Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1463: Cooking Competition... Guess who won? Part-2

One by one, everyone took a bite.

Eyebrows rose almost simultaneously.

”Super”

Thalia nodded in approval, satisfied with the result.

Raven gave a confident thumbs-up.

Nyx simply took a bite without a word, her face unreadable as always. Delphine nodded slowly with a proud, composed expression, while Snowflake snorted softly, clearly unimpressed.

Emberlyn nodded after another careful taste. ”Not bad,” she said honestly. ”But as I mentioned before, the meat is not fully cooked. I can still feel the rawness in the flesh.” She took a sip of the soup, considered it, then nodded again. ”The flavour is good. If the meat were cooked through properly, this would have been perfect.” She gave a small, encouraging clap.

Selene smiled brightly, satisfaction blooming across her face. ’Aether is going to love this,’ she thought.

”Next, me!” Thalia announced hurriedly, stepping forward before anyone else could speak.

Everyone shifted toward her station as she placed a firm hand on the lid. Her expression turned serious, almost sly, lips curling upward slightly. ”Once you see it,” she said confidently, ”you will be blown away.”

Eyebrows lifted with curiosity as she lifted the lid. Curled dark smoke poured out slowly.

”Oh my...” someone breathed.

Shock spread instantly across their faces when they saw it. Sitting at the centre was a burned bird, its body twisted and charred into the unmistakable shape of a phoenix, wings flared mid-rise as if frozen in agony.

It looked painful to behold!

What made it worse was the liquid surrounding it. The bird floated in a shimmering red-golden substance.

”What is that liquid?” Delphine asked as she thought of adding it to her list.

Thalia tilted her head slightly, clearly pleased. ”Oh? It is just its blood and its eggs’ yellow yolk,” she replied casually.

”...”

Everyone stared at her blankly, expressions hovering somewhere between disbelief and horror.

Thank goodness Emberlyn had intervened earlier. Otherwise, Aether would have eaten this without question, and who knew what kind of nightmare that would have unleashed inside his body.

Thalia carefully sliced the bird into small portions, deliberately preserving the shape of the dish.

Everyone hesitated, flinching slightly as the burned flesh separated.

Doubt flickered across their faces... Should they really eat this?

But seeing Thalia’s eager, expectant smile, they chose not to crush her enthusiasm entirely. Reluctantly, they accepted their portions.

The moment they tasted it, frowns formed instinctively.

Then hesitation.

Then surprise?

It actually tasted good!!

Eyes widened subtly as they processed the flavour, richness cutting through the char, warmth spreading through their mouths. The contrast was unexpected, unsettling, yet undeniably pleasant.

Emberlyn smiled softly. ”Not bad,” she said gently. ”Visually, it is not very presentable, and the burned aroma is strong. But if the outer charred skin is removed, the taste is actually quite good.”

Thalia smirked, victory gleaming in her eyes. ’Haha... Aether is going to worship me,’ she thought as she clenched her fist in quiet triumph.

They moved on to Raven’s dish.

Raven stepped forward, ”I will win.”

She lifted the lid with pride.

Everyone raised their eyebrows almost instantly.

Her dish looked... normal?

A thick slab of meat rested neatly in soup, surrounded by a simple arrangement of vegetables and fruits.

No smoke. No darkness. No strange liquids or ominous energy.

Just food?

The simplicity alone made it stand out more than anything else on the table.

Everyone frowned, mild disappointment creeping in. Raven had been doing everything faster than anyone else, almost recklessly so, and they had expected something far more unusual, something extreme to match her speed.

Noticing their expression, Raven smirked and slowly sge hooked her fork into the slab of meat and pulled upward slowly, stretching it like a spring.

What the fuck?

As the meat lifted, its surface shifted and separated in precise layers. Slowly, unmistakably, words emerged from within the flesh itself.

’I 💗 YOU’

The heart sat perfectly between the words, carved so delicately... Like kirigami!

”Holy shit, Raven!” Thalia blurted out, utterly stunned. ”You turned a single slab of meat into words? With a heart?!”

Emberlyn stared, speechless. Of all the things she had expected, this was not one of them. Her own daughter had created something so precise, using nothing but speed and control.

Raven’s cheeks flushed a soft red as she glanced around the table. Her posture straightened slightly, confidence blooming as she sensed it.

She knew it... She could feel it!

Even though some of them hated to admit it, the presentation alone stood above everything else.

Selene clenched her fist beneath the table. She would do better next time... She had to!

Raven smirked in quiet triumph before carefully slicing off portions, deliberately preserving the words and the heart intact.

Everyone took a bite.

Their expressions changed instantly.

Frowns appeared?

Delphine swallowed slowly, her brows knitting together. ”It is not even cooked,” she muttered, disbelief clear in her voice.

”The flesh is completely raw.”

Emberlyn exhaled and shook her head in disappointment, ”It is bad, Raven. Really bad,” she said gently.

