193 8-3 Ains Hale Memorial Festival Consultation from Mother

So what's the story with Mizera after all this time?

The five of us walked through the city, leaving the Adventurer's Guild and doing a little shopping.

''No, we were just doing the usual. Hey, Mizera.

I don't know. It sounded like you were up to some kind of trick.

It's not so much a trick.

It's just that I was thinking about how to sell her accessories when they're made, or, come to think of it, since she's been helping out with meals a lot lately, what would happen if I distributed her home-cooked lunches to the Adventurer's Guild.

I've bought more ingredients, so I guess it's time to go.

'Oh, by the way, the other guys seemed to be busy, are you glad Aina and the others didn't have to go on the quest?

'Yeah. I didn't have any quests to rush, so I didn't want to do that today. We can't take away everyone's opportunity to play an active role, you know.

I see. Were there any quests that had to be done by Aina and the others?

''That's right. Our Lord doesn't lack any materials, right?

Yeah. Well, I think we have enough to do it all, so it won't be a problem if we have to do it on short notice.

They lend you a magic bag for your quests, so you can get more than one at a time. It's convenient for you to put your meals in it when you go, too.

The usual shopping can be supplemented in the magic space disguised as a magic bag, and thanks to the magic bag full of ores and herbs, there's no need for me to ask for help for a while now.

However, the truth is that the small bag of magic is still a bit unwieldy.

The next auction or something, you can buy a bigger bag.

"So, are we going to the orphanage to prepare a meal today?

'Yes. Since we don't have any sisters, we'll take care of that for you.

Do you think I can do it?

'What?　What do you mean?　Your husband is the center of your cooking, isn't he?

No, normally that would be the case, but it's hard for me to do my job when I go over there........

"Your husband is very popular, you know........

It's very popular with the boys, but it's especially popular with the girls.

Right. Well, if you can make delicious food and sweets as well as cute accessories, I can understand that, too.

The first time I went to the orphanage, I made some snacks to help me break the ice, and they were a big hit with the girls.

Even the boys wanted to play with me, but since most of the kids in the orphanage wanted to be adventurers, I was often seen as a miserable adult who couldn't keep up with them physically.

'So the master likes little girls.

Hey, don't use that expression, it's dangerous.

Does that include me?

"Sorte I'm going to stop because I'm going to be sad...

No, Sorte is an adult and it's acceptable.

You know, coming of age is very important.

That's why it's so important. Ethical sense is very important, you know.

By the way, I arrived at the orphanage, and even though it's an orphanage, it's not all of them are inside the house, and some of them are playing happily outside....

Onii-chaaaaaan!

Oh, God, I can't...

Four in a row of relentless assaults.

The damage to my stomach and crotch is high, but I'm working out these days, so I don't fall over unceremoniously anymore.

'Hello brother!　What's going on today?

'Hello brother!　Do you have any snacks today?

'Hello brother!　Will you play with me today?

Oni-tan. Oni-cha. Is that a middleman?

Oh, hello. I'm here to make a meal today. Sweets come after the meal. If you want to play, you can do it after I've cooked, not afterwards!

The mini-Oligor, or rather, Oligor is a mini by nature, but the assault of the even smaller children takes me away from my physical strength in a sneak attack.

'Yes, yes everyone. I know you're happy to have your brothers here, but Mother has some business to attend to this time. You'll have to wait until after we're done playing.

""Yes."

The elderly sister, aka Mother, helps me out when I'm being pulled left and right and my head is wobbling.

Normally I'd just let them pull me by the arm and play and play and play until my strength is exhausted, but today it seems to have helped.

"Welcome everyone. I'm looking forward to working with you today. Oh, it's nice to meet you, that lovely young lady.

Oh, yes. My name is Mizella. Hi, nice to meet you.

Hmm. Don't be nervous. I'm just an old lady. It's nice to meet you too.

Mother's smile was that of a compassionate Virgin.

The sight of Miserra being enveloped in a soft gentleness slowly eased the tension and loosened her strong cheeks.

