Screams And Steak - Part One

Perhaps because their once-separated hearts had finally connected, the faces of Ecres-san, Garn-san, and Gings-san had been cheerful lately.

Before, even if they passed each other in the corridor, there was a sense of awkwardness, or a stiffness even when bowing.

Lately, however, whenever they passed each other in the hallway, they could be seen lightly exchanging two or three words.

Every time I saw that, it brought peace to my heart. I hated watching family members continue to quarrel, after all.

Hello, everyone, this is Shuri.

Having brought Ecres-san’s great operation gift to a success, I’ve been devoting myself to work with peace of mind these days. Garn-san’s drive toward his work had also gained quite a bit of spirit.

Although I told him not to push himself too hard, he seemed to be getting a bit too passionate, so I was instructing him while keeping a watchful eye.

Gungrave-san came to seek me out today as well.

It was during work, while I was setting up the prepared breakfast in the dining hall.

“Lenha won’t touch her food.”

For some reason, Gungrave-san wore a solemn expression.

“Eh? But I tasted the dishes Garn-san and the other subordinates made, and there were no issues.”

Lenha Sunity. She was the mastermind acting behind the scenes in the recent Sunity civil war.

From the perspective of modern Japanese sensibilities, some parts are hard to grasp, so I’ll explain it simply once again.

First, Garn-san is the eldest son born to a concubine… a woman kept outside, being neither a legal wife nor a formal secondary wife. Ecres-san is the eldest daughter born to a secondary wife. She is Garn-san’s half-sister.

Finally, the son born to the lawful wife was Gings-san, the second son in this context. He is the youngest child.

If I were to say one word from the perspective of someone with modern Japanese sensibilities:

It’s just overly complicated, overly heavy, and the darkness runs far too deep. In Japan, it would be a relationship on the level of being adapted into a novel or a shojo manga.

To return to the topic.

That Lenha-san is a criminal. The mastermind… she was orchestrating the recent commotion behind the scenes.

Taking advantage of the former lord’s metal allergy, she tried to do him in. Then she attempted to install her own son, Gings, as the lord. Her reasons remain unknown, though.

Under those circumstances, we had to prepare the bare minimum meals for her, but I left that to the subordinates and Garn-san.

Garn-san also put his spirit into it as his assigned task, regardless of who the recipient was.

I tasted it at the end, and since there were no issues, I sent it out, but…

“No, she’s throwing a tantrum saying things like, ‘I am of noble birth! Such dog food is unfit for my palate!’”

How rude. There were no mistakes or failures in their work, yet calling it dog food… Naturally, I felt a surge of anger.

However, Gungrave-san also looked utterly exasperated or something of the sort… He spoke while pressing his temples.

If he’s troubled by it himself, he could just ignore her.

“Still, shouldn’t criminals like that be treated strictly? Like cutting off meals. As humans, people won’t die even if they don’t eat or drink for two or three days, so shouldn’t we just leave her alone until she truly needs food?”

To speak plainly, I can’t understand letting such a selfish criminal have her way.

Even modern Japanese prisons shouldn’t be that lenient. In this world, which is two or three times stricter than modern Japan, I assumed they would do something much harsher.

However, Gungrave-san spoke with a troubled air.

“No, you see…”

Hm? Did Gungrave-san hesitate in his words?

“Well, Lenha is the lawful wife of the Lord of Sunity. We can’t treat her carelessly. Besides, she still can’t break free from the shackles of authority.”

I see, I understand a bit now.

In short, treating Lenha-san carelessly would cause problems.

Come to think of it, there was also the faction supporting the lawful wife. If we don’t hand out a punishment everyone agrees with, those people might cause a riot.

Just to note, the faction supporting the lawful wife has already been distanced from the town of Sunity. Along with surveillance by the mercenary band.

“Is that so? Then I’ll make it today.”

“Sorry to trouble you.”

“No, calming a throwing-a-tantrum customer with a dish so good they have no room to complain is part of a cook’s role, after all.”

Now then, what should I make? I placed a hand on my chin and pondered.

That said, I don’t know anything about her preferences… As a start, maybe I’ll bring some somewhat elaborate soup and bread.

As I was thinking that, I happened to turn my eyes to the side.

There stood Garn-san, peeling potatoes with a dejected look on his face!

“Uh, Garn-san?”

