episode_0029

We, having cleared our heads with soybean sprout soup in the morning, fully relaxed. The girls and I, completely dedicated to loafing around in my room. Leisure that had arrived after a long time. Who knew the word idleness would be this sweet.

Normally, we would have already gone deep into a dungeon and be sweating with a named monster. But today was a day we promised to walk a little slower for each other.

“Yuan~ tear open these potato chips~ my hands aren’t moving~” “Lillien? Would you give me that greatsword. I’ll polish the blade for you on the balcony.” “Really? Arte, you’re the best~♡” Occupying the sofa and bed, we played board games, and walked around the neighborhood for a stroll, truly enjoying a normal day.

And finally, dinner time arrived. “A goose-type monstrous bird… It’s a rare one. How did you get this?” “Shall we say it’s the Demon Clan’s information network? Hehe, it’s a company secret~” Alice and Lillien linked arms with each other and wore proud expressions. “Geese don’t settle in dungeons. They keep moving like migratory birds. This time, luckily, they say it landed on a lake near a neighboring village.” A goose-type monstrous bird. Normally, it was a noble monster whose feathers were the only thing traded. But we are the Gourmand Association. Because we adhere to the principle of never missing a monster that can be eaten. And today’s ingredient they brought so carefully was ‘the monstrous bird’s liver’. It was a top-quality ingredient that would be perfect as foie gras.

“Liver? A monster’s liver?” “Right! The merchant uncle was having trouble with it, so we quickly bought it!” “So, you’re going to grill this for us today?” “No~ we are strictly tasting experts? Yuan is our party’s exclusive chef~” The two carefully placed the carefully packaged ingredient in my hands, as if handing over a Holy Grail. The ingredient sealed multiple times with magic to maintain freshness. Well, it was a situation I had expected anyway. I chuckled and nodded my head. “Alright. Tonight’s dinner is a high-class dish, is it? Goose foie gras. I’ll grill it nicely.”

I carefully cut the large monstrous bird’s liver in half. “The fat content is quite high, isn’t it? If this is the case, cooking oil won’t be necessary.” The texture felt different from the moment it touched my fingertips. It was so oily and glossy that the knife tip would even slip. “Okay. Let’s grill one half.” As soon as I placed it on a well-heated pan— Sizzzle!! Fat seeping in instantly. Golden oil melting and spreading. It was so much that it could already be called a sauce on its own. Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside. Short on time, but intense~ The foie gras grilled with a slightly crispy surface. It had a visual that suggested just one piece would melt in your mouth.

“Transfer it to a plate just like this~” Carefully taking out the grilled foie gras, I put the thickly sliced steak onto the remaining golden oil! Sizzle, sizzle— Meat grilling in the goose liver fat. Flavors layered one upon the other, and the room was filled with the luxurious barbecue smell of meat and foie gras mixed together.

“Mmm~ This smell… Yuaaan!” Alice sneaking in from behind, almost embracing me. Already stuck right next to me with an excited expression, her cheeks puffed out. She sniffed the smell with her small nose, then rubbed her face against my back and whispered. “I wanna eat quicklyyy… Meat, meat, meat~” Lillien, holding Alice in her arms, had also somehow come near me. No wonder. Alice couldn’t possibly reach my shoulder. It was Lillien holding her? With a warm smile, the knight leaned slightly, placing a hand on my shoulder with one hand. “Today, I’d like to ask for such a dish, Yuan. A dish that makes your stomach tingle, and your heart warm~” In that moment, the warmth and voices of the two reached over my shoulder simultaneously. In this space where the sound of meat browning and sweet voices mingled— I smiled slightly and sprinkled seasoning on the sizzling steak once more. “Alright. I’ll make it the most delicious dinner in the world.”

Oh right. The remaining half of the liver had been prepared sous vide. I had set it up in advance to match the time I was grilling the liver before. Into the vacuum bag prepared by Arte, then plop into the low-temperature water bath, with the temperature lowered by Alice! As for what Lillien did? Our knight helps just by staying still. Just not whining about being hungry is half the battle. Anyway, I proceeded with the work of cooking it slowly at an accurate temperature, cooking it soft and moist all the way through. And so, 30 minutes later— I took out the sous vide liver and carefully sliced it with a knife. Swoosh. A fine cross-section where not a single grain had collapsed. It shone moistly as if it held light.

And finally! On one plate, I completed the combination of foie gras on top of steak. On the other plate, I completed a dish centered around sous vide foie gras. The first dish was so good it could be called the romance of meat lovers, with the gravy and liver bursting simultaneously. And the second dish would be the classic of high-class cuisine, gently coating the palate. “Alright, today’s main dish. Two versions of monstrous bird foie gras. I’ve prepared them with care.” Two plates placed on the table.

“Bon appétit~” It was our knight who started. Lillien elegantly held a knife, slowly sliced, and took a bite. “Mmm~ The aroma spreading from the melted fat… It’s making a subtle yet rich temptation, as if sweet cream and crispy gravy are mixed together!” Lillien closing her eyes slightly and making an ecstatic expression. Next to her, Alice cut a large piece of steak, then poked it deeply with sous vide foie gras on her fork and took a bite— “Delicious! It’s a taste bad for your blood vessels, but that’s why it’s even more delicious!” Her eyes widened at the rich flavor spreading throughout her mouth.

