Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: A Snack for the Commoners

It’s been three days since I started sword training.

I’ve already reached Sword Skill Level II.

Normally, it takes decades of training for someone talented to reach this level.

As skills progress from level I to II, and from II to III, the required proficiency increases exponentially.

However, with overwhelming talent, the skill of a fool gained from ten years of spear training, coupled with the strategy utilizing cooking skills, and further enhanced by my love for Tina, it became possible.

…However, convincing Tina, who had convinced herself that she was mentally ill and had acted strangely, was quite difficult.

“Kurt-sama, what should we do with this mountain of cabbage?”

Tina asks as she puts the scraps from making dried meat into the pot for today’s lunch. The scraps make a good broth.

“I’m considering it properly.”

To save cabbage, I had Tina peel off each leaf one by one and slice them extremely thinly. However, even with that, we have a mountain of cabbage piled up.

Although we’re eating it, we can’t keep up with consumption.

By the way, there’s a reason we were able to secure this much cabbage.

We grow cabbage in the neighboring village, and this year’s harvest was unusually abundant. We have so much that it’s practically rotting and needs to be used as fertilizer.

Thanks to this, the exchange rate with wheat was much lower than usual. I acquired a large amount and planned to distribute cabbage to the villagers.

“I’ll treat everyone in the settlement to snacks made with cabbage. After three days of special training, I’m confident I can beat Yorg, so I can afford to show my face and offer something.”

Just distributing cabbage wouldn’t make much sense, so I prepared a recipe to teach them a delicious way to eat it.

I’ll put that recipe into practice today.

“That’s good to hear. I think everyone will be happy to see you again after so long.”

Tina says with a smile as she adds firewood to the stove.

Suddenly, the fire flares up.

Tina’s fluffy tail hair bristles.

“Kyaa! What’s this? It’s suddenly burning so fiercely!”

Tina exclaims.

Looking at Tina, I confirm that magic is flowing from her into the stove.

“Tina, calm down and take a deep breath. Remember when I taught you how to use magic? Keep your focus on the fire; you’re connected to it with your magic.”

I reassure her.

“Oh, I see. Ah, I guess I wanted it to burn more.”

Tina realizes.

“Normally, it wouldn’t happen like this. Tina’s attribute is fire. When someone with magic touches an attribute they’re attuned to, they might awaken to attribute magic. Congratulations, Tina; you’ve awakened.”

I explain.

“Really?! Being able to use fire seems convenient!”

Tina remarks excitedly.

As she speaks, Tina uses her magic to light and extinguish the fire in the stove. It’s quite a useful power.

“Your power seems quite strong. You could probably cook without using firewood.”

I suggest.

“I’ll give it a try… Ah, I did it! Kurt-sama, now I can make warm dishes without chopping firewood!”

Tina says, wagging her tail happily, her eyes sparkling.

“Nice, isn’t it? But don’t be jealous.”

I teased her.

“Jealous? Why?”

Tina asks.

“Yeah, I’m an earth attribute, but I haven’t awakened to attribute magic yet.”

I admit, with eyes that seem to see everything.

However, there’s still no sign of awakening to attribute magic. Despite touching the earth almost every day with farming. It’s a bit complicated. Maybe I need to increase my connection with the earth somehow.

“Don’t worry, Kurt-sama! You’ll awaken someday, I’m sure of it.”

Tina reassures me.

“I hope so. We’ll think about it when the time comes. Tina, can we use the soup you’re preparing for lunch as a gift? We’ll eat with them over there.”

I suggest.

“Of course, I don’t mind at all. I’m looking forward to your cooking, Kurt-sama.”

Tina replies.

And so, with a large amount of cabbage I chopped, we headed to the settlement.

◇

I carry a large stone slab on my back, holding a pot filled with plenty of soup, while Tina carries a basket filled with a large amount of cabbage, and we arrive at the settlement.

I have an idea for a dish using cabbage. It’s a simple dish made with just a small amount of wheat, cabbage, and broth.

However, its deliciousness is noteworthy.

“Hey, everyone! How’s it going?”

I call out to the workers.

Solte, the leader of the villagers in the settlement, speaks up.

