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“Hey there. Looks like business is booming again today.”
Roy stopped by just before the sun was about to hit its peak.
Having rotated over to the giba manju stall, I smiled and greeted him. “Welcome.” By this point, the young chef from the castle town had clearly become one of our regulars.
Apparently, after losing his job at the Turan manor, he had started doing independent study to improve his cooking skills rather than returning to his old restaurant. Since he had been so well compensated working for Cyclaeus, he could afford not to work for a year or so.
Roy wore a hooded cloak like a traveler in order to avoid attracting attention from the rougher elements about the post town, and from somewhere on the inside he pulled out some red coins.
“I’ll take one. This dish costs two red coins, right?”
“Yes. Thanks for your continued business. It’s hot, so take care not to burn yourself while eating it.”
“I know already. I mean, I’ve already eaten it countless times by this point,” Roy grumbled with an angry look on his freckled face as he accepted the giba manju.
Though they were on the small side compared to the giba burgers, they still had plenty of volume to them as far as meat-filled manju went. And the way that the white steam wafted off of them really stirred up the appetite.
For these manju, I actually used fuwano rather than poitan for the outer layer. Since you couldn’t solidify the poitan by just adding water, you also couldn’t make raw dough with it. And when you added the yam-like gigo to fuwano it gained a puffy texture, which made it well suited for this dish.
As he bit into his giba manju, Roy murmured, “Right.” It seemed he had no complaints with how it had turned out, since it had the same taste as always. And since there was no break in customers in the meantime, I was handing over one dish after another all the while.
Before long, the upper steamer basket was emptied out, so I set another one Toor Deen had already prepared on the bottom and headed to the wagon with the old one to restock it. And as I did so, Roy followed along behind me as he chewed away at the giba manju.
“Hey, you really are thriving here.”
“Yes, and I’m grateful for that.”
“Well, I guess it’d be strange if you couldn’t sell something with a taste like this for two red coins. I certainly can’t imagine the paupers of the post town having any complaints.”
“Um, we’re right in the middle of the post town, so I really think you should avoid making comments like that.”
“That’s why I waited to say it until you were the only one who could hear.”
Roy was as mouthy as always.
But, well, as long as he wasn’t heaping abuse on anyone I was close to, I figured it was best to just let it slide. Still, I couldn’t help but find it more than a little frustrating, as I really was kinda fond of this foul-mouthed young chef.
“Hey, roughly how many meals have your stalls been selling?” Roy asked as I refilled the steamer basket with giba manju.
“Let’s see, we sell one hundred of those giba manju you’re eating each day, 120 of the giba meat poitan wraps from the other stall, and thirty of the special menu item, the giba cutlet sandwiches. Oh, and as for the Ruu clan’s stalls, they’ve been selling eighty each of the giba burgers and myamuu giba.”
That was the number we could sell without extras in just over three hours on a single day. Our sales really had undergone a rapid expansion, when one considered that not long ago we were preparing 150 meals and having leftovers after five hours.
Actually, the sales couldn’t even be properly compared since the price itself had risen, but the Ruu alone were moving a bit more than we used to, and then the new dishes on offer at the Fa clan stalls added even more to that.
What was most exciting to me, though, was that we were now getting more customers from the west. Up until now they made up around twenty percent of our clientele, but now that number had risen to about forty percent. And when you added on the increased number of people stopping by to check things out, I’d say we now had five times as many people coming by our stalls. That above all else was proof of how discrimination against the people of the forest’s edge and giba meat was lessening.
“Still, all of your prices are just two or three red coins. You can’t be turning much of a profit like that, can you?”
“That’s not true at all. We’ve been earning more than enough for our efforts. And also...at least for now, the people of the forest’s edge don’t pay any taxes.”
“Huh? Why’s that? You’re technically all citizens of Genos, aren’t you?”
“Yes. But up until now, the only work they did was as hunters, so there were no earnings to tax. That’s why in exchange for being banned from cultivating fields or gathering the fruits of the forest, they were granted an exemption from taxes. In fact, from what I’ve been told, the people of the forest’s edge don’t even know what taxes are to begin with.”
“Hmph! That’s why everyone calls the people of the forest’s edge...” Roy started to say, only to suddenly hold his tongue. He was probably intending to say something like “barbarians.” But now he was awkwardly silent as he turned away.
Still, if he could feel awkward about something like that, then I was sure he could eventually revise how he regarded the folks from the post town too. And that was why I couldn’t bring myself to truly hate the guy, even as rude as he was.
