Chapter 10

When Shinobu said the word "kiss," all the customers in the shop turned around with startled expressions.

Izakaya Nobu is known for its delicious food and drinks, but there are also customers who come specifically for Shinobu. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that most of the single male regulars come here just to be served by her.

In such a situation, when an inappropriate word like "kiss" is uttered, it's no wonder the shop becomes a scene of commotion.

"K-Kiss Day?"

"Yes, Kiss Day! I have a weakness for kisses!"

When she said this with an expression that seemed ready to dance, Hans couldn't help but smile wryly.

What is Kiss Day? Is it a festival where you exchange kisses with your beloved?

Come to think of it, everything in this place is filled with a foreign atmosphere. There might be mysterious customs in this pagan land that Hans couldn't even imagine.

A cold sweat trickled down Hans' back.

Next to the barracks, there was a small church where a new deacon had just been assigned. He was an old man who looked stern and was difficult to approach.

It wouldn't be good to get involved in church-related troubles right after such a person had arrived.

"Kiss is a type of fish, Mr. Hans."

Taisyo, unable to bear the situation any longer, intervened. His expression was as unreadable as usual, but upon closer inspection, his lips were trembling slightly. He was probably trying to suppress a laugh.

While covering the white fish with a cloth, Taisyo continued.

"Kiss is called the 'joyful fish' in our country, and it's a lucky fish. It's delicious as sashimi, but the tempura is especially exquisite."

The atmosphere in the shop relaxed with Taisyo's help.

It was a relief not to be involved in a strange pagan festival, and most of all, today's dish seemed promising.

"That's a very auspicious name."

"Right? And it's incredibly delicious too!"

When Shinobu said this, you couldn't help but want to try it, even if you didn't know what the dish was. This girl seemed to have been blessed with the talent of a signboard girl.

"Taisyo, one order of Kiss tempura over here!"

"Coming up!"

As Hans took the lead in ordering, hands raised to order from all around. Everyone is interested in something new.

Without being flustered by the overlapping orders, Taisyo skillfully coated the Kiss with batter. While a breaded and fried dish like kotoreta is also found in the ancient capital, Hans had rarely seen a dish fried in such a generous amount of oil. The only thing that came to mind was Nobu's specialty, the deep-fried chicken, which was Captain Bertholdt's favorite.

When the Kiss was placed in the hot oil, it made a sizzling sound that was appetizing.

Just as the sound was about to change from sizzling to crackling, Shinobu brought something strange to Hans.

"Shinobu, what's on the plate?"

"It's paper."

"Paper? I can read a little, but I can't write anything except my name."

"No, I didn't bring it for you to write on."

"But isn't paper for writing? I heard it's more expensive than parchment."

"Compared to parchment, which is made from sheepskin, paper made from wood is lighter and easier to carry. I've heard it's starting to spread among church officials and scholars."

"You're supposed to lay it on the plate."

"Shinobu, isn't that a waste...?"

"It's fine. This way, the tempura tastes better."

Hans tilted his head as Shinobu laid the paper on the plates of other customers without hesitation. Paper had only just started to circulate. Could such a small izakaya really have stocked so much of it?

"Here's your Kiss tempura!"

Taisyo's voice rang out, dispelling any minor doubts.

The oil from the Kiss was skillfully drained, and Shinobu placed it on the plate. The freshly fried batter was still making a slight sizzling sound, looking incredibly delicious.

"Shinobu, how should I eat this?"

"You can dip it in the tempura sauce or eat it with salt."

Following her advice, he tried it with salt.

Since it was a deep-fried white fish, he had an idea of what it would taste like. But since Shinobu liked it so much, it might be surprisingly delicious.

Crunch.

He took a bite and was surprised by the texture.

The crispy batter and the soft white fish inside.

The new sensation that spread in his mouth made his chopsticks tremble.

Crunch.

Now he understood why Shinobu had laid paper on the plate.

For this delicate flavor, too much oil would be a problem. The paper absorbed the oil, creating the perfect balance. This dish was meticulously crafted.

And, tria et una.

This exquisite texture and the right amount of oil went perfectly with the ale.

After enjoying the refined taste of the salt, he dipped it in the tempura sauce and brought it to his mouth.

This was also delicious.

While salt was better at bringing out the delicacy of the white fish, the rich flavor of the tempura sauce also went well with the Kiss tempura. He could eat this all day.

"Taisyo, another one!"

"Hey, Hans! If you eat too much, my portion will be reduced!"

Shinobu looked like she was about to cry, but if it was this delicious, he couldn't give it up.

Not only that, but the other customers were also placing more orders.

"Another Kiss tempura over here."

"Me too, and make it a large portion."

"Wait, everyone! What about my portion? What about my Kiss Day?"

At a corner table, there were even customers with children, which was rare. It went well with ale and was also a food that children liked.

While he didn't know how many Kiss Taisyo had stocked, Shinobu's share seemed to be significantly reduced.