Of course, there was another reason.
That was to cultivate opponents for himself. After traveling for so long, Dylan had come to realize one thing: he was very strong in this world.
So strong that he couldn't find an opponent.
In this situation, he could only gain some enjoyment by setting limiting conditions for himself, putting himself at an absolute disadvantage, and then competing against others.
Therefore, he wanted to cultivate opponents.
This batch of people from Tōtsuki was also part of his plan because they were the protagonists of this world, their talent and potential considered top-notch.
Just as Liu Mao Xing was the Child of Destiny, no matter what kind of opponent he faced or how unfavorable his own conditions were, he could always turn defeat into victory.
And in this world, the protagonist group led by Soma Yukihira was this "luck-favored group." Now, with him acting as a catalyst, perhaps they could reach heights unattainable in the original anime.
Dylan had never feared failure because failure meant he had room for improvement.
He feared stagnation.
Hopefully, these little ones could bring him some joy in the future!
He quietly watched Megumi Tadokoro in front of him, trying other cooking methods. He didn't know how much of his words this little girl had taken in.
But it was good for now; at least she was making slow progress. If she could remember even one-tenth of it, it would be a huge gain for her.
The others were the same. Under his deliberate arrangements, the strength of many girls from the original story had been epically enhanced.
As for why there were no boys?
Don't ask; if you have to ask, it's because he wasn't familiar with them.
Someone like Terunori Kuga, who stuck to him like a dogskin plaster, was an exception. If others weren't in his class, he couldn't be bothered to spend time on them.
Finding a chair and sitting down, looking at the scenery outside the window, Dylan couldn't help but let his thoughts wander, simultaneously pondering the content of the midterm exam.
When Senzaemon Nakiri handed this task to him, he was actually surprised. After all, he felt he was a newcomer; was it really okay to entrust such an important matter to him directly?
So Dylan questioned Senzaemon Nakiri.
However, what he got at that time was Senzaemon Nakiri's hearty laughter: "Do whatever you think of, even if it means eliminating all the students, don't hesitate!"
"What Tōtsuki Academy wants are capable graduates who can leave their mark on history, not just those who make up the numbers."
"Their very existence is to become stepping stones for the strong!"
Thus, Dylan had no reason to refuse and readily agreed.
Seeing Dylan agree so readily, Senzaemon Nakiri was also in a very good mood and decided to give him full authority.
However, what he was thinking was that no matter how much Dylan stirred things up, at most he would eliminate half the students. He couldn't possibly mess with all one thousand-plus students, could he?
And the reason he let him handle it was also very simple: to make these little brats in the junior high division feel the pressure, to urge them to improve!
He had always felt that the training methods in the junior high division were too gentle. It was precisely because of this that the student elimination rate was so astonishing after they advanced to the senior high division!
"What kind of exam questions should I set to control the number of people passing the midterms to exactly fifty?"
Dylan scratched his hair, his brow furrowed in thought. He knew how to set difficult questions to eliminate everyone, but this kind of neither-here-nor-there difficulty was the hardest to manage.
Because he had to clearly know the level of Tōtsuki's students to design questions based on their abilities, yet he was a new teacher...
"In that case, let's continue with the tail-end elimination system."
"Students ranked below fiftieth will all be expelled. The remaining half will go during the final exams, and then we'll recruit new students when school starts next year..."
Dylan thought conservatively. He had already applied to the higher-ups; this midterm exam would last for a full month.
In other words, this midterm exam was less of an assessment and more of a special training. As long as one worked hard, they could overtake others at any moment!
And under the constant erosion of expulsion pressure, everyone would go crazy cooking, trying to improve themselves and rank higher.
A month should be enough time for everyone who survived to undergo a transformation!
"Teacher Dylan, I'm done."
"Red Wine Beef Tongue made using three cooking methods. I hope you're satisfied."
Placing the plate with three portions of Red Wine Beef Tongue in front of Dylan, Megumi Tadokoro was a bit nervous at this moment, her fingers tightly clutching the hem of her clothes.
