CH 74

Episode 74 – CURRY!!

TL Note: Sponsored chapter (3/3)

Regarding what Nina said, I had absolutely no clue what she was talking about. Could it be that the dish the grandma was talking about was called ‘ka-re’?

“Ah, curry, huh? Certainly, it does fit the description. This is great timing, since I just got my hands on some Peppercorn and Cumin. How ‘bout I treat you to some curry?” the shady shopkeeper suggested with his arms folded. I was quite grateful for the offer. Since this ‘ka-re’ could be the key to conquering Dumbbell Weed, I would love to try it.

“If you’re willing to do so… Please, I’d love to try it!” (Lewin)

“Well, it seems like you’ll be a valued customer in the future after all. Of course, I’ll charge you for the ingredients, but I’ll also be teaching you how to make it, so it won’t be a loss.” (Clive)

“Of course, I’ll cover the cost of the ingredients!” (Lewin)

“Nina and I will help out too! But… which type of curry would be good? I personally prefer meat curry though…” (Lyra)

“…I like vegetable curry.” (Nina)

“You can’t overlook seafood curry either, but… this is his first time, so starting simple would probably be for the best. Since I’ll be teaching you, you can decide how you want it, Lewin.” (Clive)

“Alright, once we’ve grabbed the ingredients we need, we’ll move upstairs. My house is up there.” (Clive)

“Wow! I didn’t know you lived here, Clive-san!” (Lyra)

After that, with the shady shopkeeper leading the way, we walked around the inside of the store, purchasing the spices we needed. The spices being sold here seemed to already have been processed into powder form.

In the end, we bought three types of spices. The first one was the Red Hot Herb that Lyra told me about before, but there was also Turmeric Root, which resembled Ginger, and Coriander Seeds. These three spices along with the Cumin Seeds and Peppercorns that I had just sold, mixed with two types of vegetables that I had bought here, would complete the dish.

While I was shopping, I did a quick taste of all the new spices I had bought, but they still didn’t taste good. I was having a hard time imagining how a dish made of a mixture of things that didn’t taste good could ever end up turning out delicious… Just how would this dish turn out in the end?

After I bought and assembled all the ingredients, the shady shopkeeper led the way to his home. There was a room at the top of the stairs, and the shopkeeper seemed to be living there.

“Well, it’s a bit messy, but come on in.” (Clive)

Just like he said, the room was untidy and cluttered with all kinds of things. After passing through the dirty, disorderly room, there was an impressive-looking kitchen. It was spectacularly clean, like a totally different world compared to the previous room.

“Your room is so dirty, but your kitchen is so clean!” (Lyra)

“That’s ‘cause I’m really particular about my kitchen. Anyway, let’s get to work. Lewin, do your best to learn it.” (Clive)

“Yes, please teach me.” (Lewin)

With that, the shady shopkeeper rolled up his sleeves and tied a towel around his head. He usually carried a dull, uninterested look on his face, but just now the look in his eyes turned sharp and serious as if he was about to step into battle. After he rolled up his sleeves, I could see various scars lacing his arms, ranging from bite marks to deep, long scars that seemed to have reached all the way to the bone.

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“Lyra and Nina, take out the ingredients.” (Clive)

“Got it! We’ll support you!” (Lyra)

And so, the three of them started making ‘ka-re’. First, Nina started frying chopped vegetables with cumin powder for a while until they turned concentrated and dark. Then, the shady shopkeeper started mixing those vegetables with some crushed red vegetables into a paste. From that point, they kept the flame low as they heated the mushy vegetable mix while grinding it into a silky paste. I could smell an appetizing aroma begin to waft out of the pot. After the shady shopkeeper double-checked the consistency of the paste, he added in more spices. First was the Turmeric powder, followed by the Red Hot Herb powder. After adding the Coriander powder last, he began to thoroughly stir the mixture. The moment that all of the spices were added together, an amazing, piquant fragrance began to drift out from the pot. It smelled so great that I wanted to just eat it as it was, and my stomach rumbled in response. Swallowing my saliva, I waited eagerly for the ‘ka-re’ to be ready.

“Alright. The flavor is perfect. From here, we add water slowly while incorporating the paste until it turns thick, and then it’ll be done.” (Shady Shopkeeper)

After adding in water, it was simmered down for 30 minutes. At the end, Peppercorn powder was sprinkled in, and with that it was finally done!

“The taste is… mmm. I think it turned out perfectly! Lewin, this is curry.” (Shady Shopkeeper)

Looking at the plate of ‘ka-re’ in front of me, my stomach rumbled loudly. The smell of it was sublime. The intoxicating, spicy aroma was so intense that it went straight to my brain.

I can’t hold back anymore… Please let me eat it soon!

“Shopkeeper-san! Can I eat it now?” (Lewin)

“Yeah, of course. It’ll be yummy if you eat it with bread or pretty much anything else.” (Shady Shopkeeper)

“Hold on a sec… I’m hungry too! Clive-san, gimme some too!” (Lyra)

“…….Can I have a little too?” (Nina)

“Yeah, I guess so. We already took the effort to make it, so we might as well eat it together.” (Shady Shopkeeper)

The shady shopkeeper served up four plates of ‘ka-re’ along with some bread that he pulled out from somewhere. Since there was no place to sit in the other room, we decided to just eat in the kitchen.

“Uwaaah… what a great smell. Then… let’s dig in!” (Lyra)

Spicy. But delicious. It’s so spicy, but it’s so delicious!!

Sweat began flowing down my face in rivulets from how spicy it was, but I just couldn’t stop eating. There were no other words to describe it. This was… delicious. Just way too delicious.

The spiciness was no joke, but I made short work of the entire plate of ‘ka-re’.

“Shopkeeper-san, this ‘ka-re’… it was quite spicy, but it was very delicious!” (Lewin)

“Hahaha! I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone enjoy a meal so heartily before. I’m glad you liked it. Also, it’s not ‘ka-re’, it’s curry!” (Clive)

“CURRY!!!” (Lewin)

Scooping up every last iota of the curry with my remaining bread, I finished up my very first plate of curry, thinking it wasn’t enough.

(TL: This entire chapter felt like a Shokugeki no Soma episode… )