Chapter 52: What do you mean Calm Down? You Look More Panicked Than Me!

"Mom heard I reached 1-Star and wants me to get officially certified," Lilly explained. "Someone from the MCA is coming to examine me, and Mom will be here too."

Nero immediately regretted coming home.

’What if the examiner discovers that my cooking method comes from somewhere outside this world?’

"O-Okay. Calm down, Lilly."

"Why are you telling me to calm down? You look more panicked than I am!"

"What if they reject our method?"

"But you learned it from a legendary 5-Star Chef."

Lilly sounded confident at first, but then she began having doubts herself.

"They wouldn’t reject his technique, right?"

"Only God knows."

Lilly grabbed his hand before he could think of an excuse to leave.

"If I fail, I’ll beat you up."

"What did I do?! I’m the one who taught you!"

"Exactly. That means you’re responsible."

’What kind of logic is that?!’

Before Nero could argue, a woman carrying a small suitcase approached the entrance.

She wore rectangular glasses and a gray office suit, with her brown hair tied neatly behind her head.

"Good afternoon. Since the door is already open, I hope you don’t mind me approaching."

Lilly was still holding Nero’s hand when the woman introduced herself.

"I’m Evelyn Hart from the Mana Chefs Association. I’m here to examine Miss Lilly Morgan. I assume that would be you?"

"That’s right! Please come in."

Lilly released Nero’s hand and welcomed Evelyn inside.

Meanwhile, Nero was considering whether he could escape before anyone noticed.

Unfortunately, Lilia came downstairs with Albert before he could make his move.

"Welcome, Miss Hart. Shall we begin the examination?"

"Of course. I’ll need access to your kitchen and the ingredients Miss Lilly intends to use."

’Perfect. They’re all busy. This is my chance.’

Nero quietly made his way toward the hallway.

However, Lilly immediately noticed.

"Oh, there’s something else you should know. Nero is also a 1-Star Mana Cook, so he needs to be certified too."

’You traitor!’

"Nero?" Lilia looked surprised. "Since when did you learn to make Mana Food?"

"He’s been doing it for a while," Lilly answered for him. "He’s very good!"

Lilia glanced toward Albert, who seemed equally surprised by the revelation.

"We can arrange a second assessment," Evelyn offered. "Please come to the kitchen, both of you."

With Lilly holding his hand again and everyone waiting for him, Nero had no choice but to follow.

"You could’ve warned me," he whispered.

"Would you have stayed if I did?"

"That depends on how politely you asked."

"You were already trying to run away."

"..."

Unfortunately, she had a point.

Several maids had gathered near the kitchen after hearing about the examination.

"Young Master Nero knows how to cook? He used to spend all day in his room."

"Maybe he watched cooking videos."

"Would that be enough to make Mana Food? Miss Lilly practiced for years."

Their doubts were understandable, considering what Nero used to be like.

Still, he would’ve preferred not to hear them right outside his examination.

Inside the kitchen, Evelyn placed her suitcase on an empty counter and opened it.

A small drone emerged, with a light shining from its center.

"Hello, everyone! Your favorite AI has arrived, and today, I’m making my grand debut in the culinary world!"

"Enis? What are you doing here?"

"Working, obviously! Unlike certain people who spend their afternoons wandering around doing who-knows-what."

The drone turned toward Nero.

"I can teach, train, and cook. Supervising two aspiring chefs is child’s play for a genius like me. Honestly, they should start paying me extra for being this talented."

"Then you should have no trouble staying focused," Evelyn remarked.

"...I see my singing debut will have to wait."

Evelyn ignored the disappointed AI and addressed the two candidates.

"Enis will supervise your preparation and check for any malpractice. I’ll be responsible for assessing the finished dishes."

Knowing Enis would supervise made Nero feel considerably better.

The AI had already examined his unusual combat records, so perhaps a strange cooking method wouldn’t attract too much attention.

Besides, Enis hadn’t revealed anything about their earlier conversations.

Nero appreciated that. Explaining how he had become friends with the Federation’s overseeing AI was the last thing he wanted to do right now.

"We’ll leave you to it," Lilia said. "Do your best, Lilly. Nero, I look forward to tasting what you make."

Nero wasn’t sure whether she genuinely believed he could cook or was expecting something barely edible.