“Well, not like I care either way... Now that I think about it, I heard the head chef from the house of Daleim was running a shop in the post town. How is that going?”
“Oh, Yang’s place? From what I’ve been told, recently he expanded beyond just the stall and has made an inn’s dining hall the center of his business, where he’s been revealing all sorts of dishes. After all, his main goal now is to help popularize all those ingredients flowing in from the castle town.”
“Hmph... I hear the head chef has a fairly noteworthy reputation too. He sure got mixed up in quite the enjoyable little commotion.”
“He’s said he finds it to be a really satisfying, worthwhile job. And, well, the inn’s owner is seemingly even more passionate,” I said with a chuckle as I picked up the steamer basket and returned to the stall.
When I got there, I found a customer I was well acquainted with. Someone who left Roy taken aback.
The older man had a thin yet firm build, and a stern face that looked like it was carved out of an oak. It was Mikel of Turan, the former chef from the castle town who presently worked as a charcoal seller.
“Welcome. Thanks for your continued business,” I called out.
In the meantime, I stole a glance out of the corner of my eye at Roy and found him frozen in place with a look of astonishment. From what I knew, the two of them had likely worked in the kitchen of the same restaurant in the past.
“Ah, there you finally are. I’ve got some business with you today...” Mikel said, somehow looking even more cranky than usual.
Then, a little head of dark brown hair peeked out from behind him. As I was wondering just who that could be, she nervously stepped from behind Mikel’s back.
“P-Pleased to meet you! My name is Myme, and I’m Mikel’s daughter.”
“Huh? Y-You’re Mikel’s daughter?” I reacted without thinking.
While I had heard Mikel had a family, I never imagined he would have such a young daughter.
No matter how I figured it, Mikel had to be around fifty, while this girl looked to be about Toor Deen’s age, ten or so at most. And she was a seriously adorable young girl at that, with her long dark-brown hair dangling down in front of her chest in braids.
Her skin color was typical of a westerner, and her light brown eyes shone brightly. She was wearing the sort of dress I often saw around the post town with an embroidered vest on top, and she held a large woven basket by the handles.
“I’m honored to meet you, Asuta of the Fa clan! Umm... I look forward to this experience, and hope you will forgive my lack of skill.”
“Huh? Umm... Yeah, nice to meet you.”
I didn’t know what experience she was referring to, but at any rate I bowed back to her, only for Myme to shoot me a flustered yet joyful smile. Her grin was as charming and earnest as that of Rimee Ruu or Tara.
“I’ve wanted to meet with you ever since dad let me sample your cooking! And today, that wish has finally been granted!”
“Glad to hear it,” I replied as I looked and saw her father wearing a stern, sour expression.
Ever since we reopened for business in the ashen month, Mikel had been purchasing two meals and apparently bringing them back to the Turan lands. I didn’t mind that at all, but still, why were the two of them standing there with such completely opposite looks on their faces?
“Umm, hold on for just a bit, all right?” I said as I set down the steamer basket in the stall and nodded to a worried-looking Toor Deen before once again facing Mikel. “So, what exactly is your business with me?”
“I’m not the one with business. It’s this idiot daughter of mine.”
“That’s mean. You shouldn’t go calling your own daughter an idiot in front of people like that,” Myme somewhat firmly chided, showing her stronger side. Then, she turned back toward me and held out her large basket. “Umm, the truth of the matter is, I’m in the midst of trying out all sorts of dishes after being inspired by your cooking... If you don’t mind, could you see if you like this one?”
“You want me to try your cooking? But why me?”
“Your unusual cooking left a deep, deep impression on me! And that had a big impact on how I flavored this dish, so I would like to have you give it a taste.”
I felt like I could understand her reasoning, but also not really.
Still, she was the daughter of Mikel, who had once been a prominent chef in the castle town. I was honestly quite curious.
“Umm... There are customers watching, so why don’t we move a bit over that way?”
After letting Toor Deen know the plan, I once again headed over to the wagon, accompanied by Mikel, Myme, and Roy. Mikel still didn’t seem to recognize Roy, and as for the young chef, he seemed to be thinking something but ultimately didn’t speak up.
“P-Please, go right ahead! It should be cool enough to not burn you! And I put a wooden spoon inside too!”
“Right, thanks.”
Inside the basket Myme handed me was a lidded clay container and a wooden spoon.
When I touched it, I found that the container was still piping hot. I placed it atop the wagon, removed the hefty lid, and took in the impressively sweet aroma that came flowing forth.
I see. So it’s a stewed kimyuus leg dish, huh?
