Chapter 153 - Invaded Island Dessert
Um, the next question is... this one. "What do you want right now?"
"What I want, huh? Hmm... Miso and soy sauce, I guess?"
[Turban]: "That's what you want! lol"
[Master Chef]: "I knew Shou-kun would say that."
[Choccol]: "You're lacking seasonings, aren't you... ( T_T)"
[Marcy]: "Cooking players are struggling right now too!"
Etc. etc.
Oh, so there are people trying to make miso and soy sauce, after all.
In that case, I should probably show them this.
"I found this the other day."
[Glycine]
A creeping vine that bears small white flowers. Its fruit is edible and changes taste depending on the harvesting season.
And then,
[Glycine Fruit]
Fruit harvested from the [Glycine] plant.
Cooking: Raw green ones are bitter. Dried ones have a simple sweetness.
It looks exactly like soybeans.
I remember my grandma telling me that soybeans used to be a type of climbing bean. Apparently, real-world climbing beans have very little flavor.
[Marcy]: "Exactly. It's edamame, or rather, soybeans."
[Molto]: "The Imperial Capital's stewed beans are quite delicious."
[Minamiruge]: "That ratatouille-like dish is tasty, isn't it?"
[Nelson]: "Let's make natto, natto!"
Etc. etc.
Oh, so they're normally available as food.
Then, it makes sense that people would use them to make miso and soy sauce.
"It didn't get a chance to shine today, but I want to eat this sometime too."
What kind of dish?
"Simple ones would be boiled and salted, like edamame? Also, I've saved the nigari from when I made salt, so tofu?"
[Shakeena]: "Yudofu!"
[Minsel]: "Hiyayakko... but that needs soy sauce, huh?"
[Linley]: "Yuba (tofu skin) would be nice too."
[Akumon]: "Atsu-age (deep-fried tofu)!"
Etc. etc.
It feels like we're heading more and more towards bar snacks.
Speaking of which, the yakitori you ate the other day looked delicious...
"Ah, that. Um, are [Parpigeon] common birds?"
I asked in the comments section, and it seems they're a common food source, but difficult to catch. My Lupi is so capable...
"I'd like to make that again. I have the [Perilla] oil pulp leftover, so ground chicken patties mixed with that would be good."
[Reaper]: "Manager, a skewer of skin and negima, please."
[Crand]: "Cartilage, please."
[Bluesha]: "I'll have bonjiri (chicken tail)~ d(￣ ￣)"
[Daytron]: "
Etc. etc.
"Oh, I'm a sauce person for tsukune too. Putting an egg yolk on it is good too... and I want eggs."
You don't see chickens on the island either, do you?
"No, you don't. I hope there are wild chickens beyond that door."
[Lucol]: "Eggs are common in the Royal Capital."
[Ruukun]: "There's usually a chicken farm outside the city walls."
[Storay]: "Some people are doing dairy farming with the [Animal Husbandry] skill."
[Hien]: "If you play in the morning, there are quests to deliver eggs."
Etc. etc.
"What? There's an [Animal Husbandry] skill...?"
No, it makes sense there would be. There's [Farming] and [Botany], after all.
If I could catch chickens, cows, or goats, I'd have to get the [Animal Husbandry] skill...
Okay, for the last question: "Can you make dessert?"
"Dessert on the island is difficult right now. No flour, eggs, or milk, so cookies and cakes are out. If anything, it would be fruit, but... oh!"
I can still make it in time, right?
I placed an earthenware pot on the [Stone Oven Range] and filled it with water.
Huh?
I took out a [Papu Fruit], peeled it... Okay, it's boiling. Plop! I put it in for a few seconds. I feel like it's unnecessary for sterilization, but...
[Marutai]: "He started making something!"
[Nonnonno]: "Huh? Is there time to dry it?"
[Kedaman]: "Dried Persimmon making RTA."
Etc. etc.
It seems some people noticed.
First, just a little,
"
I applied [Drying Magic] for a while... Is this about right?
Is it dried persimmon?
"Yeah. As soon as the surface hardens, lightly knead it."
Then, I dried it again, this time until it withered slightly.
"In this state, you really knead it thoroughly."
After that, I dried it even more...
"Done! ...I think."
[Mushinko]: "Drying is too convenient, isn't it?"
[Master Chef]: "I see. Maybe I should learn that too."
[Yonro]: "It's different from the [Dried Papu Fruit] sold in stores."
Etc. etc.
Is it... delicious?
"Well, it doesn't exactly look delicious, but if you break it open like this..."
In contrast to the withered exterior, the inside was a gooey [Dried Papu Fruit].
"This jelly-like part is incredibly sweet and delicious."
I took a bite of the overflowing sweetness...
"Wow, it's so sweet..."
[Daytron]: "
[Shakeena]: "Nice Sweets Cost ♪"
[Bluesha]: "Torotoro Anpo-gaki! (≧∀≦) "
[Ramen-ski]: "I'm going to the convenience store for a bit lol."
Etc. etc.
But I can't imitate this in real life.
It's only possible because I can cheat with [Drying Magic].
Ugh... Shou-kun, it's almost time.
"Oh, sorry, sorry."
[Koji]: "An hour flew by!"
[Asanasan]: "Good work! Good luck with your test!"
[Messerin]: "Good luck with your test~ o(^▽^)o"
Etc. etc.
It really does fly by every time.
Is it because I'm nervous? But well, I feel like I'm getting used to it a bit.
"So, next time will be in two weeks?"
Yes. Well then, everyone, thank you very much. Let's meet again! Goodbye~
"Woof~"
"See ya— Oh!"
What snatched the remaining [Dried Papu Fruit] from my left hand was a haughty [Fairy] who had appeared silently beside me.
Um...
[Sacre]: "Something was there!?"
[Doradora]: "Fah? A [Fairy]?"
[Missama]: "What a punchline lol."
[Dengana]: "What a timing!"
[Misaton]: "Next time! [Fairy] Invasion!"
Ah, it stopped.
"...What should I do?"
It came at an incredible timing, didn't it...
The haughty [Fairy], having completely snatched the [Dried Papu Fruit], sat on the table and devoured it.
Seeing her happy face, I couldn't really get angry, or rather, getting angry would be unreasonable. It was just a matter of timing; I would have introduced her normally if she had come earlier.
"It's almost 10 o'clock, right?"
Yes.
"Can you make a short video and upload it?"
Yes!
I'll call the other [Fairies] too and upload a 30-second video like 'New residents of the island' to ask for forgiveness.
"I'll make some for the other [Fairies] too, so call them over."
"~ ~ ~!!"
With that, she flew off at top speed.
"So, I'll make [Dried Papu Fruit] again now, and how about we film the [Fairies] eating it for about 30 seconds?"
That's a good idea. It looks very peaceful.
The only problem is that the players who helped rescue the [Fairies] might notice?
Well, if someone says something, I can just ignore it.
"Alright, I'll get ready in the meantime."
If this becomes the [Fairies'] favorite food, I'll have to replant the [Papu Tree] over here...
.........
......
...
Okay.
"Understood. Well then, I'll clean up and log off."
Yes.
There was a sudden happening at the end, but it seems to have worked out, didn't it?
"Oh, [Yata-sensei]."
Thank you again today.
I'm happy he says that, but with this island, you really never know what's going to happen.
I'm worried about when Mion and I might panic, but... if he's watching over us, maybe it'll be okay?