Conflicts Of Interest Often Begin From Trivial Matters (8)

It was basic that Tangsuyuk required a lot of sincerity, to the extent that it was said the batter was its lifeblood, so I took this opportunity to think about frying various types of seafood. I prepared squid, shrimp, and shredded vegetables, and began making fried dishes in earnest with Riin.

Furthermore, Leti, who was a kitchen assistant, also joined in and began helping with preparing ingredients and coating them with batter. To the point where it could be said our hands and feet matched perfectly, Riin, Leti, and I were able to do the frying without much difficulty.

Fried food piled up high; I did not know how many hours I had been cooking. Perhaps doing this itself could be called a waste of time, but since it had been a long time since I had lost myself in something and focused, I was able to do it enjoyably.

And to make the Tangsuyuk sauce, I prepared sour fruits and vinegar, and began pouring a huge amount of sugarcane sugar into boiling water.

Riin and Leti were puzzled seeing this, but I told them to just watch quietly. I first added soy sauce to give it color, added the sliced vegetables, and waited until the water boiled vigorously.

Then, after adding vinegar and fruit juice that gave off a sour and refreshing feeling, I prepared starch by putting it in water. The two watched with expressions full of curiosity about what I was trying to do this time as well, and I spoke to them.

“Eating these fried items just by dipping them in salt or soy sauce is fine, but if you dip them in or pour this sauce over them, a legendary dish is created.”

“A sauce… that is interesting. Even though no alcohol went into it…?”

Generally, the sauces referred to in this world were mostly made by simmering soy sauce for commoners and wine for nobles. Other than those, there were several types of strange fish sauces, but those had such high-level scents and tastes that one could not eat them if they did not suit their preference.

To the two who were looking at the sauce with expectant expressions, I said I would show them something amazing and poured the starch water into the vigorously boiling sauce. A moment later, the two were surprised by the sauce, which began to thicken noticeably.

Thinking that they apparently had no knowledge in this area, I put the completed sauce in a bowl and first picked up a fried shrimp instead of the fried Orc meat and spoke.

“You can dip it and eat it like this.”

Then I dipped the shrimp deep into the Tangsuyuk sauce and tried eating it….

‘Ah, this nostalgic taste…’

It was moving. To be honest, I was not great at cooking, but I was not at a level where I was bad either, so I could reach an average level. Thanks to the sauce that produced a fairly decent taste, I was able to taste the crispy fried food with a pleasant feeling.

And to Riin and Leti, who asked if they could try eating it, I told them to eat as much as they wanted. I only took an appropriate amount of seafood and vegetable fries and was able to come out to the dining room, and only then did I ask a question to the vassals who were watching my mood.

“You are all here after doing your work, right?”

I had clearly been stuck in the kitchen for several hours saying I was making fried food. However, it weighed on my mind that everyone was exactly as they were when I first arrived.

But was it a relief?

“Yes, it is almost time to get off work, so we came by for one reason or another. If things go well… I thought we might be able to have dinner before leaving.”

Looking out the window in wonder, the sun was setting. I felt that I had been there for a painfully long time. The next dish I would try making was chicken, but thinking I should make it tomorrow, I was able to call the vassals and hold a party. Thanks to the vassals who gave advice that it would be better to add a few types of spices to enhance the flavor, I was able to roughly learn the tastes of this world.

Afterward, I was able to end the day with the encounter between alcohol and Tangsuyuk. I happened to run into Agnes, who was wandering around the Lord’s castle in a state of detention, and lightly raised my hand to greet her.

“It has been a long time. Have you finally felt like coming outside?”

Agnes was living with a body less than that of an ordinary person due to the physical ability suppression magic tools fastened to her arms and legs.

“As you can see. But, why did you spare me and Marquis Giltian?”

“It is because I thought that rather than killing you two, it would be more valuable to keep you alive and utilize you. But where did Marquis Giltian go that you are wandering around alone?”

“He said he was resting in his room. He has no motivation.”

“Ah, well, that is inevitable. A person who used to look down on the world has become less than an ordinary person. Endure it, even if it is a pity, the fact that I cannot be merciful to someone who tried to kill me.”

Agnes looked at me with a complicated expression and asked.

“How did the Empire and you end up falling out like this?”

“I think of it as fate. If I recall this and that, it only gets complicated.”

“….War will be unavoidable. And the Empire… will not leave this place alone.”

A chuckle came out at Agnes’s words.

“From the perspective of the great Empire, a mere viscountcy would be insignificant. But you see. You people probably don’t know what a great thing a cornered rat can achieve.”

“What can you do?”

“Anything. Well, I have no intention of bickering, so let’s move on. And if possible… it would be better not to wander alone. I don’t know what you are trying to do, but that’s as far as it goes. Hey, can you send Agnes back to her room?”

These were words spoken to the beastkin I had separately tasked with surveillance, and a Sain tribe beastkin was seen approaching, grabbing Agnes’s arm, and pulling.

Because of that, she seemed to be having a hard time, but to be honest, I didn’t care whether someone who tried to kill me was having a hard time or not.

I just hoped her value had not decreased.

For several days, I was preoccupied with cooking. As a result of making and testing regular fried chicken and seasoned chicken, those also had a good reputation.

