Time flies like an arrow. What an apt phrase. When you’re absorbed in something, time passes before you know it. Whether it’s work or a hobby.
It’s Shuri here. It’s been half a year since we all ate oden together. Before I knew it, a year has passed since I came here. I’m twenty-one now. Haha, I’ve gotten older. As always, I’m working as a cook for Gungrave’s mercenary group. We’ve managed to get some assistant cooks, so now we’re running the kitchen with four people. The mercenary group has grown in size over the past year, already approaching a thousand members.
“Gungrave, it’s tough for four people to handle this many.” “That’s why we made those large stoves and pots.” “Because of that development, we’re using a lot of beef. Could you please restock it?” “Understood. I’ll make sure to tell Lill.”
It seems he gets it.
Now, about Gungrave’s mercenary group. We’ve become famous in town. After all, we’re an elite force boasting constant victories. There are plenty of lords scheming to incorporate us into their own camps. If my memory serves me right, we haven’t lost a single battle this past year. Apparently, that’s unheard of.
“Kuuga, I hear you’ve been secretly approached for recruitment too.” “Well, yeah. I’ve become famous too.” “The offer must have been good, right?” “Well… they said they’d pay me five times my current salary if I brought my two hundred infantry with me.” “That’s amazing.” “It’s not good at all. My subordinates overheard it, and I got a lot of flak. Of course, I have no intention of leaving the mercenary group.”
I feel a bit relieved. Not just Kuuga’s unit, but all the captains have been approached for recruitment. However, no one tries to leave this mercenary group. It shows that no one would abandon their comrades bound by strong ties. Now, I’m considered a veteran soldier among the captains and their close aides. Some of the new recruits are arrogant, which can be troublesome. Apparently, the mercenary group functions by absorbing even these types. Gungrave’s iron-like stomach and heart are truly admirable.
Gungrave also refuses recruitment offers, insisting on continuing to run the mercenary group. While lords want to recruit us and prevent us from falling into enemy hands, Gungrave keeps working diligently to earn money, outmaneuvering them. I’m constantly amazed by Gungrave’s political schemes.
This time, we received an offer from a royal family of a certain country to hire the entire mercenary group. Apparently, it’s a war over forest resources. This forest is said to be a land rich in resources and food, with spices, wildlife, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. It seems a war broke out with the neighboring country that came to steal the vegetables and medicinal herbs from this area. That neighboring territory also has mineral resources. The struggle for resources is the same everywhere. So, we ended up siding with the royal family that wants to protect the forest resources.
“What’s the reason for that, Arius?” “We already have everything necessary to maintain our troops, from weapons to supplies. We’ve also made arrangements with favored merchants and guilds, so there’s no problem with weapons at least. However, food is consumed daily. Even if we don’t spend money, food supplies decrease. So, we’re trying to establish a supply route for food-related items through this opportunity.” “As expected of Arius. You’re well-informed.” “No, shouldn’t you, Shuri, know the most about food-related matters…?”
I’m at a loss for words and feel ashamed.
In the end, we won. Quite easily. We were already prepared for the battle, and the opponent wasn’t much of a challenge. However, the problem arose after the battle.
Surprisingly, the king said he would only pay additional rewards to one of the three mercenary groups, including us. I thought it was ridiculous, but then the king said:
“My daughter is a gourmet. However, she’s no longer satisfied with ordinary meals these days. So, I’ll pay additional rewards to the group that can make a satisfactory dish for her.”
I’m annoyed. His arrogant attitude irritates me. But Gungrave has a bad look on his face. That’s the face of a demon lord who’s going to squeeze out everything he can.
“What I want to eat is a delicious dish that’s sweet, sour, spicy, and bitter. Bring it to me.”
A little girl princess. Are you asking us to make a dish that satisfies almost all human tastes? The other mercenary groups can’t hide their confusion. Of course, neither can Gungrave. Normally, such a dish couldn’t possibly be delicious. Normally, that is.
The other groups are telling their cooks about this and encouraging them to succeed. Those cooks have grim expressions, as if they’re facing a battle they can’t win.
“Shuri, are you okay with this?”
Gungrave asks, looking worried. He still looks concerned even after we’ve moved from the audience chamber to the kitchen.
“Well, I have an idea, or rather, a guess.” “Really?!” “Well, it’s a bit of a special dish, but…”
This is a dish that’s sweet, sour, spicy, bitter, and delicious. The only issue is adjusting the seasonings.
“Is there anything I can help with?” “Could you please tell Arius that tomorrow’s yudofu is postponed?” “That might be… a bit difficult.” “Please try. This dish stars tofu, so we can’t start without it.”
Recently, Arius has become obsessed with yudofu, which makes you healthier no matter how much you eat without gaining weight. She devours it with gusto. I feel like even the female subordinates’ skin has become more radiant. So, on yudofu days, she’s practically jumping for joy. Postponing it will be tough for her, I’m sure.
“Alright, I’ll get started then.”