“Ah, Shuri…”

Oh boy, he’s extremely downcast. There’s no vigor in his face.

It might be only natural; having the dish you worked hard to make called dog food…

“Sorry, with my skill, I couldn’t satisfy Lenha…”

“Garn-san…”

“Haha, I still have a long way to go… I have to try harder.”

Though his words were positive, Garn-san’s eyes remained sunken. This won’t do. His confidence has been completely crushed…

From behind, I placed both hands on Garn-san’s shoulders.

“I used to have mountains of failures with cooking in the past too.”

“…”

“There were times I wanted to quit cooking. There were times I tried to run away to pre-made food or eating out.”

“…Is that so?”

“But every time, I dug in my heels and tried my best. Garn-san, please relax your shoulders. And let me stack up training together. If we do that, you’ll surely become able to make dishes that can bring a smile to someone’s face.”

“…”

“So, let’s work hard slowly, okay?”

Garn-san looked down and nodded.

I deliberately didn’t look at his face. I didn’t look at anything. I think that, too, is a form of kindness.

Now then, what kind of dish would satisfy Lenha-san, I wonder…?

Pondering such things, I moved on to cooking.

---

“What did you come here for! You accomplice to territory thieves! Don’t display that filthy face of yours before me!”

Yes, these were her very first words. Right off the bat, an insult calling me a territory thief. Well, inwardly I had thought so too, though.

Now, having prepared the food, I arrived at the dungeon where Lenha-san was imprisoned.

And the first words out of Lenha-san’s mouth upon seeing my face were these.

Let me clarify in advance, I am not an extreme masochist. I am not a pervert who gets excited by verbal abuse… I’m not, right?

Therefore, receiving such words only makes me annoyed. I haven’t been this irritated since that foolish lord of Alturia when I made Curry Rice for the first time. What is that foolish lord doing right now, I wonder?

That said, acting like a clown here like back then is pointless. She wouldn’t understand what I was doing at all, and she might just think I’m crazy instead.

“U… um… I brought food.”

Even so, she’s scary after all. My voice trembles. Even if it’s said that I survived through numerous battlefields, I didn’t actually stand on the battlefield or kill enemies; I just made food to support everyone.

So, having a wild woman with her hair disheveled raging right in front of me naturally makes me scared.

“Unneeded! Do you think such crude food is fit for my palate!”

Lenha-san spoke while furious… No, there are no issues with the taste, so fit or unfit doesn’t even come into it.

“As the chef, I made an elaborate soup. Please, go ahead.”

That said, I can’t just snap and leave. It’s Gungrave-san’s request, after all.

This soup was Pot-au-Feu, which I made when I first came to this world.

“Unneeded! Begone!”

This person is really getting on my nerves… She swatted her hand away and refused to accept the dish I tried to hand over.

What if I spilled it, seriously!

“For now, please eat. I heard you haven’t put food in your mouth for days. Water alone has its limits.”

“Silence, lowborn! As an invader, don’t talk as if you understand civilization! You must have put poison in that food!”

This is no good… Nothing can be done. Is she suffering from hysteria or something?

Since there are no psychiatrists in this world, I can’t say for sure. I don’t have that knowledge either, so I have no way to judge.

However, I got quite angry.

“Personally, I don’t care if you eat it or not. However, continuing your selfishness is a problem, and it’s troublesome if you die, so I’m just saying this.”

“What is with that tongue of yours! I am the lawful wife of the Lord of Sunity, Lenha Sunity!”

“However, right now you are just a criminal.”

Oh boy, did I go a bit too far with my mouth? Even so, I couldn’t help but say it.

Toward someone who makes cooking their profession, having the absolute worst thing said—that I put poison in it—made it impossible to suppress my emotions.

Feeling tension in my temples and brow, I looked straight at Lenha-san.

The fear from earlier was gone. What governed me now was purely anger at having cooking insulted.

“Don’t mock me! What did I do, what crime did I commit! Put an end to your false accusations!”

“Rigging tableware with poison for your husband and fleeing when things got dangerous. No matter how you look at it, those are the actions of a criminal.”

People who claim innocence even here must have nerves as thick as a thousand-year cedar… I’m impressed in a way. Not that I want to follow her example.

However, I’ve done what I came to do, so shall I head back?

“Wait, where are you going?”

“I’m going back. If you won’t eat, there’s no meaning in me staying.”

“What do you intend to do about my meals!”