And to the suggestion that we spread the recipes for such foods within the domain and reveal them to the people, I readily accepted. I was even able to receive a suggestion to occasionally teach the people various recipes I knew.

Honestly, teaching them was not a problem, but it was to the extent that I wondered if it would be okay since they were foods too far removed from this world.

But that was that, and since today was the long-awaited day to meet the Demon Dragon, I had asked Riin to prepare the food from early dawn and had set up a large feast.

“Wouldn’t the Demon Dragon be satisfied with this much?”

I asked Hare while looking at over a dozen types of chocolate, a huge amount of food from another world, and a jewelry box containing pearls I had brought just in case, but she said she didn’t know either.

Honestly, it seemed right to say that this matter was a way to go and inform the dragon of the situation.

Not only did the Ingrad Domain share a border with the Forest of the Demon Dragon, but if a battle were to break out, it was to inform her in advance because it could affect the Forest of the Demon Dragon in one way or another.

It was because of the judgment that if a misunderstanding were to occur by any chance, it would be difficult to avoid a great disaster. Furthermore, I was also secretly looking forward to it, thinking that if the favor were to work, I would be able to make the army more elite.

That was when Hare began to draw a magic circle. I waited while watching a ‘Warp’ magic circle being quickly created on the floor, and Hare spoke to me.

“She responded. She said she will have it completed and we will move quickly, so she told us to prepare.”

“Hmm… it’s just drawing a magic circle; is a direct response from that side possible?”

“Yes, a dragon is not such a simple creature as we think. It’s done. Let’s go.”

When I nodded, Hare let out a cry of “Warp!”, and soon after confirming that I had transferred to a completely new space along with the food, I looked around.

And then, my eyes met the Demon Dragon Karhenis. When I bowed my head to show respect to her, she spoke as if it were unexpected.

“Thou art the first human to enter my lair.”

“I consider it an honor.”

“It should not be the time to offer tribute yet?”

“I prepared it by advancing the date, and I came to see you unreasonably because there is something I wish to ask of you.”

“An ask. Dost thou know how ridiculous what thou art requesting is?”

I wanted to say I hadn’t requested anything yet, but what Karhenis was saying seemed to be about the act itself of asking her for help.

“I prepared special gifts, and if they are satisfactory, I would like you to grant a small favor.”

“Food… the food thou bringest is indeed special, but is it different from last time?”

Last time, I had sent the so-called ‘Bbang-bbang-bbang Set’ using katsuobushi and giant octopus for octopus bread, chrysanthemum bread, and fish-shaped bread. [TN: Bbang refers to bread or pastries.]

Anyway, it was just imitating the shape with the powder used when baking pancakes, but I remember the fish-shaped bread using red bean paste received quite good reviews.

So I wondered if I should try making some kind of steamed buns later.

’Next time, should I try Gim-tteok-sun…?

I only knew the recipe itself roughly, so some trial and error would be necessary, but I thought it was not to the extent that I couldn’t follow it, and I spoke to Karhenis.

“The food here is called ‘Jjamppong,’ and the spiciness is exquisite. It will be an unfamiliar food to you, Karhenis, and it is a food you might fall in love with because of that spiciness.”

“Spiciness, indeed, the smell that is being picked up is unusual.”

Then Karhenis abruptly picked up the Jjamppong bowl. Furthermore, seeing her make a ‘sipping’ sound, it seemed she was interested.

So I first handed her a spoon and spoke.

“If it feels too spicy, you can eat this one.”

At my words, Karhenis looked at the other Jjamppong, but soon she withdrew her interest and took the spoon. Then she scooped the broth and brought it to her mouth… silence fell over the scene along with the slurping sound.

First, Hare said it was so intensely spicy that she would have to define this Bul-jjamppong as a food that should not be eaten, but I had brought it by force because I was fine with it.

Honestly, the one placed on one side as a substitute was Jjamppong with the spiciness weakened.

But the reason I forced her to eat the spicy one was because she was a dragon and seemed to want stimulation. I thought it would be a good taste to stimulate a dragon who must have mastered all sorts of foods. And now, the eyes of the dragon who had tasted it became as wide as lanterns. And she was smiling while showing the reaction of ‘sipping and huffing’ when eating something spicy.

“A great taste indeed!”

The one sentence Karhenis spat out was quite pleasant content.

“Are you satisfied?”

“I wish to try more. Just what are these white things inside?”

“They are noodles. You can think of them as a kind of ‘bread’ where dough made from flour is cooked and slurped up along with the Jjamppong broth.”

“Is that so…? Long ago in the East Continent, there was something similar to this. It reminds me of those times. Can I eat it with this?”

To Karhenis, who held up the spoon, I picked up the chopsticks placed on the table and demonstrated with the less spicy Jjamppong.

After holding one in each hand and stirring the noodles evenly, I started using chopsticks with one hand. Karhenis watched this closely and then followed along quite well.

‘As expected, a dragon learns quickly no matter what…’

Thinking that it felt like she was adjusting her body at a level that was almost cheating, when I pretended to eat the noodles, she followed exactly, putting the noodles and ingredients into her mouth, closing her eyes tightly, and savoring the taste.

‘It is working well.’

That was the impression I felt.