Finally, the first chapter is translated.
Volume Three, Chapter One
The morning air, a mix of unique lethargy and freshness, mingles with my ragged breathing.
“Over here, over here, Ms. Rin!”
“Wa… Wait a sec… Wa-Wait! So fast!”
Before I knew it, I found myself being pulled by a cat-eared boy and running through back alleys.
Huh? How strange… How did I end up in this situation again?
I think it all started when I was wandering through the morning market before breakfast and spotted this somewhat dispirited boy—Lent, the cat beastman. I remembered his face and name from the Fire Bear incident, so I couldn’t help but strike up a conversation. Fortunately, Lent seemed to barely remember me—something like "Oh, wasn’t there a porter like her?"—and before I knew it, I had gotten caught up in his troubles, leading to our current situation.
“Geez! Ms. Rin, aren’t your porter’s legs a bit slow?”
“I-I’m a skill-dependent p-porter…!”
Noticing my nearly breathless state, Lent finally slows down. He shrugs as he watches me gasping for air, but hey, you can’t underestimate the difference in stamina between youth and someone in her thirties! I’m doing my best here!
The boy pulling my hand is heading to where he lives—a church on the outskirts of town. Apparently, this world has religions too, and they worship various gods. Incidentally, the church where Lent lives worships the Sea Goddess. Personally, when I hear "Sea Goddess," I’m reminded of that black-and-white thing living in the depths, but I’ll just push that to the back of my mind for now.
Speaking of which, Mr. Rayer, whom we helped during the Fire Bear incident and who was like a foster parent and adventure teacher to Lent and the other orphans, was originally a priest warrior, right? So that’s why he still working as an ordinary priest at the church.
“So… you want ideas for light snacks to sell at the temple bazaar?”
“Yeah. Around this time, the temple garden produces a lot of Muche fruit, so we grind it into flour to make dumplings, but they’re not very tasty…”
As I confirm the details along the way, Lent nods seriously.
From what I understand, the Muche fruit—also called the "fruit of life"—is a major local fruit. Apparently, there’s a famous story about a renowned priest who was on a pilgrimage and nearly died from running out of food, when suddenly these trees sprouted, allowing him to satisfy his hunger and continue his journey. Moreover, the trees bear fruit abundantly, and if you remove the shell, they can be preserved for a long time, which is why they’re often planted by churches and households with small gardens.
However, the dumplings made from these fruits are met with nothing but complaints. They’re chewy and hard to swallow, barely have any flavor, have a sticky surface, are pure white and unappetizing, look bland, get hard quickly, etc. People probably also complain because it’s so nutritious fruit that they’re fed nothing else during the season.
Most importantly, Lent doesn’t want to see the believers’ disappointed faces or watch the younger ones get discouraged when they see those disappointed expressions.
What a kind-hearted kid!
“Well, these dumplings are snacks in every household during this season… I just wish someone would say they’re at least a little delicious.”
“Ah… seasonal produce… they’re abundant, so they end up on the dining table quite often.”
“We only know how to make dumplings, so I was hoping you might know other ways to prepare Muche fruits, Ms. Rin.”
I can relate… Like when home garden tomatoes are so plentiful they invade not just meals but snacks too, or when you receive too many apples and end up with apple-only snacks. I know it’s a luxurious problem, but it’s still a bit heartbreaking.
As I try to recall if I know of similar foods while reviewing the information about Muche fruit dumplings Lent shared, a certain food suddenly surfaces in my memory. White, chewy, with a slightly sticky surface… Hey, it’s shiratama dango, my favorite traditional sweet dumpling made from rice flour! Shiratama, the perfect match for anko, sweet red bean paste!
“From what I hear, these Muche dumplings sound similar to shiratama.”
“Shi-ra-ta-ma…?”
I mention this nostalgic Japanese food, but Lent just tilts his head with a puzzled expression. Seems like it’s not a thing in this world. What a shame.
“Well, it’s a pure white, soft dumpling with a slightly sweet taste…”
Even after explaining shiratama, all I achieve is deeper wrinkles forming between Lent’s eyebrows as his big triangular ears droop.
“…Isn’t that just the Muche fruit dumpling?”
“Yes… I guess so, yes.”
Lent looks at me with a face that clearly says "I have no idea what you’re talking about," making me look up to the heavens.
Ugh! It’s so frustrating that the information about me being from another world is classified, only known to a select few! I just want to go "We had similar food where I’m from!" and have a playful chat with the youngster!
Or rather, about these Muche dumplings—since they seem similar to shiratama, won’t they be good if you soak them in syrup or top them with red bean paste or jam? Or maybe skewer and grill them with sauce? Heck, you could even boil them with jam inside… I wonder if people here’ve tried these preparation methods.
“—Ah, well, it might be better to see the actual thing when we get to the church!”
“I don’t really get it, but we’re almost there!”
Following Lent’s swaying white-tipped tail, I see a small brick building. The grounds, surrounded by a wall about chest-high, have several trees planted. Those must be the Muche trees. Looking closely, I can see clusters of what appear to be light brown fruits.
At what seems to be the front porch of the building is a young beastgirl with lion-like ears and a tail—if I remember right, her name is Rion—busily sweeping with a broom.
“Oh, Lent! What were you doing, slacking off on cleaning? …And who’s that person? I’ve never seen her before. Are you here to pray at the church?”
True to her carnivorous beastman nature, her eyesight seems quite good. Rion quickly spotted us, her gaze darting at me while she scolded Lent. She probably thinks she’s smiling nicely, but it’s clear she’s on high alert—her pupils are wide open, her ears are pressed down, her tail is twitching… she looks just like a cat when an unknown visitor arrives.
Rion’s sharp gaze follows my every move, ready to pounce at the slightest misstep, until Lent lunges at her and wraps an arm tightly around her shoulders.
“Come on, stop being so grumpy! Ms. Rin is the one thinking up ideas for the bazaar’s light meals! She’s even the cook for the Gourmands, seriously!”
When Lent points at me with a mischievous grin, Rion’s golden eyes shoot wide open.
“Huh!? I remember being helped by people from the Gourmands, but was there really someone like this…?”
Ah, well, that’s true. When I went to rescue Rion and the rest, I was hiding, so it made sense that she wouldn’t recognize me. Even if I said, "I’m part of the Gourmands," it’d be hard to believe, right?
“Well, you see, I’m a porter… Maybe I wasn’t visible during that Fire Bear incident. If you don’t believe me, want to see my guild card?”
In front of Rion, who is still growling deep in her throat, I pull out the guild card I have been keeping near my chest and hold it out. She still seems wary, her gaze darting between my face and the card several times… After taking a deep breath as if steeling herself, Rion’s hand reaches out for the guild card.
Even as she takes the card, her eyes remains fixed on my movements. Her hand stretches out slowly, then snatches the card away with a swift backstep, creating distance between us in an instant.
Oh! She’d jumped back two meters with just one step! Beastkin really does have incredible physical abilities! As I stare, fascinated, Rion throws me a suspicious glance and checks the details on my guild card…
“Nooooooo! You really ARE from the Gourmands!”
Rion’s face went pale in an instant, and she let out a scream that sounded like silk being torn, echoing across the dawn sky.
Hmm. Quite the lung capacity, I must say.
“I-I’m so sorry! Intimidating someone who helped save our party!”
“Well, being cautious of a stranger is totally normal. Actually, I’m the one who should apologize for suddenly showing up so early in the morning… I lacked consideration.”
As Rion handed back the guild card with trembling hands and bowed her head, I also bowed. Thinking calmly, instead of immediately acting on Lent’s story, I should have made an appointment like "I’ll visit around XX o’clock today"… What a painful blunder on my part…
Even so, Rion finally believes I am not angry and raises her face, offering a slightly awkward handshake.
“Um… I’m Rion, a lion beastkin. I handle the front lines.”
“I’m Rin from the Gourmands. I’m a porter and cook. Nice to meet you.”
We exchanged introductions, still somewhat awkward, and looked at each other. Feeling a bit shy, I let out an embarrassed, deflated smile.
Seeing her up close like this, Rion is just bursting with vibrant, adorable energy! Her healthy wheat-colored skin is glossy, and her sun-colored hair, softly curled, sways gently with each step… And of course, her perky ears and tail are utterly charming! She’ll grow up to be a beauty!
I don’t mean anything improper, but I guess she notices me staring blankly at her. Rion tilts her head with a puzzled expression.
“By the way, Ms. Rin, you came about the bazaar’s sweets, right?”
“Yup. You seemed to be struggling… Though I’m just an amateur, so I’m not sure how much help I’ll be.”
“Ehhh… Ms. Rin, you’re too kind to offer a recipe for free! Recipes can fetch good money!”
As soon as I spoke, Rion frowned and explained with a roar.
In this world, recipes are typically passed down from parents to children, or from master to apprentice. So, opportunities to learn recipes from outsiders are almost non-existent, with people mostly recreating dishes through tasting and sheer determination. That’s why, if there’s a recipe for a famous or innovative dish, people would go to great lengths to get it—it seems recipes can even become a business asset.
Wait, could I sell recipes from my original world? Even if I can’t reproduce the exact seasonings, a bit of Western-style tweaking might work… Well, if I’m ever short on money, I’ll devise and sell some recipes. If that results in delicious food spreading around, all the better.
As I ponder whom I would need to talk to about a sales contract, Lent, who has entered the church through a back entrance, pokes his head out from the opened door.
“Rion, Ms. Rin! Over here! Hurry up!”
“Hold on, Lent! Were you really going to have Ms. Rin develop a recipe without even saying thank you!?”
“Eh, urk… B-But Ms. Rin said she didn’t need any compensation…”
Lent, smiling and waving, was being verbally and physically confronted by Rion, who approached with quick steps. This isn’t the time to be daydreaming about recipe sales!
I hurry over to the two of them, calm down the fired-up Rion, and console the teary-eyed Lent. The mission is complete.
…Wow, this feels so familiar! Just like when I used to calm down my squabbling siblings. Back then, my little brother and sister would be wailing, and I’d desperately try to soothe them, stroking their heads until their tears stopped… Recalling a memory pushed to the back of my mind, I found myself patting the heads of Rion, still breathing heavily and unsatisfied, and Lent, whose ears and tail had drooped dejectedly. I’ll note here that the difference in texture between Rion’s fluffy hair and Lent’s silky hair was quite pleasant. Also, both of them protested, turning bright red, saying "We’re not children anymore!”
…Yup, my bad!
Anyway, the verbal fight seems to have stopped, so I guess all’s well that ends well! However, the root of the argument was that I’d disregarded compensation, so I should probably resolve that… It’s best to eliminate any potential seeds of conflict.
“Um… if you really want to offer thanks, would it be okay if I ask you to let my party know that I’m at the church?”
I met the gazes of the two, who still seemed slightly smoldering, and made my proposal. Come to think of it, All I did was notify them that "I’m going to the morning market"… After yesterday’s barbecue, they told me to take it easy today, so I doubt they’d mind my little detour. Still, letting them know where I am is important.
However, it seems this proposal isn’t quite the "thank you" to the two. As soon as my words were out, Lent and Rion leaned in, their cheeks still red.
“Oh, come on! Going to deliver a message to the Gourmands isn’t a thank you for you—it’s a reward for us!”
“We wanted to thank the Gourmands for saving us from the fire bear, but we couldn’t find your party, and the teacher said ‘We shouldn’t bother busy people’!”
“But now, being asked by you, Ms. Rin, means we can legally meet and talk, right!?”
The eyes of the two closing in on me were sparkling. "Legally meet" seems to be quite the power phrase… Are my party members some kind of idols? Should we hold a handshake event?
…Well, considering how these two first met us, idol treatment isn’t completely unreasonable. We were basically heroes who came to save them from a life-threatening situation. Thinking about it, Rayer’s decision to preemptively warn them against charging into our party was nothing short of brilliant.
As I unintentionally gaze off into the distance, right before my eyes, the lion and the cat are locked in a heated and noisy battle over who will go. The fierce dispute ended with Rion declaring, "Since you invited Ms. Rin, you should take responsibility till the end!" and snatching the messenger role.
“So, you’ll properly help Ms. Rin and come up with a recipe for light snacks!”
With a full-faced smile and waving her hand, the lion beastman child dashes away like a startled rabbit. In contrast, the cat beastman child droops his shoulders and looks utterly deflated.
“Um… I’m sorry! I’ll try to come up with the tastiest recipe, so cheer up, alright?”
“No. It’s not that I dislike working with you, Ms. Rin… Let’s make delicious snacks for the bazaar…!”
As I gently placed my palm on his curled back and spoke to him, Lent made a gutsy pose while still looking wilted and dejected.
Even though he missed the chance to meet his favorite people, he isn’t crying or lashing out but instead is considerate… Isn’t Lent just such a good kid?
I must make delicious snacks for the good kids…!
Just as I clench my fist, I suddenly realize. It’s good to experiment with recipes, but I haven’t gotten permission from the person in charge!
As I offer, "If I’m borrowing the kitchen, I’d like to at least introduce myself," Lent rubs his eyes and waves his hand.
“Oh, the teacher is currently in the morning ritual. It’ll take a while, so I think you can start!”
“Eh, is it okay to be so casual about this!?”
Lent smiles at my surprise and leads me forward without room for argument. Caught between wondering if everything is okay and not wanting to interrupt any important work, I arrive at the church kitchen.