“I’ll leave it to the person in charge.”

I can’t deal with this. My head is ringing and hurting from her screeching voice. I’m going to get a neurosis here!!

…Well, I can’t say that either, can I?

“That was a joke.”

If possible, I want to fulfill Gungrave-san’s request. I owe that man more debt than I can ever repay, after all.

I turned to face Lenha-san once more.

“In that case, what kind of food would make you feel like eating?”

“Ha! I would never put your cooking in my mouth! There’s no way I’d feel like eating it!”

“Hmm… Setting aside such stubbornness and pride, isn’t there something you’d like to eat?”

Yes, Lenha-san might just be being stubborn.

A former figure of power imprisoned as a criminal in a dungeon.

Desperately trying to keep her pride from breaking, I think.

However, she can’t survive the present like that. That won’t do.

At the very least, she has to eat.

“You… what are you planning?”

Perhaps this approach was unexpected to Lenha-san as well, as she spoke with a flabbergasted expression.

Yep, just as expected. The people up until now probably didn’t stand from her perspective, but looked down on her with a gaze treating her as a criminal.

I made an effort to speak calmly and gently.

“To put it simply, there’s a limit to stubbornness. You don’t want a stalemate either, do you? Filling your stomach for when the time comes isn’t a bad idea.”

Yep, this is definitely more like me after all.

Rather than taking the opponent’s angry words head-on and being influenced by them, letting them flow past, dodging, and slipping into their inner circle is better.

Because food should be able to fill not just a person’s stomach, but also their heart.

This is better than being irritated.

“Hmm, very well. Your stubbornness indeed seems impossible to break. Therefore, I shall offer you a single path as well.”

Lenha-san put on a smile and spoke to me.

Those eyes looked like cold eyes and a cold smile looking down on people.

“It shall enter my mouth. Bring an extravagant meat dish. If it suits my palate, that is.”

Hmm…

“A meat dish, is it?”

“Indeed. Let us see how far someone of your lowly status can manage.”

A meat dish, huh? Well, this is troublesome.

No, it’s not the meat that’s troublesome, nor the cooking.

What’s troublesome is the difference in values.

Since I was born a commoner, when it comes to an extravagant meat dish, I think anything over two thousand yen is luxurious.

However, Lenha-san is a noble. In other words, by Earth standards, a wealthy person.

To use an analogy, a status where one owns a villa in a summer resort and enjoys a refined, languid afternoon tea. Our values are different.

In that case, I must select a dish based on noble values—the values of the wealthy on Earth.

Hmm, so the first thing that comes to mind is!

“Alright, I’ll bring the very best one!”

Steak, right!

With that, I think I’ll make steak.

I immediately returned to the kitchen and made a request to Gungrave-san, who was waiting there.

“So, Gungrave-san, please get me some good meat.”

“You… you actually managed to extract a concession from that opponent…?”

When I explained the series of events, Gungrave-san spoke with a dumbfounded face.

Sir, did you not trust me even though you asked me yourself?

No, facing that kind of hysteria, I can understand wanting to think that way, though…

“Well, when anyone gets hungry, it’s no time to be stubborn.”

“Those are somewhat terrifying words.”

It’s a kind of fundamental truth, after all. As living creatures, it’s also something unavoidable.

“So, Gungrave-san, how about the meat?”

“It’s fine. I’ll pass along a good cut.”

“Please.”

And what was prepared was beef tenderloin. Indeed, this is a good cut.

However, in this world, cattle raised on the premise of harvesting meat are few. They are all kept as livestock limited to helping with farm work or being milked. Raising cattle on the premise of eating the beef itself is probably something done mostly in Niewbist, but is that not the case?

Therefore, even if it is called tenderloin, the meat of an old cow that did farm work is a bit tough.

Furthermore, this was cut into small pieces called mignon.

Was there not that much quantity?

“Hey, are you really going to make grilled beef with this?”

“Gungrave-san. It’s steak.”

“Oh, right. Indeed, steak.”

Hm? There’s steak over here too? If the name is the same, does that mean it’s the same dish?

Well, probably. In any world, there’s bound to be grilled meat. It might just be that the names happened to match.

“However, I don’t hear much about beef steak.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Aren’t cattle primarily draft animals for farm work or dairy cows? You know that much, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“So beef meant purely for harvesting meat is scarce. You know that too, right?”

