kscans

Chapter 256 - That Evening's Dinner 1. The Other World's Milk Situation (Part 1)

Having luckily succeeded in securing coffee, Yuri realized that a long-pending issue had suddenly become all the more important. Securing milk, or something equivalent to it.

For Yuri, living alone on the Salt-Sour Mountain teeming with monsters, raising livestock was next to impossible. Since he was sometimes away from home for long periods, like now, the biggest bottleneck was how to care for them in his absence. If it were plant sprouts or cultured tissue, he could use the secret trick of temporarily storing them in the 'chilled compartment' of his Storage, and his visit to Laurenzen had given him a path forward on an Automatic Sprinkler. But with livestock, that wasn't an option, and he felt bad about pushing the burden onto End Village.

For this reason, Yuri had dealt with the issue during his last visit to Laurenzen by buying up a large quantity of milk, but...

(If I'm going to use it for coffee, a small stockpile won't be nearly enough...)

Deciding this was too much to ponder alone, Yuri decided to consult with the others at the dinner table.



"Milk, you say?"

"Yes. I asked last year as well, but I was wondering if it would be possible to get a bit more."

"Hmm..."

Adon, who, like Old Man Audel, considered himself Yuri's guardian, had to think for a moment at this question.

In the Forea World, at least in Rivairein, the custom of drinking milk had not yet become widespread. It was sometimes used as an ingredient, as in cream stew. In any case, because the demand for milk was not that high, production was also not sufficient. In such a situation, for Yuri to be requesting milk...

(...He probably means he wants enough for half a year to a year. Being secluded on the Salt-Sour Mountain, he can't replenish his stock so easily. It depends on how much he's thinking of for a day's supply, but...)

As Adon's thoughts progressed this far...

(...It's impossible.)

He was able to reach a conclusion easily.

For the reclusive Yuri to request it, he would surely need a large amount of milk. Securing such a large quantity for what was essentially a temporary demand was no easy feat, even with the capabilities of a prominent merchant like Adon. Moreover...

(If it were other ingredients, maybe, but with milk, I can't gather that much. It's not something that keeps for long in the first place.)

He might be able to manage the issue of shelf life by using a Magic Bag, but gathering the amount Yuri wanted, based on Adon's assumption, before he returned home was next to impossible. Still, Adon resolved to do what he could, but he needed to convey that it would be difficult.

"Is it difficult after all..."

"I'm sorry. I'll try to gather as much as I can, but... as for the fundamental problem, getting the amount you're hoping for is, well, a little..."

"I see..."

It seemed Adon had seen right through his desire for about three to six months' worth. Yuri was impressed by his ability. Well, Yuri had expected it would be difficult, making such a request at the last minute. The unexpected acquisition of coffee was the real issue.

(It was a sudden request... but I wonder if I can expect this to be a one-time thing...)

Yuri wondered if Adon could get it for him next time, but he concluded it would probably be difficult. This was just Yuri's personal opinion, but a factory farming style of dairy management like on Earth probably wouldn't suit this world blessed with divine grace. If so, he couldn't expect a sudden increase in milk production in the future. Adon would surely do his best to collect it, but it was not his real intention to cause him that much trouble. In that case...

"I understand. I was asking for the impossible to begin with, so whatever you can get will be fine."

"My apologies. If I had a little more time, I might be able to meet your request."

"Oh, no, you don't have to go that far for me."

In response to Adon's implicit suggestion of extending his stay, Yuri replied, also implicitly, that it was impossible. A cheerful yet heated negotiation unfolded beneath the surface. And Yuri...

(...If getting a large amount of milk is difficult, I'll have to think of a substitute. Soy milk from Soya Beans wouldn't be bad... but while I'm at it, maybe I should try to devise a creaming powder using vegetable oil?)

...was once again thinking of something dreadful.