We met up with Gil and Bucket-san on the way to the inn. They hadn't had lunch yet, so we decided to eat together.
"Is it really okay?"
"It's okay. I just want to return the favor."
"I think we're the ones that owe you."
It's true that if I hadn't saved them in the Abyssal Forest, they would've died, but this is different.
"Fine, I'll talk to the innkeeper."
"Eh? Is it okay?"
"I'll take care of this."
She assured me confidently, so I relented.
The place was sparse. While Lina-san was negotiating, I sat down on a chair and thought about the food I would make...
"It's done."
Already?!
"T- that was fast!"
"Yes. I've known the innkeeper for a long time."
I see, that's why you were so confident. But what do you mean you knew the innkeeper?
"How long have you known the innkeeper?"
"Well... since I started working as an adventurer with Fina."
"Oh, so you guys weren't originally in a party with Gil-san?"
"No, we met at a joint request and we've been in a party together ever since."
Really? In other words, is this where Lina-san and Fina-san were born?
"Anyways, shouldn't you be cooking? I'm starving."
"Oh, I'm sorry! I'll do it now."
To be honest, I'm starving too, so I should hurry up!
"The kitchen is this way."
Lina-san led me to a door behind the counter. The kitchen was behind the counter.
"Woah!"
There's even a stove! But how do I use it?
<You can use it just by turning it on, since it uses fire magic stones.>
Wow! How convenient!
"Oh, you're the girl who wants to cook?"
A man in a white apron came out from the back of the kitchen.
"Yes. Is it okay?"
"Yeah, there's no one here right now and I'm also interested in the food you make."
I can't cook anything that fancy...
"You can use whatever tools you have here. I've got the ingredients if you need them."
"You do?! I want to see it!"
"Oh, yeah, this way."
The man then led me to the door that he had come out of earlier. When I peeked inside, I saw so much food that made me wonder why there were only so many items on the menu.
"It's amazing!"
"Right? But even with all this, I don't know what to do with this... I've been researching."
"Really?"
That's surprising. Then you have to work even harder!
"Hmm... from the ingredients, maybe cabbage rolls?"
"Rolled cabbage?"
"Yes. Do you have a big pot?"
"Ok, I'll get it."\n \nI followed him out of the room.
"Is this what you wanted?"
"Yes. That's sufficient."
The man came out with a medium-deep pot.
"Shall we make it then?"
I have to use Chinese cabbage to make the rolls because I don't have cabbage.
"That's right. Use this."
He out came a small step stool.
"Oh, thank you..."
My current body is too short to do much here.
I got on the step ladder to first take out the core of the Chinese cabbage and remove the outer leaves.\n \nThen I chopped the carrots and onions. I also minced the orc meat, which is just like pork. In addition, I chopped up the core of the Chinese cabbage too because I didn't want to throw it away.
"Do you have a bowl?"
"Here"
I put the oak meat, chopped carrots, onions, and the core of the Chinese cabbage in it, then added the salt and pepper. I remembered to crush the pepper with a knife beforehand.
"So that's how you use the pepper..."
He mumbled while jotting down notes. How disciplined!
"The pepper tastes stronger when crushed."
I stirred the contents of the bowl to blend in the flavors.
"Can you put some water in the pot?"
"Got it"
Water is usually drawn from a well, but this kitchen had a water jug. He got it from there.
"Is that about right?"
"Yeah, it looks just about right."
A little more is better, but this seems fine I think. After washing my hands, I put the pot over the fire.
When the water started to boil, I dropped the Chinese cabbage in. When they're all submerged, I turned off the fire and waited for it to cool. Then I drained the water. I'm going to be using them later.
"Why are you doing that?"
"It's to soften the Chinese cabbage, I mean the hakyu*"
*Chinese cabbage in Japanese is hakusai (白菜). Just like how names of ingredients in this world are similar to the ones on Earth, the name hakyu came from hakusai.
I rolled up the softened cabbage with the filling.
"Oh, toothpicks..."
Well, I can make it without them!
The water temperature is not perfect, but it didn't feel too cold to the touch, so I carefully arrange the rolls in the water with no gaps.
"Great, now all I have to do is..."
I added the consommé cube and put it on medium heat.
"Okay"
"You should carefully scoop up something that feels like lye."
"Hoho"
I had to scoop up the lye using a ladle, probably should've added more water.
I waited around 15 minutes and put my result on a plate.
"It's done!"
"Is this... a rolled cabbage?"
"Yes. Would you like to have a taste?"
I put one of the leftover cabbage rolls on a plate and handed it to him.
"Well then..."
I slowly drank the soup first. I haven't tasted it, so I'm a little worried...
"!!! It's delicious!"
This guy, he finished his cabbage rolls in an instant, rather than tasting them.
"This is delicious., but are you sure you want to share this recipe with me?"
"Yes, I was allowed to use the kitchen after all."
And it's not a recipe I came up with.
"Thank you, really..."
"No, no. Let's serve this, alright?"
However, I can only carry one plate at a time... Aren't the plates used by people in this world too big?
The rest of the plates were carried by the man.
"Ah, we haven't introduced ourselves yet. My name is Marina."
"It appears so. I'm Dario"
I left the kitchen with Dario.
"It's ready."
"Really!? I'm starving"
"Fufu. Here you go, please enjoy."
""Itadakimasu!""
Everyone started with the soup.
"How is it?"
"It's so good! Did you really make this, Marina-chan?"
"Of course, I'm happy to hear that."
I couldn't help but smile sloppily.
"Marina-chan... you're too cute! You're too cute!!"
I'm not sure what to do with that. It's not my fault.
"Lina, you're annoying."
"What? I'm sorry. I was just..."
Un. I think you need to work on that.
"But it's really good. Do you have the recipe registered?"
"Registered?"
What is that?
"Don't you know? You can register recipes for dishes like these with the commercial guild."
I see.
"What will happen if I register it?"
"The recipe for this dish will be sold and spread around. You get the proceeds from the sale."
I see. I guess it's like publishing a recipe book in a bookstore?
But I'm not looking for money...
"But I don't want money..."
It's a little awkward to get paid for something like that in the first place.
"Hey... "You should definitely register!""
Lina-san suddenly interrupted.
"It's so good! There's no way we can just keep quiet about it!"
I'd like to see it spread, too, but...
"As the result of this discussion, I'd say we go register this after eating!"