Chapter 246 - Chapter 218: Niphony Bouillabaisse
The remaining [Oranjack (horse mackerel)] was also made into Nanbanzuke, and the finished dishes were already carried to the table.
That cooking was done, so next up was the [Niphony (Spanish mackerel)], which was over 1 meter long.
The shellfish I was entrusted with were about two sizes larger than the [Chromnaria (clam?)] gathered from the sandy beach on the south side.
[Helionaria]
*A bivalve shellfish inhabiting calm coastal waters. Edible.
Cooking: Roasting releases a rich flavor. Material Processing: Shells are sometimes used for decorations. Animal Husbandry: Shells are highly prized as Kocko feed.*
Mussel? I can't help but feel like various things are mixed in, but I have a feeling it's delicious.
So using shells as feed for chickens, for Kocko, happens here too. Huh.
The other one was
[Red Marth]
*Shrimp inhabiting sandy mud in coastal waters. Edible.
Cooking: Roasting is common, sweet and delicious.*
It looks exactly like a Kuruma prawn, just with red markings.
This is definitely going to be delicious…
"Alright, I'm going to start on the main dish."
Yes!
Niphony, seeing it again, it really is huge…
[Rakan] "It's huge!"
[Pyure] "I'm going to get a beer refill!"
[Santouhei] "What's starting? lol"
[Kanakan] "Too many recipes!"
etc. etc...
Alright, I was just about to fillet it, but then,
"Um, what happens if you dismantle a caught fish using a skill?"
[Master Chef] "It depends on your [Dismantling Skill] level."
[Claude] "Huh, you didn't know!?"
[Nyx] "Probably just bones and flesh will remain."
[Meike] "What you can do in real life, you just do it that way, huh?"
etc. etc...
I see.
"I didn't know that…"
It depends on the level, but if bones and flesh remain, then [Dismantling Skill] seems faster this time, so I'll use it.
[Dismantling Skill Level Up!]
"Ah…"
[Sadest] "Lol. What level is it now?"
[Kockuri] "Congrats~ ∩^ω^∩"
[Muchol] "Because it only levels up when you actually use the skill?"
[Nelson] "Seems like there's experience for manual dismantling too."
etc. etc...
It's better to dismantle various things, so maybe it's also because this was my first time dismantling a fish.
Anyway, I managed to secure the fillets properly, so that's good. It saves time too, so I'll use [Dismantling Skill] from now on.
"Um, my [Dismantling Skill] is now 8, I guess."
So, I cut the fillets a bit thicker. After seasoning with salt and pepper, I patted them with potato starch again and gave them a sizzle.
Quite a few people seem surprised it's only level 8, but if they were from the closed beta, level 10 wouldn't be strange, I think.
Are you making Nanbanzuke with that fish too?
"No, a different dish. Just watch."
I took it out, and instead, I tossed in the Helionaria and Red Marth. I poured Grapeful Wine over them, covered it, and steamed them.
It would take a while for the shells to open, so in the meantime, I went to get the tomato soup I had prepared earlier.
"Once the shells open, I'll put the sautéed fish back in, pour this tomato soup over it, and bring it to a gentle boil…"
[Marutai] "Easy Bouillabaisse!"
[Nonnonno] "Looks incredibly delicious…"
[Master Chef] "So you sautéed it to prevent it from falling apart while simmering."
[Catin] "Oh no (oh no)"
[Daytron] "
etc. etc...
Shellfish get tough if overcooked, so I put them on a large plate at just the right moment.
I tasted it, just in case…
It looks incredibly delicious…
"Yeah, it turned out delicious."
The umami of the seafood and the gentle taste of the tomato matched perfectly.
There are still a few more servings left, so I'll just keep making it.
"Kyuu~♪"
"Here. You can take it and eat."
May I ask the next question?
"Oh, yeah, go ahead."
Once I make something once, thanks to my cooking skill, subsequent times are much easier.
I wouldn't say my hands move on their own, but it feels like I won't make mistakes even if I do it casually?
Have you decided what to do with the Goddess Statue at the church?
"Ah! That reminds me. I got a small Goddess Statue and a book called Ancient Iris-Colored Divine Scripture from Argenta-san."
I'd forgotten about it, meaning to read it when I had time.
I also feel like I should show that bland Goddess Statue to the viewers.
[Jazzu] "I have a bad feeling about another crazy item…"
[Sacre] "I want to see it!"
[Marionella] "If I send sweets, will I get a magic tool?"
[Shakeena] "Let's display Mion-chan~♪ ('▽')"
etc. etc...
"I'll show it after I finish cooking, so can you wait a bit?"
Yes.
Or rather, after tasting, I'm genuinely hungry now. I want to eat quickly too…
"Alright, I guess this is it."
I finished the last dish and plated it.
There's still a little tomato soup left, but that can be for seconds.
"Woof."
"Whoa, Lupi, were you being patient too? Sorry!"
Lupi was sitting patiently in front of her own lunch plate. I served her a generous portion of bouillabaisse.
I thought I'd eat too, but then I realized I hadn't prepared any small plates, and wondered what to do.
"Kyuu~♪"
"Oh, thanks. I see."
I received a large seashell from one of the Selkies.
Is this a scallop shell? Does that mean scallops can be gathered too? No, I'll think about that later.
"Alright, let's eat!"
"Woof!"
I took a big bite of a fillet…
"Delicious…"
"Woof~"
[Shakeena] "G-g-g-g-g-g… o(｀ω´ )o"
[Izayoi] "Can't we order this? (Tears)"
[Bytamin] "Tomorrow night, bouillabaisse!"
[Nyx] "I'll make it tomorrow right away♪"
etc. etc...
Looking around, all the Selkies seemed to be eating with relish, so I guess this is enough as a reward?
You didn't use eggs this time, did you?
"Yeah. I just couldn't think of anything. Do you have any good recipes?"
[Rakukaji] "If we had flour, we could make tempura, but…"
[Subrock] "Umaki! No, that's impossible…"
[Sugikoh] "It's difficult with just eggs, isn't it?"
[Master Chef] "Minced fish with egg and potato starch for fishcakes, something like that."
etc. etc...
"Oh, fishcakes!"
I was only thinking in terms of fillets. I guess I could make namero too…
We can get sugar now, so next is milk?
"Probably? At least I'll be able to make pudding."
From the comment section, the topic expanded from milk to butter, cheese, and yogurt, and then came the mention of soy milk! I have Glycine, so I can make soy milk…
Also, there was a suggestion that I should go look at the top of the cliff where the Yakokko descended. Maybe there are goats? Or something.
"Indeed, I really should check up there properly…"
How will you get up there?
"Making a ladder would probably be best."
I thought I could make stairs out of stone walls, but I wonder about making a path that allows free movement. But with a ladder, there's the problem of whether Lupi can follow.
Shou-kun, can we talk about the Goddess Statue and the book now?
"Oh, okay. Just a moment. Um… thank you."
Noticing the empty shell plates, a Selkie child cleared them away for me.
Just then, the Prince came over, so I handed him the [Camlus Fruit] compote, a regular one with sugar this time.
"Everyone eat it. Sweee and the Fairies too."
"Kyuu~♪"
"~~~♪"
After seeing them off, I sat down again, crossing my legs, and patting Lupi, who had settled between them…
"First, this. It's a Goddess Statue I received, but it's a bit vague-looking…"
[Nameless Goddess Statue]
A Goddess Statue kept in every household during the Ancient Magic Civilization. The deity it represents is unknown.
I showed them the appraisal results, and the comment section was confused, or rather, messages like "I've never seen anything like that" kept pouring in.
As expected, this Goddess Statue seems different somehow…