“Yes. I heard the general idea from Garn-san.”

Ever since coming to this world, I’ve made it a point to go around asking various people all kinds of things to gain common sense and knowledge about this world.

Because of that, there are aspects where I’m treated as an oddball. How rude, when I’m just an ordinary human myself.

An otherworldly person, though.

“In short, few feudal lord families or royal families serve beef. Correspondingly, one doesn’t hear much about it either. The taste hasn’t been passed down. Even for this, I prepared a good cut, but it’s one step away from being an old culled cow. Can you really make a good steak with this?”

“Hmm.”

I cut off a small piece and nibbled on it.

Indeed, for tenderloin, it’s a bit tough?

However, there’s no problem with the taste.

“No problem. It’s certainly tough, but…”

“No, that is a problem. If you grill tough meat, it gets even tougher.”

“Managing that is what cooking is all about.”

This time, I have a secret strategy.

Leaving Gungrave-san with a puzzled face, I called out to Garn-san.

For this dish, I had made a request to Garn-san.

When I told him that if this succeeded, we could overturn Lenha-san’s evaluation, he put his spirit into doing it for me. As expected, Garn-san must have felt frustrated. That’s why I think he put so much spirit into this request.

“Garn-san, how are the onions prepared?”

“Yeah, ready…”

Garn-san prepared a bowl full of grated onions for me.

However, his eyes were bright red and he was crying. Don’t tell me!

“Ah! Didn’t I tell you not to rub your eyes with hands that chopped onions!”

“Sorry, forgot…”

Oh boy… It seems he put so much spirit into it that he forgot the warning about onions.

Honestly, he takes a lot of care.

“Please apply an ice pack to your eyes. It’ll feel better.”

“Got it…”

“Now then, we have the garlic prepared too, so let’s begin.”

When imagining a somewhat high-class steak, tender and juicy is probably the first thing that comes to mind.

So, let’s make something close to that.

First, thoroughly rub the grated garlic and onions into the tenderloin meat to let them permeate. By doing this, it seasons the meat while the enzymes in the onions make the meat very tender.

Furthermore, at this point, grind pepper using that crunching gadget and rub it in thoroughly.

We’ll let it sit for a while here.

“Shall we make the sauce?”

“Hey, aren’t you going to salt this? Even I know at least that much.”

“It’s certainly necessary, but that’s something to do right before grilling.”

Pepper is strictly for removing gaminess, while salt must be sprinkled right before grilling.

Pepper must always be sprinkled at least fifteen minutes before grilling to create time to remove gaminess, whereas if you sprinkle salt too early in particular, meat juice flows out and results in dry, stringy meat. I committed the same mistake in the past, and ate with a rough time back then.

Also, sprinkling salt while grilling is no good either. The salt won’t blend into the meat, so the salty taste becomes sharp and harsh. I made that same mistake too. Steak isn’t just about grilling.

Therefore, I won’t do it now. Let’s make the sauce first. We’ll make it while letting the onions and garlic permeate.

“Garn-san, I’m going to use the red wine you kept secretly hidden.”

“EH!!?”

I know about it, you know. Even though your alcoholism isn’t cured yet, I know you’re secretly keeping a lot of alcohol hidden, and where you’re hiding it.

Leaving the stunned Garn-san alone, I make the sauce.

On the prepared plate, prepare half a grated onion and finely minced onion, along with finely minced garlic and about four slices of garlic. The other necessary items are game-deodorized fish sauce and butter. Olive oil would be best, but since we don’t have it, I’ll compromise this time. I want to establish a prospect for manufacturing it someday.

Now, with all the ingredients gathered, heat up the pan and warm it.

“…It takes quite a lot of effort. Even though it’s just grilling.”

“Though it looks like just grilling, the cook’s commitment, effort, and ingenuity are required right there.”

Gungrave-san muttered, but I can understand where he’s coming from. In my early days, besides the aforementioned mistakes, there were also times I grilled meat right after thawing what was frozen.

When taking it out of the freezer, it has to be brought back to room temperature. Isn’t that the same as thawing? you might think, but there are various ways to thaw.

Mostly, running water thawing is used. Running water thawing generally means placing packed frozen beef into a bowl filled with water to thaw. If the meat is thick, letting water overflow bit by bit, and so on.

What isn’t good is forced thawing and microwave thawing.

