#19: Angry Curry Rice - Part One — Cook of the Mercenary Group (WN)

Kuuga-san’s active performance was amazing.

On the battlefield, he became a demonic god of a man who cut down enemies right through their armor and swords.

You never know what will trigger a person’s talent to blossom. I mean, what even triggered it?

Seeing that, the members of the infantry unit were also emboldened, and they began heading out to the front lines. It would be ideal if they came back without getting injured, though. I guess it does not work out that way, does it?

This is Shuri. Lately, there are many things I have wanted to make. Eh, I am too laid-back? I was originally like this to begin with.

Now that Mapo Tofu and Cheesecake have come, the thing I want to make is set. The item I could not make until now due to lack of ingredients and lack of knowledge.

Yes, it was curry.

I spent my days struggling with the subtle blending of spices. It was truly the cosmos. Or was it?

Of course, I ate the failed attempts myself. However, a drawback emerged.

Even if it was a failure, curry was still curry. That devilish scent tickling the nostrils ended up summoning Arius-san behind me as I made prototypes at night.

“Arius-san, what are you doing over there?”

I called out to her just in case, but there was no response. It was completely obvious, yet she refused to give in!

Her body was sticking out from behind the tree, so what was she being so stubborn about!

By the way, I only called out Arius-san, but on top of the tree was Teg-san, from far away was Kuuga-san, and though I did not know how she did it, under the ground was Rir-san. She was probably digging a hole and hiding.

And at the nearby tents, people from various units gathered in crowds, not straining their ears, but straining their noses as they waited. That was the first time I ever used the phrase “straining their noses.”

“Hmm, as expected, curry powder is difficult…”

Blended curry powder. This was the biggest issue.

Normally, the flow was to stir-fry the ingredients, pour in water, bring it to a boil, and put the roux in there. Come to think of it, I did not know how to make roux. I used to combine different rouxs to change the taste, though.

“Ah… Is it no good again…”

Once more, I failed.

Both the color and the thickness were lacking. It felt like an incomplete soup curry.

I still did not know the best blend of curry powder.

Should I research a bit more?

The failed curry, of course, I ate myself.

Since I only made enough for one person, cleaning up afterwards was also simple.

However, the people in the back seemed to want to eat it.

I would not let them eat it. There was no way I could have them eat a failed attempt.

I scooped it onto a plate and partook.

Hmm, sweetness was lacking. Thickness too.

It was not made to a convincing level.

“”“Aaaaah…!!”““

I heard shouts, but I ignored them.

Shall I be a little mean?

“It is because there was no answer when I called out earlier~. If no one is there, there is no reason to let anyone eat, is there~”

The trees and the ground were trembling and shaking.

Were they angry?

“Well, before that, it is a failed attempt. There is no way I can let anyone eat it anyway~”

I followed up just in case.

The upcoming battle was not a battle.

To explain what that meant, we were chosen as negotiators.

The location was a snowy region. It was the place where Arius-san melted all the snow on the mountain last year.

Somehow it felt like we were visiting the same places as last year, but connections were formed from things like this, so it could not be made light of.

Speaking of which, my connection was, how should I put it, a strange twist of fate. Why was I in another world?

Even if I thought about it, it could not be helped, so I simply walked along the snowy path.

“Gungrave-san, what is the goal of this negotiation?”

“If you feed me the dish you have been prototyping every night, I will tell you.”

G-Gungrave-san?!

Were you always that kind of character?!

That light resembling madness dwelling in those eyes, it was not something you should have!

“That one is almost finished, so please wait a bit.”

“Fine. This time, it is negotiations for magic crystal stones. Alturia is a snowy country, yet magic crystal stones can be gathered in large quantities. It is a major industry.”

Magic crystal stones were said to be materials that served as catalysts for magi-engineering and magic, or paint when drawing magi-spells with magi-engineering.

When magical power gathered in a place rich in nature, it crystallized and became matter. That was a magic crystal stone.

Rir-san’s inventions and Arius-san’s staff. Magic crystal stones were necessary for those as well.

Though for magi-engineering, once a magic crystal stone was used with a magi-spell, it could be used semi-permanently.

It seemed that if magic continued to be used, it would be consumed. To put it simply, using magic meant that magic crystal stones wore down and disappeared. The strain was probably great.

So, since the quantity became low, it meant we were replenishing them.

That was the intention.

“We have no magic crystal stones to sell to savages like you lot. Go back.”

When we finally had an audience with the lord, we were hated like snakes and scorpions.

In the audience chamber, a fat father and son sat arrogantly. It was somehow aggravating. Being looked down upon by pigs made me irritated.

“Please reconsider. It is necessary for our activities. As compensation…”

“Very well. As compensation, if you make the two women over there into my son’s female slaves, I will sell them to you.”

Snap. A top-grade irritation arrived.

It was the first time I heard the words “female slave.” I did not know such anger could swell up.

“Papa, I don’t want to embrace a rustic woman like that~”

“It is fine, my son. I will properly disinfect her with medicine, after all.”

Pop.

That kind of sound could be heard from the men.

The hair on the nape of Teg-san’s neck stood on end.

Kuuga-san’s aura turned into the countenance of a demon.

The pressure felt from Gungrave-san became a lion that seemed to dominate the space.

Eh, me? At best I was a cat, but I was emitting an aura. I was growling with a hiss!!

“Hmm?”

What I saw then was the scene of the fat son eating sweet snacks.

“That is…”

That ingredient I had seen before.

And the application I had seen in manga.

