Volume Four, Prologue
As usual, the Camping Car rumbles along through another day in this other world.
The situation with the saint summoning had become a bit too much for the Adventurers’ Guild of Ellarge to handle on their own… Fortunately, we learned that all sorts of reports on regional disturbances flow into the royal capital and that Mr. Ville has relatives there. So we decided, "Let’s use this connection to take this case to the higher-ups!”
In other words, we’re heading there to request information from those in power and discuss how to proceed with the situation… that sort of thing. We hastily prepared for the journey and set out for the royal capital in high spirits… then got caught up in another commotion when we stopped by the Town of Melnoa…
Who could have predicted such a tumultuous future? Nobody, that’s who.
And as for what happened, well…
We ran into trouble with a mysterious monster occupying a spring halfway up the mountain—the source of the town’s specialty, "spring salt"!
The Melnoa’s Guildmaster personally requested our help, and we discovered the monster was a Mirage Dragon—a rather prideful princess-like dragon. We somehow managed to satisfy her hunger with the volcanic delicacies and got her permission to collect water from the spring…
“Looking back, we really went through a lot…”
“Mm. I know. So many things happened…”
‘This me was fine! Because this me is a good kid!’
As I murmured while steering, agreement came immediately from the passenger seat. It was Ms. Aria, our party’s scout and thread user, a cute and beautiful married woman, along with Gomamiso, the winged lynx kitten lounging contentedly on her lap.
Today, the front of my Camping Car is occupied by what we call the ladies’ seat plus one!
“When you got kidnapped… I was so shocked… my heart nearly stopped!”
‘Me too! This me was super worried!’
Ms. Aria puffs her cheeks in a pout, half worried and half angry at the memory, while Gomamiso jumps up on her lap, thumping its front paws against her thighs while swishing its tail back and forth.
…Ah, yes, well, about that time…
They’re referring to when I was kidnapped by the princess dragon during our volcano expedition. I got caught by her the moment I stepped out of the Camping Car while preparing steamed dishes at the steam spring halfway up the volcano… That was definitely my fault for going outside without checking if it was safe…!
“I’m so sorry for making you worry back then…!”
“Rin, from now on, you’re not allowed to move until I say it’s okay!”
‘Always carry me with you!’
Since it was entirely my fault, I glance at the two angry ones—one person and one cat—and bow my head.
Come to think of it, as our scout, Ms. Aria is solely responsible for our party’s safety. No wonder she’s both angry and worried. And Gomamiso seems somewhat traumatized from missing reuniting with me when I was kidnapped… Since then, it’s been constantly by my side, hardly ever leaving.
“From now on, be more careful, alright?”
‘And don’t leave me behind!’
I completely understand their lingering anger, and I can only say I was really careless back then… Still, I’m touched that both Ms. Aria and Gomamiso are ultimately so forgiving!
“Yes, ma’am! I’ll be careful!”
“Mm. That makes me happy.”
After I bow again to their entirely reasonable words, both of them seem to calm down a bit, though still somewhat huffy as they back down.
Yup, they’re both really kind.
“Now that we’ve settled that, shall we take a break? The men in the cabin are probably getting hungry too.”
“Break! Want one!”
‘Me too! Want to rest!’
As the atmosphere settled down, my attention turned to the cabin. I can hear hungry complaints here and there, so when I spotted a clearing up ahead that looked good for a break, I suggested it, and the two in the passenger seat looked at me with sparkling eyes.
Fortunately, our journey to the royal capital is going smoothly, so taking a break shouldn’t hurt. At this rate, we should arrive by tomorrow if nothing goes wrong. More importantly… we need to maintain our physical and mental condition in case something unexpected happens!
Alright! Decision made—strike while the iron is hot!
I turn the wheel toward the open space and press the accelerator just a bit. The vehicle glides smoothly into the clearing.
“We’re taking a break here!”
As I park and call out to the cabin, the men who have been talking by the window look up. They too are looking at me with eyes full of anticipation.
I have a feeling I can hear stomachs growling… and it’s probably not just my imagination.
“Since everyone seems hungry, shall I make some light snacks?”
“Really!? That would be wonderful… but are you sure you’re okay, Rin?”
Mr. Ville’s face lit up, but the next moment he was showing concern for me… how can someone be so kind? I suppose that’s what makes him a great party leader?
…Or rather, Mr. Ville is just a genuinely good person.
Despite having high magic and physical strength, his species burns through energy quickly, making him get hungry easily… snack breaks are his lifeline, yet he’s still thinking of others.
