After we worked our way through the food we’d bought at the supermarket and laid a proper foundation in our stomachs, I finally opened the cooler bag I’d been saving. While there’s nothing wrong with diving in while ravenous, the truly good stuff is better enjoyed once you’ve settled down a bit.
With that in mind, I showed everyone the contents of the bag.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Here’s the first round of today’s special barbecue ingredients!"
"Ooh!" the girls cheered in unison.
"Well, if we're having a barbecue, it’s got to be that," Yuji noted.
"True," Hiiragi-san agreed.
While the first-years let out cries of joy and amazement, Yuji and Hiiragi-san remained unfazed. They were used to seeing this sort of thing and continued eating their store-bought meat with practiced calm.
The cooler bag contained the classic assortment of minotaur and orc meat. Since I’d gathered it myself on-site, it hadn't cost me anything, but this much would easily fetch over ten thousand yen at market price.
"I brought a fair amount, so don't hold back. Dig in."
"Thank you!" the three girls chirped.
"Thanks, Onii-chan! This stuff is the best!"
I handed the platter to an ecstatic Mika, and she immediately began lining the cuts up on the grill. Seared by the charcoal, the meat gradually began to glisten with rendered fat. As the juices dripped onto the coals, they sent up a rich, savory aroma that wafted through the air.
As the meat cooked, the scent grew more intense, spreading far beyond our little corner of the Barbecue Area.
"Is it just me, or are people staring?" I muttered.
"Yeah... they are. I feel like the number of eyes on us is growing by the second," Yuji replied.
"They definitely are," Hiiragi-san added.
The more the meat sizzled, the more the surrounding gazes multiplied. Fortunately, they weren't looks of hostility or disgust. They were looks of pure envy and hunger directed at our grill—which, in its own way, felt like a looming crisis. I certainly hadn't brought enough to share with the whole park.
"Okay, I think these are ready..." Mika whispered.
"I agree," Saori said. "If we cook them any longer, this precious meat will get tough. We should eat now."
"They say rare is delicious too, so it’s perfect, right?" another girl chimed in.
"Yeah, let’s eat!"
Driven by the sight of the charred surfaces and the bubbling fat, Mika and the others reached out with their chopsticks simultaneously. They dipped the meat into the sauce and took their first bites.
"Mmm... so good!"
Their faces broke into blissful, messy grins. Seeing the first-years enjoy the food so much brought a satisfied smile to my own face.
However...
"Now that they've started eating, the stares are getting even heavier," I noted.
"They’re probably thinking, 'Look at those kids rubbing it in our faces,'" Yuji muttered.
"The smell was already a targeted attack on their appetites," Hiiragi-san added. "Watching those girls eat it with such joy is the final blow."
In contrast to Mika and her friends, who were completely oblivious to the attention, we felt increasingly awkward as we ate. The meat was fantastic, but the atmosphere made it hard to fully savor the flavor.
At this rate, it was going to be difficult to bring out the real prize.
"By the way, Onii-chan, wasn't there something else in the cooler?"
Mika, her cheeks still stuffed with meat, looked up at me as if she’d just remembered. I hesitated, but then I realized that Saori-chan and the others were also looking at me with expectant eyes.
Resigning myself, I let out a small sigh and pulled out the final item.
"...Alright. Here’s the second round of special ingredients."
"!" Mika gasped. "Onii-chan, is that...?"
"Yeah, it’s that."
"Whoa, Onii-chan, you’re the best! I can't believe you actually brought it!"
Saori-chan and the others looked on in confusion, clearly not recognizing the item yet. I warned Mika not to make a scene and then explained what I was holding.
"This is marbled minotaur meat. It’s a rare delicacy that’s hard to find, and it’s several times more delicious than the minotaur meat you just had. I couldn't get much of it, so it’ll only be a slice or two per person."
"It really is incredible!" Mika added. "You guys are going to be so surprised!"
"O-Okay," Saori-chan replied, appearing a bit overwhelmed by Mika's intensity. I appreciated them staying quiet, but Mika was getting a little too worked up.
"Calm down a bit."
"Ow! What was that for, Onii-chan?"
"You're overexcited. Look, you’re scaring Saori-chan and the others."
"Oh..."
I’d delivered a light chop to Mika’s head to snap her out of it. I’d been extremely careful with my strength, and it worked perfectly to settle her down. Of course, seeing the slightly bewildered looks from her friends was probably the most effective cold shower.
"Sorry," Mika muttered, looking down and hiding her blushing cheeks in embarrassment. Her friends quickly began to cheer her up with wry smiles. I started grilling the marbled minotaur meat, hoping the aroma would be enough to fix her mood.
The effect was instantaneous. The moment the meat touched the heat, a scent even more divine than the last batch filled the air. Mika’s shame vanished as her eyes became glued to the strips of meat browning on the mesh.
The entire Barbecue Area, which had been noisy just a moment ago, suddenly went eerily silent. I heard the audible sound of someone nearby gulping. The gazes directed at us were no longer just heavy; they were burning with heat.
"Alright, they're done. Go ahead, everyone."
"Thank you for the food!"
