Oden With Everyone - Part Two

Our dream surely began from here.

Never since establishing the mercenary band had my heart danced to such a degree.

Never had I thought something was this fun.

And surely, it could not have been accomplished without him.

I don’t believe in words like destiny, but…

This was probably what they call destiny.

“Gungrave-san. Wasting food isn’t very good, is it?”

“Indeed…. I’ll make sure to speak to those guys properly.”

Shuri’s illness was cured.

It seemed his physical condition had become completely good by the next day, and he tried to return as the cook.

Of course, both my subordinates and my comrades welcomed him. It was natural since we could escape from that terribly unpalatable food!

However, my foresight had been naive. Far too naive.

Namely, disposal of leftover food. I had neglected to destroy the evidence.

“Look at this—they tried to make cream stew and burned it until it turned brown, didn’t they?”

That was a failure I made.

All the others had also engaged in trial and error to recreate Shuri’s cooking.

As a result, filthy waste that couldn’t even be eaten was mass-produced.

Ingredients were consumed in large quantities, leaving behind only waste that could neither be eaten nor used as fertilizer.

Such evidence of a crime. I had forgotten to destroy it.

In my case, I tried to make soup and burned the ingredients.

They were charred black.

“If anything, it’s black.”

“Please stop this sort of thing, alright?”

“Yeah, I’ll put a stop to it.”

I’m sorry, but I’ll let the blame fall on everyone else.

Shuri’s face had the intensity of a demon mask.

“Gungrave-san, it’s useless even if you try to escape like that while saying so. Rir-san tried to make hamburger steak and ended up with stir-fried minced meat. On top of that, it has no flavor. I heard Kuuga-san tried to make deep-fried horse mackerel and got burned. He chopped the fish so mercilessly that it’s more like deep-fried fish balls. Arius-san didn’t put in kelp, so hers is just plain boiled tofu. It’s completely tasteless. And Gungrave-san. This cream stew—you tried to make it yourself, didn’t you? What’s more, I know you were laying the groundwork to blame it on your subordinates.”

I was found out?!

As I thought, it was Rir!

Rir was experiencing withdrawal symptoms from not being able to eat hamburger steak.

Unable to work on inventions or processing equipment, she was lying down all day groaning, “Hamburger steak… hamburger steak…”

Down upon that came Shuri’s recovery. And the recovery of hamburger steak.

Did that brat foresee this and trade information to get her hands on hamburger steak?!

“Well… I’ll make a special dish tomorrow evening.”

“What? Special?”

Internally, I was trembling over what kind of revenge would come from Shuri, but Shuri was chuckling wryly.

A special dish, he said?

This was the first time I heard such words from Shuri.

“That’s why today, as a punishment for the sake of economizing, even though I’ll cook, the amount will be small.”

“With the taste of your cooking… for the first time in a while… the amount will be… small, you say?”

Im-Impossible. If something like that is done, won’t I face a storm of criticism from my subordinates?

Both subordinates and comrades were overjoyed to the point of leaping up due to Shuri’s recovery.

No longer having to eat terrible food. No longer having to pay money to eat meals that were merely mediocre.

However, while this guy’s cooking tastes good, unfortunately it makes you want to eat a lot of it. The aroma and taste ring out to your empty stomach, making you want to eat even more.

And yet, it’s small.

Such torture. I’ve never heard of anything else like it…!

Only now did I realize.

Behind Shuri’s smile lay a fire of anger burning bright red!

The second night.

Subordinates and comrades alike all wore an atmosphere like hungry wolves as they held the dinner party.

Getting to this point had been tough.

Shuri quelled the criticism from the subordinates with sound logic and anger, saying that the ones who wasted the ingredients were them. And then the spearhead turned toward me.

Why didn’t I persuade them, or why did I do such a thing?

I mean, if I blamed them saying they were the ones who did it, it turned into a complete mudslinging match.

Amidst the tense atmosphere, the sight of Rir devouring hamburger steak with an unconcerned face remains burned into my memory.

Then, explaining that Shuri would make a special dish tomorrow night so they had to endure until then, the commotion finally settled down.

We arrived at today safely.

“So, Shuri. What are you planning to do?”

Here, six of us are gathered: me, Shuri, Rir, Kuuga, Arius, and Teg.

Apparently, he’s going to cook using specially ordered burners and pots.

