Ihoujin, Dungeon ni Moguru

Chapter 143: A Respite From Adventuring V

Ramen making, afternoon session.

There was too much for us to finish, so I took 30 servings of the homemade noodles with me when I left for the temple of the flame religion.

On the way, I stopped by the Zavua merchant company and sold them half of the noodles. The chairman of the merchant company was also planning to go to the temple of the flame religion, so we shared a carriage together.

「Lonewell, does the merchant company also donate to the flame religion?」

「It does. Naturally」

That's unexpected.

I can understand it if it's a long-standing company with a lot of money, but I didn't expect a young and growing company to also donate to them.

「And this is it?」

I tapped the box containing the donation in his hands.

「Yes, inside are the plates and utensils designed by you and Makina」

「Could it be that you know that I'm making ramen?」

「That's part of it, but these were prepared 20 days ago」

He's got a sharp ear for information.

I can't look down on the effectiveness of word of mouth.

「In other words, they're product samples?」

「That's right. People from all walks of life and all over Lemuria gather at the flame religion's soup kitchen. They come regardless of age, race, or wealth. From adventurers to craftsmen, from eccentrics to nobles. It's the perfect place to advertise new products」

「Did you perhaps advertise the mayonnaise, pasta, and ketchup there as well?」

「Those are expensive products, so it's difficult to use them in the soup kitchen. Although it's a good way of advertising, the products may not necessarily get used just because they're donated」

「So it's precisely because the flame religion strangely doesn't smell of money that it's trustworthy and a good way to advertise, huh?」

The chairman lifted the lid of the box.

There was a metallic jangling sound.

「That's where your ramen comes in, Souya-san. These are needed, right? The logo of the Zavua merchant company is engraved on them, so please don't hesitate to use them!」

「Yeah, well, I'll use them because they are indeed needed. You didn't make too many again, did you?」

「What can I say? Ever since the matter of the mayonnaise, the resellers have been keeping a close eye on our store. The price of pasta also seems to be going up day by day. By the time we’re able to restock the wheat from the left continent, it will have doubled from the original price. The problem of customers buying our products at other stores―――――――」

「What's your true motive?」

It felt like he was going to go on for a long time, so I cut to the chase.

「I've been thinking about opening a second store soon. A store on the main street is all well and good, but it's ultimately my mother's store, and considering my own aspirations, it's a good time for it. Of course, if you lend a hand――――」

「I won't though」

「What? Why?」

「No no no, I'm an adventurer, remember? Adventuring is my job. Who knows how much I'll be tied down helping you open a new store for the merchant company」

「There you go again with the jokes」

「Hey, I'll have you know that my party is the fastest to become intermediate adventurers and I'm also decently well-known. Well, that does include a bit of infamy though」

「Then let's do it this way」

I’m not going to do it though.

「Please lend me just your name until the store and its products have gained a certain level of reputation. Souya-san, all you’ll have to do is show up at the store once in a while and praise the employees with a bossy attitude. It's easy work, right?」

「Absolutely impossible」

I'm not good at acting bossy.

「What a complete denial of my ideal retirement!」

「You need to work harder, Lonewell」

「Urgh, it's rare, but you've made a very valid point」

This prick.

Next thing I knew, we had arrived at the temple of the flame religion. It wasn't that far away to begin with.

After calling for the priestess and giving her the donation, Lonewell went back. He reminded me, "Please do your best to advertise."

Leaving that aside……

「Souya-san, I had some for lunch, but I’ve made quite a bit of noodles」

「Umm, I have some noodles that I made at home as well」

In the kitchen, both of us brought out the noodles at the same time.

『………………』

It appeared that the priestess had also made a lot. There was enough for about 80 servings combined.

「Souya-san, how many days can these noodles last?」

「They can last for about 10 days in an environment that's not too hot, not too cold, and not too humid. I think they taste best when they’ve been rested for two or three days」

「Well, that's something to look forward to. And I'm really glad you’re the person requested to make this for me, Souya-san」

「No, there's still the matter of the broth」

I've got a general idea of the recipe in my head.

However, just following what’s written down is not always enough to make a dish delicious. It takes a lot of trial and error to get it right.

「For now, can you give me three days?」

「Yes, that's fine」

People don't make progress unless they have a deadline. But there's no harm in hurrying, so I quickly got to work on making the broth.

The priestess went off to do some other work, leaving me alone in the kitchen.

The first thing I did was to prep some pork and vegetables.

I washed the vegetables with water and cut them into small pieces. The pork was cut into chunks.

In terms of ingredients, there should be small quantities of each, but a lot of variety. But even though I know the method, it’s uncertain as to which ingredients would be best.

I boiled carrots, cabbage, onions, ginger, leeks, and pork belly in a pot.

I then painstakingly scooped out the scum for the next two hours.

It's a simple task, but I don't mind it. Watching the ingredients simmer gives me a sense of wonder.

「How's it coming along?」

The priestess came to check up on things.

