"I will announce the theme for the overtime sudden death!"

Sumeragi Reiko’s voice echoed through the hall, where the heat and excitement had yet to fade.

She stared straight at me and curled her lips into a fearless smile.

"The theme is… ‘Fried Rice’!"

The venue erupted.

Fried rice.

That was the dish that became the catalyst for my encounter with Sumeragi Foods.

The image of me wielding a Chinese wok had sparked a ‘revolution’ in this world.

It was my origin dish.

"…Heh, you’ve got some nerve."

I grinned and set my well‑worn wok onto the burner.

But the situation wasn’t simple.

"Ugh… I can’t eat anymore…"

"My tummy’s totally full…"

The children in the judges’ seats were slumped over the tables.

That was only natural.

They had just finished eating a rich curry.

Their stomachs were already stretched to the limit.

"The conditions are the worst possible, Akutsu‑sama."

Reiko hid her mouth behind her folding fan and whispered mischievously.

"Stuffing yet another lump of carbohydrates into children who are already full… with ordinary skill, you won’t even get them to take a single bite."

I see.

It wasn’t enough to simply make something tasty.

To smash through the physiological wall known as the satiety center and forcibly make them think ‘I want to eat,’ I’d need overwhelming compulsion.

"Perfect. We’re going all out, you bastards!"

"Yes, Master!"

Team Akutsu entered battle formation once more.

* * *

"Cooking begins!"

With the gong, Team Spice moved first.

Their strategy was clear.

Subtraction.

"Cut fat to the absolute minimum. Coat the surface of the rice with egg white and incorporate air. Create a sauce containing digestive enzymes. Reduce the burden on the stomach and trick the brain into thinking ‘this will go down.’"

What they were making was a special ankake fried rice mixed with meringue as light as fresh snow.

A texture that didn’t feel heavy.

A gentle aroma of dashi.

A scientifically calculated escape route designed to slide smoothly even into a full stomach.

The children’s expressions softened slightly.

An atmosphere of ‘maybe I can eat that…’ began to spread.

…Smart.

But it's boring.

"We’re doing addition. No, multiplication."

I cranked the burner to maximum.

GROOOOOOO!!

A thunderous roar shook the hall.

I heated the wok and tossed in a solid chunk of lard.

JUUUAAAA!!

With a plume of white smoke, the sweet aroma of animal fat exploded outward.

A smell that should feel ‘heavy’ when you’re full.

But I didn’t care and barked instructions at Ai.

"Ai, the eggs! Ten of them, all at once!"

"Yes!"

Ai poured the massive amount of beaten egg into the wok.

Oil and eggs collided and swelled with a violent sound.

Then I threw in freshly cooked white rice.

Now was the moment of truth.

GAKON! GAKON! GAKON!

I shook the wok.

The metallic sound of the wok bottom slamming against the trivet echoed through the hall like a drumbeat.

"…W‑what is that sound?"

"That’s incredible…"

The children lifted their heads.

I worked the wok even harder.

Once, twice, three times.

Rice grains beginning to turn golden ran up the rim of the wok and traced beautiful arcs through the air.

It was like a living thing.

Thousands—tens of thousands—of grains danced in perfect unison under my command.

"Look, brats! The rice is dancing!"

The instant I shouted, a massive flame burst from the wok’s surface.

BOOOOOSH!!

A pillar of fire that seemed to reach the ceiling.

Golden rice danced within it.

"Woahhh…"

"So cooool!"

The children who had been slumped over leaned forward without thinking.

Their eyes were glued to it.

The roar.

The heat of the flames.

And the brain‑searing savory aroma of lard, scorched green onions and soy sauce mixing together.

Humans are simple creatures.

Show them a ‘phenomenon’ this delicious right in front of their eyes and their brains start hallucinating.

‘Full? Who cares! Let me eat that!’

"…Tch, how barbaric…"

I saw the leader of Team Spice bite her lip.

Their delicate ‘calculations’ were being painted over by my ‘violence.’

"Saotome, plates!"

"Yes."

Saotome lined up the plates with swift movements.

For the finishing touch, I dripped soy sauce along the surface of the wok.

JUUU!!

A bomb of aroma detonated as the final blow.

I could swear I heard everyone present swallow.

"It’s done! Dig in!"

* * *

Two plates of fried rice were set on the table.

Team Spice’s ‘Light‑Snow Ankake Fried Rice.’

An elegant, beautiful dish topped with a white, gleaming sauce.

Team Akutsu’s ‘Golden Fried Rice.’

