In the end, all the cooking and preparations took longer than expected, well past lunchtime. But given the late hour, the bountiful catch, and the festive mood, the village naturally slipped into full-blown celebration.
The bonito was served as tataki, simmered in arobani, and even turned into shuto. The mirin-dried fillets wouldn’t be ready until tomorrow, but that was something to look forward to.
Other dishes included horse mackerel, prepared as sashimi, fried, and even minced into namero. The sea bream was extravagantly encased in a salt crust and roasted. The Spanish mackerel was turned into buttery, soy-glazed meunière. The smaller fish were chopped up and stewed with root vegetables. Every ounce of skill and effort was poured into the meal, resulting in a menu completely dominated by fish.
Despite the sun still hanging high in the sky, people gathered around the food, chatting and laughing, filling the village with a warm and lively atmosphere.
※※※
First, there was Alice-san, Four Seasons-san, and Color-san, along with the fairy children.
「Sorry for intruding, but we couldn’t pass up a chance to join in. …It’s been a long time since I’ve had food like this. Feels nostalgic—I’d almost forgotten.」
「It really does. Especially the simmered fish head.」
「Color has always loved fish eyes since she was little. She used to steal mine all the time.」
「…That’s embarrassing. Stop it.」
「Mom, the grilled one over here is really good too!」
「Oh my, thank you, Drizzle.」
「Oba-chan, can I try some sashimi too…? Do you think I can handle it?」
「I told you to stop calling me that, Bonfire. It’s ‘Onee-san.’」
「Oh, right! …But I don’t know why, it just slips out…」
「You too, Peacock? I do it too.」
「If even Peacock does, then everyone probably does.」
「…I see. Well, in that case, I suppose I can’t fight it. ‘Oba-chan’ is fine.」
For the lamia, who couldn’t perceive the fairies, it must have looked like Alice-san was simply eating and drinking alone.
But they knew the situation, and surely, if nothing else, they could sense the warmth and happiness surrounding her.
※※※
The lamia, too, were enjoying the feast together.
「Sui-sama, thank you. The children are happily eating this fillet.」
「I’m glad to hear that. Just removing the bloodline makes a big difference, so if you catch a large fish, be sure to try it.」
「Pairing this shuto with fish is good. Very tasty.」
「Shuto works with tuna innards too. …Come to think of it, you have fish sauce, but why don’t you have shuto? The fermentation times are different, but the process itself isn’t all that different.」
「For hishio, we use small fish. Long ago, a human taught us this method, and we’ve followed it ever since. So, we never thought to use white- or red-bellied entrails, nor to eat it partway through the process.」
「I see… So that knowledge came from outsiders.」
The lamia were a small ethnic group, scattered across different regions, making each settlement isolated. They likely shared very little in the way of common cultural practices, and their technological development was slow.
Lamia children laughed as their mothers fed them sashimi, wriggling excitedly at the delicious taste. Watching them filled my chest with warmth.
If something as simple as filleting fish or making shuto could improve their daily lives—if my meddling could contribute even a little to their happiness—I’d be glad.
※※※
At the highest point of the village, in front of a cave carved into the mountainside, a dragon family was lounging in quiet companionship.
「How was today, my hatchlings? Humans—Sui’s cooking must have been fascinating, wasn’t it?」
「Yeah! It was amazing, nii-chan! That knife… the one called a kitchen knife? Watching fish turn into fillets in an instant was incredible!」
「I-I was more surprised by everyone’s magic! Sui-san, Karen-san, and even Viole-sama—they all used such advanced magic so effortlessly.」
「Hatchlings, look at the lamia as well. See how happy they are, how much they’re enjoying themselves… We must remember to thank him later.」
「Yeah, not just for us, but for the lamia too. He really helped them out.」
「Yeah! They’re part of our precious family too…!」
Hearing them praise me made me a little embarrassed, though I had a feeling they were just using it as an excuse to get excited.
Honestly, I used to think there wasn’t much I could do for dragons—they had no real need for cooking as a cultural practice.
But now I know that’s not entirely true.
Even if not directly, I can still wield a kitchen knife for their sake.
※※※
And then—
The Hatano family, too, was in high spirits, surrounded by an abundance of fish dishes.
「Sui, Sui! I really like this one, toasted with cheese on bread. It’s so good.」
Karen, having completely overcome her initial hesitation toward shuto, was grinning as she bit into her toast.
「Sui-kun, come sit with me and have a drink? The food is delicious, and everything is just perfect.」
Holding a glass of wine, my mother was sampling one dish after another.
「Viole-sama, pass me some of that tataki.」
「How much garnish do you want?」
「A lot. The more, the better.」
「Mother! Mint wants red fish!」
「This sea bream? Alright, here you go—ahh.」
「Ehehe… ahh!」
Bonito tataki was served with garlic and green onions, drizzled with citrus-infused soy sauce. For the lamia and Chocola, who didn’t need seasoning, the fish was left as simple fillets, but tataki truly shined when paired with its garnishes.
The salt-crusted sea bream, despite its appearance, had just the right level of saltiness. The steaming locked in the fish’s natural umami, making the flesh tender and juicy.
「It’s been a while since you’ve had ocean fish too, hasn’t it? Tastes good?」
「Bark!」
「Pochi, want some? The grass here has been touched by the sea breeze, so it might have a different flavor.」
「Kyururur!」
Chocola got not only sashimi but also flaked, unsalted grilled fish.
For Pochi, I mixed locally grown pasture grass with our own vegetables into a fresh salad.
「Here you go, Sui-kun.」
「Thanks.」
The drink mother poured for me was the lamia’s fermented milk liquor.
The last time I tried a sip, I’d found the flavor quite… unique.
「Surprisingly, it pairs really well with shuto. It might be a bit too strong for you, though. Want to give it a try?」
「I’m not about to turn into a drunkard overnight. But I’ll give it a shot.」
Smiling teasingly, mother watched as I shrugged and took a sip.
The distinct aroma spread through my mouth, followed by a light fizz and the warmth of alcohol.
Next, I picked up a pinch of shuto. The salty intensity of the preserved bonito innards mingled with the lingering aftertaste of the milk liquor—
「…That’s pretty intense. Mother, you actually like this?」
「Oh, absolutely. If you sip it little by little, it becomes addicting. Of course, it’s delicious with cheese too, like Karen’s doing.」
「I see. I bet it pairs well with wine too. Have you tried that?」
「Not yet. I’ll open a bottle a little later.」
Sitting beside my mother, I took in the sight of my family enjoying themselves.
Karen, experimenting with different ways to pair shuto.
Mint, wide-eyed with excitement, torn between all the delicious options.
Chocola, happily devouring his fish.
Pochi, full and content, curled up in relaxation.
「This is nice.」
「It really is.」
The sun had yet to set, and the feast had only just begun.
Glittering with liveliness, yet serene as if it could last forever—this moment of happiness would continue on and on.
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AN: As for the fermented milk (which would likely be mare’s milk in reality) and shuto pairing, I’ve never actually tried it, so I don’t really know if it works. But for this world, please assume that the milk brewed by the Lamia does indeed pair well with it.
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