Chapter 21.15 - Extra 2.3

Extra 2.3

New Year’s soba, is it?」

「Back at our place there’s this custom of treating oneself to soba at the very end of the year.」

「Soba eaten on such occasion is called New Year’s Eve soba. From what I understand there’s some deeper meaning behind it but I never bothered to look into it.」

「Judging from how most of these things are based on cheesy wordplay, wouldn’t it be something along the lines of ‘May you start off the year successfully separating the wheat from the chaff with this nice bowl of buckWHEAT noodles’?」

The friendly Japanese folk answered the Farlaner representative’s – Aearis question in as concise a manner as they could. A good deal of lucky charms from other cultures likely have something to do with wordplay, but in the case of Japan there are a lot of them and the whole practice of punning meaning into existence bled through to cultural practices as well. That’s probably simply because they’re just a nation that’s savvy on wordplay.

「If we gonna be goin’ through with this we might as well go all out with a full menu of new year goodies.」

「Right, let’s not forget those.」

「If Eru, Lay and Mark-o are gon’ be comin’ o’er why don’t we just go ahead and do it?」

All the remaining Japanese members nodded in unison. Sechi was mostly made up of easy to make knick knacks that were perfect for the season. There were a considerable number of them so making each individually would prove to be a lengthy process but that was taken out of consideration this time around.

「Oh and for ya’ll non-Japanese folk sechi’s a traditional assembly of dishes eaten for the first three days after New Year’s.」

The Farlaner folk all quietly processed the information they were just about to ask for before Hiroshi beat them to the punch.

「We have something just like that – mosliem.」

「What’s a mosliem?」

「It’s made up of meat cubes and vegetables wrapped in a thin layer of dough served on a skewer.」

「Doesn’t sound all that unique so is it the meat and vegetables used that make it what it is?」

Aearis and Layla nod.

「The meat used is yielded from ballooners – a rare species of animal that only leaves behind a single offspring once a year. Once three or, in rare cases, four offspring are delivered its life runs its natural course but what sets it apart is how, much like how a candle burns brightest just before it goes out, that’s when its meat is at its most tender. 」

「‘Tis a miracle they ‘aven’t gotten extinct yet.」

「That’s exactly why we only eat it on new year’s when it’s on the brink of passing away.」

Layla’s explanation was enough to leave everyone convinced. Apparently the animal looked like the bastard child of a cow and a bird but not in a chimera-ish multiple heads kind of way. Leave it to a fantasy setting to give birth to something that’d make taxonomists around the world collectively shake their heads in disbelief.

「What about the veggies?」

「Not much to note on that end asides from the fact that fresh seasonal produce is used.」

Haruna listened intently to Layla’s explanation. Teres and Nora also did the same, believing that maybe one day they’ll be able to actually put it to good use.

Mosliem was a curious case in that it was the state’s obligation to provide it to the people on New Year’s. In small, far away villages or towns with no governing lord the people breed them collectively. The expenses were covered by taxpayer money but, it being a long standing tradition, there was nobody to oppose the practice.

「It’s only on New Year’s that slum dwellers like us get to enter the castle without anyone batting an eye.」

「Interestin’」

It being only about half a year since they ended up in Farlane, naturally there were a heap of customs they weren’t aware of and, more importantly, dishes they had yet to try out.

Hiroshi’s and Haruna’s thought pattern came into sync as both of their minds unconsciously steered towards the direction of food, more specifically how they might end up regretting not having the full Farlaner food experience later down the line.

「Is there any deeper meaning behind eating it on New Year’s specifically since we’re on the topic.」

「Partaking in meat that only gets more succulent with the passage of time is symbolic for coming to terms with every single experience in one’s life and growing wiser as an individual as a result of it.」

「Fascinatin’」

Different people, different customs as they say and Farlane, boasting a robust history, was no exception to the rule.

「How ’bout this, what if we were to have soba on New Year’s Eve and then mosliem the day right after?」

「That sounds lovely.」

「Puttin’ together some soba in honor of your visit is the least we could do.」

Aearis enthusiastically nodded in agreement, her heart gushing with glee. As a result of this exchange soba would end up becoming the priestess princess new ritual new year’s eve dish and eventually, propelled by increased accessibility to soy sauce and japanese stock, a smash hit amongst the populace, but that’s a story for another time.

