Chapter 563 – Making Soy Sauce and Sweet Rice Wine

Well. With the miso preparation finished, it was time to move on to soy sauce, and right on cue, the workshop group arrived at the house. I immediately invited them to the basement, and Alfred, Old Sigmund, and the others joined in to observe and help with the soy sauce making.

“This time… I’m thinking of trying to make a seasoning similar to fish sauce using beans and wheat.”

“Fish sauce… you mean like a liquid sauce?”

“Yeah. Well, if it works out, that is.”

I nodded at Alfred’s words.

So then… since the bean bullets were already boiled, I started dry-roasting the wheat. I placed a large frying pan over the hearth fire and shook it.

The dry-roasting wheat made a pleasant sound. When I lightly shook the frying pan up and down, the wheat bounced up and mixed around inside.

Apparently finding this sight amusing, Lasnote happily watched the wheat jumping up and returning in the frying pan. Hmm. This must be the first time Lasnote has seen something like this.

“That pan looks heavy… but you handle it quite skillfully, Teacher.”

Charlotte also seemed impressed.

“Well, let’s just say there’s a trick to moving it.”

I’d been taking turns cooking since coming to Termwills too. You could call this the result of that, or something like that.

After thoroughly roasting the wheat, I transferred it to a bowl and roughly crushed it with a pestle. Then I cooled it with Wind Magic before mixing in the koji starter.

I chopped the boiled bean bullets to about the size of soybeans, transferred them to a sterilized shallow wooden container, and while cooling them, sprinkled the wheat and koji starter mixture over them, then mixed everything together.

“Is this good enough?”

“Um. Yes. I think this is fine. Then wring out a cloth thoroughly and cover it.”

I nodded at Rosemary’s words, had everyone pass me the cloths they’d boiled, wrung them out to remove the water, and covered the mixture – completing the soy sauce koji preparation.

“Hmm. Spreading it shallow and wide to prevent drying, is that it? You’ve put a lot of thought into this.”

“Well… something like that.”

I nodded at Old Sigmund’s words. This part is actually traditional wisdom though.

Normally, the soy sauce koji should be ready in about two days. But since we’re also experimenting with fermentation-accelerating magic this time, I applied magic to the marked containers and placed each in the fermentation room.

Looking at the faintly glowing soy sauce koji base with Circulating Ki, I could tell the mold was clearly activated.

Yeah… Using Circulating Ki to observe mold activity seems effective too, and it might be useful for activation when combined with Spell Formulas.

“Is the preparation complete now?”

Grace asked.

“After this, we move it to the fermentation room and mix it while managing the temperature. Once this ferments further, we’ll add salt water and let it mature longer while mixing occasionally.”

Normally it takes about 10 months from preparation to completion. It’s unknown how long it will take when accelerated with magic… but well, we’ll need to proceed while monitoring the progress.

Well, since it’s a time-consuming process, it would be good to explain the maintenance methods to the servants for when we’re away from Termwills.

…Hmm. We also have medals for incorporating into Golems, so creating management Golems to take care of it might be an option too. I’ll consider that later as well.

Now, as for the rice koji made with magic… while we were working on miso and soy sauce preparation, it had heated up, so we needed to mix it once other tasks were finished. What normally takes almost a full day required temperature adjustment in just a few hours.

You could visibly see the koji mold propagation progressing, and at this rate… when using magic, the soy sauce and miso might finish faster than expected. At the very least, the rice koji and soy sauce koji made with magic should be ready by tomorrow.

We still have bean bullets soaked in water using the normal process, and we can prepare more miso using rice koji with those too.

…Anyway, today’s work is mostly done. Checking the temperature management of the rice koji and soy sauce koji around after dinner should be just about right.

So we moved from the basement, and since work had settled down, we decided to have a toast and drink amazake.

“It has a bit of a distinctive aroma and mouthfeel, so even among Halvaronis people have divided opinions about it, but it warms the body, and some say it gives them energy or relieves fatigue after drinking. Although it’s called sake, since we didn’t add sake lees, it won’t make you drunk.”

Forset poured amazake into small cups.

Hmm. Indeed, some people don’t like amazake, so for the first time, trying a small sample might be best. If they like it, they can have another cup.

It’s an excellent drink health-wise too, with lactic acid bacteria and nutritional balance. They say amazake sales were encouraged during the Edo period too.

“I like amazake.”

Sion smiled gently and picked up a cup of amazake.

“I like it too—”

“…Likewise.”

I see. So all three of them like amazake. Forset probably prepared amazake because these three like it.

When everyone had their cups, their gazes gathered on me. Hmm. Since the experiments have settled down and we’re toasting, I guess it’s proper for me to lead the toast.

“Well then… wishing for the experiments’ success.”

I raised my cup and led the toast.

“Cheers!”

Seraphina and Luscinia’s energetic voices overlapped with everyone else’s. Then we all drank amazake together.

Hmm… It’s a nostalgic taste. They don’t seem to be using sugar or anything. It has a relatively clean taste that’s easy to drink. The fermentation level is just right too.

“Oh. It’s sweet and delicious.”

“Hmm. I might quite like it.”

Auria and Sheila apparently took a liking to amazake. Those who liked it got refills and continued enjoying it.

I’ll have another cup too. The amazake Forset made has a likable taste that’s easy to drink.

“Could I have another cup too?”

“Did you like it?”

“Yes. It’s a taste I like.”

“That’s wonderful to hear.”

Forset broke into a smile. Although he said people have divided opinions, since the amazake Forset prepared turned out well, it seemed generally popular.

“This is delicious.”

“Indeed, it has a unique flavor but it’s sweet and tasty.”

Said Grace and Ashley.

Perhaps Grace and the others found the small amount insufficient too, as they were getting refills.

Marlene was smiling happily, and Rosemary was lining up for an amazake refill while covering her mouth with her feather fan. Claudia watched this with a gentle smile.

“This is a taste I like.”

Camilla also seemed to like the amazake. Though she covered her mouth, her expression had softened.

“Is that so? Then I’ll get you another cup.”

“Thank you, Elliot.”

While exchanging such conversation, Elliot himself got a refill, and the two happily drank amazake together. Elliot and Camilla remain as affectionate as ever, which is wonderful.

We spent a while relaxing in the Game Room drinking amazake, but when the timing seemed right, I decided to speak with Elliot. We’d been talking about having a celebration party for the completion of training.

“Sorry for taking so long to bring this up.”

“Not at all. I was the one who wanted to see the experiments. Besides, making something from what we all harvested is enjoyable.”

“I’m glad to hear that then.”

Elliot smiled gently and nodded at my words. Well then… shall we discuss the celebration party?

“About the celebration party… how about gathering at the theater on the night of the full moon?”

“The entire Demon-Slaying Knight Order? Will there be seats available starting now?”

“Hmm. It’s almost fully booked. So it would be in the form of a special performance after the regular show ends.”

That way I can move with some flexibility after the Summoning Ritual too.

“I see. I think everyone would be happy with that.”

Since it’s a good opportunity, it might be nice to invite Marion and the others too. The Sirens all seemed very interested in the theater, and it should be about time they’re familiar with the stage equipment at Moonlight Island.

Inviting them once to sing at the theater – I think they’d be happy about that too.