Yes, it was chocolate.

Surprisingly, over here, chocolate was already developed, and had spread even to such a snowy country.

“Well, that is how it is. She is too country-bumpkin to give to my son, but I will settle for that woman.”

“…That is…”

“Gungrave…”

When I suddenly realized, there was Arius-san with teary eyes and Gungrave-san with shoulders trembling in anger.

Why did they not immediately refuse and leave this place?

Gungrave-san.

The woman you love and mere objects, there was no way they could be compared.

“Hey, hey. Excuse me for a moment.”

Shall I play the fool here?

Let us stop kneeling.

I hated bowing my head to these guys anyway.

“What are you, brat?”

“I am the cook of the Gungrave Mercenary Band, named Shuri. Forgive my rudeness, but one thing. The alluring sweet snack eaten by the prince, where did you obtain that?”

Wrinkles gathered between the brows of the king and the prince. They were probably irritated.

“…It is Niewbist. What about it?”

“No, no, just in case.”

I see. That place. From now on, obtaining it would be easy.

Perhaps cacao and sugar cane could be gathered from the forest over there?

I did not know the details, but for now, let us make use of it.

“Here, would you let me prepare a dish?”

“Why must we have a dish prepared by a country cook like you?”

“No, no, the prince’s sweet snack. I shall show you that I can transform it into an alluring dish that surpasses it.”

“An alluring dish, you say?”

Oh, he took the bait.

This fat father and son. I thought they would take the bait when it came to talk of food.

“Yes, potatoes, carrots, onions, and meat. That alone is sufficient. With just that, I shall prepare and present a dish many times more delicious than that sweet snack.”

“…Interesting. A meal with chocolate and those ingredients? Just try and show me. If it tastes bad, I will chop off both of those arms of yours.”

“Go right ahead. Then, I shall commence cooking.”

There was no way I would lose.

Once the ingredients were prepared, it was time to cook.

Actually, curry could also be combined with chocolate.

When I nibbled a little bit of the chocolate, I see, this chocolate could be used.

I also gained a hint for the curry powder. I noticed it upon looking at the chocolate.

In short, spices alone were no good. Of course, after practice, I found the blend of spices. However, to make curry like in Japan, there were a few more things that had to be added.

Adding honey to butter, adding thickness and sweetness with flour, and adding savory flavor with bouillon.

Through research and practice, I also found a convincing blend for the thickness and sweetness.

Putting a piece of chocolate in there and stirring it around and around.

Covering it with a lid, simmering it for a bit, and it was complete.

With the cream stew, I temporarily made something to fill the stomach that was decent enough to eat, but with curry, I was particular.

“…What is that disgusting-colored dish?”

The king was thoroughly turned off. He only watched while I was making it.

How rude. Even though this was Japanese curry, hugely popular from adults to children.

“Come, come, please have some here.”

“…Well, fine.”

Hehehe. It seemed he fell into the trap.

The moment the lid was opened, it dominated everyone present with its scent.

Ah, what a good scent.

“This is…!”

Both the king and the prince stared with surprised faces while taking in the scent.

Indeed. Because with handmade curry roux, one could be particular even about the scent.

Captains in the back. You lot smelled this every night, didn’t you?

“Here you go.”

“N-Ngh.”

When I served it onto a plate, the king ate it without any hesitation. Without a taste tester.

“THIS IS…!!!”

The king opened his eyes wide in shock.

“Indeed. My skill with a kitchen knife is not to be thrown away either, is it?”

“U-Ugh…!!”

Showing off the kitchen knife a little with a smug face.

Though the king looked frustrated, he did not say it tasted bad.

Well, there was no way he could call this dish bad.

“Here is some for the prince as well.”

“Mm!”

The prince ate it with sparkling eyes.

“It is delicious! For chocolate to become this delicious!”

“Thank you very much.”

“Papa! Rather than that woman, I want this cook!”

“T-That is…”

The king’s eyes were swimming immensely.

“This can be made if you combine this powder with chocolate. I do not mind giving it to you.”

“Is that true?!”

“In exchange, we would like magic crystal stones, however.”

“Papa!”

“S-Silence! …What is your motive?”

The king glared intensely, but it was not scary.

He had to stop his hand from eating the curry first.

“That is why it is the magic crystal stones. Please part with them at the market price.”

“…Understood. In exchange, drop the matter of my son trying to recruit you.”

Eh? That kind of bargaining condition?

“Yes, I do not mind.”

In this manner, magic crystal stones were obtained.

On the way back.

Everyone said it was good and relieved, but I was not convinced.

After leaving the castle and heading toward the campsite, I decided to take action.

“Gungrave-san.”

“Ah, Shuri. That was a big help—!?”

I punched him.

At best, it was a light smack, though.

This man’s cheek was hard as well.

“Why did you not object immediately? Which is more important, the person you love or a clump of stones! It is not something to hesitate over to the point of making her cry!!”

After telling him off, I quickly returned to the campsite.

Behind me, the captains were dumbfounded, but I left them behind and went home.

Afterward, I spent the night trembling in fear.

After all, I punched the leader of the band. I might get fired.

What should I do? If I got fired, I would have no workplace and no one to rely on.

I would have no choice but to go to Niewbist… no, no, returning after putting on such a big show would be…

I was feeling anxious like that.

When the next day came.

For some reason, Gungrave-san thanked me with a refreshed face.

“Thanks to you, I realized what was important. Thank you.”

Thank goodness. I did not get fired.

And it seemed he officially welcomed Arius-san as his wife.