Then the diner girl Mina . Vampire nobleman Alucard. Looks like both sides are ready to cook.

"Yes, this is the finished dish.

The same. The Demon King's side Alucard also finished cooking, sir.

"Hmm. Now we will move on to tasting both sides.

On the day of the competition, Mina poured everything she had into a dish and it was delivered to our table, including the judges.

This is ......

The gourmet masters are mildly surprised to see it. Some of the judges even sounded puzzled.
But that's just as it should be, because the dish in front of us is just udon.

It's fox udon. Please enjoy your meal.

It's just a simple dish of leeks, fish paste and fried foxes.
Your opponent, Alucard, lets out a disappointing laugh in front of it.

This is ...... such a dare, and you think I'm an idiot when I wonder what kind of food you're going to serve me?

He even seemed to feel insulted to be able to display such a dish in his own cooking.

"There is no excuse. No gimmick either. I served the best noodle dish I could serve. That's all.

But even though she is staring at you with the awesome eyes of Alucard, she still takes it head on and replies clearly, Mina.

Well, wait a minute. A dish is a dish. It's up to them, no matter what kind of food they serve you. We will only judge based on that.

The judges, including the gourmet master, nodded in agreement with Mina's strength of will, and each of them picked up a pair of chopsticks and slurped up the noodles in front of them.

Hoho, this is ......

Hmmm, very tasty. It's simple, but it brings out the best in each of us.

This soup is also gentle in flavor and really savory. This is kelp, isn't it?

Yes, we always use the same soup. I chose the one that goes best with the udon noodles.

Alucard laughs at that word as well.
He also takes a bite of Mina's udon but laughs because it doesn't matter.

It's certainly a certain amount of goodness, but that's about it. It could be called udon noodles, a dish that has no innovation or originality. The ingredients used are all commercially available. It hurts me that you would try to compete with me with a dish like this that can be found in any teishoku-ya.

After confirming that the judges had finished tasting Mina's udon noodles, Alucard had them bring in their own noodle dishes.

Wow.

It's looking pretty lavish again.

There was an extravagant pasta filled with seafood, peppers and various things with plenty of tomato sauce.

Specially made puttanesca. Please enjoy your meal.

Putta ...... what?

"Pasta in tomato sauce with seafood, olives and peppers. Also known as hooker-style pasta.

And my father would whisper to me.
Oh, it's that thing in J-Jo.
I've got to watch the fourth part of the anime... I put it in my mouth while thinking about it, but it was good!

"Mm!　This tastes really exciting!

This is probably bahanero. But it's more flavorful than usual, not just hotter, but more elegant.

"As with the previous mabo doufu, the Demon King's food is not only spicy, but its spiciness is also delicious, and even those who don't like spicy food can't help but be tempted by it.

It is a very rare species of bahanero called ostrich. It is so called because it is always born in pairs and can only be found in some regions. However, due to its preciousness, the flavor and spiciness of both are concentrated and far superior to that of the regular Bahanero.

I see. And the sweetness of the seafood is enhanced by mixing it with the sweetness of the fish and shellfish. The secret ingredient in this seafood is probably ......

"Yes, there are pearl oysters

Alucard replies to the Gourmet Master's point.
Indeed, there was a pearl-like oyster hidden in the red spaghetti, entwined with the pasta.

Oysters are also called the milk of the sea and this pearl oyster is an A-rated ingredient. Extracting the pearly oyster from its ironclad defense is impossible without a legendary weapon. But the monster known as the oyster, if you crush the shell and take out the inside, the meat will instantly become strained and lose its original flavor. What I did was to suggest the magic eye.

Then, Alucard's eyes glowed mysteriously.
Looking at those eyes made me feel lightheaded and made me want to sleep. .......

Oops, excuse me. It's a good thing that you're not the only one who can do this. It also works on non-visual beings when they are as high ranking as I am, and I was able to keep the spirit of the pearl oyster relaxed while I retrieved the body inside.

I see. Pearl oysters and bahanero. The harmony of seafood and mountain products with sweet and spicy. It is the perfect embodiment of the taste of a high-class prostitute who can entertain all her guests. I have never had pasta as good as this one.



Alucard's Puttanesca has received rave reviews from gourmet masters.
Indeed, the food at Alucard is the best pasta dish I've ever had.

Top-notch cooking with top-notch ingredients and top-notch methods by top-notch chefs. That's what you're looking at, girl. That's what I call 'real food'."

So declares Alucard, triumphantly.
However, as befits his declaration, Alucard's food was a perfect dish.

