48 - Episode 46 Harvesting

After harvesting the forest radishes, it is time for breakfast, albeit a little late. I wondered how to make grated daikon radish, but then I remembered the existence of grated radish and made up a fake grated radish out of bamboo in a hurry.

The size of the jagged edges were different, and the teeth of the bamboo were not well processed.

"Heh. You make the forest radish so fine. Is it good?"

Sylphy asked curiously. Don't they have grated radish in this world?　I'm not sure how the Knowledge Cheat comes into play ...... if it's profitable to make oni grated.

"It goes great with fish, but you don't do that in this world. How do you eat it?"

"Basically, it's a soup ingredient. I use them in salads, maybe."

It's true that daikon goes well with soups. I want to eat stewed food. It's hot here, so oden might be a little spicy.

"Soup is good, too. But grated ones are good too, you should try them."

"I doubt it will be that different, but it will be interesting. I'm looking forward to it."

Grated daikon . I love it, but I wonder if it would work on spirits in other worlds?

"I hope it doesn't disappoint. ...... I'm getting a little nervous. Please don't be mad at me if I don't meet your expectations."

"I won't get mad at you for that."

The bar has been lowered. I'll make a radish salad. Shredded and salted. Toss with wakame seaweed. I need ponzu.

"It's ready. Gather around.

The usual grilled fish with drained and grated daikon and a dash of soy sauce. Soy sauce is precious, but it's good for today.

The Great Spirits join us for breakfast because of the harvest. Including me, there are nine of us. I don't know how long we've been here. I wondered if Rain and Tamamo counted as people.

Everyone takes their seats and is curious about the grated daikon with brownish liquid on it. I guess even the Great Spirit is pleased with something he/she has never eaten before.

Since no one else can get their hands on it, they eat it first, as an example. I chose an oily fish for the grated daikon. It should go well with it. Put some grated daikon on top of the unraveled fish meat and eat it.

The fat of the fish, grated daikon, and soy sauce mix together and make for a refreshing meal. I feel like grated daikon and soy sauce are dangerous. The nostalgic feeling that I had been pushing down deep inside of me, that I would never be able to go back to Japan, comes flooding out of me.

"Heh. Yuta. This is delicious. The combination of finely chopped forest radish and the brown liquid has a mysterious taste all by itself.

"YUTA. Yummy."

"Hmm. It's pretty good. It's a fresh surprise that grated vegetables go so well with fish.

The combination of grated radish and fish seems to be well received by the spirits. However, the radish and wakame seaweed salad did not suit the palates of the lower class spirits.

Belle and Tulu wrinkled their pretty faces after taking a bite. If I were a good cook, I could have made them enjoy it, but alas, I cook on the internet. I've made a lot of things, but I can't really apply the recipes.

Well, it's a good thing I served them in small portions, because they might not like it. I'll eat what Bell and the others leave. Crunchy radish and seaweed. I think it's delicious, but I can't help it if it's not a kid's favorite.

**

"Yuta. I'm looking forward to tonight.

"Yuta. Your sister is looking forward to it.

Thank you very much for inviting me to join you.

Nomos. who had received Sylphy's message. DINE. Dolly was looking forward to a night of drinking, and then she left.

I know it's a little late for this, but what do the Great Spirits usually do?　Sylphy has been following me most of the time, but I have no idea what the other three are doing. They disappear and reappear. It's like that.

I think ...... that Dine and the others are just sleeping, but I guess that's not true, since they are great spirits. I don't know what to think...maybe we should expand our base...

After breakfast was over, I called Belle and the others who were playing with each other and asked them to help. They all answer me so openly that I feel sorry for myself, remembering my childhood.

I was the type of kid who tried to get out of helping. ......I'm sorry, Mom and Dad. Somehow I apologize to the heavens. Well, I'm sure my parents are fine in Japan. I'm sure they're worried about you.

Maybe it's because I haven't tasted soy sauce in a while. I can't help it. Just thinking about it makes me blue. Let's get moving and change our minds.

Belle. Rain. Tamamo takes care of the plants in the planned forest while I work on the pioneer work with Tulu's help. We keep digging and storing with the magic shovel. We're going to clear two blocks today. The harder we work, the better our drinks taste.

**

We finish two blocks as planned and have dinner. I'm feeling a little excited because it's been a while since I've had a drink. The Belles are not attending, so it's time to be adults for the first time in a while. I feel like skipping without thinking.

"Thanks for waiting. Can we get started now?"

"Oh. We've been waiting for you. Get on with it.

Nomos seems to be in a very good mood. Is he really looking forward to a drink from another world?

I've been waiting for you since yesterday. I'm tired of waiting."

...... joke, right?　Should I say sorry I'm late?

"Oh, yeah. Let's get started. But I only have two bottles of sake, not that much, so give me a break."