The ingredients were only eggs, green onions and chāshū.

Yet every grain of rice shone gold, radiating an aura so strong you could eat plain rice on steam alone.

"…The judgment will be decided by how the children eat."

Reiko declared.

The children picked up their spoons.

First, Team Spice’s dish.

"…Mm, it’s light."

"It’s good. I can eat this."

They brought it to their mouths with visible relief.

It was tasty.

Truly tasty.

But their hands lacked momentum.

A passive choice of ‘I can eat this without strain.’

Then, my fried rice.

One girl cautiously scooped a spoonful.

The rice crumbled lightly.

She brought it to her mouth.

Hafu, hafu.

She chewed the steaming hot rice.

That instant—

Her eyes flew wide open.

"…So good."

That single phrase was the signal.

GATSU GATSU GATSU GATSU!!

A ferocious sound erupted.

One child, then another.

As if they hadn’t eaten in days, the children shoved their faces close to the plates and moved their spoons with single‑minded frenzy.

"Hot! But it’s delicious!"

"I’m full, but it keeps going in!"

"I can’t stop!"

Full?

They’d forgotten such a thing.

The savory scorched soy sauce, the richness of lard and the fluffy, separate grains forcibly rebooted their instincts.

"More!"

"Me too!"

The plates were emptied in no time and there was even a scene where they fought over the empty dishes.

Meanwhile, more than half of Team Spice’s plates remained.

The match was decided.

The result was obvious to anyone.

"…A complete defeat."

Amid the uproar, Sumeragi Reiko stood before me.

She closed her fan and bowed deeply.

"Not just their taste buds. You dominated the ‘hearts’ of everyone present."

Reiko raised her head and gazed at me with slightly moist eyes.

"To make full children this hungry… you truly are a ‘Demon King.’"

"Cut it out. I just made something tasty."

I set the wok on the burner and wiped my sweat.

"Besides, the fried rice your people made wasn’t bad either. …It was just a little too ‘kind.’"

I turned toward Team Spice.

They were shedding frustrated tears, yet staring at my cooking with rapt attention.

…Good eyes.

They’ll be stronger next time.

"Now then."

I faced Reiko again and grinned.

"I won. You remember the promise, right?"

The hall fell silent.

Karen and Hibiki leaned forward in the front row.

SheTube’s comment section was flying by at insane speed:

[It’s here!]
[What’s he going to ask for!?]

"Yes, of course."

Reiko closed her eyes as if bracing herself.

Her cheeks flushed faintly.

"The loser grants the winner ‘any one wish.’ Go on. Is it my company? Or… me?"

She twisted slightly, her expression a mix of expectation and anxiety.

‘Hey, hey, what’s with that reaction?’

The surrounding employees were buzzing.

I took a deep breath and declared loudly.

"I only have one wish!"

I thrust my finger forward.

"For all Sumeragi Foods products… increase the lineup of ‘hearty’ items!"

"…Huh?"

Reiko opened her eyes, utterly blank.

I felt like I heard the entire hall collectively slip.

"What’s with that face? This is a serious issue."

I spoke earnestly.

"The food lining this world’s supermarkets is all too refined and the portions are too small! It’s not enough for me! ‘Large portions, rich, brown food—for me!’ Commercialize it!"

My soul’s cry.

It was a frustration I’d carried ever since reincarnating into this world.

Healthy?

Calorie‑off?

Who cares?

I want to be drenched in fat and carbs.

After a brief silence—

"…F‑fufufu!"

Reiko burst out laughing.

She clutched her stomach and laughed hard.

"A‑hahaha! Brilliant! To think you’d ask for something like that!"

She wiped away tears and looked at me with a beaming smile.

"Very well! I will gladly grant that wish! We will pour the full might of Sumeragi Foods into bringing ‘Akutsu‑sama’s ideal’ to life!"

"Yeah, I’m counting on you!"

When we clasped hands firmly, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the hall.

"…Honestly, that guy."

In the audience, Karen sighed, exasperated yet relieved.

"…Well, it’s a good ending. It’s solid, like a movie script."

Hibiki adjusted her glasses and smiled in satisfaction.

And so.

The all‑out war with Sumeragi Foods ended in my complete victory.

"Alright, let’s head home and celebrate!"

"Yes, Master!"

"…Requesting seconds of the special curry and fried rice."

"Returning home immediately."

We left the venue in high spirits, cheers at our backs.

I’m starving… When we get home, I’ll use the leftover ingredients to make the junkiest meal possible and eat my fill.

My path of cooking still stretches far ahead.