Chapter 54: Asking Leonora for Advice (Patreon)

"As long as a chef dares to break through the limits of imagination and devotes himself to research, molecular gastronomy can make even ordinary dishes bloom with dazzling, perception-shattering brilliance."

Teacher Hervé's voice was calm and steady as it echoed through the learning space.

He paused briefly, looked at Ramsay in front of him, and said gravely, "But remember this firmly: to master molecular gastronomy, a solid foundation in chemistry and physics is absolutely essential!"

"So the first step in learning this craft is not studying recipes. It is... putting in deep work on math, physics, and chemistry."

...

Hm!

Hearing that, Ramsay's scalp went numb, and a thick wave of helplessness welled up inside him.

He only wanted to learn cooking and cook well. How had it come to this, going back to gnaw on dry theory?

In that moment, he even felt the urge to drop the course and ask for a different teacher!

After all, molecular gastronomy might sound high-end and glamorous, but the thought of page after page of dense formulas and obscure physical and chemical principles made Ramsay recoil.

Unfortunately, Teacher Hervé had no way of hearing his inner grumbling. Having accepted him as a "student," he meant to hand down everything he knew, and he began the lesson with meticulous care.

...

Afterward, Ramsay looked at the familiar scene: a desk, a chair, a teacher at the front, and a blackboard crammed with formulas. He felt as if he had slipped back to the suffocating days of grinding through practice problems in high school.

The exhaustion of those old study years washed over him, leaving him half laughing, half crying.

At last, the day of dry study ended. Ramsay left the learning space the moment he could, unwilling to linger a second longer, though his head still rang with all sorts of scientific laws.

He recalled Teacher Hervé's parting advice: read more books on molecular gastronomy to firm up his theoretical foundation.

Since the System had made this subject mandatory, running away would do no good. Ramsay resigned himself to it. If he couldn't resist, he would just have to settle down and study properly!

...

At daybreak, morning light spilled through the window lattice.

Ramsay got up early and, first thing, sent Leonora a text asking for help.

He remembered that Leonora read widely and owned a huge collection of professional cooking books. She was bound to have material on molecular gastronomy, which would save him the time and trouble of buying it all himself.

Unexpectedly, the instant his message arrived, Leonora replied at once, her words full of surprise.

"Ramsay!"

"What did you say? You actually plan to study molecular gastronomy?"

"Yeah. I want to study it systematically, so I wanted to borrow a few books from you. Is that convenient?" Ramsay answered honestly.

"Yes, yes!"

"No problem at all! I'm on duty at the institute today, so just come over."

"I have all the basic texts and books on molecular gastronomy here. You can take every one of them."

Once he had the exact address, Ramsay set off for the Totsuki Research Institute right away. Before long he arrived and found Leonora waiting for him.

...

Looking closely, Leonora today had shed her usual school uniform and casual clothes. In a spotless white lab coat, she looked cool and intellectual, her features carrying the added composure of a professional scholar!

Seeing Ramsay arrive, she hurried over with light steps, smiling brightly.

"Ramsay. The books you wanted. I've sorted and packed all of them. Take a look, is this enough? If not, I have more in my apartment..."

Hearing that, Ramsay looked up, and his heart gave a jolt!

Good grief!

Behind Leonora sat several big, neatly stacked piles of thick books, far more than he had expected!

Leonora then pulled out one book at random and reminded him carefully, "I've added detailed annotations and notes to every one of them, marking the key points and the hard parts."

"If you hit anything you don't understand while reading, you can come ask me anytime."

"Hehe!"

"Thank you so much."

"If I have questions, I'll definitely come to you."

Ramsay thanked her earnestly.

...

Next, he found a hand cart and loaded the whole pile of books onto it.

Luckily he had a strong body and far more strength than ordinary people, so he hauled all the books back to Polar Star by himself with ease.

But the moment he pushed open the door and walked in, he saw Joichiro sitting in the living room watching TV.

Spotting him dragging a cartful of books, Joichiro's eyes lit up. He hurried over, full of curiosity, assuming they were fun, novel leisure reads.

But once he saw the covers, the excitement froze on his face, replaced by blank astonishment.

Characteristics of the Molecular Structure of Ingredients

Analysis of the Basic Elements in Cooking

Patterns of Change in Ingredient Molecules Under Different Environments

Human Neurology and Taste Perception

...

One after another, obscure professional books met his eyes, all content he couldn't understand in the slightest.

