Episode 20: After the Hunt
I helped carry the bear-type Magic Beast that William had taken down… apparently, it’s called a Murder Bear.
It was pretty heavy, but we carried it back together.
Since it was broken down into meat, usable organs, and just the hide, it was still manageable. But as proof of subjugation, the skull was left intact.
One of the guild’s staff… I think it was Mirei-san’s older brother? Apparently, he’s in charge of dismantling and evaluating the spoils. The skull is necessary for that.
He’s still young, but he’s reputed to have a good eye. At least, you won’t get ripped off with an underestimated kill.
So… now.
Time-wise, it’s dusk.
At this time, the Strider who have finished their requests are coming back in droves, and it’s about time to eat dinner at the tavern…
“Oh, you’ve taken down another big one!”
“Did Andrews do it?”
“No, isn’t that William? Andrews usually goes for something more manageable.”
“But he hunted a Barghest the other day, didn’t he?”
“That was for a woman’s sake, wasn’t it? Andrews-sama is popular with the ladies, you know?”
“Ugh! Rich, good-looking, and skilled, he’s really annoying!”
As you can see, the drunken Strider are spouting nonsense.
“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. I’m rich, good-looking, skilled, educated, popular with the ladies, and considerate, I’m really sorry.”
As I sincerely apologized and pushed through the onlookers to the counter…
“He casually added more to the list…?!”
“Stop it, he’s not someone you can beat with sarcasm.”
“Damn, I can’t win…”
As I proceeded amidst the jeers…
“Welcome back, Dru-san!”
Mirei-san greeted me.
“Yeah, I’m back, Mirei-san.”
“Umm, is the reward to be split with William-san?”
“No, I just helped with the dismantling, so I won’t take it. But, I’ll take some meat… Ah, can I borrow the kitchen?”
“Sure, you can-nya! …The usage fee is 5,000 Lido-nya.”
“Ah, you can have it taken out of the old man’s reward.”
“Okay!”
I had William treat me to the kitchen usage fee.
Oh?
Those are… Shio and Margot. Kaede is there too.
They’re carrying a basket full of apples.
“Ah, it’s Dru. What’s up?”
“Shio, can I have some of those apples? In return, I’m going to cook something now…”
“Eh! If I can eat Dru’s cooking, then it’s totally fine! Margot, right?”
“…Snack…”
Margot was dejected. A withered elf.
“Well, well, we can have forest apples another time, right?”
“Ah, if you give me all the apples, I’ll make an apple pie while I’m at it…”
“I’ll give you all of them.”
Instant sonic-speed change of heart.
As expected of Margot, she has a sweet tooth.
“Cooking desu ka?”
“Yeah. It’s bear meat, but it’s tenderloin, so it’s delicious.”
“Wa, I’ll pay money, can I join you mo…?”
“Of course. You don’t need money.”
“Arigato gozaimasu~!”
So, cooking.
Well, let’s grate the apples, add soy sauce, sake, garlic… and sesame oil… It’s yakiniku sauce.
I’ll mix this with the meat and let it marinate for a while.
As promised, I’ll bake an apple pie… of course, adding the sugar and cinnamon I brought.
Then I’ll grill the meat, and shred the accompanying vegetables…
Here, I’ll activate the brought-in ingredients. I’ll bring out the lettuce.
If I wrap it in this, add some spicy miso, my victory is assured…!
So, I returned to the tavern in the guild with a large plate.
William, the material provider, and Shio, Margot, and Kaede get to eat for free.
Mirei-san too. Since I got flour and stuff from her…
“Umm, what is this?”
“Wrap the meat and vegetables in this leaf, and add the spicy paste to your liking.”
“Hee~…, hmm, this leaf is delicious?! Is it the one you grew in the vegetable garden in front of Dru’s house?”
“That’s right.”
“Dru’s vegetable garden, you were growing vegetables as well as medicinal herbs.”
Actually, it’s from the “Garden.”
“That’s right.”
I said with a casual face to gloss over it.
“…From the ‘Garden’?”
Margot secretly asked, so I affirmed it.
“…Is it okay? Isn’t it valuable?”
“I always produce so much that it’s left over. It’s a waste to use it for fertilizer, so I have to feed it to you guys at times like this!”
“If that’s the case, well…”
Now, with everyone convinced, let’s start eating.
Well, put shredded onions and carrots on the lettuce, then the grilled bear meat, roll it up and put it in your mouth…
Hmm~! Delicious!
Even though it’s bear meat, I’m using the most delicious part!
The sweetness of the oil and the nourishment of the bear meat fill my body, and it’s getting hot!
“Kha~! This is so good! Mirei-chan, can I get an ale?”
“Ah, me too~!”
If I finish it off with ale, it’s perfect.
“A…! This, is it ‘Miso Tamari’?”
Ah, that’s right.
Kaede is Oriental, after all.
I guess she remembers the taste.
Miso Tamari… is nearly equal to soy sauce, and there are miso and soy sauce in the East of this world.
“That’s right~, I’ve been making it recently.”
“Ano…, if you like, a little…”
I hand over a small bottle of soy sauce.
“Thank you gozaimasu! Ah, money…”
“It’s okay, Kaede is always taking care of me.”
“Wa, that’s bad desu yo…”
“It’s okay!”
Raising your favorability a little at times like this is the key to being popular.
“Hmm, this is delicious! It’s good that Dru-chan can do anything.”
Oops, William, who’s had some drinks, is getting negative.
“William, aren’t you going to get married?”
“No~…, I’m not popular with women…”
“But you’re reliable, right?”
“Ano, if you like, I’ll introduce you to my child masu…?”
Said Kaede.
“Blue Comet” is a clan of only women, so marrying and retiring would be a good way to end things.
“Bu, but, I’m…”
“Ah, William, are you getting married? Isn’t that good? William is kind.”
“Hmm, it will last long.”
Shio and Margot also agree.
Well, honestly, Strider, who are treated almost like thugs, can’t get married very easily…
William, who is a local and has a house outside the castle walls, is actually a pretty good catch.
Why can’t this guy get married…?
“We, well, I’m… not good with women…”
“””””…Eh?”””””
He was just a virgin…
Like this, I get along well with my Strider friends.
Hmm, it’s a good life.