Read Novel Full Vol 25 Chapter 6
Vol 25 Chapter 6
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Chapter 6 – Unveiling
After successfully negotiating with God of Commerce-sama and feeling relieved, I decided to choose a new ship. I sat down in the massage chair and opened the ship purchase screen. There were so many appealing ships that I agonized over my choice for a long time. However, it was worth it because I selected a ship that I’m satisfied with.
“Wataru, Wataru, I’m looking forward to tonight’s feast!”
While transporting monsters, Carla-san effortlessly moved a large monster onto a raft and approached me with a smile.
AdvertisementEver since announcing at breakfast that there would be a feast tonight, Carla-san had been beaming like this. The words that followed were…
“Wataru, so what kind of feast is tonight’s feast going to be?”
She probably thinks she’s asking casually, but it’s obvious, and it’s hard to pretend to be fooled.
Well, advance information ruins the surprise, so being asked so skillfully is annoying, too.
“It’s a secret.”
“Mmmph, Wataru’s mean.”
Carla-san’s pout is really cute. However, the sight of her hugging a giant monster is far from cute.
“Fufu, but please look forward to it.”
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it!”
We’ve had this same conversation several times since this morning, but Carla-san is so adorable that it doesn’t bother me at all.
Since Pent knows tonight is the feast, he’s grown bigger and is happily helping to carry the monster.
Rimu is probably working hard at the hospital and is surely full of energy. He’s bouncing up and down above Fuu-chan on Marina-san’s head while diligently treating patients.
Of course, the other girls are too.
AdvertisementThe members who like drinking should be especially pumped up since it’s food that goes well with alcohol. I’m looking forward to seeing their reactions.
＊＊＊
“Now, I will summon the newly acquired ship.”
Today’s feast will be held aboard the Chateau out on the open sea. In addition to the usual members, Mear-san will be participating for the first time.
I considered inviting the other executive candidates, but since they don’t know much, I decided against it.
In summoning the Hakata houseboat, I will attempt a new experiment.
“Ship Summoning!”
Up to this point, it’s no different from usual.
Rather, the summoning of the ship itself is no different. What changes is the location of the summon.
AdvertisementAs a new experiment, I have decided to try summoning the newly purchased Hakata houseboat into the Chateau’s pool.
This is not a problem for us, but when inviting the goddesses, summoning them into the pool allows for smoother movement.
This risky move is only possible because neither the summoning ship nor the summoned ship gets damaged.
While it’s a pool for a luxury liner, it’s still a ship’s pool. Therefore, it’s not as big as a land-based pool. If the ship got stuck in the pool by some chance, it would be disastrous if I couldn’t use repatriation.
But before worrying about that, if I couldn’t summon it in the first place, it wouldn’t matter. So hardly anyone could casually attempt something like this.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the magic circle appeared, and the ship landed safely in the pool. I was a bit worried about the width, but it seems to have been fine.
“Hmm, I heard it was a new ship, so I was wondering what kind it would be. It looks similar to a monja ship, doesn’t it?”
Alessia-san tilted her head in puzzlement.
Apparently, because I was excited and trying something novel, like summoning the ship to the pool, she’d misunderstood and thought a uniquely shaped ship would appear.
“Ships shaped like this are commonly used in my hometown to enjoy the scenery and cuisine.”
“So, the novelty isn’t the ship’s shape, but the food?”
AdvertisementAlessia-san nodded, understanding what I meant.
“Exactly. Shall we board then?”
I urged everyone aboard the Hakata houseboat. I wanted to enjoy the hot pot leisurely, and since we’d be having two drinks and there were two types of hot pot per table, I decided to order about five of them.
“The interior has an unusual atmosphere. But that grass mat… There was a room with one on the Stronghold, wasn’t there?”
Mear-san looked around the ship with interest, noticed the tatami, and seemed to understand something. Judging by this, Mear-san seems to be understanding things I haven’t even explained yet.
Well, we signed a strict non-disclosure agreement, so there’s no need to be overly sensitive.
Should we have three tables for six people and three tables for four people? Two six-person tables would suffice, but since we chartered the whole ship, we might as well use it comfortably. Actually, there’s no need to assign seats at all. Let’s allow free movement.
In that case, I’ll summon ten Saporabi, too. Since freeing their consciousness, I’ve come to appreciate their benefits.
I still feel uneasy around them, but now that their consciousness is free, they proactively offer various forms of assistance, significantly improving the ship’s comfort level.
“Well then, cheers.”
Everyone took their preferred seats, raised their favorite drinks, and toasted.
Advertisement“Wataru, is this pot meat?”
Carla-san looked puzzled at the offal that Saporabi had neatly arranged in the pot. The other members also seemed confused by the strange object.
Seeing the expected reaction made me feel pleased.
Yes, this time I chose “offal hotpot.”