Joichiro's eyes went wide. "Ramsay, why did you get so many technical books? And what even are these?"

"These are the essential foundational books on molecular gastronomy." Ramsay answered offhandedly as he sorted the books.

"What? Molecular gastronomy?"

Joichiro mulled it over for a moment, then it clicked. "Oh, I remember! It's that new European culinary discipline from the last few years, the one that uses modern high technology to empower cooking, right? Why did you suddenly start digging into this?"

"And another thing! Can you even understand these dense theories?"

"Because I can't understand them, I need to read more and teach myself."

Ramsay smiled wryly, then added with full confidence, "I think this field has huge potential. If I study it deeply, it will definitely give my cooking a qualitative breakthrough."

...

Hearing that, Joichiro immediately gave Ramsay a thumbs-up, full of admiration. "I'm blown away!"

"No wonder your cooking, at your age, is far beyond everyone else's. With that kind of discipline and drive to learn, most of the students at Totsuki would hang their heads in shame."

After the praise, Joichiro still voiced his own view.

"But honestly, I've always felt the core of cooking lies in your hands and your heart."

"A dish made by hand has warmth and feeling. Food made with machines and theory always seems to lack the soul of cooking."

At this point, molecular gastronomy was still in its infancy, spread only in small circles across Europe.

In the Asian culinary world, almost no one pursued it in depth, and the vast majority of chefs had never even heard the name.

So it was only natural that Joichiro held a prejudice against it!

...

Ramsay didn't argue the point.

Just as he was about to carry the piles of books into his room, Joichiro suddenly spoke up and threw out a new topic.

"Oh, right. The Autumn Leaf Viewing is about to start. Are you interested in joining? If you want to go, I'll fight for a slot for you right away!"

"Hm? The Autumn Leaf Viewing?"

Ramsay was taken aback.

Seeing his blank look, Joichiro explained patiently. "Simply put, it's the academy's tea-tasting and maple-viewing gathering."

"Behind Totsuki Academy there's a big maple forest. In autumn the red leaves cover the mountain and the scenery is stunning. Every year the school picks a group of outstanding first-years to take part, and they sip tea, enjoy the view, and compare notes."

He paused, then named the event's real value.

"It's also one of the few chances first-years get to get close to the academy's Elite Ten, so it's extremely valuable."

"So, do you want to come along and broaden your horizons?"

...

Based on the original storyline, Ramsay knew exactly how much weight the Autumn Leaf Viewing carried. Yet now his mind was swirling with doubt.

Eligibility for this event was only open to the very best of the first-years. He had only just enrolled and had little standing.

By rights, he had no qualification to be among them.

So he looked up at Joichiro beside him.

He couldn't help voicing his doubt. "I remember the Autumn Leaf Viewing has eligibility restrictions, right?"

"Oh? Ramsay, you actually know the Autumn Leaf Viewing has a qualification rule? That's a surprise."

Joichiro grinned, then calmly began explaining the rules in detail!

...

At Totsuki Academy, first-years in the high school division go through several major evaluations after enrolling.

From the initial residential training, to the strict seasonal selection, to the doubly difficult on-site assessment, once the whole series of evaluations ends, the academy gives every first-year a unified overall score based on their combined performance!

In the end, the top ten finishers are granted exclusive eligibility for the Autumn Leaf Viewing.

"All of these evaluations are scored fairly by the academy's professionals from start to finish, so by rights there's no room for favors."

Joichiro then suddenly changed tack, a calm glint in his eyes. "However, we current Elite Ten members hold some extra authority, and we can recommend one additional newcomer to attend the tea gathering."

"So it isn't really a violation of the rules."

He gave a light laugh and sighed. "I have to say, power really is a practical convenience."

...

Then he looked at Ramsay, his gaze carrying a touch of expectation and probing. "Ramsay, are you interested in taking an Elite Ten seat?"

"Hm? Taking an Elite Ten seat?"

Ramsay froze, raised an eyebrow slightly, and asked in confusion, "Aren't the current Elite Ten already all filled? Is there some other way to get a seat?"

Joichiro shook his head gently and said firmly, "Right now, there really are no spare seats."

"But it won't be long. Me, Gin Dojima, and several other Elite Ten members will all graduate."

[Author's Note: Please send flowers...]

"By then, the Elite Ten Council will have a large number of seats open up, and there'll be a big turnover."

His expression was sincere, with no intention of hiding anything. "We're practically family by now, so I'll be straight with you. Do you know the selection rules for each generation of the Elite Ten?"

