Chapter 1: The Gourmet System

East Sea City No. 1 High School, sports field.

All third-year students were assembled there.

Every gaze was fixed on the stage.

Standing atop the platform was a middle-aged man draped in a black robe, with a peculiar machine set by his side.

Atop the machine sat a crystal sphere, within which floated an array of intricate runes, radiating a mysterious aura.

He held a microphone in his hand:

“Good afternoon, students. I am the host of today’s Awakening Ceremony.”

“The Awakening Ceremony is about to begin. I hope each of you will awaken the profession you desire.”

...

“I’ve transmigrated?”

Beneath the stage.

Xu Han stared blankly at his surroundings, momentarily unable to react.

Memories surged through him like a tidal wave.

The original owner of this body also bore the name Xu Han.

This world was called Blue Star. It was nearly identical to Earth, only hundreds of times larger.

Decades ago, the game world invaded.

It brought forth countless exotic beasts, and even legendary gods and demons.

The arrival of these beasts meant a massacre for humankind.

In just half a year, two-thirds of human territory fell.

The war between humans and the beasts raged into the following year, and that was when the first Professionals appeared among humans.

Professionals could slay beasts and, just like in games, gain experience and equipment to increase their strength.

With the emergence of Professionals, humanity was finally able to stand against the beasts, gradually reclaiming lost ground.

Xu Han’s eyes brightened.

What kind of powerful profession would he awaken?

After all, as a transmigrator, shouldn’t there be some advantage?

A sliver of anticipation rose in his heart.

The black-robed man held a list and called out, “The Awakening Ceremony begins now. First, Zhao Xiaowei.”

A slight, timid boy trembled all over.

He stepped slowly onto the stage.

The black-robed man gestured to the machine beside him. “Place your hand on the crystal ball, close your eyes, and feel.”

“Yes!”

Zhao Xiaowei swallowed hard, placed his hand on the crystal sphere, and squeezed his eyes shut.

A moment later, the crystal sphere glowed with a faint, matchstick-thin light.

Inside, a chef’s knife appeared.

The black-robed man declared, “Zhao Xiaowei, E-rank life profession: Chef.”

Zhao Xiaowei walked off the stage in a daze, his head bowed, taking his place at the end of the line, while his homeroom teacher stood at his side offering consolation.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“Poor Zhao Xiaowei, an E-rank life profession. The lowest of the low.”

“He’ll spend his whole life stuck in a kitchen—no hope of ever changing his fate. Heaven help me, please don’t let me get an E-rank life profession!”

“Hmph, a guy like him is obviously a side character. How could he compare to a main character like me? I’ll definitely get an S-rank profession and be specially recruited by Longguo University! You’ll all be begging to flatter me then!”

...

Xu Han cast a sympathetic glance at Zhao Xiaowei, feeling a surge of nervousness himself.

If he awakened a useless profession like that, his life would be over.

“Next, Li Bin.”

A boy strode onto the stage and placed his hand on the crystal sphere.

It glowed much brighter than before.

At the center of the sphere, a greatsword appeared.

The black-robed man announced, “Li Bin, C-rank combat profession: Greatsword Warrior.”

Li Bin’s face lit up with unrestrained joy. “Yes! Hahaha, I’m a C-rank combat professional!”

Envious gazes swept over him from the crowd.

A C-rank combat profession was considered above average in the entire city.

Admission to a Professional University was guaranteed.

Many were jealous of Li Bin, and several girls began discussing how best to attach themselves to him.

...

The black-robed man continued calling names.

One by one, the students took the stage.

Those who awakened to combat professions wore looks of excitement and pride.

Those who drew life professions walked off with bitter faces, silent and dejected.

The homeroom teachers were busy offering encouragement, barely able to keep up.

“Next, Su Li.”

At the sound of this name, every head turned toward the stage.

A delicate girl walked gracefully up, offering a slight bow of respect to the black-robed man.

She wore a simple white T-shirt that accentuated her stunning figure; her lower half was clad in a pink skirt, revealing two legs as smooth and fair as jade.

Many boys gazed at her with admiration and covetousness.

A few even let their jaws drop.

Su Li was the school’s acknowledged beauty.

Her gentle nature and explosive curves had won her the title of goddess among the boys!

Even Xu Han couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances.

She looked so slender—who would have guessed her figure was so incredible?

Su Li gently pressed her fair hand to the crystal sphere and slowly closed her eyes.

The sphere burst forth with dazzling, milky-white light, shining as brilliantly as a newborn sun!

Everyone present—teachers and administrators included—stared in stunned disbelief.

Even the always-composed black-robed man couldn’t hide his shock and joy as he loudly announced:

“Su Li—S-rank combat profession: Holy Priest!”

A collective gasp swept through the crowd.

The principal shot to his feet so quickly his chair toppled to the floor, unnoticed.

“I… I didn’t hear wrong, did I? S… S-rank combat profession?!”

His voice trembled, and his face reddened to the shade of a tomato.

The dean nodded repeatedly, clenching his fists in excitement: “No mistake, Principal! S-rank combat profession! We’ve struck gold! Our school will become famous!”

“Hahahahaha…”

The principal, completely forgetting his dignity, threw his head back and laughed.

S-rank—a genuine S-rank combat profession!

Since the school was founded, the best student had only attained an A-rank life profession—a grand inventor.

Now, astonishingly, they had produced an S-rank combat professional!

The major Professional Universities would be in an uproar!

The principal could already envision himself promoted to the Director of the East Sea City Education Bureau.

Xu Han looked on in envy.

If only he could awaken an S-rank combat profession.

His future would be set for life.

Su Li, her face still awash in disbelief, stepped down from the stage.

Students crowded around to ingratiate themselves, even the teachers eager to share a few words.

The black-robed man cleared his throat and continued, “Next, Xu Han.”

Xu Han’s heart leapt.

Finally, it was his turn!

Suppressing his excitement, he strode onto the stage, pressed his hand against the crystal sphere, and focused.

The sphere emitted a faint glow.

Within, the image of a knife and fork appeared.

The black-robed man announced impassively, “Xu Han, D-rank life profession: Gourmet.”

A wave of whispers rippled through the crowd.

“Oh, a Gourmet? Isn’t that just a glutton?”

“Xu Han’s grades are good, but his luck couldn’t be worse. He’d have been better off as a chef like Zhao Xiaowei—at least that would make finding a job easier.”

“A Gourmet just tastes food; in reality, that means he only knows how to eat and nothing else. Who would want a glutton like that? Life’s going to be tough for him.”

...

Xu Han stood on the stage, dazed.

Yet it wasn’t disappointment he felt.

Because just now, a mechanical voice had echoed in his mind:

“Host has successfully awakened as a Gourmet. The Gourmet System is activating, fusing with the host…”