"But before the midterm exam begins, Megumi Tadokoro's personality must be corrected first, otherwise, she'll be the first one eliminated!"
"Perhaps I should take her bungee jumping, skydiving, or something? In a situation extremely close to death, the mind should also become stronger."
Hearing Megumi Tadokoro's voice, Dylan came back to his senses. Then he saw her nervous appearance, truly not presentable for a big stage.
This made Dylan ponder. Changing a person's personality subtly takes a long time, and quick methods can only rely on something highly stimulating.
"It's decided! Before the midterm exam, I'll take Little Megumi out and solve the problem from its root!"
Dylan made up his mind. Poor Megumi Tadokoro, at this moment, still didn't know what she was about to face. But even if she knew, she wouldn't be able to resist. Who made him the teacher?
With her timid nature, whatever Dylan said, she would do.
"Then let me have a taste."
Looking at the Red Wine Beef Tongue before him, after the final cooking, the beef tongue had become incredibly tender, and the sauce could perfectly coat the entire piece.
Gulp.
Watching Dylan cut the beef tongue with a knife, about to put it in his mouth, Megumi Tadokoro couldn't help but swallow, her hands clasped in front of her chest, a nervous expression reappearing on her face.
"The texture is soft and waxy. No matter which inch you bite, you can clearly feel the presence of the sauce."
"Paired with the fruity red wine flavor added at the end, you can clearly feel a strong, sweet umami aftertaste exploding in your mouth."
"Isn't this done quite well? Why would you get the lowest grade?"
Sensing the unique taste of the Red Wine Beef Tongue in his mouth, Dylan looked up in some confusion, looking into Megumi Tadokoro's eyes, wanting to get an answer from them.
"Be-because..."
Faced with Dylan's inquiry, Megumi Tadokoro suddenly found it hard to speak, her gaze drifting up and down, as if she had some unspeakable secret.
"So, what was it for? You weren't so nervous that you mistook sugar for salt, were you?"
Dylan joked, then noticed Megumi Tadokoro didn't say anything. So, as if he had thought of something, he asked tentatively, "You didn't really mistake sugar for salt, did you?"
"Mm..."
With a soft "mm," Megumi Tadokoro almost buried her head in her chest. Such a basic mistake, no wonder Professor Chapelle was so angry.
"Hahahahaha! I told you that string in your heart was pulled too tight! Look what happened now, it snapped in class, and you even drew ridicule from your classmates."
Seeing Megumi Tadokoro admit it, Dylan burst out laughing to alleviate the girl's embarrassment. Being scolded in this situation was indeed understandable. If it were him, he probably would have kicked her out of the classroom immediately.
He had originally planned to find Professor Chapelle to ask about the specific situation, but now it seemed unnecessary.
Such a basic mistake, even a Third-Class Chef wouldn't make it, yet it happened to Megumi Tadokoro. No wonder in the original story, even though she had such strong skills, she was deeply mired in an expulsion crisis before the protagonist enrolled. If someone like this wasn't expelled, then who would be?
"Teacher Dylan!"
Watching Dylan roar with laughter, Megumi Tadokoro's face visibly reddened, and she felt extremely embarrassed, so she stomped her foot in annoyance.
"The content I taught in class today was fried rice. Since you didn't come, I'll explain it to you again privately. Listen carefully."
After laughing enough, Dylan stopped and walked towards the other cooking station. He had steamed rice there to give Megumi Tadokoro a private lesson.
"Eh..."
Watching Dylan suddenly switch into teaching mode, Megumi Tadokoro was stunned for a few seconds, then took out a notebook from her school bag and started taking notes.
·
"Teacher Dylan, I'm scared!"
Looking at the hundred-meter-high cliff in front of her, even with a safety rope on, Megumi Tadokoro still had a terrified expression, her hands clutching the pillar tightly, unwilling to let go.
Because she knew in her heart that as soon as she let go of this pillar, she would definitely be pushed down! Into an abyss of eternal damnation!
