Chapter 80

If you were to make it in reality, please use pork.

Also, I have posted the book cover in yesterday's activity report, so please check it out if you like!

The capital city of Dorahern has two squares.

One is near the royal castle. This square is mainly used for ceremonial festivals and is a place of rest for people on a daily basis. The other is located in the lower town, near the hideout of the "Scarlet Lynx." This square is also a place of rest for residents on a daily basis, but it differs from the square near the royal castle in that it has makeshift kitchens scattered throughout. These are simple cooking stations.

In fact, regular food distributions are held in the capital city of Dorahern. These are provided to people in the lower town, day laborers who have drifted in from elsewhere, and adventurers who have yet to earn much. The necessary funds are provided by the state. However, the personnel who work on the day of the event are volunteers who take turns among the residents. On the day of the food distribution, women from all over the city come to help, regardless of the district they live in.

Yuri was heading to the square where the monthly food distribution was being prepared. The person in charge of this food distribution is the innkeeper who runs a simple inn next to the hideout. Yuri, looking for the familiar innkeeper, approached a woman who was working in one of the kitchens.

"Ms. Innkeeper, how's the preparation going?"

"Ah, Yuri-kun. It's all good. Thank you for this time."

"No, no, I'll help too."

Yuri took out his favorite apron from his school bag and smiled. At his feet, Luke was hopping around, eager to help. ...Luke acts as Yuri's bodyguard when he goes out. This has become so common that no one around them even noticed. Familiarity is a powerful thing.

Today's menu for the food distribution is steamed oak meat and bean sprouts. When Yuri heard that there was a surplus of oak meat, he suggested a dish he had made before, and the innkeeper agreed. The reason being, the oak meat, which is available in large quantities at a low price, and the bean sprouts, which are always cheap, are both delicious and affordable, making them a natural choice.

The method is very simple: lay the bean sprouts, which have been washed and drained, at the bottom of the pot to cover it. If you are concerned about the roots of the bean sprouts, you can remove them, but when making a large amount like this, it's not practical, so they are left in. Once the bean sprouts are laid, place the oak meat on top so that it doesn't overlap. When the meat is laid out, add more bean sprouts. Then, place more meat on top. Repeat this until the pot is about three-quarters full.

By the way, it's better to choose meat with a bit of fat. If you use meat with little fat, it will become tough when cooked. Tough meat is sad, so choose meat with a bit of fat.

"Hmm, granulated soup stock, granulated soup stock~"

Yuri, who had filled one of the many pots with bean sprouts and oak meat, took out the granulated soup stock from the box of seasonings. This granulated soup stock is a product that Yuri registered with the production guild, and Halloz had the alchemists make and sell. Today, he is using chicken broth granules.

...What? In a world where monster meat is the mainstay, do they have chicken bones? Chickens for eggs are raised, and using the bones of chicken-like monsters results in an even better flavor. However, today, he is using ordinary chicken bones, which are more affordable for the common people.

Sprinkle the granulated chicken broth over the oak meat and bean sprouts. Then, pour some sake over it. The sake is similar to Japanese cooking sake. ...There are various types of alcohol, but in this case, the most suitable is rice wine. Please don't throw in wine, shochu, or beer.

After adding the sake and granulated soup stock, cover the pot and steam it. That's it.

"It's simple, yet quite delicious."

"It's more suited to rice, though."

"We have rice prepared, so it's fine."

The innkeeper, who had already tasted it, sighed. Since there's no need to cut the ingredients, it saves a lot of time. The simplicity of just adding seasonings and steaming is very convenient for a food distribution where a large amount needs to be prepared. The ability to make a large amount at once and the minimal effort required are essential for such events.

At their feet, Luke was busily eating the bean sprouts. To be precise, he was eating the short bean sprouts left in the bowl after washing. Since they would have been thrown away anyway, Luke was helping with the garbage disposal today. His cute appearance made him popular with the female volunteers. ...He was quite the star.

"Quack, quack."

"Luke, you'll get tired of just eating bean sprouts, so I'll give you some meat scraps too."

"Quack quack!"

"Here, get some energy and keep up the good work?"

"Quack!"

With the oak meat scraps, Luke started moving around the kitchen, full of energy. He enjoys cleaning because he likes being praised by Yuri. So, he was working hard on garbage disposal, thinking that if he worked hard, he would be praised. ...Is it okay for a rare mutant to be so enthusiastic?

