Chapter 86

If you put potato salad in a coronet, it tastes really good, you know?

I'm sharing character designs as part of my activity report, so please feel free to check them out!

Before lunchtime, Yūri was looking at the row of coronets. This coronet bread seems to have originated in Japan. The method of making it involves wrapping the bread dough around a metal rod and then removing the rod after baking. The bottom part is sealed tightly to prevent holes, and the middle part is made without any gaps to create a cylindrical shape.

Generally, coronets are filled with chocolate cream or custard cream, making them a sweet bread. As a variation, some are filled with soft serve ice cream. Why soft serve? It’s simply using the coronet as a cone. There are such things. The Japanese seem to love creative modifications, especially with food.

By the way, this large quantity of coronets was made at Yūri's request to the bread shop owner who regularly delivers bread. The owner accepted the request relatively easily because Yūri had made similar requests before, and the owner appreciated the new bread ideas.

"Alright, let's get started."

Today, the apprentices who usually help out are not around. They are all attending a lecture at the Adventurer's Guild and will return by noon. Yūri's job is to prepare their meals by then.

Today's menu includes coronet bread filled with potato salad and grilled oak meat with ginger, considering the appetites of the children who often skip meals. The filling for the coronet bread is vegetables, or rather, salad.

Yūri took a large bowl out of the refrigerator. It was filled with a lot of potato salad that Yūri had been preparing since morning. It's a simple potato salad with potatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and boiled eggs. While there are variations with corn, ham, onions, and tomatoes, Yūri prefers this simple potato salad. Sometimes, Yūri adds corn or tuna cans based on mood.

Yūri started filling the coronets with the potato salad. Using a spoon, Yūri scooped and packed the salad tightly into the coronets, making sure it didn't overflow. After filling them, Yūri leveled the top with the back of the spoon. The filled coronets were then arranged on a plate. Once all the coronets were filled, they were put back in the refrigerator. They taste better cold.

Meanwhile, Yūri quickly made the grilled oak meat with ginger. The oak meat was cut into bite-sized pieces, and the cooking method was slightly changed. Instead of the usual method of grilling and then adding the sauce, Yūri decided to cook it by simmering.

The method is very simple: throw the ginger sauce into a frying pan and bring it to a boil. Then, add the oak meat and chopped onions and simmer slowly. The flavor might be light at first, but it becomes delicious as the water evaporates. Yūri learned this method from TV and has been using it since, aiming for a healthier option.

After cooking the ginger-grilled oak meat, Yūri started slicing the cabbage. Yūri believes that ginger-grilled meat and shredded cabbage go together. A large amount of shredded cabbage was quickly prepared.

Yūri then served the shredded cabbage in two deep plates, one for each person. After serving the cabbage, Yūri placed the ginger-grilled oak meat on top. Before serving, Yūri warmed the frying pan to keep the meat warm. The completed deep plates were then placed in Yūri's school bag without hesitation. The magic bag has a time-stop function, so the food will remain warm when taken out next.

Yūri also filled a thermos with tea that had been chilled in the refrigerator and put it in the school bag. The coronet bread filled with chilled potato salad was placed on a large plate and put in the school bag. ...Incidentally, because the filling is potato salad, it's surprisingly filling despite its size.

"Alright, everything's ready. Now, I just have to wait for everyone to come back..."

Yūri whispered this just as a cheerful "I'm home!" was heard from the entrance. The apprentices, who had finished their morning lecture, had returned for lunch. They also had lectures in the afternoon, a typical situation for adventurers who need to study.

"Welcome back~"

"“I'm home!”"

"Lunch is ready. Take the ginger-grilled oak meat and shredded cabbage from the frying pan and enjoy. Oh, the ginger-grilled meat tastes better if you warm it up in the frying pan first."

"“Got it!”"

"And there are coronet breads filled with potato salad in the refrigerator. Don't fight over them. ...Don't make Tifanna angry, okay?"

"“We know!”"

The apprentices responded energetically to Yūri's instructions. They were hungry and more straightforward than usual. It's natural for growing boys to be eager for food. Also, Tifanna, who was in charge of watching over them today, would not tolerate any foolish behavior.

Tifanna is a gentle and kind older sister who usually has a calm smile, but she can be terrifying when angry. Very terrifying. The apprentices have seen Reirei and Jake get scolded, so they don't want to be on the receiving end.

"Alright, I'll go deliver lunch. Oh, save some for me, okay?"