When she came, he clearly told her they were coming here for an exchange and discussion. But somehow, during the exchange, they ended up on a bungee jumping platform!?!
Looking down at the bottomless pool of water, Megumi Tadokoro shrunk her neck, tear marks appearing at the corners of her eyes, looking exactly like she was being bullied.
And looking at her like this, Dylan, for some reason, felt a little excited.
"Don't worry, there's a safety rope! They're all newly replaced, very high safety factor. You can just jump boldly!"
Because the main purpose was to make Megumi Tadokoro gather her courage, not just to push her down casually, Dylan patiently guided her from the side.
"No way! Just looking at it makes my legs go soft, I can't exert any strength at all! In this situation, if I jump, something will go wrong!"
Her fingers were tightly interlaced, her whole body pressed against the pillar. As long as he didn't make her bungee jump, she was willing to do anything!
"Then what if I go with you? Can you gather your courage then?"
Feeling the girl's trembling body, Dylan was silent for a moment. He knew she was truly afraid, but this step was necessary.
As for whether it would succeed?
Dylan just wanted to say that if one doesn't even try, then failure is guaranteed.
But dragging it on like this wouldn't work either...
So, he thought of a compromise.
"You'll jump with me, Teacher Dylan?"
Hearing Dylan's words, Megumi Tadokoro couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.
She could somewhat guess his purpose in making her bungee jump, but why would he accompany her? Could it be that facing the vast abyss, the danger of possible death at any moment, he wasn't afraid at all?
Turning her head, Megumi Tadokoro carefully sized up Dylan, then discovered that there was no trace of fear on his face; on the contrary, he looked somewhat excited.
"Of course, the effect is best if you jump by yourself. But if you really don't dare, forcing you down might have the opposite effect."
"If my presence can give you a little more confidence, then let's jump together. It just so happens I also want to experience bungee jumping."
Dylan honestly stated his thoughts.
"Will this be too much trouble for you?? Not only bringing me here but also accompanying me... Why are you so good to me, Teacher Dylan?"
Looking at Dylan's handsome face, Megumi Tadokoro suddenly asked this question.
This was actually a question she had always had in her heart. There were so many outstanding people around, why was Dylan particularly good to her, paying so much attention to her?
"Because I want to be good to you, so I did it. Is this reason sufficient enough?"
Looking at the girl's slightly flickering eyes, Dylan naturally knew what she was thinking.
A teenage girl was precisely at the age when romantic feelings first stir. Being treated like this, her calm heart would definitely ripple.
This was also why they were more easily deceived by "yellow hairs" (delinquent types).
However, too much of a good thing could be bad. Newly sprouted emotions shouldn't be drenched with heavy rain but should be nurtured slowly and steadily until they grow strong enough to resist, then further steps can be taken.
This was Dylan's strategy: plant a seed in the girls' hearts, water it with time until it sprouts. This was the so-called "love grows over time."
If one rushed to harvest, it would only end up like pulling seedlings to help them grow—even if obtained in the end, it wouldn't be what one truly wanted.
"I see... Teacher Dylan is really gentle. Then let's jump together! I feel that with you by my side, it's not so scary anymore."
Sure enough, Megumi Tadokoro nodded, released her grip on the pillar, and came to Dylan's side, a faint blush on her face, her heart enveloped by something called a sense of security.
Subsequently, Dylan also put on the full set of safety equipment and stood at the edge of the bungee platform.
Megumi Tadokoro was opposite him, her eyes closed, taking deep breaths.
"Are you ready?"
After waiting for a while, looking at Megumi Tadokoro whose breathing gradually calmed, Dylan tentatively asked. The next moment, Megumi Tadokoro hugged him.
A soft sensation enveloped him, and a reassuring scent reached his nostrils, making Dylan inwardly praise her, though his face remained impassive.
"Mm..."
She responded, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum. This time, Megumi Tadokoro hugged him even tighter than she had hugged the pillar, showing she was truly terrified.