Several wood-burning stoves are lined up, giving off a clear atmosphere of having supported the meals of priests and believers for a very long time. There is no faucet in the water area, but instead, a large pot and a ladle are placed as if to compensate. Vegetables would be washed outside, and water stored in the pot would be used for cooking. I’ve seen this kind of thing in period dramas!
How should I put it… Having gotten used to the kitchen in the Camping Car, this kitchen feels more than just old-fashioned—it’s almost prehistoric. It is like something straight out of a retro movie.
As I look around wondering what I could use, Lent returns from the back of the kitchen carrying a large bag.
“This is Muche fruit flour. Usually, we add water, knead it, make dumplings, and boil them.”
“Hmm… can I touch it?”
“Sure!”
Lent opens the bag woven from plant fibers and shows me the contents. It is pure white powder full of lumpy chunks. When I touch it, the lumpy parts are as solid as I expected, barely breaking when I apply pressure with my fingertips. Its gravelly texture is also exactly what I’d imagined.
…This Muche fruit powder is seriously like glutinous rice flour!
Wow… I thought glutinous rice flour was made from rice, but in this world, a similar powder can be made from nuts! What they say about "different places, different customs" is true, but seeing it firsthand is fascinating!
“Hey, Lent. I’d like to try eating the dumplings made in your usual way. I don’t know the taste of Muche fruit.”
“Sure! I’ll make them the way I always do, so watch, Ms. Rin. You might find some improvements!”
Grinning, Lent accepted my request and first lit the stove with what seemed to be a fire magic spell. Right, with magic, starting a fire would be easy, and they could manage without a gas stove.
Once the fire is stable, he places a pot of water and grabs a bowl, his hand reaching for the powder bag without hesitation. After that, I just watched his fluid movements. Scooping powder into the bowl, adding water with a ladle, kneading, forming into balls, dropping into boiling water… Before I knew it, marveling at his deft movements, the dumplings floating in the water were scooped up with a slotted ladle, plates on a small dish, and presents to me.
“Here are the Muche fruit dumplings!”
“Thank you, Lent! You were so practiced!”
“I’ve made them many times. Oh, they get hard quickly, so eat soon!”
“Thank you. I’ll dig in right away!”
I pick up the glossy dumpling with my fingers and put it in my mouth. As I byte into its surface, which is neither slick nor sticky, it bounces and slides between my teeth. After several attempts to bite through, its elasticity remains strong. By the time I finally swallow, my jaw become completely exhausted.
The taste has a fruity aroma, but it doesn’t have the slight sweetness of shiratama dango. There are bits of flour clumps here and there, which leave a slightly bitter, astringent aftertaste… It may look like shiratama, but the taste? Not so much.
“By the way, how do you usually sell these at the bazaar?”
“We roughly coat them in honey and wrap them in Zeeram leaves for distribution. Takeout containers are too expensive to use.”
“Ah, those wide leaves… So syrup-based options wouldn’t work, huh?”
The Zeeram leaves… the same wide leaves I used to wrap rice balls and rolled eggs when I first cooked a proper meal at the Gourmands. These leaves seem to grow quite commonly. But if dumplings will be wrapped in Zeeram leaves, serving them soaked in syrup doesn’t seem feasible. Even so, I wonder how well honey pairs with those incredibly chewy Muche dumplings. It feels like the flavor would fade as you chew…
“…Are these Muche dumplings only boiled? Are there methods for deep-frying or pan-frying?”
“Deep-frying uses too much oil and is forbidden due to small children around. Frying often burns them, and you’d have to watch constantly, so…”
“Hmm… the usable ingredients are just Muche powder and honey?”
“If it’s not a large amount, we’re allowed to use oil and other ingredients. It’s just we don’t want to operate at a loss…”
Not wanting to waste the dumplings that had been kindly made for me, I forced myself to finish them, even as my temples throbbed with exhaustion. While I asked my questions, Lent replied without a hint of annoyance.
A snack that isn’t deep-frying, isn’t grilled directly, is easy for small kids to make, and can be wrapped in leaves… hmm…
The first thing that came to mind was stuffing the Muche dumplings with a honey-based filling mixed with dried fruits or crushed nuts and then boiling them… but I feel like the dumplings’ chewiness would overpower the filling.
Oh! But if I add flavor directly to the dumpling dough itself, it could solve the problem of the taste fading while chewing. That would mean something like a flavored shiratama recipe that can be made in bulk…
Suddenly, a bell rings in my head like a divine revelation.
Given that I’m in a church, perhaps a heavenly inspiration has descended.
In a vivid vision of the dark clouds parting, revealing radiant beams of sunlight shining down to earth, angels with gentle smiles flitted about. Amidst this dreamlike scene, the name of a suitable snack meeting Lent’s conditions suddenly burst from my lips.
“Pão de Queijo!”
“Huh? Pão… what?”
“A soft, chewy bread-like thing! Can I add wheat flour? What about cheese?”
Faced with a name he’d never heard before, Lent blinked repeatedly with a puzzled expression.
I used to make Pão de Queijo often when I was hungry since it doesn’t require fermentation, and I think it could be made with Muche powder, which is similar to glutinous rice flour! I asked Lent about wheat flour because Muche powder seems more elastic, so mixing with other flour might work better. And I thought adding cheese might help counter the astringency.
Carried by my sudden inspiration, I press Lent, who leans back and counts on his fingers to answer.
“Um… we have wheat flour. And cheese—I think there might be some in the pantry that accidentally dried out.”
“Great! That’s the cheese I want! Can I borrow a bit? I’ll make cheese-flavored Pão de Queijo!”
Seeing me clench my fist, Lent go to fetch the other ingredients. In the meantime, I roughly assemble the recipe in my mind.
I usually make it with just glutinous rice flour, but since I’ll mix in wheat flour this time… Maybe I’ll start with a 10:2 ratio. I can adjust the flour ratio based on the results. Just as I am piecing together the recipe from memory, Lent returns with a massive chunk of cheese—so large it required both arms to carry.
As he said, it is dried out, with a color that had gone from yellow to orange. Still, if I think of it as a pale Mimolette, it looks pretty appetizing. This cheese is more than usable!
“Ms. Rin! I brought the cheese!”
“Thank you! Let’s start making it right away!”
After arranging the ingredients he brought on the cooking counter and washing my hands at the sink, it is time to start cooking!
Lent is in charge of grating the cheese from the pantry, while I am responsible for crushing the clumps of Muche flour in the bowl with a rolling pin. Even when making Pão de Queijo with glutinous rice flour, you need to crush it well to avoid lumps, and Muche flour has even harder clumps than glutinous flour. If I don’t crush it beforehand, it’ll definitely form lumps when mixed.
As Lent and I work, the air fills with a milky scent, the sharp smell characteristic of fermented foods, and the subtle fragrance of Muche fruit.
“First, I think it’s better to grate the cheese and finely crush the Muche flour as preparation.”
“Eh… we shouldn’t use it as is?”
“Well… there were some flour lumps in the Muche dumplings I ate earlier, so I think this step is essential.”
While explaining the procedure and working together, Lent’s eyes widen as he grates the cheese with the grater. Since recipes are generally kept secret, I suppose these small but crucial steps aren’t often shared. I show Lent the bowl’s contents after the lumps are mostly crushed and incorporated into the dough, so he can visually remember how it should look. They say seeing is believing, right?
Lent nods seriously as he looks into the bowl. I had told him to teach the other children once he learned, which might explain his focus.
After checking the consistency, I add wheat flour, the grated cheese, the salt he had brought, and vegetable oil to the bowl… Looking down at it from above, the whiteness of the flour, the orange color of the cheese, and the golden oil created a beautiful contrast in the bowl.
“The recipe I know uses milk, but should we use water instead? There are budget constraints, right?”
“We actually have milk from dairy farming devotees who deliver it to us, so it’s fine to use it!”
“Really? Then let’s gratefully use it!”
Smiling brightly, Lent hands me a ceramic bottle of milk. Taking it from his hand, I slowly pour the milk in while stirring with a spatula. Muche flour is just like glutinous rice flour—it starts out crumbly, but suddenly becomes smooth once you add a certain amount of liquid…
After showing him how the dough is coming together nicely on the tip of the spatula, it is almost complete.
“Now we just need to roll the dough into balls and bake them in the oven or fry them in a pan! Simple, right?”
“Eh… that’s all? I thought it would be more… you know… difficult…”
Lent’s eyes widened in surprise as I gave the mixture one final stir and declared we were done.
“That’s it! This way, the little kids can mix, knead, and roll while the older ones handle the baking, right?”
After all, since small children will be participating, the simpler the better. It would be wasteful to make something complicated and risk failing.
This makeshift Pão de Queijo doesn’t need fermentation so it’s quick to make, only uses heat for baking, and basically just requires mixing… If it turns out delicious, I think it’ll be perfect for the bazaar.
“Oh right, I forgot to ask you to preheat the oven!”
“The stove doubles as an oven, so no worries! I’ll go get the baking tray!”
“Ohhh… that’s space-efficient. I don’t know where the baking tray is anyway, so please do so. I’ll shape the dough in the meantime.”
While I was fretting about forgetting the crucial step of preheating, Lent opened the firewood compartment door below the stove on which the pot from earlier was still set. He used a poker to adjust the fire bed, moved aside some firewood, and created a space for the baking tray.
Ah, I see. This way, you can use the stove for both baking and regular cooking—efficient!
After Lent finishes preparing the stove and go to fetch the baking tray, I start working too. I tear off bite-sized pieces of the soft, pliable dough and roll them into balls.
Lent come back and greases the tray, and I arrange the dough balls on it. Preparations complete. I quickly put it in the oven, and now we just had to wait for them to bake. Meanwhile, I’ll wash the utensils we used.
…Well, the only things to wash are the mixing bowl, spatula, rolling pin for breaking the Muche flour, and the cheese grater. Fewer tools and steps make this a pretty efficient recipe, isn’t it?
After checking the heat, Lent closes what appears to be a thick cast iron door and turns to me with eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“I’ve never had Muche fruit any way except boiled, so I’m really looking forward to this!”
“It should turn out crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.”
“I wonder how it’ll taste. It already smells so good!”
Lent’s smiling face still hold the adorable youthfulness appropriate for his age. Even though he’s taller than me! As I contemplate life’s unfairness, a mouth-watering aroma begin wafting from the oven.
When I asked Lent to open the lid, the dough balls on the tray has developed a wonderfully appetizing color. The sound of the dough sizzling in the oil beneath it blends with the heavy sweetness of heated starch and the savory aroma of baking cheese, filling the air.
Using thick potholders I borrowed, I place the tray on the counter, and the residual heat is so intense it feels like it can scorch the surrounding air. I slip a spatula under one of the baked Pão de Queijo, and it come away smoothly with no resistance.
Hmm, good. Doesn’t seem like the dough has burned or stuck to the tray.
I use a simple wooden tong-like utensil to transfer the baked Pão de Queijo onto a nearby plate. Though the golden-brown Pão de Queijo feels crispy, just touching it with the tongs made my mouth water, it is definitely still too hot. The heat from the baked dough is so intense it even warms up the plate itself. We’ll have to wait until they cool down a bit, or we’ll burn ourselves just holding them!
“Wow… they look incredibly delicious!”
“I was worried about the temperature, but I’m glad they baked well! Let’s try them once they cool down a bit.”
“Eh? But these kinds of things taste best fresh out of the oven!”
Whether tempted by the smell or the appearance… Lent’s eyes sparkled as he gulped.
Ah… While I completely understand the desire to eat Pão de Queijo, I think it’s still too early to handle the steaming hot dough with bare hands. Just as I am about to move the plate that has become almost too hot to hold to the edge of the counter, Lent’s arm suddenly reaches out from the side. Before I can stop him, he picks up one of the hot Pão de Queijo, laughing about how hot it is.
Blowing on the steaming piece to cool it down, he pops it into his mouth.
“Hot!”
“Of course it is!”
The cry that followed was exactly what I expected… As the phrase "utterly inevitable" ran through my mind, I handed him the bottle of milk we’d left out.
Probably too desperate to care about manners in this emergency situation, Lent drinks straight from the bottle. He let out a big sigh after finishing what was left in the bottle, which had been less than half full to begin with.
“Wow… this is hot but delicious! Is this really a snack made from Muche flour?”
As Lent clutches the empty milk bottle, I hold back from pointing out that he’d watched me make it. Because when someone looks at you with such genuine reverence, it makes you feel… somehow uncomfortable and embarrassed… In other words, I am feeling shy!
But come on, when a cat beastkin—and a younger one at that—fearlessly tries the piping-hot food, I can’t let myself back down and look uncool!
I’ll eat it too! Even though it’s hot, I’ll eat it fresh!
With that thought, I reach for the Pão de Queijo on the plate, but… wait, this is way hotter than I expected!?
“Hot! It’s hoooot!”
Like juggling a hot potato, I switch the piece between my right and left hands until it cooled down to a manageable temperature. I definitely don’t have the courage to eat it in one bite, so while scolding my burning fingertips, I carefully broke open the crispy surface.
The crust cracks, revealing streaks of melted cheese. Whether it is the cheese or the starch-heavy Muche flour, the filling stretches out like gyūhi—a softer type of traditional rice cake. The steam that had been trapped inside escapes from the cross-section, threatening to burn my fingers, but even more prominent is the intensifying aroma of cheese and the savory smell of Muche.
Ah… this is going to be delicious. I can tell it’s going to be amazing even before eating it!
I blow one more time on half of the steaming Pão de Queijo, then gather my courage and pop it into my mouth.
