By evening three days later, the village square was packed with almost every resident. Bonfires, massive pots, and tables were scattered throughout the area, groaning under the weight of an endless variety of dishes.
Just as I had heard on the boat, the Nest Rats had successfully dammed the river downstream. Over the last three days, the Mad Salamander population had plummeted. Simultaneously, the Fishery Guild had officially declared the end of the season for Shikumu and all neighboring villages.
And so, this morning, preparations for a festival to celebrate the successful conclusion of the fishing season were in full swing. We were using the catch from the year's final haul along with food purchased from the town. Everything was just about ready to begin.
All that was left was—oh, speak of the devil.
"The Lord has arrived!" a man shouted as he sprinted into the square.
The village elders, led by the chief, scrambled to greet him. I tucked myself into the back of the group as we headed down toward the beach. We arrived just as the Lord was stepping off his boat.
"Welcome, my Lord," the chief said with a bow.
"Ah, Village Chief. Thank you for the welcome." After acknowledging the elders, the Lord turned toward me. "Ryoma-kun. Thank you for the invitation. I have been looking forward to this."
"The pleasure is mine. Thank you for agreeing to my request on such short notice."
This went back to the Lord’s second request—his desire for a regional specialty for the Fatma Territory. On the day he’d asked, the hot spring cleaning had taken priority, so we hadn't settled on a specific time or method for me to present my ideas.
Remembering that, I had invited him to Shikumu’s End-of-Fishing Festival so I could serve the actual dishes I had in mind. I’d considered the possibility that he might refuse, but he had readily agreed. That was why we were in this situation now.
The Lord’s party consisted of his two Dragonewt guards, Pigu-san, and one more person—a Pig-kin man introduced to me as the Count's Head Chef.
As soon as we returned to the square, the festival began. Village festivals like this didn't have strictly fixed start times; things just kicked off whenever the preparations were done and enough people had gathered. The Village Chief and the Lord gave formal greetings, but they kept them mercifully brief.
Afterward, the Lord’s party was guided to special seats set up in a corner of the square, near the God Statue I had prayed to before. I set up my custom-ordered magic cooking tool set right next to them.
The Head Chef was the first to react. "Oh... this is an impressive magic cooking tool. It's high-performance and quite large for something meant to be portable. It has an iron plate, a large stove, and space for four pots. Splendid."
"I have an acquaintance who is a master craftsman, and I had him custom-make this for me," I explained. "As an adventurer, I camp out a lot, and I prefer to eat properly cooked meals whenever possible. Fortunately, I can use Space Magic, so the size isn't an issue for transport."
"Pff, it seems you are quite the gourmet. I’ve seen my fair share of adventurers, but you’re the first I’ve met who carries around a custom-built kitchen. And if I’m not mistaken, is that the seal of the Dinome Workshop? They’ve been making quite a name for themselves lately."
So, the Lord knew about Dinome’s work.
"I am impressed by your keen eye. As you say, it is a work from the Dinome Workshop."
"As a noble, one must stay informed on the latest trends," the Lord said with a wry smile. "Otherwise, one can’t keep up with the conversation at social gatherings. You understand the struggle, I'm sure."
"Now then," I continued, "I personally believe the dish I’m proposing today is best when freshly made, so I’ll be cooking it right here. The prep work is already done, so it won't take long. In the meantime, there’s plenty of other food to enjoy, so please help yourselves while you wait."
"I look forward to it. What do we have here?"
"I highly recommend the 'Oden.' The villagers who helped with the trial run called it a 'luxurious version of their usual soup.' It’s made with processed fish, tofu, vegetables, and root crops. When eaten with grated Horas, the flavor is very close to the soups common in this region. It’s been well-received as a familiar yet refined taste. We also have 'Agedashi Tofu,' 'Tofu Hamburgers,' and 'Inari Sushi'—"
"Sushi? Did you say sushi?"
