Chapter 56 Yakiniku Party
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The preparations seemed to be wrapping up. With a heavy thud, a giant platter piled high with meat was set onto the table.
It was all steak, raw but perfectly prepped. Next came the vegetables, the plates landing one after another with a rhythmic clatter.
”Whoa, as expected of our cooking squad. You guys work fast!”
”Ufufu, if it’s just slicing, leave it to me,” Shirley said, brandishing her kitchen knife like a sword with a fearless grin.
”Hahaha, I guess if Shirley gets serious, she’s a blur. Right, if we’re grilling meat, I’d better break out the iron.”
I used my Magic Tool¹ skill to manifest several electric griddles onto the table. I lined up the large plates one by one with a sharp clack. Since I couldn’t personally cook for over a thousand people, I started appointing Pitmasters².
”Wait… this meat… are we actually allowed to eat this too!?”
Keira, one of my newly minted Pitmasters, stared at me with wide, disbelieving eyes.
”Of course you are. I’m not so petty that I’d make you watch me eat.”
A collective “Whoa!” went up as the girls who hadn’t been appointed swarmed the griddles. Apparently, meat was a luxury they rarely, if ever, tasted. As they lost themselves in the sizzle of the grill, Charlotte called out to them.
”You need to grill the meat, sure, but don’t forget to dish out the sauce! It won’t be half as good if you eat it plain, okay?”
She set down a massive stockpot-heavy enough to land with a boom-filled to the brim with her special yakiniku sauce.
”Phew. Honestly, I’ve never made this much in my life,” Charlotte said, finally sinking down into the seat next to me.
”Good work. Charlotte, I want you to stay on as head chef for a while and teach everyone the ropes, alright?”
”Eh!? Head chef!?”
”Well, you’re the only cook I know. Lisha’s food is great, but you’ve put in the most heart, and your skills are top-tier now.”
It was true. Nearly every day, she’d grill me for tips, testing and tweaking recipes. She was a “hardcore” cook. She’d always worked so hard because she wanted to surprise me with a dish I couldn’t just create with a skill.
”Wow! That makes me so happy! ♪”
Her voice was bright and bouncy. She looked so adorable that I couldn’t help but smile and say, “Thanks for everything.”
”That’s my line! ♡” she replied, playfully shoving a piece of meat into my mouth.
As I chewed, the familiar, savory explosion of flavor hit me. “Delicious!” I blurted out.
The others were all still watching us, so I raised my voice. “Don’t just stand there! Dig in! Eat up!”
That was the signal. Everyone fell upon the meat. I love a good steak, but I actually have a soft spot for onions grilled until they’re almost charred, dipped in that sweet-salty sauce. I focused on those for a bit.
Still, what a sight. Over a thousand Wing-kin were grilling and eating with a frantic, singular focus. Some of the kids were actually crying as they ate. Looking around, I noticed the gender ratio again-maybe one man for every thirty women. It wasn’t quite as lopsided as the Dwarf Village, but it was still a demographic nightmare. I turned to Isaac to ask about it.
”Yeah, are the rest of the men in the towns?”
”Yes. Though, even then, there aren’t many,” Isaac sighed. “Since Wing-kin can fly, we’re heavily used in combat. Our mortality rate is higher than most… The women used to go to cover for the men, but as the war intensified, more men were dragged off to the towns. Many of them started volunteering for the front lines just because they’d rather die in battle than be taken away to become s*x slaves.”
”Wait… I thought only the non-combat races had their men taken? That’s what I heard at the Dwarf Village.”
Isaac’s face twisted in disgust. “Basically, that is the rule. But the Dragonewts³ don’t care much for rules.”
”I see… and do the other races treat them like s*x slaves, too?”
”No. They might be a bit pushy with their invitations, but you generally have the right to refuse. Of course, if you keep saying no, your treatment in the village gets worse. But that’s the same anywhere, I suppose…”
Right… the old supply and demand problem. Over here, the women hold the power, so the culture reflects that. It reminded me of that other place where a guy wasn’t considered trustworthy unless he had at least three wives.
Seeing me lost in thought, Isaac tilted his head. “Is something concerning you?”
”No, it’s just… if we want this village to prosper, we need men. I was hoping to bring some back, but if they’re all gone, there’s not much I can do.”
”Oh, please don’t worry about that. We will handle it ourselves.”
”Ho? Confident in your… stamina, are you?” I asked, stroking my chin with a greasy grin.
”To be honest, I have zero confidence…” Isaac laughed weakly. “But since you’ve done so much for us, I’ll do whatever it takes to fulfill my duty.”
The woman sitting next to him overheard and her eyes lit up. “Did you hear that!? The chief says he’s going to embrace all of us!”
”Whoa, wait! I didn’t say all of you!?” Isaac yelled, but it was too late. The girls erupted into cheers. “Whoa, it’s true!”
Amidst the chaos, Yui spoke up. “Aren’t you going to help out, Ibuki-kun?”
”…Depends on the situation. If Isaac’s doing the rounds, maybe you don’t need me?”