And the person moving one beat faster than them. Clack, clack, clack! A sharp sound strangely out of tune with the quiet dining atmosphere. Turning my gaze, Arte was performing knife work with incredible concentration, her eyes sparkling. She meticulously sliced the sous vide foie gras, piled it on the steak, and poked it with a fork all at once. “Nom…” With that small mouth, one bite. And another bite. She, who was silently focused only on eating. “Arte?… Is it that delicious?” When I asked with a slight smile, her hand holding the fork stopped. “Ah…” Arte blinked, looking slightly surprised. Then she carefully wiped off the piece stuck to the corner of her mouth with a tissue. “Excuse me… I’m truly sorry. It was so… so delicious, I just ate without saying anything.” At that moment, a faint pink began to spread slowly from her ears. As if shame clearly existed, even though blood couldn’t rush to a machine’s face. Arte, who would normally explain the exact temperature and concentration, had for today become completely engrossed in the sensation of just ‘delicious’. I was so happy about that fact. I carefully detached a soft piece of foie gras from my plate and offered it to her. “I’m still a bit tipsy. Instead, I would be happy if Arte would eat it deliciously?” Arte quietly shifted her gaze towards me. In that gaze, there was no analysis, no calculation, no command— Just a tiny bit, shy joy. “Thank you. Your kindness… makes me so happy, Yuan. Right now, I don’t even need any logic.” She carefully took the foie gras from my fingertips and put it in her mouth. With a slight smile spreading on the corner of her lips.

Dinner mingling meat and foie gras with warm conversation. In the slightly languid atmosphere, Lillien raised her glass and took a sip of her drink. Her calm eyes quietly turned towards me. “Yuan, how about going on a short trip this time?” “A trip? Seems like it’ll be longer than a night in the dungeon?” “Yes~” The white-haired knight nodded with a slight smile. A pleasant premonition bloomed within her smile. “This time, we plan to cross the border.” At those words, Alice’s eyes sparkling, she quickly thrust her head forward. “Right~ I heard about it when we went to the next village yesterday! They say a newly appeared dungeon was discovered in the neighboring country!” “Another new dungeon? What kind of monster is it this time?” Arte, who had been quietly wiping her mouth, also joined the conversation. “Looking at the records, the purpose of all previous dungeons was to secure food ingredients. If so, this time it will likely be for new cuisine as well.” But Lillien slowly shook her head. Her eyes held mischief and just a slight trace of excitement. “It’s not food, Arte. This time~ it’s wine?” “Wine? Alcohol comes out of a dungeon?” As soon as those words finished, Alice burst out speaking with a face that looked like she was about to get drunk any moment. “Exactly, they say it’s alcohol made by a race called Satyrs~! They say it’s made from very, very rare grapes found only in that forest!” “Satyr. Half human, half goat. That legendary race of heavy drinkers?” “Hehe, you’re quick on the uptake, aren’t you?” Swirling her glass, Lillien let out a low whisper. “That’s right. The treasure of this dungeon is the secret cellar of the Satyrs who brew divine liquor!”

Golden wine said to be richer than grape wine and sweeter than myths. The moment I heard its name, like the wine slightly swaying in the glass, my chest also began to subtly pound. “Sounds good? I’m starting to get really excited.” “So you’re in favor? Then, we’ll handle the departure preparations. Yuan—” Lillien leaned her body very slightly towards me and smiled shyly. “Perhaps you could think in advance of a dish that would pair well with that wine… something sweet and deep?” At those words, I let out a light sigh and put down my fork. With a laugh that was half genuine, half resigned. “Really… this party, has no intention of letting me rest.” But contrary to those words, expectation and excitement quietly bloomed within me. Pushing the plate on the table slightly with my fingertips, I picked up my glass again. “Alright. If it’s wine, I’ll prepare a rich, and very… sweet dish.”

[Eye Catch!] Today’s Dish – Foie Gras Dish using Monstrous Bird Liver The liver of a monstrous bird that Alice and Lillien went on an expedition to the neighboring village to buy! Arte apparently inwardly regretted not being able to go because of personal OS maintenance.

1. Grilled Foie Gras & Steak Combo Even without adding separate oil, the golden oil flows out~ On top of crispy grilled foie gras, steak full of juice! Crispy on the outside, melting on the inside, a fantastic taste! “Originally, ‘crispy outside, moist inside’ was a phrase used for barrel-roasted chicken~” —The chef who suddenly remembered a game from the past

2. Sous Vide Foie Gras Plate The essence of tenderness slowly cooked with the automatas’ sealed pack and the Demon King’s precise temperature control. As if to repay that effort, a moist cross-section that crumbles smoothly along the knife tip! A subtle flavor that spreads slowly and surely on the tongue! “Everyone has at least one Demon King and one Automata in their party, right?” —The knight who worked hard whining about being hungry from behind