Chapter 13

In this world, dairy farming did not exist...?

"Hey, is the meat we eat, monster meat?"

"Huh? Yeah, of course. Monster meat is definitely more delicious, you know."

"Really...?"

Yuri looked at the lineup of meats in the shop he was brought to and couldn't help but ask Yakko. However, Yakko seemed completely unfazed. The shop owner also had a look on his face that said, "What are you talking about, of course it's normal." For Yuri, it was strange, but for the people in this world, it was completely normal.

The meats lined up were of various kinds. In a corner, there were some labeled as chicken, beef, and horse, but they were incredibly cheap. So cheap that it was almost a problem. Compared to monster meat, they were about one-tenth the price. The prices were so low that one could easily assume they were either not very tasty or had some issues.

"Um, what about the meat in that corner?"

"Huh? Oh, that's meat from livestock that was put down. We do sell it, but I don't really recommend it. It's not very tasty."

"Not very tasty!?"

Yuri was surprised and couldn't help but exclaim. In his mind, chicken and beef should be more delicious than monster meat. He was puzzled as to why this was not the case.

However, in this world, it was a mistake to think that way. There was no industry dedicated to raising livestock solely for food. Yuri didn't know, but since monster meat was available, people didn't take the risk of being attacked by monsters or animals just to raise livestock for meat.

So, what was the meat from livestock in the shop?

Basically, it was meat from livestock that had been put down. Cows that couldn't pull plows or produce milk, chickens that couldn't lay eggs, and horses that couldn't pull carts. They were put down and sold at rock-bottom prices, even if it was just for a little bit of money. ...Of course, there were poor people who bought this extremely cheap meat. Even if the taste wasn't great, it was still meat.

...By the way, the minced meat Yuri used for the croquettes last night was all from this corner, the completely unappetizing livestock meat. The reason was obvious. Due to the seniors spending too much money, Yakko had to buy the cheapest meat available to save money. ...Well, it was also used up in large quantities, leaving nothing in Yakko's hands.

"Hey, Yakko, which one is the most delicious?"

"You should ask the shop owner, not me."

"But the shop owner says they're all delicious. In cases like this."

"We don't stock any bad meat except for the livestock in that corner."

"See?"

"...Ah, okay."

The shop owner laughed heartily at Yuri's words. It might be true, but when faced with unknown ingredients, asking which one is the most delicious or recommended, his comment was not very helpful. Yakko smiled wryly and began to explain each type of meat to Yuri, showing his good nature.

While Yakko was explaining, Yuri decided to appraise the meats.

"This is Viper meat. It doesn't have much of a strong flavor and is quite light."

"If it doesn't have a strong flavor, maybe it would work with a light seasoning...?"

—Viper Meat

—Meat from the monster Viper. It comes from the body of the Viper and has a light, mild flavor, popular among women.

—It has no fat and can be used in various dishes. It has a texture similar to chicken in Japan, especially the breast and tenderloin parts.

As usual, the last sentence was an unnecessary explanation for anyone other than Yuri. However, Yuri was convinced. He decided to listen to Yakko's explanations and appraise the meats. If he could imagine the taste, he could figure out what dishes to use them in. If he couldn't imagine the taste, he wouldn't know whether to buy them or not.

"This is Orc meat. Some parts are fatty, but it's delicious whether grilled or boiled."

"Wow, it's quite versatile meat."

—Orc Meat

—Meat from the monster Orc. The quality varies depending on the part. It is easy to cook and highly valued.

—Fatty parts are preferred by men, while lean parts are preferred by women. It remains tender even when cooked.

—It is almost the same as pork in Japan, with the same parts being used.

Since Orcs are pig-like monsters, it made sense that their meat was similar to pork. However, the idea of a bipedal pig being compared to pork made Yuri feel a bit conflicted. However, he knew how to use pork, and it was versatile, so he decided to consider it for purchase. ...The price was also reasonable.

"This is Bison meat. It's characterized by its high fat content, but the lean parts are also very delicious. It's especially good when cut thick and grilled."

"...So, it's good for steaks? I'm not a fan of fatty parts, so maybe I'll grill it on a wire mesh."

—Bison Meat

—Meat from the monster Bison. It has a high fat content, even in the lean parts.

—It is mainly cut thick and served as a steak. The best cuts are marbled.

—It is relatively expensive but very delicious, making it a treat for the common people.

—It is almost the same as beef in Japan, at a level similar to domestic beef.