”Actually, I don’t think he’ll be able to finish the circuit alone…” another Wing-kin man added with a pained expression.
”Hey! Don’t make impossible demands of Ibuki-sama!” Isaac barked, but the man shot back, “But chief, with these numbers, it’s literally impossible…”
Isaac started nagging him, so I stepped in to change the subject.
”By the way, if different races have a kid, which race does the baby end up being?” It was something I’d been curious about.
”Ah, I haven’t explained that yet. Let’s see… first, the Fairy races⁴ and humans can crossbreed, but we cannot conceive children with Divine Beast-kin⁵. Between compatible races, the child always takes after the mother’s race. However, when a Fairy and a human mix, the pregnancy rate drops significantly.”
Fairy race? What the heck is that?
When I tilted my head in confusion, he explained that elves, dwarves, and halflings all fall under the “Fairy” category. Then I remembered someone saying Dragonewts were Divine Beast-kin.
”Wait… so you’re saying you can’t have kids with a Dragonewt?”
”Correct. They are Divine Beast-kin.”
”Then why the hell do they go to such lengths to snatch up the men?”
”Because they’re nymphos… the lot of them,” a Wing-kin man chimed in, looking utterly repulsed.
”I’m surprised they haven’t been wiped out yet. Usually, a race that actively sabotages the survival of others is considered a hostile species and dealt with, right?”
”True. If not for the war with the humans, the alliance probably would have shattered. But I hear the Dragonewt King is freakishly strong, which is probably the real reason no one touches them.”
”Hmm… I didn’t feel any freakish power from them, though… Where do they live exactly?”
I asked for their habitat, and it wasn’t far. They were definitely within my Sensing range from when I scouted the area. I tried a different angle.
”When you say freakishly strong, you mean compared to other Dragonewts, right?”
”Yes. I heard he once took on four Dragonewts at once and won…”
Oh. That’s all?
I felt a wave of relief. Of course. Only our stats are completely broken. We can treat monsters that could level entire towns like annoying toddlers. Even Erina, who’s tanked hits from an Orc King, said Lisha-the weakest of our group-could probably handle them.
”Just that much, huh? Got it. Well, we’ll leave the Dragonewts alone until they actually try something. First, we build. Just you watch, Isaac. I’m going to build you guys a place so amazing you won’t even remember your old shacks.”
I declared with a smug face to Isaac and the others.
I’m done holding back. I’m the leader here. This might be a small country, but I’m the king. That makes this place mine, and I want it to be perfect. With my current mana pool and unlimited skill use, a village will probably be completed in a few days. Plus, my Inventory⁶ is bursting with materials.
I might as well enjoy this. I opened my skill page and started drafting the layout.
”How are you going to handle the materials for a whole village?” Yui asked, looking worried.
”Oh, I hunted a ton of Trents⁷ earlier. I’ve still got plenty of lumber in stock, and even if I run out, I can just use a skill to craft more. More importantly, Yui-I’m going to build a village that looks just like a town back in Japan!”
”What!? No way, that’s impossible!”
”I can’t do high-tech electronics, sure, but anything else? Piece of cake.”
I was confident. I could at least replicate the look and feel of a town. I’d already proven the concept when I built the mansion, after all.
As I was talking to Yui, Charlotte chimed in.
”Ibuki-sama, what will happen to the mansion back there?”
”Oh… I’ll probably just leave it. It’d be a shame to tear up the fields just to move everything here. On the other hand, I’m not just going to hand it over for free. I’ll probably let them use it as they like while I collect the tax-the stuff I had them store in the warehouse. It’s dwarf land and they gave me the okay, so it should be fine. I’ll talk it over with them when I head back.”
Thinking about it, I’d left those prisoner girls back there, too. I wondered if they’d all gone home. Mari-chan seemed to have followed Sylpha when she went back to the castle, but I wasn’t sure about the rest.
While these questions drifted through my mind, everyone finished eating. I took care of the cleanup. I just tossed everything into a skill and hit processing, so it was all sparkling clean in a split second.
With the massive task of diverting the river finally done, we headed back to the mansion for the first time in three days. I poked my head into the dormitory and found the girls in the lobby, all dressed in yukatas⁸ and having a grand old time.
”Ah! Welcome back! Is everything okay?”
Asuka-chan came trotting over, tilting her head. I’d dropped by once while working on the river, so she was probably asking about that.
”Yeah. Total success. While I was at it, I ran the water through the Cat-kin village, too.”
”R-Really!?” a girl with cat ears practically pounced on me, leaning in close.
”Yup. I left Hero and Kuria over there, by the way. They’re probably going at it like crazy right about now.”
”Wow… Ria’s really going for it, huh? She was just a little kid not that long ago…” She pouted, looking a little jealous.
”If you’re so interested, you should try flirting with him. He did say you guys were all cute.”
”Wait, really!? Um… in that case, what about you, Ibuki-sama…?”
As soon as one girl spoke up, the other former captives started stealing glances at me.
”Hahaha, well, if you play your cards right, you might just win me over,” I laughed, neither confirming nor denying anything. “But I’m moving my base to the Wing-kin village, so I won’t be around here as much.”