Or rather, I've caught her peeking into the kitchen quite a bit. The perfect timing of her appearance is probably the fruit of her years of experience.

I'm talking about showing up just in time to taste-test it.

But the taste was not as good as I expected. The flavors were too thin.

「Hmmm. I'm not feeling very confident, so I would appreciate some advice」

「Then, let me have a quick taste」

The priestess scooped some of the broth onto a small plate, then took a sip.

「It's not bad, but it feels like………it’s lacking in a lot of ways?」

「It's definitely lacking. It's so lacking that I don't know what’s missing」

「Let's keep taste-testing as we add to it」

I accepted the priestess’ suggestion.

Naturally, the first thing we tried was salt.

I can't taste the saltiness clearly. Would the flavor be better if I had used synthetic seasoning, I wonder?

「Let's try making it spicy」

The priestess’ secret spicy sauce was added.

After mixing it well, I gave it a taste.

Spicy! All I can taste is the sauce.

「It only diluted the flavor, I see」

「It's spicy though」

「Are you not fond of spicy food, Souya-san?」

「Yes, I don't like it that much. Is everyone in the flame religion a fan of spicy food?」

Ea loves spicy food, but Rana, who has received the flame religion's blessing, does not.

「These days, many of the younger ones aren't very fond of it. I'm okay with it because it's my hobby. I’ve been growing a variety of spices, you see? Many of them need a warm environment to grow, so I use the Akasho stones」

Is there also a greenhouse here, I wonder?

「Is growing spices a tradition of the flame religion or something?」

I was a little curious, so I asked.

「It's not so much a tradition as a means of subsistence. This country is prosperous and we're able to enjoy good food. But the branches of the flame religion in the poorer countries only get bad food as donations. They have to use spices to cover up the bad taste. If our predecessors had not grown all sorts of spices, many of the followers would have starved to death. Though the drawback is that the food ends up being a little spicy」

According to Otou-san, who was from another country, the preservation of food in the past was terrible. Even if the salted meat was full of worms, people still ate it regardless.

Compared to that time, every meal in Lemuria now is as good as a feast.

「Let's try adding a bit more sauce and some ground meat. And some nuts as well………………」

It got closer yet again to dandan noodles.[1]

The spicy sauce may be good as a dipping sauce, but adding it to the broth was not the best idea.

I guess I'll have to re-make it from scratch.

「Souya-san, do you mind if I add some more ingredients into the pot?」

「Oh, feel free」

The priestess added tomatoes and some egg yolk. The broth was simmered some more. It was beginning to feel more Western than Chinese.

I went into the food storage and started to choose ingredients all over again. I wasn't so naive as to think it would go well on the first try.

Hmmm.

If I asked Makina to do it, she could probably make a normal ramen broth. But it'd only be normal. Her cooking doesn't pack a punch. It's devoid of any distinctiveness. It has no selling point!

I mean, the first ramen in the alternate world shouldn't be plain. It should have a taste that will make the adventurers gasp in astonishment.

I could use a flavor enhancer, but as can be expected, I don't have anywhere near enough. Should I start from the extraction and production of that? But monosodium glutamate(MSG) can make some people sick if ingested in large quantities. I don't want more bad rumors to spread because of this.

No, I doubt I have the time for that anyway.

「Hmmm」

What should I do? I can't come up with any good ideas. I can't even do trial and error.

Thinking back on it again, I'm a complete amateur when it comes to ramen. To be honest, I'm little better than a novice at cooking, and I've just been lucky that things have worked out so far.

Will inspiration strike me if I give it enough time?

I don't think it will. Much less in just three days.

Perhaps the time has come for me to hang up my apron. Maybe I should just turn down all these kinds of requests from now on and concentrate on the adventuring business.

I suppose I've given in to despair a little.

「Sorry, Souya-san, could you come here for a minute?」

I was called back by the priestess.

When I returned to the kitchen, I found someone I hadn't expected to see.

A muscular man with a mohawk.

It was Rasta Oru Razva, the barkeeper of the bar run by the Kingdom of Lemuria, the Raging Bull and Silver Fox bar.

「Souya! What’s the meaning of this, you bastard?!」

「Huh?」

Before I could even say hello, he came at me with a furious expression.

The barkeeper was holding an unfurled scroll. I took a look at it and saw that it was a copy of a certificate of ownership for a cooking recipe.

In Lemuria, if one wants to serve a particular dish, royalties must be paid to the person who invented it. Actually, it's not so much the inventor, but the person who holds the rights to the recipe.

This is very strictly enforced. If it's violated, the country will fine the offender heavily. If it's found to be done on purpose, the offender can even be thrown into prison.

Frankly speaking, this is one of the reasons why the food in Lemuria tastes so bad.

If you clamp down on culture before it can develop, it will never flourish. That said, I also receive royalties from the Zavua merchant company for the use of my recipes for the mayonnaise, pasta, and ketchup.

According to the Zavua merchant company, the royalties I receive are only『a tenth of the usual rates』, but so long as I'm getting paid, I'm in no position to criticize it.

