kscans

Chapter 188 - A Cross-Cultural Exchange of Food

When my vision cleared, we were in the dining hall where we had met the King during the day. And on the table, a meal for four had been prepared.

"Is Mia eating too?"

"Yes. Normally I would decline, but due to the circumstances of this residence, I must dine with you."

Mia can’t move around on her own. She probably has to eat her meals with them too.

"How inconvenient."

"It is inconvenient, I suppose, but safety is paramount."

"Well, for me, eating with four people is better."

The more the merrier. I mean, this room is ridiculously big too.

"Take your seats. The food will get cold."

Arc prompted us, so Yoshino-san and I sat down side by side in the same spots as this afternoon. Arc also sat across from me, and Mia sat next to him.

This is a minor point, but how long is Arc going to keep that armor on?

"Do you have any pre-meal greetings?"

I was curious about the other world’s version of ‘itadakimasu.’

"Greetings? What’s that? Just eat normally."

It seems they don’t have an ‘itadakimasu.’

"In Eleanor-sama’s world, do you have such a thing?"

Mia asked.

"In our country, we say itadakimasu. Overseas, it’s amen?"

"Isn’t that wrong?"

"Don’t you see sisters and priests praying in movies and stuff?"

"I feel like I have, but I don’t think it’s amen. Wasn’t it something like, thank you Lord?"

Was it? I don’t know.

"Whatever, let’s eat."

I decided to eat and took a look at the prepared meal. From what I could see, there was bread and what looked like a steak. There was also soup and a salad.

"The fork and knife are the same as in our world."

They’re almost identical, so I can use them without any problems.

"The spoon too…"

The spoon, presumably for the soup, was also nearly identical.

"Just out of curiosity, what kind of meat is this?"

I asked Mia, who had likely prepared the meal.

"It is the meat of a herbivorous animal called a Granza."

Right. Never heard of it.

"Eleanor, let’s try not to worry about that. To be honest, I’ve never seen the vegetables in this salad either."

When Yoshino-san said that, I looked at the salad and saw it was garnished with blue and yellow vegetables.

"What matters is the taste."

"Exactly. Well, give it a try."

This woman is trying to make me her food taster…

"Fine. I’m sorry to be rude, but I have Cure Potions."

"That’s really rude. Especially after you were just stuffing your face with snacks."

It’s another world, it can’t be helped.

"I’m scared of unknown allergies."

I picked up my fork and knife and cut the steak. I couldn’t tell if the knife was good or the meat was tender, but the knife slid into the meat smoothly and cut it easily.

"It smells good. Looks delicious."

I brought the piece of meat on my fork to my mouth and sniffed it.

"Just so you know, that’s a high-class ingredient. We went to a lot of trouble to prepare it for you."

It seems we’re being welcomed.

"If you’re going to say that, then I’ll eat… hamu."

Munch, munch. …………Delicious.

"Hmm, I don’t dislike it, but I don’t think it’ll suit Yoshino-san’s tastes…"

"So it’s good, huh? You’re trying to steal my portion, aren’t you? Alright, let’s eat."

Tch!

"…………I see. It’s tender and delicious…"

Yoshino-san also took a bite of the meat and nodded happily.

"I am glad it suits your palate."

Mia let out a sigh of relief.

"Can I take this home as a souvenir?"

"I think we could if it’s frozen. But we don’t have a cooler box."

"We should prepare one for next time."

"Let’s."

Yoshino-san and I consulted each other as we ate the meat and bread.

"You guys are really greedy, aren’t you…"

"No, I think this is genuinely delicious. It’s a flavor that doesn’t exist on Earth."

I think so too. It’s tastier than beef or chicken, or rather, it’s something else entirely.

"Conversely, I’m getting curious about your meat."

"Let’s trade. I’ll bring some next time I come, so give me some of your meat."

"That sounds good."

Arc nodded happily.

"Do you like fish? Which would you prefer, kusaya or salted herring?"

"Eleanor, don’t make choices that will get the Gate closed."

I’m kidding.

"What’s that? Is it bad?"

Arc seemed interested.

"It’s food, but it’s famous for being smelly. It might even make you throw up."

"Your world has unique food too, huh…"

"Want to try it? I’ve never had it myself…"

I can probably buy it online.

"Hmm, I’m a little curious."

"Arc, don’t. There are no windows here, so you can’t ventilate. You’ll die."

It seems Yoshino-san has eaten it before…

"I will not be eating it, so please enjoy it by yourself, Arc-sama."

The maid betrayed her master.

"Mia, I’m telling you, you could die just from opening the can."

Yoshino-san has definitely eaten it before…

"Arc-sama, let us not. I do not wish to die."

"Let’s do that…"

Is it that bad?

"……Well, I’ll just bring some normal meat."

Beef should be fine.

"Please do that."

We continued to eat the food we had never experienced before while talking.