That Wonderful, Delicious Red One (9)

“Sorry, Shirley. I’ve been thinking about it, and in the end, I was the one who provoked Jacqueline…”

“It’s fine, Anne. You only got angry because you were standing up for us.”

I answered Anne as she apologized.

Anne had worked incredibly hard to help me. Of course she would be angry after seeing something she had put so much effort into being treated that way.

As I thought about that, Agata, who had been staring intently at the tomato hot pot, spoke up.

“Hey, Shirley, isn’t it about ready? I’ve been wondering what it tastes like, and I seriously can’t wait any longer.”

“Ah, you’re right. It should be cooked through by now.”

Overcooking it would not be good. The ingredients would lose their flavor.

With that in mind, I ladled the contents of the pot—chicken, broccoli, and the like—into everyone’s bowls along with plenty of soup.

Then, after we all briefly brought our hands together, Agata scooped up some soup with her spoon, tasted it, and widened her eyes in surprise.

“Oh wow, this is delicious! I was wondering what a bright-red soup would taste like, but it’s really good! So this is what it turns into… Shirley, you really are a genius at cooking!”

“I am honored by your praise.”

I answered with exaggerated formality.

I had not invented the recipe for tomato hot pot, but I had made this one, so I figured I was allowed to be pleased.

And if I did say so myself, it turned out wonderfully!

Agata’s special healthy vegetables were doing an excellent job.

Tomato hot pot was a dish where finely chopped tomatoes were added to seasoned broth, and the other ingredients were simmered in it.

It was simple but deeply flavorful, an easy hot pot that still left you thoroughly satisfied.

I had heard something before about lycopene or whatever it was in tomatoes being good for your body, but personally, I simply liked them because they tasted good.

The defining feature of tomato hot pot was the harmony between the tomatoes’ gentle acidity and the savory flavors released by the other ingredients.

Then there was the delicious, tender chicken simmered in the broth.

And on top of that, the vegetables and mushrooms that had soaked up the soup. Everything was delicious—ahh, I couldn’t get enough!

“This soup really is delicious! But this isn’t just the taste of tomatoes. What did you put in it, Shirley?”

Agata asked as she immediately helped herself to seconds. Sharp.

Apparently, Agata had quite a good palate.

“Mm-hm. I added my homemade magic powder to the broth.”

“Magic powder? What’s that?”

“It’s a seasoning that gives food more umami.”

I answered playfully when Agata looked at me suspiciously.

Yes, what I had added was magic powder.

It was one of the many jars I had brought from home.

A homemade stock powder made by drying various ingredients and grinding them finely.

It contained dried vegetables such as carrots, mushrooms, and most importantly, kombu.

Surprisingly enough, even though this country had a sea, no one here ate kombu at all.

Actually, seaweed in general was not even recognized as food.

But that was such a waste.

Thinking that, I had asked some fishermen to give me kombu, then dried it myself to make preserved seaweed.

The seas around Eldoria were extremely clean and rich in minerals, so the kombu had an excellent flavor as well.

Hot pots made with kombu stock had been popular with my parents too, so I ground the kombu together with other dried ingredients, stored the mixture in jars, and always kept some on hand.

Drying the ingredients concentrated their savory flavor, and adding the powder as a base seasoning made even simple dishes taste dramatically better.

But while I was feeling rather proud of myself, Agata asked me curiously.

“Umami…? What’s that?”

Oops.

There was no word for umami in this world, so I had accidentally used the term from my old one.

I vaguely remembered hearing in my previous life that the concept of umami was somehow uniquely Japanese, and that was why people overseas also called it umami.

It was only something I had heard secondhand, so I had no idea whether it was actually true.

Well, that was all from my previous life anyway, so it did not really matter. The bigger problem was how I was supposed to explain it in this world.

…And honestly, even I did not really understand exactly what “umami” was.

“Um, well, umami gives food a kind of depth, like… you know… that.”

“Which?”

Agata immediately shot down my vague explanation, but then her expression changed and she continued.