“It’s a very kind offer, but aren’t you tired from all the driving?”
“Yeah! You don’t have to push yourself when you’re tired!”
Those concerned voices came from Mr. Xenon, our elf priest, and Mr. Ed, our magic alchemist and Ms. Aria’s husband.
Mr. Xenon, an incredibly handsome man in the most traditional sense, is actually a big foodie who loves grilled and roasted meat, while the cute and handsome Mr. Ed is a monster of a husband totally devoted to Ms. Aria…
But both of them are beautiful on the inside too, always looking out for a non-combatant like me.
…Really, our party is full of people who are beautiful both inside and out…! It’s almost too dazzling to look at directly…!
A warm feeling slowly spread through my heart, making me feel all sentimental.
It’s because of members like these that I want to cook lots of delicious food for them!
“I’m fine! I have a super simple special snack in mind!”
“A special snack!? That sounds exciting!”
Seeing me puff up my chest confidently, Mr. Ville let out a relieved sigh. But despite that, his bright red eyes, like strawberry candy, still sparkle with excitement, and honestly, it’s kind of unfair how cute that looks.
I duck under the flip-up counter to enter the cabin. Gomamiso jumps from Ms. Aria’s lap, bounces off a seat, and lands on my shoulder.
As soon as the weight settles onto my shoulder, Gomamiso puffs out its chest with a look that practically declares, “This is my rightful spot.” Its smugly adorable face is just too much, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Rolling up my sleeves with determination, I first reach for the freezer door. I take out some frozen rice that I always keep in the freezer and start defrosting it in the microwave.
While waiting, I pull out the ingredients to mix into the rice and a bowl to combine everything. With that, all the prep is done! The great thing about grilled rice balls is how easy they are to make when you’re craving them.
“Are you making something with rice?”
“Yup! I thought I’d make some grilled rice balls!”
Mr. Ville peered curiously at my hands as I carried over the steaming hot rice I had just microwaved. Maybe he was drawn in by the sweet smell of rice wafting through the gaps in the plastic wrap?
“Hmm… So it’s plain white today?”
“Yup. This time I thought I’d try something a bit different.”
As I started preparing to shape the rice, Mr. Ville tilted his head questioningly beside me.
While transferring the rice to a bowl in front of Mr. Ville, I make a fist to show my determination.
Mr. Ville’s confusion probably came from the last time at Melnoa Volcano when I grilled rice balls filled with grilled Storm Eel. He must have gotten the impression that grilled rice balls always meant grilling rice soaked in sauce. While that was delicious too, today I’m planning to make simple grilled rice balls with plain rice. But I’ll add something special to make them more satisfying!
“Today, I’m thinking of putting cheese inside the rice balls and grilling them while brushing on butter and soy sauce!”
“Cheese and butter!”
“I thought it might be more satisfying and filling than plain ones.”
As soon as I mentioned those calorie-rich ingredients, Mr. Ville’s eyes lit up even more. For someone with poor fuel efficiency like Mr. Ville, calories must be justice!
Though well, my often-chanted spell "Delicious food is justice! Calories? Who cares!" isn’t just a critical hit for Mr. Ville, but for our entire party…
“Grilled rice balls—you mean what you made the other day!?”
“Cheese and butter… that sounds very intriguing.”
“Mm! Nothing but excitement…!”
In no time at all, I find myself surrounded by everyone!
Since they always get so noisy… ahem… lively about whether the cheese-filled rice balls are big or small, I decided to have them shape their own!
Since it was their "first time making rice balls," most of them were a bit loose, so I ended up having to reshape them all and microwave more rice, but everyone seemed to be having fun, so I guess it was fine.
Once everything is ready, I move a plate of fairly large rice balls—and some ridiculously huge ones—next to the stove… All that’s left is to grill them.
“Rin, you often use that grill net when cooking.”
“Hehe… I just think grilled rice balls really need to be grilled on a net.”
Mr. Ville smiled as he watched me take out the grill net from the car’s infinite storage and set it up on the stove.
Come to think of it, I was grilling fish on this net when I first met Mr. Ville too. Remembering that scene, which now feels quite nostalgic, I couldn’t help but smile too.
“Alright, now I just need to grill them slowly over low heat, so please have something to drink while you wait.”
Once I arrange the rice balls on the grill, there’s not much else to do. If you mess with them too much, they’ll fall apart. If there’s anything to do, it’s just adjusting the heat to prevent burning until the outside gets firm and crispy.
“Rin, a drink too?”
“Ah, thank you! It is pretty hot by the fire after all.”