The first thing I notice is the pleasant texture of the bottom crust, baked to near perfection, and its savory flavor. The generous amount of grated cheese seemed to have done its job well, delivering a taste reminiscent of grilled cheese crackers. Next, though not as much as the bottom, the crispy surface and the chewy inside start mixing in my mouth. Maybe because I ground the Muche flour beforehand, there are no lumps. The bouncy resistance I had felt with the Muche dumplings is now successfully tamed, probably thanks to mixing in the wheat flour.
This… might have turned out pretty well…!?
“The fruit flavor of the Muche flour and the cheese complement each other better than I expected.”
I muttered while savoring the fruity aroma and sweet dairy fragrance that lingered after swallowing, and Lent, who had already started on his second Pão de Queijo, silently nodded in agreement.
Well, I’m not going to say "Don’t snack on it" since it’s just a test batch, and I’m not mad about it, but I think we should leave some for the others to try too. I mean, look… at the kitchen entrance. The other kids who seem to have just woken up are watching us, right?
And the moment I noticed the small children gazing at us with curious eyes, I found myself surrounded by kids who came running in from all directions.
“Hey, big bro Len, what are you eating?”
“No fair, big brother! I want some too!”
“Big sis, who are youuu?”
Children with animal ears, unusual eye colors, or beastlike lower bodies… various-looking kids gathered around Lent… no, they were even boldly approaching me, a complete stranger.
Wait… aren’t you guys a bit too energetic? You’re really coming on strong!
I glance over at Lent, who is dealing with "gimme" attacks far more intense than what I am facing, but wow, he’s really used to this! He’s managing to hand out the now-cooled Pão de Queijo to the children while smoothly guiding them away from himself!
Yup. He’s doing an excellent job being a big brother.
The children who had been clinging to me also rushed over to Lent when they realized they could get food, and successfully got their Pão de Queijo. The children who received their bread from Lent formed a circle in the earthen floor area and began munching away. Each child’s young face lit up with joy, smiling and saying how delicious it was.
As I was grinning at this heartwarming scene, I seemed to have completely forgotten about my already minimal sense of caution.
That’s probably why I didn’t notice.
On the opposite side of where the children were sitting… at the kitchen entrance leading to the church where the little ones had been earlier, a large shadow had appeared…
“I’d very much like to hear about this too, Lent. What exactly have you been up to since morning?”
“YEEK!”
A gentle baritone voice and Lent’s startled high-pitched cry pierced my ears.
When I quickly turn to look, there stands a well-built man… Mr. Rayer, the church’s priest and foster parent to these children, wearing a smile. Though he appears friendly at first glance, I can almost see the "absolutely no excuses allowed" written in his eyes.
Since recognizing Mr. Rayer’s presence, Lent’s ears have been flat against his head, his tail drooping, and only unintelligible sounds like "ah" and "um" have been escaping his mouth—it doesn’t seem like he’ll be able to resolve this situation on his own.
…Well then, as the older one here, I guess I need to properly explain things!
“Nice to meet you! I’m Rin, a porter from the Gourmands! I sincerely apologize for intruding so early in the morning without an appointment!”
I took out my guild card again from my chest pocket, held it at chest height, and bowed while presenting it. I might have heard an inner voice saying "This isn’t a business card exchange…" but well, let’s just ignore that!
Mr. Rayer looks a bit surprised at the guild card being thrust toward him but quickly smiles warmly and accepts it. His eyes go back and forth several times between the information written on the card and my face… then he looks at me with what seems to be an expression of understanding.
His eyes, calm like a still lake surface, hold a gentle light.
“Ah, I see… so that ‘safe method’ from that time was thanks to your skill.”
“Eh!? Ah, yes… I can’t discuss the details, but I did this and that, yes…”
“Thanks to you, both I and those children can live safely like this. Thank you very much.”
Mr. Rayer returned my guild card while maintaining his gentle smile and giving a slight bow.
Whoa! What’s with this "I know what you did" vibe!?
He really gives off that “veteran warrior” feeling!
Though thankfully, it seems he has quite a friendly impression of me… which is a relief.
At this rate, maybe we’ll get off lightly. But thinking about how it’s all thanks to Mr. Ville and everyone’s efforts… it feels like I’m borrowing their credit, and guilt is stabbing me.
As I wallow in thoughts of my tainted remorse, Mr. Rayer in front of me tilts his head curiously.
“By the way, what brings someone from the Gourmands to this church… and to the kitchen, no less…?”
“Ah, about that, it’s a long story… well, actually it’s not that long, but…”
Just as I braced myself and hesitantly raised my hand to explain, light footsteps and a girl’s voice came pattering from the church’s direction.
“Teacher! Teacher! Something big happened!”
Running into the kitchen with a voice sweeter and slightly higher than Rion’s was Aida, the half-elf girl we had rescued during that Fire Bear incident.
Mr. Rayer stops Aida, who has come running in looking ready to jump at him, and slightly bends his knees to meet her eye level, tilting his head.
“What’s wrong, Aida? Why such a hurry?”
“You see, you see, Rion brought someone from the Gourmands! Turns out, their porter is here at this church!”
“What did you say…!?”
However, that adult composure crumbled instantly at Aida’s bombshell announcement.
He must have been thinking about adult circumstances and whatnot… for just a moment, Mr. Rayer’s face shows complete blankness, as if all expression has drained away. As he and Aida stare at each other for a while… time begins moving again as Mr. Rayer lets out a sigh while pressing his fingers to his temples and looking down.
“…Aida. Could you please tell the person from the Gourmands to wait in the reception room?”
“Yes, teacher!”
Aida nodded at Mr. Rayer’s words as he slowly raised his head, and she ran off down the hallway with the same pattering steps as before. After watching her leave with his hands on his hips, Mr. Rayer’s gaze turned back to me. A wry smile that clearly showed his deep inner turmoil appeared on his face as he furrowed his brows.
“…Ms. Rin, would you mind if we discussed the details there…?”
“Ah, yes. Please.”
Faced with someone older than me saying that with such an expression, I had no choice but to nod obediently, yup…
When I enter the reception room following Mr. Rayer, Mr. Ville is waiting there with Gomamiso in his arms. He seems to be the one who comes with Rion. Noticing me, Gomamiso wriggles free from Mr. Ville’s arms and leaps toward me. As I pet the purring cat, I steal a glance at Mr. Ville… he doesn’t seem angry, which is somewhat relieving.
As I approach Mr. Ville, who gives me a knowing look, Mr. Rayer positions himself opposite us, dragging Lent along…
“I sincerely apologize for the child’s behavior…!”
He forcefully pushed down on Lent’s head while bowing deeply himself. His posture, with his straight back bending at the waist, was practically a textbook example of a proper bow. The overwhelming aura of his demeanor was so intense that even Mr. Ville stiffened for a moment…
Lent’s reaction gives away how overwhelming it is to face Mr. Rayer’s intensity up close—his earlier energy has completely vanished, and he cowers with his ears flattened and tail tucked.
“Well… I heard about it on the way here. Something about consulting about snacks for the church bazaar… We’re not strangers, and if we could help, that’s fine… I think.”
Mr. Ville, seemingly concerned about seeing the child he had once helped being scolded, quickly regained his composure and came to Lent’s defense. Looking at how dejected Lent appeared, it was understandable why someone would want to help him out.
Since my party leader—though he is not exactly my boss—has dismissed the matter, Mr. Rayer seems to accept this as a reasonable conclusion. He removes his hand from Lent’s head and looks at us with what appears to be relief in his eyes.
At the same time, he must have realized from Mr. Ville’s explanation why I was in the church kitchen. His hazel eyes soften slightly.
“The snacks… Ah, so that’s why you were in the kitchen, Ms. Rin.”
“Oh? So you’ve already progressed to making them? How did they turn out?”
“I’m quite proud of how delicious they are!”
While clenching my fist with pride in front of Mr. Ville and Mr. Rayer who are looking on with interest, I glance at Lent, who is tearfully rubbing his head where it has been pushed down.
As expected of an adventurer, Lent picks up on just that small gesture and puffs out his chest while standing next to Mr. Rayer. Rion, who knew the whole story, has sparkling eyes, and Aida, who has witnessed the young children enjoying the test samples, also has eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Hmm. When it comes to food, everyone shows keen interest.
After observing the children’s reactions, Mr. Rayer looks at Lent and everyone else in turn… then lets out a big sigh.
“Lent. Do you remember the recipe you were taught?”
“Yes, absolutely! But to confirm and share it, we’ll all make it together!”
Lent’s face lights up as he rushes toward the kitchen along with Rion and Aida, their faces equally full of expectation.
Left behind were only the pitiful adults, bound by the chains of reason.
“Once again, I sincerely thank you for sharing your wisdom and inspiration with the children.”
Mr. Rayer, who had been watching the children leave, turned to face me and gave a polite bow.
Oh! When someone significantly older than me does something like that, it’s a bit embarrassing and makes me feel uncomfortable, so I wish he wouldn’t worry about it so much…!
“Ah, no. I was the one who approached him first… And Lent is such a good kid. He said he wanted to make the church bazaar even more exciting.”
Hoping to hide my own self-interest, I shared with Mr. Rayer what Lent and I had discussed on our way to the church.
You know, when Lent said he wanted to improve the Muche fruit snacks, he mentioned not wanting to disappoint the believers and little ones… but isn’t that basically…? He most likely wanted to make tastier snacks, have everyone enjoy them, and then proudly declare, "Our church is amazing!”
When I share this personal observation, Mr. Rayer’s eyes widen in surprise for just a moment before his face softens into a gentle smile.
“Is that so… Lent said such things…”
“Hearing that, I just thought I could help a little… so please don’t worry about it…”
“No, that won’t do!”
My attempt to close with the standard "I’d appreciate it if you didn’t worry about it" was cut off by Mr. Rayer’s words, accompanied by his raised palm.
His voice was strong enough to make Gomamiso’s tail, which had been curled up in my lap, suddenly puff up and stand straight. Gomamiso’s golden eyes and black pupils stare intently at Mr. Rayer as if wondering what is happening.
Realizing this, Mr. Rayer immediately softens his expression, lowering his brows in embarrassment as he scratches his cheek.
“Oh, I apologize. In the teachings of Lyusia, the sea goddess we worship in this church, there is a principle that says ‘Respond to selfless love with love’… Returning without doing anything would be a disgrace to the Lyusia Church!”
“Eh, no… I’m not even a believer, and I just shared a simple recipe with Lent, so it’s fine…”
“To begin with, I’ve been unable to thank you for saving my life previously. Therefore, I hope you’ll accept this as our sincerity…”
Oops! If the Fire Bear incident is brought up, I’ve got nothing to say! And regarding that, it depends on Mr. Ville’s disposition as the party leader… Glancing up at Mr. Ville, I see him looking back with a deeply troubled expression, his eyebrows slightly lowered.
…Ah… this expression. It’s the look that says, while I don’t want any thanks, the others might want something…
I nod slightly to convey that everyone probably felt the same—that they didn’t need anything—and Mr. Ville’s face brightens instantly. It seems my message got across.
He clears his throat and turns back to Mr. Rayer.
…Yup, looking at it now, when two well-built adult men stand face to face like this, it’s quite an imposing sight…
“Well… regarding the Fire Bear subjugation, I’ve already received proper compensation from the Guild for helping your party, and helping each other in emergencies is only natural, right? So please don’t worry about any kind of reward…”
“Hmm… certainly, if you put it that way…”
In the now silent room, Gomamiso, sitting on my knees, let out a huge yawn. We’ve completely reached a standstill… Perhaps it will be faster if we just accept some kind of “thank you” gift? But honestly, I didn’t do much, and the Fire Bear subjugation was already compensated by the Guild…
Hmm… what could we do…
“Oh. Then, would you mind sharing a bit of Muche flour?”
“Muche flour? If it’s Muche, we cultivate it in the church, so we can give you as much as you want…”
I had heard from Lent that Muche flour is quite cheap this season, and since the church also produces it, I thought sharing a bit wouldn’t cause any major damage!
“If you use that flour, you can bake light bread without waiting for fermentation. So, I thought it would be perfect for adventuring snacks… I’d be happy if you could share a bit!”
When I explained the purpose to Mr. Rayer, who was tilting his head with a puzzled expression, he quickly understood and accepted my proposal. Mr. Ville was also looking at me with expectant eyes after hearing about the light food, so this seems like a pretty good idea, right?
“Would that really suffice? We do indeed have plenty of Muche flour in stock, including our own home-ground supplies…”
“That’s exactly what I want! It was delicious when I tried it, and I think the flour made here in this church is really good! Also, I’d like to know if you recommend any shops that handle Muche flour.”
Although Mr. Rayer’s expression showed hesitation about whether something like this was appropriate, I nodded with a broad smile to firmly affirm my request. Rather than risking bad flour from some random shop, it’s a win-win to get some from a place that makes great flour! Plus, with information about good stores, I can always buy more later. That way, the Gourmands can keep enjoying Pão de Queijo!
And Muche flour has the potential for making not just Pão de Queijo, but other snacks too! If it weren’t for the "light snacks for the bazaar" restriction, there are so many recipes I can try.
While Mr. Rayer seemed still somewhat hesitant, I was internally praising myself when suddenly footsteps and excited multiple voices approached.
Apparently, quite some time has passed without me noticing.
Perhaps they’ve brought the completed Pão de Queijo?
Just as I predict, the parlor door is quickly opened wide after a knock.
“Teacher! The light bread Ms. Rin taught us is ready!”