We are now ready to move on.

Then, the judges, led by the gourmet masters, deliberated on the dishes.
Normally, the winner would be decided in a very short time, but this time, unusually, the judges took a long time to discuss the dishes.

But no matter how long it takes, the result will be the same.
I could feel that confidence from the Demon King's side, including Alucard.

Eventually, the deliberation is over, and the gourmet master announces the winner.

And now the winner of the third round of the mid-level competition, Noodle Cuisine, is announced.

Next, the name is announced by the gourmet master, and as if convinced of this, Alucard smiles and quietly meditates.

The winner - the Valkyria side "Diner Girl" Mina.

"Huh, do you understand. It's not just an ordinary girl like you in an act like that ......

But as soon as the name was announced, Alucard stiffened for a moment at the sound of the name in his ears, and then immediately turned to the gourmet master who said his name.

'Nonsense!　Why, Gourmet Master!

It was indeed an incredible result.
As for the two dishes, the one that was definitely better was the puttanesca served by Alucard.
Ninety-nine out of a hundred people would agree with that, and I was sure that they won when it came to taste.

How could my dish be defeated by such a plain, ordinary and common dish?　I wish for a convincing explanation!

Then you can try the girl's food again.

When asked, Alucard ate the noodles made by Mina again.
Taste it again and again. Is there a secret ingredient? Is there a trick to it? As you explore it all, you're soon convinced that there is none.

After all, isn't it just a very ordinary taste? My cooking is definitely better than this!

Yes. Certainly a victory for you in terms of taste.

The Gourmet Master nods at Alucard's words. The Gourmet Master replies to Alucard, who continues to ask, "Then why?

"Then let me put it this way. Then I'll tell you this: which of your master's dishes or that girl's, "can you eat every day and never get tired of it? And...

This is the first time Alucard's shivering expression appears on his face.

Your cooking is indeed a masterpiece. Your food is indeed a masterpiece..." "Your food is indeed a masterpiece..." "Its taste and ingredients are all top-notch. But you said the girl's taste was 'ordinary'. What is 'normal' then?

It was a question that was sort of like a philosophy, but I already knew what the gourmet master was trying to say.

Your food is certainly good. Your food is certainly good. But it is also largely due to the ingredients. It may be good at first, but if you keep eating it, you'll get tired of it. But your girl's udon will never taste like something you can make overnight. It's a taste that's been acquired through years of watching, or even since birth. A taste that anyone can eat without hesitation, and can be eaten every day without getting tired of it. A taste that only he could make was contained in the food.

That's right, the "normal" taste of Mina, who runs a diner, is what makes it so special.
In other words, a taste that you want to eat every day. It is a taste that no high class cuisine can easily achieve, and the standard of normal is the most difficult to achieve.

"To put it bluntly, your food could be made by any top-notch cook, provided you have the right ingredients and cooking methods. But that girl's food was different. Only she could make this kind of food. As I told you when the first battle was fought. "That only she can make the food, and that the food is valued for its secretiveness. I saw that you were particular about your food. But the girl's food was more than that... more than a dozen years of culinary experience had gone into it. That's why he won.

Alucard had absolute confidence in his own cooking, as it was exactly the reason for his victory in the first round that was reversed.
That's why he made gorgeous dishes that only pursued deliciousness.
But who pursued his own cuisine and presented it head-on, needless to say.

It's true that the basis of the culinary battle is goodness first. But the real winner is the process. How to bring out the essence of the dish. Or is it possible to bring the particulars that only he can make to the dish?

To that affirmation from the gourmet master, Alucard quietly chews on his defeat and is convinced.

...... is certainly true. Top-notch ingredients, top-notch cooking methods, top-notch cooks. Then there was no need for me to make it.

Eventually, he turned to Mina, bent his knees and asked her for forgiveness.

"I want to apologize for my rudeness. I would like to apologize for describing you as a mediocre flower, for even ridiculing your cooking. I had forgotten that ordinary flowers are the most beautiful in nature. There is no reason to believe that a cosmos growing in a meadow is inferior to a rose growing in a greenhouse. ...... Please forgive me.

Mina is lightly flustered by Alucard's frank apology, but she smiles her usual gentle smile and takes his hand.



No, don't apologize. Your food was very good. Much better than mine. But the food in my restaurant is also very simple and tasty. If you are interested, please come back next time. It's good to have an ordinary taste once in a while.

Smiling at Mina, Alucard realized his defeat this time, smiled quietly and nodded, "By all means," and here was the fate of the three victories - the mid-major battle was won by us.