential to become one of those final few chefs!”
…The dead silence was instantly broken.
Those students who were originally dejected felt as if they had been injected with a shot in the arm.
Their eyes suddenly lit up, the gloom on their faces swept away and replaced by a burning fighting spirit.
Yes, they all had the potential to be that one-in-ten-thousand existence!
In an instant, all the students clenched their fists, their blood boiling with passion, their gazes toward Senzaemon Nakiri full of longing.
At this moment, these students all secretly made up their minds: no matter how brutal the trials of the High School Division were, they had to grit their teeth and endure; they had to stay at Totsuki!
At the entrance of the waiting room, Haruto took in the whole scene.
A faint curve appeared at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes remained calm.
Although these students were full of fighting spirit right now…
Fighting spirit without talent is ultimately just a flash in the pan.
Before long, the incompetence of the mediocre would be ground down bit by bit by the cruelty of Totsuki Academy.
They thought that as long as they worked hard enough, they could close any gap.
But they didn’t realize that some chasms can never be crossed by effort alone.
What Totsuki wanted to keep were never those who only knew how to work hard, but the Superior among the Superiors where talent and effort coexisted.
For example, him.
In less than two months, relying on his talent and effort, his culinary skills had improved by leaps and bounds, already surpassing most of the first-year high school students.
However, Haruto also vaguely sensed that recently, the speed of his culinary improvement had significantly slowed down.
Haruto was looking forward to seeing what kind of improvement he could achieve at Totsuki Academy.