Chapter 37: Scavenger Hunt

Soma's third exam location

"Lady Erina, your exam is over here!" two bodyguards suddenly appeared and tried to wrangle her.

"Unhand me!" Erina growled.

"Let go of my cousin!" Alice shouted.

"Gentlemen, please release my cousin or I will make your lives hell" Trina threatened. The combined anger of the three Nakiri women frighten the men and they let go of Erina.

"Hmph, well you four better pass the exam" Erina said in her old authoritative voice. She went off in her own direction.

"Despite being on our side, you're defensive about your rebel cousins" Rindo teased. Trina ignored her and turned her focus to Soma.

"Meet me downstairs and we will talk about the contents of your exam" Trina calmly explained.

"Sure, but I want a few questions from you" Soma replied with a tint of anger.

"Fine, but make it quick" Trina answered.

"Why are you supporting Azami? Aren't a diner chef like myself, something that Azami hates?" Soma answered.

"My business is in Germany, so I really don't care what happens to Japan's culinary world, but my uncle's shake up is good in the long run" Trina defended, "My reasons for supporting him was initially to allow for a rebellion to rise, which you fulfilled. However, during my stagiaire period I came across a girl who was an excellent chef, but was expelled due to her stage fright. She wasn't fortunate like my girl here and thus fell between the cracks. That's something I can't accept."

"I see" Soma coldly muttered, "So you planned this from the beginning."

"Correct" Trina said with an evil, but soft smile, "But don't get it twisted: I don't hold ill will towards you or our friends."

"Hard to believe since you're siding with a group hellbent on expelling us" Soma retorted.

"That...wasn't my decision" Trina frowned, "But I am committed to what I started. Anyway, it's time for us to get going." Soma said nothing but headed towards the stairwell. Trina whispered a few things to Megumi before kissing her goodbye. Soon, only Megumi and Ryou were left outside.

"So I get a crack at the infamous Bathory" Ryou spoke, "I look forward to bringing you down a notch."

"Glad to hear the enthusiasm" Megumi said with a smile and closed eyes, "It's hard to get a good challenge these days when most of Central is afraid to fight you."

"So then, what shall be the theme for our match?" Ryou asked.

"Already have that covered" a manly voice spoke out.

"Dojima...I didn't expect you to be here" Megumi chuckled.

"As head of Tootsuki's Hotel and Ryokan Branch, I am here as a neutral party and moderator of this match" Dojima informed, "The theme for the match will be... scallops." A smile appeared on Megumi's face.

"Scallops? She wishes to beat me in my field?" Ryou thought. No, that's not entirely true. Like him, she was also from a port town so she was well associated with seafood.

"The match will be in three days and will have neutral judging" Dojima spoke, "Any questions?"

"No, that will be fine" Megumi said with a smile, "I will see you in three days, Ryou daddy." Without haste, Megumi left the balcony and went inside the hotel.

The Kitchen of Soma's Trial

"Alright Soma, now that we are in the kitchen where your third exam will take place, let me explain the details" Trina sighed while leaning on the counter next to her, "Your task is to create your version of my favorite dish in three days. The only requirement is that you must use bear meat."

"Oh, so no actual match between us then?" Soma grumbled in frustration.

"No, as I do not see that befit for a third exam" Trina stated, "Any questions?"

"Yeah, what is your favorite dish?" Soma wondered. She never told him that in all the time they had known each other.

"That's for me to know and you to find out" Trina answered with a devilish smile, "I've left you plenty of clues to figure out my request, so the exam is fair."

"So what, your test for me is a scavenger hunt?" Soma asked with a raised brow.

"Exactly" Trina replied, "Know this, the dish I am requesting is the same dish I used to beat my late father with 3 years ago. It's the dish that reminds me most of him and our ties."

"Oh, I see" Soma frowned. In that context, he knew he had to one up her on her turf.

"Anyway, I look forward to seeing what you create three days from now. Of course, if the dish isn't your absolute best then I shall fail you and you will be expelled" Trina finalized before leaving the kitchen.

"Alright, I think we should figure out what she wants before we experiment with the bear meat left in the fridge" Soma thought while examining the kitchen. The first clue he came across was a case of box of Mac and Cheese.