Since those were prepared for all of the dozens of groups, today’s dish must be special.

Teg voiced his doubt as well. Honestly, I wanted to ask too.

“Well, you all took care of me when I caught a cold, so I wanted to thank you properly.”

“You’re being formal. We aren’t in a relationship where we need to hold back, you know.”

It’s just as Arius says.

We aren’t in a relationship where we need to hold back like that anymore.

Both I and everyone here consider Shuri a comrade.

“In my home country, there’s a saying: ‘Courtesy even among close friends.’ It means that even among those who are close, one must not forget the courtesy of being considerate of the other person. Therefore, I want to properly express my thanks.”

Consideration, huh.

Ever since becoming a mercenary band, I had forgotten such a mindset.

Even among close friends, is it?

Shuri, so in short, you accept us as close friends.

“So, is that what this dish is? How’s it different from what you’ve made up to now?”

Indeed.

Since the lid hasn’t been opened, I can’t say for sure, but how is it different from the dishes up to now?

“This is a pot dish.”

“Is it like boiled tofu?”

“No, it’s richer than that. Here it is! Everyone, please open the lids and take a look!”

At Shuri’s signal, as if everyone had been waiting for this exact moment, we opened the lids.

An irresistible aroma enveloped the area.

The ingredients were fried tofu, eggs, daikon radish, chikuwa, hanpen, a mysterious jiggling meat, and sausage.

What a lavish pot dish. Both the aroma and the color of the soup were unique.

“Is this… tofu? It’s firmer than boiled tofu and can be held…”

“Eggs, huh? I see, it’s lavish. Has the flavor soaked in? The color has changed.”

Expectant voices rose from the other tables as well.

This was similar to the boiled tofu I ate with Arius before, but a bit different.

This wasn’t something light like that.

It looked like something richer, with more substance to eat.

That made sense. Using this many ingredients wasn’t something that could be eaten easily.

We could expect great things from the flavor as well.

“Alright, then you guys, go ahead and eat!”

“Oohhh!!”

The subordinates cheered and began digging into the pots.

“Then let me join in too. Everyone, please help yourselves.”

“Ah, then I’ll take a sausage.”

“I’ll take this chikuwa? Or whatever it’s called.”

“I will take the fried tofu.”

“…Egg.”

“I’ll take this meat. What kind of meat is this?”

“It’s beef tendon.”

“Huh? Is it that tough stuff that isn’t even edible?”

“Give it a try. You’ll definitely be surprised.”

Ho, then I can expect great things.

I tried taking a piece of beef tendon.

Beef tendon is tough and not edible.

It’s gristly, and flavor doesn’t soak in.

And yet. This piece had a good color, and it was soft. It was jiggling.

With anticipation, I put it into my mouth.

“Egg, piping hot.”

Rir looked happy while eating the egg white and yolk together.

“This thing called chikuwa, it tastes like fish, doesn’t it? It’s a strange taste.”

Kuuga was completely absorbed in the thing called chikuwa.

By the way, burdock root was apparently stuffed inside the hole.

“Unlike boiled tofu, fried tofu holds its shape firmly and is satisfying to eat, isn’t it?”

Arius was elegantly eating the fried tofu.

“This sausage feels different from pot-au-feu again. Eating it together with daikon makes it even more delicious!”

The one nodding while eating sausage and daikon together was Teg.

“Unbelievable… this is beef tendon? It’s not tough. It’s soft. It’s easy to chew in the mouth, and the chewiness is great too. The flavor is supreme as well.”

And the beef tendon.

It was soft, flavor had soaked in, and it was supreme.

How did he do it to get it like this?

Come to think of it, he told us to wait a day. Could it be he simmered it for a whole day?

Did he keep it on the fire for a whole day, simmering it slowly to make it soft?

Normally, it was unthinkable. This wasn’t a palace kitchen.

Even if there were burners, it must have taken an extraordinary amount of effort.

The same went for the other ingredients. They wouldn’t become this delicious overnight.

From what I heard, chikuwa was made by puréeing fish meat, kneading it, and processing it.

Going out of his way to handle fish like that was unthinkable. In return, the flavor was overwhelmingly delicious.

Absorbing the broth well, every ingredient whose flavor had boiled down was first-class.

