The inn we were staying at was practically a mansion, and by moving some furniture around, the living room could easily seat about twenty people. After rearranging everything, the seating arrangement ended up looking a bit like a cozy izakaya, with a long table surrounded by sofas and chairs.
Before long, the table was filled with the dishes we had prepared.
「My, what a splendid and joyful feast this is!」
Yuni-san beamed with delight.
「A gathering like this, free from formalities, is nice once in a while.」
Eidel-san smiled gently beside her.
「With this much food… I don’t have to hold back, right!?」
Karsch-san, eyes gleaming with excitement, stared at the heaping plates in front of her.
「This is… quite overwhelming.」
Tinam-san adjusted his glasses, his eyes wide with surprise.
「…I’ve decided not to be surprised anymore.」
「Indeed… Well, this certainly suits the current generation of the Sorx royal family.」
「We’re not even doing our job as guards anymore, huh… Maybe we should just stop thinking about it.」
The maids, butler, and knights all sighed in resignation as they took their seats.
Of course, it wasn’t just Yuni-san’s group—my family, the Hatanos, were here as well.
「What a lively gathering. It truly lifts the spirit.」
Grandma Seralinde sat gracefully, though her eyes sparkled with excitement.
「It’s a shame Pochi couldn’t join us, but it would be a bit difficult to have him here.」
「Mint bring salad later!」
Mom and Mint, both thinking of Pochi in the garden, chimed in.
「Bark… Hahh, hahh, hahh…」
Meanwhile, Chocola, sitting politely in front of his dog bowl, couldn’t contain his anticipation.
As for the menu, we made full use of the Gigi birds that were delivered.
First was the Tom Yum Goong, prepared by Noah and Parker-san.
Back on Earth, I think the version with chicken was called Tom Yum Gai. But since this was actually a 『Beastkin regional dish that happened to resemble Earth’s Tom Yum Goong』 rather than a direct import, there weren’t any strict rules on ingredients—anything went.
Alongside that, we had a rich, sesame-filled offal stew, chicken breast wrapped in sesame paste and steamed, and some royal capital-style dishes. There was also 『Noah’s Night Cloud』—a stir-fry of sesame tofu, vegetables, and chicken.
As for what Karen and I made, there were three main dishes:
Shkmeruli, karaage, and yakitori.
If we managed to get whole Gigi birds, then there’s no way we could skip making Shkmeruli. Wings, drumettes, breast, thigh—every part of the bird is cooked together, simmered in a rich blend of garlic and dairy. We had this dish back at this very inn, before heading to the Elf Kingdom of Alfheim, sharing it with Grandma.
And of course, if there’s chicken, then making karaage is an absolute must. When it comes to poultry, fried chicken is practically a duty.
For this, I mainly used thigh meat, along with gizzards and hearts. The tenderloin was paired with cheese and deep-fried. I seasoned everything with rock salt and spices, serving it with a wedge of citrus. It seems this world has fried foods, but nothing quite like what we would call “karaage”. I imagine Yuni-san and the others will find it a refreshing experience.
Lastly, to make sure no part of the bird went to waste—including the tail, trimmings, and skin—I came up with the idea of yakitori.
The moment inspiration struck, I sprinted all the way to the main street and bought skewers from a grilled food stall. I couldn’t be more grateful to the vendor for selling them to me without hesitation. Then, out in the backyard, I started up the charcoal and carefully grilled everything over a shichirin. I couldn’t replicate the exact tare sauce from Japan, but with rock salt, spices, and a sesame-based sauce, I think I managed to create something pretty decent.
And so—
The Gigi birds we procured were transformed almost entirely into dishes, accompanied by salads, pickles, and other vegetable-based sides. Drinks ranged from alcohol to juice and tea, and we even had a light broth made with the bird’s liver. The menu was complete.
Honestly, even with four people working, preparing all of this was no small feat. But it was incredibly fun.
The saying “a kitchen is a battlefield” couldn’t be more accurate. Amid the chaotic rush, we worked to maximize efficiency—giving and receiving orders, chopping, gutting, grilling, boiling, steaming. Right now, the sense of accomplishment is overwhelming.
And more than anything—
Seeing everyone enjoying the feast makes it all worth it.
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「Shkmeruli, you call it? What a wonderfully rich dish. The deep, creamy flavor of the milk, combined with the bold punch of garlic, makes for quite the powerful combination. I’d love to share this recipe with my dear sister-in-law’s family」
「The Ruktogarka Marquisate—Her Highness the Crown Princess’s family—primarily cultivates aromatic vegetables. There’s a good chance the garlic sold here in Sidera comes from their farms」
「A region known for aromatic vegetables… That must mean the winters there are particularly harsh, wouldn’t you say? As I recall, Shkmeruli is a dish that originates from cold climates」
As Yuni-san and Eidel-san exchanged conversation, I nodded along in agreement.
「Ahh, this fried dish is simply irresistible! So this is called ‘karaage’? It’s so light and crisp on the outside, yet the meat is satisfyingly hearty. Truly sinful. At this rate, I could eat an endless amount!」
「Continuous Rain-dono, if you don’t pace yourself, you’re going to end up with an upset stomach. That said… I completely agree. Personally, I’m quite fond of this Gigi bird’s gizzard. The firm, crunchy texture is delightful」
「Gizzards are rich in iron and zinc. If you’re interested, I can share what I know about their nutritional value. I believe my father has some books on the subject in his study」
I chimed in on Karsch-san and Tinam-san’s cheerful exchange.
「Mint is really getting better at trying new foods, isn’t she?」
「Uuuu! This shuku… mere? Last time, nose got all scrunched, but now fine. Yummy!」
「My, what a difference in just a short time. Children grow so fast」
「Grandma, are you busy during the rainy season? If not, why don’t you come visit us again?」
I joined in as mother, Mint, and Grandma laughed together as always.
※※※
「Munch, munch, munch」
「Is it tasty? …I wonder what Chocola’s dog food is made of」
「Munch… Bark!」
「Don’t worry, I’m not going to take it from you. I know it’s your favorite」
「Bark!」
「Let’s go check on Pochi soon. Mint, do you want to come with me?」
「Yeah! I’ll bring salad!」
-0-
「Aneue, aniue, how is this stir-fry? I tried using ‘Noah’s Night Clouds’ in it…」
「Ah, yes, I wanted to talk about this. Did you make this, Noah? It’s excellent. You’ve always been meticulous, but it seems you’ve grown even more skilled as a cook」
「You have a natural talent for the things you love. Ever since you started spending time with Parker-dono, that’s become even more apparent」
「Hearing that kind of praise is making me blush…」
-0-
「Delicious… Everything is absolutely delicious… I don’t think I want to go back to the royal capital anymore…」
「I have no doubt that the palace chefs are among the finest, but I must admit, Lady Tetra, I completely understand how you feel. To think I would experience new flavors at my age…」
「We’ve always been stunned by the Captain’s appetite, but after coming here, we finally get it…」
Laughter and conversation filled the air to the point where it was impossible to keep track of who was saying what.
As I absentmindedly listened to the lively chatter, I tossed another piece of karaage into my mouth.
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