Chapter 26

Well then.

There is something I have keenly felt from the events so far.

It is the overwhelming lack of seasonings.

Food is the foundation of life.

Seasonings, which support the very core of food and have the ability to make even unpalatable things delicious, come in a wide variety, and some dishes cannot be made without them.

The seasonings I have are woefully insufficient.

How many times have I been discouraged after enthusiastically declaring, "I'm going to make such and such a dish!" only to realize I don't have the necessary seasonings?

Even during the Vier attack, I really wanted to serve some pork ginger stir-fry using wild boar meat, but I had to give up because I didn't have soy sauce.

I really want soy sauce.

The main ingredient is soybeans, right?

Since this has happened several times, I think I'll consider the seasonings I need this time.

What came to mind was...

Sa-shi-su-se-so.

...that's what it's called.

It's a mnemonic for the various seasonings needed in cooking. I'll check what I have and what I need to get based on "sa-shi-su-se-so."

First, "sa."

Sugar.

I have this.

I've already harvested sugarcane, which I planted in the early stages of cultivation.

Plati, with her knowledge of alchemy, easily managed to extract sugar from sugarcane.

A good wife is a great asset.

Sugar will be consumed in large quantities for baking, and I'm sure it will have its moment to shine.

I need to continue growing a lot of sugarcane.

Next, "shi."

Salt.

I have this too.

It was a byproduct of getting fresh water from the sea. One of the easiest things to obtain so far.

However, there's no more basic seasoning than this, and it's an essential element for human survival, so I'll take good care of it.

Next, "su."

Vinegar.

I don't have this.

I'm not quite sure what it's used for, but it's undoubtedly essential.

The main ingredient... is it alcohol?

There are various types of alcohol.

I definitely want to make alcohol someday, so I need to decide which type to make and what to grow for it.

And speaking of vinegar, I also want to make mirin.

I have no idea what to use as the base for mirin or how to make it.

There are many challenges.

Let's move on.

"Se," shoyu.

In other words, soy sauce.

This is what I need most, and it's the top priority for my next project.

I don't have it yet.

As a Japanese person, I want to get soy sauce back as soon as possible.

To make soy sauce, I need... soybeans, right?

Okay, I'll plant soybeans first in the new field I'm going to expand.

And when it comes to soybean products, there's also miso.

Miso.

This is the last "so."

Why skip "mi" and go straight to "so"? Isn't it a bit awkward? But if I nitpick, it might annoy people from the past, so I won't be too picky.

Anyway, miso.

I'll set it as one of the two major goals of the soybean project, alongside soy sauce.

However, there's one more ingredient I really want for "so."

Sauce.

In this day and age, this might be more fitting for "so."

But I'm not quite sure about it.

What do I mix to make it? When I was in the previous world, I heard that it's made by mixing a lot of fruits and spices.

...I haven't grown any fruits at all.

Growing fruits seems difficult because it takes a lot of time, so I haven't tried it.

Fruits are delicious on their own, and Plati and Vier would probably be happy with them.

Is it worth a try? I'll consider it.

Besides, I definitely want sauce.

After all, to achieve my ultimate goal with the wild boar meat... I absolutely need sauce for tonkatsu!

The ingredients I still need for tonkatsu.

Eggs.

And breadcrumbs.

I'll definitely make sauce by the time I can get these!

With sauce, I can reach the next level after tonkatsu!

That's right!

The superior version of tonkatsu.

Katsudon!

With sauce, katsudon would be easy... but no.

I thought about making sauce katsudon, but egg katsudon is more common, right?

Anyway, my plan is set based on this thinking.

I'll grow soybeans.

To make soy sauce and miso.

By checking "sa-shi-su-se-so," I realized that soy sauce is the most urgent need for me right now.

The main ingredient for soy sauce is soybeans, and with soybeans, I can also make miso.

I'll also grow wheat.

I need breadcrumbs for tonkatsu, and breadcrumbs are made from bread, which is made from wheat.

I also heard that alcohol is needed for vinegar, so I might try making beer with wheat.

I also want to start growing staple foods soon.

However, even if the ingredients grow and are harvested, I'm not sure if I can immediately make the desired soy sauce, vinegar, or sauce.

I came from another world, but I don't have all the knowledge from that world.

For example, I don't have the detailed recipe for soy sauce memorized. I only have basic knowledge from hearsay, and I have no experience making it.

I think the only way is to try and make mistakes.

Plati, an expert in alchemy, is a very strong partner in such situations.

I feel like everything will go smoothly if I consult with her.

So, my plan from now on is like this.

Let's put in some effort and grow them.

Soybeans and wheat!

Soybeans and wheat!

Soybeans and wheat!

I won't make a joke about accidentally growing azuki beans and barley!

YES soybeans! NO azuki beans!!