The Horse Mackerel Fry Of Enlightenment - Part One

This is Shuri. Today, there’s apparently going to be a battle in a forest along the coast.

In short, it seems to be a dispute between those who want to obtain salt and those who want to protect their salt rights. Salt is essential for humans to survive, so I guess things like that happen.

Indeed, even I get troubled when I can’t get my hands on salt. My only option would be to fake the flavor using soup stock.

Especially since Rir-san has been obsessed with hamburg steaks lately. Without salt, the flavor would turn disastrous…

Rir-san played a massive role in the last battle. The reward money and food came rolling in. So, if we win this upcoming battle, it seems we’ll be able to upgrade the soldiers’ equipment to finer gear and increase our numbers. Cooking for nearly fifty people is hard enough as it is, but if the numbers grow, the struggle is going to become unbelievable.

To that, Gungrave-san said,

“We can just hire an assistant for you too.”

I was convinced.

Then, during mealtime, Gungrave-san came to consult with me.

“Kuuga’s been acting strange lately.”

“Kuuga-san, you mean?”

“Seems like he’s troubled. The infantry unit he leads is our mercenary band’s vanguard. Do what you can to lend him a hand.”

The infantry unit refers to the people who fight holding spears and swords. They’re amazing folks who charge headfirst into the enemy on the battlefield.

And Kuuga-san is the captain of that infantry unit. He’s one of Gungrave-san’s childhood friends, and apparently the sole sword master who can fight Gungrave-san on equal terms.

On a day without battle, around nighttime.

I had finished cleaning up after cooking and was preparing to prep tomorrow morning’s breakfast.

Right then, someone secretly slipped out from the commanders’ tent and disappeared into the forest.

Hmm, who could that be?

Betrayal is impossible. There’s no way a captain who has fought back-to-back with his childhood friends in the mercenary band for five years would betray them.

Following him quietly, I found a man desperately swinging his sword in a forest clearing.

He was a pretty boy. Slender, with a face that could almost make you mistake him for a girl. His indigo hair reflected the moonlight, creating a fantastical sight.

Wearing light leather armor that prioritized movement over defense, he was swinging a longsword.

“Who’s there?”

He wasn’t even looking in my direction, yet…?!

“S-Sorry!”

“Ah, Shuri, huh. Don’t startle me like that.”

The pretty boy smiled warmly. This person was Kuuga-san.

Despite his slender arms, he was someone who swung a sword with incredible speed.

“What’s wrong? Out here in the middle of the night.”

“Well, you know. It’s what you call a slump.”

Kuuga-san sat down heavily on the spot and looked up at the moon.

He looked like a picture, as if watching a play in some theater.

Ugh, handsome guys look like beautiful pictures no matter what they do…!!

“A slump, is it?”

“Yeah. Rir-chan’s been workin’ hard lately, right? Makin’ incredible stuff and contributin’ to the battle. But all I can do is swing a sword skillfully.

With my talent, maybe this is my limit.“

Kuuga-san murmured sorrowfully.

A slump. I understand that too.

When things don’t go well with cooking, or when things don’t go well with work.

There were plenty of times I felt the limits of my talent.

“Please don’t say sad things like talent.”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t have talent either.

Even so, I manage the techniques on hand using the vast knowledge and experience I’ve worked hard to gain.

Kuuga-san can handle a sword so beautifully. It’s not a slump—you’ve just hit a wall.“

The only difference between Kuuga-san and me is whether we end at the wall or if there’s a side beyond it.

“A wall… huh?”

“Ah, you must be hungry. Shall I make a little late-night snack?”

“Is that alright?”

“Gungrave-san won’t get angry for serving food to someone who’s working hard.”

Once that was decided, it was time to cook.

I brought ingredients from the campsite.

This time, it’s deep-fried horse mackerel. Let’s go with horse mackerel, tartar sauce, and Japanese pepper.

Butterflying the fish, seasoning it with salt, pepper, and ginger juice, coating it with oil-fried Japanese pepper, flour, and egg, and deep-frying it quickly.

“Looks delicious.”

Kuuga-san looked a little excited.

“It’s slightly spicy.”

Drizzling tartar sauce over the finished product, it was done.

“Oh! Crispy and fluffy. Sweet, sour, and full of flavor!”

That’s great to hear.

“You’re good at filleting fish.”

“You just stroke and cut the tender parts with the knife.”

You shouldn’t cut with brute force. Carefully dismantling a fish enhances its flavor.

In this battle, Kuuga-san defeated a multitude of enemies and won.

Rir-san remarked that he seemed to have attained enlightenment.

Overcoming a slump. Congratulations.