Episode 19: Claffy the Chef
“At this size, it’s a bit impossible here.”
“Is that so? What a waste.”
“We went through the trouble of defeating it, so I’d like to avoid wasting it if possible.”
The Young Ladies defeated a Beak Ox, a bovine monster that was four meters in length.
It has many edible parts and is a popular type of beef. It can be easily obtained in this dungeon, but it is treated as a high-class beef in the Royal Capital and cities far from this area.
“The Magic Bag can’t hold any more.”
Unlike the One-Legged Chicken, large monsters cannot be easily dismantled. In particular, the Beak Ox has valuable hide, horns, and bones, so there is little that can be discarded.
“Hmm, did we defeat too many?”
“It can’t be helped! We were just too strong!”
“I wish we could have prepared a Magic Bag with a larger capacity.”
“Don’t ask for the impossible…”
The size of the Magic Bag is about the size of a wagon. Even so, it is still a valuable item, but it becomes full of prey after spending nearly half a day in the dungeon.
“Shall we discard an Orc? We won’t be able to eat all that meat.”
We’ve secured three of them, and it can’t be helped that we can’t take them all back. There’s no time stop, so we can’t prevent it from spoiling. I’d like to secretly retrieve it later, but I can’t leave on my own, so I guess we’ll have to let it return to the dungeon.
“That would be a waste, too.”
“But we haven’t defeated this one before, so I want to take it back. My father likes this meat, too.”
“You’re only focused on the meat, but the hide sells for a high price, you know?”
Only Ms. Kalinka is being realistic.
“It can’t be helped, let’s discard the Orc.”
“Understood.”
I take the half-charred Orc out of the Magic Bag and place it on the ground. Since it’s this big, we haven’t dismantled it, so we can just toss it away.
“This one won’t fit unless we make it a bit more compact. Can I have a little time?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s take a break.”
“Then here you are.”
Ms. Kalinka hands me a plant-based water bottle from inside the Magic Bag.
“Well, let’s get this done quickly.”
I slit the neck to let the blood flow, and then run a short sword between the hide and the body. I use telekinetic magic to lift and rotate the Beak Ox, keeping it at eye level at all times.
The key is to dig a hole in the ground to prevent blood from splattering over a wide area.
“It would be easier if I could put it on the ground. I don’t really understand the timing for it to return to the dungeon.”
“Well, normally you wouldn’t dismantle it on the spot, would you?”
The guard’s retort is sharp.
Well, normally you wouldn’t do it because the smell of blood attracts other Monsters.
“I was brought here for this purpose.”
“…You have it rough.”
If you think so, please take my place.
We safely returned from the dungeon and went back to the rented house that we had borrowed in advance.
“Well then, shall we start cooking?”
However, there are many large pieces, so some of the meat is too big to cook in the kitchen of this ordinary house. I knew this in advance, so I prepared a Kamado Stove, a large Iron Plate, and a table in the garden, so we will cook there.
“First, I guess I’ll stir-fry the Orc meat with vegetables.”
We had Tonkatsu the other day.
I told them in advance that I couldn’t prepare colorful meals like those served at noble’s tables, so they’ll have to put up with it.
I arrange thinly sliced Orc meat on the large Iron Plate, cut up several kinds of vegetables, and stir-fry them with an iron spatula.
I mainly use a vegetable similar to chili pepper for seasoning, making it spicy.
I also add salt, sesame, miso, and wine. Ah, I want to use Yakiniku sauce.
“That smells good.”
“How should we arrange it on the plates to make it look appealing?”
“You’re making quite a lot.”
“That’s because the guards will be eating too, right?”
The ladies have gathered here. Hey, take care of the Young Ladies.
“Let the guards take as much as they want. I’ll leave the plating for the Young Ladies to do themselves. Oh, feel free to taste it.”
““““Yes.”””
Yes, yes, tasting first, right? I can tell because everyone is holding a plate.
I gather the stir-fried meat and vegetables in the corner of the Iron Plate and cover it with an iron lid.
The bottom might get burnt, but those parts can be for the guards.
“Next up, this.”
I pound the Orc meat and Beak Ox meat to make minced meat for a mixed ground meat. Since there’s no such wonderful thing as a meat chopper, I had one of the guards diligently chop it with a knife.
I left it to a man because it’s a job that requires strength, but he asked for confirmation many times, perhaps because he had never done this kind of work before. Thanks to that, it turned out great.
I mixed the minced vegetables into the meat to make the patties. I pat them to remove the air.
Hamburg Steak, loved by adults and children alike.
I’m also making Beak Ox steak, but I couldn’t miss this opportunity.
“I didn’t think of it last time…”
I regret not thinking of making Hamburg Steak when I made War Orc Tonkatsu. That large, unnamed Monster, its face looks like a cow, so is beef okay?
