Published at 2nd of April 2020 6:23 am

Volume 5, Act 03: Foreign Cuisine

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Translator: Blushy

Editor: Sam

I was able to find rice despite the unexpected events.

Since I found it quickly after arriving in Morgenhaven, I still had a few days left before I had to return to the royal capital.

I could have looked for other unusual things in the meantime, but I stopped, because I found a lot of things in the cargo that Ceylan-san had.

I had kind of given up on finding spices because I thought it would take me a lot of time to find them. But fortunately, I found them.

Ceylan-san said these were as thanks for the potion, but I was the one who wanted to bow down and thank him.

So, how should I spend the remainder of my trip?

The only idea I could come up with was to use the spices to make food.

Judging by the spices that Ceylan-san and his crew brought here, Saidera’s cuisine might be close to Chinese cuisines from my previous world.

It seems like I have enough spices to make simple Chinese food thanks to Ceylan-san, and it goes without saying that I would want to eat it now that I have the spices.

Alright, shall I make it?

However, I can’t make it even if Jude doesn’t stop me.

How do I rent a kitchen on holiday?

It seems like I’ll have to wait a while before I can enjoy the food…

『Ojou-san, are you interested in Saidera food?』

Two days after I was taken to the warehouse, Ceylan-san visited the inn and asked me if I was interested in food.

『Yes!』

Of course, I am.

Duh.

I immediately replied, and I was asked if I wanted to go eat at the inn where Ceylan-san and his sailors were staying.

The chefs from Ceylan-san’s ship were going to serve me food from their kingdom in the inn’s dining hall.

This was also a thank you gift from them.

I feel like I’m receiving too many things from them, but I can’t beat my desires.

I looked at Jude, and the knights’ expressions and they smiled wryly.

It seems like I’m allowed to go.

Even Ceylan-san smiled wryly when I informed them that I was going to the inn, and then he told me where it was.

Did he smile wryly without realising it?

Mm, I’m sorry.

I couldn’t help myself because I might be able to eat Chinese cuisines which I haven’t had in a long time…

“Huh? Ojou-sama, what’s wrong?”

I was talking to Ceylan-san at the entrance of the inn, when Oscar-san returned.

When I explained that I was invited to a meal, Oscar-san also seemed interested in foreign food and decided to come with me.

Ceylan-san also gladly agreed, and I felt bad for pushing a lot of people onto him.

Yup, me, Jude, Oscar-san and the knights.

It’s definitely a large number of people.

Jude and the knights also seemed interested in foreign cuisines even though they were smiling wryly just a while ago.

After we decided on the attendees, we talked about the time and day for the dinner party.

Ceylan-san and his crew also need to prepare since a lot of people are attending.

Considering our schedule, two or three days later would be good?

Was what I thought, but Ceylan-san said that tonight was okay.

Ceylan-san said that his crew also had a lot of people, so they had a lot of food prepared.

If so, then we’ll visit them tonight.

『Welcome, Ojou-san.』

『Thank you for inviting me.』

The dinner party was at night, but the sun was still setting, so it was still bright out.

It was still a little early, but we arrived at the inn where Ceylan-san and his crew were staying.

Ceylan-san also agreed that we should arrive earlier.

He wanted us to see the food being cooked.

When we talked about what food would be served, Ceylan-san suggested that we come and see it being cooked.

I’m somewhat sorry for carelessly saying that I wanted to see the food being cooked.

I was worried about whether the chefs would mind, but Ceylan-san said it was fine.

Is it really alright?

I was still anxious when we arrived at the inn, and then we headed to the kitchen.

『Hey, can I have a minute?』

When Ceylan-san called out to the kitchen, the man, who was instructing the other chefs in the middle of the kitchen, came out to the entrance.

『Captain, what’s wrong?』

『Sorry, but can you let her watch as you cook?』

He looked at me questioningly when he heard Ceylan-san’s request.

『This Ojou-san?』

『Yeah.』

I bowed when the man looked at me, then he looked at Ceylan-san as if asking for an explanation.

When Ceylan-san introduced me as tonight’s guest, the man understood and smiled widely.

『Ojou-san, you’re the one who gave him the potion?』

『Ah, yes.』

『You can watch. Are you interested in cooking? 』

『Yes. I wanted to see how foreign food is made.』

『I see, then you can watch from here.』

The chef had been instructing with a stern expression until a while ago, but he completely changed and responded in a friendly way.

I followed him through the kitchen and settled in a place where I could see everything and not get in the way of what they were doing.

Yes, where the chef had been giving out instructions.

Only Jude and I entered the kitchen because we would get in the way if a lot of people came in.

The kitchen was fitted in the standard way for Slantania Kingdom.

The pots and kitchen knives were also things I usually see.

However, I also saw something rare among the cookware.

