Chapter 7

Miyu, seeking white rice!

"First, let it simmer, then open the lid, even if the baby cries~♪"

"Miyu-sama, what is that strange song?"

"It's a song from my hometown that makes cooking rice easy to understand~"

Excitedly watching the stove and the pot above it, I sighed in exasperation. His name is Stefan. An elf raised in the Galaria Empire, he is one of the young chefs in the royal kitchen. He looks great in his white chef's outfit. His blonde hair and blue eyes are typical of elves, and he has pointed ears, fair skin, and an androgynous beauty that looks like a doll. He's wonderful. I want to put him next to a handsome man and swoon.

I described him as a boy because, by my standards, he looks like he's in his late teens. However, since he is an elf, he is already over fifty years old. When I heard that, my head hurt. Truly, elves. Truly, a fantasy race. I shouldn't have thought about it in human terms...

So, what am I doing? I'm involving Stefan in my quest for rice, traveling three thousand miles for it!

As I mentioned before, the main staple in the Galaria Empire is bread. The next staple is potatoes. The rice that does exist is treated as "not particularly delicious, not interesting, and can be ignored." How terrible. It's so delicious.

So, I, being Japanese, am starving for rice. I scooped up the polished rice from the food storage and asked Stefan to cook it for me. While all the chefs know how to cook rice, they are busy, so they assigned the young representative, Stefan, to me. Still, the fact that they are listening to my whims is because I have settled into the position of advisor.

Amazing! The fact that I am a "prophet advisor" has been completely established!

After returning from Tolfai Village, Adalbert has been working hard. Since there is only a month left, he intends to do as much as possible during that time. I basically handed everything over to him and, except for when he asks me questions, I have nothing to do. I'm tired of exploring the castle, so I decided to go on a quest for rice.

Honestly, I'm tired of bread. I'm tired of potatoes. I never thought I was such a big fan of rice, but I can't stop craving it. ...If I get my fill of rice, I might start craving noodles next.

"Miyu-sama, do you really want to eat rice that much?"

"I do. Rice was the main staple in my hometown. There are so many delicious ways to eat it!"

"Hmm... I think bread is easier to eat and there are more varieties..."

"That's a matter of perspective. Anyway, I'm waiting for some delicious rice to be cooked!"

The moment I started whining about wanting to eat rice, Adalbert gave me a look that said, "What are you talking about? I'm busy right now." But I didn't give up. If I gave up here, I might never get to eat rice again. I can't live without white rice!

—What's wrong with wanting to eat the staple food of my hometown!

—The staple food of our country is bread.

—I want to eat rice! There's rice, so it should be fine to ask for white rice, right?!

—Are you a child?

—Then, can Adalbert endure a table without meat for a long time!?

—...Tell the head chef to lend one of the chefs to Miyu.

—Thank you, Adalbert!

It seems he agreed not because of my persuasion, but because he didn't want meat to disappear from his table. Still, Adalbert granted my wish. I shouldn't complain more. I understand he's busy with work. I'll wait quietly in the kitchen for the rice to be cooked.

"By the way, Miyu-sama, why are you wearing a servant's uniform even though you are a woman?"

"Adalbert only gave me this."

"Is that so..."

It seems that because I was in a tracksuit when we first met, Adalbert thinks I usually wear pants. I have about three servant uniforms. They are comfortable and easy to move in, but in a world where women don't usually wear pants, is it okay to wander around in pants as if it's normal? I do wonder.

However, according to Adalbert, "You are from another world and a prophet advisor. You don't need to be normal." In other words, to make an impression, you should be a bit eccentric. I already stand out with my black hair and black eyes, and now with my unusual attire. I don't want to stand out...

"Miyu-sama, it's ready."

"Really? Thank you, Stefan! Yay! Rice, rice!"

I smiled and he smiled back.

I immediately got a bowl (actually a small, deep soup bowl) of rice. There are no chopsticks, so I had to use a spoon. The freshly cooked rice is so good... This is it. This is the sweetness of rice I wanted to taste!

The chefs looked at me, who was devouring the white rice (in the kitchen), with a strange expression. Oh, sorry. This is the kitchen, right? We should eat in another place, right? I know, but I couldn't resist the deliciousness of freshly cooked rice...

I decided to take the remaining rice to the dining area of the other chefs. The dining hall I usually use with Adalbert is far away, and going to where the castle staff eat would be suffocating. They stare at me a lot. The kitchen staff are already used to me, so it's fine!

On the way, I discovered something very good.

"Head Chef, is that leftover?"

"Huh? Yes, it's the leftover from the staff meal."

"Can you warm it up and put it on top of the rice?"

"......Huh?"

