[245] "Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg" and "Cosmic Dumpling"

Chapter 245: "Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg" and "Cosmic Dumpling"

As time passed, with Dojima's roasting, the enticing aroma wafted through the entire hall.

Smelling this fragrance, some kitchen assistants with less strong wills paused their work, succumbing to the gourmet illusion created by this aroma.

Not only them, but even many graduates displayed expressions of enjoyment on their faces.

This was the strength of the top graduate at Totsuki, completely surpassing ordinary graduates.

"Oh? Cinnamon, galangal, white atractylodes, cardamom, cloves, dried tangerine peel..."

In comparison, Hachiman remained calm. Moving his nostrils, he listed several spice names.

His enhanced senses due to his constitution were now comparable to the original story's Hayama's, not only in taste but also in smell.

As time ticked away, Dojima's lamb leg was finally almost done roasting.

Wiping off some sweat, he looked at Hachiman with a smile.

"How's it going on your side, Hikigaya-kun?"

"Ready anytime. Just waiting for Dojima-senpai over there."

Hearing his words, Hachiman smiled faintly and walked to the side of the large steamer, opening the lid.

As the cold air rushed in, the hot air inside the dumpling began to expand, causing a gap at the top of the dumpling where the seal wasn't very tight.

At the moment the gap opened, the rich aroma of the meat inside the dumpling, accompanied by the surge of hot air, spread out.

"Ah, what's this aroma..."

"I really want to eat. My mouth is watering."

"I seem to... see the entire universe!"

"..."

This time, not only the kitchen assistants but also the graduates were affected. Just by smelling the aroma, they felt like they were in a dream, where they could see the brilliant Milky Way, freely swimming in the galaxy.

"What is this..."

Smelling this aroma, even Dojima's expression changed. Glancing at Hinako and others, who were already immersed in the gourmet illusion created by this aroma:

"This is my 'Cosmic Dumpling.' Please taste it, Dojima-senpai." Pointing at the giant dumpling in the steamer, Hachiman smiled.

"Good. This is my 'Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg.' Hikigaya-kun, try it." Smelling this fragrance, Dojima's expression also became serious.

The two exchanged places, and as they looked at the golden-brown lamb leg in the roasting pan, even Hachiman couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

Taking out the knife to cut a small piece of lamb, the blade sliced through the leg, releasing a burst of meat aroma combined with various spices. Despite the extended roasting time, the cut still exuded juicy goodness.

Using a fork to lift the small piece of lamb into his mouth, the rich aroma of meat blended with the fragrance of various spices surged heavenward.

"I see, is the 'Ninefold' referring to the nine spices?"

"Cinnamon, galangal, white atractylodes, cardamom, cloves, dried tangerine peel, peppercorns, star anise, and fennel—this perfect combination of nine spices gives the lamb a strong flavor, yet it's not chaotic at all. Truly worthy of Dojima-senpai."

"Moreover, despite the crispy exterior, the inside hasn't aged a bit, maintaining its tender and fresh texture. Amazing mastery of cooking time." Sensing the savory flavor of lamb on his taste buds, Hachiman praised.

Nine spices imparted nine different flavors to the lamb, combining with the inherent deliciousness of the meat, creating an indescribable gustatory storm.

Hearing Hachiman's words, Dojima paused for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

"Haha, indeed, Hikigaya-kun. You've identified all nine spices. So, how do you find my Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg?"

"With the perfectly balanced spices and your exquisite control of cooking time, it can indeed be considered a top-tier dish." Hachiman complimented without hesitation, a confident smile on his lips.

"Now, Dojima-senpai, please taste my 'Cosmic Dumpling.'"

This Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg had already scored an astonishing 92 points in the [Tasting] module.

Hachiman estimated that Dojima's culinary skills were approaching the mid-level of Level 5, seemingly on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of Level 5.

However, there was no hint of nervousness in his heart at this moment because his culinary skills had already reached Level 6 yesterday. In other words, he now had a second fully leveled-up module.

Seeing the confident smile on Hachiman's face, Dojima raised an eyebrow. Knowing that this Ninefold Secret Lamb Leg was already his best effort, could it be...

"Well, then I'll give it a taste." He approached the large steamer without waiting for Hachiman's explanation.

Without Hachiman's guidance, the experienced Dojima understood how to eat this dish.

Picking up chopsticks, he poked a small opening in the dumpling, then cut a small square piece of the dumpling skin. Next, he dug out an appropriate amount of filling onto the dumpling skin with the chopsticks and directly stuffed it into his mouth.

"Hmm? Pork belly? And it's the finest pork belly repeatedly pounded to bring out the smoothness of the fat! Then finely chopped into an incredibly delicate meat filling, paired with tender shrimp meat. When eaten, you don't feel any fibrous texture at all. Truly impressive." Despite praising the dish, Dojima furrowed his brow slightly.

No, this level is still far from enough...

As if understanding his confusion, Hachiman smiled and spoke.

"Dojima-senpai, why not try it from a different angle?"

Hearing this, Dojima shifted his perspective and once again used the dumpling skin and meat filling to make a small dumpling, placing it in his mouth.

However, this time, he widened his eyes. "Hmm? This is... front leg meat. After repeated pounding and cooking, black pepper and spices like fennel are added, allowing the tough meat texture to fully shine."

Without any reminder, Dojima changed his position again.

"A subtle taste, fluffy and soft, this is... pork stomach!"

"The one with a chewy texture is pig stomach?"

"The sticky and collagen-rich one is pig trotter flower..."

...

At this point, Dojima looked quite peculiar, using chopsticks to circle the entire steamer, changing positions with each bite.

After tasting every spot, Dojima closed his eyes.

"And despite the variety of ingredients in this dumpling, the flavors of various meats don't mix randomly. Instead, it's well-organized. With each bite, you can see a whole new scene."

"It's as if I witnessed the entire process of the universe forming, from the big bang to the birth of life. Truly spectacular."

"Haha, it truly lives up to the name of Cosmic Dumpling!"