We marveled at the creative Japanese dishes that transformed familiar monsters into such unexpected delicacies. Since we knew what they looked like in the wild, it was hard not to think, So this is how good these guys can taste.
I was slightly worried that the next time we dove into the dungeon, every monster I encountered would look like a plated meal to me.
"This food is incredible as a reference. When I brought back that grass before, the volume was so low that the oil I extracted only worked as a spicy seasoning. If I’d secured a larger amount, I could have experimented with this specific cooking method too..."
Hiiragi-san wore a look of mild frustration as she ate the deep-fried monster meat. Though her research had uncovered its potential as a flavoring oil, the quantity limits had prevented her from trying simple techniques like deep-frying. Apparently, the oil she’d managed to extract from the grass was less than 100cc—hardly enough for a proper fry. Fritters might have worked, but she’d avoided them because a single batch would have exhausted her supply, making further verification impossible.
As a result of her testing, she’d focused on its excellent aroma transfer and finalized it as a spicy seasoning instead.
"Well, when we brought it back last time, we didn't really know which applications would suit it best. Since it's so bulky, we just grabbed enough for a trial run. But now that we know how versatile it is, we can just bring back a decent amount next time," Yuji said.
"That’s true," I added. "Now that we know there's a use for it, it's worth hauling back a larger load."
"I’d really appreciate that. Once it’s viable as a commercial product, I’ll source it through our shop’s distribution routes, but I’d like to secure enough for my own research if possible. Given the current progress of dungeon conquest, the wholesale price for that stuff looks like it'll be astronomical," Hiiragi-san said.
The number of private explorers who had reached the 30th floor was likely still quite low. A low supply meant high unit prices. Furthermore, based on Hiiragi-san’s explanation, extracting a usable amount of oil required a massive quantity of grass. When I weighed the volume of the raw material against the weight of the final oil... yeah, it wasn't surprising that it would be a premium product.
I could understand why she wanted to be self-sufficient, at least for her research materials.
"True. But that stuff is incredibly bulky compared to the oil yield. Unless we find a way to bring back just the oil, our backpacks will be stuffed with nothing but grass," I noted.
"Yeah, we’ll probably need to figure out a way to extract it ourselves. If you’re going to use it for culinary research... would you need something like an 18-liter drum’s worth?" Yuji asked.
"Yes, that much would let me experiment without hesitation. But to get that much, you'd need a staggering amount of grass, wouldn't you?"
Since the grass covered the entire floor and regenerated quickly, the supply itself wasn't the issue. The problem was how to efficiently and quickly extract the oil on-site. In its raw form, the grass was just too voluminous to transport. Making multiple trips was an option, but trekking back and forth to the 30th floor just to haul grass was hardly ideal.
An oil press was one option, but I wondered if I could use that... though using a specific skill in a place where I didn't know who was watching was risky, even if it seemed possible in theory.
"The grass is everywhere, so that's not a problem," I said. "The rest is figuring out an efficient way to squeeze the oil before we head back. Otherwise, we'll spend thirty minutes mowing and several hours squeezing. I wonder if they sell oil presses at home improvement centers? Or do you have to go to a professional kitchen supply store?"
"Couldn't we just order a decent one online?" Yuji suggested. "We don't necessarily need to refine it to a finished state. Just reducing the bulk and bringing it back as an oil-rich herb extract would be plenty. That would work, wouldn't it, Hiiragi-san?"
"Yes. Since I can handle the final refining once we're back at the shop, herb extract is fine. However, since the refining process removes impurities, the volume of oil will drop. If you want a full 18-liter drum of oil, you'll need to gather quite a bit of extract."
I didn't know the exact oil content of that grass, but I figured if we aimed for two or three times the volume of the drum, we’d be safe. Compared to hauling countless backpacks full of raw grass, carrying a few 18-liter drums of liquid was much more manageable.
"Well, we can handle that much," I said.
"Right. Let's aim to secure some the next time we hit the dungeon," Yuji agreed.
"Thank you," Hiiragi-san said with a smile.
We continued to enjoy the dungeon food while discussing our future exploration plans. We’d finished early today due to that unexpected trouble, but it had led us to some valuable new insights.
Once we’d polished off every dish and were contentedly sipping tea, the Landlady arrived at the perfect moment with a cart carrying the final dessert.
"This is our dessert, brown sugar syrup jelly and green tea. I’ll clear away your empty plates as well."
"Thank you. The food was absolutely delicious," I said.
"Thank you very much. It makes me so happy to hear that. Please, enjoy the rest of your stay."
With a graceful smile, the Landlady gathered the dishes and departed.
Now, time for dessert.
"Brown sugar syrup jelly, huh... It doesn't look like this uses any dungeon ingredients," I observed.
"Probably not," Yuji agreed. "Since the main focus up to the 30th floor is meat, ingredients suitable for desserts haven't really hit the market yet. Though that might change eventually."
"Exactly," Hiiragi-san said. "We might find something if we comb through the newer 30th to 40th floor range. If that happens, we'll see more than just meat products in circulation."
Since the new floor zone Hiiragi-san mentioned was filled with plains and forests, it was entirely possible we'd find vegetable-type dungeon food if we looked hard enough.