“Listen, teacher! It was super easy! Even the little ones can make this together!”
“Isn’t it amazing, teacher? So simple and delicious!”
Leading the way was Lent, holding a plate full of bite-sized, golden-brown Pão de Queijo, followed by Aida and Rion, their voices bubbling with excitement.
The children’s momentum was so intense that Mr. Rayer, who seemed to have more to say, was momentarily stunned, and Gomamiso, who had been dozing, instantly sprang to life.
The fragrant, toasty smell from earlier fills the parlor. The cheese scent seems stronger than before—maybe they added extra cheese. One of the great things about Pão de Queijo is that it tastes delicious even with more cheese. Another great point is how easy it is to customize.
“By the way, if you reduce the cheese and instead add honey and crushed nuts, you can create a deliciously salty-sweet version.”
“Huh? Another new recipe at this point!?”
“Ms. Rin, why are you just giving away recipes for free!?”
Maybe it was the smell of Pão de Queijo that drew me in. Even though I just had a taste earlier, my stomach let out a small grumble as I blurted out my idea for a tweak—and this is the reaction I got!
Lent and Rion, holding the large plate, responded with dramatic booing. After all the talk about fair exchange and such, I must’ve looked like I hadn’t learned a thing. Well, this just slipped out! And it was an advanced recipe variation, not the basic recipe! No problem, no problem!
Aida, who isn’t aware of the earlier conversation, is looking at me with a "How knowledgeable!" expression—which is somewhat comforting. Lent, who is distributing the freshly baked Pão de Queijo, gives me a "get it together" look while I gratefully accept my portion. They had likely cooled a bit while being carried. I delicately hold the Pão de Queijo, moving it between my hands like a delicate object, waiting for Mr. Rayer to taste it.
“Indeed… I believe this is the first time I’ve seen Muche flour prepared in such a shape.”
“Since it’s in flour form, I thought this would be a relatively common use for it…”
Mr. Rayer, holding the distributed Pão de Queijo, carefully examined it with a scrutinizing gaze. Is this eating style really that rare? I had thought it was a common way to eat it, even if the recipe wasn’t widely known.
That thought probably showed on my face. Mr. Rayer start to explain the situation with Muche flour in this world—or rather, in this city.
“Compared to wheat flour, Muche flour has quite a unique taste and texture. Because of this, it’s rarely used in restaurant cooking…”
Ah, now I understand. Muche flour is delicious, but it’s not exactly a direct wheat flour substitute due to its strong distinctive characteristics. Considering we’re in Ellarge, a trading city where wheat flour isn’t especially expensive, Muche flour isn’t considered mainstream.
“That said, it’s cheap, so it’s called ‘the poor man’s belly filler.’ For growing kids like us with big appetites, it’s a blessing, but many people dislike its taste and texture.”
Following Mr. Rayer’s comments, Lent enthusiastically provided additional explanations, which gave me enough information to piece things together. In short, Muche flour doesn’t have a great image—it circulates, but it can’t become mainstream.
That’s probably why there aren’t many recipes using Muche flour—it’s more appealing to create recipes for more popular ingredients, which attract customers—so traditional preparation methods continue to persist.
“But with your recipe, Ms. Rin, we might be able to make Muche flour delicious!”
“That’s wonderful! If you can make inexpensive and readily available ingredients tasty, it’s also easy on the household budget!”
Aida timidly turned her gaze toward me, smiling brightly while holding her steaming Pão de Queijo.
Ah, seeing this smile alone made sharing the recipe worthwhile!
“Hey, teacher! Eat it while it’s hot! Everyone’s waiting!”
“That’s right. It’s delicious even when cold, but freshly made is on another level!”
“Oh, you’re right. Yes, I’ll enjoy it before it gets cold.”
Prompted by Lent and Rion’s impatience, Mr. Rayer takes a bite. After chewing, his gently downturned eyes suddenly widen.
“…This is… truly…! A new texture, or rather, a whole new sensation in light meals!”
“Right? Wouldn’t this sell at the bazaar?”
“I made it together with Lent, and it was super easy! If we all work together, we could mass-produce it!”
The children swarm around Mr. Rayer, who has finished the Pão de Queijo in one bite, expressing their excitement. The Snack Creation Committee—a title I just coined—is impressively energetic. Is this what they call youth?
Just as I am about to drift into a distant gaze, Mr. Rayer signals me with his eyes to "go ahead" while managing the children’s machine-gun-like chatter. Naturally, speaking would be difficult in this situation. I exchange a silent nod with Mr. Ville, and we both start nibbling on the Pão de Queijo that has cooled to a comfortable temperature.
The still-warm Pão de Queijo has a wonderfully crunchy texture on the bottom as I bite into it. While earlier I had primarily noticed the heat, now I could distinctly taste the cheese… Ah, they didn’t just add more cheese; finely chopped pieces are mixed in too! When the slightly larger cheese pieces melt in my mouth, they complement the fruity flavor of the Muche flour, creating an even more fragrant experience.
“Mm, delicious!”
This would probably be tasty even just by adding nuts without honey!
Looking to my side, I see Mr. Ville’s eyes sparkle as he tosses the rest of his Pão de Queijo into his mouth. I caught a mumble about it being a great snack for a drink—and I completely agree. If I made them a bit smaller and crispier, these would be an excellent accompaniment to alcohol!
“This is my first time eating it, and the texture is fascinating! The surface is crispy, while the inside is soft… making me want another piece.”
“The chopped cheese makes it even more fragrant and delicious!”
“Really!? I only chopped it because we were short on a grater, but I’ll intentionally add chopped cheese from now on!”
As soon as I shared my thoughts, Lent’s face lit up.
Getting immediate feedback on something you’ve made is incredibly satisfying, especially when that feedback is positive! I totally get it!
And that’s how people start enjoying cooking—getting positive reactions, developing their preferred flavors, and gradually falling in love with cooking itself. After all, that’s exactly how I became passionate about cooking!
It is so nice to be able to make food that tastes the way you want to eat it!
A conversation about Pão de Queijo recipes and cooking tips with Lent was in full swing when something suddenly bumped into my shin. No need to look for the culprit—Gomamiso’s wings are rustling and tickling my leg, accompanied by a low, rumbling throat sound.
‘Hey! Hey! Mine! My piece!’
“Huh… Can you eat this, Gomamiso? It’s not meat—it’s a carbohydrate?”
‘I can eat anything! I’m amazing!’
“That’s hardly an explanation…! Well, I guess you aren’t an ordinary cat, but a monster.”
I hold out a small, carefully torn piece of Pão de Queijo, making sure to blow on it to cool it down sufficiently. After all, cats have sensitive tongues, and I don’t want to burn the poor kitten. The moment I offer it, Gomamiso starts eating while making "nya-gunya" sounds. Oh my… Talk about a winged cat going all out! The enthusiasm is incredible!
‘Yummy! This is yummy! Tastes like cheese and fruit! So good!’
“Oh wow. You’re really digging in…! That’s great, Lent. The cat thinks it’s super tasty!”
Gomamiso finishes the Pão de Queijo in an instant, then starts grooming after licking its lips contentedly. How relaxed, even in this unfamiliar church…
When I shared Gomamiso’s surprisingly detailed review with Lent, his eyes widened in surprise.
“Wait… Ms. Rin, you understand monster language?”
“Ah… Well, there’s a bit of a story, but I kind of ended up understanding Gomamiso…”
Come to think of it, I completely forgot that tamers who can clearly understand their familiar language are quite rare!
When I pick up the purring Gomamiso as it snuggles up to me, I can tell that the "Is she really just a softie?" vibe has upgraded to a "Huh, she’s kind of impressive in some ways" vibe.
Ha! When I do something, I do it well—I’m a capable Takanashi!
Despite everything, the tasting session continues in a friendly atmosphere. By the time the Pão de Queijo on the plate has completely disappeared, Mr. Rayer looks at me with a complicated expression, rubbing his chin.
“…Still, it feels a bit disproportionate to thank you for such a wonderful recipe with just some Muche flour.”
“Huh!? Are you still talking about that with Ms. Rin!? Surely, we have something… Oh! How about that mysterious, aged leather-bound scripture that nobody wants to touch!?”
“Our church doesn’t have many valuable items, but we do have a long history! We have some antique-looking decorative items that nobody knows the origin of!”
“That’s right! I think we also have some donated, unidentified gemstones and precious metals!”
“…You lot…”
Mr. Rayer, watching Lent, Rion, and Aida start making a fuss, presses his fingers between his eyebrows with a bitter look.
Well, of course, he’d react like that… As the head of the church and orphanage, he couldn’t be comfortable with his pupils trying to offload church property—and obviously questionable items at that. Covering his eyes and bowing his head, Mr. Rayer let out a deep, deep sigh before finally lifting his face.
With a smile that is almost terrifyingly pleasant, he turns to face them.
“I deeply apologize for the rudeness, but I’ll need to step out for a moment.”
“O-Oh… Okay.”
“Hmm, we don’t mind…”
Smiling warmly, Mr. Rayer gently pushes the children out of the room. The only sound in the suddenly quiet parlor is the rustling of Gomamiso grooming itself in my arms. Well, everyone disappeared at once… No wonder it’s so quiet… I decide to ignore the faint "Ouch!" and "Ow!" sounds. Mr. Rayer is probably just providing some educational guidance.
After settling in and resting its chin on my shoulder, Gomamiso begins dozing off. Mr. Ville, who is stroking its head, suddenly reaches over and ruffles my hair too. It tickles a bit, and I let out a small laugh.
“Just how many cooking recipes are stored in your head, Rin?”
“Hmm… I’m not sure about the exact quantity, but I know quite a few recipes, including some where I just know the method.”
“I never expected cooking recipes could help people… But I’m glad we could be of help.”
“Yes… Yes! I’m also glad!”
Mr. Ville stops petting my head and gives me a broad grin.
…Right. I haven’t done anything wrong after all.
I suddenly feel relieved and can’t help but smile naturally.
I doubted Mr. Ville and everyone from the Gourmands would say something like, "Why did you go and do something unnecessary?" about my actions today, but hearing it aloud reassured me even more.
With a light knock, Mr. Rayer returns alone, holding a small wooden box.
“I apologize for stepping out suddenly. I had a small matter to attend to in the chapel…”
“Oh, no. It’s fine.”
As I lean forward to get a better look, Gomamiso, disturbed from its sleep, jumps down from my arms and gives me a disgruntled look.
Looking closely, the box is elaborately decorated, far more ornate than just a small box. The reddish-brown wooden frame has striking grain patterns, and the sky-blue walls are decorated with intricate patterns. Secured with a dull golden clasp, it looks like a treasure chest that would be completely believable as such.
It seems well-maintained. The metalwork, without a trace of rust, is gently pushed open. Inside is a braided cord bracelet, featuring vividly transparent gemstones that mirrored the color of the ocean. Mr. Rayer places the box on the desk and gently picks up the bracelet. The gemstones glimmer, catching the morning light streaming through the window.
“This is an amulet I received while serving at the Main Temple of Lyusia. It is said to carry Lady Lyusia’s divine protection.”
“An amulet… something like a good luck charm?”
“Yes, sort of. This is the last one I have, but please take it if you’d like.”
With a nostalgic look at the bracelet, Mr. Rayer glances at it before smoothly offering it to me.
…Huh? Wait, what? This was received from the Main Temple, so isn’t this incredibly valuable…!?
“N-No! I can’t accept something so precious! Please keep it safe!”
“It’s fine. These are distributed to priests and believers during the grand festival held once every ten years. It’s not particularly rare.”
“B-But…”
Seeing my hesitation, Mr. Rayer laughs heartily but doesn’t pull back his hand.
Well… once every ten years seems pretty rare to me! If the stones’ color or material changes with each festival year, collectors would totally be interested, right? Hoping for backup, I look up at Mr. Ville, but he is making a complicated expression too!
“…You’re absolutely certain this isn’t something important?”
“Yes, I swear by Lady Lyusia. It’s just one of the countless amulets blessed by the High Priest of the Main Temple. Moreover, this is a festival year, so new amulets will be created soon.”
“Hmm… If that’s the case, we’ll gratefully accept it. Our cook must use all the protection she can get.”
Mr. Ville asked for confirmation, and Mr. Rayer nodded firmly while maintaining a soft smile.
An amulet blessed by the High Priest, someone who has likely devoted their life to faith at the Main Temple, the very core of their worship… Perhaps they’re blessed in large batches, but it still feels special and valuable…
As I waver, Mr. Ville put a finger to his chin, then moves his hand. He accepts the blue stones amulet from Mr. Rayer along with a token of gratitude and gently places it in my palm.
“Huh… this is the only one, right? Wouldn’t it be better for a combat member to have it instead of me?”
“No. We already have sufficient equipment. It’s better for you, who have no gear, to have it.”
As I glance back and forth between the amulet and Mr. Ville, his large hand takes the amulet from my palm and gently fastens it around my wrist. He adjusts it snugly so it won’t interfere, and the stones clink against each other softly, making a refreshing sound.
U-um… well, when he puts it that way, it’s hard to argue…
Mr. Ville, Mr. Xenon, Mr. Ed, and Ms. Aria certainly have proper combat equipment. Adding another item would probably mess with the balance, compatibility, and other factors they’d need to consider…
Organizing equipment is fun, but it does require subtle effort.
“Um… thank you so much for this precious item. I’ll treasure it!”
“No, I should be the one thanking you for sharing such valuable information with the children. May good fortune accompany your journey.”