What I’m making is mapo tofu. Huh? Isn’t it just spicy? No, no, outside of Sichuan, mapo tofu is a delicious dish that’s sweet, sour, spicy, and bitter.
The doubanjiang (Chinese broad bean chili paste) I made before turned out well, so I complete the mapo tofu.
“This looks spicy…” “It’s spicy for those who aren’t used to it. But once you get addicted, you’ll be moved by the many flavors.”
When we return to the audience chamber, it seems the other mercenary groups have already presented their dishes. They look like bizarre foods from any angle.
“Disgusting!”
The princess shouts angrily. Well, anyone would get angry if served an unpalatable dish.
“You’re the last one…”
Huh? The princess looks exhausted? Ignoring that, I serve the mapo tofu. The princess looks puzzled.
“What is this?” “It’s mapo tofu.” “Ma… what?” “Please try it. It’s delicious.”
The princess cautiously scoops up some tofu and sauce and eats it. She freezes.
“It’s, it’s spicy, spicy!” “Princess, please savor it well.”
The young princess writhes from the spiciness. She squeezes her eyes shut, trying to endure it. Then, her tearful eyes change to surprise.
“…It’s sweet?” “That’s the sweetness of the tofu.” “And it’s sour too.” “That’s one of the flavors of the doubanjiang.” “There’s also… bitterness.” “That’s because it’s been cooked thoroughly in the pot.” “And finally, it’s spicy.” “That’s from the pepper and doubanjiang.”
The princess seems to have gotten used to it and starts eating the mapo tofu eagerly.
“It’s delicious! It’s delicious!” “Please wipe your sweat as you eat. It should be just right for a princess who seems to be feeling a bit cold.” “What do you mean?” “I noticed you’ve been moving your toes as if you’re cold since we came here.”
The princess is surprised but soon smiles. It’s a smile like a blooming flower.
“I like you! Become my cook!” “Ah, that’s impossible.”
After all, I’m the cook for Gungrave’s group.
In the end, after some back and forth, We properly received the additional reward and got arrangements for food sales. Since the princess seemed reluctant to let go, I wrote down the recipe and gave it to the royal chef. Just in case, I included recipes for Sichuan mapo tofu, mapo eggplant, and mapo rice bowl. Having a repertoire is important, you know. The same thing gets boring.
Later, I received a thank-you letter and a kitchen knife from the princess. I’ll use it with care.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link
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Chapter 13
Time flies like an arrow. What an apt phrase.
When you’re absorbed in something, time passes before you know it.
Whether it’s work or a hobby.
It’s Shuri here.
It’s been half a year since we all ate oden together.
Before I knew it, a year has passed since I came here.
I’m twenty-one now. Haha, I’ve gotten older.
As always, I’m working as a cook for Gungrave’s mercenary group.
We’ve managed to get some assistant cooks, so now we’re running the kitchen with four people.
The mercenary group has grown in size over the past year, already approaching a thousand members.
“Gungrave, it’s tough for four people to handle this many.”
“That’s why we made those large stoves and pots.”
“Because of that development, we’re using a lot of beef. Could you please restock it?”
“Understood. I’ll make sure to tell Lill.”
It seems he gets it.
Now, about Gungrave’s mercenary group. We’ve become famous in town.
After all, we’re an elite force boasting constant victories. There are plenty of lords scheming to incorporate us into their own camps.
If my memory serves me right, we haven’t lost a single battle this past year. Apparently, that’s unheard of.
“Kuuga, I hear you’ve been secretly approached for recruitment too.”
“Well, yeah. I’ve become famous too.”
“The offer must have been good, right?”
“Well… they said they’d pay me five times my current salary if I brought my two hundred infantry with me.”
“That’s amazing.”
“It’s not good at all. My subordinates overheard it, and I got a lot of flak. Of course, I have no intention of leaving the mercenary group.”
I feel a bit relieved.
Not just Kuuga’s unit, but all the captains have been approached for recruitment.
However, no one tries to leave this mercenary group. It shows that no one would abandon their comrades bound by strong ties.
Now, I’m considered a veteran soldier among the captains and their close aides.
Some of the new recruits are arrogant, which can be troublesome.
Apparently, the mercenary group functions by absorbing even these types. Gungrave’s iron-like stomach and heart are truly admirable.
Gungrave also refuses recruitment offers, insisting on continuing to run the mercenary group.
While lords want to recruit us and prevent us from falling into enemy hands,
Gungrave keeps working diligently to earn money, outmaneuvering them.
I’m constantly amazed by Gungrave’s political schemes.
This time, we received an offer from a royal family of a certain country to hire the entire mercenary group.
Apparently, it’s a war over forest resources.
This forest is said to be a land rich in resources and food, with spices, wildlife, vegetables, and medicinal herbs.
It seems a war broke out with the neighboring country that came to steal the vegetables and medicinal herbs from this area.
That neighboring territory also has mineral resources.
The struggle for resources is the same everywhere.
So, we ended up siding with the royal family that wants to protect the forest resources.
