Chapter 59

While drying my soaked clothes, I decided to start a fire and begin cooking. It’s only mid-afternoon, but the pot will take time, and I need to marinate other ingredients as well. I’ll practice archery after the fire is going.

Today, I’ll make a pseudo-Karaage with the breast meat, simple salt-grilled skewers with the leg meat, and try making a chicken broth with the leftover bones. I’ll shred the rest and make a mock Bang Bang Chicken. Without a proper sauce, it won’t taste as I imagined, but at least it will have a Harperia flavor. The ingredients themselves are delicious, so it should be better than the food served at inns.

I cut the puff bird and place the necessary parts on plates. I slice the breast meat against the grain and dunk it in the marinade. Ah, I wish I had soy sauce. I cut the leg meat roughly and throw the bones into the pot. The skin is tough and hard to cut. Well, I can just skewer the skin separately. I’ll peel it all at once. Then, I throw in the aromatic herbs and wild greens I picked on the way to the pot. That’s good for now.

“...I made this fire piston myself, but this is faster.”

In this world, fire can be started with flint and steel, or with disposable fire starters similar to matches. The fire piston I made is as convenient as those, but I don’t use it much. Why? Because my brute strength makes the hand-drill method faster.

The hand-drill method involves pressing a wooden stick into a depression and rotating it vigorously. For me, it’s not tiring and doesn’t hurt my hands. I can easily generate enough friction heat to ignite the material. It’s not about civilization; brute force solves everything.

“Just keep it burning steadily.”

I’m using thin, dead trees I cut down nearby for firewood. It’s a barbaric way of chopping wood with a bastard sword and my strength. It doesn’t feel like civilization at all. But guild members camping in this world do similar things...

“I’ve never made a chicken broth before, but I hope it turns out well.”

The last time I tried with a Maruko pigeon, there weren’t enough bones, so I gave up. But this time, it should work. I’m also boiling the large bones of a Crater Toad.

“I hope it’s ready by dinner. Well, let’s see.”

I place monster-repelling incense wood at the entrance of the stove with a chimney to fill the area with protective smoke. The smoke from this incense wood has an effect that monsters dislike, making them not want to come near. It’s like a charm, similar to cheap mosquito coils. It’s a bit subtle.

“I’ll practice archery too.”

I have some time to wait while the bones boil. I’ll enjoy some hunting practice with my bow like Lina.

Lina was nearby, near a water source, and had caught two more puff birds.

“...Senior Mongrel, why are you only wearing an undershirt?”

“I got wet earlier, so I’m drying off near the fire.”

“Oh... I guess it’s time to head back. The birds around the base are gone.”

“Yeah, that’s enough. You did a great job catching so many.”

“Hehe.”

I had been aiming at birds too, but I couldn’t hit them. When I tried to get closer, they flew away. It was frustrating, and I spent most of the time retrieving arrows.

“Being an archer is tough.”

“You understand the struggles of an archer now, right?”

“I really do. Regular practice is important.”

“Exactly. It’s really tough in real situations. This kind of practice is important too.”

The forest gets dark quickly. We decided to return to the base camp after processing the birds and refilling our water at the river.

“Wow, you’re making all sorts of things.”

“Yeah, I am. I’ve already made some progress, so just sit and relax.”

“...The base looks more luxurious!”

Lina was mainly referring to my triangular tent.

“...You’re sleeping inside this?”

“Yeah. It can handle normal rain. It’s a bit tough with wind, but no bugs will fall on you. It’s safe and comfortable.”

A pyramid-shaped tent. With two adjacent triangular sides, it forms the shape of my current tent. I support the top with a long branch and secure the corners with small branches. It’s a half-open tent.

Camping with a cloak is common in this world, but it’s uncomfortable to roll over and gets wet when it rains. For missions requiring camping, I carry a simple tent, even though it’s a bit bulky.

“I’ve laid down a Charge Deer rug, so it’s comfortable.”

“Oh... wow...”

Lina was drawn to the deer skin laid at the bottom of the tent and rolled onto it. I understand. It’s smooth and feels good.

“Having walls made of cloth helps retain the heat from the fire, making it quite warm.”

“Yeah, that’s true. ...Senior Mongrel, you have all sorts of useful things.”

“I only carry useful things.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Lina, you should occasionally browse the market and buy things you think are useful. There are many inventors in Regal, so you can find good deals.”

“Good deals, huh?”

“Don’t be like that, Lina. As a young person, you should be more interested in new things. Guild members in Regal need to stand out in such areas.”

“New things... new things...”

Lina is honest and serious, so she listens to advice and puts it into practice. However, she seems to have little experience with innovative things. I think this is a bit of a disadvantage.

“Here, Lina, I have salt-grilled bird skewers for lunch. Eat up.”

“Yay!”

“The liver and heart are delicious too.”

“Yeah, that’s good.”

“I wish I could have some alcohol...”

“It’s a small camp, so let’s skip it today.”

“Yeah...”

In the gradually darkening forest, we enjoyed the skewers. Lina taught me about handling and maintaining bows, but I discovered that the sword part of my bow-sword is non-detachable, making regular maintenance difficult. Lina suggested a more standard bow, but I declined. I’m going to be the best hunter in Harperia with this.

“First, let’s catch one.”

“Sure.”

“...By the way, how’s the magic practice going? Have you been practicing?”

“Yeah, I’ve been doing it a little before bed.”

“Oh, I see. I thought you had given up.”

“But... I tend to fall asleep during the practice. Recently, it’s become a good way to fall asleep.”

“Hmm...”

“Maybe lying in bed while practicing is not good.”

“No, that’s definitely the problem...”

I don’t understand the concept of mana from the guidebook... They say that people who are used to physical enhancement have lower magical aptitude, and I think I’m probably in that category.

