Chapter 74

It's getting hotter, so I just wanted to replenish my nutrients with some slimy foods.

There are updates on the book publication in the activity report, so please look forward to it.

That day was hotter than usual. So Yūri was determined to prepare a nutrient-rich meal for lunch that could withstand the heat. That's why he chose three ingredients: yam, okra, and wakame. Somewhere, he had heard that eating slimy foods in the heat is good for you, so when he found them at the market, he didn't hesitate to buy them.

"Hey, Uryū, it's easier to peel yam with a peeler."

"Oh."

"And it's better to hold the yam with a cloth to avoid itching."

"It itches?"

"I'm the type that gets a little itchy."

"Really?"

Following Yūri's advice, Uryū, who was in charge of today's meal, held the yam with a dishcloth and peeled it with a peeler. The peeler makes it easier to peel thin layers, which is especially useful for long, vertical vegetables. While he usually uses a knife, it's fine to use modern tools occasionally.

Meanwhile, Yūri was boiling the okra he had washed. The green becomes more vivid when it's cooked. After confirming that it was well-cooked, Yūri arranged the okra on a cutting board to cool down. He planned to chop it later, but it was too hot to touch, so he let it cool a bit.

While waiting, he quickly boiled the wakame. He had already julienned the wakame to enjoy its texture, but not too large to make it difficult to eat. The wakame turned a beautiful green when cooked. He drained the wakame and put it in a bowl, planning to add the chopped okra later.

"...I never thought I'd use wakame in its original form."

Uryū, who was peeling a large amount of yam with enthusiasm, didn't seem to hear Yūri's muttered words. Peeling yam takes more time than Yūri's task of boiling everything at once.

In Japan, wakame was usually sold in packages at supermarkets. Seasoned wakame was very convenient. It was delicious on its own and great mixed with natto. For slimy dishes like today, you could just mix it in, and it would add flavor. However, since it wasn't available, he bought fresh wakame and was preparing it by boiling and chopping it.

Yūri sliced the cooled okra into rounds, not mincing it. He intentionally made the slices a bit thick to enjoy the texture. He could have minced it, but he felt the okra's texture would be lost that way, so he preferred slicing it.

"Yūri, I'm done peeling the yam... What's that?"

"Okra and wakame. Thanks. Can you start boiling the pasta? There are a lot of people today."

"O-Okay."

Yūri added the chopped okra to the bowl with the wakame, then cleaned the cutting board and moved to the yam Uryū had peeled. Uryū, with a slightly puzzled look, was boiling a large pot of water. Indeed, with so many people, even boiling pasta would take time. There were about ten people in total, including apprentices and those on duty, as their days off coincided.

The peeled yam was white and beautiful. Sometimes, after peeling, there are still some roots or hairs left, but Uryū had washed them off. Yūri had taught him to use the bud remover on the peeler, and he had done it well.

Yūri grabbed the yam with a dishcloth and started grating it into a bowl. He usually uses a grater with a separate bowl, but for a large amount of yam, it's faster to grate directly into the bowl. While producing a large amount of white, slimy yam, Yūri hummed a tune, excited about the nutritious and delicious dish.

After grating a large amount of yam, Yūri returned to the bowl with the okra and wakame and poured the yam over them. He used a spatula to mix everything thoroughly.

"Wow, it's really slimy."

Yūri, a bit amazed, picked up the seasonings. He added granulated dashi made from kelp and bonito, soy sauce, and a little sake. In Japan, he used to use convenient seasonings like white dashi and noodle soup, but they weren't available here, so he had to rely on his taste.

After adding the seasonings, he mixed everything thoroughly. As he mixed, the sliminess increased, but Yūri didn't mind. He believed the dish would be more delicious if it was slimy.

After confirming that everything was well mixed, he took a taste. He had seasoned it a bit stronger because it would be mixed with pasta. He thought it should be a bit strong if eaten on its own. If someone said it was too light, he planned to add a diluted soy sauce or something on top.

"Uryū, want to taste it?"

"...The pasta is done."

"Ah, okay."

Yūri didn't notice the slight pause in Uryū's response or the change of topic. More importantly, he needed to mix the hot pasta. After draining the pasta, he transferred it to a large bowl and mixed in a lot of olive oil to prevent it from sticking.

