Blankon Announcement

493 Culinary Showdown and the Stirring Darkness

"Oh… This is…!"

Before me are two dishes. Both come with rice, miso soup, and pickles.

The only difference is the main meat dish placed in the center. One is pork, the other chicken. Pork ginger stir-fry and Chicken Nanban, to be exact.

From any angle, these look like the standard pork ginger stir-fry set and Chicken Nanban set.

Is Chicken Nanban really Japanese cuisine? I wonder, but I'll leave the details alone. If I don't know, there's no way the people from this other world would.

However, while I've eaten pork ginger stir-fry several times since coming here, it's been a while since I've had Chicken Nanban. Hmm? Did I give a recipe for Chicken Nanban to Luu?

It's impossible to tell which dish was made by whom just by appearance. But my eyes inevitably gravitate toward the Chicken Nanban.

This is because I had been thinking that if I could turn the chicken I chased in the maze into Chicken Nanban, it would surely taste delicious.

"…It looks so delicious…"

Yae, seeing the dishes in front of me, swallows audibly. Please, maintain some decorum in front of the girls.

"We’ve prepared meals for your mothers as well. Rest assured."

"Oh! As expected of Luu-dono's daughter!"

Perhaps sensing Yae's feelings, Asia and Luu each bring the Chicken Nanban set and pork ginger stir-fry set, respectively. It's nice that everyone else can eat so casually…

Well then. I can't just keep staring. It's time to dig in.

"Let’s start with the Chicken Nanban. Itadakimasu."

I just can’t help it. I’m really curious.

I pick up a piece from the middle with my chopsticks. The golden-brown coating reveals white chicken meat inside. The sweet vinegar sauce and tartar sauce on the chicken make it incredibly appetizing.

As I bite into the crispy coating, the juices from the chicken burst out. The rich flavor of the meat, combined with the tanginess of the vinegar sauce and the richness of the tartar sauce, creates a wonderful harmony.

With that lingering taste, I scoop up some rice. Mmm.

"It's delicious!"

I can’t stop eating. Enjoying the Chicken Nanban, savoring the rice, refreshing my palate with the pickles, and clearing my taste with the miso soup.

It’s so good! Maybe it’s because I was really hungry and it’s been a while? Oh, I need to be careful not to eat everything. I still have the other dish to try.

"Now let’s try this one…"

I slide the Chicken Nanban set aside and bring the pork ginger stir-fry set closer. This also looks incredibly delicious.

As for pork ginger stir-fry, it’s typically divided into two types: one with diced pork and onions stir-fried together, and the other with thinly sliced pork sautéed. This one is the former. My mother used to make this kind at home.

I take some onion and pork together with my chopsticks. Holding the dish with rice underneath, I put it into my mouth without letting the meat juices drip. This is also delicious.

I can’t help but eat the rice as well. The rice, onions, and pork dance in my mouth. The more I chew, the more the flavor expands. This is as good as the Chicken Nanban.

However, compared to the usual pork ginger stir-fry I eat, this one seems a bit saltier. Just a little bit. Could it be that this is the one Asia made?

No, no, preconceived notions are dangerous. It could skew my judgment.

Still, it’s delicious. Even the cabbage soaked in the oil from the ginger stir-fry is tasty. Compared to the Chicken Nanban, it’s hard to choose… What should I do?

I glance forward and see that both Luu and Asia are watching me intently… Ugh, both are delicious!

But I need to make a decision… Hmm, hmm…

I eat more Chicken Nanban, then more pork ginger stir-fry. I compare the rice, pickles, and miso soup. Both are delicious, but if asked which I prefer…

Everyone’s eyes are on me. Am I dithering too much? Alright, I’ll choose and figure out a way to smooth things over later!

"Alright…!"

"Have you decided?"

I nod quietly to Yumina’s question. For situations like this, intuition is key. I should just go with my preference! I’m not doing anything wrong!

"Chicken ginger stir-fry set!"

"Whyyyyyyyyy!?"

Asia screams as if to cover my words. What? Did I mess up?

On the other hand, Luu is letting out a sigh of relief. Asia probably doesn’t see it.