"Every year, just before the senior students graduate, the academy picks students from the high school first-years who are top-tier in talent, strength, and character, and names them Elite Ten candidates!"

"Azami Nakamura from our dorm got in through exactly this route."

"So Gin Dojima and I have talked it over carefully these past few days, and we plan to recommend you directly as a candidate for the next Elite Ten!"

Joichiro paused a moment, then added gravely, "But you've only been enrolled a short time, and you haven't yet produced results dazzling enough to win everyone over. Recommending you rashly would inevitably invite criticism."

"Before long, the Moon Banquet Festival will come. It's your best stage."

"We hope you'll make a stunning debut at the festival and shut everyone up with your real ability."

"Becoming Elite Ten may look glamorous, but it isn't actually hard. What's hard is making every teacher and student in the whole academy sincerely acknowledge your strength."

"Next come the Moon Banquet Festival and then the Totsuki Train Promotion Exam. Those are your two excellent chances to prove yourself and gain a firm footing."

"So how about it? Are you interested in taking on this challenge?"

...

Just as Ramsay was thinking it over, a crisp System chime suddenly rang out in his mind.

"Ding dong!"

"Congratulations, Host, you have triggered a Divine-Grade Choice System!"

"Option One: Shine at the Moon Banquet Festival and firmly secure Elite Ten candidate status."

"Upon completion, you will receive the reward: Magic Saint Copperware (Enhanced Edition)."

"Note: This cookware, the Magic Saint Copperware (Enhanced Edition), comes from the legendary cookware of the world of Cooking Master Boy and has been fully enhanced by the System."

"Any ingredient placed inside is forcibly raised in deliciousness level. It also has the special effects of instantly rehydrating ingredients and rapidly simmering broth, making it an extremely powerful cooking aid!"

"Option Two: Forgo the chance to stand out at the Moon Banquet Festival, and refuse to become an Elite Ten candidate during your enrollment."

"Upon completion, you will receive the reward: Efficient Learning Speed Boost Card."

"Note: After using the Efficient Learning Speed Boost Card, the Host's overall learning ability doubles, and comprehension, memory, and knowledge absorption speed rise sharply."

...

"Option Three: Before this year's senior students graduate, obtain a formal Elite Ten seat by exception!"

"Upon completion, you will receive the reward: Potential Breakthrough Card."

"Note: After using the Potential Breakthrough Card, once the Host has developed his physical strength, mental capacity, culinary talent, and other potentials to the human limit, he may use this card to break the limiter on human talent and unlock unlimited potential!"

Ramsay's heart shook. He hadn't expected to trigger a Divine-Grade Choice again right now.

Hm!

Three options, each with its own distinct reward, and every one of them tempting.

...

Yet after a brief silence, he discarded the first option outright.

The Enhanced Magic Saint Copperware was marvelous and could perfect a finished dish, but it was still an external object. Deliciousness made with a tool's help was never his own true ability.

For Ramsay, who loved cooking, the joy lay in the process of honing his craft by hand and improving step by step, not in reaching the goal in one leap through outside aid. Such a shortcut meant nothing to him.

The second option, the learning card, was equally alluring.

Doubled learning ability would let him get twice the result for half the effort in his studies and training at Totsuki, and quickly catch up to or even surpass everyone.

But by comparison, the third option's Potential Breakthrough Card set his heart burning and moved him far more.

...

Everyone has a limit to their potential.

Whether it is physical strength, mental capacity, or talent and insight, once it touches the peak the human body can bear, further breakthroughs become very hard.

Take a sprinter. An ordinary person stops at 11 seconds for a hundred meters, and even with relentless training can only approach the human limit of 10 seconds or 9 seconds, with almost no room to go further.

Everyone's ceiling is firmly locked within the rules of the human body.

So Ramsay formed a clear plan.

He could first use his own effort to hone all his abilities, including physique, cooking, study, and adaptability, to the mortal peak, then use the Potential Breakthrough Card to smash the shackles and break free of the limits.

By then, his strength would reach a new height no one could predict!

...

The learning card could only empower his current studies and training, a short-term aid.

The Potential Breakthrough Card unlocked limitless possibilities in the future, a value of an entirely different order.

So, after careful thought, Ramsay's eyes hardened, and he made his decision in his heart.

"System, I choose Three!"

With the choice made, a new problem surfaced.

With the Elite Ten Council fully staffed and no vacant seat, how was he supposed to win a formal Elite Ten seat by exception before the senior students graduated?