566 - - Episode 564 is different.

The rules and date of the blacksmithing competition were decided. After we were relieved to see that most of the rules and dates were in line with our requests, we decided to sample some of Toruku's new dishes using soy sauce. The first dish was a simple garlic soy sauce baked with roughage. It was a simple yet delightful dish that made us feel like junk, and our anticipation for the next dish grew stronger than ever.

I'm going to prepare the next dish. "I'll go prepare the next dish.

Mr. Toruku, who had been watching with satisfaction as Gina and I enjoyed the garlic soy sauce-roasted roughbirds, left the private room to prepare the next dish.

"Yuta, berumo", "cue", "I want to eat", "coo!", "I want to eat", "I want to eat", "I want to eat", "I want to eat", "I want to eat", "I want to eat"... You're gonna make me eat it.""............"

As soon as Mr. Torque left, the belles came rushing in. Gina and her friends are also being assaulted by floating spirits who want to eat.

Well, while we were eating, they looked drooling and curious, so I expected this to happen.

"Good for you for holding back!"

After patting them around to praise them for charging in, I put a piece of grilled rough bird with garlic and soy sauce in each of their mouths.

"Belle, I love this!" "Coo-coo-coo!" "Delicious!" "Coo-coo-coo!" "It's so good!" "............"

Belle declares with a big smile while holding her pudgy hoppe with both hands.

Lane expresses his deliciousness with his whole body while flapping his fins.

Tulu chews the food slowly, and expresses her satisfaction with the taste.

Tamamo, who expresses her joy by wagging her tail in excitement.

Flare, who for some reason is staring off into the distance and commenting on the coolness of the food.

Moon, who after slowly digesting his food, starts to churn it up at high speed.

Everyone seems to like the taste of this junk.

Watching Belle and the others being patient, I regretted that I should have let them stay in the room like before, but this sight makes me glad I brought them with me.

Well, I guess I'll just have to wait until the next time Mr. Toruku brings us our food. I could see the regret on the faces of Bell and the others when they were tasting the next dish.

Oh, Sylphy picked up the chopsticks by herself, which is rare.

It seems that Shilfi, who is tired of eating ordinary food, is interested in our reactions.

"Oh, it's not bad. The smell is a bit strong, but I think it goes well with ale.

Yes, it does look like it would go well with ale. It is no exaggeration to say that the taste is a perfect match for a perfectly chilled beer.

If the meat itself has an overwhelmingly delicious flavor, Japanese sharp beers will not be able to match it.

Beer is the best for this kind of food. Ah, I feel like drinking beer. Maybe I can get hops from Dolly and make beer if I want to.

I'd like to make beer at some point ......, but what's a brewery in paradise that's already a haven expanded with sake brewing and now adds beer brewing on top of that?

...... I can only see a future where the nomos will accelerate their rampage.

It is hard to give up the all-you-can-drink-beer life, but we should put up with it as long as we can.

At the same time, we should save beer as a trump card against the Great Spirit.

"Yuta, what's wrong?"

"Hmm?　No, it's nothing.

Oh no, Sylphy is already looking at me with suspicion.

The Great Spirit has a great sense of smell when it comes to alcohol, so if I think about it any more deeply, I'll be asked if I can read his mind.　I am tempted to say, "I can see right through you," and my trump card will be meaningless.

Don't think too much.

"Oh?　You guys, Torque is back, so you'd better behave yourselves."

Apparently, Mr. Torque brought the next dish. Nice timing.

Sylphy's warning has quieted the crowd of belles who had been flocking to the garlic soy sauce-roasted roughbirds, and at the same time, Mr. Toruku enters the room.

Now, what will be the next dish?

**

"How was it?"

"Well, I'm sure it's delicious, but it's mainly grilled food, and it all seems to have a similar atmosphere."

Some of the menu items served after the garlic soy sauce grilled roughbirds were also tasty.

Vegetable stir-fry with Mr. Toruku's special garlic soy sauce. Oak belly in spicy soy sauce with chili peppers.

Nothing bad at all. No, it's not an exaggeration to say that the food is of high quality and tasty, since Mr. Toruku was convinced enough to offer it for tasting.

However, we can't deny that they all have a similar atmosphere.

I guess the bottleneck is the fact that they don't know the sweet and spicy taste of cooking sake, mirin, and sugar.

Considering this, the result of this tasting was a little disappointing, but if we serve sake and give a lecture on how to use sugar, there will be no problem.

Considering Toruku's ability and effort to create such a great dish with such restrictions, I am looking forward to the future when the restrictions will be removed.