So, that means Asia made the Chicken Nanban and Luu made the pork ginger stir-fry.

"Why, Father!? You praised it so much before!"

"Before?"

"Ah, never mind. So, why did you choose that one? Please explain!"

Well, if you ask for an explanation… I just preferred it. There’s no reason other than that.

"Asia. You’ll understand if you taste my pork ginger stir-fry."

"Eh?"

Following the suggestion, Asia picks up her chopsticks and tries the pork ginger stir-fry. She closes her eyes and chews slowly, savoring the taste.

"It’s indeed delicious… But my Chicken Nanban should be equally delicious…"

Asia shakes her head as if she doesn’t understand. Well, both were delicious. This is really just a matter of personal preference.

"Touya-sama, how do you feel?"

"Huh? Well, it was delicious. I thought it was just a bit saltier than usual, but…"

"Salt…!"

"Salt?"

"A little… just a little bit too much salt. It doesn’t spoil the flavor balance, but… Could it be…"

Huh? I did think it was a bit saltier compared to usual, but it was really just a tiny bit. If it hadn’t been for the comparison, I probably wouldn’t have noticed.

Asia, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

"Touya-sama was active in the morning, being tossed around by slimes, skeletons, and chickens. It must have been quite a bit of exercise."

Wait, wait, wait! The way you put it makes it sound like I was just pitifully getting tossed around! Please, correct that! Just a slight correction!

"Exercise… Ah!"

"Yes. When the body loses salt through sweat, it naturally craves it. Even if you’re not aware of it, it manifests in your actions. Thus, I added just a bit more salt to preserve the flavor balance."

So, I was unconsciously craving more salt due to the exercise-induced salt loss, and Luu adjusted the dish accordingly? I ended up choosing it without realizing… I feel like I’m being manipulated.

"Ugh… To think you considered that much… I concede defeat…"

Asia slumps her shoulders in defeat. Seeing her, Luu, who had been quiet, finally speaks up.

"Indeed, this is certainly close to my own skills. I can see why you were confident. It’s very delicious, Asia."

"Mother…"

Smiling warmly, Luu takes Asia’s hand, who also loves cooking.

Phew. I’m glad things ended well. I hope I won’t have to play the role of judge again anytime soon.

"…But"

"Huh?"

With the same smiling expression, Luu furrows her brow. Uh-oh, did things not end smoothly?

"Earlier, you mentioned, 'You praised it so much before.' You knew that Touya-sama liked this dish and that it was a nostalgic dish from his hometown, didn’t you?"

"What are you talking about, Mother?"

Ah, Asia is avoiding eye contact. So, in the future, when I praised this dish, Asia made it thinking I would love it.

Hmm, I don’t know when it will be, but if Asia serves this dish to me when she’s born, I’ll have to praise it to the skies.

"You used such a clever tactic! Let me tell you, cooking is about…!"

"Huh? Didn’t Luu also hide from Asia that Touya-sama had been sweating from exercise?"

A shot from Elze hit Luu, freezing her in place. Elze is nudged by Elna with her elbow, saying, "Mom… Shh, shh," while Elna looks at her mother. Elna, your mother tends to say unnecessary things without realizing it.

"…Mother?"

"What do you mean?"

Ah, Luu is averting her gaze. Mother and daughter, indeed.

"Isn’t the same for you Mother! If I had known father’s condition, I would have adjusted the salt level too!"

"Anyone can say anything afterward! The problem is not having considered it in the first place! It’s something you should be able to understand immediately!"

Watching the two of them start an argument, everyone continues to eat without stopping.

"They seem to get along well."

"Well, I guess… Maybe it’s good, though?"

I tilt my head slightly at Sue’s words, but I’ll take it as it is. I think such a parent-child relationship is okay.

◇　◇　◇

"Ah—! This is so frustrating! I’ve been outdone by Mother again!"

"No, I think it’s more like A-chan’s carelessness…"

That evening, after Asia arrived, the children had changed into pajamas and gathered in a room in the castle. Frey sighed in exasperation as Asia took her frustration out on the cushions. Kuhn then turned to Elna and Linne.

