Chapter 642 – Dinner Party with Miso and Soy Sauce

“Ah, welcome back.”

When I headed to the fermentation room, I found Floria, Harvesta, along with Claire the Arachne and Cyrille the Centaur working – mixing miso with wooden paddles and such. When they noticed me entering the fermentation room, they smiled and greeted me.

“Ah. I’m home. How are the miso and soy sauce coming along?”

“The ones we’re fermenting normally seem to be progressing well,” Floria answered with a smile when I asked, and Harvesta, who was floating nearby, nodded her head.

Hmm. Floria and Harvesta seem to understand these things. I gently patted Harvesta’s head.

“We wouldn’t want mold to grow, right? There’s no sign of that happening.”

“Yeah. As for the ones we’re fermenting with magic… I think they’re getting close to completion. I was thinking we might be able to use them for tonight’s dinner—”

I picked up a spoon and scooped a little miso from the barrel where we were using magic to accelerate fermentation, bringing it to my mouth.

—Ah. This is a nostalgic taste and flavor. It’s exactly the miso from my memories.

While savoring it, I found myself somewhat immersed in nostalgia.

Since the main ingredient was Cannon Beans, I was wondering how it would turn out, but this should be fine.

Next, I checked on the soy sauce. We’d been monitoring its progress and managing the temperature along the way… Well then. How is it doing? I scooped a little of the moromi from the barrel with a ladle, caught it with a clean cloth that had been prepared, and slowly squeezed it over a bowl. Dark-colored liquid accumulated on the plate.

This is what they call unpasteurized soy sauce. The color is somewhat light too. When I tasted it… this also turned out well. The deep, distinctive flavor of soy sauce spread through my mouth. They say unpasteurized soy sauce is milder and richer in umami compared to regular heated soy sauce… This seems to be a good result, doesn’t it?

“How is it?” Claire asked with a somewhat worried expression.

“Hmm. I think the fermentation is progressing nicely. I find it delicious.”

Since Floria and the others were watching with great interest, when I gave my honest opinion, they looked pleased. Hmm. That’s because I’ve had all the servants help with mixing and other troublesome tasks.

“After this, if we heat this soy sauce a little to make it easier to preserve, it’ll be complete… Well, I was thinking we could all do the squeezing and heating work together.”

Apparently, unpasteurized soy sauce has the disadvantage of not lasting as long as heated soy sauce because the bacteria are still alive. I’ve heard that when you heat it, the color becomes darker and it develops a fragrant aroma…

Well, since we have the opportunity, let’s use the unpasteurized soy sauce for cooking today too.

“Understood. Shall I go call everyone else?”

“Ah. Then, could I ask you to do that? I think they’re all in the game room.”

“Then, I’ll be going.”

“Thank you.”

Cyrille nodded and ran off to call everyone.

Well then. After we squeeze the soy sauce with everyone, we’ll heat it… and then it’s time to make dinner. Hmm.

“It has a unique aroma, doesn’t it?”

“Indeed. It’s a smell that stimulates the appetite.”

“Hmm. I’m hungry.”

Grace smiled at Rosemary’s words. Sheila also looked like she’d been waiting eagerly.

We cooked the white rice that Halvaronis brought, and dinner preparation involved generously using ingredients from the Magic Light Water Vein along with miso and soy sauce. When we went to the fortress last time, everyone made bento boxes, so this time it’s not exactly my turn, but I took the lead in preparing dinner in various ways.

While preparing dinner like that, Princess Stephania and her group arrived as scheduled. I went to greet them at the entrance hall.

“Good evening, Theodore.”

“Yes. Welcome, you’ve arrived.”

I greeted Princess Stephania and her group. Princess Stephania’s group was together with Auria and the others too.

Of course, Corulis and Flamia were also accompanying them.

Corulis and Flamia bowed to me. They bow when visiting and wave when parting—it seems they differentiate their greetings.

Since they greeted me, I lightly shook the tip of Corulis’s claw and then shook Flamia’s tail as well.

Well then. The reason Auria and the others are together is partly because I want to make various dishes and also because I want to spread the use of soy sauce and miso.

I also contacted Auria via communication device and invited Dominique and Justia, as well as the Forestbird members.

When the miso and soy sauce were completed, I contacted various people via communication device, but given that it was a somewhat sudden dinner party, there were those who could make it and those who couldn’t.

Alfred invited Ophelia, and Miriam, the shopkeeper of the Labyrinth Trading Company, has already arrived, but well, that’s about it for today.

“Hmm. Somehow… it smells delicious.”

“Indeed. This raises expectations.”

Princess Stephania and her group, who were shown to the entrance hall, were quite excited.

“We’ve prepared seating in the courtyard, so please come this way.”

