Volume 6 Chapter 27-2 Gourmet Baron
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Even though tears fall from my eyes, I keep eating. I chew slowly, and the taste is good, but is it really that great? In my opinion, there are still many better dishes out there.
He cuts me a piece too. I put the meat on the bread and eat it. The bread is crispy like a biscuit. It is like a rusk.
Then, I speak my opinion.
”This quail was hunted in winter. The fat is small. But the meat is firm. It is a male bird, so the meat is tougher than a young bird. But adult birds have deep taste. Maybe I should have made stew. If I roast it, I should have cooked the skin more crispy.”
A bright smile appears on the Baron’s face. He laughs warmly.
”Oh! My friend! I feel like we understand each other! I also want to become a hunter!”
I think for a moment. Hunting is noble, but a Baron hunter? That would be strange.
The Baron continues with passion. His eyes shine with joy.
”Quail! Quail! For dinner, many say beef is the best. Some like the sweet taste of pork. But can any meat beat wild quail? The rich juice, the sweet fat, from the skin to the bones—all are delicious.”
I think of sukiyaki. When a new village starts, I want to raise beef cattle. The temple controls how many animals can live in each village. If I raise animals, it is better to have one beef cow than many chickens. The Hero Ranch broke the rules and started a poultry farm. Many copied them. For now, I will follow the temple’s rules. Breaking the temple’s law could cause many problems.
The Baron nods in agreement. He speaks with respect.
”This clean taste—blood is well drained. It is well aged. It is not like the bad meat from butcher shops. Just salt and grill, and the smell and shine come out. Only a true meat lover can do this. Someone like me can see this at once. But this is even better than I thought.”
I think quietly. I do not care much about aging meat. The best aging time changes for each part of the meat. Does this Baron really know all that?
I smile inside. I brushed the meat with wine and starch water before baking. Maybe this cooking way is new in this world. It takes work, but the skin becomes crispy like Peking Duck. For parties, we can do this with a whole roasted piglet.
The Baron did not expect to be so happy about one roasted quail. It gave me new ideas. I have been eating the same food for a while. Now I see there is much good food to find with some new thoughts.
He points to the white bread. He says with joy.
”Look! This bread is as white as snow. I like to eat it with quail fat.”
I think about wall barley. It tastes good even as whole wheat. But nobles want white bread to look good. All millers in the capital know how to make white flour. Mr. Raoh said he cannot use this knowledge to cheat. The bread color does not matter to me. But I want to know how they make it so crispy. Maybe they bake it twice?
The Baron shows me how to eat. He says like a teacher.
”First, eat it plain. Then, add peppercorns. That is how a meat lover eats.” He sprinkles some pepper on my meat. The black seeds are small, like sesame seeds. They are too small to be normal peppercorns. But when crushed, they taste like pepper.
I know pepper sells in capital shops. It costs one gold coin for a small bottle. In old Europe, pepper was as valuable as gold. Here, gold is cheaper than in old Europe. But iron is expensive.
The Baron smiles proudly. He speaks with pride.
”Is this your first time with real peppercorns? The powder sold in stores is not real pepper. The smell is gone. It is full of fake stuff. Good food is not just money. Only nobles like me, who know much, can enjoy the real smell of spices.”
I think quietly. The pepper I bought was bigger seeds. But this is another world. The taste is real pepper. So, it is not fake.
I admit, pepper is very good with meat. But in my world, Japan, it is easy to buy. So it is not special.
The Baron laughs and tells a story. He speaks with a smile.
”My sister once played a bad joke with pepper. She made a big mess.”
I frown. I answer him. “That is not funny. It is a shame to waste spices.”
The Baron nods. He says seriously.
”Yes, it is true. You say pepper is common in Japan. But wasting food is bad.”
I want to say “Don’t say that,” but I understand. Maybe he is right. Wall barley is too much in this world. People do not work to avoid hunger. They sleep and live. Without hunger, they do not think about life. If no one forces them, they eat and sleep only.
Maybe people need fear and hunger to grow. Now there is a demon king, so things may change. But calling a Hero to fight is still relying on others’ power.
The Baron looks sad. He speaks with care.
”Many nobles waste food and call it luxury. I do not want you, who has a talent for food, to become like them.”
I want to say white bread is waste, but I understand him.
The Baron looks serious. He says in a low voice.
”I was sad about everything. My servants only want my money. They want an heir. But when one comes, I will be useless and likely killed. So I choose to marry no one. I will not leave an heir. I want to spend all my land and money on good food. But while searching for new tastes, I have learned much. My friend, I see the same light in you. Let us build the food culture of this land.”
