Read Novel Full Chapter 396 – Tasting Session
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Chapter 396 – Tasting Session
“Hmm, well, that’s the way it is.”
“I don’t think it’s bad.”
“It’s tasty enough.”
Lunch was prepared from canned and instant foods we had brought. Driada, who has a discerning palate, rated it acceptable; I rated it more than acceptable, and Isla rated it mostly acceptable.
“Hmm, if you ask me if it’s good or bad, I’d say it’s good.”
“Not at the level of a royal court dish, is it?”
“But you can eat it anywhere with a fire and a pot, right? Isn’t that revolutionary?”
“I hear it can be stored for years.”
“Depending on the cost, it might be a good stockpile, but I’m not sure how it compares to storing grain in its raw state.”
“It seems to be good for maintaining the morale of soldiers on the front lines who are engaged in tough missions. And I hear it can withstand transport.”
The reaction of the ambassadors of various countries who tasted the canned and instant foods we brought was also different. Although the food is not so tasty as to be praised, the fact that it can be preserved for years and is durable enough to withstand long-distance transportation seems to have been judged as astonishing. It seems to be more appreciated by soldiers who have been to the front than by so-called nobles.
“This is good for a snack.”
“It’s not bad. No, it’s good.”
There were also some drinkers who drank cold beer or wine while chewing moderately crushed instant noodles during the day. According to the drinkers, cold beer is the best match, followed by white wine. White wine is a close second. I see.
“These canned foods are not bad either.”
“The cooked ones have a strong taste overall, so they are good as snacks.”
“It is true that it is good for an evening drink. But wouldn’t it be better if a chef made it?”
“It has the advantage that it can be stored for a long time and can be eaten just by opening the package without cooking. It seems to me that there is no need to use it in everyday life.”
“But the fact that you don’t have to cook it is a strong point. In the extreme, it is wonderful to be able to eat something without cooking utensils, without fuel, without fire.”
“I agree. It is useful for scouts who must not be discovered by the enemy and for adventurers who venture deep into the monster’s territory.”
It seems that the drinkers are not only having a drink but also a serious discussion in their own way. By the way, Grande is sleeping in her room and says, “Dinner parties and such are boring.” This time, Grande knew there would be no food she liked, mostly canned goods and instant noodles.
“But that might be a curiosity or an attraction, but what about in terms of national prestige?”
“It may be a little delicate in that sense, surely.”
“It only has as much impact as a rare food from a foreign country.”
“Exactly. Maybe we need to disclose how to make it and provide technical support.”
“I think it’s too early to go that far. First of all, the production capacity of the Merinard Kingdom is still insufficient, isn’t it?”
“In terms of national prestige, a magic airship would be enough.”
Driada and Isla both disagreed with my statement. Hmm… If you ask me, that is certainly true. Neither canned food nor instant noodles have been produced in sufficient quantities to reach the domestic market. In fact, it can be said that even at the present stage, they have not gone beyond the prototype production stage. The production volume is gradually increasing, but it seems to be a pre-production type for military use.
The menu is not very varied, with only onil and smoked meat soup, cream soup, canned salted meat, canned minced meat and beans in tomel sauce, and canned fish boiled in water. I’d like to make canned fruit dipped in syrup or something, but sugar is too expensive. That’s part of the reason I want to have a crop where I can get sugar from.
“Let’s just say we are thinking in the direction of refining the technology itself, accumulating the know-how, and then exporting or releasing the technology to the public.”
“That would be a good idea.”
“Hmm, I agree. It is still early days since we have established the technology. There is a possibility that something could go wrong.”
“That’s true.”
Theoretically, it should be able to be stored for years, but there’s still a chance that something could cause it to spoil or have other harmful effects. For example, the reason we make sure that soups are fire-roasted once is to detoxify toxins in case they’ve been damaged or something. Basically, purification magic should eliminate toxins and pathogens, but even that is not certain. There’s no way to know for sure.
I don’t want to use the military as a test subject, but I agree with them that it’s premature to supply the public and other countries so extensively.
After the meal was over and we had enjoyed the canned food we had brought with us, the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom and the Confederation of Small States asked us many questions, but for the time being, we were able to explain the direction we had discussed here and now and get by.
The technology is new and has only recently been developed. The manufacturing process is still in the process of trial and error, and there is room for further refinement. If we can accumulate enough know-how, we plan to start mass production in the domestic market, and after that, we will be able to sell a certain amount of products abroad. Depending on the situation, we are also considering exporting the technology and making it public.
“High-performance preserved food has a high military value, but if it is used for civilian purposes, it can be used as stockpiled food in times of disaster, and it can also create new jobs in food processing. If crops that were previously unsuitable for preservation can be preserved for long periods of time, the food situation of the entire country will improve, and it could also become a new means of earning foreign currency.”
“Are you telling me that you will release such technology in the future? What would be in it for your country?”
I don’t know what country he was from, but he was a grumpy-looking winged man, and I answered him with a shrug.
“Everyone has a hard time when they are hungry, don’t you think? If everyone could avoid starvation, I think it would reduce the amount of conflict. Besides, it would make things a little easier for our country if you felt a little indebted to us.”
“…I see.”
When I answered his question, he smiled bitterly. I don’t know if he thought I was a working-class idealist or if he was smiling because of the bluntness of the last part of the statement, but I’m glad I was able to turn his grumpy face into a bitter smile. It doesn’t seem like I made a bad impression on him.
“Anyway, it’s something for the future. As I said, if you are interested, I think we can handle it to some extent if you send an official emissary to us. The current Merinard Kingdom is changing into the new Merinard Kingdom that is different from the old Merinard Kingdom and the Merinard Kingdom under the rule of the Holy Kingdom, so I think there are many aspects that are worth seeing.”
Of course, we don’t open everything to the public without restrictions. Basically, the Research and Development Department is off-limits to outsiders, and the Riflemen and Magic Riflemen are the core forces responsible for national defense. However, crossbows are becoming increasingly popular in the civilian world, and they are standard equipment in our military, so it’s probably okay to show them off to a certain extent.
The conference, which was a tasting of new canned foods, was well received by the audience and ended on a high note.
There are no plans from here until dinner. So, what should we do? As for me, I’d like to see the normal life and streets of the Dragon Mountain Kingdom.