69 – The Magical Cooking Competition (3)

Everyone, at some point in their lives, commits an impulsive act.

Spending more than necessary because you like a character in a game, buying stock in a company you’ve never seen before on a whim because you have a good feeling. Or confessing your feelings in a group chat in the middle of the night after a few too many drinks, and so on.

Most of them are actions lacking rationality, to begin with.

That’s just how impulsiveness is, after all.

Even the Magical Nutrition Officer was no exception.

She, too, committed one impulsive act. Forcibly pushing Kim Siyul and the other magical girls into the Magical Cooking Competition.

Of course, she had her own reasons for doing so.

‘That son of a b*tch, that good-for-nothing b*stard.’

It was because of Kim Siyul.

Frankly, being in the position of Magical Nutrition Officer, she was confident in brushing aside most complaints or criticisms.

With all the magical experience she’d accumulated, there was no way she’d be affected by a few words. If she were the type to be hurt by that kind of thing, she wouldn’t have committed magical embezzlement in the first place.

So, she thought she could just let it slide.

‘The little shit. Just because I’m not great at making kimchi, damn it.’

Until she heard Kim Siyul’s mockery.

Even for her, who had experienced all sorts of magical hardships, for him to compare her kimchi to pao cai…

No, let me correct that.

For him to state that her kimchi wasn’t even at the level of pao cai was something she couldn’t tolerate.

To put it simply, she was triggered.

And very strongly at that.

Thus, Kim Shi-yul and the other magical girls were dispatched to the Magical Culinary Competition. Yet, in the same breath, Kim Shi-yul herself was barred from participating.

The objectives were manifold.

To see them ridiculed by the other magical girls, to watch them teeter on the edge of madness under the pressure, to witness the other magical girls turn on Kim Shi-yul for placing them in such a predicament.

In essence, torment by proxy.

And so, the Magical Provisioner sought to make Kim Shi-yul pay the price.

The price for daring to speak so carelessly to her.

But.

As is the way of the world, actions born of impulse invariably conclude with a single sentiment.

Regret.

‘I’ve screwed up…’

Similarly, the Magical Provisioner now regretted her impulsive act.

Truly, if torment was the goal, safer and more certain methods were readily available.

For a senior officer-level magical girl to harass a common soldier-level magical girl was an exceedingly simple matter.

However, at the time, her mind had been half-numb, and she had acted in a fit of pique.

Still, in the beginning, it had felt truly satisfying.

More satisfying than she had anticipated.

All the magical girls accompanying Kim Shi-yul were visibly flustered, stumbling around in confusion.

Even though their words were inaudible, the air between them practically crackled with tension.

It felt like a full-blown brawl was only a hair’s breadth away.

Precisely the direction the Magical Provisioner had desired.

But.

The blood boiling in her head began to cool ever so slightly, and the reason the Magical Provisioner had desperately tried to ignore asserted itself:

The drawbacks far outweighed the benefits.

‘What was I thinking…’

The Magical Culinary Competition was an event of considerable importance.

Given its focus on cuisine and the presence of General-rank magical girls as judges, the significance of the event could not be overstated.

Consequently, even participation was no easy feat.

Possession of a Magical Culinary License was a given, and in some cases, proof of culinary-related activities on one’s Magical Record was also required.

Crucially, a Magical Letter of Recommendation from a trusted Magical Recommender was essential.

And not just anyone could serve as a Magical Recommender. A minimum Magical tenure as a senior officer-level magical girl was a prerequisite.

The arduous and finicky process of qualifying for the Magical.

But there was no helping it.

Considering the importance of the Magical Culinary Competition, it almost felt insufficient.

And yet.

The Magical Quartermaster had thrust Kim Shi-yul and the magical girls into that very important Magical Culinary Competition.

Ignoring most of the procedures, pulling strings with Magical connections and other various means.

All for the paltry goal of revenge.

He’d committed what you’d call Magical corner-cutting, just to forcibly send Kim Shi-yul and the magical girls out there.

‘I must’ve truly gone mad!’

Looking back, it was an incredibly risky act.

It would be fine if Kim Shi-yul and the magical girls embarrassed themselves with foolishness at the Magical Culinary Competition.

Even better if they were subjected to severe criticism and insults, ending in Magical Taxidermy as a final spectacle.

But, what if their foolishness went too far?

What if they committed something grand enough that it wouldn’t simply end with Magical censure?

‘I’m royally screwed.’

