Chapter 319: The Takopa Begins
“Now then… let’s kick off the tasting event for our new dish, ‘Takoyaki’!”
““““““Oooooooh!””””””
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the central square of the fishing village buzzed with excitement. When Rest made his declaration, the villagers erupted in cheers. Despite having mentioned that only those who could come should attend, it seemed nearly everyone from the village had gathered.
“Wow… this is quite the turnout…”
“Well, when a noble is serving food, it’s only natural for everyone in the village to rush over,” Celestine said with a wry smile, her expression a mix of amusement and concern.
Thinking it over, it was indeed to be expected. In a rural fishing village where entertainment was scarce and good food was a rarity, the lord’s promise of a feast would surely draw everyone in, compelling them to drop everything else.
“With this much expectation, the pressure is on…”
“Since we’re at it, why not serve some of the prototype sake as well? If we dilute it with water, everyone here can enjoy it together.”
“That would surely make them happy… but is it really okay to be so generous?”
“The people of this village have contributed to the sake brewing process. Naturally, everyone would want to taste the fruits of their labor, wouldn’t they?”
That made perfect sense. After all, it would be disheartening to work hard on brewing sake only to have none of it touch their lips. Such a situation could dampen their motivation and hinder future efforts.
“Alright then… let’s get started!”
With renewed determination, Rest began preparing the Takoyaki. He coated a large iron plate with oil and conjured flames with magic to heat it up. Once sufficiently hot, he poured in the batter, which he had crafted himself. The mixture consisted of flour dissolved in water, with eggs added, and flavored with dashi made from dried fish and seaweed broth.
(The ingredients are just octopus, green onions, and cabbage. I would have liked to add tenkasu, but… there’s no time for that today.)
“Next, the main event. In goes the octopus!”
He dropped the cut tentacles into the batter. Celestine, watching from the side, wore a tense expression, while the villagers looked on with eager anticipation.
“And now… timing is everything. Flip it around like this!”
““““““Ooooh!?””””””
Rest inserted a conical metal stick and flipped the Takoyaki over. Gasps of surprise erupted from the villagers.
“Wow… what in the world is he making?”
“It’s round! This is so interesting!”
“I thought it looked strange, but that’s how you use that iron plate!”
For those witnessing the Takoyaki-making process for the first time, it must have been a captivating sight. Even Celestine, who had been apprehensive about the octopus, was intently watching the iron plate.
“Now, let’s drizzle on the sauce… and done!”
At last, the Takoyaki was ready. For having been made after quite some time, it turned out quite well. Though slightly misshapen, they were still perfectly spherical.
“Alright, let’s keep the momentum going and make more before the iron plate cools down!”
Rest continued to pour in ingredients, producing Takoyaki after Takoyaki until every villager had a serving. With so many people, each received only two pieces, but they stared at their plates with drooling anticipation.
“Everyone got their plates? Then… it’s time to dig in!”
““““““Oooooooh!””””””
With Rest’s permission, the villagers eagerly bit into the Takoyaki. The later batches were still steaming hot, causing them to puff and blow as they savored each bite.
“Hot! But… it’s delicious!”
“The outside is crispy while the inside is gooey… and the octopus is so chewy!”
“I can’t believe the octopus I caught transformed into something like this… I’ve wasted my life until now!”
Such exaggerated reactions were understandable; for many, it was their first experience with Takoyaki.
(The sauce is Western-style, and there’s no mayonnaise, bonito flakes, or aonori… honestly, it feels a bit off…)
As someone familiar with authentic Japanese Takoyaki, Rest felt a sense of dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, the villagers were thoroughly enjoying it. Even Celestine was using a fork to bring the Takoyaki to her mouth.
“……”
“How is it? By now, you shouldn’t feel sick about it anymore, right?”
“No… I still find that fish unsettling and don’t want to see it. However, my curiosity has certainly overtaken my initial disgust.”
Celestine elegantly took a bite of the Takoyaki, letting out a deep sigh.
“It would be best to prepare it in front of guests at the party. I’m sure it would be a hit as entertainment. Some may dislike octopus, but many nobles enjoy exotic delicacies. It shouldn’t be too much of an issue.”
“That’s great to hear. We’ve added another dish to serve at the party.”
Rest nodded in satisfaction. This unexpected harvest in the fishing village was a delightful surprise in his quest for sake.
“However… it might still be too early to make a final judgment.”
“Hm?”
“I think after eating two or three more, it will become clearer…”
Celestine looked at him with an unusually hungry gaze. Behind her, the villagers watched with eager, sparkling eyes.
“Alright, I get it… I’ll make some more.”
Rest shrugged lightly and set to work on another batch of Takoyaki. That day, he ended up making Takoyaki until the ingredients ran out, igniting a fervor among the villagers for octopus fishing starting the very next day.
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I am posting the continuation of this episode in the limited update notes. If you’re interested, please take a look!