The Star Tuna we captured was a behemoth. It wouldn't even fit in the Sperm Whale’s docking bay. Well, it might have if we’d really tried to force it, but since this giant fish wasn't a vessel, the bay's automatic guidance system wouldn't engage. Trying to shove it in manually carried too high a risk of gouging the hull.
Consequently, we decided to handle the butchering in open space.
I climbed into a work pod and faced my prey, which measured a staggering 120 meters in length. Equipped with an industrial laser cutter on my right manipulator arm and a massive hook on the left, I felt like a demolition contractor—or maybe a chef tasked with carving up a mythical titan.
"Listen closely, Akito-kun. First, make an incision in the abdomen and remove the internal organs without nicking them. Pay special attention to the blue, glowing organ next to the liver; that is the 'energy conversion furnace.' It’s highly unstable, so handle it with extreme care."
Professor Stein’s noisy instructions blared through the comms. He was monitoring the work from the bridge via the pod's cameras, keeping a hawk-like eye on the "research materials" he wanted to secure.
"Yeah, yeah, I’ve got it. There’s no point to any of this if I blow the thing up, right?"
I carefully guided the laser scalpel. As I sliced through the thick skin and heavy scales, a dazzling light spilled out from within. It wasn't blood; it was high-purity energy fluid—the creature’s natural bodily fluid.
"Oh...! Magnificent! That conversion furnace alone could power a small city!"
"That’s great to hear, Professor. But my eyes are on the prize behind it."
Hidden deep behind the viscera was a shimmering wall of pink flesh. It was a massive slab of muscle where the creature’s energy was stored, marbled with thick veins of fat.
It was Otoro.
I carved out a massive block and hauled it into a refrigerated container. I moved through the rest of the carcass methodically, sorting out the prime cuts of meat for the kitchen and the research samples for the Professor—the skeleton, the nervous system, the internal organs, and the reproductive glands that might allow for bio-engineered breeding.
The "dismantling show" in outer space turned into a marathon that lasted well over ten hours.
Once the work was finished and we were back aboard the ship, we immediately set about preparing for the "tasting party."
To be honest, my body was trashed from operating the work pod. I was so exhausted that even moving a finger felt like a chore... but I was the only one who could cook. Besides, it was unthinkable to sleep before eating after landing such exquisite prey. My appetite had officially conquered my fatigue.
A massive slab of Otoro, as thick as a man's torso, sat proudly on the kitchen counter. Just sitting there at room temperature, the fat had begun to weep, making the surface glisten with a glossy brilliance. When I drew my knife across it, the blade sank in effortlessly.
"...The fat content is insane. It’s less like meat and more like solid soup."
I arranged the sliced sashimi on a plate, but a problem immediately presented itself: I didn't have any wasabi. I lacked that refreshing, sharp spiciness needed to cut through such intense richness. On top of that, the "pseudo-soy sauce" I had was fine for cooking, but it lacked the refinement to truly elevate the delicate flavor of raw fish on its own.
"...Guess I'll have to get creative."
I pulled out some ingredients I’d picked up at the Oasis market.
Pseudo-Ground Cherry. I didn't care much for the formal name, as long as I knew it functioned like a ground cherry. It was a vibrant orange fruit with a sharp acidity and a distinct, pleasant aroma. I also grabbed some rock salt and coarsely ground black pepper.
Well, strictly speaking, it wasn't real rock salt. It was a product made by feeding sodium chloride into the replicator, adjusting the crystal structure, and regenerating it into small octahedrons. Basically, it was coarse salt I could put through a mill.
I hit the surface of the Otoro with a burner. With a sharp hiss, the fat began to scorch, releasing a mouthwatering, savory aroma. I sprinkled on the rock salt and black pepper, topped each piece with a thin slice of Pseudo-Ground Cherry, and finished it with a few drops of soy sauce.
It was a Japanese-style Carpaccio. Or, considering the lack of oil or a traditional sauce, maybe it was more of a tataki arrangement. Regardless, my strategy was to use acidity and aroma to balance the fat.
For the second dish, I made "Salt-grilled Fish Collar." This one was simple: I tossed the massive collar into the oven and roasted it with nothing but salt. I was letting the quality of the ingredient do all the talking.
"Dinner is served. A Star Tuna Feast."
I carried the dishes to the table. The room was immediately filled with the smoky fragrance of the grilled collar and the decadent aroma of the seared Otoro.
"Whoa...! It’s sparkling!" Mina’s eyes lit up, and Lucia leaned in to inspect the plate with curiosity.
However, Emulgand was the only one whose face was pale and twitching.
"U-Um... Akito-san? This isn't cooked, is it? These slices here..."
"Right. It’s sashimi."
"Eek! E-Eating raw fish is barbaric! This isn't some uncivilized frontier planet. Parasites, unknown viruses... you’re definitely going to get a stomach ache!"
She shook her head, her eyes practically watering with fear. Apparently, in the space age, "raw food" was often classified as a bizarre or dangerous practice. To people whose idea of a meal was a heat-sterilized synthetic block, raw meat was a nightmare.
"How disappointing, Emulgand-kun," the Professor said, readying his knife and fork with an exasperated sigh. "Calling it barbaric is absurd. Your rejection of raw food merely exposes your lack of cultural education."
"B-But...!"
"Furthermore, if you consult the records of various star systems, you will find that by pushing freshness-management technology to its limit, sophisticated cultures have often enjoyed the pure taste of raw ingredients. It is basic knowledge for anyone in bio-cybernetics. Besides, this Star Tuna is essentially a high-purity energy lifeform. Its internal environment is constantly subjected to plasma and high heat. It is a sterile environment where bacteria and parasites cannot possibly survive. Logically, it is the safest 'raw meat' in the galaxy."
Having made his point, the Professor popped a slice of seared Otoro into his mouth.
"...Hm."
He chewed once and closed his eyes.
"...Magnificent. The fat vaporizes the moment it hits the tongue, sending a bolt of rich umami straight to the brain. Then, the acidity of the fruit and the spices cut in sharply, cleansing the palate with a refreshing finish. ...Barbaric? Hardly. This is a calculated work of art."
Witnessing the Professor’s praise, Mina and Lucia both reached for their utensils.
"So good!" "It just melted..."
Finding herself isolated, Emulgand timidly picked up her fork. With a trembling hand, she brought a slice to her lips.
"...Gulp."
She swallowed, braced for the worst. A moment later, her expression froze—and then completely melted into bliss.
"...What is this? I-It’s delicious!?"
Once she knew the taste, she didn't hesitate. She was reaching for the next slice faster than anyone else, eating with frantic abandon. She was nothing if not consistent.
I took a bite of my own portion. The contrast between the savory char of the surface and the cold, rich fat inside was incredible. The acidity and spices were doing their job well. It was undeniably delicious—a masterpiece.
I never thought the day I’d get to eat raw fish would come so soon.
But—
(...It’s still not quite it, though,) I thought to myself.
What should be catching this fat isn't acidity. It should be the sharp, sinus-clearing sting of wasabi and the subtle sweetness of shari—vinegared rice cooked to perfection.
This dish hadn't even scratched the surface of the ingredient's potential. It was the best feast I could manage for now, but it wasn't the summit.
"...One day, for sure."
I stared at the remaining Otoro and made a silent vow. When I finally obtained real wasabi, proper soy sauce, and red vinegar—when I grew real rice and combined them with this ultimate ingredient—that would be one of the true finish lines of my journey.
For now, I would simply enjoy this incomplete, yet supremely delicious, "lingering aftertaste."
I dug a thick piece of meat out of the massive grilled collar and took a huge, satisfying bite.