Their faces fell instantly.
”Hey, I’m keeping this place exactly as it is. Some people need these fields to survive, after all. Though, if everyone decides they want to move to our new village, there’d be no reason to keep this place open.”
”C-Can I come too?” a dog-beastman girl asked, her head tilted hopefully.
”I’m planning to take anyone who can get along with the others, so that’s fine… But don’t you need to go home and report that you’re safe first?”
”Ugh…” She made a sour face.
She looked so torn that I told her not to sweat it yet. She should go back home first and think it over. She can always come find me later.
After talking with the former captives, we went into the main house and broke the news to the servants. Every single one of them said they wanted to come with us. So, it was settled.
”Alright, tomorrow I’ll explain things to the folks who show up at the fields, and then we all move together.”
With the meeting over, we decided to spend one last night resting in this mansion.
—
Summary:
Ibuki hosts a massive yakiniku party for the Wing-kin, boosting their morale. During the feast, he learns about the grim demographic crisis caused by the war with Humans and the predatory nature of Dragonewts. He resolves to build a modern Japanese-style town for his new subjects.
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Trivia:
- Dragonewts cannot conceive with humans or Fairy races.
- The child’s race is determined solely by the mother among compatible species.
- Ibuki’s ‘Sensing’ skill already covered the Dragonewt territory previously.
- The Dragonewt King’s feat (defeating 4 dragonewts) is considered underwhelming by Ibuki’s team.
- Ibuki is leaving his previous mansion and fields to the local dwarves/workers but will collect tax
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Character Insight:
Ibuki is fully embracing his role as a ‘King,’ deciding to stop holding back his abilities to ensure the best possible environment for his people. Charlotte is officially recognized as the Head Chef, a role she takes to heart.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Yakiniku Bugyou’ (Pitmaster) joke is a common Japanese social trope where one person takes excessive control over a communal grill.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Shirley – 14yo ex-knight family swordswoman, Ibuki’s 2nd slave (8-gold scapegoat from Karl), rocking long red hair, dignified cool beauty in tight white dress—shocked by the chill vibes at first. Fanatic loyalist, weapon tester, security guard, blunt questioner of his slave game, one of his 3 wives, combat/sales pro but can’t cook.
• Keira – A Wing-kin girl appointed as a Pitmaster for the party.
• Charlotte – Short, skinny late‑teen slave girl with messy brown hair, feline eyes, and a soft, slender body. Was an Ex‑Level 8 farmer, now Level 10 and bound to Ibuki, who she calls “Master” and calls herself his wife. Wears rags at first, then pretty clothes he makes, plus his bat‑wing hairband. Blushy, clingy, protective, and easily emotional, she follows him on runs, fights, and flights while always worrying if she’s useful enough.
• Lisha – Mature native babe with killer curves, huge rack, long brown hair, big-sis vibes—polite shy type who hangs back gathering intel on other Heroes. Head of Sha-sha brand, acting chair, runs group logistics/training with authoritative feminine flair.
• Isaac – The chief of the Wing-kin tribe. He has a tragic countenance due to the loss of his people while searching for food. The male clan chief of the Wing-kin. He holds Ibuki in high regard for restoring their land.
• Ibuki – Broke high‑schooler from Earth who got tossed into another world with the “Crafter” class he first thought was useless—turns out it’s totally busted. Black‑haired, germaphobic, and low‑key bitter but sharp as hell. Uses Synthesis, Processing, and Inventory skills to survive, craft gear, and haul loot while exploring. Currently a Level 10 otherworlder, wielding a stone axe, traveling the frontier forest with Charlotte, and just trying to stay alive long enough to find a bit of peace.
• Yui – Female student from Earth—one of the summoned companions, upperclassman designated as the Sage. She expresses deep romantic feelings for Ibuki despite the polygamous culture.
• Erina – A 17‑year‑old swordswoman and slave under Ibuki’s contract, originally from Paul, with drill hair, a refined noble‑like air and speech suggesting she was once a high‑born lady.
• Sylpha – Youngest daughter of the Elf Chieftain. A blonde elf princess sent as a monitor. Blunt, realistic about her people’s desperation, and enjoys Ibuki’s food.
• Mari – A girl associated with the prisoners/warriors. She feels a sense of shame regarding her sexual encounter with Yuki the previous day. A young girl who accompanies the group, acting as an escort for the Princess. Vice-commander of the Third Division. An Elven woman with blonde hair. Previously had a large jagged scar on her cheek before being healed. Disciplined but shows a flustered, tsundere-like personality when her authority is undermined.
• Asuka – Elven subordinate of Mari. Beautiful girl with blonde hair.
• Kuria – Demi-human beast-girl servant in Ibuki’s house—close to Senpai, handles cleaning/wiping down the crew, loyal helper keeping things tidy for the protagonist’s senior.
• Hero – Ibuki’s upperclassman from Earth—summoned as the naive Hero with emotional, mentally fragile personality. Empathetic yet reluctant and inadequate-feeling, lacking survival instincts and political skills. Currently in despair and terrified by his situation.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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