Read Novel Full Vol 25 Chapter 7
Vol 25 Chapter 7
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Chapter 7 – Fun Feast
After much deliberation, I purchased the Hakata houseboat. The very next day, I threw a party to enjoy it to the fullest. I chose a menu of “motsunabe,” also known as offal hotpot. Since offal isn’t commonly eaten in this world, I thought it would be a chance to make a strong impression and show my guests how delicious it can be. However, when the time came, I became so engrossed in the motsunabe that I neglected the girls completely.
“My apologies. So, um, how does it taste?”
Realizing that I had neglected them, I tried to make amends by asking for their impressions.
Advertisement“We haven’t eaten yet. Except for Carla.”
“Ufufu, Wataru was eating so deliciously that I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.”
Alessia-san and Ilma-san answered my question. Apparently, everyone had decided to wait until they saw me eat first. In short, I was the taste tester.
I thought I’d earned their trust, but it seems I still couldn’t win them over when it came to offal dishes, except for Carla-san.
They were planning to eat after hearing my thoughts, but I didn’t stop until I finished my first bowl, which led to this situation.
Meanwhile, Carla-san, with Saporabi by her side, was emptying serving dishes one after another, alternating between soy sauce and miso.
There’s no need to ask her opinion; she clearly loves it. When she puts the food in her mouth and chews, her body shivers. Is her body reacting to the rich umami of the fat or the vegetables?
It’s strangely alluring, making me unsure where to look. Her eating speed is so incredible, though, that even that allure fades into the background.
Still, she clearly loves it, alternating bites as she finishes every last drop of hot pot broth in her bowl.
Although it’s a stew that should be chewed slowly because of its texture, the way she devours it at the pace of wanko soba makes it feel fantastical.
“Haha, it’s been so long since I’ve had this. I just got carried away. My apologies. But it’s such delicious food that it makes you lose yourself like that. Please enjoy it too, everyone.”
Advertisement“Oh my, I’ll enjoy it for sure. Everyone, let’s dig in.”
After Alessia-san spoke, the girls picked up their chopsticks and began eating the offal hotpot. I was engrossed in it myself, and Carla-san was eating so quickly that she might empty the pot. They must have already been convinced it was delicious.
“Huh? The fat tastes sweet. Master, why is the fat sweet?”
Ines, sitting next to me, suddenly asked a difficult question. Even if she asks me that…
“Um… I don’t know why the fat tastes sweet, but I think it’s because it’s been properly prepared. There’s no unpleasant smell, and you can really taste the fat itself… probably.”
“I failed. I threw away such delicious offal. If people could eat offal, life would be so much easier for everyone…”
Felicia, who had been hiding deep in the forest, murmured with a pained expression. Since she said they hunted for food, they must have had plenty of opportunities to get fresh offal.
Well, most of the prey were probably monsters, and I don’t know if their offal tastes as good as beef, pork, or chicken.
But if there were even one type of prey whose offal was tasty, it would have made life easier.
Judging by Felicia’s skill with the bow, dark elves must be a race skilled in archery. They would have been able to secure a reasonable amount of prey. However, living deep in the forest meant a shortage of daily necessities.
The variety and taste of their meals would have been limited. Add ingredients rich in savory fat with a satisfying texture and novel taste, and their enjoyment of food would have been incomparably richer.
AdvertisementIt’s understandable that she’d be disappointed. Even grilled offal is delicious.
“But it’s not too late. Master, could you teach me how to prepare offal? I want to teach everyone on Dark Elf Island.”
Life on Dark Elf Island should be much easier than before, but having more things to look forward to can’t be all bad.
“I want to learn, too.”
Claretta-san, of course, joined the conversation. This was the perfect chance for Wataru-kun to show off his knowledge and boost their favorability, but unfortunately, all I knew about preparing offal was rubbing it with wheat or salt.
But that’s just the final step of the preparation process, right?
Felicia and Claretta probably want to know the basics, like how to remove the innards from hunted game. I don’t know that.
There might be a book on that subject in the luxury liner’s library, but I doubt such a niche book would be included in its carefully curated collection.
What to do. Should I just give up on gaining favor here? Huh?
In the corner of my vision, Soparabi is doing some kind of pantomime. Is it because I freed their consciousness, or is this strange behavior?
No, they’re pointing toward the kitchen. Maybe appointing someone as staff grants knowledge of offal processing methods.
Advertisement“I’m not that knowledgeable myself, but appointing someone as a staff cook on this ship might give them that knowledge.”