As I bowed my head, looking once more at the amulet now fitted on my wrist, Mr. Rayer made a gesture with his hand. Not quite making the sign of the cross, but something similar. It must be this world’s way of praying.
From the phrase about "good fortune," I’m guessing it’s some kind of blessing? I’ve read about bestowing blessings in fantasy novels, but this is my first time witnessing it live!
Trying hard to suppress the excitement that others wouldn’t understand, just as I am about to thank Mr. Rayer again for showing me this precious scene, the parlor door is knocked with footsteps echoing behind it.
“Oh, he’s back… Come in.”
As Mr. Rayer directs his gaze to the door and speaks, Lent enters the room with a solemn "Excuse me." In his arms is a bag of Muche flour, the same kind I had seen earlier this morning in the church kitchen.
“This is Muche flour made at our church. It’s not much, but please accept it.”
“We were the main ones who ground the flour this year! I’d be happy if you’d take it!”
At Mr. Rayer’s prompting, Lent held out the bag with a proud smile. I receive the large sack, which is so heavy it will slip if I am not careful.
I don’t know the process of grinding it, but I can imagine how much effort was required to collect this amount… I hold the crystallization of sweat and hard work tightly, careful not to drop it. Making a careless mistake and ruining something so important would be unforgivable, right?
…Come to think of it, I’ve been at the church for quite a while now.
I’ve fulfilled my purpose of sharing the recipe, and I should probably head back before the folks at the Gourmands get too hungry!
After confirming that Mr. Ville has picked up the eager-to-adventure Gomamiso, I decide it is time to take my leave. When I expressed this, both Lent and Mr. Rayer, looking somewhat reluctant, guided me to the entrance. I am grateful for this since I had come straight through the back door this morning.
As I open the thick, heavy church doors, the sun has already risen, and the morning bustle has reached the church courtyard. Still, looking at my watch, it is within what could be called "morning.”
Oh right. The starting point… was it because I met Lent very early in the morning?
Is this that "morning activity" thing that was popular back home?
“If you have time, come to the bazaar! I think we’ll be much better this time!”
“Sure. If I have no other plans, I’ll drop by!”
“Even without the bazaar, please visit whenever you have time. The Sea Goddess Church keeps its doors open to everyone.”
“Thank you so much today. I’ll take you up on that offer and visit again!”
Though we cannot quite shake hands, we communicate through our eyes as we leave the church.
Hmm. They say "A chance encounter is fate," but I never expected it to lead to cooking together. Human connections are fascinating…
“Rin, let’s switch. I’ll carry the flour bag, so you can hold Gomamiso.”
“Eh, are you sure? It’s pretty heavy…”
“? It’s because it’s heavy that I should carry it, right?”
Mr. Ville takes the flour bag from my arms with a look that says, " What are you even talking about?" Then he casually slung it over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing.
Wow…! Considering Mr. Ville’s build and muscles, I suppose this is nothing for him… Impressive strength!
In return, I embrace Gomamiso he handed me, and we head towards the already bustling market.
◆◇◆
“By the way, what should we do about breakfast? Should we buy something to eat at the morning market? I think everyone will be hungry when they wake up…”
“Ah, about that, Rin. We’ve decided that everyone will eat individually at the market or wherever they like this morning.”
“Oh, really?”
Walking leisurely beside Mr. Ville, I looked up at his face, which was quite high above mine, and received an unexpected answer.
According to him, following the guild barbeque and after-party where I was in charge, the party had apparently discussed giving me a bit of a break. Since the daily morning market would be open, the suggestion was, "Why not go and eat whatever food you like?”
I see. If everyone is going to eat separately, that means no party members will be left hungry… what a relief!
The moment I understand this, a wave of relief washes over me. As the one responsible for food, I can’t let everyone go hungry. Knowing I don’t have to worry about that now… it really eases my conscience and sense of responsibility!
“Oh? So we’re eating at the market too?”
“Yeah. There are shops and stalls open even at this hour, so I thought we’d walk around and grab some food.”
Despite it being morning, the bustling crowd of the market is alive with energy as I walk hand in hand with Mr. Ville.
The smell of grilling meat, the aroma of bread or something baking. Mingled with the rhythmic chopping sounds and the sizzling of something being cooked, the market is filled with appetizing scents and sounds that stimulate the appetite, even without actively engaging my senses.
Some people are comfortably seated inside shops, enjoying breakfast, while others are eating standing at stalls lining both sides of the street. Some are even sitting on nearby steps, eating their takeout meals.
This isn’t something I’d often see in Japan… or rather, in the life I lived before. It vaguely reminded me of a morning market scene from Southeast Asia that I might have seen on TV long ago.
“Wow! Breakfast at a food stall! I’ve always wanted to experience this!”
‘Me too! Me too eat!’
The exotic scenery ignites my curiosity.
After all, wouldn’t Ellarge have some specialty dishes!? I absolutely must try them for future reference! I want to know how these dishes came to be, how I could recreate them… Learning the flavors of a place is so fascinating!
Gomamiso, perched on my shoulder, is wagging its tail and meowing excitedly.
“There are stalls featuring meat, fish, and some specializing in cheese. What do you want to eat, Rin?”
“Hmm… Since it’s a port town, fish seems like a safe bet! Oh, but precisely because of that, I’m also curious about what they serve at the meat-focused stalls…!”
Currently, with Gomamiso on my shoulder and firmly gripped by Mr. Ville’s right arm, I’m being dragged around the market this way and that.
I see. This is what it’s like to stroll and snack through such a lively market…!
Perhaps because of my complete novice appearance when I first saw the city, Mr. Ville never lets go of my hand in the crowd. He probably thinks I’ll get lost if he releases his grip.
And moreover… moreover…
‘I want to try that stall too!’
“Miso, zip it for a second! Stop moving around on my shoulder…!”
With its front paws on my right shoulder and back paws on my left, Gomamiso surveys the surroundings, twitching its nose at the fragrant smells of grilling meat and fish, its tail swaying and slapping my cheek whenever it spots something delicious.
It’s like dealing with an excited child!
Pulled left and right, occasionally slapped by a tail, weaving through the crowd while resisting the stereo temptations of "This looks delicious" and "That looks good", I continue forward, with various shops lined up ahead.
While the main focus is eating, I’m also taking the opportunity to pick up some things I’m missing before heading to the capital. So I’m keeping an eye on prices and selection to visit the right places after filling my stomach.
With that in mind, I’m browsing storefronts, looking for something delicious… Yesterday evening, Ms. Aria advised me to "check the market prices," so I’m keeping an eye on that as well. Maybe it’s because we were just talking about the price of Muche flour at the church, but I’m particularly noticing food prices. Even so, seeing it this way, I realize Muche flour is quite cheap compared to regular food items like wheat flour. Also, food prices haven’t changed much from when I stopped by before heading to that dungeon… Maybe I should start keeping a simple budget since Mr. Ville and the rest aren’t tracking anything.
Should I actively look for rock-bottom prices or special offers?
“Hmm… The prices are almost the same as when I shopped last time. Are there any discounts?”
“…Rin. Have the prices of grains, dried goods, and long-preservation foods remained unchanged?”
While I had mostly decided what to buy, I peeked into the stalls looking for hidden treasures, when Mr. Ville’s slightly hushed voice reached my ears.
Without moving my face, I glance up at him, and he looks almost the same as before—yet his eyes seem to be searching for something.
Puzzled, I move forward to the next stall, recalling the prices from the last shopping trip.
“If my memory serves me correctly… there doesn’t seem to be much change…”
Wondering if this is about saving money, I look up at Mr. Ville, who bent down slightly.
“I see… Grains like wheat tend to get more expensive before tensions escalate.”
“…!”
Before I could process anything, his whispered words sent a chill down my spine. Mr. Ville’s face quickly moved away, but I could only freeze with a forced smile.
Trying too hard to act normal, I end up stiff as Mr. Ville casually takes my arm and leads me through the bustling streets. I hurry to keep up while racking my brain over the meaning of his words.
…I can vaguely understand why preserved foods and grains get more expensive before things turn tense. It’s likely due to bulk purchases for military provisions, which reduces supply. The price hike during monster surges might also stem from the added cost of hiring escorts for transportation.
“Come to think of it, goods other than food items don’t seem to have changed much either…”
“Yeah. There’s no significant fluctuation. This brings us to the question of what the saint summoning was even for.”
“It’s not like there’s a sense of impending turmoil… Today feels so tranquil, or rather… peaceful.”
A quick look around shows the market is as lively as ever. There is no shortage of goods, nor are they selling low-quality items. The people moving through the market seem vibrant and energetic… There’s no dark shadow of war or monster outbreaks…
…Could this saint summoning be some grand fraud?
My thoughts start spinning in a dangerous direction. Even when I try to stop, they accelerate… My footing begins to feel unsteady… The scale is too massive for me to comprehend…
“…Hm…! Rin! Hey, are you alright?”
Something touches my head, pulling me out of my whirlpool of thoughts. Mr. Ville’s large palm gently ruffles my head. Raising my eyes, I see him with a slight wry smile. As he waves his hand in front of my face, calling my name, the dark gears that have been turning in my mind slowly stop spinning. My unsteady footing finally feels solid again.
“Well, let’s think about complicated matters after eating. There’s a place right in front of us serving delicious seafood.”
Where Mr. Ville points is a shop decorated with nets and harpoons. The smell of grilling fish tickles my nose. Despite just having a sample of Pão de Queijo, my stomach growls. As I hurriedly press my stomach, I hear an even larger growl from beside me. Standing side by side holding our stomachs, we suddenly find it hilarious, and uncontrollable laughter escapes.
“You’re right…! When you’re hungry, thoughts spiral in a bad direction. Let’s fill our stomachs first!”
With the tension leaving my shoulders, my stiff thoughts seem to loosen all at once. I clench my fist and look up at Mr. Ville, who returns a broad, reassuring smile.
Yup, I understand. We’re the Hungry Brothers! We’re the type of duo who believe eating a good meal is the greatest happiness! If there’s a chance to fill our stomachs, we’ll actively pursue it!
‘I too! I too, want to eat lots!’
Gomamiso, perched on my shoulder, is fluttering its wings happily, also showing a greedy attitude towards food.
…However… Mr. Ville subtly averted his gaze from Gomamiso.
“Ah… It’s unclear whether familiars can enter the shop or not… well, there’s always the option of takeout…”
Seeing Mr. Ville unusually hesitant, I realize Gomamiso may be denied entry. I’d completely forgotten, but Gomamiso is still an animal, even if it’s a familiar! There could be hygiene concerns about bringing an animal into a food establishment. I slap my forehead, realizing this belated issue, and Gomamiso freezes, understanding it may be banned. Mr. Ville glances between the two of us and smoothly enters the store.
Seeing him talk to the staff near the entrance, I figure he is asking if familiars are allowed inside. Maybe he took pity on Gomamiso, who was frozen stiff with wide eyes as if struck by lightning?
The result is…
“They said familiars are fine. Shall we make this our first stop?”
“Yes! I’m excited to see what fish they have!”
‘I love, food!’
As soon as Gomamiso learned entry was permitted, it quickly returned to its excited state. I held it firmly in my arms to prevent it from getting too wild.
Invited by Mr. Ville, who pokes his head through the half-open door, we enter through a door decorated with fishing gear.
“Welcome!”
“Please sit wherever you like!”
As we opened the door, we were greeted by a blast of heat and energetic voices from bandana-wearing, spirited men. What’s with this energy, even in the morning…
Mr. Ville quickly claims a seat by the window, and I slip past the muscular men to sit down. Since I am hesitant to put Gomamiso on a chair, I let it stay by my feet. Fortunately, like a typical cat, it doesn’t mind the ground and curled up, resting its chin on my foot.
“As expected from a place run by a fisherman. Looks like they’ve got fish caught this morning.”
“Ah, I see. That’s why they’re so energetic from the morning.”
I order a drink from the guy who brings us the menu and start looking over the large menu.
…Hmm. As expected, it’s clearly focused on fresh fish—or rather, fish dishes in general. However, there seem to be fewer raw fish options than I expected.
Fresh raw fish is so delicious, though…
“I’m interested in the seafood marinade, the grilled fish sandwich… and also the dancing shrimp!”
“Speaking of which, the fried shrimp you made was delicious… are there similar dishes?”
“It’s not exactly the same, but maybe this daily seafood frittata would be a good choice?”
Amidst a menu dominated by cooked dishes, I suggested one of the rare raw fish options and a few others that caught my eye, then combined them with Mr. Ville’s suggestions to decide what to order.
With Mr. Ville around, we’d probably finish everything that was ordered, but well, this is supposed to be a food tour, right? It’d be a waste to get full here!
‘Hey, hey, I, I wanna…’
“Stop meowing! I’ll order your portion too, so no more ‘nya-myaa’!”
Fortunately, they also have a menu for familiars, so I’ll order that as well. It’s probably just meat grilled or boiled without seasoning.
While we are discussing this, a curvy, well-built cat beastkin lady pushes a wagon from behind the counter. The wagon is loaded with several baskets piled high with seafood, alongside the ordered drinks.
“Heeey, s-o-r-r-y for the wait♪ Here are your drinks first☆”
…The words that flew from her glossy, colorful lips were incredibly raspy as if weathered by alcohol.
…Wait, not a lady, but a big sister type…
On closer inspection, she is less voluptuous and more muscular, a hearty motherly type. She suddenly notices Gomamiso.
