In Prison Kao-Lu-Zhu

With rice in hand, the curry rice reached its ultimate form. Well now, as a Japanese person, one cannot do without rice. Keeping it a secret from everyone, I stealthily cooked rice and ate it.

Apparently, over here, rice did not seem to be eaten that much. What a waste. Shall I try starting a rice revolution?

This is Shuri. In high spirits thanks to having rice.

During the previous magic crystal stone negotiations, Gungrave-san and Arius-san’s marriage was decided. Excellent, excellent.

Wanting to secretly prepare a wedding ceremony to surprise the two, I stealthily consulted things with Teg-san and Kuuga-san.

“A wedding ceremony?”

“Yes. In this continent, do you not celebrate upon marriage?”

“That’s right… At best, relatives gather, and the representative of the village or town acts as a matchmaker to make a vow.”

“By vow, do you mean like swearing eternal love?”

“That’s about it. It’s something like that. After that, greeting in front of everyone and it’s over, you know.”

“Eh? What about celebratory dishes or gifts?”

“In the old days there were some, but… In this day and age, it’s ‘hurry up, give birth to a child, and work’.”

“That’s right. Because a child is a successor and a labor force at the same time. How should I put it, there’s no time to celebrate. Though noble guys still hold celebratory banquets.”

How dry and flavorless. That is no good.

“Since it is a special occasion, why do we not do Gungrave-san and Arius-san’s wedding ceremony extravagantly?”

““Extravagantly?””

“Launching fireworks, or making them kiss in front of their subordinates.”

“K-Kiss?! In front of subordinates?!”

“The groom princess-carrying the bride and appealing to everyone.”

“T-That is bold.”

“And then swearing to God. ‘In wealth and in poverty, to love and support each other’.”

“To God… huh…”

“Shuri is surprisingly a romanticist…”

H-Huh, the two of them are thoroughly turned off?!

Strange. If it were Earth, this flow should be normal, but…

No, how about establishing a new form of wedding ceremony in this world instead?!

I will make it popular, absolutely.

I made my objective anew.

Now then, despite preparing for the wedding ceremony, what dish should I make?

I tried asking Rir-san.

“A dish suitable for a wedding ceremony?”

“Yes. I wonder what kind of dish would avoid causing embarrassment at a place of celebration.”

“Hamburg Steak.”

I asked the wrong person.

While groaning with a “mm-mm,” the next battle arrived.

Speaking from the result, we won.

It was good that everyone survived without dying.

And it seemed a victory celebration would be held on a grand scale.

“Shuri, I want you to make dishes.”

The night before that. Gungrave-san bowed his head to me as I washed dishes.

“Sure thing. So please raise your head.”

“No, this time it might be difficult even for you.”

Difficult… meant what?

“Actually, at this victory celebration, arrangements are set for the lord to grant us land.”

Land?!

“In short, does that mean you can become a lord?”

“To put it simply. We can finally become masters of a castle and a country.”

That is worthy of celebration.

“However, the lord is quite a gourmet, you see. I want to curry favor, but I want you to make a dish that aligns with that.”

“In short, it would not be embarrassing to present to nobles. Furthermore, an unusual dish that is delicious, does that mean?”

“That is how it is.”

Gungrave-san with an embarrassed face.

Personally, I thought it was just the usual thing, though…

“Understood. By the way, are there any specifications for ingredients to present to nobles?”

“It is set as a suckling pig.”

Suckling pig… then could it be that?

“Gungrave-san. Have you ever eaten roasted whole suckling pig?”

“As if I could eat something far too expensive like that!”

“What about the way to make it?”

“Hmm? Circulating fire in a dedicated hearth, putting it inside and roasting it thoroughly to a crisp. Is that not normal?”

Is it something like roasting whole in an oven…?

Alright, I can do this.

“Roger that. I have already decided.”

Gungrave-san was surprised, but that is tough, so if I do not practice…

Hardships never cease.