“And, Lady Evelyn’s requested Karaage at the same time.”
It takes time to heat the oil, so I lit the Kamado Stove in advance.
The One-Legged Chicken thigh meat is firm and very delicious. I soaked it in the marinade, so it’s perfectly seasoned. I coat it in the special batter I prepared in advance and fry it in oil.
“How luxurious.”
“That smells good.”
“Claffy, you’re a good cook, aren’t you?”
As expected, the maids are waiting. They’re completely waiting for a taste test.
“Cladfield, I’m hungry.”
“How can I resist when it smells so good?”
“I’m sorry, but it’s a little…”
The Young Ladies + Ms. Kalinka. I’ll give the maids a look and have them do something…
“Hot, delicious!”
“Hafu! Hafu!”
“Afui! But oishii…”
“Suddenly? And a frontal assault?”
The oil hasn’t completely drained. It’s quite hot, isn’t it?
“Water.”
“I, I’ll prepare it!”
“It’s your own fault.”
“You guys are being unfair, eating first.”
“We need to taste for Poison!”
“It would be perfect if we had some sake.”
“It’s a shame we’re outside the mansion.”
The adult guards are disappointed. They do guard duty in the dungeon, and then they guard this rented house. Unlike the mansion, the security system isn’t set up, so it’s not an environment where they can drink alcohol.
“I see, we’re outside the mansion.”
“What is it?”
“Miss Evelyn, do you think we need to eat so formally even outside the mansion?”
“…That’s true. It’s hard to endure when we’re made to smell such a good scent.”
“You’re making excuses, but everyone is already snacking, aren’t they?”
““Tasting!””
“““It’s a taste test!”””
“““Tasting for Poison!”””
“Everyone’s doing as they please.”
I was planning to make each dish properly, but isn’t it okay to just have a barbecue?
“Then do as you like. But don’t eat anything before it’s finished. I’d be troubled if you got a stomachache.”
Like the Hamburg Steak that’s steaming right now. And after this, I’m planning to serve a simple stew.
“We also have bread and salad prepared, so please enjoy those as well.”
“It’s fine to eat at any time, but please sit down. We’ll serve you soon.”
“Would you like wine to drink?”
The maids guide the two Young Ladies to the table and chairs. Yes, yes, at least let them sit down.
“Order more of that fried chicken!”
“I’m curious about that one you’re cooking!”
Please keep your voices down, it’s unladylike.
“I ate too much…”
“Yes, but I heard you could cook, but I never expected it to be this good…”
“In the second half, it was either grilling or stewing, though.”
Once the Hamburg Steak and Karaage were sold out, it was basically a barbecue. There was also a pot-au-feu, but it contained chunks of meat instead of sausages.
But the pot-au-feu was a failure. Aged meat is definitely more delicious.
“Cladfield is a good chef!”
“I’m a guard, Young Lady.”
“That’s right!”
Please don’t forget.
“But where did you learn it? I’ve never been allowed to cook!”
“Of course not. Please don’t take away the chef’s job.”
Because you’re a noble’s daughter. Well, some people apparently make sweets.
“Muu.”
“I’m from the countryside. I was forced to help my mother with her work since I was a child.”
Until I gained the strength to run around in the Forest and the skill to use a bow, my work as a child was basically just work within the village.
Cooking, including dismantling Monsters, sewing, and repairing roofs and houses were all my jobs as a child. In the countryside, you’re taught to do everything yourself so you can handle anything.
“It seems that there are many people among the maids who can do various things besides me?”
“Hoh?”
“Is that so?”
The Young Ladies’ gazes turn towards the maids. Yes, please focus on them. I’m about ready to eat.
“Kalinka can cook too, you know!”
“Lady Evelyn, it’s not something to boast about so much!”
“She’s my personal chef!”
“Ah, the one who cooks Monster cuisine…”
Monsters can have poison, or parts that are edible in normal animals might not be, or vice versa, so dismantling and cooking Monsters requires specialized knowledge.
Kalinka-san must have studied those things thoroughly. My knowledge is mostly what I learned in the village.
…Dad told me to get used to poison and kept feeding it to me, so I might not be very suited for it.
“If we’re talking about that, Shirley-san is good at tea ceremonies and sewing, and Lady Martha can do just about anything.”
I turn my gaze to Shirley-san, who is mumbling away from the Young Lady.
She’s a maid attending to the Young Lady and was brought from the capital, so I assume she’s very capable.
Lady Martha, who manages the mansion, is in a league of her own, though.
“Sewing…”
“I’m not good at sewing either.”
“Young Lady, please do your best.”
The dance issue hasn’t been resolved yet, and I don’t want to add sewing to the list. Besides, I can’t help with sewing. It’s not the same as fixing futons or mending torn clothes in the village.