Their Magical qualifications would be questioned, and sooner or later, the arrows of blame would surely be aimed at the Magical Quartermaster.

Because the person registered as their Magical recommender was none other than the Magical Quartermaster himself.

The reason he volunteered as their Magical recommender was nothing special. He didn’t have much time, and there weren’t any suitable magical girls for Magical disposal.

‘If I had known this would happen…’

He should have forced it onto someone else, even if he had to. The Magical Quartermaster’s eyes began to lose their light, filled with regret.

The outlook is extremely grim.

In truth, the situation isn’t exactly great even now.

Because one of the magical girls that the Magical Quartermaster had entered alongside Kim Shi-yul had pulled some Magical foolishness with bibim-myeon.

‘Who the hell mixes noodles THERE!’

If she had just fed them and kept quiet, it might’ve been okay, but she even fed the magical girl who took a bite a dose of Red Medicine.

Realistic, dynamic, and horrific Red Medicine.

‘That damn b*tch, seriously.’

A disaster.

A major disaster, at that.

He was on the verge of falling off a cliff. No, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had been half-pushed off.

This time, even with her magical connections, it looked too difficult to handle.

More accurately, impossible. This involved several General-level magical girls.

And if, right here, the situation worsened?

The aftermath was obvious.

“I’m screwed, really screwed.”

They would definitely hold her accountable.

In that process, the magical embezzlement case that had been buried before might be unearthed and resurface.

Then, it would truly be over.

“No…”

Just one impulsive action, and she was about to ruin her entire magical girl career.

Was that why? The magical mess officer unconsciously clasped her hands together reverently.

Then, looking at the three magical girls submitting their food, she desperately prayed in her heart.

That they would receive a good evaluation.

That they would get through this unscathed.

“Please.”

Save me.

Regardless of the magical mess officer’s desperate prayer, the judge magical girl’s composed voice rang out softly.

“Hmm? The three of you cooked together?”

“Well, the dish is quite complex, so we each took charge of a part,”

Sora said, giving an awkward smile, and continued.

“It’s not a violation of the magical rules, is it?”

“Well, it’s true. But you only get one chance. By the way, is there a magical theme?”

“Yes, the magical theme is harmony.”

“Could you tell me the reason for choosing that magical theme?”

Sora met the judge magical girl’s eyes directly and slowly opened her mouth.

“Since we all have different nationalities, we decided on harmony to represent understanding each other.”

“Ah, I see. I’m curious what kind of dish it is.”

The judge magical girl smiled expectantly. Sora returned a faint smile.

“It’s a magical salad.”

Well, it’ll be different from the salad you know. Sora added that, carefully presenting the prepared dish to the judge.

“And? What do you think?”

“It certainly differs from a salad in the traditional sense. Even so, it’s tossed in dressing, so I suppose one could consider it a salad.”

Presently, the judge, a magical girl, slowly analyzed the Magical Salad.

“Rice and vegetables stir-fried together, then tossed in dressing, and topped with two eggs cooked sunny-side up, and… this is…?”

The judge’s words gradually took on a shade of inquiry.

Sora quickly answered her question.

“It’s octopus.”

“Oh? This is octopus?”

The judge magical girl tilted her head, puzzled.

Sora nodded gently.

“Yes, I removed the skin and suckers entirely for a softer texture.”

“Oh, really! I’m quite looking forward to tasting this!”

Watching this scene unfold, a smile naturally appeared on the Magical Cafeteria Worker’s face.

The atmosphere is amicable.

The flow is not bad.

If the results are decent here, even just passable, survival is possible.

The magical girl who served the Lesbian Noodle can be blamed for committing a solo magical deviation.

*It’s alright. This much is a magical good showing.*

Meanwhile, whether the earlier statement was genuine or not, the judge, magical girl, wasted no time in reaching for her chopsticks as soon as she finished speaking.

She aimed for the octopus, devoid of skin and suckers.

– Thud.

“Huh?”

However, the chopsticks never made contact with the food.

“Please wait just a moment.”

Taishi’s palm had suddenly intervened, obstructing the chopsticks’ path.

The judge magical girl quietly voiced her mildly disgruntled inquiry.

“What seems to be the issue?”

“This dish is incomplete, so it is. The final garnish has yet to be added, so it is.”

“Is that so? Then, would you please complete it?”

“Of course, so I will.”

Taishe quickly set down the last dish, offering a bright smile.

“It is complete, so it is.”

The starting point of a harmonious meal’s completion.