I think this is hard. A great noble supports many servants for many years. If the Baron spends too much, many will suffer. He may be put under house arrest. He will be forced to marry. If a child is born, the child may be killed. Miss Floria said this happens often. If the mother is gone, no one knows if the child is the Baron’s. The servants can do as they want.
”Did the Baron know I came here?”
They answer quickly.
”It was the servants’ fault. They forgot to tell him.”
”The Baron can fire his servants, right?”
”If he wanted, he could kill them all.”
* * *
The Baron speaks in a low voice. He looks tired.
”Only bad thinking to save themselves works for them. They marry other servants’ families. So they cannot be dealt with easily. They bribe priests and officials. They use money I took without telling.”
This is a bad story. I wish I acted sooner. But this has gone on for many years. The Baron was already stuck when he took power.
I say softly. “Your story makes me sick. But if you live so rich, there is still hope, right?”
The Baron shakes his head. He says slow.
”If I waste money, they hide their stealing better. A parasite inside the host dies with it or finds a new host.”
The Baron tries to ruin himself. Maybe this is good for me. But I want to help. I found out a servant pretended to be Baron to bother Toyata village.
Toyata family has less than ten soldiers. Should I start a war? Ms. Ant can beat them all. No good officers there. In the war with the Demon King, they only paid mercenaries. Baron’s cooks include strong magicians. But they signed a contract not to fight.
War needs a temple’s permission. Surprise attacks are not allowed. But priests can be bribed to ignore rules. I thought Baron Toyata would start a war when a new village begins. So no changes in plan.
Should we wait for their hundred mercenaries and protect the villagers? Or attack Baron’s house with a few strong fighters? The second is easier.
If they fight as Baron and lose, the servants have no escape. It is harsh, but once cleaned, the Baron will rebuild. He is not as foolish as he looks.
I call to the Baron. “Baron, please listen.”
He looks up with interest. “Is it a cooking secret?”
I smile inside. I hope the men outside do not misunderstand. I doubt the Baron can keep secrets, but I try.
* * *
The Baron is excited. He says happily.
”As expected of my friend. This will be a great dish. I can hardly sleep waiting.”
He is happy, but I worry. I must tell Miss Floria about the new plan. I must cook again tonight.
For dessert, they serve a pudding. It looks like steamed egg. It is hot in my mouth. The smell of cinnamon and mint spreads. It is sweet, but simple. This dessert fits after salty meat. Some may like it; some may not.
I ask,
”Is this pudding?”
”Pudding means cold dessert in another world. This is an old dish called steamed egg. The way to cook is close.”
”Do you know the pudding recipe?”
”It was served at the king’s party. I stole it with my tongue. But I do not know how to make the black sweet sauce. If I add something to sugar, maybe…”
I think, the black sauce is caramel. Sugar burns to make it. Cooks know this fast. Sugar is rare here. Maybe nobles like steamed dishes more than baked ones.
The Baron laughs. He says with a smile.
”Maybe you know the secret. But don’t teach me easily. Knowledge is not cheap. I pay to learn. Some things you hear make you say, ‘Oh, I see.’ If we don’t agree first, you say, ‘I already knew that.’”
I smile. I did not want to ask for money. But even the Baron warns me like Miss Floria or Ms. Hóa.
Am I more careless than the Baron? That is a problem.
I was asked to stay. I borrowed a steamer and cook to make steamed quail with many fresh herbs. We chilled it for breakfast. The Baron asks, unhappy. “Why chill it? Use a magic bag.”
But when you try, you know. I made the salt good for cold chicken. I know the Baron will like it. I want to eat it again after a long time.
We eat sweets and talk about cooking in the study. Dawn comes before we notice. The Baron has few friends. He is very happy about this night. But I did not sleep at all.
Now, the Baron and I are truly friends.
Character Notes:
• Raoh – Pakkyamara. An infamous, scheming, but somewhat incompetent senior adventurer known for meddling with hero summoning rituals; often gets beaten up as a result. The one who want japanese food.
• Miss Floria – Elegant, silver-haired noblewoman in her 40s, referred to as an ‘older sister’. Judge of the Supreme Court and Baroness. Former tutor of Princess Auroora. Initially stern but warms up, showing a playful side. Close with Ms. Nina (Princess Auroora’s doll copy), treating her like a sister. Trustworthy and explains legal matters clearly.
• Ms. Ant – Level 20 ant soldier, over 2 meters tall in armor. Named by the protagonist due to lack of a previous name. Wields a huge battle axe, large round shield, and throwing axes. Seasoned warrior capable of taking down sub-dragons. Ms. Hóa’s prized secret treasure. Borrowed by the protagonist as a trial during his time in the royal capital
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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