「What happened to your grandiose instant noodle manufacturing plans?」

Asked everyone’s favorite drunkardess, showing no visible signs of a hangover whatsoever.

「They likely never gonna be seein’ the light of day thanks to time constraints.」

「What’s a simple instant noodle line to someone like you?」

「Yer not wrong, I could get an instant noodle line runnin’ in a jiffy if I wanted to. The demand would be insane but supply would, proportionally, be much lower, so the price on those things is gonna be off the charts.」

「You’d be lucky if at least some of them fell into hands other than the royal family’s with just one line.」

「Yeah, there’s that as well.」

Makoto agreed to Mio’s assessment while recalling the reception they got after a few knights got to try some out that one time. Farlane’s, and in extension the rest of this world’s, development of fast, on the spot foods was sluggish in relation to earth. As such the knight’s eating it like there was no tomorrow was hardly surprising.

Anti-spoiling made it so that food could remain indefinitely fresh, expand capacity lead to the space-per-unit of food being abnormal, both of which contributed to convenient, on the go kind of food being pushed to the wayside and largely overlooked. In fact it was so primitive that the closest thing resembling it was smoked meat.

That same smoked meat wasn’t born out of necessity for preserved foods but as a means to combat parasites. Back in the days when it was difficult to properly cook the meat through to the center without burning the surface in the process, many people chose to simply eat it raw and many suffered the consequences. To get rid of those little buggers out people started smoking their meat and the rest is history.

「A line by itself is fine but without another expert in the manufacturin’ process we won’t have anyone ta bring any innovation to the market.」

「Innovation, huh.」

Hiroshi brought up a practical issue. As far as the others were aware there were two different types of both cup and block noodles out in circulation. That should have been a good enough lineup to ride off of the wave of unfamiliarity and convenience for a little while but without any real innovation people might have very well started getting sick of it after a while. They’d still consistently sell to a certain subset of individuals but the numbers would be significantly lower than that of earth.

「Have you yourself been doing any innovation?」

「Aye, cup soba with udon and cup yakisoba respectively.」

「Bog standard if I’ve ever seen it.」

Aearis happened to overhear the two’s conversation while enjoying soup from her cup. She was sold at the mention of ‘yakisoba’. That was enough for her to get all inquisitive.

「Did I hear cup yakisoba?」

「Oh boy.」

Tatsuya released a sigh at the ever so predictable Aearis whose soba obsession had evolved to encompass all its peripherals, such as yakisoba, as well.

「Yakisoba’s that dish where meat, veggies and soba are stir-fried into one cohesive unit and are typically flavored with okonomiyaki sauce?」

「Exacta mundo.」

「How do you make that instant noodle friendly?」

Teres also looked on in anticipation for an answer.

「It’d be faster if I showed ya but it’d be a bit too heavy for breakfast.」

「A shame…」

「What is? We can just ‘ave it for lunch.」

「Really!?」

「It ain’t no biggie, so long as ye fine with instant noodles for lunch that is.」

Aearis bursted into smile upon hearing those fated words. She had begun showing snippets of her adult side as of late but deep down she was still a child at heart.

「I’m glad you’re having a jolly good time but how about we go over our New Year’s Eve plans?」

「We’re planning on opening one large scale food stall. The stall’s good to go and we’ve already sent in the papers.」

Haruna answered Makoto’s question. Up until now Haruna’s been a one man show, so the amount of food she could reasonably prepare at a stall was limited, but with Nora’s and Fum’s combined assistance she and Hiroshi though that there was room to get a bit more ambitious this time around.

「What’re you going to be offering?」

「Curry buns and fried food, goes without saying, then there’s also oden and takoyaki, possibly considering incorporating okonomiyaki in there as well.」

「How ambitious of you…」

「I’ll also have Makoto and Mio helping me out, no need to worry.」

The two knit their brows together at the abrupt news.