“What’s the reason for that, Arius?”
“We already have everything necessary to maintain our troops, from weapons to supplies.
We’ve also made arrangements with favored merchants and guilds, so there’s no problem with weapons at least.
However, food is consumed daily. Even if we don’t spend money, food supplies decrease.
So, we’re trying to establish a supply route for food-related items through this opportunity.”
“As expected of Arius. You’re well-informed.”
“No, shouldn’t you, Shuri, know the most about food-related matters…?”
I’m at a loss for words and feel ashamed.
In the end, we won. Quite easily.
We were already prepared for the battle, and the opponent wasn’t much of a challenge.
However, the problem arose after the battle.
Surprisingly, the king said he would only pay additional rewards to one of the three mercenary groups, including us.
I thought it was ridiculous, but then the king said:
“My daughter is a gourmet. However, she’s no longer satisfied with ordinary meals these days.
So, I’ll pay additional rewards to the group that can make a satisfactory dish for her.”
I’m annoyed.
His arrogant attitude irritates me.
But Gungrave has a bad look on his face.
That’s the face of a demon lord who’s going to squeeze out everything he can.
“What I want to eat is a delicious dish that’s sweet, sour, spicy, and bitter.
Bring it to me.”
A little girl princess. Are you asking us to make a dish that satisfies almost all human tastes?
The other mercenary groups can’t hide their confusion. Of course, neither can Gungrave.
Normally, such a dish couldn’t possibly be delicious.
Normally, that is.
The other groups are telling their cooks about this and encouraging them to succeed.
Those cooks have grim expressions, as if they’re facing a battle they can’t win.
“Shuri, are you okay with this?”
Gungrave asks, looking worried.
He still looks concerned even after we’ve moved from the audience chamber to the kitchen.
“Well, I have an idea, or rather, a guess.”
“Really?!”
“Well, it’s a bit of a special dish, but…”
This is a dish that’s sweet, sour, spicy, bitter, and delicious.
The only issue is adjusting the seasonings.
“Is there anything I can help with?”
“Could you please tell Arius that tomorrow’s yudofu is postponed?”
“That might be… a bit difficult.”
“Please try. This dish stars tofu, so we can’t start without it.”
Recently, Arius has become obsessed with yudofu, which makes you healthier no matter how much you eat without gaining weight.
She devours it with gusto. I feel like even the female subordinates’ skin has become more radiant.
So, on yudofu days, she’s practically jumping for joy.
Postponing it will be tough for her, I’m sure.
“Alright, I’ll get started then.”
What I’m making is mapo tofu.
Huh? Isn’t it just spicy?
No, no, outside of Sichuan, mapo tofu is a delicious dish that’s sweet, sour, spicy, and bitter.
The doubanjiang (Chinese broad bean chili paste) I made before turned out well, so I complete the mapo tofu.
“This looks spicy…”
“It’s spicy for those who aren’t used to it. But once you get addicted, you’ll be moved by the many flavors.”
When we return to the audience chamber, it seems the other mercenary groups have already presented their dishes.
They look like bizarre foods from any angle.
“Disgusting!”
The princess shouts angrily.
Well, anyone would get angry if served an unpalatable dish.
“You’re the last one…”
Huh? The princess looks exhausted?
Ignoring that, I serve the mapo tofu.
The princess looks puzzled.
“What is this?”
“It’s mapo tofu.”
“Ma… what?”
“Please try it. It’s delicious.”
The princess cautiously scoops up some tofu and sauce and eats it.
She freezes.
“It’s, it’s spicy, spicy!”
“Princess, please savor it well.”
The young princess writhes from the spiciness.
She squeezes her eyes shut, trying to endure it.
Then, her tearful eyes change to surprise.
“…It’s sweet?”
“That’s the sweetness of the tofu.”
“And it’s sour too.”
“That’s one of the flavors of the doubanjiang.”
“There’s also… bitterness.”
“That’s because it’s been cooked thoroughly in the pot.”
“And finally, it’s spicy.”
“That’s from the pepper and doubanjiang.”
The princess seems to have gotten used to it and starts eating the mapo tofu eagerly.
“It’s delicious! It’s delicious!”
“Please wipe your sweat as you eat.
It should be just right for a princess who seems to be feeling a bit cold.”
“What do you mean?”
“I noticed you’ve been moving your toes as if you’re cold since we came here.”
The princess is surprised but soon smiles.
It’s a smile like a blooming flower.
“I like you! Become my cook!”
“Ah, that’s impossible.”
After all, I’m the cook for Gungrave’s group.
In the end, after some back and forth,
We properly received the additional reward and got arrangements for food sales.
Since the princess seemed reluctant to let go, I wrote down the recipe and gave it to the royal chef.
Just in case, I included recipes for Sichuan mapo tofu, mapo eggplant, and mapo rice bowl.
Having a repertoire is important, you know. The same thing gets boring.
Later, I received a thank-you letter and a kitchen knife from the princess.
I’ll use it with care.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link
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