I blinked. One of the Dragonewts—Kitchomaru-dono, I believed—was staring at me with sudden, intense focus. Did he like sushi that much?
The Lord spoke up to clarify. "Kitchomaru-dono follows a very strict diet as part of his training. Normally, he is restricted to a very specific set of meals."
"I see." If it was for training or religious reasons, I shouldn't have been so casual. I made a mental note to ask about dietary taboos next time.
"However," the Lord added, "there are always exceptions. And 'sushi' is one of them."
"Indeed," Kitchomaru-dono added solemnly. "'Sushi,' 'tempura,' and 'sukiyaki' are the exceptions, de gozaru."
I felt a bit deflated. His "exceptions" sounded like a stereotypical foreigner’s image of Japan from a century ago. I remembered what Asagi-san had told me about the founder of the Dragonewt Village being an otherworlder who had a bit of a "misunderstood samurai" obsession. That explained a lot.
"Well, I’m glad I have something you can eat. I actually have sukiyaki prepared, and since I have oil, I can make tempura as well. They might not be exactly what you’re used to, but would you like some?"
"What! Truly? Then I shall have the Inari Sushi, sukiyaki, and tempura!"
"Understood. We also have 'Chimaki' and 'Mixed Rice,' as well as 'Kinpira Gobo,' 'Lotus Root Stuffed Fry,' and 'Mustard Lotus Root.'"
"We will take one of everything," the Lord ordered concisely.
I asked the Village Chief to handle the basic orders while I focused on the cooking. I got to work steaming, grilling, and frying.
"Hmm. So this is fish paste and mashed tofu, formed into shapes and deep-fried. With so much variety, one would never tire of it."
"This Agedashi Tofu is wonderful. The dashi has soaked right into the coating for a gentle, savory flavor."
"This stuffed fry is excellent. I have a notorious weakness for lotus root."
"I thought it looked strange since it's not like the sushi in my village, but this Inari Sushi is quite good."
"The mixed rice and kinpira taste just like home, de gowasu. It’s quite nostalgic..."
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. I prepared the dipping sauce as the final touch. "Thank you for waiting. This is the dish I am officially proposing: 'Gyoza.'"
I cleared the empty plates from the table and lined up the freshly made gyoza.
"I see. So it’s a filling wrapped in wheat dough and then cooked. You’ve served some in soup, some fried, and some steamed, but the core is the same, yes?"
"Exactly. Depending on the method, they’re called Boiled Gyoza, Pan-fried Gyoza, Deep-fried Gyoza, and Steamed Gyoza. I have employees from Jilmar who tell me there’s a similar dish in their homeland."
"Jilmar cuisine, eh? Let me try one."
"I’ve prepared eight types of sauces. Please, help yourself."
The party sampled the gyoza immediately.
"Oof, huff, huff... Mmm! Hot, but delicious!"
"Truly. When you bite into the pan-fried ones, the savory juices from the meat just burst out."
"The boiled gyoza are much lighter and go perfectly with the soup."
"The deep-fried ones have a fantastic crunch, de gowasu."
They were clearly enjoying the meal, but the Lord’s expression soon turned thoughtful. It was to be expected; after all, I had only made very standard gyoza.
"It is certainly delicious," the Lord said. "But..."
"This alone wouldn't be enough to make it a specialty for the territory, would it?" I finished for him.
"Exactly. These are filled with pork and vegetables, and the wrapper is wheat. The steamed ones use rice flour. Unfortunately, none of those are primary products of this territory. You likely bought these ingredients from town merchants who imported them. If we rely solely on outside ingredients, it's a weak pitch for a local specialty. But you seem to already know that. I take it you’re suggesting we make these using local materials?"
"Your intuition is spot on. This was merely a sample to demonstrate the diversity of the dish."
"Diversity?"
"As you saw, gyoza is just a filling wrapped in dough. I used pork and vegetables this time, but the filling can be anything. The skin can be made from any grain flour—wheat, rice, or even local starches. And there are four primary cooking methods. With the eight sauces I’ve provided, that’s already sixty-four combinations before you even change the filling. The possibilities are infinite."