Why offal hotpot instead of fugu hotpot? Because in this world, monsters spawn annoyingly often, so meat is relatively plentiful, and there’s no culture of eating offal.
I wanted to serve offal hotpot to let them taste the offal directly and show them how delicious innards can be.
Also, including Donatella and Mear, the girls are not averse to physical labor or greasy food, so I could confidently serve motsunabe.
I set up soy sauce- and miso-flavored motsunabe at each of the four tables and reserved the remaining two tables exclusively for sukiyaki and tempura.
I saved the yosenabe hot pot and fugu dishes for another occasion. Since each dish can be the main event, it’s also a result of my frugal nature—I’d rather enjoy them over several visits than consume them all at once.
I’m eager to savor the depth of the seafood in the yosenabe and the delicate yet potent flavor of fugu, especially the combination of fugu sashimi and sake. However, I must wait.
Also, Mear-san isn’t quite used to sashimi yet. While the other girls are accustomed to raw fish from sushi and other Japanese dishes, I don’t think it’s appropriate to tentatively introduce her to fugu sashimi.
AdvertisementThe motsunabe course comes with a sashimi platter, so hopefully she’ll get used to it through that.
“Huh? This white, plump stuff… is it offal?”
Claretta-san raised her voice unusually at my explanation of the motsunabe. Her surprise likely stems from her strong interest in cooking.
Alessia-san and the others also recoiled slightly. However, I didn’t sense the same strong rejection as with the monjayaki. Perhaps it’s because, even though it’s offal, it’s still meat.
“It’s a dish that takes some nerve, but just like with the monjayaki, when Wataru makes that face about a dish, it’s always delicious. In fact, I’ve never had anything that Wataru prepared that wasn’t delicious…”
Ah, so her experience with monjayaki is shaping her reaction now. That’s the power of conditioning.
“Well, tastes vary, so I can’t say it’s absolute. But in the country where I lived, it’s famous as a specialty from a region known for its great food, so I think it’s safe to have high expectations.”
When I think of regions famous for delicious food, Hakata definitely ranks high. Actually, maybe not just Hakata, but Fukuoka…or rather, Kyushu. Those two regions are my top two. I’ll accept objections.
Then there’s Nagoya, but something about that feels off. They have hitsumabushi, chicken wings, teppan-style Napolitan spaghetti, and kishimen noodles.
Nagoya has undeniably great cuisine, but it also gives me the impression of pushing the boundaries of eccentricity.
“Well, then. Shall we start eating? There are two flavors: soy sauce and miso. Both are delicious, so please enjoy. If you don’t like them, there’s sukiyaki and tempura at another table, so don’t force yourself.”
AdvertisementBy the time I finished explaining, the pot was hot enough, so I urged them to start eating.
I’ll start with the traditional soy sauce flavor.
I put some motsunabe on a small plate and took a sip of the broth. The slightly sweet, garlicky broth and the rich umami of the oil hit me hard.
But, surprisingly, the aftertaste was light. Despite the bold seasoning and strong condiments, it somehow felt refreshing—that’s the mystery of soy sauce–based motsunabe.
Next, the cabbage. It was cooked just enough to soften slightly yet still retain a faint crisp bite. This level of doneness is actually my favorite.
Next came the garlic chives, followed by enoki mushrooms and burdock root.
While the offal is undoubtedly delicious in motsunabe, I also think it’s a hot pot dish in which the vegetables taste exceptionally good.
I slurp the broth once more, then finally tackle the main attraction: the offal.
My first choice is the large intestine.
It’s not a cliché like starting with beef tongue when grilling meat; I simply love marucho the most. I genuinely believe it’s the tastiest part of motsunabe. Of course, I’m open to differing opinions, well, maybe not entirely.
Lost in these trivial thoughts, I pop the white, glossy, plump piece into my mouth.
Chewing releases the sweetness of its fat.
AdvertisementI like the fat on sirloin steak, too, but when it comes to rich fat, marucho wins hands down.
It’s the same cow—although maybe not the same exact cow—but the marucho’s fat is so delicious, it’s incomparable. I don’t know why, but it has an intense sweetness.
After that plump sensation, the intestine’s crisp, springy texture gives a satisfying crunch in your mouth.
Pliant, juicy, and crunchy—a blissfully harmonious combination.
Chew slowly and savor the texture and rich flavor of the fat.
The fat in the intestine is sweet and rich yet not overwhelmingly heavy.
It’s not overwhelmingly heavy, but it is fat, so your mouth does get quite greasy. That’s where a cold draft beer comes in.
Its bitterness, richness, and crispness wash away the oil and sweetness cleanly. Then, you’ll want another bite.
How about soy sauce next? Or maybe miso?
Huh? Oh no! I got so absorbed in eating that I neglected the girls. I’ll have to put my enjoyment on hold and fulfill my role as host.
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