The head chef was piling up a mountain of meat that seemed to be marinated in sauce. It looked like scraps from the staff meal. But the smell tickled my nose. It was like the smell of grilled meat, steak sauce, or sukiyaki. This would definitely be delicious on top of freshly cooked rice!

I pleaded with sparkling eyes, and he reluctantly complied. The slightly warmed meat was plopped onto the white rice. Yay! I thought it would just be plain white rice, but it turned into a grilled meat bowl!

"Miyu-sama, that's—"

"Yay! The grilled meat bowl is complete! Ah, Stefan, I want some water, can you bring it—?"

"...Sure."

Stefan and the other chefs had a strange look on their faces, but I didn't notice. For a Japanese person, white rice and bowls are very familiar. Yes! The white rice I haven't had in a long time has been upgraded to a grilled meat bowl! I can devour it without hesitation once I get some water!

So, in the dining area of the other chefs, I said, "Itadakimasu!" to the grilled meat bowl while the chefs on break looked at me with a very strange expression.

I scooped up the rice and meat with a spoon and took a bite. It's delicious. The sauce has soaked into the white rice, making it really tasty. This meat, though for the staff, is well-seasoned and, because it's small, easy to eat with a spoon. Thinking about it, chopsticks are amazing. Eating a bowl with a silver three-piece set is difficult. A spoon is barely manageable, but depending on the toppings, it can be really hard to eat.

As I was munching, Stefan brought me some water. I nodded in thanks and continued to eat the grilled meat bowl. Oh, it's delicious. I'm so happy. So delicious.

"...Weren't you supposed to eat white rice?"

Huh? Adalbert, when did you get here? And what about your work?

But with rice in my mouth, I can't speak. Speaking with food in your mouth is very impolite. I know that much.

But why is His Majesty the Emperor in the chefs' dining area? That's more surprising, isn't it?

"So, what is that?"

"A grilled meat bowl."

"Yakitori-don? What is that?"

"A dish from my hometown. It's a bowl with various toppings on top of white rice. You can eat the main and side dishes together, which is very convenient."

"Hmm?"

Oh, I have a bad feeling. This pattern has happened before. I have a really bad feeling.

I tried to grab the bowl, but it was too late. Adalbert took the bowl and the spoon from me, looked at it closely, and took a bite. Just one bite.

But one bite from Adalbert is almost half the bowl!

My, my grilled meat bowl! The white rice I finally got! Why do you always interfere with my delicious food life like this! Is this some new form of bullying?

"...It's delicious. I didn't expect white rice to be this good."

"Apologize to the rice and to me. This is my grilled meat bowl!"

"Don't cry so seriously. Stefan, bring another serving. And mine too."

"Stefan! If you bring another serving, ask the head chef to put some egg and meat with sauce on top!"

"Y-Yes!"

Following Adalbert's order, I also placed an order. Since my grilled meat bowl was taken, I'll get a "tanindon" (other person's bowl). The harmony of the sweet and savory sauce, egg, and meat is also excellent. The egg and meat dish already exists, like a tofu and egg dish. So, I think the meaning is clear.

"Why an egg and meat dish?"

"Because you took my grilled meat bowl, I'll get a tanindon as a replacement."

"Tanindon?"

"This meat is beef, right? The egg is from a chicken, right? So, it's 'other person.'"

"Ah, that 'other person.' ...Then, what if the meat is chicken?"

"Chicken and egg bowl."

"That's exactly it."

"The naming in our country is often straightforward."

What's wrong with being straightforward? And if it's delicious, that's all that matters. I'm not causing any trouble for anyone. By the way, you should apologize to me. Taking my food and acting like nothing happened is not okay.

After a while, Stefan brought two bowls. Adalbert got a grilled meat bowl, and I got a tanindon. I politely said "Itadakimasu" and started eating. Adalbert, on the other hand, devoured the grilled meat bowl like a performance. He then watched me eat the tanindon. He watched me. He watched me a lot.

"...Give me the bowl."

"Huh?"

"Just give it to me."

Adalbert handed me the bowl. Sighing, I gave him half of my tanindon. If he's going to take it anyway, it's better to give it to him myself. Mainly, I can decide the amount.

"I won't give you any more!"

"...You're surprisingly kind, despite everything."

"Who are you to say that! If I didn't give it to you, you would have taken it anyway, right?!"

"Yeah."

"...At least deny it a little."

Adalbert, who nodded easily, started eating the tanindon calmly. It's really delicious. The professional's half-cooked egg and meat with sauce are perfectly combined. It's wonderful. So delicious.

Later, for some reason, the menu at the dining table included more bowl dishes. Why?

There's no way it can be serious all the time...

So, Miyu, who got her white rice, is in a good mood.

The bowl dishes increased because they became a trend. That's all!