"Ah, it's done. Let's add sesame oil and soy sauce."

"I'll leave that to you."

"Got it."

Yuri lifted the lid of the pot in front of him and stirred the contents with chopsticks. The bean sprouts and oak meat were cooked just right, and the seasoning from the sake and granulated soup stock had set in. He poured in sesame oil and mixed it well. As a final touch, he drizzled soy sauce and mixed it again. The pot now contained a soup made from the water from the bean sprouts and the fat from the oak meat. The addition of sesame oil and soy sauce made it smell incredibly appetizing. He tasted a small portion and found it well-balanced.

The bean sprouts were still slightly crunchy, and the oak meat was tender despite being cooked. As monster meat, it was more flavorful than the pork Yuri had eaten before. It was similar to high-quality domestic pork or branded pork. The monster meat in this world is strong.

"...It makes you want rice, doesn't it?"

It was understandable that he muttered this to himself. This oak meat and bean sprout steam dish was so appetizing that Yuri wanted to enjoy it as a bowl. It would be fine as a side dish, but if you put it on a bed of white rice, it would be incredibly satisfying.

...In fact, when he made it at the hideout, he convinced the others, who were not yet accustomed to rice, to try it on top of rice instead of bread. The result was that all the white rice was gone. It was a defeat for Yuri, who hadn't fully grasped the appetite of the growing children. He had to quickly cook more rice, which is a fond memory.

Well, let's put that memory aside. The preparations are complete. People are starting to arrive for the food distribution. The first step is to ask if they want bread or rice and then hand it to them. For bread, the dish is served on a large plate with the oak meat and bean sprout steam. For rice, it is served in a bowl. This way, only one dish is used, making cleanup easier.

"So, are you not going to serve?"

"Huh? I'm fine with being behind the scenes."

Behind the women serving the food, Yuri was busily cleaning up. He was washing dishes and picking up trash. Of course, Luke was also working hard at his feet. Despite being one of the main contributors to this food distribution, Yuri was thoroughly enjoying his role behind the scenes.

The innkeeper looked exasperated but smiled wryly, understanding that Yuri preferred to stay out of the spotlight and loved a simple, everyday life. ...Though, it was a bit of a mystery why he could enjoy such a life in a beginner adventurer clan. The daily life of the "Scarlet Lynx" is surprisingly peaceful.

"What is this...! The rice is so delicious!"

"No, the bread is delicious too!"

The people who started eating were buzzing, but Yuri didn't mind. The food distribution is one per person, so there's no second helping. Some of those who had chosen bread looked regretful when they heard the cries of "This is amazing!" from the rice group. It's a matter of luck, so they should accept it. You chose the bread.

That said, it's not that the bread doesn't go well. Today's bread is a simple roll. Its simplicity means it doesn't interfere with the flavor of the side dish. It seems to go well with the bread. Yuri's mind briefly flashed with images of katsu sandwiches, grilled meat sandwiches, and yakisoba bread, which then disappeared. It might end up being something like that.

"Quack."

"Hmm? What's wrong, Luke?"

"Quack quack?"

"Ah, you'll clean the pot?"

"Quack!"

"Then, I'll leave it to you. If Luke cleans it, the washing will be easier."

"Quack!"

Luke hopped as if to say, "Leave it to me," and took the pot. It was visible that the pot was being rolled around in his stomach. Some people were startled, but Yuri smiled and watched the scene.

Indeed, the oak meat fat and the sesame oil used for seasoning were stuck to the pot, making it difficult to clean. Even with hot water, it's hard to remove oil stains. If Luke could clean it, there was no reason for Yuri not to take advantage of it.

...Arool, who would have pointed out, "Do you know what a familiar is?" was not present. If he were, he would probably have hit Yuri on the head and explained what a familiar is in detail.

In any case, Yuri was busy with the cleanup. Occasionally, people who didn't know him were surprised to see a boy in an apron wandering among the women (with a slime attached to his feet), but he didn't mind. Neither did the people around him, who were already used to it.

By the way, when the people from the hideout came to check, and said, "Dinner is this!" the menu was casually changed. That's a given.

Luke was quite the star, working hard.

It's great to have a slime that cleans oil stains.

I look forward to your comments and feedback.