Forced thawing literally means raising the temperature all at once to bring it to a thawed state, but doing this causes a large amount of savory meat juice to flow out, so it must not be done. Disappointing phenomena like “the top surface is melted but the core is frozen!” also occur.

Although I said microwave thawing shouldn’t be done, this varies widely. High-end microwave models with good performance have excellent settings, but simple microwave thawing just applies weak heating. If you’re going to use one, buy a good one.

And so forth, there are many ways to thaw. This time, since it’s at room temperature from the start, we’ll grill it.

Now, since the pan has warmed up, pour in oil and let me grill.

Lightly sprinkle salt over the steak that had pepper, onion, and garlic permeated into it, let it settle, and place it in the pan. At this time too, there’s a knack to the heat level.

Some people grill slowly on low heat, but here we grill on high heat. High heat to the level where smoke billows from the pan. Don’t be afraid.

Also, while grilling, you must never touch the meat. People often press down on it, but let’s endure. Deliciousness awaits to the extent that you endure.

Grill thoroughly on high heat, and when meat juices float to the top, flip it over.

And then, shall we flambé?

“Garn-san, your red wine is going to make exquisite meat.”

Pour in red wine in the amount of two tablespoons, letting flames rise.

“Hey! Do you intend to start a fire!? Someone bring water!”

“Adora-san, if you do that, I’ll be angry.”

Restraining Adora-san’s panic with a single word, I calmly put on the lid.

“With this, perfect.”

“Is that really okay?”

“This is fine.”

To Gungrave-san’s frightened voice, I reply calmly.

Hmm, is there no flambé technique in this world? No, no, surely there must be.

After confirming that the flambé fire has gone out, take it out of the pan and plate it on a dish.

Now, let’s use the remaining fat here to make the sauce.

Add garlic to bring out the aroma, toss in onions, and sauté.

Once cooked through, pour in red wine, simmer to burn off the alcohol, add game-deodorized fish sauce, and melt butter. With this, it’s done.

Apart from the steak plated on the dish, prepare a vessel to transfer the sauce, and it’s complete!

Umu, turned out well. The aroma is good, and the appearance is sharp. It’s spot on.

“Now then, shall I take it over?”

“Wait.”

As I tried to take it, Gungrave-san grabbed my shoulder. What’s wrong?

“Let me taste-test a bit.”

“Huh? Naturally, that’s out of the question.”

Since it’s mignon, there isn’t much quantity. If we split it, there won’t be Lenha-san’s portion.

However, Gungrave-san merely smiled and refused to understand. Far from it, he gradually closed in on me.

Stop that, even if you press me like that, I can’t give it to you.

“Just a tiny bit… alright?”

“What are you suddenly… I’ll make more later, so do it then.”

“To tease me after making such a delicious smell and sound is cruel!”

“The person trying to take someone else’s meal is far more cruel.”

“I came because a delicious smell reached me!”

BAM! The person who opened the kitchen door was Princess Tebis. Utin-san was also together with her.

You guys, come to think of it, what happened to the meeting? Don’t you have work? I believe I heard so?

While I was stunned, Princess Tebis entered the kitchen in high spirits.

By the way, Utin-san had a resigned face, accompanying her. Don’t give up.

“Oh! Shuri, could that be steak made with Sake-Searing!? As expected of Shuri, to even know the latest techniques of our nation!”

“Ah, Princess Tebis.”

“Come, let us head to the dining hall immediately! I shall savor that steak of your utmost effort!”

“No, this is for Lenha-san…”

“Smells delicious! It reached all the way to the training grounds!”

“Smells nice. Today’s dinner is grand.”

Eh, Kuuga-san and Teg-san? Did the two of you come too?

“A lovely scent… It makes one hungry.”

Even Arius-san?

“…”

Ah, Rir-san is in the shadow of the door!

“Shuri-kun, there was an awfully good smell and sound, what happened?”

Even Ecres-san came boldly!

“The stomach of me, who just finished work, is about to rumble… Irresistible smell.”

A-Ah? Gings-san?!

“Oh, is that tonight’s meal! Shuri, what is that?”

“Uh, Gings-san. This is…”

“Wait, Gings. First is my taste-testing. Since it’s a new steak.”

“Ah, that’s unfair, Gungrave!”

“That’s right! We’re tired from training over here!”

“Please wait. The Mage Unit is tired too. Start from us.”

