The Approaching Hell

"Xu Yue, you really are an incredible person."

Koichi Konishi, captain of the Donburi Research Society, looked at Xu Yue as he stepped down from the stage. He patted Xu Yue on the shoulder, his face practically screaming, ‘I admire you.’

"You’ll be the next captain of the Donburi Research Society, Xu Yue!"

That somewhat eye-searing expression, combined with his pompadour, gave even Xu Yue goosebumps. Still, his expression remained unchanged as he replied,

"I’m sorry, Senior, but although I represented the Donburi Research Society in Food Wars!, I already have a club of my own. Here, I’ll give Yukihira Soma to you."

As he spoke, Xu Yue pushed Yukihira Soma, the instigator behind all this, toward Koichi Konishi.

In the original story, Yukihira Soma had won the match on behalf of the Donburi Research Society, then used that Food Wars! victory as leverage to demand that Mito Ikumi join the club.

But this time, Mito Ikumi had become Xu Yue’s personal property. Naturally, he would not waste her youth in some deadweight club like this. Better to shove Yukihira Soma into the fire pit instead. After all, he did not have a club anyway, did he?

"Yukihira Soma, we won the Food Wars!, and the club budget can increase now. Let’s work together to make the club flourish…"

"You’ll be the next captain of the Donburi Research Society, Yukihira Soma!"

After receiving Xu Yue’s unspoken message of ‘the other party does not want to talk to you and has thrown a Yukihira Soma at you,’ Koichi Konishi’s speed at changing faces was terrifying. He immediately shifted targets and continued staring at the somewhat bewildered Yukihira Soma with that eye-searing expression…

Since Mito Ikumi had become Xu Yue’s property, it was only natural to bring her into Polar Star Dormitory.

Although this woman was proud, bad-tempered, violent, and capable of picking up a butchering knife to dismember an entire cow, her nature was not actually bad.

After losing to Xu Yue and having both her body and mind’s defenses completely crushed by that dish, combined with the restrictions of Food Wars!, she did not seem particularly resistant to obeying him.

She had obeyed Erina Nakiri before, so there was not much difference.

With her skills, naturally there was no problem qualifying to move in. Xu Yue arranged for her to stay in the room next door.

Because their relationship was very pure, the two of them did not do anything at night.

After returning to Polar Star, Xu Yue began considering the start of his own juicing plan. He had already tasted every resident’s signature dishes. His grasp of their ingredients, control over flavor, and learning foundations had all been maxed out. Only the learning of the procedures remained.

Besides, there were backup options among the dorm residents for that achievement mission.

First was the country girl, Tadokoro Megumi. Without a doubt, she possessed potential at the level of the Elite Ten.

Her innocent, kind personality, always thinking of others, was also quite good. However, to prevent a ‘nice boat’ ending, Xu Yue was not planning to use such an overbearing method as Food Wars!

Heh, ordinary machetes could not kill a Perfect Sage Body. But if he truly thought that, he would definitely have fallen for the Space’s scheme!

The Space’s goal was absolutely not to have them chop him to death. It was to have them chop him, then suffer a worldview-shattering shock upon seeing his wounds recover at a speed visible to the naked eye. Just like how he could not use Shadow Clone in front of others.

By then, the more people who ended up in machete endings and the more people who witnessed it, the more points would definitely be deducted. He would probably have to spit back out everything he had gained!

So even if he really wanted to do something, Xu Yue had to put on a flawless performance and leave no openings whatsoever.

It had to be said that the Space’s ugly appetite regarding those two naive Reincarnators had filled Xu Yue with vigilance. He could not leave behind any flaws or opportunities…

As for Tadokoro Megumi, since they were already roommates, they had a naturally solid foundation in their relationship. The ‘collection’ mission merely required making the other party obey him. Getting such a soft girl to listen to him truly did not require any special methods. It was practically already complete by default.

Furthermore, Tadokoro Megumi herself had even greater potential. Even without his interference, she had the potential to become one of the Elite Ten. She was practically a free evaluation, a benefit the Space had given him to win him over.