I guided them to the dinner seating. When we headed to the courtyard, dishes were lined up on the table.

“Ohh…”

Cheers arose. That’s because there were various dishes they’d never seen before.

What was filling the surrounding area with the fragrant aroma of soy sauce was grilled shellfish and sea urchin monsters with soy sauce drizzled over them.

It’s not really something you’d call a proper dish, but its simplicity directly appeals to the appetite.

Everyone took their seats, and the familiars also settled in one corner of the courtyard. Each had their dinner. After bone-in meat and ore were prepared, I gave a brief greeting.

“Though it’s more of a dinner party or tasting party, today I’ve made dishes using new fermented foods—seasonings. Since it would be awkward to give a long lecture before the meal, I’ll keep it at this, but I’d be happy to hear your various impressions.”

When I said that, applause broke out. I bowed once and took my seat. The dinner party began.

Well then. What should I start with? First… let’s go with miso soup.

I made broth from a seaweed monster called Cloaking Kelp and small fish… and added roughly chopped small shellfish and crab to the miso soup.

When I brought it to my mouth, an indescribable umami had dissolved into the miso soup, blending well with the miso’s flavor. For me, it’s a taste that brings nostalgia. So, what about for everyone else?

“Hmm.”

“Oh.”

The moment people put the miso soup in their mouths, voices arose from here and there.

“This is… delicious.”

Auria’s eyes widened.

“Is what you used to season this soup the same as what’s spread on this?”

Irmhild, who had tasted the miso soup, seemed to have her interest drawn to the grilled rice balls that also used miso. She tilted her head while looking at the grilled rice balls.

“That’s right. That’s the solid seasoning. For the soup, it’s dissolved in hot water as seasoning. That one is rice shaped into balls with miso spread on them and grilled. There are also some with soy sauce spread on them.”

In other words, they’re grilled rice balls with miso and soy sauce.

These also have a nicely fragrant quality that stimulates the appetite. I was careful not to burn them too much, so the grilling is just right.

I served grilled Blade Fish with grated daikon radish, topped with unpasteurized soy sauce. This happens to taste very similar to Pacific saury and pairs perfectly with it.

“Hmm. This makes you unable to stop.”

Sheila said this while munching away. Yeah. It really makes you want to eat more rice.

Since we have white rice prepared, that’s not a problem. When eaten together with the grilled shellfish and sea urchin, you feel like you just keep eating more and more.

Then, there’s sautéed Whisper Mushrooms. Since these taste similar to king oyster mushrooms, when stir-fried with butter and soy sauce, they also pair wonderfully with rice. The moromi itself is also quite delicious as a side dish with white rice.

I would have liked to try sashimi and such too, but since this is everyone’s first time with miso and soy sauce… I thought it would be better to start with things that have a lower barrier to eating.

“It goes well with rice. It crumbles in your mouth… and the flavor spreads, I suppose?”

“Both miso and soy sauce are delicious. To think beans as the raw material can become this… it’s mysterious.”

So said Grace and Ashley.

Grace seems to be quietly analyzing it. She might reflect this in various dishes later. Ashley also looks curious but is happily bringing the food to her mouth.

As for Marlene, she’s sitting next to them, smiling cheerfully while nibbling on grilled rice balls.

“The quality is high. I’m surprised.”

“Indeed. This is delicious.”

When Rosemary spoke, Forset also closed his eyes, savoring it while quietly nodding.

The production method itself is complete. I was wondering what would happen due to differences in raw materials and the addition of magic to the process… but it seems everything is going well, which is fortunate.

“I wondered what it would be like since you said it was fermented, but this is delicious.”

“That’s right. The flavor is unique, but it doesn’t feel like an unpleasant smell.”

Robin and Lucian of Forestbird exchanged such words with smiles.

“What do you think, Helvorte?”

“It has a deep flavor. Since it’s something I’ve never eaten before, it’s quite difficult to put into words…”

When Claudia smiled and asked, Helvorte was analyzing while tasting the food. At Helvorte’s words, Lasnote’s eyes widened as she nodded repeatedly.

“I’m surprised it goes so well with rice.”

“Really, it’s delicious!”

“…Seconds.”

It seems Sion and the others are also thoroughly enjoying it. Hmm. It’s fortunate that it seems to be well-received.

“The production method isn’t that difficult either, so I’m thinking that if we’re going to spread rice cultivation, if we can spread miso and soy sauce along with it, adoption might be easier. Though it does take some time for preparation.”

“That is—a wonderful idea, I believe.”

Miriam said this with shining eyes. Hmm. We could also make miso and soy sauce with slightly larger equipment and have the Labyrinth Trading Company handle what we produce there.