“…Inspiration for a new invention.”

“Rir-chan, Highball Steak is fine for you, right? Start from me.”

“Wait! Speaking of which, Deep-Fried Chicken would be fine for Ecres too! First should be me, whose palate is certain!”

“Awawawawa…”

W-What is this? The demonic charm of steak has spread!

That said, while dealing with them, the meat must have rested nicely.

In the case of steak, freshly cooked isn’t necessarily the most delicious. It needs to rest a little, letting the meat juices concentrated in the center permeate throughout.

Now then, let me leave these people alone and go.

Without being noticed by the people causing a commotion, with steak in one hand, I erased my presence and stepped out of the kitchen.

I can’t deal with this.

Now then, to the dungeon. Covering it with a clean cloth to prevent dust from entering, I’m carrying the steak and sauce.

Probably, up on the ground right now, the undead (the captains) are wandering around seeking meat. When I return from here, shall I make steaks named after crosses?

However… although I made it in a pan this time, it’s actually more delicious when made in a frying pan.

I’ve been struggling until now because there are no frying pans. When I return from here, let’s place an order for a frying pan with Rir-san. Hamburg Steaks will become more delicious too, so she should gladly cooperate.

“The smell comes from here!”

“Ah, Shuri-kun. So you were here.”

Gah, found!

Princess Tebis and Ecres-san caught up.

“Just kidding. Shuri, that is the meal for Lenha you mentioned, right?”

“We also came because we have business with the lady.”

“Eh? Business?”

“That is correct. I wish to have a chat.”

“I’m accompanying her.”

Hmm, what on earth could it be? Neither of them looks suspicious… Without data to judge, I have no reason to refuse either.

“Well, I don’t mind. As long as you don’t try to snatch the steak.”

“I won’t promise, but I’ll do my best.”

“No guarantees. But I got it, Shuri-kun.”

Huh? Does that mean there’s neither promise nor anything of the sort? Neither trust nor confidence, how am I supposed to judge this?

While harboring anxiety, the three of us descend the stairs, aiming for the dungeon.

“By the way, Shuri. The technique you used earlier when grilling the meat. Was that Wine-Searing?”

“Wine-Searing?”

“The technique where you added red wine and sealed in the aroma.”

“Ah, flambé.”

Sake-Searing is so literal.

“Did you learn that from someone?”

“Uh, mostly self-taught.”

The internet is convenient, isn’t it? Back when I was on Earth, things I couldn’t understand from cookbooks alone were taught to me by the internet.

Flambé was the one thing I really didn’t understand. The knack, the amount to pour, and so on. I researched everything and practiced.

When doing it at home, please be really careful. It’s far more intense than seeing it on TV, and flares up more than expected.

“Splendid! In my country as well, it is a technique that was developed and began to be researched only very recently.”

“Is Wine-Searing really that amazing, Princess Tebis?”

Ecres-san asked with a curious face.

“Umu, that technique Shuri used drops liquor with high alcohol content into the frying pan, burning off the alcohol all at once.

Used in the final finishing touch, if performed by someone with master skill, it’s possible to impart a splendid aroma.

As I said earlier, even in my nation of Niewbist, it is a technique born only recently, with much room for refinement remaining. I once tasted a steak made by the first person who performed it, and it released an indescribably splendid smell.

You could tell even from far away, right, Ecres?“

“Ah… so that’s why a good smell reached us even from far away.”

Is it really that much?

No, of course this steak is a success, so it smells good enough that even I, who made it, can tell.

“Now then, to think that woman is the first to put such a splendid dish into her mouth. My, oh my, words fail me.”

Princess Tebis lamented with exaggerated motions.

“A splendid new technique, a new sauce, and a new steak. No matter how you look at it, it is most fitting for me to taste it first. Even I became captivated by the smell.”

“Um… having you praise me that much makes my back itch a little.”

Lavish praise… it’s the exact opposite of the first time I brought food to Lenha-san, but this, too, makes me feel embarrassed.

While I gave a wry smile, the sound of coughing came from the back.

“Hmph, can those of lowly status not even be quiet when carrying meals to nobles?”

A voice echoed from the back of the dungeon. It seems we reached the lowest level before I realized it, and Lenha-san was glaring over here with a displeased face.

Oh dear… we made a bit too much noise.

“Calling us lowly, are we, Lenha? When one connected to the Royal Family of Niewbist is present right here.”