They were steaming baskets which I was familiar with from my previous world, and they were lined up on the stove.

Jude was also surprised.

He had probably never seen this type of cookware before.

He pointed at the steaming baskets and asked what they were.

It was difficult to explain since people didn’t steam food in Slantania.

When I explained in Slantania words that the ingredients were cooked with steam, the chef explained steamed food in more detail.

The chef guessed what we were talking about from the way we were acting.

Of course, he explained it in the language that they spoke.

I interpreted it for Jude.

『What are you steaming?』

『Steamed buns.』

『Steamed buns!?』

『Oh, is it called bread in this kingdom? It’s a bun filled with ingredients.』

Of course, I know what steamed buns are.

For example, meat buns or buns filled with red bean paste.

I didn’t think they would have steamed buns in this world.

I repeated what he had said in surprise, but the chef thought I didn’t know what it was and explained it to me.

『The fillings are minced meat, stir-fried vegetables or smashed beans.』

『There are a lot of different fillings.』

『That’s right. It can be a meal or a snack depending on what you put inside, so it’s a good dish.』

『What did you put in the buns this time?』

『We put stir-fried vegetables this time to match with the other foods.』

Today’s steamed buns have a vegetable filling.

I’ve eaten them at Chinese restaurants before in Japan, and it was good thanks to the sesame oil.

He said ‘to match the other foods’, so does that mean the other foods are heavy?

Vegetable buns are lighter than meat buns.

After that, the chef also explained the cookware, recipes and ingredients used, and I interpreted it to Jude.

There were also vegetables that I don’t know about, and the chef’s explanations were fascinating.

We had a good talk, and it was a good time to have dinner, so we quickly left the kitchen and headed to the dining hall.

When I left the kitchen, I politely thanked the chef, who explained things to me, and thanked the other chefs as well.

I’m terribly sorry for bothering them when they’re busy, but I was able to remember how to cook food that I couldn’t before, so it was worthwhile.

◊♦◊♦◊♦◊

There were round tables in the dining hall, and people divided themselves and sat down.

I was offered the backmost table, so I took a seat with Jude and Oscar-san.

The knights who came with me sat at a different table.

There were some people who I didn’t know on another table.

When I asked, I was told they were people with high ranks among sailors.

There were more people than I thought there would be.

The drinks, which looked like wine, were distributed after a while.

Apparently, their kingdom didn’t serve alcohol.

I was curious, so I looked at the table next to me, and the knights were drinking ale.

Ceylan-san briefly introduced me when the drinks were passed around.

The sailors saw me in a good light because of the potion, and it felt somewhat embarrassing.

Mm, please, please proceed.

I urged Ceylan-san to proceed, and he raised his glass to give a toast, and everyone else raised their cups accordingly.

After the toast, various dishes, both familiar and unfamiliar, were brought out.

Jude and the knights cheered when they saw new food.

The food had plenty of seasoning and spices and were cooked in various ways.

Saidera’s food culture is quite advanced.

We were invited to have a meal here today, so the chefs made more luxurious dishes than usual.

I could hear the sailors raising their voices, “Wow.”

The food, which was served on large platters, was distributed by the waiters next to the table.

When I took a bite out of the food, the unique taste of the spices spread everywhere.

Is this the taste of star anise?

When I thought that there are people who hate and like this taste, I could see that there was a division of opinions at the knight’s table.

By the way, I quite like the taste.

『How do you like it?』I ate the dish that required an acquired taste, and Ceylan-san spoke to me.

『It’s very delicious.』He laughed at my answer as if he was relieved, so it seemed that Ceylan-san knew that star anise had a unique taste.

『We’re used to eating it, but some people in this kingdom don’t like the taste, so I was worried about whether you like it or not.』

『It looks that way.』

We looked at the lively knights, then looked at each other and smiled wryly.

Oscar-san also changed his expression slightly at the unique flavour.

Jude seemed okay with it.

He truly is a member of the Medicinal Herb Research Institute.

Our researchers are full of people who can calmly put medicinal herbs into their mouths.

So it stands to reason that he would be okay with star anise.

『This kingdom likes dishes that make the most of the flavours of the ingredients, right?』

『Yes.』

『Recently, there are some dishes garnished with herbs.』Oscar-san cut in when I nodded to Ceylan-san’s question.

Dishes garnished with herbs… those are recipes from the research institute, right?

Oscar-san came to the research institute a lot for business meetings about the company.

He used the dining hall at that time and got hooked on the food there.

He always designated the meeting times near lunch after he tried the food at the dining hall.

『With herbs?』

『Yes. It makes the food taste fresh.』

『Oh. Is that also good for your body? 』

『I’ve never heard about that.』

It is actually very good for your body.

However, it was spread with taste as a priority, so the effects aren’t well known.