'Once again, welcome, gentlemen. I was hoping to have you cook for me today but I have one more matter I need to discuss with you a bit more...

I don't mind, but are you okay with your errands?

'Yes. I've told the other sisters that I'm going to be late, and it's more about that errand, but I'm having some trouble.

I don't mind if we can do something about it, but...

That's okay. I'd rather hear it from you...

We decided to go to a room in the orphanage to talk to the sister who was holding her cheeks and looking annoyed.

On the way there, more and more kids started to follow behind us, as if they were Hameln's flute players, but then we all went into a large room.

'Sure, sure. Everyone is very quiet. There is no dinner for the kids who are noisy. The older brothers are going to prepare a very tasty meal for you today.

The children, who had been making a lot of noise when Mother said this, went into a snapping fit, just like when the principal stood on the stage during a school assembly.

However, there is still a hint of fidgeting, because they are still children, right?

By the way, two of them are sitting on my lap and another one is on my shoulder, but they don't seem to be talking about it.

We're going to open a store at the festival and we're at a loss as to what to offer. Do you have a good idea...?

At the festival?　In that case, why don't we just have the same vegetable soup as usual?

That's right. Why don't you make a soup from the vegetables from here?

'Of course if we don't decide on anything, that's fine.... The kids want to do something a little different this year. What do you think...?

I see.....

Does that mean that the reason the other sisters aren't there is because they are now being sent out to prepare for the set-up?

Normally there are sisters other than Mother, so I thought it was strange that no one else was there.

'Is there something specific you want to do, or what kind of things you want to do?'

'Well everyone wants to help, so I'd like something that even kids can do.... Of course, on a saleable level. If it's soup, all I have to do is pour it.......but it's just not enough.......

I see.

When I turn to the children, their eyes light up and they want to help!　I can feel that.

I guess it's also a way of giving back to the mothers and sisters who have been so kind to us, as well as to the people who have donated to us.

We don't have a lot of money, so we want something that is inexpensive to sell. I don't have a lot of money, so I need something that's inexpensive to sell... and it shouldn't take too long to make... It's a hard request, but I'm wondering if you have any ideas...?

Hmm ... something festive, right?

Yeah. But not too grandiose.

I see. Sorry, I'll just think about it.

I let the thoughts run through my head.

Something that is festive and can be sold at a lower cost........

The process shouldn't be too small, and it would be better if the kids could distribute it among themselves.

But the work itself should be simple, not take too long, and should be simple enough for children to make.

''Um........are you okay?''

Mother. It's all right. My lord can be a little too focused when he starts thinking.

'Really?　I'm glad you took it so seriously for us....

I'm pretty sure oyster ice shops are common....

Ice is relatively cheap to get because some people can make it with magic, and I've had it with syrup made from fruit.

I'm sure you'll love it. What are you going to make for today's dinner?

'Well I bought the ingredients, but I think I've got a vegetable salad from the orphanage and the rest of the stew of ragged vegetables and meat?

Good morning...

'What?　You don't like it?

No. But I don't think I'll be able to...

Okay. If you don't hate me, great. You'll be fine. The vegetables in the stew aren't bitter, they're delicious.

Hmm. I'll try.

Vegetables......

Come to think of it, I didn't really like vegetables when I was a kid, but I loved them and I could eat a lot of them.

It's good for festivals, too. Yeah, it's a good idea.

...I believe this is where Cares grows the vegetables, right?

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I'm making a lot of them, taking care of the kids.

Then you can use it. Okay, I guess an okonomiyaki will do just fine then.

Okonomiyaki...?

'It's one of my original world dishes, simply put, it's a mixture of finely chopped ingredients, broth and flour, and baked. ........hmmm. Would it be faster if I made it?

We have the ingredients and I think we can do it.

However, we don't have a griddle, so we'll have to make it with a frying pan....

The broth I usually use is too costly for me, so I'll have to get some more from other dry goods.

It's faster to make it in front of you than to tell you. Mother, I'll make it right away.

Thus we moved to the kitchen this time.