“…! Princess Tebis is together with you as well?”

“It has been a while, Lenha.”

“To me, it feels as if it were just yesterday, though! Did you come to mock me! Ecres too!”

“My lady, I have no such intention.”

Oh no, Lenha-san’s displeasure meter is about to max out.

Princess Tebis and Ecres-san remain calm, but in proportion to that, Lenha-san’s anger feels like it’s growing larger.

“And? Did that cook over there bring something that suits my palate?”

“Yes. A special dish.”

“Hmph, a mere cook for a single mercenary band. There’s no way you could make something that suits my palate.”

“No, right here is the steak fitting for you.”

I placed the steak plate in front of Lenha-san, removed the cloth, and poured the sauce over it.

An exquisite aroma spread instantly. Yep, a success.

“Red wine sauce steak, prepared with red wine Wine-Searing.”

I tried saying it somewhat coolly.

“Wh-What is this aroma…? The mellow aroma of meat and sauce filling the entire dungeon…!”

Oh, Lenha-san’s face finally relaxed.

“What is that? You, what did you do to that dish!?”

“Wh-What, you ask? I just cooked the food…”

“Don’t lie! There’s no way steak could release such an excessively mellow aroma of savoriness! What magi-engineering did you apply!”

“Hmm, if it is a trap using magi-engineering, let me partake first.”

Eh? Before I could stop her, Princess Tebis snatched the fork and knife from my hands, sat down in front of the steak plate placed on the bare ground, and set her hands to the dish.

“No need to worry, Utin. Stay in the shadows.”

Eh? Just as I thought that, Princess Tebis gracefully carried a slice of steak to her mouth.

A smile appeared on that face of hers.

“Ah, splendid. The tenderness of the meat is far softer than what I knew, soft enough to cut with one’s lips. Yet it retains the original texture of meat, and every time one bites through cleanly, a splendid aroma spreads forth. The scent of meat, the scent of sauce, and the flavoring imparted by Sake-Searing harmonize, spreading an indescribable pleasure throughout the mouth. This could not exist without Sake-Searing, and it is a subtle aroma that cannot be created without master skill in Sake-Searing. Spreading through mouth and nose, ah, splendid. The taste, of course, is also fine. A new technique combining sauce made of garlic, onion, red wine, and fish sauce with the fat remaining after grilling the meat. Together with that sauce, the meat, cooked appropriately, correctly, and perfectly, brings out a good flavor. The salt isn’t overly sharp, yet not weak, an exquisite usage. The gaminess as meat is erased by the deodorizing of pepper. Every single part, built upon new techniques, a new sauce, and perfect cooking and calculation, is truly the completed form of traditional steak cooking methods. To the extent that nothing superior will emerge for hundreds of years to come.”

Oh boy, Princess Tebis’s commentary is amazing…

Both Ecres-san and Lenha-san have expressions as if about to swallow raw saliva.

Now then, placing such a steak in front of Lenha-san once again, I wiped the fork and knife with the cloth that had covered it and set them alongside.

Princess Tebis wore a satisfied expression.

“Now then, forgive me for using the knife and fork first. However, even I could not hold back. How about it? Why not try putting it in your mouth once?”

Lenha-san tentatively picked up the fork and knife and put the steak into her mouth.

“…”

Lenha-san stopped with a face of utter astonishment.

“I see, indeed this is a steak fitting for me… no, a steak far too good for me.”

Setting down the fork with a clink, Lenha-san looked straight at Princess Tebis.

On that face, the hatred from earlier was gone. It was as if her eyes were trying to discern something.

“I see, Princess Tebis. Is this why you went out of your way to expose yourself to danger just to obtain this person?”

Eh?

“Shuri. Princess Tebis and I have a bit more to talk about with this person. Could you return ahead of us?”

“Eh?”

Both Princess Tebis and Ecres-san wore serious faces.

Evidently, it was a domain beyond my reach.

I don’t know what lies between these three, but I should quietly step back here.

“Understood.”

Leaving just those words, I decided to head back to wash the dishes.

The next day, I received a report from Ecres-san that Lenha-san quietly accepted her guilt.

What on earth did they talk about…?

Gungrave-san said that if she quietly accepts her guilt, it will end with banishment and exile to the borderlands.

Feels like there was a secret deal… Oh dear, oh dear.