The girls reached out at once, stuffing the marbled meat into their mouths with radiant smiles. They looked absolutely melted by the flavor. Even though the physical pressure of the stares from the surrounding tables was mounting, the girls were too lost in culinary bliss to notice. We, on the other hand, felt so awkward that we wanted to pack up and go home immediately.
Conclusion: When you’re in a crowded public place, do not grill dungeon meat—especially not the marbled variety.
After the excitement of the marbled meat died down, the Barbecue Area eventually returned to its usual buzz. I hadn't expected the scent alone to have such an impact. The moment we finished the last piece, the surrounding area had erupted in looks of pure resentment. In that moment, I honestly felt safer eating inside a dungeon while looking out for monsters.
With the meat portion of the meal over, it was time for the third round of special ingredients. This time, Hiiragi-san opened her bag.
"My turn. Though this is more of a finishing dish."
She pulled out what looked like a complete ramen kit.
"I need to boil the noodles, so give me a few minutes."
Hiiragi-san filled an aluminum pot with water and adjusted the charcoal to create a high-heat zone. With the coals concentrated, the water didn't take long to reach a rolling boil.
"Okay, here we go."
She loosened the noodles and dropped them into the pot. While stirring them with chopsticks, she pulled out disposable foam bowls and a large vacuum flask, filling the bowls with soup. She then divided the cooked noodles into the bowls and added various toppings from a Tupperware container.
Finally, she added a swirl of transparent liquid from a small glass bottle.
"Here you go. Hiiragi-ya's special 'Spicy-Savory Ramen.'"
"Spicy-savory? It doesn't look as red as I expected," I noted.
"True. Thanks to that special seasoning oil, I can add heat without changing the appearance of the broth. But don't let looks fool you—it’s got a kick. If you want it hotter, just let me know."
"I see..."
I took a bowl and inhaled. Beneath the scent of the orc bone broth, there was a sharp, spicy edge. I took a cautious sip.
"Hot!...Wait, huh? The heat vanished."
"Right? This oil provides a sharp, vivid sting, but it's a clean heat that doesn't linger."
"You’re right. It’s very refreshing. Because the spiciness is so crisp, it really lets the umami of the broth shine through."
The initial shock of the spice was surprising, but it was incredibly addictive. The others were also startled at first, but soon they were all happily slurping their noodles. Before I knew it, I’d finished every last drop.
"That was great. Thanks for the meal."
"I suppose I should say 'it was nothing much,'" she replied with a smile.
"Haha, maybe."
I helped clean up the empty containers while reflecting on the ramen. I’d heard she was working on a seasoning oil made from that grass extract, and it was clear she’d succeeded. It was the kind of flavor that could appeal to almost anyone. Of course, since the ingredients were so hard to get, no other shop would be able to copy it for a long time.
"Well, now that the ramen is done, I guess it’s time for me to show what I brought," Yuji announced.
"Oh, right. You had something too. What is it?"
"Don't be so impatient. Look!"
Yuji opened his cooler and pulled out a large, green sphere. It was a high-end melon with a perfect net pattern. I’d honestly been expecting a watermelon.
"A melon..."
"A bunch of them got sent to my house, so I grabbed a few."
Given the season, it was likely a midyear gift. That explained the gold brand sticker. I shuddered to think what a single one of those cost.
"It’s perfectly chilled, so it should be good."
"I'm sure it is, but how are we going to eat it? Usually, you’d cut it into bite-sized pieces before bringing it to a barbecue, wouldn't you?"
"Maybe, but then all that delicious juice would leak out. Cutting it in half and eating it with a spoon is the only way."
"In half, huh?"
Yuji pulled a fruit knife from his bag. He tossed the melon into the air, and in a flash of silver, he sliced it perfectly in half before catching both pieces.
Hey, don't do flashy tricks from cooking manga in the middle of a park, I thought.
"Here. It's perfectly ripe."
"Ah... thanks."
I hesitantly took the half-melon and a spoon. The fruit was indeed perfectly ripe and looked delicious, but the spectacle before it was a bit much. I noticed a man nearby who had witnessed the "aerial slash"; he was standing frozen with his eyes wide, staring at us.
Internally apologizing to the guy, I looked away and began eating my dessert. It was incredibly sweet and refreshing.
After we finished the melon, we cleaned up the charcoal and trash and returned the rented equipment and the water tap key to the management office. As we left the park, everyone looked thoroughly satisfied. The last-minute barbecue had turned out to be a great summer memory.
While waiting for the bus, we shared our thoughts on the day.
"That was a really full day. I feel totally refreshed!" Mika cheered.
"Agreed," Yuji said. "We've been stuck in dungeons so much lately that it was nice to have a barbecue under the sun for a change."
"Yes, it was lovely to just hang out and have fun together," Hiiragi-san added.
"The food was amazing and we got to play—today was great!"
"I'm so glad I came, even if it was short notice," Saori said.
"Me too! That marbled minotaur meat was unbelievable."
"The ramen was great, and eating half a melon was a real treat!"
Everyone seemed happy with how the day went. There had been a few minor "incidents," but overall it was a peaceful day. As a final memory for summer vacation, it was a definite success.
Now, all that was left was scouting the planned site for the dedicated training ground. I’d gotten the rest I needed, so I intended to stay sharp and work hard until the very end.
Our summer vacation finale was a success. As for what came next...