Yes, that's what I felt too. But not this time. I came up with this dish on a whim, but I'm confident in it, so look forward to it."

I thought that was the end of it, but it seems that there were still some dishes left to be cooked. And it seems to be his masterpiece.

It seems to be a different type of dish from his previous ones, and he may have come up with a technique to add sweetness by himself.

Expectations are high.

"You guys, we have a guest!

Mr. Toruku left the room, and Sylphy stopped Bell and the others who were about to charge into the kitchen as before.

I wondered if Mr. Toruku had returned, but then I wouldn't have called him a guest.

......Sadly, I can't imagine a guest. Who's here?

A few moments later there is a knock at the door.

"Come in."

I gave my permission and a beautiful woman came into the room looking very happy.

...... Who is this?

With such a beautiful woman, I would think that just saying hello to her would burn her into my memory, but I have no idea what to think of her.

Or maybe not?　It's not as if I haven't seen you before somewhere ...... who are you?

"Yuta-san, it's been a while!"

This voice, the way it speaks at intervals...... maybe?

"Um, are you Betty?"

"?　Yes?　Yes, but?"

Betty nodded her head as if it were obvious.

No, it's not natural. You were pretty to begin with, but you had a chubby body and chewy cheeks, didn't you?

How is it that she has become a beautiful woman with a great style, who has a lot going on and a lot going on?

It's like taking off her glasses and seeing a beautiful girl, before and after.

Gina and the others are stunned and speechless?

"Sorry I'm late. I just said hello to Mr. Toruku and he said the main event is just starting. Just in time. It was worth it to finish my work.

Betty has transformed into a beautiful woman, but her personality has not changed, and it is clear that she is only thinking about the food that is about to be served.

Come to think of it, Betty, you used to be so busy that you looked a little deflated.

But she looked unhealthy at that time. I understand that she must have had more work since then, so it is understandable that she has lost more weight, but why has she transformed into a healthy beauty?

...... You don't think you've adapted to your environment?

They are used to being busy, working hard and eating hard. As a result, they naturally burn calories while taking in nutrients and lose weight so healthily that it seems like a metamorphosis. ......

No, no, no, if people could lose weight so conveniently, the word "diet" would never have been invented.

So, it's a fake?　

"You've lost weight again."

I've been waiting for you!

While I was confused, Mr. Torque brought in a new dish.

Betty reacts happily to this, but honestly, I wish she would wait. I haven't recovered from my confusion yet.

I've been experimenting with different combinations of soy sauce and pasta, and this is the best I've come up with. Give it a try."

"Yes, sir."

"Hm?　Yuta, what's wrong?"

"Heh?　Oh, no, it's nothing.

Does Mr. Torque see Betty's transformation and not think anything of it?　Is Betty normal now?　Huh?　What is normal?

"It's delicious!"

While I am growing confused, Betty eats her food and squeals with delight with a big smile on her face.

Oh, it's Betty. I feel like an idiot for being so confused. Her appearance has changed and she has turned into a stunningly beautiful woman, but I can see it in her smile.

She's just a glutton.

Originally, I had not been told that Betty would be attending this tasting.

She said she was forced to finish her work, so she must have gotten the information from somewhere and barged in.

Whether she is thin or not, Betty is still Betty. She is just a glutton who is faithful to her appetite.

...... I'm feeling strangely aroused and I'm going to enjoy Torque's new dish.

I regain my composure and look at the food, and again I am confused.

What's that?　I've seen this dish before.

Amber-colored soup and flat, thick pasta. Meat and green onions.

...... Is it soy sauce ramen?　No, soup spa?

It looks like a familiar dish, but the slightly different appearance of the dish gives you a terrible feeling of discomfort and confuses your brain.

I convinced myself that I would never know unless I tried it, and took a sip of the soup first.

...... It is a soy sauce with chicken broth. The taste of the soup, which is somewhat comforting and similar to old-fashioned Chinese buckwheat noodles, spreads in your mouth with surprise.

Simply put, it's the best.

I don't know how Mr. Toruku arrived at this taste, but I think he has a great culinary sense.

Next, I scoop a piece of flat pasta with a fork and bring it to my mouth.

The thick, sticky pasta spreads in your mouth with the taste of wheat.

...... must be delicious. Even Betty, who is a picky eater, is pleased with the taste, so it must be delicious.

But there is something different about it. It is neither chicken gara shoyu ramen nor soup spa.

In a sense, it could be said that it is a new dish that has evolved by fusing the characteristics of both, but the sense that it is not this is too much, and I cannot accept it in any way.

How am I supposed to react?　Somehow, my brain is very confused today: .......