”Aether is not like us. He cannot eat raw meat. I told you to slow down, didn’t I?”

Raven blinked, the victorious light in her eyes dimming.

She had tried her best... She really had, you know!!

She wanted to make Aether happy after everything he had been through, after waking from that long nightmare. She wanted to show him her love through food, something that could fill not just his stomach, but his heart as well.

Thalia and Selene exchanged looks before stepping closer. They patted Raven’s shoulder, offering quiet words of support... even though they were jealous a few seconds ago!

Then it was Nyx’s turn.

Without any grand words or reaction, she lifted the lid. Warm steam rolled outward, carrying a rich, comforting aroma that brushed across their faces instead of attacking them.

At the centre rested a perfectly cooked steak, lightly seasoned, glistening under the light. A subtle honeyed scent rose from it, inviting rather than overwhelming.

Everyone simply nodded.

Nyx sliced small portions with calm precision and placed them onto their plates without a word.

The moment they tasted it—

”Damn,” Thalia moaned softly as the meat melted on her tongue, sweetness and savour blending effortlessly.

Selene hummed while chewing, licking her lips slowly. ”She is good. Way too good.”

Raven nodded firmly, giving Nyx a thumbs-up.

Delphine shrugged slightly. ”Maybe good,” she said thoughtfully, ”but not the best.”

”Yesssssss~” Snowflake immediately agreed.

Emberlyn, however, remained silent. She chewed slowly, feeling the juices spread, the balance of flavour settling perfectly. Everyone waited, watching her carefully.

She inhaled deeply before finally speaking. ”Yes,” Emberlyn said honestly. ”This is the best among everything I have tasted so far.” She paused, then added with a faint smile, ”Heck, it almost reaches my own level.”

Nyx’s eyes widened in genuine shock.

She truly had not expected that.

Nyx knew Emberlyn’s cooking stood far above anything she had ever tasted. Not even the chefs of Mary’s palace could compare to her. That was how good Emberlyn truly was.

For Emberlyn to say her dish had almost reached that level made Nyx’s chest swell with quiet pride.

It felt earned.

Until—

”However... you lack soul.”

”Huh?”

Emberlyn sighed softly as she looked down at the plate, ”Taste? Very good. Presentation? Beautiful and simple. Aroma? On point,” she said calmly.

”Everything follows the book perfectly. This kind of food would do well in hotels, inns, or grand halls.”

She paused, lifting her eyes slowly. ”But for our home, for our people, for the ones we love... it needs more than book-perfect cooking. It needs soul.”

Nyx blinked, tilting her head slightly in confusion. ”But it did not say that in the book,” she replied honestly.

Emberlyn smiled warmly, ”Because that is as far as a book can guide you,” she said gently. ”After that, everything is left to your hands and your love.”

Nyx hummed quietly, absorbing the words. After a moment, she asked, ”So... all that is left is soul, right?”

Emberlyn nodded without hesitation.

Nyx clenched her fist slowly... Determination flickered in her eyes!

Meanwhile, in Nyx’s personal realm,

”Achoo!” Starla sneezed with a frown... all of a sudden, she felt a chill for some reason!

Anyway, back to the kitchen,

Emberlyn watched Nyx with quiet satisfaction. Seeing Nyx genuinely wanting to improve warmed her heart.

She liked this girl even more now.

Then it was time for the final contestants.

”Last but not least,” Snowflake announced proudly, lifting her head as she looked around at everyone waiting in anticipation.

Honestly, curiosity spread through the group. From the beginning, Delphine and Snowflake had moved with intent, confidence radiating from every step.

Instantly, Everyone knew they were facing a professional!

”Is everyone ready?” Delphine asked with a smirk,

”Remember this day. You will never forget losing to me.”

Several throats swallowed nervously as they waited.

Delphine gestured slightly toward Snowflake.

Snowflake lifted the lid instantly, ”Tada~”

A heavy cloud of white smoke surged outward, carrying something dense and oppressive.

The aroma struck their nose for only a fraction of a second before vanishing completely.

”...”

The group blinked and exchanged looks, confusion spreading across their faces. They were certain they had smelled something deeply disturbing, something wrong, but it disappeared too quickly for their minds to grasp.

Now there was nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

It felt as though their noses had gone numb, unable to smell anything.

”Did you smell something?” someone asked cautiously.

”...I do not think so,” another replied, uncertain.

Unease crept in as they leaned closer, eyes drawn to the dish itself.

Their pupils widened in horror.

At the centre rested a purplish slab of meat, its surface unnaturally smooth, slowly floating within a strange greenish liquid. Black bubbles rose steadily from the depths, bursting with soft, wet sounds as if the liquid itself were alive.

The sight alone sent chills crawling up their spines.

Whatever this was, it was not normal food.

And the worst part was, something deep inside warned them that this dish had not even begun to reveal its true danger.

Everyone stood frozen, bodies locked in place as if some unseen force had seized their limbs. No one dared to move, no one dared to speak.

