Vol 05 Extra Chapter 3-1 Something More Wonderful Than Sweets
「Cyril, what are you making?」
「To add some color to our meals, I'm creating a new seasoning.」
Today seemed that it would be a rare day for relaxation, so I decided to cook something elaborate in the kitchen. That's when Lucy approached me. Lucy, like myself, was an elf, she was a beautiful girl with golden hair.
「A seasoning?」
「Yes, to create a variety of dishes, seasoning is essential. We only have salt and meat juice sauce in our kitchen, right?」
This lack of seasonings was a big problem. While we had plenty of ingredients, the seasoning ultimately determined the flavor's direction. In Erucy, we used salt and a special sauce made by simmering boar or deer meat juice, adding cranberry for some sourness, and finished it with herbs and salt, but those seasonings alone were insufficient. So, today, I was trying to make a new one.
The minimum requirement for a seasoning is that it can be mass-produced and stored for a long time.
「What type of seasoning are you going to make?」
「A walnut and cheese seasoning. It has a rich and tangy flavor that goes well with anything.」
There were walnut trees in the mountains, they were a valuable snack for the elves. As they were delicious and there were plenty of them, I decided to use these as ingredients.
「Walnuts are delicious on their own, and adding cheese should make them even better.」
「If it goes well, we might end up with something wonderful.」
While chatting with Lucy, I continued working. First, I extracted the walnut kernels from their shells and steamed them to make them soft. Now I needed to add the cheese but...
Yukino and Kemin rushed over and looked at me with eyes full of expectation, so I patted their heads too. All three of them were in high spirits, their tails wagging.
「I planned to come by myself as I only needed to bring the cheese, but these kids insisted on coming along. Sorry for the intrusion, Cyril-kun.」
「It's fine. I'm happy to have my cute little sisters visit. But, I was planning to invite you all in a week, when the new seasoning is ready, to thank you and let you taste the new dishes that can be made with it.」
「It takes a week to make? Seasonings take a lot of work, don’t they?」
「It takes a week to improve the flavor and ensure it ferments well for preservation.」
While talking, I continued with the work, crushing the steamed walnuts, which began to turn into paste as they mixed with their own moisture. I added a small amount of water to it and then the cheese Kuu and the girls brought. After mixing everything well, I seasoned the resulting paste with salt and herbs. Tasting it a bit, I confirmed it was a good flavor.
「Alright, that finishes the preparation. Now it just needs to rest in a dark place to be complete. In a week, I'll serve a dish using this seasoning to everyone who brought the cheese and to Lucy.」
Upon hearing this, everyone seemed both happy and a little disappointed. It must be a mix of excitement for being able to try the new seasoning and the letdown of not being able to do it today.
「Since everyone has come all this way, it wouldn't be right to send you back empty-handed. I'll prepare some simple treats for you today. Lucy, could you make some tea while I prepare the snacks?」
「Got it, Cyril.」
Lucy cheerfully fetched the tea leaves from the shelf.
「You seem more happy than usual.」
「Yeah, actually, I'm more excited about the treats than the seasoning.」
Glancing over at Kuu and the girls, I noticed that they all shared Lucy's sentiment. The moment I mentioned the treats, their faces lit up with smiles. It couldn't be helped. Girls of any era had a weakness for sweets.