“It’s a special occasion! You guys, drink alcohol and enjoy today! With meals this delicious, it’d be a waste without alcohol!”

The subordinates raised a battle cry and rejoiced.

That was natural. This food was definitely bound to go well with alcohol.

I also drank alcohol for the first time in a while and enjoyed the meal.

It was irresistible, after all, Shuri’s cooking.

“As expected, this band is a good place. I am happy to have been picked up by this band.”

Looking at everyone, Shuri said softly.

Happy, is it? This place was close to a hell where you don’t know when you might die.

And yet he said he was glad, huh?

“Shuri, will you keep making meals for us here from now on too?”

“Yes. Until I’m made to quit, always. I have thoughts of my home, but my place of belonging is here.”

“I see. Good.”

Made to quit? There’s no way in hell I’d do that.

If I made this guy quit, the mercenary band would fall apart.

Right now, what’s holding this mercenary band together is precisely Shuri’s cooking.

Because they can eat delicious food, because if they survive they can eat it again, they’re working hard.

If this guy remains behind, I get motivated too.

In that case, I have no choice but to say it and do it, too.

Downing the alcohol in one gulp, I said it to him.

“As for me, my goal is to create a nation that unifies this entire continent and become its king. You’re coming along with me, Shuri.”

“Yes, Gungrave-san.”

I will definitely become king.

The nation I once dreamed of, where no one starves and no one is poor.

“Then, Rir too.”

Rir stopped her hand that was eating the egg.

“Rir will use magi-engineering technology for peaceful purposes in that nation. This time, making everyday items like the ones I made for Shuri, and teaching magi-engineering to various people. Creating a school or something.”

“Then I’ll be the Grand General of the nation. I’ll become the world’s strongest sword master and leave my techniques behind for all eternity.”

“As for me, like Rir, I want to create a magic school. Not a school only nobles can attend, but recruiting various disciples. Also, I want to become a good wife.”

“Once the nation is built and peace comes, I’m going to travel around various places and compile them into a book. After conquering the continent, I’ll conquer the sea too!”

Before I knew it, everyone was talking about their dreams.

None of the surrounding subordinates teased us even a bit.

Rather, they were cheering us on, saying “That’s right, that’s right.”

I have good comrades, good subordinates.

The one who created that for me was you. Shuri.

“Then, I will help with everyone’s dreams.”

Shuri smiled.

“I will become a person who continues to make delicious food.”

Our six members and our reliable subordinates.

With him around, I can surely fulfill my dream.

Shall we start from here?

Our dream.

In later generations, when debates arise over where the turning point in history was, this scene is always depicted.

“The Banquet of the Six Heroes”

It is said to be the banquet where those who would later become heroes talked of their dreams and began walking toward their ideals.

The first Emperor of the Unified Empire: “King of the Continent” Gungrave Denju Aplada.

First Empress of the first Emperor and first Academy Director of the Magic Academy: “Witch of Truth” Arius Denju Aplada.

Founder of Blanche Magi-Engineering Academy: “Queen of Invention” Rir Blanche.

Grand General of the Unified Empire and founder of Kuuga Style: “Sword Saint King of a Hundred Slayings” Kuuga Yanagi.

Royal Guard Captain of the Unified Empire, founder of Tengu Style, and author of Record of Foreign Sights and Record of Otherworldly Sights: “First Adventurer King” Teg Valens.

Who could have predicted it? That the dreams talked about here would be realized.

Later heroes also believed that the imperial path of founding the Empire began from this banquet.

However, only one person spoke different words.

Gungrave Denju Aplada speaks:

The imperial path began much earlier.

From around the time he met a certain cook, the road to his dream surely began.

Exclusive Royal Cook of the Unified Empire and creator of new culinary culture:
Loved by numerous feudal lords and domain citizens, he invented numerous dishes, discovered numerous new ingredients, and devised numerous processed foods.

Furthermore, in years of famine or poor harvests, he went to the regions to save the domain citizens, and taught cooking to those who lost their jobs so they could open shops.

Historians and archaeologists speak:

Superficial scholars praise the other heroes, but those who study more deeply and properly
will understand that without his presence, the Unified Empire would not have been established.

His name is spoken for all eternity:

“King of Food” Shuri Azuma.

This is the story of how such a man influenced various people without knowing it, and grasped glory while remaining completely oblivious to it all.