Chapter 13

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

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There weren't enough rare cuts to go around for the knights. I decided to set aside the most delicious part for the Duke and use the shoulder meat. Of course, I would get the knights to help me make a large amount of skewers.

(What should I do? Is it really okay to use so much of the Duke's spices?)

I thought about asking for permission and went to look for the Duke.

"Sir, I can taste-test the meat even if it's not freshly cooked."

"This is mine. You can taste-test other pieces."

"But it will get cold if I cook it now."

"I said it's fine. Eat it hot and confirm it's safe."

"What, Sir. Could it be that you're thinking of not giving anyone the first piece of meat that Melfiela cooked?"

"Ugh, stop being so annoying. Cook your own taste-test meat!"

The Duke and Chaos were arguing over the first piece of meat. I hurriedly started to cook the taste-test skewers, adjusting the heat on the stove. It was a close call. Those skewers were made from the finest part of the rare cuts. It would be a shame if they were used for taste-testing.

"Melfiela, if you need a taste-tester, I can do it."

"Ah, Knight Captain Claude. You too?"

As I watched the meat cook, even Knight Captain Claude offered to be a taste-tester. All the knights behind him were staring at the cooking meat with intense expressions. The knights of Marshall Raid occasionally ate the monster food I prepared, but I had never seen such eager looks on their faces before.

The monsters in the Marshall Raid territory are usually hunted because they have become harmful to humans. Therefore, there are many carnivorous monsters, and herbivorous monsters are rarely hunted. To be honest, carnivorous monsters are not very tasty. The aroma of the Roiamoodler, which is savory and appetizing, might be rare for them. I ended up using a considerable amount of the spices given to me by the Duke.

(Well, it can't be helped now. If the head chef gets angry, I'll give him the spices I mixed.)

Still, why is Knight Captain Claude glancing at Chaos? His expression is slightly dissatisfied. He is a serious knight captain, not someone who often smiles. It seems he has no intention of giving up his role as a taste-tester, so I handed the cooked skewers to Chaos and Knight Captain Claude.

"They are well-cooked. Please... um, taste-test them."

"Of course. The Duke tasted the dried meat of the Skatsbit without a taste-test. This time, I will definitely do it."

Chaos took the skewers, sniffing them. I remembered that the Duke had eaten the dried meat of the Skatsbit without a taste-test. Knight Captain Claude, who was sitting across from Chaos, gave me a slightly reproachful look. Perhaps it was wrong to show the monster food outside the Marshall Raid territory.

"Eat it quickly. You made us wait because of your unnecessary talk."

Although he complained, the Duke seemed to be following Chaos's lead this time. After all, taste-testing is necessary. I had been careless, but the Roiamoodler is a proper monster. Even though I am used to it, for the Duke and the others, it is an unknown food, and taste-testing is a standard procedure.

"Then, I will begin. I give thanks for this precious life..."

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Chaos briefly prayed and then opened his mouth to bite into the skewer. He seemed to be a bit hot, as he pulled the meat off the skewer while saying "hmm." The meat, cut into bite-sized pieces, disappeared into his mouth in an instant. His actions looked so delicious that I almost opened my mouth too.

"How is it?"

As the one responsible for the preparation, I was very curious about Chaos's reaction. I should have been worried about any adverse effects on his body or if he would collapse, but I was more eager to know about the taste, the cooking, and the spices of the Roiamoodler.

"Mm... mm?"

"Mm?"

"...It has no gamey smell."

Chaos took another bite and nodded.

"Moreover, it melts in your mouth. It could be described as a drink rather than meat."

"Melts like a drink! So, how does it taste? Is it cooked well? Is the salt right?"

"The meat and fat melt in your mouth. I prefer a bit of blood, but this melting meat is still delicious even when fully cooked."

Chaos finished the skewer in one go. The dripping fat looked so delicious that I couldn't help but say, "Ah, what a waste," when I saw it fall.

"Damn, what a torture. Chaos, there's no poison, right? You won't get a stomachache, will you?"