“Well, whatever. As long as it tastes good. If it makes the vegetables I grew taste this delicious, I’ve got no complaints.”

Oh my, that made me happy.

It really was wonderful when the person who grew the ingredients was pleased.

As I basked in that warm feeling, Anne, who had been eagerly eating the tomato hot pot, spoke with a resentful look on her face.

“Ugh, I’m still so mad. Who does Jacqueline think she is?!”

My, my, Anne. You should not make such a frightening face while eating something delicious.

“She went on and on about all kinds of things, but in the end it was all about Lord Lawrence! She’s just jealous, that’s all! How pathetic!”

“Now, now.”

I somehow managed to calm Anne as she continued raging.

Then Agata spoke with an apologetic expression.

“Hmm. Still, I kind of understand how that Jacqueline girl feels.”

“What?! Seriously?! Agata, are you taking her side?!”

Anne shouted in disbelief.

Goodness, not long ago she had been calling Agata “Witch-sama,” and now she was already this casual with her. Anne really had quite the personality.

“I’m not taking her side… but try thinking about it from her perspective. A brand-new maid suddenly shows up, immediately becomes a Team Head, and then keeps getting results one after another. If you were her senior, wouldn’t that make you pretty anxious and uncomfortable?”

“Urk…”

“I’d panic too if some new witch suddenly showed up one day, was given the same authority as me, and then started producing better results. And this Jacqueline girl is the lowest-ranking Team Head, right? I imagine there’s a lot of pressure when you’re being held down from above and pushed from below.”

Ouch. That was completely reasonable. Painfully reasonable.

“You’re right… Maybe I’m doing something bad.”

I muttered weakly as I stirred the tomato hot pot.

To me, cooking was both a hobby and my very way of life. It was something precious and wonderful.

But what was I supposed to do if it was hurting someone?

As that thought crossed my mind, Agata spoke.

“Oh, I wouldn’t say you’re doing anything wrong. I only said I can understand how she feels. The results you two have gotten are because you worked hard for them. There’s nothing wrong with that at all. If she doesn’t want to lose, then she just has to work harder too.”

“…Is that really how it works?”

“That’s exactly how it works. Besides, if she’s resorting to petty harassment just because she’s frustrated, then she’s already doing it wrong. If she lost at cooking, then she should beat you at cooking. What she’s doing is awful, while what you two are doing is admirable. So hold your heads high.”

Then Agata looked me directly in the eyes and continued.

“So keep working harder and harder, serve the prince wonderful snacks, and keep moving forward. If you keep moving forward, eventually other people’s jealousy will become too far behind you to hear. But if things still get too painful, come see me. …I’ll give you some delicious fruit and listen to you complain, at least.”

Agata smiled as she said that.

Her smile was so genuinely charming that I could not help thinking—

Ahh, Agata. What a wonderful person. I really, really liked her.

“Waaah, Agata, thank you! You and Shirley are the only friends I have in this whole palace!”

“Yeah, yeah. You sure keep busy, getting angry and crying all the time. There, there.”

Anne clung to Agata, half in tears, while Agata gently patted her head.

They looked just like close sisters. Although I was fairly sure Anne was actually the older one.

Watching them fondly, I quietly ladled seconds into everyone’s bowls.

The three of us spent a peaceful time together inside the Royal Palace, gathered around a hot pot.

We continued talking about all sorts of things after that, and the night quietly deepened.

And just like that, besides Anne, I gained one more person.

A precious friend named Agata.

—And then, the next day.

I woke up early, carefully got myself ready, and approached the day with renewed determination.

Fired up, I headed to the kitchen and began developing my next dish.

“I can’t let the young master get bored. Next, I’ve got no choice but to serve one of my absolute favorites!”

I had ketchup. I had cheese. I had flour. And I had all kinds of toppings.

That meant I could make it. Yes… that flat, wonderfully extravagant dish that looked like something straight out of a dreamland.

Now then, what would I make…?

You would have to wait until the next chapter to find out.