Kimyuus was a type of bird with meat that had very similar qualities to chicken.
And that kimyuus leg had been heated with the bone still inside as part of a red soup. The sweet smell must have meant that it used a fruit wine base. Actually, I couldn’t even spy any further ingredients. You could just call the whole dish a kimyuus fruit wine stew.
Perhaps because the clay container was so thick, the contents were still plenty hot even after being transported all the way from the Turan lands. The soup had a good bit of thickness to it, and the leg meat half soaking in it sure did make it look tasty.
“Dad said you utilized the sweetness from fruit wine in your cooking, so I tried out all sorts of things too. Please, dig in,” Myme stated, her cheeks flushed with both tension and excitement. Though she was polite, she was also passionate and resolute. She really did strike a contrast with Toor Deen despite the two seeming close in age.
Secretly feeling excited, I grabbed hold of the spoon and faced the dish head on. But then, I suddenly had a concern: Just how exactly would I eat meat still on the bone with only a single spoon?
“Ah, I boiled the meat until it got nice and soft, so eating it with a spoon should be no issue.”
“I see. Thanks.”
When I used my spoon on the meat, sure enough it peeled right off.
The inside of the meat was ivory white, while the bone was a glossy white. While it had a simple appearance, the aroma really got me looking forward to tasting it.
As such thoughts ran through my head, I brought the spoonful of meat steeped in fruit wine soup to my mouth...and was left dumbfounded. A far more delicious flavor than I had ever expected exploded forth in my mouth.
The mellow sweetness I was tasting certainly did belong to fruit wine. However, that wasn’t all. There were definitely a variety of grated vegetables added in there too. Aria, tarapa, and nenon...and I got the feeling there might have been just a hint of chatchi and pula too. Combined with the amount of salt used, it was all in fantastic harmony.
And that astoundingly exquisite soup had soaked thoroughly into the kimyuus meat. Plus, the stock from the kimyuus had infused properly back into the soup too. Boiling not only the meat but also the bone surely had an impact there.
Kimyuus meat without the skin had a simple taste like chicken tenders. Since it cost even less than karon leg meat, it was the cheapest meat on offer in Genos. And yet this kimyuus meat was unbelievably tasty. It was so tender that you didn’t even need to chew, and it seemed to pleasantly melt together with the soup as it passed down your throat.
There weren’t any special ingredients or anything in the dish. It didn’t even employ the pico leaves or myamuu I made frequent use of. It was made using meat, salt, and vegetables that could all be easily obtained in the post town, as well as cheap fruit wine. Nonetheless, it was incredibly delicious.
As I trembled inside, I went for a second bite.
And as I carefully tasted it, I grew confident: this was the most delicious dish I had ever tasted here in Genos.
This dish was far more tasty than the ones made by Nail, Naudis, Milano Mas...or even Yang, Roy, and Timalo.
Of course, that was ultimately just by my own personal standards. Up until now, only a very limited number of ingredients were available in the post town and their culinary techniques were underdeveloped, while the trends of the castle town seemed to be toward more tricky sorts of flavorings. And so, it would be no surprise to hear my preferences weren’t applicable there.
Still, Myme’s cooking was just so undeniably delicious that it easily overcame any such quibbles. Though the dish used just the limited ingredients of the post town, and was created under the guidance of her father who used to be a chef in the castle town, it was a flavor that even someone born in another world like myself could find no faults with.
I had also given instructions on how to prepare kimyuus meat at The Kimyuus’s Tail, and from what I was told my creations had earned a good reputation. However, this dish was even more delicious. I had no doubt that it was on a whole other level compared to the kimyuus meatballs and kimyuus meat omelettes I had come up with.
“This... This is incredibly tasty,” I finally stated, causing Myme to break out in a look of excitement. As I stealthily wiped away a cold sweat, I turned to face Mikel. “It really is something, creating such a delicious flavor without using anything like sugar or tau oil... I guess I should have expected as much from your daughter, Mikel.”
“I had nothing to do with it. You’re the one who came up with the idea to use fruit wine in cooking, aren’t you?”
“Even so, I don’t have the skill to make something with a taste like this.”
“What are you saying?! Your cooking is definitely tastier than mine, many times over!” Myme objected, but I shook my head.
“No. Or if it is, it’s only because I use giba meat. I still haven’t succeeded at making a kimyuus dish this delicious.”
“Huh? There’s no way that’s true!” Myme protested, adorably puffing up her cheeks.
It was then that Roy finally interjected.
“Mikel, could I try that dish too?”
“Hmm...? And you are...?”
