Chapter 30: Finally, chicken.

The next task was a simple one that didn’t really need much explanation.

[Artraus’s ghost! What on earth is it doing here!]

[It’s a ghost! A ghost has appeared!]

Find and kill it.

That’s all.

The remaining demons, probably because they were all stragglers, couldn’t even put up a proper fight and collapsed all at once.

Even the ones who tried to attack were swiftly dealt with once they drew their swords.

It wasn’t a lie that Martina had prioritized sturdiness; the sword’s energy held up pretty well.

‘This… it wouldn’t have been much of a problem even if I hadn’t stepped in, would it?’

Wondering if there was some plan I didn’t know about, I searched the places they had been hiding in several times, but there was nothing noteworthy.

The only evidence that they were living creatures like any other was the remnants of their meals.

These creatures, resembling humans, surprisingly ate in a similar way.

In fact, they seemed to take better care of their meals than I did when I was an adventurer.

However, there was one ingredient I couldn’t identify just by looking at it.

‘What is this powder?’

An unknown white powder.

At first, I thought it was flour or salt, but the crystals were fine and the smell was unique, so it was quickly clear it wasn’t that.

And this smell… I feel like I’ve smelled it before…

‘Let’s take it for now.’

I gathered the powder and put it in my pocket, then cleaned up the remaining demons and monsters.

Once everything was cleaned up and I returned to the inn, the prince asked.

“Why are you back so soon? Did you forget something?”

“It’s all done. Let’s head back now.”

“What? It’s already done?”

I took the confused prince back to the mansion, and luckily, we got through without anyone noticing.

Though a royal servant muttered something like, “The prince and you had such a long private meeting…” and shot me a glare, it didn’t matter much. I wouldn’t see them often.

The prince returned, still wearing a face that seemed unsure about everything, after giving his thanks to the members of the Culinary Association. Once the prince left, voices of praise for me echoed through the association.

“Kyle, you’re the hero of our association!”

“I knew it, damn it!”

They each gave me precious spices and unique items, all of which I accepted gratefully.

Among them, there were especially delightful and welcome items.

“If it’s you, I’m sure you can handle this! I’ll give this to you, our rising star in culinary arts!”

“This… is chili? Where did you get this?”

“Did you know? As expected, you’re the chef I recognize! Baron Diabelsta recently brought this in!”

Baron Diabelsta. It’s been a while since I heard that name.

I heard that the new route they opened didn’t go well, but they brought in chili?

Count Robert stroked his mustache and asked me.

“Do you think this item he brought in could open a new horizon for culinary arts? It’s still not well-known. I hope you can be the one to open that door!”

After the members left, I showed the powder I had found in the demons’ temporary hideout to Elder Graham.

“Elder, do you happen to know what this is?”

“I can’t tell just by looking at it. What is it?”

“I found this around here, and I thought maybe you’d know what it is, Elder.”

“Where…”

The Elder picked up the powder and examined it briefly before speaking in a voice full of surprise.

“Isn’t this natron? Where did you find something like this?”

“Natron? What is that?”

“It’s a substance found in lakes on the outskirts of the Estru Kingdom. It has the property of absorbing moisture and preventing decay, so it’s used to preserve corpses.”

I was struck by the shock as if a bolt of lightning had hit my head at those words.

This smell. It absorbs moisture and is used to preserve corpses.

Then this is—

“Sodium bicarbonate! Why didn’t I realize this?”

Sodium bicarbonate.

It’s commonly known as baking soda.

It’s mainly used as a leavening agent and in baking or detergents.

If you neutralize this with acid and add starch, it becomes baking powder.

And baking powder was the main reason I hadn’t been able to make Korean-style or KFC-style chicken!

“I thought you couldn’t get baking soda here because they use yeast to make bread!”

I urgently asked.

“Elder, is there a way to get more of this?!”

“Well, it’s not a rare item, so you could get it if you try, but… what are you going to use it for?”

The Elder questioned me but still told me where I could find baking soda.

Having gathered all the necessary ingredients, I quickly gathered the restaurant members.

“Hey, let’s go back. This is not the time to be here!”