Since offal prep falls under meat processing, chefs probably don’t handle it from the start.
However, I think there’s a decent chance they could learn about processing methods and identify fresh offal.
After all, whether it’s a ferry or a luxury liner, hiring kitchen staff gives you basic knowledge of ingredients. That’s what I’m aiming for with fugu cuisine, too.
On a ship that handles offal, the chances of acquiring that knowledge are pretty high. It seems tough to absorb enough to remember it all, but the two of them should manage somehow.
Though they looked disappointed by my vague explanation, they were motivated by my later words.
Saporabi also nodded as if to say that was fine. With their consciousness freed, Saporabi is quietly competent, you know.
“Master, please appoint me as staff.”
“Me too, please!”
“…We’re in the middle of a feast right now. Let’s focus on enjoying the meal. Don’t worry; there will be plenty of opportunities later.”
I don’t mind appointing them as staff, but I’d find it unsettling to have them scrutinize the food like chefs. So, I’ll pass for now.
AdvertisementRecognizing that we were in the middle of a feast, they both nodded in understanding.
“Wataru, seconds! Also, Saporabi won’t let me have any soup.”
Before I knew it, Carla-san had emptied both the soy sauce and miso pots. That was fast.
Saporabi seemed frantic, pleading with Carla-san, who appeared confused and unable to understand.
…Not letting her drink the soup? I see.
“Carla-san, I think Saporabi is trying to say, ‘Finish it off,’ rather than ‘Drink all the soup.’ Motsunabe tastes great when you add ramen noodles, udon noodles, or rice to the soup at the end. I recommend champon noodles. Would you like seconds without trying it first?”
If I had shown her the menu and pointed to the “finishing touch” section, she would have understood. Maybe Saporabi got flustered by how fast Carla-san was eating, or maybe her response wasn’t quite right.
If I hadn’t been so preoccupied, I could’ve probably handled it calmly. Or maybe I wouldn’t have thought twice and just prepared the second serving.
This confusion that comes with being too flexible might be the biggest downside of Saporabi’s consciousness liberation.
“Finishing touch! I’m not done yet, but I want the finishing touch, too! All of it!”
Wanting everything without finishing? Well, Carla-san could probably manage it.
It would make me happy if she tried my recommended chanpon noodles too. Even though I’m eating motsunabe, I’m suddenly craving Nagasaki chanpon.
AdvertisementMaybe some ferries sell chanpon if I compare ferry menus. It seems like the shops and cafeterias on ferries vary by route, so I think I could find some if I looked hard enough.
The problem is whether to take a ferry just for chanpon, but that’s the same dilemma as with the beef bowl vending machine. A houseboat for the sake of food seems extravagant, but a ferry is just too luxurious.
For now, I’ll focus on the motsunabe. Everyone seems to be enjoying it, so I’ll savor mine, too. Next up is the miso flavor.
I ask Saporabi to serve me the miso motsunabe, and just as with the soy sauce flavor, I take a light sip of the broth.
Miso and fat are a perfect match, as proven by sinfully rich miso like “fat miso” that makes you want endless rice or pork soup, where melted pork fat creates unparalleled umami.
The broth made from the fat melting out of the marucho (pork intestine), the deep richness of the thick miso, and the added umami from the vegetables simply can’t be bad. The strong umami and richness relax your body and melt away all tension.
The combination of miso and fat is truly top-tier.
Come to think of it, butter in miso ramen is delicious, too. Fatty miso is a staple in Okinawa, and Hokkaido’s miso butter ramen is also exceptionally tasty.
In other words, this proves that the combination of miso and fat is outstanding throughout Japan. There’s no way miso-flavored hot pot could be bad.
Personally, though, I would add a dash of chili flakes or a spicy pepper.
AdvertisementIt’s unnecessary with soy sauce, but with miso, I think adding a sharp spiciness makes it even better.
Following my craving, I added the spicy pepper from the condiments served on the side. This completed the ultimate miso motsunabe.
After that, I alternate between the miso and soy sauce flavors, washing them down with draft beer and switching to shochu at the right moment.
For the final course, I’ll have chanpon noodles.
Since I don’t have a bottomless stomach like Carla-san’s, I have to decide whether to add the chanpon noodles to the soy sauce or the miso broth.
Lately, I’ve been faced with these fun yet agonizing choices often. But hey, there’s still time before adding the finishing touch.
Rather than deciding now, I’ll choose the one I crave at the very last moment, which will surely be the best finishing touch for the day. Until then, I’ll enjoy this lively, fun feast.
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