“My name is Roy. We worked together at The Maiden in White. Back then I was just a kid in training, though, so I’m sure you don’t remember me.”
For some reason, Roy had an intense look in his eyes.
And whether he remembered the young chef or not, Mikel’s brow furrowed in displeasure.
“At any rate, you’re asking the wrong person. This has nothing to do with me.”
With the same intense gaze, Roy now glared at Myme.
In response, the girl’s eyes opened wide in a puzzled stare.
“Are you Asuta’s friend?”
“I’m a customer at his stalls. And I used to work at a restaurant in the castle town.”
“Ah, so you worked in the same place as Dad? I would be greatly honored to have such a person eat my cooking,” Myme answered with a carefree grin.
Silently, Roy accepted the wooden spoon from me. Then, as he took a bite of Myme’s dish, he firmly shut his eyes and went silent for a bit before turning toward Mikel.
“Mikel, did your daughter really prepare this?”
“I’ve already said that plenty of times now, haven’t I?”
“I see. Still, this is the taste of your cooking...” Roy murmured, placing down the spoon and backing off without even turning around.
And in his place, a slender figure approached.
“Sorry for the wait, Asuta. It’s time for me to rotate in now.”
“Ah, thanks for coming, Li Sudra.”
At some point, the sun had crept close to its peak.
After giving a slight bow to Mikel and Myme, Li Sudra walked over to the stalls. That meant Morun Rutim must have arrived too. And then, Reina Ruu also came over from the Ruu stalls.
“Asuta, is something the matter?”
“Ah, Reina Ruu, you should also try this...” I started to say, but then I held my tongue. The people of the forest’s edge weren’t supposed to eat from the same plate unless the other person was family. So unfortunately, I would be the only one able to finish off the rest of this dish. “Sorry, could you hold on just a bit longer?”
As Reina Ruu and Myme watched, I went ahead and wolfed down the rest. And as I did so, that delicious flavor was engraved deeper and deeper onto my tongue.
Just why was this dish so tasty? It was just like magic.
I felt like I was being hit by the same sort of shock I had given to the people of the forest’s edge and the citizens of Genos up till now.
“It really is too delicious to put into words. You’re amazing, Myme.”
“I’m incredibly honored to hear you say so, Asuta. It certainly was worth working up the courage to come here to the post town to meet you.”
Myme really did look overjoyed.
And then, her gaze shifted back and forth between me and Reina Ruu.
“Umm... Are you perhaps going to go prepare food for the inns?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“In that case... Umm, would it be all right for me to accompany you?”
“Huh? But why?”
“I want to see you cook, Asuta. I... I admire you...” Myme answered, her face adorably turning as red as a tarapa.
If anyone else told me that I would be honored, but right now I had somewhat complex feelings on the matter.
“I’m really not anything that special. You’re way more skilled, aren’t you?”
“What are you saying?! I’m nothing but a novice trying to follow in your and Dad’s footsteps!”
“Hmm, I’m honored to hear you say so, but still...I can’t go inviting someone into an inn’s kitchen all on my own. After all, that would be imposing on the owner.”
“I see...” Myme replied, hanging her head. But in the next instant, she was once again shooting me a resolute look. “In that case, could I watch you prepare food in your home?”
“What’re you even saying? They live in the settlement at the forest’s edge, you know,” Mikel chided with a frown, but the look in Myme’s eyes didn’t shift.
There was the same passionate shine there that I had seen from Reina and Sheera Ruu. The pure blaze of someone who just wanted to improve themselves as much as possible when it came to cooking.
“Is that not possible either? I promise I won’t get in your way! I just want to know what sorts of techniques you use to create flavors like that!”
“Myme, here in Genos the law states you’re not to set foot in the settlement at the forest’s edge without reason. Are you placing your cooking higher than the laws of Genos?”
“Ah, I’ve been told that comes from the fact that the forest’s edge is a dangerous place... But as long as you don’t have ill intent, coming there shouldn’t be a crime in and of itself,” I interjected. “My house has also welcomed a guest from the east before too. So as long as the head of my clan and the leading clan heads give their approval, it should be possible to invite you two to the forest’s edge as well.”
“You mean...” Myme uttered, her eyes sparkling.
And staring straight back at her, I replied, “If that’s what you want, then I’ll talk to them about it. But in exchange, could you hear out a request of my own?”
“You’re asking me? But what could I ever do for you?” Myme asked, her eyes going wide with bewilderment.
“The same exact thing. I’d like to see you cook too, Myme,” I answered with a smile.
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