"Hmm... that is intriguing. It feels like a culinary platform with endless variations."
"I agree. In fact, I asked the villagers to prepare their own variations for you today."
"What?"
The Village Chief stepped forward on cue. "Lord, after hearing the young man's explanation, several villagers made their own gyoza. They may be humble, but would you be willing to try them?"
"I would be honored."
One by one, the villagers brought their creations. First was an elderly woman, supported by her grandson.
"This is boiled gyoza in a Horas-based soup. It’s soft and very comforting."
"Thank you, my Lord. My husband and I are at an age where we prefer softer foods, so I made something that felt like home."
Next was a burly fisherman who looked like he wanted to bolt for the exit. "I-I don't usually cook, my Lord. This probably isn't fit for a noble, but..."
"Hahaha. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but the flavor is solid. This is a good pan-fried gyoza."
"Th-thank you! My wife is expecting, so I wanted to make something hearty!"
Then came a confident-looking woman. "Oh! This is excellent! Plump marsh shrimp and finely chopped lotus root. The texture is wonderful."
The Lord sampled several more, looking more impressed with each bite. Finally, he looked at me with a grin. "They were all delicious. I see the diversity you spoke of. But now I have a different problem—I can't choose just one."
"Lord, I don't believe you need to. Why not encourage each region of the Fatma Territory to develop its own unique gyoza using local ingredients? Shikumu has the lake, but other areas bordering neighboring territories might have better access to wheat or different livestock. If every village has its own 'flavor,' travelers and merchants will have something new to look forward to at every stop. It would revitalize the whole territory."
I mentioned the success of similar "gyoza towns" in my old world, like Utsunomiya or Hamamatsu. I also pointed out the empty buildings along the highways that had been built for road workers years ago.
"Those buildings were my father's projects," the Lord said. "We kept them open for travelers to take shelter from the rain, but they’ve become a bit of a management headache. What are you suggesting?"
"Turn them into 'parking areas' or 'drive-thrus.' If travelers could buy hot, portable gyoza while they rest, it would be a huge draw. It would also give the Guard Force a reason to maintain a presence there, which would improve safety for everyone."
"I like that. Gyoza isn't a complex dish; even that fisherman earlier managed it. It would be easy to teach to other villages. And it’s a perfect way to use ingredients that people might otherwise avoid because of their appearance."
I mentioned things like octopus or certain shellfish that might look "scary" but taste great.
"If you mince the ingredients and wrap them in dough, the appearance doesn't matter anymore," I added.
The Lord burst into laughter, even snorting a bit. "Hah! You’ve really thought this through. Many chefs send me recipes, but you’re the first to send me a business model along with the meal. I asked for a specialty, and you gave me a whole industry. You might find it embarrassing, but the title 'Sage of Barley Tea' really does fit you. Or perhaps now it's 'Sage of Barley Tea and Gyoza'?"
The Lord’s expression turned serious. "I can't make a decision on the spot, as there are many preparations to consider, but your proposal is truly worthy of deep consideration. Thank you, Ryoma-kun."
"The honor is mine, Lord. This proposal was only possible because of our time at the mountain cabin."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"The hand-drawn map in that cabin. A map that detailed could only be drawn by someone who truly loved and understood this land. Seeing how much the Former Lord cared for this territory made me realize that a specialty shouldn't just be about one taste—it should be about representing everything the territory has to offer."
I explained how my perspective had shifted during that cleaning job.
"I realized I didn't have enough knowledge to pick the 'best' food. So, I decided on a dish that would allow the people who do know the land to make it their own. I got so focused on the idea that I ended up making several requests of the villagers and the Lord without thinking of the trouble I was causing."
"You certainly were focused," the Lord chuckled. "The villagers seem quite happy, though."
I turned to the Village Chief and bowed. "I am truly sorry for the imposition."