「Haruna, may I?」

「Go ahead.」

「Do I and Teres get anything to do?」

「I guess you could be in charge of the okonomiyaki? Takoyaki’s already taken by Mio, frying’s a bit too advanced for both of you while okonomiyaki is pretty simple with a bit of practice.」

Haruna decided the roles on the spot. This time around they were planning on having the okonomiyaki cooked on a flat skewer so that it could be eaten without the use of chopsticks. Yakisoba wasn’t in consideration because the only ones who could use chopsticks were a small portion of the royal family and the workshop members.

「If we happen to have some breathing room I’d also like to add manju in there, could that be arranged?」

「Shouldn’t be a problem, all the measurements and mixin’ can just be done by Lime, she’s a monster that one.」

「Splendid. Now, Takeya and Makoto could I ask you to take care of those?」

「Putting me in charge of steaming? You must have a death wish.」

「Ye will get by just fine with the tools at ye disposal, I’m sure of it.」

The dark cloud lingering above Aearis head grew progressively darker as the group’s hardy chit-chat session went on.

「Boss man, Eru’s looking kind of down.」

「Eru, is something the matter?」

「No it’s nothing, it’s just that it’s a shame that I won’t be able to stick around for long at all while you’ll all be having the time of your lives…」

They felt a slight grin pass over their faces as Aearis’ metaphysical dark cloud began releasing metaphysical drops of rain.

「Well your case is special.」

「I know, but still…」

Aearis was mature for her age but a child nonetheless, being out of the loop while everyone else is out there having a blast, doing whatever it is they’re doing, is a huge blow.

Everyone aside from Lime had slowly started to catch on to the fact that Aearis was either a really high ranking noble or part of the royal family. However they intended to keep this information to themselves until she felt comfortable enough to fess up herself and wouldn’t even dare to think about leaking her frequent visits to the workshop to the outside. This decision was made purely out of loyalty… and possibly a dash of self-interest.

「Won’t this all blow over soon enough?」

「Yes.」

「Then why don’t we just meet up then? Now that I think about it, it would be the perfect opportunity to do some sightseeing at Wulls.」

Teres and Nora let out a faint sigh over Haruna’s incredibly Japanese-like suggestion. The rest of the crew were similarly appalled.

「You’re missing the point, capitals weren’t built with tourists in mind」

「How could they be built with tourists in mind when there really aren’t any to begin with?」

「If there aren’t any tourists then how come I was roaming around the city to see the sights?」

「Doesn’t that defeat your point?」

「No it doesn’t.」

Nora Mora would not yield ’til her foes got crushed underneath her razor sharp wit.

「Actually Farlane’s quite a popular tourist spot…」

「Is it really?」

「Yes, yes it is. Farlane’s public transport system is developed enough to where Wulls’ middle class could reasonably afford to travel to Kalsus or Merije or any surrounding town without being too fiscally irresponsible.」

Everyone listened in silent admiration as Aearis regurgitated the knowledge she had been imparted in one of her kingcraft classes.

「If only your tight schedules would allow for such spontaneous trips…」

「Well we don’t have that much time left but it should be just enough to allow for that much, at least once that is.」

「Splendid!」

Haruna soothed Aearis. At least for the time being she managed to successfully take her mind off of the whole New Year’s Eve celebration business.

What they decided on having wasn’t one of those cheapo flat-topped, round containers with some obsolete company’s name slapped across for good measure but an elusive mega pack variety only found in Osaka’s convenience stores that were just as trashy. This naturally led to…

「ow! Eh?」

Aearis, like many other poor souls before her, watched on as the container’s contents splattered all over the place right in front of her eyes. A heart-rending moment to be sure.

On an unrelated note…

「I’m outta ingredients.」

「The curry bun’s and takoyaki have all gone.」

「No more okonomiyaki dough here.」

「The last oden egg and kombu just traded hands.」

「Only one fried item to go.」

「Manju sold out.」

The workshop’s food reserves never stood a chance against the New Year’s customer traffic, being completely emptied out before the end of the day. Since their work ended earlier than expected they went out to enjoy the festival and once they got back…

「You’re early.」

「Welcome back.」

They saw Aearis and Layotte in kimonos snuggled comfortably inside the kotatsu eating New Year’s soba, but that’s another story for another time.