[Ding dong!]
[Successful check-in detected.]
[Ding dong!]
[Congratulations, Host! You've obtained one Tavern Upgrade Token. Would you like to use it now?]
In any successful restaurant, the chef's culinary skills are the foundation—but ambiance matters, too.
Without a comfortable, inviting atmosphere, even the best meals can lose their charm.
Of course, that doesn't mean fancier is always better.
Take this for example:
Imagine the breakfast joint downstairs from your apartment—humble, cozy, with cheap but tasty food. But one day, they renovate the place like it's a five-star hotel, all chandeliers and velvet seating. Even if they're still selling steamed buns and tofu pudding, would you dare step in?
Most people wouldn't.
You'd probably just glance inside and mutter, "Sheesh… with that kind of décor, one bun probably costs a day's wages."
Point is:
Your restaurant should reflect your target clientele—not scare them away.
Without any hesitation, Zane accepted the system's offer.
Business had been steadily booming lately, and he had been thinking about expanding. The tavern's current size wasn't cutting it anymore. It was time to rethink the layout—more tables, more seating, and a better flow for customers. The goal was simple:
Serve more people.
[Ding dong!]
[As requested, initiating tavern upgrade now.]
[The following enhancements are included:]
Expansion of 50 square meters
Installation of Level 1 Underground Food Storage
Basic improvements to interior décor
[Estimated time: 24 hours. The tavern will be temporarily closed during renovations.]
[Please rest well, Host!]
"Closed for a day, huh…"
Zane let out a light sigh. Since arriving in this world, he hadn't taken a single day off.
But maybe—just maybe—the system was giving him a break.
Early Morning.
The sun rose over Totsuki Academy, painting the sky a clear, flawless blue. Every tree, every blade of grass seemed to glow with life in the golden light.
In one of the upper school's culinary classrooms, Megumi sat stiffly at her workstation.
Her eyes were slightly red, and dark circles hung beneath them.
She hadn't slept at all.
Even after Zane's kind encouragement the night before, her anxiety returned the moment she lay in bed. It swirled in her mind like a storm, making her feel restless and fragile.
"Ack… this is bad. First class of the year, and I'm already falling apart."
Her voice was barely a whisper as she stared down at her trembling hands.
Just the thought of failing today's assessment—and the threat of immediate expulsion—made her blood run cold.
To calm her nerves, she did the only thing she knew: writing the kanji for "person" (人) on her palm, then mimicking swallowing it.
Again. And again.
Please let this work.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The classroom bell chimed, silencing the chatter in an instant.
Then, the door opened—and in stepped a tall, stern man with neatly combed silver hair and eyes sharp enough to pierce glass.
His chef's uniform was pristine, and he moved with the calm precision of a seasoned veteran.
He stepped up to the platform and surveyed the class with a deep, unreadable gaze.
"Good morning," he said. "I am your instructor for today's practical assessment. My name is Roland Chapelle."
Boom.
A wave of whispers exploded across the classroom.
Chapelle?!
Even the most confident students stiffened at the name.
He was infamous at Totsuki for his grueling culinary standards and merciless grading system. Rumors described him as a man without a smile, a chef who crushed dreams with a single bite of underwhelming food.
Some students had even given him a nickname:
The Serious Chef.
"No no no no no… not Chapelle… anyone but Chapelle!"
Megumi felt her soul leave her body.
With her current cooking level, how could she possibly impress someone like him?
Was this really the end?
Had her Totsuki journey already reached its final page?
Zane… Mom… what should I do…?
She looked like a ghost sitting in her seat, eyes blank and spirit crushed.
"Quiet."
Chapelle's deep voice cut through the murmurs like a knife.
With a wave of his hand, he commanded the room back into silence. Then he turned to the whiteboard and quickly wrote a name in bold strokes:
Burgundy Beef Stew.
"A traditional rustic dish from France," he explained. "That will be today's assignment."
"I've provided the recipe on the board, and the ingredients have been distributed at each station."
"However—some ingredients are limited or unavailable. You are permitted to make substitutions, but only if they maintain the essence of the dish."
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Your work will be judged according to my standards."
"If your adjustments fail to meet the criteria, your score will be an automatic failure."
"Oh, and one more thing."
"In my class, there are only two grades: A, and E."
"A means you pass. E means you fail. There are no in-betweens."
Once again, the room buzzed with tension. The grading scale was brutally simple. No curve. No mercy.
Beef stew…?
Megumi blinked.
Wait a second…
Wasn't that the dish Zane made the other day?
No—actually, it was the time before that!
She could still picture it in her mind: Zane standing calmly in the tavern kitchen, gently stirring the pot as the rich aroma of wine and herbs filled the air. He'd even explained the cooking process to her step-by-step—especially the technique he used to tenderize the beef quickly.
Could it be…?
Did Zane somehow know this would happen?
Is he psychic?!
Chapelle checked his watch.
"It's 9:00 a.m. You have two hours."
"Any dish not completed within the time limit will be disqualified."
With that, he stepped back and allowed the assessment to begin.
In an instant, the classroom transformed into a whirlwind of clanging pans and flying ingredients.
And at one station, a nervous but determined girl took a deep breath… and slowly reached for the beef.