"So, Elna, Linne. Just to confirm again, when the dimensional quake happened, the one in front of you was definitely Asia, right?"

"Yeah, that’s right. When the 'Core' lit up, Asia-neechan shielded us."

Hearing Linne’s explanation, Kuhn became more convinced that her hypothesis was correct. It was too much of a coincidence. There was no doubt that people appeared in this world in the order they were farthest from the 'Core'.

"So, Asia. Who was in front of you at that time?"

"In front of me? Um, well, it was so bright that I ended up closing my eyes… But I think Yoshino was almost right next to me."

"Yoshino, huh…? Then there’s no need to worry. If it’s her, she can jump here with [Teleport], as long as she doesn’t take any unnecessary detours…"

Yoshino, being Sakura’s child, can use the non-elemental magic [Teleport] just like her mother. Unlike [Gate], which has limitations on distance and direction, [Teleport] can move one anywhere as long as the distance and direction are correct.

Long-distance travel requires a lot of magical power, but with Yoshino’s magical capacity, she should be able to return to Brunhild from the ends of the world in a few jumps.

The problem, however, is her personality. Yoshino is quite fickle and won't do anything if she’s not in the mood. She might think, "I need to visit family… but it can wait." This makes her likely to not come straight back from such a rare situation as the past world.

Conversely, she is quick to react to things that pique her interest and likes new and unusual things. However, she’s also the type to get bored quickly, with many strange items she’s bought but lost interest in filling her storage card. Her enthusiasm and quick loss of interest are well known.

With such a sister in a uniquely rare situation like the past world, Kuhn sighed, considering that it was unlikely Yoshino would return directly.

"She might be beaten here by Yakumo-oneesama."

"‘Might be’? It’s fine if Yakumo-oneechan comes, though."

Linne, who was lying on the bed, gave a wry smile at Kuhn’s words. Elna, who was next to her, tilted her head at Kuhn’s apparent reluctance for Yoshino to arrive first.

"How naive. Imagine if Yakumo-oneesama arrives first, and then Yoshino comes leisurely after, carrying all sorts of unknown souvenirs?"

"Ah… Definitely, Yakumo-oneechan will start lecturing."

Imagining that scene easily, Elna’s smile became strained. Yakumo, being serious, and Yoshino, being free-spirited, were like oil and water. Although they weren’t at odds, everyone had seen enough of Yakumo lecturing Yoshino due to their positions.

"Yoshino— If you don’t hurry, Yakumo-oneechan’s wrath will fall on you…"

Frey muttered to the younger sister whose whereabouts were unknown. She didn’t care if Yoshino got scolded by Yakumo, but she had no intention of stopping the lecture.

Well, if Yoshino brought back some rare weapon as a souvenir, she thought she might make an exception.

◇　◇　◇

"Ah-choo!"

Suddenly, Yakumo sneezed with a sound more befitting an old man than a maiden.

"Mu… Is someone talking about me…?"

Rubbing her nose, Yakumo continued through the town. This was the Orfan Ryuhou Kingdom, a country that mirrored Eishen, her mother’s homeland.

Eishen was located at the eastern edge, and Orfan was at the western edge. This country, with a terrain that was a mirror image of Eishen, was one Yakumo had never visited before. Therefore, she had to take a ship from the Raaze Kingdom as it was not accessible by [Gate].

She had ended up here in search of clues about the golden powder she acquired in Aizengard.

This powder was said to be a medicine made from grinding the branches of the holy tree and was rumored to cure Golden Flower Disease.

Golden Flower Disease was a sickness characterized by high fever and a gradual decline leading to death, with the horrifying aspect being that a golden flower bloomed on the head of the deceased, turning them into an undead.

While some knew it was actually a plot by an evil deity to mutate humans, it was commonly believed to be a disease.

Even though the evil deity was defeated and the disease should no longer occur, people's fears remained. It was suspected that this was an opportunity for a scam.

Yakumo wouldn’t have come this far for a mere scam. She would have just reported it to the Adventurers’ Guild and alerted the upper echelons of the country.

