It’s finally time to cook!
Thanks to the newly crafted rice milling magic tool, the process of polishing rice has become much easier—though I do wish it had been introduced earlier!
Even though body enhancement magic had made rice milling somewhat more efficient since the beginning, pressing a button to do it quickly and effortlessly is obviously a better deal.
“Oh… So, in the Doristan Kingdom, they’ve even developed a magic tool specifically for milling rice?!”
Prince Kaldor, seemingly weary of the repetitive and mundane labor involved in milling, gazed at the magic tool with delight.
“Um, well… rather than saying it’s from the Doristan Kingdom, it’s something specially commissioned by the Ellisfeed Duchy. Because our consumption of Lars is significantly higher than elsewhere, we had this custom-made. The rice milling machine isn’t something that can be mass-produced or sold at an accessible price for the general public, so it’s not currently available on the market. One was just recently presented to the royal palace, though.”
Head Chef hastily clarified.
Well, that figures—this rice mill was the result of a collaboration between Galvano Ojisama, the legendary blacksmith, and Owen-san, the obsessive magic tool craftsman. Of course, it would end up being expensive.
Whenever I request cooking tools or magic implements, I always prepare to pay a premium, but Uncle never charges me more than the bare minimum, and Owen-san’s obsession with rare magic stones means he enthusiastically takes on even the most complex commissions if they involve intricate magic arrays. So, I can’t really gauge how much these things actually cost.
Besides, Uncle only forges weapons when he’s in the mood, and Owen seems to abhor the monotony of producing mass-market items, preferring instead to pour all his passion into creating new magic tools.
He even told me as much during our first encounter, between bouts of nerdy tool talk.
“… I was hoping I might be able to purchase one, but… well, if it’s so costly and can’t be mass-produced, it seems pointless to try.”
Prince Kaldor slumped his shoulders in disappointment.
“It is undoubtedly expensive, yes. Regarding mass production, the designs and specifications have been registered with the Magic Tools Guild, so anyone who purchases the plans can produce them without restrictions.”
“Oh, in that case…!”
Hope flickered in Prince Kaldor’s eyes as he perked up at the chef’s explanation.
“… However, I’ve heard that when the guild staff reviewed the submitted specifications, someone shouted, ‘Who on earth created such a perverse magic array?! It’s too complicated to make!’ or something to that effect…”
“… It seems best to let this one go for now.”
I deeply apologize for the eccentricities of the magic tool artisans from my domain…
The next time I see Owen-san, I’ll have to ask him to make the design more mass-production-friendly.
“In the meantime, how about milling rice with a waterwheel? If I recall correctly, after the method for cooking Lars spread through the trade guild, waterwheel milling gradually became more common.”
Waterwheel milling works slowly, without generating heat, so the flavor doesn’t deteriorate.
“Oh, that’s a good idea! Why didn’t I think of that?”
A lively discussion about rice milling ensued before we finally turned our attention to cooking.
“Alright then, let’s try cooking some Idika rice.”
“Yes, please go ahead, Miss Cristea!”
With eager anticipation in his voice, Prince Kaldor turned to me, joined by Tika-san’s cheerful attempts to liven up the atmosphere.
T-this is… a little nerve-wracking.
“Well, first and foremost, let me emphasize that while Idika resembles Lars, the cooking methods are likely different.”
“Indeed, it seems that way.”
“Therefore, I’d like to try a different preparation method.”
“Yes, please do.”
After confirming Prince Kaldor’s nod, I moved to the water station with the milled Idika.
“First, we wash the Idika rice in water. Ideally, you’d rinse until the water runs clear, but a slight cloudiness is fine if you’re pressed for time.”
Just like Lars, it’s crucial to pour out the initial water immediately to prevent any musty odor.
“Next, soak the rice in water for about fifteen minutes. This is a batch that’s already been soaking.”
The batch I had prepared earlier with Head Chef during tea time replaced the freshly rinsed one.
“Ohhh!”
Prince Kaldor and Tika-san cheered as if they were watching a cooking show.
Their honest reactions were endearing, but also a bit embarrassing.
Time to refocus and move on to the next step.
“Bring a pot of water to a boil, then add the soaked Idika rice. Stir occasionally with a spatula as it simmers. Once the grains become translucent and plump, strain them in a colander.”
This method is known as the “boiling method.”
When cooking long-grain rice on the stovetop, this approach is the most reliable way to ensure it turns out well.
As the rice drained, I quickly cleaned the pot.
“Return the drained Idika to the rinsed pot, and heat gently while stirring until you hear crackling sounds from the bottom of the pot. This removes excess moisture.”
When the crackling started, I removed it from the heat, covered it with a lid, and let it steam for about ten minutes.
Since this was my first time cooking Idica, I’d need to experiment to determine the ideal steaming time, but for now, this should suffice.
The aroma wafting from the pot… Could this be similar to jasmine rice, a fragrant high-grade long-grain rice from my previous life?
“Hmm… It has a rather unique fragrance.”
“Yes, quite different from Lars, isn’t it?”
As the rice steamed, even the cooking staff who had been busy elsewhere began to gather, drawn by the enticing aroma.
“This looks about ready.”
With a sense of anticipation, I lifted the lid.
Ahhh… What a heavenly scent.
While the aroma of cooking Lars is nostalgic for my former Japanese self, this is something else entirely!
“Is this… truly Idica?”
“No way… It smells amazing!”
Prince Kaldor and Tika-san leaned in, sniffing the fragrant steam as if in disbelief.
After fluffing the rice with a spatula, I scooped up a portion to taste.
“… Yes! It’s a success!”
The Idika turned out beautifully, distinct from Lars yet retaining its own delightful qualities.
“Hey, no fair—let me try it too!”
“Yeah, I helped carry it; I deserve a taste!”
Laughing, I handed out small portions for everyone to try.
Prince Kaldor and Tika-san stared at their plates, hesitant at first.
Were they reluctant because Idika had once been considered livestock feed?
“… Alright, here goes.”
“Right.”
They each cautiously took a bite.
Well? How does it taste?!
What do you think about this chapter?