“Oh my ☆You’ve brought such a cutie with you! Is this your familiar?”
‘Huh… eh? M-Me? Am I… cute…?’
“Yes, this is my familiar. Isn’t that great, Miso? She says you’re cute!”
‘Right? Right? I am cute, aren’t I? Prostrate and worship me!’
For a brief moment, Gomamiso cowered at the big sister’s presence, but instantly perked up at the word "cute".
When I agree with the big sister, Gomamiso’s ears suddenly stand straight up. It immediately sidles up to the big sister’s feet, displaying its most proud expression. The big sister’s eyes practically melt with adoration.
This big sister, a cat beastkin herself, seems to love cat animals too. Is she okay with this cat that’s so full of confidence, spouting phrases like "prostrate and worship"?
With a Bachi-kooon☆ sound effect practically hanging in the air, the big sister flashes a dramatic wink at Gomamiso before finally turning to face us.
“So, aside from the regular menu, we also have today’s special seafood catches!”
The big sister gestures to the bright, silvery-scaled, still-wriggling fish on display…!
There are colorful large fish, blue fish similar to sardines from my old world, and bluish fish resembling yellowtail. Beside massive purple crabs wiggling their legs, a greenish-brown giant fish is jumping about. There are also palm-sized two-shelled clams opening and closing, and fist-sized spiral shells! Each and every one of them has pitch-black, clear eyes, as if “just caught, fresh as can be” is written on their scales!
“My husband just caught these a while ago☆ Any fish catch your eye?”
Mr. Ville and I exchange glances. With such a treasure trove before us, "not ordering" isn’t an option, but the question is what and how much to order…
“Hmm… So, for these fish, what kind of cooking style would you recommend?”
“Let’s see… this redfish is best deep-fried—you can even eat the bones, and it’s delicious! The blue catfish and yellowfin longtail are great as marinated dishes, sautéed, grilled, or even fried. If you like rich flavors, the steamed mullet roe from this season has an especially rich taste! And we also have fish scraps for soup.”
When I asked without any clear idea, she explained with an excited tone. Well, now I’m even more confused! But listening to her description, everything sounds delicious! While desperately trying not to clutch my head in front of the big sister, I quickly make eye contact with Mr. Ville.
“First, two servings of deep-fried redfish, and blue catfish marinated and sautéed, please!”
”Also, could you prepare half of the yellowfin longtail grilled and half fried?”
“And one menu item for the familiar!”
Yay! Mr. Ville understood my intention perfectly! I mean, it’s a rare chance to savor the chef’s recommended dishes made with freshly caught fish!
The redfish is a fish about 20 centimeters long, with a slightly elongated body and a reddish tint overall, with several pale yellow horizontal stripes. The yellowfin longtail, as its name suggests, has yellow pectoral, ventral, and tail fins that are slightly longer than other fish. The blue catfish is a blue-bodied fish with yellow scales scattered like lightning.
With the colorful fish giving a tropical feel, we ordered the menu centered around the wagon’s seafood, adding a few more dishes that caught our interest. Call me weak-willed, but honestly, I’m satisfied with just this restaurant’s offerings.
Well, I do still plan to try some other places… as long as my stomach allows it!
The big sister, who seemed to not expect us to order such a large amount, beamed with joy and went to pass our order to the kitchen.
After our torrential ordering, we both casually picked up our glasses. My drink is a non-alcoholic beverage—the fruit water that has become my standard when eating out. Mr. Ville appears to have chosen tea.
The restaurant’s fruit water seems to be lemon-based and with one sip, a refreshing, slightly tart liquid slides smoothly down my throat.
From the kitchen, sounds of frying with sizzling oil and what seems like something being sautéed begin to emerge. Simultaneously, a distinctly "delicious food being cooked" aroma fills the restaurant. Small restaurants like this are fun to wait in because you can hear the cooking sounds!
“I wish we could buy these fish and take them home. I feel like I could make all sorts of things with them…”
“Indeed. Especially since they’re freshly caught, they all looked delicious.”
“It’s like direct from the fishing boat, right? Everything was so fresh!”
The fish on the big sister’s wagon truly looked delectable. Though the restaurant doesn’t seem to offer many raw fish dishes, with such freshness, I think they could easily make sushi, sashimi, or even seafood rice bowls.
Personally, I’d love to try making island-style sushi with blue catfish that resemble Japanese amberjack.
“Here you are! First, the blue catfish marinade and the kitty’s menu☆ I’ve added some nice rainbow butterfly clams as a bonus♡”
The no-cook marinated dish has arrived first. The plate placed by the energetic big sister is incredibly colorful.
What immediately catches the eye are the evenly scattered, thick vegetables in red and yellow, reminiscent of bell peppers. Between them peek the vivid blue-skinned white fish. Even with its scales removed, the bright oceanic hue of the skin contrasts beautifully with the translucent, almost glass-like flesh. The base seems to be sliced vegetables like celery and onions. On the edge of the plate, there is a milk-white slice of clam served in a shimmering shell that displays a beautiful mother-of-pearl interior.
By the way, the bowl served for my familiar, Gomamiso, is also quite luxurious! It seemed to be made from finely chopped scraps of fish and meat left over from shaping the main dish, mixed with diced boiled eggs. Visually, it resembles an unusual tartar salad or perhaps a Cobb salad.
Judging by how Gomamiso immediately dove into it the moment it was placed down, it must taste quite good.
Taking my eyes off Gomamiso’s enthusiastic eating, I look again at the marinated food on the table.
“This is incredibly elaborate! Is this the rainbow butterfly clam in the shell?”
“Yes. They say it spits out a rainbow-colored butterfly on clear days, hence the name.”
“How fascinating! What a beautiful origin! It’s certainly sparkling and pretty!”
In my previous world, there was a shellfish called a "white butterfly clam" named for its resemblance to butterfly wings when opened. But this rainbow butterfly clam is more of a spiral shell, so I thought it couldn’t look like a butterfly… but the origin of its name turned out to be quite romantic!
Well, while the name’s origin is interesting, I’m more curious about the taste! Watching the big sister turn on her heel, I immediately extend my fork.
“Oh, oh!? What an unexpected texture…!”
I had imagined a texture similar to whelks or turban shells since this clam is small enough for marinade, but this is completely unexpected!
When I try biting into it, my teeth slowly sink in, slicing through with ease. It has a springy texture that seems to cling to my teeth and upper jaw—it can easily become addictive. As I chew, a subtle sea breeze aroma emerges, and a rich umami and sweetness spread across my tongue. Paired with the lemon-dressed vegetables, the richness became even more pronounced! The rainbow butterfly clam is so rich that even after swallowing, a milky aftertaste remains. The marinated type is delicious, but I think it would also be tasty if sautéed.
“The rainbow butterfly clam is so delicious.”
“I’m trying it for the first time too, and I had no idea it could taste like this.”
As I reached for another piece, my gaze locked with Mr. Ville, who blinked in surprise.
Upon hearing more, apparently, these clams are relatively common marine products, but because their shells are so decorative, they’re mostly used for ornaments. Even when caught, their flesh is rarely used.
Seriously…? They’re this delicious, though…!
Does that mean if I go to a rainbow butterfly clam processing facility, I might be able to get the meat cheaply…?
“…Well, I’m not sure. I’ve often heard they rot the flesh to remove it without damaging the shells…”
“Oh, that won’t work then!”
My idea for improving the Engel’s coefficient is derailed before it even begin!
…So they rot the flesh to remove it… What a waste…! But if it’s for decorative purposes, fewer shell damages would be better… Hmm… Are beauty and food really incompatible?
Ah, whatever! There’s such a beautiful marinated fish right in front of me! Instead of thinking about all this, I should just enjoy this delicious meal!
I’ll go ahead and taste the blue catfish right away!
“Oh! It’s crisp! Great texture!”
“I thought the thick meat would be soft, but… the texture is unexpectedly delightful.”
“And it’s not just the texture—the flavor is rich too… the more you chew, the tastier it gets…”
Freshly caught fish often lack umami, typically offering just texture, but in this world, even freshly caught fish have substantial flavor when cooked. For a cook, it’s incredibly fortunate but seriously mysterious…!
Still, this blue catfish is amazing…!
The moment you bite, it pushes back with a crisp elasticity, but if you press against it, it cuts smoothly. The thickly sliced meat is tightly marinated in lemon, leaving no fishy or marine odor at all. Moreover, the seasoning is only on the surface, leaving the inside raw, so it’s neither too hard nor dry. Instead, the more you chew, the umami slowly seeps out. There’s a subtle sweetness, a clear taste that seems to say, "I was just swimming in that beautiful sea in front of you!”
I used to think vibrant-colored fish like this had bold but bland flavors, but this blue catfish is completely different! The texture may be bold, but the flavor is quite delicate. If it’s this good when freshly prepared, what would it be like after some aging? I really wonder if I can purchase some… The vegetables interspersed between bites are also delicious. Their crunchy texture, paired with a fresh, herb-like aroma, gave a refreshing cleanse to the palate. The pepper-like vegetables, though raw, are incredibly sweet. Their thick and crunchy texture, paired with such an unconventional sweetness, can easily pass for exotic local fruits.
All in all, the mild acidity of the lemon dressing enhanced both the fish and clams, making the vegetables a stellar supporting delicious on their own.
As my fork continues moving and the plate nears emptiness, the cheerful big sister brings over another dish.
“Here you go☆ This is sautéed blue catfish and grilled yellowfin tuna.”
She set a plate of sizzling hot grilled fish on the table, with the oil bubbling so much it looks like a heat haze, and a dish of simple sautéed fish. The aroma of grilled fish combined with the rich scent of browned butter is so enticing that, despite having already eaten the marinated dish, my stomach growls.
I wonder if Gomamiso will react to this aroma… and glance down at my feet to find the kitten, who had polished off a bowl of familiar food, uses my foot as a pillow, and sleeps contentedly on its back, letting out carefree snores.
“Did the marinated fish suit your taste? How did you find the flavor?”
“Both the blue catfish and the rainbow butterfly clams were incredibly delicious! Um… they were so good that I thought I’d love to share them with my party. Would it be possible to purchase the fish you serve here?”
When the big sister took away the marinade plate and asked, I hesitated, wondering if I was being a bit forward, but I voiced my thoughts anyway.
The big sister’s eyes widen for just a moment… but she quickly breaks into a warm, melting smile, her blue eyes sparkling like the sky.
“How wonderful! Everyone around here is used to eating fish. It’s been so long since someone spoke about our food like this! My husband will be delighted too!”
As she clasps her hands before her chest and smiles joyfully, she looks incredibly beautiful. After saying "Wait and eat while it’s hot," she gracefully returns to the kitchen, likely to check the stock.
Well, I’ll follow her advice and eat before it gets cold!
“Oh! It feels like this is not just grilled, but salt-grilled, and isn’t this incredibly delicious? It’s quite fatty and fragrant… I love this!”
“The blue catfish feels much denser and even more satisfying when it’s cooked.”
The freshly grilled yellowfin tuna, still steaming, really feels like classic grilled fish. A thin layer of fat between the skin and flesh seems to have seeped into the meat. As I cut into it with a fork, juices gush out. Possibly due to direct flame grilling, the skin is crispy while the meat is fluffy and soft—the kind of dish that would easily accompany a bowl of rice.
As for the sautéed blue catfish, cooking has firmed up its texture—it’s a bit reminiscent of chicken breast, though softer. Looking at the cut pieces, you can see the muscle fibers are tightly grouped. Its originally light flavor pairs wonderfully with the rich butter sauce! The coarsely ground pepper adds a sharp kick, keeping the rich sauce from becoming overwhelming.
Personally, I’d love to drizzle just a touch of soy sauce on this… A light white fish with a soy-butter sauce… Add a few drops of lemon juice, and I’m confident I could eat countless bowls of rice with this!
“Sorry for the wait! Did I take too long?”
The big sister reappeared, pushing the wagon again, making a circle with her fluffy finger.
“These are the fish we currently have. My husband said I could let you choose whichever you’d like!”
“Wow! Awesome! Thank you so much!”
The wagon now has even more fish loaded on it than before. Judging by her words, her husband had generously added more.
Wow… how wonderful…! I’ll consider this carefully!
“Oh! The blue catfish is still here… I’ll definitely buy one of those, and that large, sleek-looking one over there!”
“The blue catfish and Voori! Any other choices?”
Gripping the party wallet I’d stashed in my pocket, I begin examining the fish. I wanted to try something I hadn’t tasted before, but I also wanted to eat the aged version of the blue catfish, so I decided to buy it as well.
After securing the Voori—a blue fish resembling a yellowtail—I look around for something else. Mr. Ville points to a basket, which contains small fish with light brown backs and shiny silver bellies. They must be incredibly fresh. They look plump and translucent overall, somewhere between a slightly larger pond smelt and a smaller sillago. At this size, I could deep fry them whole without removing the head or innards and make a delicious Nanban marinade! Definitely buying these!
“How’s this selection of small fish, Rin?”
“They certainly look delicious… We’ll have those too, please!”
While we are selecting fish with cheerful excitement, the big sister is watching us with a gentle and enjoyable expression. Judging by her earlier words, I suspect that customers who meticulously select fish like us must be quite rare. The shop is tucked away in a small alley and seems to be more of a local establishment. It looks like a place with many regular customers.
“What’s that fish slice over there?”