Delphine and Snowflake smirked at the reaction, exchanging a look of quiet triumph. Their eyes gleamed with satisfaction as they watched the group struggle to even breathe.

”They are literally taken aback~ hisss~” Snowflake whispered, her voice filled with amusement.

”Yeah,” Delphine replied lightly.

The two of them chuckled together, clearly enjoying the effect their creation had caused.

The others remained motionless, as though confronted by a terrifying entity; their instincts refused to move.

Delphine and Snowflake noticed the stares and, surprisingly, both began to blush faintly.

”Oh, come on,” Delphine said, laughing softly. ”There is no need to stare like that. It is embarrassing, you know.” She gently patted Selene’s shoulder as if nothing were wrong.

Selene flinched violently, snapping out of her shock. Her eyes slowly shifted toward Delphine’s face, which looked angelic, calm, and innocent, completely at odds with the horror before them.

”A-Aunt,” Selene stammered, voice shaking. ”H-Have you ever cooked before?”

Delphine smirked, clearly amused by the question. ”Of course. Do you think I am a child like all of you?” she replied casually.

”I know how to cook. And I know how to pull the soul.”

The words hit the room like a sudden drop in temperature.

It literally looks like it pulls the soul from the body!!

Everyone stiffened, eyes snapping toward her in unison, staring as if she had just said something deeply, profoundly wrong.

Snowflake lifted the plates calmly while Delphine sliced the dish with careful precision. Her movements were gentle, almost loving, as she placed small portions onto each plate and offered them forward.

Holding the dish now in their hands, they finally saw it up close.

The purplish steak pulsed faintly, bubbling as if breathing. The greenish liquid around it writhed, releasing soft sounds that felt disturbingly close to screams.

”That is visually... disturbing,” Thalia muttered, her throat tightening as she swallowed.

Everyone nodded silently.

Was it safe to eat?

The question echoed through them all at once.

Emberlyn leaned closer, attempting to smell it, but nothing came. Her sense of smell still had not returned.

What had just happened to them?

Just as they began lowering their plates, hesitation overwhelming courage, two pairs of sparkling, innocent eyes looked up at them with quiet anticipation.

Everyone glanced at Delphine and Snowflake, who watched them eagerly, hope shining in their expressions as if waiting for praise.

Selene hesitated, then asked softly, ”Aunt... did you taste test it?”

Delphine and Snowflake nodded without hesitation. ”Of course,” they replied together. ”Why? What is wrong?”

”N-Nothing,” Selene said quickly. She glanced at the others, then forced a weak smile. ”M-maybe it tastes good. You know... like Thalia’s?”

If Delphine ate and fine that means... it was still edible, right?

The group exchanged glances.... Just because it looked like a nightmare did not mean it tasted bad.

Slowly, reluctantly, they nodded.

Each of them took a deep breath, steeling their nerves, and lifted their forks.

Carefully, they took a small bite from the tiny portion.

Munch—

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

One by one, bodies collapsed forward onto the table. Plates clattered softly, utensils slipping from slack fingers as the entire group fell motionless in unison.

Delphine’s eyes widened in alarm as she rushed a step forward. ”What? What happened to you all—” Before she could finish, a long, crying sound echoed,

”Hissssss~”

Snowflake’s voice trembled.

Delphine turned quickly. ”Why are you crying?” she asked, startled.

Snowflake covered her face briefly, using her tail as she wiped the happy tears, and she sniffed loudly.

”Hisss... can’t you see?” she said between breaths. ”They were so happy that they fainted... just like Master.” Her voice wavered as her tail tapped against the table again and again.

”Hissss~ I am so happy~ hisss~ Our food reached their hearts!”

Delphine blinked, then slowly looked back at the collapsed figures.

Just like Aether?

Their expressions were peaceful, almost blissful. Their eyes had rolled back slightly, faces relaxed in a way that spoke not of pain, but overwhelming sensation.

Understanding dawned on her!

Her eyes trembled as tears welled up. She sniffed softly, pressing a hand to her chest. ”I am glad,” Delphine whispered, ”I am glad my work did not go in vain.”

Snowflake straightened proudly, tears gone as quickly as they had appeared. ”Guess who won the contest?” she asked smugly.

Delphine lifted her chin, ”Of course it is us,” she said confidently.

Snowflake chuckled, a low, pleased sound. ”Hess~ hess~ hess~ Indeed.” Her eyes gleamed.

”Now it is time to show it to Master.”

Delphine nodded, her expression turning serious and resolute. Carefully, reverently, she placed the lid back onto the plate, sealing the dish as if protecting something sacred.

In a sudden burst of motion, Snowflake leapt forward, nestling herself comfortably into Delphine’s cleavage. She raised her voice with excitement, tail flicking wildly.

”Now let’s go and make Master happy~”

Neither of them noticed the faint twitch of a finger on the table behind them or the foam forming on the corner of their lips!