Chapter 32

Tarako is delicious, isn't it?

Potatoes are delicious, aren't they?

If you mix them, it's bound to be the best, isn't it?

※This is a matter of personal taste, so please don't comment if you disagree.

"…Yuri, what is this?"

Camille asked with a puzzled look. He pointed to a mysterious pink object laid out on the cutting board. It looked like a sausage, but it was something he had never seen before. It was not meat but a type of seafood.

"Is this something you've never seen before, Camille? It's called tarako. It's the roe of a cod fish. This is a salted food made from the roe."

"…You can eat fish roe?"

"Yes, you can. Caviar and salted herring roe are also delicious."

"…Your hometown is so different."

"Huh? But it's sold normally, so I think people eat it in some regions."

"That's true, but…"

Camille poked the mysterious object on the cutting board with his finger. Of course, his hands were clean. It was soft and had a unique elasticity. Even though it was said to be food, Camille couldn't quite figure out how to eat it. He even wondered if it was food at all. He thought that if he had seen it at the market, he would never have bought it.

However, if Yuri said it was edible, it was edible. Or rather, he had absolute trust that Yuri would turn it into something edible. After all, it had always been that way.

Boiled and mashed potatoes. Camille was also familiar with this task, as it was something he often did. Croquettes and potato salad were very popular. Moreover, the mashed potatoes Yuri made were delicious, unlike the simple boiled and mashed ones. They were seasoned with butter, milk, and salt, and the process of mashing them through a sieve was actually a bit time-consuming.

This time, Yuri cut the tarako in half and used chopsticks to mix the contents into the mashed potatoes. The tarako, which had been neatly peeled from its skin, was thrown onto the potatoes one after another. The pink color spread over the potatoes.

Camille, who was wondering what this was, did not interfere. He seemed to believe that something delicious would be made, as if it were a conditioned response. …Most of the apprentices were conditioned to expect something delicious.

"This is how you mix tarako and potatoes."

"What about seasoning?"

"Basically, it's fine as it is. Tarako is already salted, so it has a strong flavor. If it needs more, maybe some salt and pepper?"

Yuri mixed the potatoes and tarako evenly with a spatula. The process was almost the same as making croquettes. The potatoes were evenly mixed, and the pink color of the tarako was visible. Camille, seeing the pink speckles in the potatoes, tilted his head in confusion.

After confirming that they were well mixed, Yuri tasted the potatoes with a spatula. The mashed potatoes, mixed with the well-seasoned tarako, were perfectly delicious. As is, it was quite tasty. If mayonnaise were added, it would probably be a hit with children. Tarako and mayonnaise are quite popular with kids. However, he didn't add it this time.

"Camille, please taste it. I think this is good, but what do you think?"

"…Hmm, it's actually quite delicious. The texture is interesting."

"Is the flavor okay without adding anything?"

"I'm fine. …So, is this it?"

"No, it's not."

Camille, who had brought the dish to his mouth without knowing what to expect, honestly said it was delicious after one bite. The texture of the tarako and the saltiness mixed well with the potatoes, creating a unique texture different from mashed potatoes or croquettes. The saltiness was just right for him.

Yuri took out the tray used for making croquettes and began to shape the potatoes into balls, showing Camille how it was done. He rolled the potatoes in his palms to make them into balls about the size of a mouthful for an adult. The size was similar to that of takoyaki.

"Are you going to make all of them into balls?"

"Yes, let's do our best."

"Got it."

Camille nodded and helped shape the potatoes into balls. He knew that when Yuri put effort into a dish, it would be delicious. Of course, simple dishes were also delicious, but dishes that required a bit more effort were almost always delicious. The honest children, predicting a delicious meal, worked diligently.

After shaping all of them, Yuri put flour in a bowl and began to coat the potato balls. The flour-coated potato balls were then dropped into the hot oil one by one. Boiling, mashing, mixing, shaping, and frying. It seemed like anyone could make it if they knew the steps.

"Yuri, what is this dish?"

"Hmm, we called it 'Taramo Balls' at home."

"…Hmm."

Yuri answered Camille's question honestly. Taramo Balls because they were balls of tarako and potatoes. It was a very straightforward name, but it came from the original dish, which was tarako spring rolls.

Yuri had made tarako spring rolls after eating them at a restaurant. However, the regular-sized spring rolls were too big and made the family feel full too quickly, so they were unpopular. So, he changed to mini spring rolls and tried frying the leftover potatoes in ball form. Surprisingly, the balls were more popular, and since then, they became known as Taramo Balls in the Kugimiya household.