As I adjusted the stove knob and looked back at everyone, Ms. Aria, who had already taken out the barley tea pitcher from the fridge, offered me a glass.
Geez! She’s always so thoughtful!
The soft crackling and sizzling of the rice balls over the open flame fills the quiet car. At the same time, a savory aroma begins to fill the air, and it is a bit fun watching everyone fidget with anticipation.
I think if I put butter and soy sauce from the fridge in a small bowl and set it near the stove to warm up, it’ll be perfectly melted by the time the rice is grilled!
“Well then, maybe I’ll organize the fridge while the rice balls cook.”
“Mm. In that case, I’ll check the weapons…!”
“I’ll inspect and check the equipment as well.”
Although this snack-making session ends up being pretty hands-off, each member seems to have something to do, like Ms. Aria, so there is no sense of idleness in the car. The sound of weapon maintenance, voices discussing various things… Even though I’m not talking while working amid all the chatter, it somehow feels like I’m working together with everyone.
That kind of atmosphere is incredibly valuable because it reduces any feeling of loneliness. Well, I’m not lonely anyway since Gomamiso is wandering around my feet begging for snacks.
“Hmm… Oh! That’s a perfect golden brown!”
…I think many people would understand, but don’t you just want to click tongs when you hold them? It’s embarrassing at my age, but… I do…!
Giving in to desire and clicking the tongs in one hand, I first reach for my portion of rice balls, which would not be a problem if it got a bit misshapen. Just lightly touching it with the tongs, I can feel the rice has dried and hardened properly, which suggests things are shaping up nicely.
“Oh! They really do have a great color! Are you going to brush that soy sauce thing on them now?”
“Not just yet. I still need to grill the other side and the edges a bit more. But we’re almost there, Mr. Ed!”
I caught sight of Mr. Ed peeking over from the side as he passed behind me, while I flipped over the half-grilled rice balls with the tongs.
The moment the golden-brown side faces up, the rich aroma of toasted rice, mixed with a hint of charred smokiness, tickles my nose. There is no way this isn’t going to be delicious!
And no, I’m not adding the butter-soy sauce yet. I can’t do that until the current side and edges are grilled, or the soft ungrilled parts might collapse when the soy sauce soaks in…
“Well, when making grilled rice balls, the key is to take your time… be patient.”
“The longer we wait, the better it might taste… Thinking that makes it kind of exciting… but, yeah, I’m really hungry now!”
“…I’m starving…”
“I’m also quite hungry, actually…”
“Excuse me, Rin… I’m rather hungry too…”
“Ahhh…! I had a feeling this would happen, and sure enough…”
Behind the excited Mr. Ed, Ms. Aria, Mr. Ville, and Mr. Xenon showed their faces one after another. I can feel the pressure from the unanimous complaints of hunger and the sound of growling stomachs coming from all directions!
…But… but…!
I believe patience is essential for grilled rice balls.
I can tell everyone’s reason is burning away in proportion to how the rice balls surfaces are grilling. It almost felt like I could hear the sizzling sound of their hunger igniting like a fuse…
Under the watch of expectant eyes, I finally start brushing butter-soy sauce onto the surfaces of the fully hardened rice balls. The brown liquid that drips onto the grill net sizzles with a whoosh, and a savory aroma instantly fills the cabin.
Pretending not to hear the increasingly fierce growling of stomachs, I evenly brushed butter-soy sauce on all the rice balls on the net.
“Ahh… The smell of soy sauce soaking into this glorious mix of carbs and fat is just impossible to resist…!”
“R-Rin, are they almost done?”
“Almost, Mr. Ville! Once the surface dries, I’ll brush on another layer, and when that dries…”
Finally losing patience, Mr. Ville broke through the wall of members and alternated looking between the grilling rice balls and me. Meanwhile, Ms. Aria had quietly sidled up beside me, clutched the hem of my clothes, and refused to let go.
Hmm… While I feel bad making them wait any longer, I also want them to taste grilled rice balls with the soy sauce properly soaked in…!
“…Mm, Rin… can we eat them yet?”
“Uh, uuu… Yes…! Let’s eat!”
Ms. Aria tugged at my clothes, looking at me with puppy dog eyes.
Ah, geez! I know I’m easy, but I just can’t resist that face!
Fortunately, I have already spread butter and soy sauce on both sides of the rice balls, so they are ready to eat, more or less.
I glance around without moving my head… everyone looks like they can’t wait any longer…
…They’ve clearly reached their limit. Alright, it’s time to dig in!
