The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick up Trash - Volume 2 - Chapter 126

Chapter 126:

Pigeon Soup

AT THE BUTCHER, I laid out the meat and bones of three pigeons. Ciel had gone all out and nabbed four pigeons for me, so I took three to the butcher and kept one for our dinner tonight.

“Thank you. Oooh, man, thank you so much!”

“It’s nothing! I hope your wife likes it.”

“Huh?! Ack, hey…”

Oops! The captain was the one who told me about the wedding anniversary. I looked at the butcher. He was blushing and making a bunch of choked sounds. I didn’t think he’d be this flustered over it.

“Ahem. Uhh, here’s your money.” He changed the subject. Phew. I wasn’t sure what to say, and I’d feel awful if I made things worse. “By the way,” he asked, “when are you planning to head out?”

“I’m thinking three days from now.”

My money problem was solved, and I’d already gotten my account plate back. Rattloore and Sifar received the same amount of money. They said I could easily afford a slave now. Veteran explorers like them really didn’t bat an eye at fifteen gold tokens. It took me two whole days to drum up the courage to check my bank account. Even knowing they’d deposited the money, I still blinked over and over at the balance.

“That so? Things are gonna be lonely around here without you.”

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

“Aw, c’mon. You’re the one helping me out, especially with this!” He lifted the pigeon meat. I could see a flush creeping over his cheeks again. When I giggled, he blushed harder. Now I feel guilty.

“Oh, I was hoping to buy some dried meat…” I looked at the shelf, but it was picked clean. Adventurers were still coming in constantly to buy out his stock. This place really was a hot spot these days.

“Yeah? Here you go.”

“Huh?” I looked back to him. He was holding five big bags of dried meat.

“They’re just crappy scraps, but, y’know.” It was clear he’d put these aside just for me.

“That’s fine. Thank you! How much will it be?”

“Call it a parting gift. After all, they’re just scraps.”

My money and five bags of dried meat sat atop the counter.

“Thank you so much. Oh, right…” I took out a paper parcel of medicinal plants. It was a mix of seasonings that, when cooked into meat, removed the gamey odor and made it more tender. “Take this. Rub it into the meat, leave it for a while, and then cook it. It’ll remove the smell and make it taste better.”

“Oooh…” He opened the paper and sniffed, then put some on his tongue to taste and nodded in satisfaction. “Are these medicinal plants? You’ve got all kinds in here, too.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you a pharmacist as well, son?”

“No, sir. Not at all; I just use them for seasoning.”

“Still incredible that you know enough about these to cook with them. Thanks!”

“I don’t know if it’ll suit your tastes, so just try a little at first.”

“Ha ha ha, got it. I’ll do that.”

I stowed the money and dried meat in their respective bags and said goodbye. The butcher was a good guy. I couldn’t believe he was more easily embarrassed than the GM!

As I walked back to the plaza, I planned tonight’s dinner. I wouldn’t get to cook many more meals like this, so I’d better make the most of it. Pigeon, huh? I hear pharmacies sell pigeon soup. It’s still midday, so maybe I could make some rich broth if I start simmering it now?

“I’d better do my best!”

All that remained was to get everything ready for my trip. Or so I said, but Rattloore had already made repairs to my tent, and Bolorda gifted me three common magic bags. He had plenty, so he was happy to give me ones he didn’t need. That lightened my load considerably, which helped a lot. Sifar also gave me a small pot his ex-girlfriend had bought him. It was enchanted with water magic, so it could fill itself, which was extra-convenient. Wow, I’m all set.

The plaza came into view. All right, time to make some delicious dinner!

The scent coming from the simmering pot wafted around the tents. The broth I’d thrown together from the pigeon bones was rich and savory. Using the pigeon broth as a base, I whipped up a veggie-filled soup that turned out spectacular. Putting in meat was a good idea, too. I added plenty of generous chunks and let it simmer for as long as I could. Past Me called it braised pork, but I’d never heard of an animal called a “pork.” I tried a spoonful. The sauce clung to the meat and tasted wonderful.