The crispy Taramo Balls were rolled onto a tray with a wire rack. Only a few were fried for tasting. The usual procedure was to taste them after frying. The two of them ate the hot potatoes while saying "hmm, hmm."

The sweetness of the potatoes, the saltiness of the tarako, and the umami from frying all blended together perfectly. It was a flavor that made you want to keep putting it in your mouth, unsure whether it was a side dish or a snack. Camille quickly ate two of the tasting pieces and stared at the unfried potato balls.

"If you eat more, it will be considered snacking, so it's not allowed."

"Ugh."

"It's not allowed, okay?"

"…Got it. …By the way, why are you still frying, Yuri?"

Usually, he would fry before the meal, but Yuri continued to make Taramo Balls even after the tasting. He kept frying one after another. Indeed, considering the number of people for dinner today, he thought he had made a lot, but that was because there were many growing children who would surely enjoy it.

Yuri, smiling at Camille, continued to fry the Taramo Balls.

"Huh? I'm going to share some with the shop owner."

"Wha!?"

"I got a lot of tarako at a good price. Oh, by the way, I'm going out for a bit. Please start preparing the soup."

"Wha?! Wha?!"

Ignoring Camille, who was confused and didn't understand, or rather, not noticing, Yuri diligently packed the fried Taramo Balls into a basket and threw it into his school bag. The magic bag with a time-stop function was very useful. If you put something freshly fried in, it would still be fresh when you took it out. It was the best equipment.

With a smile, Yuri quickly left the kitchen. Camille, left behind, was shouting that their share would be reduced, but of course, Yuri didn't hear it. Pray for him.

"Hey, sir."

"Oh? Boy, you're back?"

"Yes, I'm back."

Yuri called out to a man selling seafood at a corner of the market. He wasn't a regular vendor but a traveling merchant who had come from a port town. More accurately, he was the salesperson for a fishing family. Yuri had bought the tarako from this man.

Actually, the capital, Drachen, is inland, so there isn't much of a culture of eating fish roe in this area. The man, knowing this, had come to sell high-quality fish roe, hoping that people would try it. However, the shops that handled fish roe were already in business with established merchants, and the common people were not familiar with it, so it wasn't selling well, and he was feeling down. That's when Yuri happened to pass by.

The slices and dried fish were of excellent quality. Next to them, Yuri found the familiar tarako and happily called out to the man, who, seeing Yuri's enthusiasm for the fish roe, felt relieved and sold it to him at a much better price. It was better than not selling it at all. …And now, even though the slices and dried fish were selling well, the tarako was still left over, a harsh reality.

"Here, please try this."

"…What is this?"

"It's a dish called Taramo Balls made with your tarako and potatoes. I came to share it with you."

"Hey, you don't have to do that."

"I wanted to thank you for the extra tarako you gave me."

Yuri smiled. He was happy to get the extra tarako. And he wanted to encourage the man, who was feeling down because he thought the only way to eat tarako was with sake or rice. He had considered making tarako pasta, but thought it might be too difficult to eat.

The man, not wanting to refuse Yuri's kindness, took one and ate it. It was freshly fried and warm. Despite the heat, he could taste the tarako and was surprised by the cooking method he had never thought of.

"Does it taste good?"

"Yeah, it's delicious. So, tarako can be eaten like this too."

"Yes. Oh, if you'd like, please try it, everyone. It's made with this tarako."

Smiling, Yuri distributed the Taramo Balls to the nearby shop owners who were watching with interest. They were surprised and asked Yuri for the recipe. Of course, Yuri didn't hide the recipe and explained the process simply.

As a result,

Potatoes, an ingredient found in every household. A relatively easy-to-remember process of boiling, mashing, mixing, shaping, and frying. Moreover, no complicated seasonings were needed. All that was required was the tarako the man was selling. The shop owners, thinking they could have their wives make it at home, swarmed around the tarako. They swarmed around it so obviously.

Some even wanted to take the Taramo Balls home, thinking that they couldn't explain or convince their wives with just a taste. Yuri, who had plenty left, happily accepted their requests. The basket full of Taramo Balls was quickly sold out.

Incidentally, the tarako the man was selling was also sold out.

Afterward, a rumor spread that if you gave Yuri extra ingredients, he would bring you something delicious. However, the likelihood of him bringing something was whimsical. …He didn't say it would never happen.

By the way, the flow from spring rolls to balls in the text is based on a true story.

When I made them at home, my family said the balls were more delicious than the spring rolls. My sorrow...

Damn. Even though the spring rolls took more time and effort to make...

I look forward to your comments and feedback.