Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-One: This Isn’t About Eating All the Capital’s Specialties Before Going Home!
Led by Mr. Ville, we all entered "The Big Bear’s Tail." Despite its stone exterior, the inside was surprisingly warm, with walls neatly plastered and wooden floors and tables. It didn’t feel cold at all. In fact, the place was bustling with various races, giving off a lively and cozy atmosphere. We decided to order Mr. Ville’s recommendation—the meat skewers. They apparently use something called "spring salt," which is said to have a unique flavor…
“It’s made by boiling down hot spring water, right? I’m so excited to try this new method!”
“I’m surprised there’s an ingredient even you don’t know about, Rin.”
“What’s with that assessment?! I only have the knowledge of ‘just a foodie’!”
As I sat down, excited about this unfamiliar seasoning, his strawberry-colored eyes widened in surprise. I hastily denied it, but not just Mr. Ville, even the other members had that "Oh, stop joking" look on their faces…
This is an unexpected overestimation.
Look… No matter how knowledgeable I am, I don’t know every ingredient in the world! I only have slightly more knowledge than an average person!
…I tried to explain myself, but why would not anyone believe me…?
The expectations… the expectations for the cook are too heavy…!
“Sorry for the wait. Here’s your rainbow spring salt grill.”
“Th-this is the spring salt grill…!”
“And here are your drinks as ordered. Please enjoy at your leisure.”
Just as I was about to slump under the weight of expectations and trust, a child-like, slightly lisping voice rang out. A smiling kobold waitress with droopy ears approached our table, carrying a plate piled high with meat skewers and our drinks.
The extra plate under the one with meat must be a trick to let the beastfolk serve without holding the food plate directly.
She placed the plates and glasses on the table with her fluffy paws, bowed her head, and returned to the kitchen.
Ms. Sheila has a curled tail, but this kobold waitress has a big, fluffy droopy tail. As expected, kobolds are so cute.
“…Rin. Sorry to interrupt your thoughts, but let’s eat before it gets cold.”
“Oh, right! The spring salt grill The meat!”
“Here. This is… your portion, Rin.”
“Thank you, Ms. Aria!”
It seems Ms. Aria had already secured her portion and casually placed a meat skewer on my plate.
I’m really grateful to have joined a party that’s so kind to their cook.
I immediately put my hands together and pick up the still-steaming meat skewer. The appearance is… like a normal grilled skewer, I guess. Finely chopped herbs are scattered here and there on the nicely browned meat. I can’t see anything special about the salt they said they used at this point. Thinking I cannot judge by appearance alone, I take a big bite… and instantly, rich juices flood my mouth.
“…!”
“No need to force yourself to speak, Rin. I can tell it’s delicious just by looking at your face.”
“Your eyes are literally sparkling, indeed.”
As I instinctively turned to Mr. Ville sitting next to me, he was nodding with a face that seemed to understand everything, already holding an empty skewer. As if it were nothing, he was dividing more meat skewers between my plate and his own. I thanked him with just my eyes, and Mr. Xenon, who had apparently witnessed the whole scene, was chuckling amusedly. Of course, he too was holding a meat skewer.
…It’s strange… a meat skewer in the hands of a classically handsome Elf should look out of place, but somehow when Mr. Xenon holds it, it doesn’t feel odd at all… Maybe it’s because I’m used to his usual eating habits. Come on, sense of incongruity, do your job.
“…This meat is incredible! It’s juicy but doesn’t feel heavy at all…!”
“Right? No matter how much you eat of these skewers here, you never feel weighed down.”
“And the seasoning! The herbs are perfect, but the balance of salt is even more amazing!”
“Indeed. It has a different flavor from sea salt, doesn’t it? I don’t know why, but it’s said to be milder than sea salt.”
“…You’re right, it’s not just salty, there’s a subtle sweetness in the aftertaste… I… I want to buy more to take home!”
I bit into the juicy rainbow long-tail fowl meat, chewing and chewing… The meat, which bounced back against my teeth with just the right amount of elasticity that I wanted to savor forever, had somehow disappeared down my throat before I knew it. As I exhaled with a "whew," the refreshing scent of herbs passed through my nose. Feeling a bit dazed, I glanced over at the strawberry-colored eyes, only to see that the leader, who had already finished his second helping, was giving me a smug grin.
As Mr. Ville said, the spring salt generously sprinkled on the surface of the meat is sharp enough to feel a bit salty when it hits your tongue, but that sensation quickly fades, and you can even taste a hint of sweetness. To begin with, compared to the salt I usually use in cooking, it has a much rounder saltiness. It’s not like it’s low sodium or has a low salt concentration. It’s a soft, rounded kind of saltiness…
Ah! I need more vocabulary! I need words! But really, this is such a delicious salt!
“That’s right. After we’re done with this business, we should do some shopping before heading back to Ellarge.”
“And hunt an Orc King too, right?”
“Don’t forget we’re also stopping by the town of Melnoa. Rin, you wanted to see the knives there, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I’m really curious about the knives here!”
As our leader smiles at me, I feel somewhat relieved and start on my second helping of meat skewers. This piece is fattier than the previous one. With each bite, sweet fat bursts from the springy meat. It’s probably similar to the part of a chicken near the tail. It could easily become too rich, but thanks to the crispy grilled skin, the crunchy cartilage, and the explosive umami in my mouth, I don’t feel any unpleasant heaviness at all. Rather, the rounded saltiness of the spring salt is accentuated by the sweetness of the fat, and the fruit water I’m drinking as a chaser is just so delicious…!
“…Rin, you can keep eating, but listen. Once this is done, we’re leaving.”
“…!”
“It seems our contact is already waiting for us.”
Mr. Ville’s hushed voice shook my eardrums as I was experiencing a worldly paradise.
Fighting the urge to ask him to repeat himself, I quietly swallowed the meat in my mouth.
…I’m not sure when it was passed to him… but in Mr. Ville’s lightly closed palm was a crumpled piece of paper.
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