"Don't be silly," the Chief said. "Having the Lord join our festival is an honor. And many of us elders owe a debt to the Former Lord; we're happy to help. Besides, you donated high-quality beef for the feast and used that barrier magic to keep the whole square warm. No one is complaining. Now, let’s just enjoy the party!"
"I’m relieved to hear that," I said.
The Lord pointed toward a nearby shadow. "By the way, there's a child over there who looks like he’s dying to talk to you."
It was Niki-kun. He looked flustered being noticed by the Lord, so I beckoned him over. "Lord, this is Niki. He’s been a huge help with the preparations."
"Is that so? Thank you for your hard work, Niki-kun. I’ve enjoyed some wonderful food today because of it."
"Hehe, thanks!" Niki-kun beamed, though he was still a bit stiff. Then he turned to me. "But Niichan, there’s still the other stuff, right? The experiments!"
"Experiments?" the Lord asked curiously.
"Yeah! The stuff with the new slime!"
"Oh... you mean the Ash-dried Fish?"
Over the last three days, I’d had a new evolution. The slime I’d found in my charcoal kiln long ago had finally evolved after consuming massive amounts of ash from the village hearths.
"Ash Slime" Skills: Scattering, Cohesion, Moisture Absorption, Drying, Disinfection, Digestion, Absorption, Division.
It looked like a pile of dry, powdery ash. It didn't need much water—in fact, it hated getting wet—and it could pull moisture right out of the air. I’d realized it could be used for food preservation, specifically the "ash-drying" method I remembered from my old world.
"I can't guarantee the taste," I said cautiously.
"But Niichan, you said it was great! And what about the 'Eel' and 'Pufferfish'?"
I nearly choked. "Niki! When did you see that?"
"I saw you picking them out of the scrap pile at the processing plant! You used the Bloody Slime to check for parasites and everything!"
In this region, eel, scorpionfish, and pufferfish were considered "garbage fish" or too poisonous to eat. I’d been secretly experimenting with them, using my slimes to ensure they were safe.
"I thought I was being subtle," I muttered.
"Hehe! I'm an expert at mischief, you can't hide that from me!"
The Lord and the Village Chief were now leaning in, their eyes sparkling. "Fish that are currently thrown away but could be edible? As a Lord, I would very much like to hear more about that. And perhaps taste it."
"We are curious as well," the Chief added.
I had the ingredients and the seasonings—miso and soy sauce I'd bought in town. I couldn't say no.
"Understood. I will use Appraisal to ensure there is no poison."
With the Head Chef’s help, I got to work. We prepared "Seared Ash-dried Akame," "Scorpionfish Tempura," "Grilled Eel (Shirayaki and Kabayaki)," "Pufferfish Sashimi," "Pufferfish Hot Pot," and even "Pufferfish Fin Sake."
The reaction was instantaneous.
"I wasn't sure about burying fish in ash, but this is incredible. Can I have another?"
"This scorpionfish tempura is divine, de gowasu!"
"The eel is so rich... and not muddy at all! How is it so tender?"
"My Lord, the pufferfish sashimi is so elegant... and this fin sake! To think we were throwing all of this away!"
The villagers, drawn in by the heavenly scent of the grilled eel, began to crowd around my stove. The Lord declared it an informal party, and my cooking area was quickly transformed into the most popular stall in the square.
"Wahaha! This is great! We're gonna start eating these fish instead of letting them ruin our nets!"
"More booze over here!"
I was working like a man possessed. "Pufferfish is out! Scorpionfish, last call! Eel... I can make one more batch of rice bowls!"
"I'll help!" the Head Chef shouted, clearly having the time of his life.
"Wait, I have more ingredients here!" Mei-san appeared with a fresh crate of fish. "Use these!"
"You're a lifesaver, Mei-san!"
Maybe it was the festival atmosphere, but despite the chaotic pace, I was having a blast. I cooked until my supplies were gone, feeding every villager who came my way as the night deepened and the celebration roared on.