Chapter 3

The food is terrible.

That’s the whole story of the food situation in this world. If I were to say it, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration at all.

The staple grains in this country are either porridge or bread.

But both are terrible. The bread is more like black bread or mixed with coarse grains; it’s not the fluffy, refined kind. The porridge isn’t made from white rice but from something like oats. I guess you could call it oatmeal. The feeling of eating it is just so off.

The soups aren’t much better either. They’re kind of watery, lacking in umami. In this world, they try to bring out the flavor with bits of meat and beans, but it’s bland. I wish I had some bouillon cubes. The saltiness is the only thing that makes it somewhat bearable.

As for salads, they’re a whole different story. Some can be quite delicious, but they haven’t been selectively bred, so... to me, they taste like weeds.

If someone says I have a refined palate, I can only agree. I have a modern human’s palate. Of course, it’s well-developed. I’ve gotten used to the flavors here to some extent, but I haven’t forgotten the tastes from the past.

However, there are delicious dishes in this world.

Meat.

"Leave the meat for me!"

"Grunt!"

I nimbly dodge the charge of the Crazy Boar and slash its throat from the side. Blood gushes from the deep wound. The request to hunt the Crazy Boar, known for its mad charges, is one I secretly look forward to. This boar has killed several new guild members who underestimated it. The reason is simple: the meat of the Crazy Boar is quite delicious.

"Alright, time to bleed it! Time to gut it!"

The nearby forest has streams flowing through it. The massive body of the Crazy Boar weighs nearly 100 kilograms, but I easily carry it to the stream and plop it in. At the same time, I use my bastard sword to slice open its belly and remove the organs. I eat the liver and heart. There are other organs I could eat, but they’re too much trouble to process and don’t taste good to me, so I discard them.

This task, which might make a modern human feel squeamish, has become routine for me. Hunger can give a person a strong drive. I’d gut any amount of meat for a delicious meal.

"Alright, good, good..."

Besides the organs, I also eat the loin and the tongue. The thick, tender tongue is irresistible.

I’ve heard that pigs also have feet, but I’ve never tried them because I don’t know how to process them. I’m also afraid of eating the brain.

My standard is simple: if it tastes good when salted and grilled, it’s the right choice. Grilling with just a bit of salt is incredibly delicious and easy. It’s much better than eating inferior agricultural products or processed foods.

That’s why I actively take requests to hunt monsters that can be turned into meat. The battles themselves are easy, and the quests often tell you where to find the delicious prey.

"Yum."

I divide the meat into three parts: some to be grilled on the spot, some to be smoked, and some to take back. The organs are a hunter’s privilege, so I quickly take them. The liver, in particular, provides the nutrients I need since I don’t eat many vegetables. I prioritize eating the tongue myself rather than giving it away. The meat from the back is also delicious, so I take it quickly. The leg meat is easy to carry and good for selling, so I take it back. It’s not just for a little extra money; it’s also a hobby that comes in handy.

Embarrassingly, my technique isn’t very good.

That’s why I do this work while camping in the forest. Although monsters appear at night, I’m willing to put in the effort for the meat.

...I want to make a sauce. I want a sauce, I really do.

But I don’t even know how to make soy sauce, so making a sauce is out of the question. The best I can do is sprinkle some herb-infused salt. Damn, I miss sauce. I don’t need rice or anything, but I want a sauce, a sauce.

"Hey? What’s this, Mongrel, you’ve caught quite a big one again, haven’t you?"

After finishing the hunt and returning to the city, the usual gatekeeper called out to me, looking bored. I was carrying a balance pole with a chunk of meat slung over my shoulder, looking like a brave hunter who had done a good job.

"Hey, got some meat here!"

"Are you a butcher? Hahaha!"

"I’m more of a meat supplier. Can you let me through?"

"Sure thing. Meat supplier Mongrel, returning from a nearby mission. Hand over your permit."

"...It’s in my left pocket. Can you get it? As you can see, I can’t move."

"Don’t put your hand in a stranger’s pocket... Here, is this it? Alright. But next time, use the service gate."

"No way. I can do the butchering myself, so I don’t need to rely on them."

At the city’s entrance, there’s usually a service gate for transporting supplies.

This gate is used to bring in the bodies of monsters killed during nearby missions, and there’s a butchering station right inside, which is convenient. However, if you use their services, they take a cut of the money. They also always ask about the fur, and if you say you discarded it because it was in the way, they give you a disapproving look. I don’t really like that gate. I only use it if there’s a large number of bodies and the butchering can’t keep up. I prefer to butcher the meat myself because I want to eat it.

"You’re a strange one. Thinking about becoming a butcher?"

"I’m not ruling it out."

"Really?"

"Well, I’m better suited for physical labor."

"True. If you can roll a Crazy Boar by yourself, you’re definitely cut out for being a guild member."

Sure, I could become a butcher if I wanted to.

But since I have a gift, I might as well use it to make things easier.

"Hey, I made some smoked meat in the forest. It’s a gift."

"Wow! Really? I’ll take it! Thanks a lot!"

"Share it with everyone. It’ll probably cause some arguments, though."

I try to get along with the gatekeepers.

It’s not like I’m bribing them for some shady reason. It’s just that it’s always good to be on good terms with people in these positions.

If I’m known, I can get through quickly, especially during busy times, and maybe even get in just before the gates close at night.

Plus, it’s easier to operate if people think I’m just a regular guild member with physical strength.

"See you at the bar later."

"Sure thing! See you next time!"

Well, after reporting the mission, I’ll quickly head to the meat party. Even terrible bread and soup become a feast with plenty of meat.