Next up was a vegetable side dish. Usually I made salad, but since the sauce was so good on its own, I went for simple boiled potatoes to sop it up. As for the pigeon meat, I deep-fried that. Past Me had insisted that birds had to be deep-fried.

“Looks good,” Sifar mused. I’d felt his aura as he approached, so his comment didn’t startle me this time—but why was he here? I thought he’d gone home.

“Shouldn’t you be working right now?” I asked.

“I just had a nice windfall, so I’ll be taking a little time off.”

“Really?”

“Or so I’d like to say, but Seizerk’s working me like a dog,” he complained.

“Oh, is that so? Sorry to hear it.”

“Yeah. Well, if I just laze around all day I’ll get weak! So you’d better make some dinner for me, too, ’kay?”

I didn’t really see the connection, but food tasted better with everyone gathered around, so I didn’t mind. Besides, today’s soup was a masterpiece. Sifar liked soup, so I was glad he came.

“So, what kind of soup is this?” Sifar asked. “It smells amazing. The scent is familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it…”

“The broth is made from pigeon bones.”

Sifar yelped. What? That was a not-very-Sifar sound.

“Um, what’s wrong? You don’t like pigeon?” As far as I was concerned, the taste-tests had been delicious so far.

“Pigeon soup’s supposed to be really bitter, isn’t it?”

Bitter? What is he talking about? The broth isn’t bitter…oh! Pharmacies sell pigeon soup, don’t they? I think they mix medicinal plants in to give it restorative properties. Maybe that’s why it’s bitter.

“This isn’t like the soup at pharmacies, don’t worry,” I assured him. “Would you like to try it?”

“Uhh, sure.” Sifar ladled some soup in a small bowl and timidly sipped at it. Was the pigeon soup sold at pharmacies really that disgusting? “Huh? It’s good… Is this really pigeon soup?”

He looked so befuddled that I couldn’t help but laugh. Still, I was even more curious about that medicinal soup now. Maybe I should give it a try.

“Don’t you dare go near that pharmacy soup,” he warned. Huh? It’s like he’s reading my mind. “That stuff’s awful. I can only force it down when I’m so sick I can’t taste anything.”

“Is it that gross?”

“Yeah. That’s why I frankly find it hard to believe this is really pigeon soup.”

They must’ve been selling some nasty stuff. But maybe they weren’t worried about taste—it wasn’t meant to be palatable, it was meant to be medicine.

I tended to dinner and chatted with Sifar until Seizerk and the others returned. For some reason, they all brought gifts.

“We don’t have much time left together,” Seizerk said gloomily. His words made me choke up a little. I still had a few days, but…I was already getting so soppy.

“Thank you.”

Just as we had our spoons poised to dig in, Sifar shouted, “Hey, everyone! It’s pigeon soup today.” Everyone froze, horror on their faces. Marcreek and Bolorda were millimeters away from sipping their soup, so they were especially startled. “Ivy put his blood, sweat, and tears into this meal, so clean your plates, got it? Okay, let’s eat!”

Incredible, Sifar. I did my best to stifle my laughter.

“What’s the matter? Aren’t you gonna eat, Bolorda?” he teased.

“Uh, yeah, er…of course I’ll eat it, but…” Bolorda’s distress made me really want to laugh hard. He must’ve hated the stuff.

Sifar grinned gleefully. If Bolorda had looked up at Sifar, he’d have been able to tell something was up, but he was totally panicking. He timidly brought his spoon to his lips. Everyone except Sifar and me watched with bated breath as Bolorda swallowed a mouthful.

“Hm? Wha?” The moment he took a bite, everyone had gasped. Now they all looked on in confusion. “It’s good! Huh. Why is it good?”

“Duh. Ivy would never cook anything gross for us,” Sifar said before sitting back to devour his own soup. Following his lead, the others sampled theirs and went wide-eyed in surprise.

“Pfft, ah ha ha ha!” I couldn’t help but laugh. Now I really had to know about the medicinal soup, but this was funny.

“Sifar! Even you, Ivy…” Bolorda sighed as we doubled over with laughter. Sorry! It was funny.