“Oh, that’s Glow, a large migratory fish. It was originally even bigger than my husband. We’ve carefully aged it with ice magic, so it’s ready to eat right away ☆”
While pointing at the fish slice that caught my eye, I received an explanation that felt somewhat familiar. I know this! In my original world, it’s probably similar to what they call tuna! Wow, this must be absolutely delicious!
“Ah… that definitely looks delicious. Please give me one slice of the red meat and one of the fatty parts!”
I requested a slice of the richly red, glossy, and transparent lean cut, as well as one of the delicately pink and fine-textured fatty parts. The red meat would be fine as sashimi, and the fatty part would be delicious if lightly grilled, right?
With this, we won’t have fish troubles for a while, and we might even have a sashimi and sushi party!
Suddenly, a low voice said "Hey," and a thick arm extended from beside the cheerful big sister who was wrapping our fish. The plate in the hand is filled with crispy fried and deep-fried dishes.
The owner of the arm turns out to be a man wearing a simple Henley shirt and an apron.
“Hey, hey, don’t get too carried away. The food’s already done. Sorry about that, customers!”
“Oh, come on. Wouldn’t you be happy if customers praised the fish you caught?”
Judging by their exchange, this man is clearly the shop owner and the big sister’s husband. He is muscular and looks like a true man of the sea. In a way, he is an ideal partner for her.
Unable to decide whether to be happy that his fish was praised or to scold her for not bringing prepared food… he wears a complex expression but ultimately looks happily close to his wife.
Harmony in a couple is indeed a beautiful thing, yes.
“Are you going to cook by yourself?”
“Yes! I’m in charge of meals in our party!”
“Believe it or not, but Rin’s so crucial that our Gourmands would be doomed without her—our stomachs are entirely under her control.”
The husband placed the plate on the table with a thud, his expression brimming with curiosity. Well, after we buy that much fish, I guess it’s natural to wonder. When I puffed out my chest and answered, Mr. Ville immediately chimed in. Well, I’m also aware that I’ve somewhat captured everyone’s appetites! However, eating at other places has made me realize how different professional cooking is…
“I see, I see! If they enjoy the food, there’s no greater joy for a cook! Cook my caught fish deliciously!”
“Hehe… If you want to order any additional dishes, just call me ☆ I’ll wrap the fish for checkout ♡”
The husband flashed a wide grin and shook my hand before wrapping an arm around his wife’s waist and heading back to the kitchen. She turned back midway, smiling warmly and waving at us.
Ahh… Just like the deep-fried fish on the plate, they’re piping hot!
…Before it gets cold, I’d better start eating too!
While seeing off the lovey-dovey couple that might give me heartburn, I bit into the deep-fried redfish, which is undeniably delicious. The crispy surface gives way to a tender, perfectly dehydrated flesh beneath the batter. Its mild white flesh has a refreshingly light flavor. That’s exactly why deep-frying it in oil is such a fitting method. The fish was scored on both sides of the spine, exposing the bones, which had crisped up perfectly—one of the perks of deep-frying.
Deep-fried food… there’s nothing that can compete with deep-fried food! Deep-fried food solves everything in this world…!
That’s how much I want to shout it out loud.
Adding a bit of lemon changed the flavor and made it even better.
“The deep fry is super delicious, Mr. Ville!”
“The fried fish is good too… it is good, but…”
“Hmm? Is something wrong?”
After devouring one fish in an instant and reaching for the fried fish, I noticed Mr. Ville with an unusually clouded expression. He had apparently eaten all the fried fish he’d portioned out earlier…
Tilting my head in curiosity, I watched as Mr. Ville, looking slightly disappointed, started serving himself some deep-fried redfish.
“If only the tartar sauce you made before was here, it would’ve been even more delicious… It’s good, but something’s missing.”
“Ah, is that what you meant? We bought fish here, so shall we have a fry party again!”
“Really!? Promise me, Rin!”
Mr. Ville cheers up while crunching the redfish’s head.
Well, being this happy makes me feel like the massive amount of tartar sauce I made for the chicken-style Cockatrice was worth it. It even turned into a fierce competition at the end!
The fried yellowfin longtail is made with coarse breadcrumbs. The crispy coating perfectly matches the flavorful yellowfin longtail meat. Indeed, this may go well with tartar sauce. Personally, I enjoy squeezing plenty of lemon juice and scraping the rock salt over it!
But wow… fresh fish is truly delicious… It gets digested so quickly, and you can just keep eating…!
I thought we had ordered quite a lot, but all the food was consumed by me and Mr. Ville. But even so… it feels like I could eat just a little more.
“Here you go, the fish from earlier! Enjoy it ☆”
“Yes, thank you! We’ll eat every last bite!”
The big sister hands over a large bag and the receipt with a bright smile. Looking closely, it is a wax-coated paper bag with high water resistance. The fish must be inside.
By the way, the bill for all we ate is surprisingly reasonable, which I’ll note here. Perhaps it is because it’s a fisherman’s own establishment…
“How was our food? I’m happy you ate so much ♡”
“It was incredibly delicious! I definitely want to come back!”
“Oh, how wonderful ♡ Recently there have been more monsters, but they’re not much of a threat, and the waves are calm, the sea is peaceful, and the catches have been good. I’d be really happy if you’d come back ☆”
With a cheerful "Here’s a little extra ♡," the big sister hands me some deep-fried fish wrapped in a wooden sheath. With now-heavier Gomamiso in my arms, we left the shop.
Wow… That shop was like… a whirlwind.
The staff was energetic and kind, and the food was delicious… It seemed perfect, but…
Something felt off.
When the shop has completely disappeared from view, Mr. Ville, holding my hand, turns to me while deep in thought. Probably thinking the same thing, I look up at him.
“Did you hear that, Rin?”
“…Yes. From her tone, it seems the monsters have only increased recently…”
“And while they’re more active, they don’t seem to pose much of a threat…”
From the big sister’s words and atmosphere, despite the monsters increasing, there was not a hint of distress. Additionally, I sensed some spice or herb in the food we just ate. The fact that they could use what was likely imported spices in a local shop suggests a stable supply… This means there’s probably no serious monster crisis or tension between countries… In that case, was there any need to summon a saint to purify the monsters?
“Rin, don’t overthink it. We’re going to the capital to confirm this.”
“…You’re right… We can make a judgment after gathering more information!”
Before I knew it, Mr. Ville’s grip on my hand had tightened. A bit blunt, but with a slight smile, he pulls my hand.
…Yup, he is right! We won’t know until we move forward!
Gomamiso, who has been sleeping in my arms, mumbling, suddenly wakes up and looks at me.
‘Ann… don’t worry… you’ll lose hair if you stress…! I know…!’
“Gomamiso, zip it. Don’t talk about hair out in public.”
…Yup, Gomamiso should read the room a bit better!
The familiar’s voice apparently can only be heard by the tamer, but I happened to make eye contact with a bald uncle nearby who was just leaving the stall… So I quietly scolded Gomamiso…
◆◇◆
“Shall we take a look around the market for a bit? Even if we don’t have much to buy, there might be something of interest.”
“Hmm… first, I’d like to return to the guild to drop off our luggage. Carrying all this while shopping is a bit much…”
Mr. Ville, holding a bag of Muche flour in one hand, made the suggestion, but… it’s just a bit too much to shop while carrying Gomamiso and fish. Still, if Gomamiso would just stay calm, I’d have more leeway. Every time we spot something interesting or delicious, it feels like I’m holding back an eager kitten ready to leap.
Mr. Ville seems to understand my situation with fish and Gomamiso in my arms. He gently takes the fish from my arm and carries it along with the Muche flour. For now… for now, I’ll gratefully accept his consideration. Gomamiso, who just ate, seems to have recharged its power and is super energetic!
“Thank you! This helps a lot!”
“No problem… it would be troublesome if Gomamiso got lost. And Rin, make sure you don’t lose sight of me either, alright?”
“Yes! I’ll stay right by your side and not get separated!”
I walk alongside Mr. Ville as he heads toward the guild, doing my best to keep up. The difference in our strides is brutal, but thankfully, Mr. Ville is kind enough to slow down to match my pace, so I’m managing somehow!
Returning from the alley to the main street, the city is full of energy due to the rising sun. Calls of vendors, chattering voices… occasionally mixed with what sounds like quarreling voices.
Ah… it’s so lively! It feels like the city is alive.
I like this city where I can feel the presence of living beings so close. I’m glad I was forcibly transferred to this country. I think this sincerely, yes.
“Oh? It’s Ville and Rin! Good morning!”
“Miso is here too! Morning!”
As we passed in front of a shop that looked like a hardware store, I heard familiar voices.
Turning back, I spot Ms. Aria and Mr. Ed standing there, holding hands and carrying mountains of paper bags. A savory aroma, like spices mixed with grilled meat, and a rich, heavy sweetness, like fat blended with honey, drifts over.
“We bought all kinds of things for breakfast and thought we’d eat outside, but it didn’t feel quite right. So we decided to eat in Rin’s Camping Car.”
“Mm… we’ve grown too accustomed to comfort…”
Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria gave a slightly bitter smile, lightly raising the paper bags in their arms. The source of the delicious smell is indeed from the bags they are carrying.
I kind of understand the feeling of not wanting to eat on the ground anymore. I used to be fine with it, but now I feel like I want chairs. Huh, what’s this psychological shift?
“…Now that you mention it… before Rin joined, we were fine eating anywhere, on the ground or not…”
Mr. Ville glances at me and nods in agreement, so it seems this is a common sentiment within our party.
Well, make yourselves at home in the cabin of the Camping Car! Just leave the driving to me, alright?
When I explained we were heading back to the guild, Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria decided to return together with us since we were going to the same place.
While walking through the market, watching Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria ahead, something catches the light at the edge of my vision. Looking to the side, I notice a flower-like object stuck in Ms. Aria’s loosely half-up hair. It is a floral-themed hair accessory.
Is this called three-dimensional embroidery? The embroidered flower petals are combined to create a three-dimensional flower! The stitching is so fine and uniform, it’s incredibly beautiful!
It suits Ms. Aria’s light-colored hair perfectly.
“Ms. Aria, your hair ornament is beautiful.”
“Mm… Ed bought it… three-dimensional… embroidery…”
“What incredibly delicate needlework! Is this embroidery? Such intricate craftsmanship!”
When Ms. Aria turned back at my voice, her cheeks were slightly rose-colored. Bashfully explaining, she said this three-dimensional embroidery uses transparent thread made by spider people. The embroidery was created on a base of transparent fabric made from transparent thread, and then stitched with dyed thread while maintaining transparency, so it sparkles like a jewel in the sunlight.
This… this… even a fossil like me who’s beyond dried up finds it amazing!
Mr. Ed, who fell in love with this pale pink flower ornament at first sight, apparently bought it on impulse.
“…I said I had enough already, but…”
“I want to see Aria looking cute! I mean, she’s already cute as is, and I always want to look at her, but a dolled-up Aria is another story!”
Ms. Aria, being shamelessly wooed, had her white cheeks dyed rose-colored, looking slightly troubled, shy… and somehow happy, gripping the hem of Mr. Ed’s clothes.
…Ah, so that’s why Mr. Ed looks so utterly content as he gently strokes Ms. Aria’s hair. Should I call this a beautiful display of harmony, or should I just yell, "Go burst, lovebirds!”
Well, they look happy, so whatever!
“Oh, by the way, the person selling this embroidery mentioned that they came to Ellarge about a month ago, and back then, they weren’t attacked by any monsters on the road.”
“But this time, they said… monsters appeared… though they weren’t particularly strong…”
Mr. Ed, who had been enjoying the feel of Ms. Aria’s silk-like hair, turned and smiled at us. He was certainly smiling, but his eyes weren’t laughing, it felt more like a pasted-on expression…
But I don’t have the luxury to worry about that right now. Because we had heard a similar story just moments ago!
“…Oh, well…”
“It matches what we heard at the shop earlier…”
When I glanced up at Mr. Ville beside me, our eyes met, his red pupils looking back at me.
Hmm… seriously… I’ve said it before, but in such peaceful times, was summoning a saint really necessary?
While it’s best to gather information before deciding, finding these strange fragments keeps nagging at me like a small fishbone stuck in my throat. Not really painful, but constantly pricking and impossible to ignore…
Really, what were they thinking when they summoned us to this world… I wish there was at least a rumor leading to a reason. I guess we’ll collect information in the royal capital.
Pushing away thoughts of the saint summoning to the corner of my mind, I focus on heading to the guild. The crowd is dense enough that I might get lost if I’m not careful, leaving no time for unnecessary thoughts.
While walking down the main street, we run into Mr. Xenon, who also seems to have purchased some takeout.
“It appears we’re all thinking the same thing. I, too, couldn’t settle down…”
“Does everyone can’t eat without a chair now?”
Mr. Xenon, placing a fist near his mouth and smiling elegantly, looks like a handsome elf brother… but the amount of food he’s carrying is ridiculous! He eats as much as Mr. Ville in that slender body, making me wonder where all that food goes…
Incidentally, in our party’s gluttony rankings, Ms. Aria and Mr. Ed take the next spots, with Gomamiso and me actively competing for the bottom place.
Gomamiso, despite being a kitten, eats a lot because it’s a monster… come to think of it, the shop’s familiar menu was also served in quite a large bowl…
Sensing a potential change in the ranking, I quietly avert my eyes from Engel’s coefficient of our party…
“Hey, I’ve been waiting!”
“Gah, Tori…!”
Spreading a delicious aroma around us, we were greeted by Guild Master Tori, standing like a guardian statue in front of the guild hall. He had a pleasant smile and raised one hand. When Mr. Ville saw him, he made a slightly disgusted expression.
