Soba
The next day, I went to Count Reluta’s townhouse in the morning with my father.
When we were shown into the reception room, Lady Reluta, Ed, Marquis Eden, Young Lady Saelmira, and two young men were there.
“Margrave Lampail, Miss Joan, welcome. I apologize for keeping you waiting today.”
“No, thank you for coming all the way to the General’s yesterday.”
“Let me introduce my sons.”
“Nice to meet you. I am Count Reluta’s eldest son, Alminas Reluta. I belong to the Mage Corps and have been indebted to Noel since our academy days.”
Alminas was a handsome man who looked like Count Reluta—soft olive semi-long hair, green eyes. He was the same age as Brother Noel and apparently the same class in the Mage Corps.
“Nice to meet you. I am Count Reluta’s second son, Ishirion Reluta. I make magic tools at the royal castle.”
Ishirion was a handsome man resembling Lady Reluta and Ed—bronze hair sticking out as if he’d just woken up, brown eyes behind silver-rimmed glasses.
“We also have a daughter, Edrahill, but she serves as a maid at the royal castle.”
So Ed was the youngest of four siblings.
Still, having the Ed family and the two from Elfa all in one room… this many beautiful men and women together—it was really a feast for the eyes.
“Now then, Joan, may I ask you about Soba?”
Just as the maid finished serving tea, Count Reluta spoke.
“Yes. What would you like to know?”
“Recently, Joan said that Soba can grow even in poor soil. Is that true?”
“If Soba is the same as the soba I know, then that’s very likely. If we have some, I could… perform a search.”
“If it’s Soba, it should be among the gifts I brought for my sister this time.”
Marquis Eden looked at Lady Reluta, who nodded and instructed the steward to bring it.
The steward returned and placed a plate on the table containing soba grains I had seen even in my previous life.
“Then, I’ll perform the search. Search Open.”
“““““““Eh!?””””””
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[Soba Grains]Plant. Can be harvested roughly 70–80 days after sowing; can grow and bear grains even in poor soil. However, yield is low in poor soil.
Origin: Elfa Kingdom, Eden Domain.
Material: White flowers; fruit shell black or brown.
Edible: Yes, used as food.
Main use: Ground into flour for soba.
Ways to eat: Soba porridge, noodles, sobagaki, soba shochu.
Galette.
Note: Soba hulls also make excellent pillows.
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“Oh, it’s exactly like the soba I know.”
“Umm… more than that… I didn’t know you could display a search like that…”
Count Reluta seemed amazed that the search could be displayed.
“Could it be, Joan, that you have Search S?”
“Yes.”
“That’s incredible. Noel keeping quiet about it means you must be really cute, Joan.”
Alminas said that even though Brother Noel was a magic nerd, he hadn’t mentioned anything about my skill.
“How is it eaten in Elfa?”
“In our country, we just boil it and add flavor. So, I don’t know the ways displayed just now,” Marquis Eden explained.
“If you like, I could make a dish using the Soba grains. That way, it’s easier to understand, right?”
“Joan, you know how to make it? Then please do!”
At Count Reluta’s request, the steward led me to the kitchen.
“So, what are you going to make?”
Ed asked, walking alongside me. Saelmira was there too. We’d become friendly—she even allowed me to call her Mira just now.
“Hm, maybe galette and soba noodles.”
“What kind of food is that?”
Mira asked eagerly. She apparently loved to eat, which is why we got along quickly.
“Galette is a crepe made from buckwheat flour. Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour too—like spaghetti, but you dip them in soup to eat.”
““Wow~””
Once in the kitchen, I was introduced to the head chef and explained what I wanted to do. He listened to my story, even though he didn’t know who I was, and prepared the ingredients.
Later, Ed told me the chef knew I often cooked at the knight dormitory and that some of my recipes were patented. Apparently, Ed and Lady Reluta had mentioned it to him.
Making the galette was simple: mix buckwheat flour, water, and salt. Spread thinly in a pan like a crepe; once the surface is cooked, add ham, egg, and cheese. When the fillings are cooked through, fold the four sides in to enclose them, and it’s done.
For soba noodles, use an 8:2 ratio of buckwheat flour to wheat flour. Sift the flours into a large bowl, form a loose mound, create a well in the center, add water, and mix quickly. Break up large lumps, make a loose mound again, add water. Once the water is absorbed and the dough forms a smooth ball, place it on a floured surface and roll thin with a rolling pin, flouring as needed. Fold the thin dough, place a light board on top, and cut into thin noodles. Then boil, and it’s ready.
This time, I made zaru soba so everyone could taste the noodles properly. The dipping sauce came from storage.
I was nervous about how everyone would react, but honestly, I was just excited for them to taste the soba.
What do you think about this chapter?
