[Century Soup]
Originating from Toriko, this is a "soup" naturally formed within a frozen gourmet display window in an extreme cold region, where countless rare delicacies are sealed in ice.
It is unbelievably clear—so transparent it resembles air itself—and above the finished product, a beautiful aurora shimmers.
As for its taste, it can be described in just one word:
Cold!
Anyone who drinks it will, due to overwhelming satisfaction, involuntarily break into a perverted grin!
But while ordinary ice can harm the body, Century Soup does the opposite—it's a treasure packed with benefits.
Even though its effects don't explicitly mention addictiveness, after Wade gave Kuripa a single spoonful, the elven gourmet behaved as if he had overdosed on healing potions—constantly craving more.
Wade swore he had no improper thoughts toward elves—especially male elves. He simply valued Kuripa's abilities and gave him a taste to motivate him to win the competition.
Who could've guessed that a gourmet would become so hooked on Century Soup?
"This is the Bitter Herba Mystica. It wasn't easy for me to obtain—use it sparingly during the competition."
Wade placed the seasoning from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet in front of Kuripa, then added:
"But a dish can't rely on bitterness alone. Follow my clues and try to find the salty and spicy seasonings as well."
After thinking for a moment, he continued:
"Even if you can't find them, it's fine. The Gourmet Zone has plenty of ingredients. I believe you can still win without relying on legendary seasonings."
"I'll definitely find them. Don't worry—I won't let that bastard Bashi defile my paradise!"
Rather than discouraging him, Wade's words only ignited Kuripa's fighting spirit further.
The two enthusiastically discussed cooking for a while before Kuripa hurried off, preparing to re-enter the Gourmet Zone the next day.
"Simple-minded… but that's not a bad thing."
From their conversation, Wade confirmed that Kuripa was a true gourmet—wholly devoted to food and uninterested in anything else.
For example, when Wade deliberately brought up dungeon monsters and treasures—topics most people would find fascinating—Kuripa nearly fell asleep on the spot.
In short, Kuripa was the perfect person to rely on for winning this match.
Still, to be safe, Wade planned to secretly place some "good stuff" into the Gourmet Zone before Kuripa's next exploration.
Soon, news of the Gourmet Showdown spread widely, thanks to certain people's promotion.
Under Bashi's organization, a constant stream of ingredients was transported into the city—top-tier ingredients that only someone of his status could obtain.
Wyvern rump cuts, Thor lizard tails, mountain ox steaks…
These were luxuries normally reserved for the elite. The citizens of the city had never seen such things before!
Seeing the crowd's curious gazes, Bashi and his apprentices were filled with confidence.
Meanwhile, Kuripa wasn't idle either.
Using his wealth, he assembled an adventurer team—though "assembled" might not be entirely accurate, as he simply hired the guild's exploration team outright.
Their capabilities spoke for themselves. During preparation, they discovered numerous rare ingredients never seen before—even things far beyond what they should've been able to obtain.
Kuripa attributed all of this to Wade's guidance—and even believed he had formed a spiritual connection with the Gourmet Zone, as if blessed by a god of cuisine.
While gathering ingredients, he spent day and night discussing recipes with Wade, whose deep knowledge of food impressed him greatly.
As for how Wade knew so much—or how he obtained clues about legendary seasonings—Kuripa didn't care in the slightest.
As long as they could talk about food, that was enough.
Finally, the day arrived.
"The red side on the left is the Gourmet Zone Guardians, represented by one-star chef Kuripa!"
"The blue side on the right is the Gourmet Zone Challengers, represented by two-star chef Bashi!"
"The judges will consist of a panel of three-star chefs and selected local residents. Please trust that the results will be fair and impartial!"
"And now, let us welcome the sponsor of this event—the esteemed Count Charon!"
Amid roaring cheers, the elegantly dressed Charon waved to the crowd and delivered a lengthy speech.
Meanwhile, the two sides glared at each other.
Bashi—tall, muscular, with a rugged demeanor—was known for refined cuisine.
Kuripa—a lively elderly elf—specialized in vegetarian dishes with versatile styles.
Their gazes met, sparks flying between them. Bashi smirked with disdain.
"The competition begins!"
There were no rules.
Both sides would give it their all to create the ultimate dishes—food that would captivate the world.
Each side had four chances.
Bashi sent out his apprentice first. Kuripa did the same.
The final showdown would be between the two masters.
"Chef Bashi sends out his top apprentice, Mendre! At such a young age, he's already an eighth-level chef and a likely successor!"
"And Kuripa sends out… an unranked chef?! Could this be his hidden trump card?!"
The two shook hands.
Mendre's imposing presence overshadowed the nervous young elf.
With a faint smirk, he returned to his station.
"What will you be making today?" the host asked.
"Thor lizard tail meat—specifically the sixth segment, known as 'golden meat.' Only royal specimens produce it. Once cooked, it emits a golden glow."
He placed a massive chunk of meat on the board. The crowd gasped.
Auction-level ingredients!
He continued listing rare components, each one more extravagant than the last.
The audience was dazzled.
"And you?" the host turned to the elf.
"Fried rice."
"…And?"
"With meat."
"Any rare ingredients?"
"…Crystal rice, onions… and—"
No reaction.
Mendre grinned.
"—Jewel Meat from the Gourmet Zone."
The elf opened a storage box.
"Jewel Meat?"
Mendre scoffed—until he saw it.
The moment the box opened, dazzling starlight filled the air.
A radiant, jewel-like piece of meat appeared before everyone.
"Waaah!"
Unlike ordinary ingredients, it truly sparkled like a gemstone!
Mendre's smile vanished.
The elf continued calmly:
"Main ingredient: Jewel Meat. Eggs from Bliss Eggs. Green onions from Farfetch'd. Slowpoke tails…"
All unfamiliar, mysterious ingredients.
Bashi frowned.
Kuripa smirked.
Mendre felt the pressure and focused on cooking.
Time's up.
The dishes were served.
Mendre's golden steaks sizzled beautifully. The judges nodded in approval.
The crowd praised it endlessly.
Bashi was confident.
Then came the fried rice.
The lids were lifted—
"AH! MY EYES!"
A blinding golden light erupted into the sky!
This wasn't magic.
It was the ingredients themselves radiating brilliance.
This was the birth of glowing cuisine.
A fragrance unlike anything before filled the air.
The judges' expressions changed.
Kuripa knew—
Victory was his.
Bashi felt a chill creep down his spine.
One judge scooped up a spoonful… but paused.
"What are you making next?" he suddenly asked.
"Fugu whale sashimi, BB corn, and a soup."
"…Are they good?"
The elf nodded.
"…Good."
Only then did the judge take a bite.
And his expression transformed—
Into pure happiness.
Even the stone-faced judges couldn't help but smile.