Completely ignoring Mr. Ville’s reaction, Mr. Tori approaches us with wide strides. I guess this kind of thick-skinned attitude is necessary for a guild master.
“I know you’ve got preparations to make, but before that, there’s something I want to discuss—or rather, something I’d like to ask of you.”
“Something you want to ask? An errand to the Melnoa Guild, perhaps?”
The gaze directed at Mr. Tori, who was waving the documents he held behind his back, turned ice-cold in an instant.
Well, I guess that’s natural when someone rains on your "Meal time!" parade. While Mr. Ville and I have eaten a bit already, the starving members of the Gourmands about to dig in are more dangerous than wounded beasts…!
However, Mr. Tori seems quite experienced in handling hungry adventurers.
“Sharp as always, Ville. Let’s not talk standing around. We can discuss the details inside—and feel free to eat while we talk.”
His confident hand wave and reliable back are truly those of a guild master. Everyone’s gazes, now permitted to eat while talking, quickly warmed up again.
Phew… We avoided a headline like "Blood Incident at the Guild Hall! Guild Master’s Pushiness to Blame…!" What a relief!
We quickly step into the guild hall, following Mr. Tori, who has gone on ahead. The reception area near the entrance is bustling with adventurers eager to snag even slightly more lucrative jobs, no doubt drawn by the fresh requests.
Spreading the delightful smell of food, we proceed deeper into the building. The inner area, restricted to authorized personnel, is quiet in stark contrast to the earlier commotion. But the smell of meat and fried treats there is incredibly strong!
It’s quite the mismatch!
Well, I’m not really one to talk, having had a barbeque in such a place.
“Sit wherever. Just don’t dirty the documents. Feel free to eat at that desk.”
It wasn’t exactly a room I knew like the back of my hand, but the Guild Master’s office had become somewhat familiar. Compared to the chaos of that time, it is a bit more organized. Though for the average person, it would still seem messy, but knowing how bad it used to be, I could say, "It’s tidied up a bit." Everyone is used to this and casually moves the documents on the reception desk to create space for food.
“The request is simple. As Ville mentioned earlier, I want you to deliver these documents to the Melnoa Guild.”
As preparations for the meal progress, Mr. Tori brings out a fairly thick bundle of documents. The cover has "Restricted Access" written in red, indicating they are confidential.
When I touch the offered documents, there is a sharp crack like static electricity, and the words "Restricted Access" glow red. The documents themselves adhere together like a solid slab, impossible to flip through. I see! This is their security method. Probably, there’s some magical protection at the red text that physically prevents unauthorized reading.
“I had a feeling you’d request something like that. Rin’s skills are more reliable than a messenger familiar and faster than hiring a courier.”
“That’s right. I’ll provide decent compensation. Will you take the job?”
While I scrutinize the stack of documents, now little more than a solid rectangular block, Mr. Ville snorts and glares at Mr. Tori from the side.
I’m not sure what kind of messenger familiar Mr. Ville is talking about, but if it’s like a messenger pigeon, it would be insufficient to transport this document bundle. A carrier with both reliability and mobility—that would be me… or more precisely, my Camping Car. Got it, loud and clear.
Mr. Tori winks and clasps his hands before his face, but while Mr. Ville gives him a dubious look, I can’t help but think it isn’t a bad side job.
After all, according to the route I heard about yesterday, we’ll be passing near the town of Melnoa anyway. So, while taking a break, we could stop by the town and deliver the documents, right?
“Mr. Ville, I don’t mind.”
‘Me too! I want to do an errand too!’
“Rin…”
As Gomamiso excitedly wags its tail and slaps my cheeks, I tug at Mr. Ville’s sleeve to convey my opinion.
It’s surprisingly… surprisingly hurts!
“…Ah, but we do want to gather information in the royal capital. A delayed arrival would be problematic…”
“Alright, we’ll take on this errand!”
Wow. A spectacular flip of opinion.
Considering I’m directly involved in the saint summoning, saying it’s fine to postpone going to the capital is probably not okay, so I tried to change my decision—and here we are! What an ingenious flipping stance he has made! Does he have some kind of super bearings on his wrist?
Come to think of it, Mr. Ville knows we need to go to the royal capital, but his true feeling is to postpone it if possible! Well, their relationship isn’t bad, but Mr. Ville, who ran away due to the complicated family dynamics of legitimate and illegitimate children, is psychologically burdened about meeting his half-brother…
I sneak a glance at everyone quietly enjoying their breakfast around the mostly cleared reception table… Only to be met with kind, oh-so-gentle eyes and warm smiles! Those eyes, they are saying, “We trust you ♡”!
“Of course! I knew you’d agree!”
“…So, how much are you paying?”
“Let’s see… considering the standard rate and the girl’s skills…”
Since the Guild Master and our party leader begin negotiations, the meal attendees are completely left out. With nothing else to do, I sneak into the breakfast circle, guided by the delicious smells.
“Rin, Rin! This is delicious! Kebab!”
“It’s from the shop on the eastern corner. The sauce is amazing!”
“If the meat’s too heavy, I also got some fruit from the fruit vendor on the western backstreet. They had golden berries in stock today, so I bought some.”
As soon as I join the circle, various foods are offered.
The kebab, which is likely the main source of the savory aroma, and something like a pale yellow paper-wrapped item in Mr. Xenon’s hand catches my eye. My stomach, already packed with food, rumbles as if to say, "I can still eat more.”
…Is my stomach okay? How fast does it digest?
While the kebab from Ms. Aria intrigues me, I am more curious about the fruit Mr. Xenon offered…
I thought about checking it with my Survival skill but held back because of curiosity. Since it’s sold in stores, it should be safe to eat. I’ll first take a look with my own eyes.
“Golden Berries, right?”
“Yes. It’s a fruit that often grows in grasslands. It has an interesting shape, don’t you think?”
With a dry rustle, the Golden Berry is placed in my palm. About the size of a slightly larger ping pong ball, it is perfectly round like a balloon. Similar to a ground cherry or balloon vine, it is encased in a papery thin membrane. The membrane is completely dry and thin enough to be slightly translucent, appearing golden depending on the light. That’s why it’s called a Golden Berry. Pinching the tip and pulling gently, the membrane tears open more easily than opening a snack bag, revealing its contents. Like a raspberry, many tiny fruits clustered together to form a single plump orb, vividly colored in bright golden yellow. Packed with juice, the semi-translucent berries are quite large, making them seem satisfying to eat.
Plucking a berry and popping it into my mouth, the sweet-and-sour juice spread all over my tongue. The seeds I’d been worried about were barely noticeable. Instead, the crisp sensation of the thin skin bursting is quite enjoyable.
“This is… delicious! The membrane makes it easy to eat right away.”
“Interesting, isn’t it? Its short shelf life is its drawback, but it’s quite popular because of its good taste.”
Mr. Xenon said that with a smile, peeling and eating the berries.
…Still, watching a beautiful man eat such vibrant and cute-shaped berries is incredibly stylish… The scene of his white, long fingers pinching a golden large berry would probably look stunning if painted! Well, I have no artistic sense, so I can’t participate in such artistic activities! I’m more of a food enthusiast!
“Rin, this is delicious too.”
A slightly sulky voice came from the side while I was gratefully chewing the Golden Berry I was given. Before I can turn to respond, my cheeks are gently but firmly held by a cool, soft hand.
“Here, Rin. Aah—”
“Ah, Ms. Aria… mmph!”
Ms. Aria’s unexpectedly strong, delicate white hand forced me to turn toward her, and without a word, something was shoved into my mouth. Struggling to breathe, I bit into the object, and suddenly an explosion of flavors—a chewy dough, crisp vegetables, and the umami of meat prepared with some kind of spices—filled my mouth.
Wait, is this the kebab Ms. Aria was holding earlier?!
Recognizing its identity makes me feel more at ease while chewing.
…This kebab is delicious. The meat and vegetables are good, but the sauce… It has a subtly sweet aroma, slightly bitter, harmonizing with the meat’s fragrance and enhancing its flavor…
Come to think of it, this meat… seems familiar…
Activating Survival for a quick check, I found that the meat used was from the same Ushika beef as the sausages we had at yesterday’s barbeque.
No wonder the meat smelled so good! Ushika, which enjoys eating herbs, has herbs infused into its meat, creating a wonderful aroma when grilled. Moreover, they’re regularly culled to prevent crop damage, so the meat might be readily available.
“…This kebab is delicious!”
“Right? The price is reasonable, the portion is large, and when you see them grilling meat chunks at the storefront, you just can’t help but buy it! Many adventurers have made it their go-to place!”
“Your food, is also, delicious, Rin! But, I like this too!”
“I understand! This is the kind of flavor you just crave out of nowhere!”
Mr. Ed, cheerfully biting into the kebab, added more details. Indeed, this is definitely a " store-bought flavor" that can be made in large quantities!
The scene of that shop appears vividly in my mind. Cutting off slices of grilling Ushika meat with a long knife as it rotates, meat juices overflowing from the cross-section, the appetizing aroma spreading around. I bet regular customers can even joke around, saying things like "Extra meat, please!" only to hear, "Pay your tab first!”
Ahhh! I know it’s a cliché, but this feels exactly like an adventurers’ shop!
The mountain of dishes—freshly grilled sausages, skewered smoked meats—are quickly devoured by our hungry group. What remains are charred wooden skewers and the thin wood sheets the food had been wrapped in. As we gather these, Mr. Ville returns, seemingly having concluded his negotiations or rather business discussion.
“Alright. For now, we’ll proceed to the capital via the Melnoa Guild.”
“Okay. It’s conveniently on our route.”
“With your Camping Car, we can shorten the travel time, so a simple errand should be fine.”
“Yup. Leave it to me.”
Mr. Ville waves the contract, likely outlining the terms and rewards, and everyone voices their agreement in unison.
If I recall, Melnoa is a volcano town. I’ve heard it’s famous for spicy food, hot springs, and blacksmithing… But what kind of townscape does it have?
Kusatsu Town, which is located near Kusatsu-Shirane Volcano; Atami, which is on the volcanic caldera; Yufuin Village, which is famous for its hot springs… Personally, I’m quite fond of the Echigo-Yuzawa hot spring resort area and the hot spring town of Ginzan too! Soaking in an open-air bath while enjoying the night view would be lovely… Though with this errand mission, we probably won’t have such leisurely time.
“For today, let’s handle equipment changes and shopping to prepare for departure. We will leave tomorrow morning when the main gate opens. Sound good?”
With the schedule roughly outlined, I swiftly consider the necessary preparations. The fish I just bought should last a while, so we don’t need to buy major food supplies. I wanted some spices for flavor variation, but with this additional errand mission, wouldn’t an early departure be better?
Still, I’d like to prepare the fish, cook and freeze rice, and maybe make some Pão de Queijo using the Muche flour I just received… If I could just get that done… In my case, my focus is less on equipment and more on how quickly I can provide meals, so preparation is key.
“Hmm… with this errand mission, I don’t need to shop, Mr. Ville. I’d just like to do a little meal prep…”
“Rin’s right. With the detour, it’s better to leave earlier.”
“Equipment can be the same as during dungeon exploration!”
“…Your attitude is a bit much, Ville…”
“Ugh… I want to retort, but I can’t find the words…!”
I cautiously voiced my suggestion, but it surprisingly gained support.
…Well, I guess Mr. Ville wasn’t totally against the idea of leaving early… He was swiftly defeated by the relentless arguments of Mr. Xenon, Mr. Ed, and Ms. Aria.
As Mr. Ville lets out a groan and slumps his shoulders, a subtle sense of melancholy lingers from his back.
“Ugh… Since we’ve wrapped up the discussion, I’ll go put this stuff in the Camping Car!”
“Yup. Let’s start preparing.”
As I lift the cold, heavy bag of fish, Mr. Ville also slings the bag of Muche flour over his shoulder. Mr. Ed gathers up the trash and carries it, while Mr. Xenon casts a cleaning spell around us, and Mr. Aria lovingly cradles the sleeping Gomamiso.
Hmm. Our team coordination is excellent!
“So, as we discussed earlier. Is that okay, Tori?”
“Yeah. If you’re willing to take it, I have no complaints. I’m counting on you!”
Seeing us off as he seemed occupied with new document processing, we left Mr. Tori’s office.
Well then, shall we head out right away?
Under the clear sky of a perfect travel day, we climb into the Camping Car.
I hope this trip goes smoothly.
And if possible, I hope we can enjoy some delicious local specialties…! Harboring such optimistic thoughts, I start the engine.
The Translator’s Corner
In the web version, Lent’s name was Kent, and Rion’s name was Shion and she was a tiger beastgirl. But now she is a lion beastgirl with a name that can be translated as Lion. That is, a lion with the name “Lion,” T_T. So I left a direct transliteration of her name.
About the illustrations. I thought long and hard about whether to post the novel’s illustrations and decided not to post them after all because it’s blatant piracy. But at least I’ll describe them here. So, in the first illustration, Lent is pulling Rin’s hand and leading her down the street to the orphanage. In the second illustration, Priest Rayer finds Lent and Rin in the orphanage’s kitchen. In the third illustration, Lent, Rion, and Aida show a plate with a mountain of finished Pão de Queijo. In the fourth illustration, Ville shows with a gesture that Rin can enter the store with Gomamiso. In the fifth and most adorable and final illustration of the first chapter, Aria feeds Rin a kebab.
No comments:
Post a Comment