As for the other two, Yoshino Yuki and Sakaki Ryoko, they were also roommates. With the help he had given them through his daily tasting and critiques of their dishes, it would not be difficult to make them listen to him out of gratitude.

However, while the two of them were currently somewhat stronger than Tadokoro Megumi, their potential was ultimately far inferior to that of the Elite Ten. In the Hokkaido advancement tournament in the story, both had failed and been expelled.

If they were included among the ‘collections,’ their names would also be gray, just like Mito Ikumi’s.

As for these three dorm residents, there was no doubt that he would not need to take many risks. He could entirely employ the gentle approach of ‘winning them over.’

But the others afterward… that would be harder to say. In any case, it was a free mission.

Still, while he was draining them dry, he also had to begin special training. After all, they did not have various abilities assisting them like he did…

Just as Xu Yue made the decision to begin special training, Totsuki Academy’s first major event for separating uncut gems from stepping stones was about to begin.

Hell Camp!

Yukihira Soma, who had been shoved into the Donburi Research Society by Xu Yue because he was not the opposite sex and had no collection value, returned to the dorm today as well.

When he saw the Hell Camp notice, he seemed rather baffled.

"So Totsuki Academy holds normal events like this too."

"This is not normal at all. This camp will eliminate more than half of the first-year students."

"Can’t you see that Megumi has already fainted from nerves?"

Yoshino Yuki and Sakaki Ryoko seemed somewhat displeased by Yukihira Soma’s carefree attitude.

"Actually, as long as all of us remain among that half, there won’t be a problem."

Xu Yue spoke at just the right moment.

"Then next, I’ll begin a round of special training for everyone. At the same time, I would also like to learn your signature cooking techniques."

He had nearly collected all the dishes. Only the final procedures remained!

After hearing Xu Yue’s words, Yukihira Soma showed a somewhat eager expression.

At last, you’re ready to bare your fangs, aren’t you!

He would get to witness that talent and skill that had left him in awe again. Just thinking about it made him excited…

Uh, what was with that expression…

Xu Yue gathered Tadokoro Megumi, Yoshino Yuki, and Sakaki Ryoko together. Then, with his property Mito Ikumi added in, he apparently had no intention of calling anyone else. His words had only been directed at those few.

As he spoke, he directly prepared to lead them to the kitchen.

The abandoned Yukihira Soma was left feeling utterly disheveled in the wind.

"Oh, there isn’t much time left before camp. I don’t have enough time and energy to discuss things with everyone, so I can only choose a few people first. Everyone, work hard on your own."

"Good luck!"

As though he had suddenly remembered something, Xu Yue turned back and explained it to the others.

At the same time, he made a cheering gesture…

From that day onward, besides the rumors about the God Tongue, another rumor spread outside: Xu Yue was a lustful fiend.

It was said that as long as someone was a girl, he would not let her go. Not even Grandma Bunyo had escaped his clutches…

"Th-this is impossible!"

Yoshino Yuki stared at the dish in Xu Yue’s hands, identical to her own, her face full of disbelief.

Just once!

She had only demonstrated it once!

Yet he had reproduced it perfectly, without the slightest mistake.

No matter how carefree Yoshino Yuki was, she found it completely impossible to accept.

"Y-you’re just like Mikisuba Subaru, aren’t you? You’ve been stalking us all this time, right?"

Yoshino Yuki spoke with a slight shiver, imagining him peeping even while she bathed…

Well, Lord Yue is pretty handsome. It doesn’t really seem like I’d be losing out.

Yoshino Yuki had always been that carefree.

"You can think of it that way. But next, as we agreed, you’ll need to cook every dish you know once for me to see. Don’t worry, in return, I’ll point out their flaws and shortcomings…"

Fortunately, the academy already had Mikisuba Subaru, someone skilled at imitating others. His own ability could more or less be understood that way. Otherwise, he would have to spend effort soothing them and explaining, which would be troublesome.

But Yuki-chan…

There was a fundamental difference between Mikisuba Subaru and himself.

To imitate a dish, Mikisuba Subaru needed to spend a great deal of time studying the other party’s traits before recreating it.

But for Xu Yue as he was now, imitating their dishes no longer required those steps.

He only needed one look…