"3, 2, 1, go."
Dylan could also sense her fear, so he gently patted her back, his voice calm as he counted down, providing an exceptionally strong sense of security.
The next moment, the two jumped off the bungee platform.
Feeling the piercing wind around them, Megumi Tadokoro's heart beat exceptionally fast, but she didn't feel the slightest fear because the warmth from his chest and Dylan's strong, steady heartbeat told her she wasn't alone.
"If you want to scream, just scream it out. Venting that pent-up feeling in your heart is sometimes better."
Looking at Megumi Tadokoro's calm expression, Dylan patted her and said with insight.
"Aah!!"
"Aah!!"
Thus, the two of them started shouting in mid-air, venting their daily stress and also allowing their souls to be uplifted.
Especially Megumi Tadokoro.
Looking at the water surface getting further and then closer, that feeling of being on the verge of destruction and then being reborn made everything in the world seem to fade a little in her eyes.
She suddenly somewhat understood why Dylan insisted on bringing her bungee jumping.
It turned out that the moment one jumped, one could truly be reborn!
"Teacher Dylan, thank you."
As the speed of the bungee jump gradually calmed, Megumi Tadokoro sincerely thanked Dylan. The intensely accelerated heartbeat created a bit of a suspension bridge effect, making her heart flutter wildly for the man before her.
"This is what I should do. If you really want to express your gratitude to me, then become stronger."
Hearing Megumi Tadokoro's words, Dylan smiled and said. His main purpose in doing all this was still to make her stronger.
"I will become stronger! I'll attend all of Teacher Dylan's classes too!"
"I will no longer be affected by the words of those useless people because I know that only Teacher Dylan's attitude is the most important!"
"Eh?"
Hearing Megumi Tadokoro's words, Dylan felt something was a bit off, but he let it go. At least he had successfully cured Megumi Tadokoro's problem of being affected by others.
As for the rest, it could be slowly healed during this midterm exam!
After these few days of planning, Dylan had already written the outline for the midterm exam. Alice Nakiri had even tried to steal it, only to be taught a lesson by him.
Now that he and Megumi Tadokoro were out, Alice Nakiri was most likely in her room, searching for that exam outline he carried on his person.
"By the way, Teacher Dylan, I heard that this year's midterm exam is a bit different from previous years, extended from three days to a month. Do you have any idea why?"
Currently, only Erina Nakiri and the other two knew Dylan was the chief examiner, and with their personalities, they naturally wouldn't go around blabbing about it.
So, at this moment, Megumi Tadokoro asked with an innocent expression.
Because the midterm exam, unchanged for decades, was suddenly reformed, and as a Tōtsuki Academy teacher, Dylan must know something.
"I don't know. They didn't tell me. But this exam is very strict. It's precisely because of this that I brought you here to adjust your mentality."
His gaze subtly shifted to the distance. The two of them were currently being quickly pulled back up; hanging upside down for too long could easily cause brain hypoxia.
"Very strict..."
Worry appeared in Megumi Tadokoro's eyes.
"But don't worry. With your skills, as long as you perform normally, you can definitely pass smoothly. I can guarantee that."
"Mm! No matter what, I will do my best this time! Even if I fail in the end, I won't regret it, because I tried!"
Megumi Tadokoro nodded seriously. At this moment, she felt that as long as Dylan was behind her, she was omnipotent!
"Tomorrow is the day the midterm exam begins. After you get back to the dormitory, take a hot bath, rest well, and remember to lock your door."
As the bungee cord reached the top, the two returned to the platform. After removing the bungee equipment, they headed back the way they came.
"Mm? I know."
Although puzzled as to why Dylan suddenly said this, Megumi Tadokoro still nodded, simultaneously looking forward to tomorrow's midterm exam.
She wanted to prove to Dylan that his choice was not wrong; Megumi Tadokoro was indeed a very amazing chef, just as he thought!
At this moment, the setting sun gradually sank.
Because they were on the mountain, the two saw a very beautiful sunset glow.
_____
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