“Okay then, please get your plates ready! I’ll serve them fresh off the grill net!”
As I click the tongs like a musical instrument, the vibe in the Camping Car instantly reaches its peak. As everyone’s stomachs growl in unison, I place these bundles of desire onto their waiting plates.
The sweet, fragrant scent of butter mingles with the amino acid-rich aroma of soy sauce, delivering a solid hit to the hypothalamic feeding center of our brains.
The illustration’s description: rice balls on a grill net on the stove, and Rin smears soy sauce and butter on them with a brush.
Unlike meat, the rice balls haven’t shrunk much during grilling, so they remain almost the same size as when we first shaped them.
Everyone simultaneously byte into these generously sized rice balls, which are so big we’d needed extra rice to make them…
“Ahh, h-hot!”
“Hah, hawt! Ah… ouch…”
“H-ha… hot…”
“MMMMFFFHHH!”
Everyone’s mouths are scorched by the scalding steam trapped inside the rice balls. You see, grilled rice balls are delicious, but because the surface gets sealed by grilling, it traps all that burning hot steam inside…
Me? I’m watching Mr. Xenon, our party’s healer, cast recovery magic on everyone while I’m carefully blowing on my piping-hot rice balls.
Inside, I had stuffed some semi-hard cheese I bought before we set out on this journey! It’s supposedly special cheese made from the milk of cows that grazed on coastal pastures… eating grass with natural salt content gave the cheese a subtle saltiness… The selling point wasn’t wrong—the natural saltiness of the milk actually enhanced its sweet aftertaste, making it a really delicious cheese! The sweet milk aroma that wafts up at the end, along with the creamy sweetness that lingers on your tongue, creates this rich sensation that’s just wonderful.
This delicious cheese melts from the rice’s moisture… coating and seeping into the rice inside…! And then, with soy sauce added on top—how could it not be delicious? I think the contrast between the crispy exterior and the soft, chewy rice inside keeps each bite interesting. Some parts got a bit overcooked and turned extra crunchy, but I like those rice cracker-like bits too!
“Mmm, delicious! Regular rice balls are good, but the aroma of grilled rice balls is something special!”
I took a bite, making sure to get a bit of everything—the crispy, fragrant crust, the fluffy inside soaked with buttery soy sauce, and the rich, melty cheese at the center.
Some might say I’m being greedy, but trust me, this is the way to eat it! Totally worth any complaints!
As the recovery magic takes effect and heals their burnt mouths, the other members start coming back to life, following my lead in cooling their rice balls before taking huge bites. Despite their baptism by scalding hot rice balls, their wide-open mouths, sharp teeth, and bright red tongues eagerly welcomed the amber-colored rice balls that they hadn’t really let cool much at all.
“This was… definitely worth the wait! Even with a burnt palate, I want to eat more!”
“Ow, hot… My tongue still hurts, but this is… delicious…!”
Their jaws move several times, followed by visible swallows… and everyone’s faces break into radiant smiles. Their earlier expressions of pain are completely replaced by beaming faces as they stuff their cheeks with rice balls.
I think it’s amazing how they can bite in without hesitation despite taking such heavy damage. Well, grilled rice balls are delicious, so it can’t be helped! I doubt many people could resist this magical charm anyway.
“Quite a formidable weapon, but once you know this taste, you can’t help but want to eat it again and again.”
“The saltiness from the soy sauce, the saltiness from the butter, and the saltiness from the cheese… they’re all different kinds of salty, but the sweet rice stands firm and balances it all perfectly!”
Mr. Xenon and Mr. Ed, who started eating a bit later since they were casting recovery magic on everyone, also had sparkling eyes.
…Come to think of it, isn’t Mr. Ed’s food commentary skills amazing?
‘Me too! What about mine!?’
“Ah, yes. You want to eat too, Miso.”
I give a piece with extra cheese to Gomamiso, who is frantically pawing at my legs with its thick front paws. Watching it devour the rice balls while making happy munching sounds, it looks so peaceful you’d never guess it is actually a monster…
Having quickly polished off the grilled rice balls, Gomamiso starts grooming itself contentedly. A rhythmic swooshing sound comes from near my feet.
‘Hey hey, this me really really like it with even more cheese!’
I poked Gomamiso’s forehead with my finger as it cheekily made requests while licking its paw after washing its face. As I pick up the kitten that is laughing "Nyaha" and begging to be held, I gaze out the window.
A deep, vivid blue sky catches my eye, and I find myself hoping our journey will be just as clear and bright…
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