Bison meat was indeed similar to beef, as Yuri had expected. However, he felt a bit sorry for the Bison being described as not the highest grade. He idly wondered if there was some super-high-grade meat, like premium domestic Wagyu, in this world.

Beef is versatile, and many young people like it. Since it was more expensive than Orc meat, Yuri decided to buy a moderate amount. Meat is important.

"Ah, there's Big Frog meat. Uncle, what's this?"

"Ah, there was a large outbreak in the nearby swamp, so the Adventurer's Guild supplied it to us."

"Yuri, Big Frog meat is similar to Viper meat, but a bit more substantial. It's cheap and recommended!"

—Big Frog Meat

—Meat from the monster Big Frog. It lives in swamps and has a light, mild flavor.

—It is popular among women for its mildness but is also flavorful, making it liked by all age groups.

—It occasionally appears in large numbers, making it a good deal for the common people.

—It is similar to chicken in Japan, especially the thigh part.

If Viper meat was like chicken breast, then Big Frog meat was like chicken thigh. The idea of snake and frog monsters being similar to chicken was hard to imagine, but the meat in the shop looked like chicken. ...If he ignored the occasional frog legs, that is.

There were other types of meat, but they were quite expensive, so Yuri skipped them. Yakko explained that these were the types of meat commonly used by the common people. As for the more expensive meats, Yakko hadn't even tried them, so he couldn't explain them.

Yuri understood. He hadn't tried premium Wagyu steak or domestic black pork either. He had tried some special pork, like herb pork, but that was it. ...In other words, it was impossible to explain meats he knew existed but hadn't tried. So, he decided it was fine to skip them this time.

"Can I get the four types we just talked about? The quantities should be the same. ...Yakko, how much meat do you usually buy?"

"Hmm, I come to buy more when it runs out, so not that much..."

"Yakko?"

"By the time I come to shop, the budget is usually depleted, so I can't buy much. I end up buying cheap Viper or Big Frog, or even livestock meat out of desperation."

"...You've been working hard."

Yuri patted Yakko's head, who was looking far away. The shop owner also ruffled Yakko's hair with his large hand. Everyone knew that Yakko had been working hard. ...And because they knew, they were always secretly giving him freebies or discounts, being kind to him.

...Even so, no matter how much they tried to make up for it, the careless seniors would still buy expensive items from the main street, so it never balanced out.

Reality is cruel.

However, reality was about to get a bit better. Because from now on, Yuri would be in charge of the food. Yuri didn't aspire to be a treasure hunter. He was just at the "Scarlet Lynx" to ensure a place to stay and learn general knowledge. Also, to be monitored and protected by Ali. So, he didn't spend time training or going on expeditions like the other apprentices. His main job was cooking and cleaning.

The troublesome and incompetent senior apprentices were to be guided by Yuri. Teach them how to cook and use ingredients. Ali had said this, meaning that Yuri should learn from selecting ingredients to purchasing them. He was still not used to shopping, but once he got the hang of it, he would surely prevent wasteful purchases.

...Yuri was a gentle boy, but he wasn't the type to get starry-eyed over dreams and hopes. He was more of a homely (positive expression) person. ...In other words, he had a bit of housewife wisdom, auntie techniques, and grandma's tips ingrained in him. Therefore, he would never make wasteful purchases. He wouldn't tolerate it.

Once Yuri took control of the budget, he would likely be passionate about making cheap and delicious meals. He already showed some of this tendency. He would try to get slightly larger vegetables for the same price or choose high-quality meat. His appraisal skills were very useful.

"Yakko, let's make a simple and delicious meal with this meat for lunch today."

"...A simple and delicious meat dish?"

"Yeah. So, after we finish shopping, let's clean up and help with lunch, okay?"

"...The cooking is the seniors' job."

"That's fine. I'll get the seniors to help, but Ali said it's okay for me to plan the menu for a while."

Yakko was taken aback by Yuri's smile. He was taken aback, but the next moment, he smiled happily. Maybe he thought he wouldn't be caught up in the seniors' reckless behavior. Or maybe he thought he would get a delicious meal. Yuri didn't know which, but it didn't matter. He was just happy to see this serious and reliable boy smile.

Thus, after purchasing a large amount of meat, the two returned to their hideout, excited and looking forward to it.

In this world, monster meat is commonly eaten.

It's quite delicious.

And rare monster meat is a super high-end ingredient.

It's out of reach for the common people.

If you want it, go hunt it yourself! (Unreasonable)

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