“What’s going on, Uncle?”

“I’ve found the ingredients to make proper chicken!”

Since I had already confirmed the safety of my party members who came to the capital, I didn’t need to worry about that anymore.

I would like to meet them directly, but they’d probably be stuck with the royal family for a while.

So, there was no need to stay in the capital anymore.

With that, we finished our long trip in the capital and headed home.

To fry proper chicken.

“Done…!”

I checked the completed baking powder with an excited heart.

Even though I knew the ingredients for baking powder, I didn’t know the exact ratios, so I had tried dozens of times.

Finally, I succeeded in making baking powder that caused a similar reaction to the one used in modern times.

Selly, who had been looking glum after eagerly waiting for me to make proper chicken but only playing with the powder, suddenly lifted her head at my words.

“Done? Finally?”

“Yeah! It’s really done!”

I put the completed baking powder down and took out the brined chicken I had prepared earlier.

The chicken had been brined in a mixture of water, salt, sugar, vinegar, pepper, and green onions for 6 hours.

Next, the batter.

“Finally, I’m going to make this!”

The essential ingredient, baking powder, which I had been unable to use to make crispy batter differentiating from the existing chicken recipes, was now available!

The batter contained several ingredients.

Flour, starch, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, pepper, and baking powder.

I mixed the powder well and placed some in a bowl, then added eggs and water to the portion I set aside and mixed it.

This completes the preparation for the batter.

Now, all that’s left is to coat the chicken with the batter and fry it.

I first evenly coated the chicken with the water batter, then shook off the excess before dipping it into the bowl of batter.

There’s an important point here.

“Instead of pressing the powder onto the chicken, you should sprinkle it.”

By doing this, you can create the wavy batter that’s typical of fried chicken.

After coating the chicken sufficiently with the powder, I shook off the excess and checked the temperature of the oil pot.

Not long ago, I had completed a pot with a thermometer attached!

I nodded as I looked at the displayed temperature.

“Good, it’s just right.”

Now, it’s time to fry.

The chicken, once dropped into the pot, made a crisp sound as it fried.

You shouldn’t touch the chicken for the first few minutes after it’s put in.

If you touch it incorrectly, the batter will separate.

I calmly waited, watching the chicken fry, while Selly, who was watching from the side, was fascinated by the sight.

“This chicken looks a little different, huh? The batter looks unique!”

“It’s going to taste different too. It’s going to be much crispier.”

Of course, buttermilk chicken is also quite crispy and delicious, but the crispiness of this wavy batter has a different feel to it.

I watched Selly, who was salivating as she observed, and smiled as I gauged how cooked it was.

Then, after a moment of patience, when the batter had reached a perfect golden color, I took the chicken out.

Selly’s eyes sparkled as she asked.

“Is it done?”

“No, not yet.”

“Aww… I’m so hungry…”

“It’s almost done. Just a little more time.”

After letting the chicken cool for a bit, I raised the oil temperature slightly and put the chicken back into the pot.

Double frying, the perfect method for fried food!

The chicken, which went back into the pot for the second time, turned brown beyond golden, and I took it out at the perfect moment.

I looked at the chicken I had taken out and was moved.

“Finally…….”

Finally, chicken.

It wasn’t something I had made with substitutes due to lack of ingredients; it was real, proper chicken.

How long had it been since I started my chicken shop and finally completed this?

In the previous world, I could just tap on my phone a few times and have it delivered to my door, yet it had taken this long here.

As I stared at the chicken with a complex feeling, Selly, sensing something unusual, asked.

“Uncle, is something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

But now, I had finally completed it.

Though I had to fry it myself, I could now fry chicken whenever I wanted.

I plated the perfectly fried chicken and took out the glasses.

“Of course, chicken goes well with beer.”

Honestly, I preferred cola over beer, but—

Being able to enjoy chicken and beer together was such a big deal.

After pouring beer for both Selly and me, I said.

“Alright, let’s eat.”

“Thank you for the meal!”

Selly, who had been waiting, picked up a piece of chicken.

I smiled and picked up a piece of chicken, and together, we took a bite.