Then, they divided the pasta into deep plates. Uryū served the pasta, and Yūri added the slimy mixture on top. He also sprinkled chopped shiso, nori, and bonito flakes. Uryū, who had a slightly puzzled look, didn't notice Yūri's obliviousness. When they brought the plates to the dining room, the waiting group stared at the pasta in surprise.

Seeing their reactions, Yūri realized, "Oh, did I mess up?"

Yūri, being Japanese, had forgotten that some people might not accept slimy foods.

He thought it was nutritious and delicious, but then he remembered that this was a different world, and a Western-style one at that. The residents were not familiar with Japanese ingredients. They might not be used to slimy foods.

"Um, today's lunch is supposed to be this slimy pasta..."

"..." (Everyone looked at each other, confused.)

"Yes. It's made with chopped okra, wakame, and grated yam, seasoned with soy sauce, sake, and dashi. It's mixed with pasta..."

"..." (Silence.)

"...If you don't like it, I can make something else."

"Delicious."

Before Yūri could continue, Mag, who had already secured his plate, said "Itadakimasu" quietly and started eating. He even gave a thumbs-up, showing how much he enjoyed it. Mag, as usual, was captivated by the dashi and umami.

"Mag, can you wait until everyone is ready?"

"Everyone won't eat, it will get cold."

"...So, you're saying it's okay for you to eat while I make something else for those who don't like it?"

"Agreed."

"Mag, can you try to speak a bit more so everyone can understand without an interpreter?"

"...?"

Mag looked puzzled. He thought he was expressing his intention, but his unique tone and usually expressionless face made it hard to understand. Nevertheless, Mag seemed to enjoy the slimy pasta and started eating quietly.

Seeing this, the others started to feel that rejecting it might be rude. They knew Yūri's cooking was delicious. However, they were not familiar with slimy foods and were unsure if they could eat it.

The atmosphere changed when Rerei entered the dining room cheerfully.

"I'm so hungry! Yūri, what's for lunch today?"

"Ah, Rerei. It's slimy pasta today. Are you okay with slimy foods?"

"Um? I'm fine. My dad said slimy foods are good for you!"

"Really? Your dad is amazing."

"Also, he said adventurers shouldn't be picky eaters!"

With her usual energetic smile, a few people looked away, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Rerei had unintentionally hit a nerve. She had no ill intent and was just expressing her thoughts.

Rerei, without any hesitation, said "Itadakimasu" and started eating. Seeing her enjoy it, the others decided to try it too. Yūri had no intention of forcing anyone to eat something they couldn't handle. He believed that food should be enjoyed, and it was not good to force someone to eat something they disliked, even if it was nutritious.

Satisfied, Yūri also started eating the slimy pasta. He mixed the strongly seasoned slimy mixture with the pasta and enjoyed the flavors of soy sauce and dashi, along with the shiso, nori, and bonito flakes. The yam clung to the pasta, and the okra and wakame followed. The slight texture of the chopped okra and the crunchy texture of the wakame added a nice touch. It was delicious.

"Yes, the slimy foods are delicious."

Although he didn't get much agreement, everyone seemed to be eating it without much resistance. Maybe they were just not used to it. Yūri thought about using more slimy foods in the future, especially since it was getting hotter and he wanted everyone to get enough nutrients.

After finishing her pasta, Rerei suddenly looked at Yūri.

"Yūri, this would be great on rice! Do you have rice?"

"Ah, you want to make a slimy rice bowl? I think it would be delicious, but we don't have rice today."

"Really?"

"Really."

"...Can you make a slimy rice bowl next time?"

Seeing Rerei's disappointed look, Yūri agreed. She seemed shocked that she couldn't try her idea immediately. ...It was a bit surprising that she wanted to eat a slimy rice bowl after finishing a plate of slimy pasta. Rerei's appetite was impressive.

Later, when Yūri made the slimy rice bowl, he added a poached egg as an apology for not being able to make it earlier, and Rerei was very happy.

I think many Japanese people like slimy foods, but foreigners might not be familiar with them.

Of course, even in Japan, some people don't like them.

Oh, by the way, mixing in some canned nameko mushrooms is also delicious.

Personally, I found it easier to eat with soba noodles rather than pasta.

I look forward to your comments and feedback.