"Because I improved during the Stagiaire," Lexon replied with a smile.
"Truly unbelievable progress..." Senzaemon murmured.
Immediately after, he lowered his head slightly, clearly lost in thought.
Lexon didn't know what he was thinking, but he didn't want to wait and planned to just state his own business.
So he spoke up, "Director, I have something to tell you."
"Hmm?" Senzaemon snapped out of his reverie and responded, "I happen to have something to tell you as well."
"Go ahead then." Lexon yielded the floor to the elder.
Senzaemon didn't waste any time. "You are aware of Erina's 'God's Tongue,' aren't you?"
"Yes."
"It is an innate, extraordinary culinary gift... but this talent also possesses a fatal flaw." Senzaemon explained slowly, "As they taste more gourmet food, the owner of the 'God's Tongue' becomes increasingly fastidious... until they fall into a vortex of culinary despair, losing interest in all cuisine and eventually being forced to survive solely on nutritional supplements..."
Facing the expressionless Lexon, the low-voiced words of this usually majestic Director finally revealed a hint of exhaustion.
"My daughter... Erina's mother... fell into that state exactly..."
"And?" Lexon asked.
"So, I want you to stay with the Nakiri family and present your delicious dishes to Erina," Senzaemon said seriously in a deep voice. "With your talent, Erina will never find fault with your cooking for the rest of her life!"
'So he basically wants to give his granddaughter away for free.'
Lexon looked at him, thinking to himself.
"From what I can see, Erina has quite a good impression of you, and I don't think you dislike her either... You are handsome, and Erina is very beautiful... Although you are cousins, as I mentioned before, your blood connection is so thin it's practically non-existent... so there is no issue."
Senzaemon acted like a matchmaker, trying to give Erina and Lexon's relationship a push.
"Let me tell you what I wanted to say first, Director." Lexon's tone was flat, not responding directly to Senzaemon's suggestion.
"Alright... go ahead." Senzaemon nodded in response.
"I will be leaving Totsuki in three days."
"What?!!"
Although only the old man Senzaemon stood before Lexon, two surprised voices rang out simultaneously.
One was clearly female... and very familiar...
Lexon looked toward the source of the sound.
Sure enough, it was Erina Nakiri, who had finished getting dressed.
"You said you are leaving Totsuki?" Senzaemon ignored his granddaughter's appearance and pressed Lexon with a frown.
"Yes," Lexon nodded.
"You just became the First Seat and you're leaving Totsuki already?" Before Senzaemon could say more, Erina had rushed to Lexon's side and questioned him.
"Yes, I'm going somewhere very far. I'll probably only return once in a long while," Lexon replied.
He had already made up his mind.
'This world will follow real-time flow from now on. I'll just drop in every few story worlds to check in, sign in, and improve my cooking skills a bit more.'
'It saves both time and effort.'
"Where are you going?" Erina leaned in close, her bright eyes fixed on Lexon as she followed up.
She didn't want the goal she aimed to surpass to just run away like this.
Having been completely defeated by Lexon, Erina's passionate chef's heart was fully ignited; she wished she could have a major Shokugeki every two days and a minor one every day, without interruption...
"To a place very far away that you won't be able to find," Lexon answered perfunctorily, blocking any further persuasion from Senzaemon or Erina with his next words.
"It's already a done deal. No matter what you say, it won't change anything."
"Then Erina..." Senzaemon sighed with regret and shook his head.
'Why does it feel like I'm the one being abandoned...'
Erina's cheeks flushed as the thought crossed her mind.
She had been eavesdropping from behind, so she naturally knew her grandfather intended to give her away...
"Don't worry, Director," Lexon said gently.
Upon hearing this, both Senzaemon and Erina looked toward him.
"Erina Nakiri is a talented person. She won't fall into the state you're worried about."
The moment these words, whether spoken with sincerity or intended as comfort, fell...
As if she hadn't expected Lexon to actually acknowledge her, Erina Nakiri's expression suddenly froze.
Senzaemon, who had been in a gloomy state, suddenly regained his vigor, returning to his former self.
He laughed heartily, "Hahahaha! That's right! My granddaughter is a genius! Naturally, she won't fall into such a state! I was truly overthinking things!"
"I'll be taking my leave then. Goodbye." Lexon turned around as he spoke, waving to the two behind him as he walked out.
"I will definitely catch up to you! I won't lose to you! Nakiri Lexon!! Lexon!!!"
As he stepped through the doors of the Moon Heaven Hall, Lexon heard the girl's words behind him, shouted with what seemed like all her strength.
Lexon's footsteps paused for a moment.
Then, without staying any longer, he resumed his pace.
...
Upon learning the news of Lexon's departure, everyone at the Polar Star Dormitory was extremely surprised.
However, after being inspired by his perfunctory parting words like "searching for a way to advance further" or "stepping onto the path of growth"—the kind of things only a shonen manga protagonist would say—his companions at the Polar Star Dorm didn't try to stop him and chose to respect his decision.
And so, after bidding a brief farewell to those he had met in this world...
At noon on the third day, as the final countdown hit zero, Lexon's figure suddenly transformed into a beam of white light, leaving the story world of Food Wars!.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]