Yūri took off the apron, grabbed the school bag, and left the kitchen. The response from behind was a very sincere "Got it!" ...The children's minds were already on the delicious lunch.

Yūri, with Luke attached to his feet, headed towards the gate. The person to whom Yūri was delivering lunch was there. Yūri, who bounces along with a relaxed demeanor, and the slime Luke, who sticks to the ladder and climbs up, might look like easy targets for troublemakers, but no one bothers them because it's known that Yūri is protected by the Crimson Lynx led by Ali. Yūri's relaxed personality also makes him well-liked by everyone. ...Today, the cheat "Luck ∞" was doing its job well.

Yūri arrived at the watchtower right next to the gate. After greeting the guard at the entrance, Yūri slowly climbed the narrow ladder. Luke, the slime, cleverly stuck to the ladder and climbed up. ...The guard wondered if this slime could climb even a smooth wall if it wanted to (incidentally, ordinary low- to mid-level slimes can't do that), but decided not to ask. He thought that since Luke's master is Yūri, and Yūri is quite unique, the familiar must be unique too. ...Yūri was known even by the guards who hadn't directly met him.

"Frau, Hermine~ I brought lunch~"

"Ah, thank you, Yūri."

"Yūri, you're late! I'm hungry!"

"Hermine"

"Because~"

Hermine pouted after being nudged on the head by Frau. With her perfect appearance as a blonde beauty, she looked cute even when pouting. Yūri said nothing, laid out the tablecloth (made by sewing scraps together and embroidering them) on a corner of the watchtower where there were boxes, and took out the dishes from the school bag.

Coronet bread filled with potato salad, hot ginger-grilled oak meat with shredded cabbage, and nicely chilled tea. The sight of the delicious food made Hermine's face light up. Frau also smiled happily. After all, it's not often that they get to eat freshly made delicious food while on watch duty.

"Go ahead and eat, Hermine."

"Is it okay?"

"You're hungry, right?"

"Yes!"

Hermine, responding energetically to Frau's chuckle, quickly went to the food Yūri had arranged. Today, Hermine was on watch duty under Frau's guidance. This is a common training for all trainees as it helps expand their awareness of the surroundings. Among them, scouts, spies, and archers, who require a wide field of vision, often experience this. This was already Hermine's third or fourth time.

"But, nothing ever comes when I'm on watch."

"Really?"

"Of course. Monsters don't just attack that easily."

"That's true."

"But, we can practice identifying the characteristics and personalities of travelers and returning adventurers."

"There are many things to learn."

"Exactly."

Hermine smiled and clasped her hands, saying "Itadakimasu" (Let's eat). Thanks to Yūri, this greeting had spread among all the clan members. They express gratitude for the ingredients and the person who prepared the meal, and eat with the awareness of taking life. This is very important, especially in a world where food procurement can be a matter of life and death (with monster meat and dungeon-grown ingredients).

Hermine first picked up the coronet bread filled with potato salad. When asked what was inside, Yūri calmly replied that it was potato salad. The members were no longer surprised by the idea of bread filled with something, especially after Yūri started making sandwiches and involving the bread shop owner in filling bread with various ingredients.

Hermine took a bite of the coronet. The cold bread and the cold potato salad spread in her mouth. The texture was different from a sandwich. The combination of cold potato salad and cold bread was refreshing, especially as the weather was getting warmer. The mixing of the two flavors in her mouth was also delicious.

Next, she reached for the ginger-grilled oak meat. The meat was well-seasoned and juicy, thanks to the simmering in the sauce. The onions, flavored with the sweet and savory sauce, were also delicious. Wrapping the shredded cabbage around the meat, the crisp cabbage enhanced the meat's flavor, making it even more appetizing.

"Mmm! It's delicious!"

"Delicious?"

"Very delicious! Yūri, you're a genius!"

"Hehe, thank you."

Yūri smiled happily at the cheerful Hermine. Frau also smiled, watching the two. Luke, on the other hand, was looking intently at the gate, perhaps taking over the watch duty from Hermine. No one criticized his enthusiasm.

"This bread alone is a complete meal, isn't it?"

"Yes, but I thought it might not be enough for everyone."

"As a portable meal, it's perfect on its own."

"Is that so? Since I could deliver it today, I brought some meat too."

"Delicious, no problem! Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Yūri smiled, as usual, at the grateful Hermine. Yūri is always happy when the people who eat the food enjoy it.

By the way, this is the bread my mother used to make for bentos.

Personally, I think it's also delicious with tuna and mayonnaise.

I look forward to your comments and feedback.