That was why Oscar-san didn’t know about this.

『Are there foods in your kingdom that are good for your body, Ceylan-san?』

『We think that food and health are connected.』

I heard what Ceylan-san said, and the phrase ‘medicine and one’s daily diet are equally important for a healthy body’ popped into my mind.

I asked him and received the response I had hoped for.

I leaned forward and asked him more about this, and he told me something I had heard in the past.

However, this idea was widespread among high-ranking people, so Ceylan-san didn’t know much about the details.

The topic shifted to medicinal herbs.

Jude also actively joined in on the conversation with me as the interpreter.

Even though he didn’t know much, Ceylan-san told us everything he knew about medicinal herbs.

When we started talking about more technical stuff, he called a sailor who was sitting on a different table.

This man was the ship’s doctor and knew much more about medicinal herbs than Ceylan-san.

He told us that bark can also be boiled and drank as medicine.

Chinese medicine?

I asked him more about this, and he also asked me about medicinal herbs in Slantania, so I answered what I could.

Jude also helped me answer his questions, and the doctor even told us that we knew a lot about medicinal herbs.

We told him Jude works with potions, so he understood why we knew a lot about herbs.

『Speaking of potions, did he make the potion that you gave to us, Ojou-san?』

『No… That was something my father prepared, so I don’t really know where it’s from.』

Wah. That was a close call.

I felt chills run down my back as I answered Ceylan-san’s question.

Jude also thought it was a close call, and his smile froze.

It was fine though since Ceylan-san didn’t ask any further questions.

『Mm, are you curious about the potion?』Oscar-san asked Ceylan-san a question this time, when I was glad that the previous conversation had ended.

『Of course.』

『I see. It seems like your kingdom has made a lot of progress with medicinal herbs. Do you have anything similar to that potion? 』

『I don’t know. When it comes to something that effective, then no one knows unless they’re a high-ranking person.』

I listened to their conversation and was troubled.

I’m glad I gave him the potion since it worked, but I feel like I’ve done something wrong.

No, I’m sure I did.

I want them to stop talking about potions now so that I won’t slip up.

They seemed to have gotten my feelings because they changed the topic and started talking about life on the ship.

I’ve heard about life on ships before, but they really have it tough.

『… So, food onboard is terrible.』

『That sounds tough.』

Tears flowed down my face at their pitiful food situation.

I looked sad as I listened to their conversation even though I wasn’t acting in a play.

Even if their food culture is advanced, they had to bring food which could last on long voyages.

Dried or salted foods can last for a long time.

Raw vegetables and fruits rot, so they have to use that up early even if they stock up on it.

He asked us if we knew any good preserved foods in this kingdom, but Jude and Oscar-san didn’t know any.

Since Oscar-san, who is a very knowledgeable person, didn’t know, it probably meant that there was nothing else apart from the foods they were talking about earlier.

Preserved food?

I remembered the preserved food that was put on ships during long journeys from my previous world.

I wonder if it tastes better than the preserved food they were talking about.

There were a lot of different opinions on that dish.

Ceylan-san noticed my expression while I was thinking and spoke to me. 『Ojou-san, did you think of something?』

『Well, I can’t guarantee the taste…』

I’ve never made it before, so I don’t know what flavours I can make.

But, Ceylan-san seemed interested even after hearing this and asked if I could make it for him to try.

I remember how to make it since it was easy.

I don’t know whether I can get the ingredients though.

Anyway, I’ll look around the market tomorrow, and if I can find the ingredients, then I’ll make it.

I answered Ceylan-san’s request on the condition that the ingredients can be obtained.

◊♦◊♦◊♦◊

The day after the banquet, I headed to the market with Jude early in the morning.

Vegetables grown in the vicinity are sold at the morning market.

The fresh vegetables laid out in front of the shops were shining in the morning sunlight.

I received a request from Ceylan-san yesterday on the condition that I can find the ingredients, but can I really find them at the market?

The vendors only sell things that they’ve harvested for the day, so I might not be able to find the ingredients I need.

I looked around the stalls while feeling uneasy and found cabbage.

I’m glad. They have it today.

Commoners also pick common vegetables, and Jude asked curiously, “Preserved food made with cabbages?”

“That’s right.”

I’m making sauerkraut1) today.

People in Slantania use cabbage for soups, so Jude didn’t think it could be made into preserved food.

I ignored Jude, who was tilting his head and spoke to the stall keeper.

The quantity will decrease if I preserve it, so I bought a lot of cabbage.

I also bought salt, bay leaves and small wooden barrels.

I asked each of the stalls to deliver the items to the inn where Ceylan-san was staying, since I was making sauerkraut there.

When I finished shopping, we walked to the inn.

They had just finished breakfast, so we arrived at a good time.

