Swoosh!
A red dragon emerged from the swirling mist.
Its scales shimmered under the warm lamplight, reflecting hues of silver and ruby like finely cut gemstones.
A radiant glow enveloped it, pulsing with a subtle energy—as if the dish itself were alive.
Before Alice could even react, a breathtaking aroma filled the air.
It was the unmistakable fragrance of shrimp dumplings—fresh, light, yet incredibly rich.
Despite its subtlety, it far surpassed any dish she had seen or tasted before.
"It's glowing?"
"And that dragon… it really just flew upward?"
Alice's eyes sparkled with awe and disbelief.
The Ascending Dragon Dumplings Erina had made back then had been impressive, sure. But compared to this… it wasn't even close.
She couldn't hold back.
With shaking hands, she picked up a dumpling and took a bite under Zane's quiet gaze.
The moment it touched her tongue, two layers of dumpling skin unraveled in perfect harmony, releasing a wave of intense umami.
The shrimp filling was tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned—each bite springy and smooth, blending seamlessly with the delicate skins.
"Mmm~ I knew it!"
"Erina doesn't have the skill to make dumplings that literally ascend like this!"
Alice exclaimed, her eyes wide with satisfaction.
She had suspected the truth ever since tasting Erina's imitation. Something had been off.
So tonight, she'd rushed to the tavern to uncover the real origin of the dish.
Zane's cooking had always left her speechless—but this?
This transcended everything.
"Even better than Buddha Jumps Over the Wall," she whispered to herself.
"By several times. No—dozens. Hundreds."
Unable to resist, she picked up another dumpling.
"The fresh shrimp is essential, of course…"
"But the addition of pork lard and bamboo shoots enhances the texture—so crisp and succulent that it almost feels like the shrimp are dancing on my tongue."
"This is insane. This is genius."
With her eyes closed, she melted into the experience, savoring each bite like a prayer.
In truth, many chefs specializing in molecular gastronomy didn't like the term molecular cuisine.
After all, every ingredient was made of molecules—what made theirs any different?
They weren't cooking under a microscope. They were using modern tools to bring out hidden dimensions of flavor.
To Alice, the term "modern cuisine" was more appropriate.
She believed that by harnessing science and technology, chefs could evolve the art of cooking—turning every dish into a calculated, controlled masterpiece.
This belief had always made her feel superior to traditional chefs.
In her mind, traditional methods were outdated, soon to be replaced by the age of innovation.
But then… she met Zane.
And dish by dish, her pride began to crumble.
"How can someone using traditional techniques create something like this?"
From the side, Rindo watched quietly. Her eyes flickered with curiosity and surprise.
She'd been to the tavern many times before—but had never witnessed anything like this Ascending Dragon Dumpling.
Had she been missing something all along?
Alice finally set her chopsticks down.
Her expression had shifted from ecstasy to frustration.
"Zane… Erina said my molecular cuisine was gorgeous, but impractical."
"She said it lacked soul."
"Do you think… my cooking is really that shallow?"
Zane didn't answer right away.
Instead, he looked into the distance, then back at Alice with a calm smile.
"Cooking techniques evolve over time."
"The dumplings you just ate—when they were first created—were cutting-edge cuisine."
"At some point, even roasting meat over fire was a revolution."
"Steamed buns from 2,000 years ago were once considered incredibly advanced."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Traditional food was modern once."
Alice's eyes widened slightly. He continued:
"So yes—molecular cuisine is a valuable part of culinary evolution. But right now, too many chefs in that field focus on flashy effects, not on flavor."
"When you can create something like these dumplings using molecular methods—something truly delicious and emotionally moving—that's when modern cuisine will reach its full potential."
His words were gentle, but they struck deep.
Innovation had always walked a fine line with heresy.
From raw meat to fire-grilled, from wild wheat to steamed buns—advancement had always been about adapting the essence of food.
But Alice had been chasing spectacle over substance.
Now, she saw the gap. And it terrified her.
Just as she was falling into deep thought—
"Zane! I'm back!"
A clear, confident voice cut through the room.
Erina Nakiri, followed by the ever-relaxed Rindo, walked through the tavern door.
What surprised everyone wasn't her arrival—but her demeanor.
Erina… smiled.
And then she looked straight at Zane.
"I hope there's still some left."
Her tone was calm but eager—almost too eager.
Rindo, trailing behind, raised an eyebrow.
"…What's this now?"
She looked at Erina again—at her expression, her posture, her gaze locked onto the chef.
And then it hit her.
"So, even the Queen's started to change, huh?"
The great Erina Nakiri… coming back to this tavern again and again.
Not to critique.
Not to dominate.
But to learn.
Maybe, just maybe, in the world Erina had carefully built with walls of pride and God Tongue precision…
Zane had become something more than just a rival chef.
He had become an inspiration.