However, there was something troubling about this powder. It gave her an indescribable sense of discomfort.

Yakumo had finally arrived in the Orfan Ryuhou Kingdom, having heard that someone was selling this powder.

Orfan Ryuhou Kingdom was similar to Eishen. The town was built with wood and bricks instead of stone and iron, and the traditional clothing was reminiscent of kimonos. Yet, street lamps powered by magic stones and golem carriages moved about.

Even swordsmen and golems in the town had a samurai-like appearance. This country had 'swords'.

Thus, Yakumo, who would otherwise stand out, blended in perfectly in her attire. She was as much a part of Orfan as its residents.

Yakumo moved straight through the town. Although it was her first time here, the map displayed on her smartphone showed even the smallest streets.

Her destination was an abandoned building on the outskirts of town. It was said that the seller of this golden medicine was there.

She had no particular plan. She would storm in, secure the person, and then interrogate them. With her straightforwardness, she resembled her mother in that regard.

The abandoned building on the outskirts used to be some sort of factory. In the area with rusty iron beams scattered around, and even inside the dim factory, she strangely felt no human presence. Could they have escaped? Yakumo wondered as something was unleashed from the darkness on the second floor.

"!?"

As Yakumo dodged to the side, three knives struck the ground where she had been standing. Drawing her beloved sword from her waist, Yakumo turned her gaze toward the darkened upper floor from where the knives had been thrown.

"…Who are you? You're not just a fool looking for the medicine, are you? Your eyes aren't cloudy."

The figure emerging from the darkness wore a strange iron mask. The spherical head had several round viewing ports, each fitted with lattice iron bars. Corrugated pipes extended from either side of the neck to a tank on the back. It was a remarkably peculiar appearance.

If Yakumo’s father had been here, he would likely have muttered, "Is that a diving suit?"

For a moment, Yakumo thought the figure might be a golem, but despite wearing large gauntlets on both hands, the rest of the body was human.

"So, you’re the one spreading the golden medicine…?"

"Indeed. I see, you’re from Orfan. To be detected so quickly… the people of this country seem quite competent."

Though the person seemed to have a misunderstanding, Yakumo chose not to correct them, finding it convenient.

"What exactly is this medicine? It’s not just a fraud masquerading as a cure, is it?"

"Ah. Quite sharp, aren’t you? Well, you could call this a 'sieve.' It sorts those with potential from those without."

Potential? Is this medicine being used to find people with certain abilities? Yakumo pondered the meaning of the words but had no answers. So, she decided to extract the information directly.

"[Gate]"

"Wh—!?"

Yakumo opened a [Gate] right beside the man in the diving suit (or whatever he was). In an instant, she moved and struck, but the man caught her sudden attack with an axe he had drawn from behind his waist.

"「！？」"

With a clanging sound, both parties were forced to retreat.

Yakumo was astonished. Her beloved sword, crafted by her father himself using crystal material, was said to cut through anything in this world when infused with magic. She was surprised that the opponent had managed to block it.

However, the man in the diving suit seemed equally surprised.

"Did you just block my 'Deep Blue'…?"

He looked stunned as he gazed at the dull metallic blue hatchet in his hand.

Yakumo was not one to miss such an opportunity. She quickly closed the distance and slashed upward with her sword from below in a reverse diagonal cut.

"Ugh!?"

The tip of the sword slightly cut through the corrugated pipe at the man’s throat.

Golden mist leaked from the pipe and floated around. With an uneasy feeling, Yakumo jumped back from the spot.

"Ugh…! I’ll withdraw for today. You should report this to the Dragon Phoenix Emperor of Orfan. Soon, we 'Apostles of the Evil Gods' will restore this world to its proper state."

"Apostles of the Evil Gods…!? Ugh, wait up!"

Before Yakumo could shout, the man in the diving suit sank into the ground as if diving into the water, disappearing.

It was likely a teleportation spell. The man was no longer there.

"Apostles of the Evil Gods… It seems Obaachan’s bad feeling was correct."

Yakumo muttered softly to herself, and to calm her emotions, she quietly sheathed her beloved sword.