Unfortunately, the kids can't all go in because of the danger, so they stay outside.

Only the elders and Mother are allowed inside, while the other children peer at us through the doors and bay windows.

'Mizera, chop up the caresses. Shredded ... no, just chopped.

If the kids are going to make it, it would be easier to make it chopped than shredded.

For the balance of texture and flavor, shredded is better, but chopped is fluffier and easier to bring out the sweetness and flavor of the vegetables.

Take out the strong and light flours, a different dashi from the one Mika gave me.

This is the dashi made from dried small fish and dried shiitake-like mushrooms.

Most of the fish that reach Ains Hale, which is inland, are either salted or dried.

I learned the other day that the fish is therefore a little pricey, but it's still available.

It's just as you'd expect in a commercial city, a variety of things are available.

If you want to ask for a large quantity, you can ask Meira to do it for you.

''Master. ''Finished cutting.''

Thank you. Now put it in a bowl over there, mix the flour with the broth, add the eggs and you'll be done baking.

Lay the pork belly down first, put the mixed okonomiyaki base on top of it, shape it into a round and leave it alone.

Is that all you have to do?

'Ah. The ingredients are about the same as the caresses, and you can put in some steamed moi, or you can add cheese. To your liking, I mean to bake.

Is that why it's called okonomiyaki?

'Uh ... maybe?　I don't know all the details, but it doesn't mean it won't fit unless it's really weird.

I used a spatula to turn it over while checking the baking process.

Then there was an ooh and aah from the kids.

Then, while Misela was checking how well it was cooked, I took out my homemade Worcestershire sauce, boiled it down, and adjusted the flavor a little sweet and spicy.

Then I make a mayonnaise with eggs, oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper, etc.

It should be vinegar, but I thought this citrusy, refreshing lemon juice would go well with the rich aftertaste of the Worcester sauce.

After the okonomiyaki was cooked, I transferred it to a plate, poured the sauce and mayonnaise over it, and it was done.

Unfortunately, I couldn't prepare bonito flakes and aonori seaweed, but it looked like okonomiyaki no matter how it looked.

''Ohhhh.......that smell is foul........''

'You can tell it's good even if you don't eat it by the smell of it...'

I know.

I love the smell of it.

It's not the same thing as a festival okonomiyaki, but I thought that the smell of the okonomiyaki might attract customers.

Well then, let's have it...

I cut it into small pieces with a spatula and divide it into bites with the people in the kitchen.

It's a good thing that you're able to get a good bite to eat. Puh, haha. Delicious!

It's a fluffy dough with a rich black sauce and a refreshing white sauce.

Vegetables are delicious. With this, even kids who don't like vegetables can eat them.

It's a small slice, but again, the vegetables in this world have such a strong flavor that they seem to be able to compete with the sauce.

Chopped up, it's fluffy and the vegetables have a strong flavor, and the broth looks good even if it's less.

I'll get a bigger griddle for the real thing, so we can make a lot more. If we divide up the work, a lot of kids will be able to help, right?

The griddle?　I don't know if I deserve that much it's kind of bad.

'No, it's fine. If we had a griddle, we could set up a stall after the festival is over, and it would make life in the orphanage a lot easier, wouldn't it?

Thank you.......... Everyone OK?　We're going to have okonomiyaki this time.

" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "

I say you're welcome and grill the next one.

Why?　Because the other kids are going to be drooling and leaning out the doors and windows.

After this, Mother went to apply for what to serve at the festive gathering, and I, for one, would be cooking okonomiyaki endlessly....

First, I taught the elders and Misela, while I continued to make okonomiyaki for the children who were waiting with their stomachs growling.

I asked Aina and the others to chop the vegetables and chop the meat as well and help me stir it up some more, but they were still busy....

Everyone ate happily, and even the vegetable-phobic kids ate a lot of it, saying it was delicious, so it was a good thing.

In the end, okonomiyaki ended up being our dinner, but I left a note on how to make the flour, broth, and sauce, and by the time I left, I was drooling with envy of White at home, with the smell smeared on my clothes.