"Mac and Cheese?" Soma mumbled while picking up the box.

Flashback

"Man, I am hungry after that run" Trina loudly stated, "Should we have lunch now, Soma?"

"Sure, what did you have in mind?" Soma breathed.

"How about Mac and Cheese?" Trina replied with a goofy smile while holding a box up.

"Seriously? You like boxed Mac and Cheese? You're certainly different from your cousins" Soma laughed.

"Yup, it's my favorite guilty pleasure" Trina laughed, "Although in truth, it's also the basis for my all-time favorite dish."

"Neat, maybe you should cook it for the dorm someday" Soma laughed.

"You know, that isn't a bad idea" Trina nodded in agreement.

End Flashback

"So a dish based on the concept of Mac and Cheese huh?" Soma sighed before putting the box down. For the next hour, Soma sniffed out the room for all the clues he could fine; this included a large container filled with recipe cards, shredded Emmentaler cheese, onions, and a spaetzle press.

"Alright, let's see if this box has a recipe using Emmentaler cheese and onions and makes a Mac and Cheese like dish" Soma thought. Only a minute later did a recipe name and image came across his index finger: Kaese Spaetzle.

With a quick scan of the recipe card, he knew he found Trina's favorite dish.

"Ok, now to experiment with the bear meat" Soma said with a smile. Unfortunately, he encountered a problem: the bear odor in the meat.

"Shit, if I can't erase this bear odor then I will fail the exam" Soma nearly shouted, "I need basil, star anise, red chili, anything to fix this problem!"

SEI! SEI! SEI!

"What-" Soma piked up before be confronted by a bald army holding up spices.

"Why so glum? These are the spices you were looking for, right? Honestly, you're unreliable little yukihira" a midget...

I AM NOT A MIDGET!

… a man's voice said with a sly smile.

"Kuga!"

Book of Dracula

Chapter 1:

1 Vlad Tepes, otherwise known as Dracula, was once a devout christian in a middle ages. 2 As King of Wallachia, he dutifully defend his lands from the invading Turks. 3 All of which he did in the name of Yahweh. 4 With a silver rosary ordaining his neck, he butcher his enemies and skewered their bodies on stakes. 5 He even used this method of mutilation against traitors and heretics of the church. 6 All of which was once blessed by his God. 7 However, when he learned of the tragic death of his wife Elizabeth, he cursed God's name in the first time in his life. 8 In doing so, he lost favor with Yahweh.

Chapter 2:

1 Without Yahweh's blessing, Vlad would face military defeat after military defeat until the Turks were at his castle. 2 One evening in his quarters, he cried out "My God, why have you forsaken me? Please hear my call and grant my wish to save my land." 3 Instead of Yahweh, however, came a tan woman wearing a crimson dress and a black choker. 4 Startled, Vlad demanded the name of the intruder, to which she replied "My name is Lucille, Goddess of Chaos. Or called by your God: Lucifer 5 Without haste, Vlad held his silver cross and tried to expel her. 6 Lucille laughed "O' foolish mortal, I am not afraid of your God nor the sacrifice his angel made on the cross." 7 She continued, "If you pledge your soul to me, I will save your country." 8 Without hesitation or thought, he agreed.

Chapter 3:

1 Lucille smiled at him and explained to him the future that would unfold. 2 As promised, he would win his war with the Turks, but then soon murdered by his kin. 3 However, she would take his soul and reform it through his bloodline until it matured into a powerful demon soul 4 Once ready, one of his descendants would be born with the demon soul and in time become the Demon of Fortune 5 Lucille then told him "That the lover of the Demon of Fortune will become the Demon of Devastation and the two will bring an end to Yahweh's earth." 6 When he inquired on what she meant, she explained that an Age of Demons would sprout about and cause chaos to the earth and heavens 7 That within a thousand year period of time, a new earth and new heavens would be created and humans would lose dominance as new intelligence would sprout 8 He said "And what of my kin? Does my sacrifice bring more than victory and death?" 9 She replied "Your Kin, through the Demon of Fortune, will be the mother of this new age and reign as my left hand. They will be celebrating by bring balance back to the cosmos." 10 To this, he smiled.

A/N: Ah, can't help writing in fourth wall jokes xD.