kscans

Chapter 7 - Slime Tastes Like Konjac

A few days into our journey. We had left the forest and were silently proceeding along a narrow path that was more like an animal trail.

"Hey, aren't we running out of food?" I asked, and the Troll girl, Koni-chan, made a face of clear disgust.

"Eww, I hope it's not just bugs and stuff! ...Ugh, there it is again!! Amy-oneesama is catching bugs with her tongue! So gross!!"

Amy the Lizardman warrior, as calm as ever, extended her tongue and skillfully licked up a caterpillar from the underside of a leaf.

"Hmph, that's why you're getting so fat. Bugs are high in protein and low in calories. They're the ultimate natural food."

"Shut up!!"

As if to interrupt our daily squabble, a slime appeared from the woods, quivering and jiggling. It was transparent and jelly-like, with somewhat goofy movements.

"Is it an enemy?"

"Yeah, a weak one."

Amy's tongue flashed out, and Koni-chan followed up with a club. The slime popped with a psht and melted away.

"...Alright, can we eat this?" The moment I muttered that, Defray's eyes lit up and he stepped forward.

"Leave it to me! I may not look it, but I'm very particular about cooking. Cooking is love. I'll prepare it neatly, carefully, and make it delicious!"

Defray took out the frying pan from his waist and began to wash it carefully with fresh water from the forest. First, he strained the slime's mucus with a separate cloth, cutting out only the transparent jelly part. His handling of the blade was delicate, his movements so smooth you wouldn't imagine them coming from a body covered in fat.

"This slime has excellent elasticity. But as it is, it has a strong muddy forest smell. So first, I'll parboil it in Misleaf juice to remove the odor!"

Misleaf, a bitter, pale green grass that can be used to make broth and remove odors, a versatile herb of the forest. He put the slime and Misleaf into a pot over the campfire and heated it slowly.

"Next up are the mushrooms! Found some, Hakushu Mushrooms and Kuroguri Mushrooms. I'll sizzle them in Resin Fat, which I use as a butter substitute! Once they're nicely browned and fragrant, I'll finish with a sprinkle of rock salt."

A rich aroma drifted around us with a sizzling sound.

"Alright, I'll simmer the parboiled slime with the mushrooms, and for the finish, I'll add some crushed Lily Tree Nuts... this will add thickness and richness!"

Koni-chan, the Troll, was drawn by the smell and came closer.

"Wow, that looks... kinda tasty..."

"Alright, it's done! The bounty of the forest, a herb stew of slime and mushrooms! And here's some Slime Mochi, made by mashing and solidifying the slime. Please, help yourselves!"

I hesitantly took a sip of the soup.

"...This is... good. Yeah, slime is... like konjac. It's an ingredient that can become anything depending on the seasoning."

"Right? The heat, the odor removal, the amount of salt, and the aroma of the herbs. If you cook with respect for the ingredients, even monsters can become a feast!"

Defray had a huge smile on his face, frying pan in hand.

"Cooking is love. Neatly, carefully, deliciously, that's how you eat!"

"...No way, this is delicious..." Koni-chan was deeply moved by the Slime Mochi.

But Amy was the only one who didn't touch her food.

"...Aren't you going to eat?"

"I'd rather eat bugs." Amy crossed her arms and looked away.

And so, the journey of a monster party with completely different tastes and personalities began with a delicious (?) dish. There were two gluttons in this party.