“Anyway, it’s been a while since we ate the skewers, so let’s start on today’s main dish.”

“Really? What is it?”

“Well, if I name it, it would be Puff Bird Coated Fries and Puff Bird and Crater Toad Bone Broth.”

“Oh...?”

“Just watch.”

I coated the puff bird marinated in the sauce with flour and dropped it into the boiling lard. The lard is a bit shallow, but it’s just enough. The sizzling sound of the oil is quite nice.

“Cooking directly over a fire is tricky, but using this wood stove makes it easier.”

“Wow...”

Fried bird with lard. The marinade and the lard’s flavor should make it taste good. It would be perfect with soy sauce, but it’s fine as it is.

“Here, Lina, try it.”

“Wow... Can I really?”

“Don’t be shy. Eat up...”

“...Sure. Mmm... Mmm... Mmm!”

Is it delicious, Lina... Is it delicious, Lina... You caught these birds, so eat up...

“It’s crispy and super delicious! Usually, this meat is dry, but it’s fluffy inside! It’s the best!”

“Right? Here, I’ll have this big one... Mmm...”

“It’s really hot.”

“Yeah... Yeah...”

“...I ate it in one bite, but it’s too hot to chew.”

The puff bird isn’t small, but it’s not as efficient as a chicken. We finished the fried bird pretty quickly. It’s not a small amount, but it’s just right.

“The sauce goes well with the lean meat.”

“Right. Here, eat the wild greens I boiled.”

“Okay.”

The mock Bang Bang Chicken is not bad. It’s a good snack.

I wish I could have some alcohol. Is the Regal Earl selling whiskey yet? It’s good to sell to the capital and foreign countries, but he should also meet the demand in Regal...

“Now, the bone broth...”

“...I’ve been curious about it. The smell...”

“It’s a good smell. When you boil bones, the marrow comes out, adding flavor.”

“The marrow... You added the Crater Toad for that?”

“Yeah, probably. I’m not sure what it will do, though.”

“Hmm...”

Looking into the pot... Honestly, it’s not a pretty sight. It’s basically boiled garbage. But the rich aroma coming from it confirms that it’s food.

“First, I’ll take out the bones...”

“Wow, Senior Mongrel, you’re good with those sticks!”

“Yeah, I found them at the Black Mist Market recently. They’re handy for grabbing food once you get used to them.”

“Wow...”

“Then, I’ll reduce the broth and add salt to adjust the flavor...”

I dripped some broth on the back of my hand to taste it. ...Yeah, it needs salt.

“What do you think, Lina? How does it taste?”

“Just wait. ...Yeah, it needs salt. After adding vegetables and simmering a bit...”

I added sliced turnips, scrawny carrots, and leftover puff bird meat, along with a spicy spice similar to pepper, and simmered it to completion.

“Here, Lina, try the Mongrel Special Bone Broth.”

“It was a different name earlier... I’ll have some.”

It was already dark, and night had fallen. The new fire we added to the wood stove provided a dim light, but it was enough to see each other’s faces.

“Mmm, mmm... Mmm! It’s delicious!”

“Right? Here, I’ll have some... Yeah, it’s delicious.”

The flavor of chicken bones is indeed the best. This one is more like a pot-au-feu, but I feel like adding noodles. Maybe I’ll try making Chinese noodles with chicken bones...? I’ll order special equipment... or maybe I can just cut them with a knife. But I want round noodles...

“Mmm, mmm... It’s packed with the flavor of the bird... This is really good... It’s much better than what you’d get at a restaurant!”

“Right? I don’t compromise on delicious food.”

“...Yeah, really. I think you’d make a fortune if you opened a restaurant.”

“Running a restaurant seems tough. I like cooking in places like this.”

Hunting monsters, cooking without worrying about others, eating, and sleeping... It’s not something to show others. Who knows what might be revealed.

But with Lina, I couldn’t help but feed her. I lost to the niece aura. I always have.

“This is a secret from the Artemis group. If they find out, I’ll be made the official cook.”

“...That would be good, right?”

“Hey, hey.”

“Just kidding.”

Lina laughed and started serving herself more soup. There’s enough for breakfast tomorrow too.

The problem is the cleanup, which is a hassle, but I’ll leave that to tomorrow’s me. Mongrel, I’m counting on you. I’ll leave the fried food to you.

...Wait a minute.

“Since we’re at it, let’s add some lard to the soup.”

“Eh... Well, a little.”

“It’s lacking in richness. This is quite... Yeah, it’s not bad.”

“...Oh, really. A light soup is good too, but this has a nice flavor.”

Well, this won’t handle all the oil, but it tastes better, so it’s fine.

After finishing the meal and it being late at night, it was probably around 9 PM. The night in the forest feels especially long.

Still, we have to get up early for hunting tomorrow, so we can’t stay up late. In this world, it’s best to go to bed early and get through the night.

“Sorry for intruding on you, Senior Mongrel...”

“No problem. Two people can fit in here. It’s warmer when sleeping, right?”

“...Yes.”

Lina and I decided to sleep in the triangular tent. It’s a bit cramped, but Lina is small, and with some ingenuity in how the cloth is set up, we can fit. Being close to another warm-blooded creature will make it warmer.

The wood in the stove burned quietly, and the monster-repelling incense wood smoked on the top plate. I was getting sleepy from a full stomach.

“...I’m not very good at cooking. What do you think of women who can’t cook, Senior Mongrel?”

“Hmm? Is this about marriage?”

“Ah, yeah. ...People in Regal expect women to do housework. But I focus on hunting... Is that weird...?”

“Yeah, from the perspective of city dwellers, it might seem a bit different.”

“My party members are good at housework... But I focus on archery practice and maintenance