Come to think of it, we should probably check if the grass in the 30th floor zone varies by floor. Does the flavor of the oil change? Does it have cosmetic benefits or industrial uses outside of cooking?
"True. I don't know how many years away that is, but it's something to look forward to," I said.
"I doubt it’ll take that long," Yuji countered. "Given the current pace of clearing, I wouldn't be surprised if those ingredients hit the market in a year or two."
"You're right. Now that 30th-floor materials are being used like this, it's only a matter of time before they’re available outside of specialty shops," Hiiragi-san added.
As dungeon enterprises steadily pushed deeper, drop items from the 30th and 40th floors would eventually become common. Whether the price would ever drop to a level ordinary people could afford was a different matter entirely, though.
"Oh, this is good," I said, taking a bite.
"It really is. Since the menu was so meat-heavy, this light sweetness is a nice palate cleanser."
"And the bitterness of the green tea is perfect," Hiiragi-san noted.
Green tea... I wondered if there were leaves on the 40th floor that could be used as tea. If there were, they’d probably have some kind of special effect, like fatigue recovery.
Wait, leaves with recovery effects... those would just be medicinal herbs.
"Thank you for the meal."
After finishing the jelly, we put our hands together and offered a quiet thanks. That was far better than I’d expected. I’d been skeptical of the "creative Japanese cuisine" label at first, but the ingenuity behind the dishes was impressive.
"Man, I'm stuffed. I can't believe a place I found on a whim turned out to be this good," I said.
"We had some unexpected setbacks today, but if it led to a meal like this, I guess I can call it a win... even if it's not actually a win," Yuji remarked.
"I agree. This place was incredibly helpful as a reference. The flavors were one thing, but the use of materials and the cooking methods were a real education. I might try out a few things as soon as I get home," Hiiragi-san said.
We were all wearing satisfied expressions. What started as an early exit from the dungeon had turned into a very worthwhile culinary experience.
"It seems you enjoyed the meal," the Landlady said, approaching us. She had apparently come to hear our thoughts while we were relaxing.
Hiiragi-san and I were caught a bit off guard, but Yuji remained perfectly composed.
"Yes, it was wonderful. Everything was delicious."
"I am so pleased to hear that. And, if you’ll forgive my intrusion... I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. Are you all explorers?"
"Eh? Oh, sorry. Were we being too loud? I hope we didn't bother the other guests," I said, feeling a bit awkward. We’d been so focused on the food that our volume must have crept up.
The Landlady shook her head gently.
"No, not at all. You were the last guests of our lunch service, so everyone else had already departed by the time your main courses were served."
"I see... Well, yes, we are explorers. We had some trouble today, so we ended our run early and ended up here," Yuji explained.
"I thought so. I'm sorry to pry. Our restaurant is close to the dungeon, so we get many explorers. Usually, when they hear the names of the ingredients, they’re quite shocked. We see all sorts of reactions, but you were the first guests who were more surprised by the oil for the fried meat than the meat itself, so I couldn't help but wonder..."
"Ah, I see. That’s what caught your interest?"
It made sense. Given the premium lunch menu, most people would react to the bear or the marbled minotaur meat. A group obsessing over the oil would certainly stand out to the staff. Especially if it sounded like we knew what the plant looked like in the dungeon.
"Yes. It was rude of me, but I was curious to hear your perspective."
"No, I understand. I’d be curious too if I were in your shoes," Yuji said.
Whether the reaction was positive or negative, a restaurant had to care about how their food was perceived. A bad review could spread quickly and damage their reputation.
"Every dish was superb. We’ve cooked things we’ve hunted ourselves, but the skill of a professional is really something else. I was amazed that the same ingredients could be elevated to such a high level," Yuji continued.
"Thank you. I’m truly grateful for such high praise."
"If I had to offer one observation... right now, dungeon ingredients are mostly meat-based, so the menu feels a bit heavily weighted in that direction. I’m sure that’ll be resolved once vegetables and seafood from the dungeon start being supplied, though..."
"Indeed. Our Head Chef is concerned about that as well, but for now, we simply can't source what doesn't exist yet..."
The Landlady looked toward the kitchen with a mix of apology and regret. A professional chef would definitely be bothered by a lack of balance. While they had handled it well, the intensity of the dungeon meat was a bit overpowering—or, to put it harshly, not quite fully integrated.
Still, that was nitpicking; it was a fantastic meal regardless.
"I understand. But if the current pace of exploration keeps up, I don't think it'll be long before new ingredients are available," Yuji said.
"I certainly hope so."
"Dungeons have only been open to civilians for a little over a year, and we already have this much variety. I'm sure things will work out," Yuji added encouragingly.
"I... I see. Yes, you're right."
Yuji’s words seemed to cheer her up. It might have sounded like a hollow promise, but in another year, the corporate explorers would likely reach the 40th floor. Whether that would lead to a stable supply was still up in the air, though.
After chatting with the Landlady for a while longer, we got ready to leave.
"It was delicious. We’ll be back," I said.
"Thank you very much. We look forward to seeing you again."
The Landlady saw us out, and we stepped back into the street. It was a great find. Maybe I’d bring Mika and the others next time.
I wonder if a meal made of one hundred percent dungeon ingredients will be possible in just a few years?