Chapter 27

"......So? What are you going to make?"

Despite his harsh words, he seemed quite interested.

Prince Egiedilus also appeared to be interested in the "other world" food.

"What should I make~?"

When it came time to actually start cooking, having too many ingredients was surprisingly troublesome.

Because I wanted to make everything.

"......Huh?......Are you going to use those chicken bones?"

While Lina was pondering what to make, she noticed a ball filled with chicken bones that had just been stripped of meat at the corner of her eye.

They were probably leftovers from the grilled chicken.

"......Huh?......Those are bones?"

Lina seemed to be confused, and the cook looked puzzled.

"Yeah, bones. Are you going to use them for something?"

"......No......? We just throw them away......?"

The cooks looked even more perplexed, wondering what she was talking about.

They hadn't expected anyone to be interested in the bones they were about to discard.

"Really? You're going to throw them away...!? What a waste."

"That's just garbage, you know?"

The surprised Chief Lady Rana spoke on behalf of everyone.

They couldn't understand why Lina thought it was a waste to throw away chicken bones that couldn't be used for anything.

Well, they are garbage, I guess.

But in a world without granulated stock, bones are essential for making broth.

Throwing them away would be a waste.

"......But, they make delicious broth, you know?"

"......What's 'broth'?"

"......"

Ah... I see, that's where the confusion starts.

Why can't they just use magic to solve this!?

This world is a mix of convenience and inconvenience...

"Anyway, I'll just make it..."

Lina started moving.

In a country without a broth culture, it's impossible to explain what broth is.

The best way is to make it and let them taste it.

However, this world really has everything.

The stoves are not gas but equipped with 'fire magic stones,' almost like induction cookers.

The oven looks like a commercial one you'd find in a restaurant.

The kitchen tools are lined up like professional-grade equipment.

...I should stop nitpicking about the other world... yeah.

It's convenient, and that's good enough.

Lina started by filling a pot with water and bringing it to a boil.

Then, she took the chicken bones to the sink, and despite the hassle, she cleaned off the blood and dirt.

"I'll help."

The head chef, not understanding what Lina was trying to do, offered to help with the task she was performing.

"Thank you."

While monopolizing everyone's attention, Lina worked silently.

Once she had mostly cleaned them, she put the chicken bones into the boiling water.

"......Are you boiling them?"

The head chef asked, seemingly curious.

"It's called blanching."

She explained that she would cook the bones for a few minutes, then lift them out with a strainer and discard the water with the scum. This step isn't strictly necessary, but it makes a difference in the final taste.

"......Huh? You're going to throw it away?"

The Chief Lady Rana, watching from the side, exclaimed in surprise.

If you didn't know, it might seem like a waste to discard the water you just boiled.

"I'm throwing it away."

"Even though you just boiled it?"

"Because it's for removing the scum."

"Scum?"

"......"

Lina fell silent.

Huh? Is this going to be a continuous exchange?

It's like when a child keeps asking, "What's this? What's that?" It's endless...

"Chef, what's your name?"

Deciding it was too troublesome, Lina ignored Chief Lady Rana.

"......Huh?"

A slightly shocked voice was heard, but she ignored it.

"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Rick Harneit, Rana's husband."

Wow, really! You're her husband.

"......Rana, you're married?"

Sorry, I just assumed you were single.

"I am... What do you mean by that?"

"......"

There was no particular meaning, but she had just assumed. Rana's gaze pierced her.

"......Rick, you did a great job, didn't you?"

For some reason, Lina smiled at the head chef.

Because she thought he must have gone through a lot.

"Uh... Yes? I guess so?"

Probably confused by the sudden compliment, the head chef responded.

And that was the wrong answer... as he would later say.

That's why he didn't notice his wife's fierce expression behind him.

"......Rick?......Lina?"

"......Y-Yes!?"

Huh? Are there demons in every world...?

Lina and the head chef froze.

"......We need to talk later......"

"......Yes......"

They both cursed their inability to say no.

I hope "later" never comes... they both thought.

Huh? Wasn't I supposed to make chicken soup...?

Huh? What?

Next time... it should be ready, I hope.