With that said, he first serves you your favorite sake with a bang, and cheese and mixed nuts as snacks. It's a little wretched, but it's a treat for me.

"Hmmm. This is a beautiful vessel. Is it made of glass?

Hmm?　Yeah, it's a glass jar.

Nomos came to bite into a bottle. So they have glass. I'd love to have a glass cup.

"Nomos. Is glass easy to get?　I need a glass cup."

"Mm. Glass is precious and hard to come by. But if you make a contract with me, I can make you some glass right away."

...... I thought the material for glass was sand or something like that. That's in nomos territory. I'm getting the vibe that glass is fire.

"Can you make a glass cup?"

"You make cups out of glass?　It breaks easily, you know?"

"In my world, glass is used for cups and bottles like this drink. It keeps the food and drink from having an unpleasant smell or taste."

"Hmm. It's easy enough to form it into a cup.

"Oh, thank God."

We're going to get a lot of glassware. Can we ask them to make ceramics as well?　No, we could mass-produce glassware and sell it, and we'd be all giddy!

"Yuta. Don't talk, let's have a drink. Sis. I'm tired of waiting.

"Oh, Deanne. Sorry. I'll finish getting ready soon.

He apologizes lightly to Dineh for rushing her and puts out wooden cups for the number of people. The smell of the wood is likely to get on the sake, but there is no other cups available, so it can't be helped. We fill each cup with sake, feeling a little disappointed.

"Okay. Okay, everyone. Thank you for taking care of us. Cheers."

As I make a toast and take a sip of sake for the first time in a long time, my favorite aroma passes through my nostrils. Normally I would have lounged around drinking this, but ...... it's too different from my schedule, my Golden Week.

"Oh, that's nice. Delicate, fruity, sweet aroma. The mouthfeel is refreshing and slides right down your throat. But it's quite strong, isn't it?"

...... Mr. Sylphy. Where are you from, gourmet critic?　I only know what smells good and tastes good. .......

"Yeah, it's weaker than the next one we're going to serve, but it's got some spirit."

"Hmm. More ale, more spirit, less cloying. It's very tasty."

Is Sylphy the type to be picky about taste?　I guess that's why they won't go along with a meal of nothing but grilled seafood.

"Yuta. It's delicious!"

For some reason, a smiling Dineh makes me feel at home. As someone who likes sake but doesn't have such a delicate palate, it's more helpful to have her simply taste it like Dine does.

"I'm glad you liked it. It is said that water is important in my hometown, so if the water spirits are pleased with it, I'm proud of myself.

"Heh. So you make your sake with a lot of water. So it tastes like water from another world. I'm glad."

I don't know what water tastes like. Speaking of which, what's up with Nomos and Dolly?　I turned to Nomos, who was seriously discussing with Sylphy and Dolly about the taste of alcohol.

They are talking about the aroma of grain ...... and the balance ...... and other words I don't understand. I'm glad that she takes the taste of alcohol seriously, but I wish she would take it a little easier.

But Dolly, who looks like a beautiful girl, also likes to drink. She is still in a graceful mood, but she is tasting and discussing with others. Surprising.

"Yuta! Cheese is delicious too. I wonder if it's less salty than the ones in this world. It has a wonderful richness.　　

Deanne likes the snacks, too, and her smile is soothing. Hmm?　I just heard something good.

"Deanne. Do they have cheese in this world?"

"Yes, I do!"

Okay. As a cheese lover, that's good news. It's easier to live with familiar foodstuffs and you mentioned ale, which is a kind of beer. That means we can taste the beer too. Maybe this world is surprisingly easy to live in in terms of food.

"Speaking of which, can you cool water or turn it into ice?

"Hmm. Yes, I can. Ice is a bit out of my league, but as a Great Spirit, it's a piece of cake for me.

Dene has a smug look on her face, but it doesn't matter if she can make ice. You can have your whiskey on the rocks. But if we ask for ice here, we'll probably run afoul of the restrictions.

I'll have to make a nice white play later. It would be quicker if we could ask Rain, but he said he's in a slightly different territory, so it'll be difficult.

Sylphy and Nomos discuss the taste of alcohol and don't slow down. Dine and I are drinking as usual. We are almost out of sake.

I'm going to serve some whiskey, but no one but me seems to be in a drunken mood at all. I don't think we have enough sake.

"Deene. Is there anything in this world similar to this bean?"

"Hmmm. I've had this one, this one and this one, sister.

Oh, almonds and peanuts and walnuts. I guess there are a lot of similar plants. We'll have them eat some rice later. If we can get rice, our otherworldly life will be bright.

"Oh, by the way, Dine. You said you were going to change the terms of the contract.　I'm leaving tomorrow morning, okay?"

Deane's movements came to an abrupt halt. ...... definitely forgot about that.