On the day.

At the party where many nobles and military personnel gathered, I was allowed to participate despite being out of place.

Borrowing the castle garden to be held, it was very splendid.

And I was far too out of place.

“Everyone has formal attire, so why am I the only one in everyday clothes…?”

“No, when I thought you’d retreat to the kitchen, you suddenly said you’d cook in front of everyone, so preparations couldn’t make it in time.”

Kuuga-san answered me, but I was unbearable with embarrassment.

Damn it, should I have just retreated to the kitchen!

Gungrave-san and Arius-san stood side by side conversing with nobles. They were accustomed to it. And they were spreading the word around that they were getting married.

Teg-san was conversing with young noble ladies, though a little awkwardly. It would be great if popular phases just vanished.

Rir-san was walking around eating dishes without care. When I felt relieved thinking she had broken away from Hamburg Steaks, she looked over here imploringly. I will not make them, Hamburg Steaks.

And Kuuga-san stood together with me. He said walking alone made him so anxious about leaving me behind that he could not help it.

“Is Kuuga-san fine with this? Without getting your face remembered.”

“Ah? About the nobles? I don’t care. Either way, I can’t do that kind of thing well. Rather than military officers like commanders, it’s more beneficial to get along with lower-ranking soldiers.”

“Is it that kind of thing?”

“It’s that kind of thing. Look, Gungrave is calling. Isn’t it about time for you to make dishes?”

Oh, is it already that time?

Ingredients and utensils were already prepared for me in the middle of the banquet.

Exchanging glances with Gungrave-san, I received permission.

“Now then, everyone. From here on, I shall make a special roasted whole suckling pig, Kao-Lu-Zhu. Since it is an auspicious dish, it should be just right.”

Perchance everyone had never heard of it, there was a bit of a commotion.

Well, even Japanese people do not hear of it much, do they.

After stabbing a pitchfork into the whole suckling pig that had already finished prep work… come, let us begin.

Above the charcoal fire, we endlessly rotated the suckling pig. Then we took it down, spreading sugar water (a mixed seasoning of starch syrup and vinegar) and peanut oil, and then roasting further.

Roast, spread, roast, spread, roast, spread…

When I first made this, I failed, but since then I repeated practice, and now I can do it perfectly.

By the way, this Kao-Lu-Zhu. It is a celebratory dish around Guangdong Province in Chinese cuisine. It is a dish where one mainly eats the skin.

Taking down the roasted Kao-Lu-Zhu, cutting the skin, and plating it on a dish.

Handing it to a nearby errand runner, it was finished.

“Are you not going to eat the meat over there?”

The lord came near me, received the plate, and said.

He had a face as if it were a waste.

“Because this is a dish where one should eat the skin deliciously.”

“I see, then let us partake.”

The lord ate the skin plated on the dish.

“This is…! While being crispy, it is as if melting…! What a mysterious texture!”

The appearance was thoroughly roasted brown skin.

And upon eating, it crunched in the mouth and melted away.

In the end, only savory flavor remained—that is the characteristic of Kao-Lu-Zhu.

When roasted by an unskillful person, it becomes just like roasted dried squid. Cracking with a crunch and remaining stubbornly, that is what happens.

It was good that it succeeded…!

“An interesting dish. I see, a new dish pursuing the savory flavor of the skin.”

“Yes, I am honored to receive your praise.”

“Mm, mm, I feel good. Give me hot wine.”

The lord looked to be in a good mood.

As he received a glass, he was having wine poured for him.

…Hmm?

“Do not!”

Instantly, I knocked the wine glass and dropped it to the ground.

Dangerous! He must not drink such a thing!

“You bastard! What are you doing to the lord!”

However, the surroundings did not seem to think so.

I was surrounded by soldiers who rushed over at the order of the military officer.

Oh crap, I got caught.

By the time I thought so, it was too late.

I was already checkmated.