Once Lilia and Albert led the others into the dining room, Enis directed the two candidates toward their workstations.

"Alright, future chefs! You may help each other, but both of you must demonstrate the technique and complete your own dishes."

They immediately began working.

Nero selected meat and vegetables, while Lilly chose a fish.

She brought her ingredients over to his workstation and began washing the vegetables he had prepared.

"I’ll handle these while you prepare the rice."

"Thanks. Do you want the smaller knife for your fish?"

"Yes, and pass me that bowl."

They worked together just as they had during their previous lessons.

Lilly placed the washed ingredients within Nero’s reach while he made space for her cutting board and handed her whatever tools she needed.

Without everyone watching, she seemed much more comfortable.

"You’re awfully calm now," she remarked.

"I know how to cook. I was worried about whether they’d accept the method."

"Then stop making me nervous."

"I’ll try to look less terrified for your sake, I guess?" Nero replied.

Nero began pressing and kneading the ingredients in the sequence he had learned from the Mana Cooking Knowledge.

The technique activated the Mana already present within the food and helped preserve it throughout the cooking process, removing the need for him to supply his own.

Lilly performed the same technique on her fish, although her movements were noticeably more careful.

When she reached the final sequence, Nero noticed her fingers shifting away from the position she had practiced.

"Keep your thumb there. You had it right before."

Lilly corrected her grip and completed the movement.

The Mana remained stable as she transferred the fish to the heat.

"See? You know how to do it."

"I know. It’s different when someone’s watching."

"You managed just fine while I was watching."

"You’re different," Lilly said as a hint of a blush crept up her face.

Nero was about to ask what she meant when Enis floated closer.

"Oho! That’s quite a fancy technique. Did the fellow beside you teach it to you?"

"Erm, yes," Lilly answered. "Is there a problem with it?"

"Not at all! I only asked because he’s more proficient, and your movements follow the same pattern."

Nero continued preparing his vegetables while Lilly waited for Enis to explain further.

"You can both relax. The method is perfectly legal, and you aren’t the only people who use it."

’Thank God!’

Nero’s biggest concern had finally been resolved.

The technique already existed in this world, meaning nobody was going to drag him away for experimentation simply because he knew how to use it.

"I told you a 5-Star Chef’s method would be fine," Lilly said proudly.

"You also said you’d beat me up if you failed."

"E-Erm..."

"I’ll remember that the next time you ask for a lesson."

"Hmph!"

Lilly brushed against his arm while reaching for the seasoning, remaining beside him even after taking what she needed.

Nero adjusted the heat beneath her fish while she handed him a clean plate.

Soon, Nero finished preparing his seasoned meat with stir-fried vegetables and rice.

Lilly spooned sauce over her fish and checked that its Mana remained stable before putting down her utensils.

"Yours looks annoyingly good," she admitted.

"So does yours. You didn’t lose the Mana, and the fish is cooked properly."

"You’re sure?"

"Yeah. I guess?"

"..."

Lilly gave him a look.

"What kind of answer is that?!"

"Hey, I’m not the examiner!"

Despite her complaints, Lilly seemed pleased with the result.

She carried her plate toward the dining room with a smile she didn’t even bother hiding.

The two presented their dishes to Evelyn before taking their seats across the table.

Lilly sat close enough to Nero that their knees touched beneath it.

The maids gathered near the doorway had stopped discussing cooking videos.

Even Albert seemed surprised by Nero’s dish, while Lilia examined the browned meat before turning her attention to Lilly’s fish.

"Both dishes look well prepared," Lilia commented, sounding slightly surprised.

She maintained her usual composure after the initial surprise, but Nero noticed how frequently her gaze returned to the food.

’Does she want a taste too?’

Evelyn placed her tablet beside the plates.

"Enis, were there any issues during preparation?"

"None! Both candidates used acceptable methods and completed their dishes without malpractice."

"Thank you. I’ll take over from here."

"Then my work here is done! Farewell, aspiring chefs and future members of my fan club!"

The drone returned to Evelyn’s suitcase and switched off.

Evelyn picked up her cutlery.

Under the table, Lilly reached for Nero’s hand and held it tightly. She glanced at him with a shy expression, worried that he might pull away.

Fortunately, he didn’t.

He gently squeezed her hand in return as Evelyn took her first bite.

[Ding! Ultimate Choice System Activated.]