We had gathered in the hangar bay to make the bacon.
The bay was a massive space designed for accommodating and maintaining damaged ship-borne craft and work pods. Because the area was built to withstand welding and burner work, its heat and fire resistance were the best on the ship. It was also equipped with a high-capacity exhaust system.
In other words, I could generate a massive cloud of smoke here without anyone raising a fuss.
"It’s certainly... spacious," Emulgand muttered, gazing up at the high ceiling.
Sitting solitary in the middle of the cavernous, empty space was a cylindrical metal container resembling a drum—something I’d had Mina procure for me.
I had fitted a combustion chamber for the chips at the bottom, with hooks and a mesh for hanging the meat at the top. It was a makeshift construction, but structurally, it was a smoker through and through.
"The kitchen’s ventilation system wouldn't be able to handle the sheer volume of smoke we're about to put out. Here, the exhaust ducts are huge, and we're in a completely different sector from the cargo room, where open flames are strictly forbidden."
"Now then, let's get to work."
I opened the bag sitting at my feet.
Inside were the tragic remains of the high-end furniture I had bought out at the shop in Nova. Mina's shredder had processed them into a fine, uniform pile of chips.
"You’re really going to burn them... even though they used to be such expensive oak chairs," Emulgand said, looking at the pile with a hint of regret. To me, however, they looked like a treasure trove of smoking material.
When I scooped a handful up, the pleasant scent of dry wood wafted up to meet me. These were pure, high-quality hardwood chips, completely free of any toxic paints or chemical adhesives.
This was the magical dust that would transform bland synthetic food into actual cuisine.
"I’m going to light these to get the smoke going."
I piled the chips onto the combustion tray and ignited them with a burner. Once the red flames began to lick across the surface, I quickly smothered the fire to let them smolder.
Dense, billowing clouds of white smoke began to rise. It carried a woody scent that felt strangely nostalgic—the calming aroma of a campfire. In an instant, the hangar bay, which had felt like a cold, inorganic metal box, was filled with the warm essence of fire.
"Whoa, that’s intense! But... it smells incredible!" Mina said, fanning the smoke toward herself with a grin, even as she pinched her nose.
"Alright, time for the meat."
I brought out the "Synthetic Meat Blocks" I had prepared earlier. I’d spent extra credits on slightly higher-quality blocks for this. I had rubbed them down with plenty of salt, spices, and a touch of sugar, then left them in a well-ventilated spot to dry the surface.
The salt had drawn out the excess moisture, tightening the surface and deepening the red hue. For now, however, it still smelled like nothing more than plain meat.
I began hanging the slabs on the hooks inside the smoker. Seeing five kilograms of meat disappear into the thick white haze was a spectacular sight.
"Closing the lid. From here on, it’s a waiting game."
As I sealed the metal container, thin wisps of smoke escaped from the gaps, drifting up toward the hangar’s ceiling. The needle on the thermometer climbed, eventually settling between sixty and seventy degrees Celsius.
This was "hot smoking"—a process that would cook the meat through while slowly infusing the aroma of the smoke deep into the fibers.
Several hours passed.
We set up camping chairs on the hangar floor and settled in to keep watch over the smoker. We took turns adding chips and adjusting the temperature.
It was monotonous work, but as time went bit, I noticed the aroma drifting through the air beginning to shift. What started as the simple scent of burning wood began to change as the meat's fat dripped down onto the embers. With a faint sizzling sound, the smell of scorching animal fat began to mingle with the oak.
"I’m... I’m getting so hungry," Emulgand groaned, rubbing her stomach.
Sitting in this aroma for hours was a special kind of torture.
"It should be about ready. I'm opening it up."
Trusting in my own heat resistance, I reached out and gripped the hot lid of the smoker with my bare hands.
"I knew I could handle this temperature."
While the others watched with bated breath, I threw the lid open in one smooth motion.
Clang.
The moment the seal broke, an explosive plume of white smoke erupted, followed by a rich, mellow fragrance that felt almost aggressive in its intensity. When my vision finally cleared, I saw it.
"I-it’s beautiful...!"
Sitting there was a mass of glowing amber—no, a deep, reddish-brown. The object that had once been a bland, pink slab of synthetic protein had been transfigured into a majestic block of bacon, as if the smoke had cast a magic spell upon it.
The surface glistened with rendered fat, and the edges had blackened into a perfect char, promising a concentration of umami.
"Success. This is exactly what I was after."
I removed the piping-hot bacon and set it on a cutting board. Then, I drew my knife.
Crunch.
The surface was firm, providing resistance, but the interior was succulent and tender. As I sliced through, transparent fat and rose-colored juices seeped out. The unnatural, rubbery elasticity common to synthetic meat was gone; I could feel the tightened texture of the muscle fibers through the blade.
"Time for a taste test. Let's head to the kitchen."
We carried the fresh bacon back to the galley. I didn't hold back, carving off thick slices and tossing them straight into a frying pan.
Sizzzzzzzzzle!
Even the sound was different now. As the fat began to pop and render, the heat revitalized the smoky aroma until it dominated every corner of the kitchen.
"Here, Mina. It’s done."
I speared a piece of the crispy, browned bacon with a fork and held it out to her. She opened her mouth wide and bit down with gusto.
"Mmm! Oh wow! The fat just gushes out when you bite it! It’s the best!" Mina cheered, her cheeks bulging as her lips glistened with grease.
Beside her, Emulgand grabbed a fork of her own and tentatively took a bite.
"Mmh! ...Mnnnnnnn!!"
Emulgand’s eyes went wide, and she clutched her face in a state of pure ecstasy.
"W-what is this?! It’s not just salty... there’s so much depth! The more I chew, the more that wonderful scent fills my head!"
"That’s the smoke. The compounds in the wood smoke bond with the proteins in the meat, amplifying the umami flavor tenfold."
I tossed a slice into my own mouth.
I couldn't help but laugh—it was that good. The "rubber-meat" texture of the synthetic base had vanished completely. The concentrated flavor of the meat combined with the tickling scent of oak was enough to make my brain rattle. The fat was sweet, and the lean meat was bold and savory.
This was it. It might not have come from a real pig, but this was unmistakably bacon.
"This is strong enough to stand up to the cream in a carbonara. Or maybe a BLT... though it's also worth serving crispy alongside those precious fried eggs."
Staring at the bacon as it dripped with golden fat, I gave a satisfied nod. With this ingredient in my pantry, my culinary repertoire was about to expand by leaps and bounds.
Editor's Note: Smoking food has such a unique charm, doesn't it? I don't know the exact logistics since I can't really do it in a cramped apartment, but I hope the vibe came through. Just a reminder: think of "General Synthetic Meat" as something like reconstituted or processed meat for a clearer mental image.
If you enjoyed this chapter, please hit the "★" button! It might just help Akito's dinner get another upgrade tomorrow. Thank you for reading!