Also, since this is a system that was borrowed from Elysium, I have a feeling that food on the center continent doesn’t taste good either.

「Recipe for Ramen Noodles」

That was what was on the certificate that the barkeeper was holding. And the name of the rights holder written on it was my own.

「You've done it now」

I could see the fighting spirit emanating from the barkeeper.

「Err, Master, hang on a minute. I don't remember ever submitting the recipe though」

「I did it for you」

The priestess said unabashedly.

During the lunch hour? You sure work fast. Or rather, say something if you were going to do stuff like that.

「For these kinds of things, the sooner the better, you know?」

「That's true, but when did you do it?」

「Just a few moments during lunch」

「Come on, Nee-chan, using the flame religion's detergent in recipes is my bar's treasured secret, you know?」

The barkeeper said with a deferential posture, which was oddly child-like.

Nee-chan? Eh, is this Priestess-sama part of the royal family of Lemuria?

「Oh, Souya-san, I'm not royalty, alright? It's just an old habit as these boys used to call me "Nee-chan, Nee-chan" all the time. Even though we're all so old already, oh-ho-ho」

That means that they've known each other for a long time, I guess.

「Back to the topic, Souya, how dare you!」

「Uhh, but did you have such a dish at your bar, Master?」

「Our bar has a secret menu for advanced adventurers and those who have reached that level in the past. Wait, you've seen Evetta eat it before. So you copied it, right?」

It doesn't ring a bell at all.

「By the way, what's the name of the dish?」

「Honey-filled high-class fluffy bread」

「Oh, hmm?」

I have no recollection of it.

After all, food that's placed in front of Evetta-san disappears in the blink of an eye.

「The recipe for the fluffy bread is something that I risked my life to obtain during an adventure in my youth. Since then, I've carefully, carefully guarded it over the years to give it as a reward to the more successful adventurers. In other words, the fluffy bread is a medal of honor for my juniors! Because it's such a treasured secret, I've protected the recipe and never publicized it, but I never expected that you would defile the fluffy bread!」

Don't keep repeating cutesy words like『fluffy bread』when you're a gruff old man.[2]

「But you know what, Ras-boy? I think it's safe to say that your bread and these noodles are very different, is it not?」

「Nee-chan, the problem is not in the form of the food but in the method used to make it. If word gets out that the flame religion's detergent can be used to make food, someone is bound to get close to the secret of the fluffy bread. Souya, I’m sorry, but I'm going to have to bury these noodles!」

「Ehh」

That's not very mature of you.

Considering the barkeeper's connections, chances are that he can easily bury a recipe or two though.

「What should we do, Priestess-sama?」

I turned to the priestess for help.

Truth be told, as I'm concerned about my ability to make the broth, I'm hoping that this will somehow make this request go away. Besides, the people at home are satisfied with the noodles as they are now.

「Ras-boy, let's do it this way. If you call yourself a chef, earn the rights through your cooking」

「Nee-chan, what do you mean?」

「Tomorrow, if Souya-san makes better fluffy bread than you, Ras-boy, admit defeat and publicize the recipe. If Souya-san loses, ramen will disappear for good from Lemuria」

「Nee-chan, I have just one question. Does this mean that you'll be helping Souya?」

「Of course not. I'll watch over the two of you as a neutral party」

「Hmpt, that's how it is, Souya」

The barkeeper smiled fearlessly.

「Even if you possess strange foreigner knowledge, it'll be me, with my experience, who wins in the end! Unfortunately, you'll have to give up on those ramen noodles! Tomorrow, first thing in the morning, right here! Let our fluffy bread do the talking!」

The barkeeper turned on his heel and walked out of the kitchen.

With really loud footsteps.

「With that, I’ll go put the noodle recipe on hold for now, alright?」

The priestess also left.

I was left standing there all by myself.

Silence fell over the kitchen.

「………………What about the ramen?!」

No one was listening.

[1] Dandan noodles(担担面) is a noodle dish originating from Chinese Sichuan cuisine. It typically consists of a spicy sauce, usually containing preserved vegetables, mustard stems, chili oil, Sichuan pepper, as well as minced pork, and scallions served over noodles. The dish can either be served dry or as a noodle soup. (Pic courtesy of wikipedia and by Steven G. Johnson)

[2] In Japanese, fluffy bread is “Fuwa-Fuwa(sound effect for fluffy)-pan(bread). Yes, it’s a cutesy name though fairly standard when it comes to describing bread.

I should mention that I could have gone with “fluffy buns” instead. I didn’t because it’s not accurate, but just for a sec, go back and try substituting “fluffy buns” for “fluffy bread”. XD Yes, my sense of humor is a bit silly at times haha.

Copyright also exists in the alternate world, huh… That’s certainly not what I expected in a fantasy world…

And…everyone forgot about the main point lol. Welcome to the cooking contest arc lmao. Just kidding, it’s not the entire arc, but well, stay tuned for more antics!