"There's no feeling of poison. More importantly, there's no strange sensation from the magic, unlike the extremely unpalatable monster. However, a stomachache from magic might take time to develop."

Chaos's calm opinion made the Duke's face turn sour. I have never experienced a stomachache from the magic in monsters, but those who have said that symptoms usually appear within an hour or a day. According to my mother's research records, people start to complain of stomachaches and fever when digestion begins. Humans cannot break down the magic they ingest from outside on their own.

"Can we wait until tomorrow morning? No, I can't wait. The taste-test is over. I'm eating."

"We agree with the Duke. It's unfair that Chaos gets to eat everything while being a taste-tester."

The impatient Duke and the Galbreath knights crowded around Chaos. The Marshall Raid knights, who had forgotten about the taste-test, looked enviously at Knight Captain Claude, who had eaten his skewer without a word. I decided to ask Knight Captain Claude for his opinion.

"Knight Captain Claude, how was it?"

"Uh, yes... it was just regular meat."

"Anything else? The taste, the taste, the taste."

"The taste... it was like the aftertaste of a Richarl brand white longhorn."

"So, Knight Captain Claude has eaten a Richarl brand white longhorn before?"

At my comment, Knight Captain Claude's eyes darted around. The Richarl brand white longhorn is the highest quality beef, and I have never eaten it. I need to find out when and where he ate it later. In any case, if the aftertaste is like the highest quality beef, there's no way anyone can wait for the taste-test results.

"Everyone, let's eat before it gets cold. If anyone feels unwell, it's okay. I can prepare medicine immediately, and we can provide thorough care at the Marshall Raid manor."

I distributed the cooked skewers to everyone. I exchanged the Duke's portion with a freshly cooked one and held the cold skewer. Although hot is better, the taste is more noticeable in cold meat. Cold meat is perfect for a thorough evaluation.

"Let's start the tasting."

Everyone said their pre-meal prayers and eagerly bit into the skewers. Some exclaimed, "Delicious!" others ate silently, and some savored the taste. The knights ate standing up, and I also ate standing up in the open air.

(Amazing, it's savory and has no gamey smell!)

Juice seeped out from where I bit. Even though it was warm, the fat was not solid, and the rich flavor of the nuts spread in my mouth.

(These spices, what are they? When you crush the round seeds, they give a tingling sensation, but they're not spicy.)

The spices enhance the natural flavor of the meat without overpowering it, making them perfect for the Roiamoodler, which has a taste of nuts and mushrooms. The salt is perfectly balanced, and I couldn't help but wish for a cold ale to go with it. A toast would be perfect.

"Melfiela, you're a genius!"

"Thank you, Duke. It's thanks to my mother's research."

"Don't be modest. Honestly, I never thought monsters could be this delicious. I've suffered through eating them without proper preparation."

While we talked, sighs of admiration could be heard from the Galbreath knights. "I want to learn the preparation method from Melfiela!" and "Can I bring the next monster I hunt here?" were all positive comments that made me happy.

"I can't bear to think that such delicious food has been discarded all this time."

"That's not true. Some people consider monster food taboo. Still, the Roiamoodler is amazing. It would be a waste to stew it. Grilling was the right choice."

"The texture and taste vary by cut. Some cuts might be perfect for stewing."

The Duke finished his first skewer and moved on to the second, enjoying the difference in taste from a different cut. The Marshall Raid knights were also smiling. Knight Captain Claude, watching the knights devour the skewers, was eating his second one.

"Melfiela, can I... have a little more?"

Galbreath knight Mylan asked for permission. Right, this Roiamoodler was a gift from the Duke to me. I pretended to think for a moment and smiled at the eager Mylan.

"If you eat the meal prepared at the manor properly, you can have a little more."

The Roiamoodler skewers are excellent, but the food at the Marshall Raid manor is also very delicious. My father must have prepared meals for everyone. Besides—

(As a precaution, I need to have the Galbreath knights stay overnight to confirm there are no issues.)

There's a chance of a reaction to the magic, so I decided to have them report any discomfort.