Curry Party in Burst
While I was cutting up the vegetables and chicken that Belle had peeled, a thought struck me, so I asked her.
"Come to think of it, Belle, you're really good at peeling."
"... That’s really only just now occurring to you? Back then, my aunt told me that if I was going to register as an adventurer, I should at least know some simple cooking. She said it had been rough when she had to cook during her time with the monster subjugation corps."
"Ah, I remember you telling me that before."
"And also, I had fun cooking with Joan in Lampail, so when I came back to Burst, I asked Athos and the others to teach me."
"So that’s how it was~ But doesn’t Belle Mama say anything? I mean... a lady of your status cooking isn’t exactly the norm, right?"
"‘Belle Mama,’ huh... hehe. My mother was from a noble family, but not a wealthy one. She told me she used to help out with chores when she was a child."
"I see~ Well, I’m glad. Cooking with you is fun."
"Hehe, me too... Oh, looks like I’ve finished peeling everything. I’ll help with the cutting now."
"Yeah, thanks."
Grrrr~
"Oh no, I’m starving."
"What? This smell..."
"Never smelled anything like it before."
"Young Lady Belle, Young Lady Joan, what are you making?"
"Curry."
""Curry?""
Though it was familiar in the Lampail household, this was the first time in the Burst household, and the cooks buzzed with excitement.
"Um, it’s a stew made with spices. You pour it over rice to eat it... Here you go."
I made tiny mini curry rice plates and handed them out. Since it was just for tasting, this much should be fine, right?
"If you like spicy food, sprinkle some chili powder on top."
"Delicious!!"
"Yum!!"
I was worried whether it would be accepted in the Burst household, but it looked like it would be just fine.
"I like it better with chili powder."
"Me too!"
"I don’t need it."
"Me neither. It’s plenty good as is."
"Young Lady Joan, could you teach me how to make this later as well?"
"Yeah, of course!!"
Just as I promised Athos a curry lesson, the kitchen door opened.
"Belle!"
It was Hans who entered.
"What is it, brother?"
"What’s that smell? It’s all over the mansion."
"Curry."
"Huh? Curry?"
"Yes, Young Master Hans."
I handed him a mini curry rice as well.
"This is curry? … Delicious! What is this? But—too little!"
"Brother, that’s curry. A spice stew you eat over rice. It’s just a taste test portion. Please wait until dinner!"
Belle shoved her still-complaining brother out of the kitchen.
"Um, Young Lady Joan? With curry rice, what about the other dishes?"
"Ah—then, how about making it self-topping?"
"""Self-topping?"""
I explained how we had served it in Lampail to adventurers and the subjugation corps, with fried vegetables, steak, fried eggs, cheese, and so on that people could top as they liked. Everyone agreed, so we all started preparing toppings.
"Hey, Joan, how about eating outside like in Lampail? Since I helped with the curry, I want to see everyone’s reactions."
"Yeah, of course!!"
"Then, I’ll go ask Father~"
"Ah, why not take some mini curry rice along?"
"Good idea... I’ll be back."
＊＊＊＊＊
"""""Delicious!!"""""
"""""So good!!!!"""""
"""""Yummy!!"""""
""Whoa, spicy!!""
"Ahahahaha, you guys put on way too much chili powder!"
At the Burst estate’s training grounds, everyone was having a curry party.
Looking around, Belle’s family, the servants, the private soldiers—everyone was eating curry with smiles on their faces.
"Belle, I’m glad everyone’s enjoying it."
"Yeah!"
While we were celebrating, Hans slowly, carefully approached.
"Brother?"
"... Don’t talk to me now. I’m concentrating."
Looking closely, the plate he carried was filled to the brim with curry, held together only by surface tension.
"Brother... didn’t you pour too much?"
"... Phew, I made it without spilling."
On top of that, every single topping was stacked high.
"All-in..."
"Too greedy..."
"Well, once I started adding this and that, it ended up being everything. Still, curry is amazing. I knew rice was good, but pour curry on it, and it turns into a drink! Ahahaha!"
"......"
Well, I do know people say curry is a drink. Even my husband in my previous life used to say that...
But to hear it from someone who, until recently, thought rice was animal feed, that was unexpected.
"By the way... I’ve been wondering..."
"Hm? About what?"
"Those people over there..."
"Huh? … Ah, that’s a rank A party from the Burst Adventurers’ Guild. Father must’ve given them a request or something."
"Could it be... the party called something of the Wasteland?"
"Yeah, that’s them. Huh? You’ve met them before?"
"Not from you, Belle, but about five years ago in Lampail, I met them once."
"Eh? Really?"
"Yeah. Remember that letter I wrote you about the direwolf subjugation?"
"Uh, you mean when Pearl came?"
"That’s right. They joined the hunt back then."
"Oh, really? I had no idea~ Then, let’s go say hi!"
"Yeah, let’s do that."
What do you think about this chapter?