“Hey, lad, you came to visit?”

“Yeah, since the special training is over, I wanted to make sure everything’s okay and bring a gift.”

I explain.

“Well, there haven’t been any problems so far. Oh, a gift? That’s great!”

Solte responds.

“Good to hear. I’ll get things ready here, so when it’s a good time, can you gather everyone?”

I ask.

“Sure thing. Got it.”

Solte agrees.

And with that, Solte heads back to the others.

I begin preparing the gifts for everyone.

I stack stones to create a platform and place a stone slab on top.

Carefully adjusting to make it level. Though there aren’t exactly the right size stones, I use a stone knife to cut them neatly. With Sword Skill Level II, tasks like this are easy.

“Tina, could you heat up this stone slab for me?”

I ask.

“Yes, Kurt-sama.”

Tina responds.

Tina heats the stone to a sizzle with her fire attribute magic.

What I’m making is a snack, though it’s more like a monjayaki*, a type of Japanese pan-fried batter.

*Japanese pan-fried batter

“Hey lad, everyone’s here.”

Solte announces.

“Alright, let’s get started.”

I replied.

First, I pour Tina’s soup base—made from scraps of dried meat for flavor, seasoned with salt—into a wooden bowl. Then I add wheat flour and cabbage.

Next, I add the sauce.

The sauce is made by turning finely chopped cabbage into a paste, mixing it with meat juice and grated vegetables, and simmering with vinegar, honey, and salt.

Since it’s a monjayaki, the batter is loose.

I pour a small amount of batter onto the heated stone slab.

There’s a sizzle, and the rich aroma of meat soup and sauce fills the air, tempting the villagers.

As it cooks, I use a wooden spatula to shape it into a circle, creating a small wall around the edge.

I add more batter in the center, allowing it to flow outwards but stopping it with the wall.

The batter becomes translucent.

Since there are many people, I’ve made large-sized portions on the big stone slab.

Unlike okonomiyaki, there’s no need to flip it, so I can make a large batch at once.

“With that, it’s done. This is a dish called monjayaki. It’s full of water and cabbage, so don’t skimp on the flour.”

I explain, eliciting laughter from those around me.

I hand each person a wooden spoon.

“Sorry for the lack of manners, but scoop directly from the stone slab with the spoon and eat from your hand. Let me demonstrate.”

I instruct, taking a spoonful of monjayaki, creating a makeshift plate with my left hand, and bringing it to my mouth.

The rich flavor of the meat-infused soup, the sweetness of the cabbage, and the acidity of the sauce blend together in my mouth.

“Mm, mm, yeah, this is good. It might not look fancy, but it’s delicious. Now, dig in.”

I encouraged.

At first, the villagers are hesitant, but once they take a bite, their eyes light up, and they eagerly take more.

As one person starts eating, others follow suit, eagerly scooping up the monjayaki despite the risk of burning their mouths.

“This is fantastic!”

“Yeah, it’s strangely addictive.”

“It looks awful, but tastes amazing.”

“Hey, don’t ruin it with that comment.”

The villagers laugh amongst themselves.

I’m glad to see them enjoying it.

Although the monjayaki on the stone slab is of ghostly proportions, it disappears in no time as everyone enthusiastically digs in.

Since the size of the stone slab has its limits and not everyone can eat at once, I continue cooking monjayaki for refills, lining it up in an orderly fashion.

My hands seem to move effortlessly as I keep cooking.

My intuition for timing and the balance of flour is strangely sharp, and I can easily and accurately imagine what the final dish will be like even as I mix the ingredients.

“Ah, I see, that makes sense.”

I realized something. The reason becomes clear.

My cooking skill has improved. While the training was for swordsmanship, it also applied to cooking. With overflowing affection and emotions maxed out, and with consistent practice day and night, my cooking skill has solidly ascended to Cooking Level III.

It’s a pleasant surprise. Level III is a realm reached over a lifetime for skills rated B or higher.

“Now, everyone, keep eating. Let’s use up all the cabbage!”

I declared, and the men raised their wooden spoons in response.

“Yeah!”

They replied enthusiastically.