When we arrived at the inn, Ceylan-san was waiting for us at the entrance.

『Good morning.』

『Morning. Did you get the ingredients?』

『Yes.』

『That’s great. Let’s go to the kitchen.』

We went to the kitchen after saying our hellos, and other spices apart from the ones I bought this morning were prepared for me.

These spices were from Ceylan-san’s cargo, and I told them yesterday that I would need them to make sauerkraut.

Hmm, they have everything I asked for.

After checking the ingredients, I turned to the chefs and taught them how to make pickled cabbage.

I was only teaching them the recipe; the chefs are the people doing the cooking.

『We just have to cut the cabbages thinly?』

『Yes, please.』

There were a lot of cabbages, but if they divide it among themselves, then it would be all done in no time.

It’s their profession.

They’re also fast at cutting.

While they were cutting the cabbages, I also proceeded with the preparations of the storage containers.

I poured hot water into the wooden barrels.

This will be left alone for a while.

If these were glass bottles, then I can easily sterilise it by boiling it in a pot, but wooden barrels were too big to fit in pots, so I had to do it this way.

“Are you sterilising it?”

“Yes. The food inside won’t rot easily if you sterilise it.”

“Oh yeah.”

The research institute has already researched sterilising.

The lecturer was me.

My previous world was more advanced in natural science.

When I said something new, the researchers would thoroughly ask me about it, and I eventually ended up giving lectures to everyone on the subject.

Now let’s go back to the present.

Thanks to that, Jude somehow understood that it was better to sterilise the containers.

I poured the hot water out after a while, and the chefs questioned me like the researchers usually do.

I didn’t explain what sterilising was, but I told them that it would cause the food to rot slower, and they were impressed.

Saidera Kingdom also had a similar preserved food, but it didn’t use cabbage. They said they would try sterilising when they made that dish.

By all means, please make effective use of this method.

While we were doing this, the chefs finished chopping the cabbages, so we moved onto the next step.

We rubbed salt over the shredded cabbage until the water in them had been drained out, and then rubbed them with the mixed spices.

After that, we stuffed them into the wooden barrels, and the preparations were done.

『Push it in so there aren’t any gaps.』

『Like this?』

『Yes, like that.』

They pushed the cabbage into the barrels so that there were no gaps.

By doing this, we can prevent the spread of unnecessary bacteria during fermentation.

I saw this written in a recipe before.

『That’s all?』When I put the outermost leaf of the cabbage on top, and a stone weight on top, Ceylan-san spoke to me.

『Yes. After that, you need to place them in a cold and dark place to ferment.』

I’ve heard that it takes four to six weeks to ferment, but it was my first time making it, so I don’t know if I should leave it for that long.

I don’t know how long it would last, so I asked them to check the cabbages as they eat.

By the way, I can’t guarantee the taste.

I don’t know because it was my first time making them, and some people liked it while others didn’t in my previous world.

When I told them that, Ceylan-san and the others smiled wryly and accepted this.

『It’s easier to make than I thought.』

『That’s right. I’m sorry, this was the only thing I could think of.』

『Nah, even if you only gave us one recipe, the foods we can eat on board have increased. Thanks.』

I could only think of sauerkraut other than the food available in Ceylan-san’s kingdom to use as preserved food.

I also thought of pickled vegetables and meat, but they probably already have these, so I didn’t suggest them.

Their kingdom’s food culture developed so much, so there’s no way they don’t have those.

『But, vegetables… That’s a blind spot.』

『Blind spot?』

After we were done, Ceylan-san said we could rest, so we were treated to tea.

I sat on the dining hall chair while feeling relieved and Ceylan-san said that.

『Yeah. When I was going to put vegetables onto the ship, I could only think of fresh vegetables, and didn’t think about salted vegetables.』

『I heard from the chef that your kingdom has a different type of salted vegetable dish.』

『We do. I thought it would have been a good idea to put that on the ship when I saw Ojou-san’s recipe.』

I smiled at Ceylan-san.

It’s not a big deal, but I’m glad that I was useful.

『Is that pickled cabbage something you eat in Slantania?』

『No. It’s a foreign dish that I read in a book before.』

『So, you’ve never made it before…』

『Nope.』

Even though it was a foreign kingdom, it wasn’t of this world.

I thought, but it was decided that I would say I learnt everything from a book whenever I’m troubled by questions.

When Ceylan-san said, 『You’re an avid reader,』and cold sweat dripped down my back.

The conversation ended, and we were served tea.

I thanked Ceylan-san for yesterday’s banquet again and went back to my inn.

He said he would tell me how the sauerkraut turned out but when will I see him again?

I wonder if I will see him again since the company will trade with rice and miso.

Hmm, should I try to make it at the royal capital?

If it’s delicious, then I can take it with me on demon subjugations.

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