Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 113

I woke up, got out of bed, and opened the window in my room.

The refreshing morning air and sunlight streamed in.

“Ah, what a lovely morning.”

I stretched while watching the various people passing by on the street.

After stretching my arms and loosening my muscles, I sighed in relief.

I changed from my pajamas into my usual clothes and headed downstairs to the dining hall.

It was still early, so there weren’t many customers in the dining hall, but the beastkin employees were all present.

I like the bustling dining hall, but I also quite enjoy the quiet atmosphere in the morning.

“Good morning nya!”

“Good morning, Mia.”

“What will you have today?”

As soon as I sat down, Mia came to take my order.

“Um, I’ll go with Bandel’s recommendation!”

“Got it nya~!”

When I can’t decide what I want to eat, asking for Bandel’s recommendation is always a safe bet.

Sometimes, the dishes he recommends can be a bit pricey for breakfast, but I enjoy them because they’re not on the regular menu, and I might get to try experimental dishes.

I wonder what he’ll serve today.

As I leisurely sipped on fruit water, a wonderfully savory aroma wafted from the kitchen.

Is that the smell of meat dishes?

As I pondered, Mia brought out the dish.

“Sorry to keep you waiting! Juicy Meat Rolls!”

In front of me were two slices of rolled meat.

The outside was wrapped in pork, while the center contained minced meat, cheese, and leafy greens.

They were likely baked in the oven in layers of meat.

“Wow, this looks delicious!”

The aroma suggests a variety of seasonings and herbs have been blended in.

As the side of bread and soup were placed before me, I cut into it with my knife and fork and brought it to my mouth.

The pork wrapped on the outside was crispy, while the minced meat inside was incredibly juicy.

And the rich cheese melting into the leafy greens complemented each other.

It’s easy to infer the process from the ingredients, but it takes skill and experience to achieve the perfect cooking and seasoning.

While it’s slightly on the salty side, it balances out well when eaten with bread.

Eating this roll-shaped meat feels rather fancy.

Before I knew it, I had finished eating, and Bandel approached.

“How was the meat roll?”

“It was really delicious.”

“I see. I plan to add it to the menu soon. When I’m experimenting with ingredients, I’d appreciate your taste-testing.”

“Of course.”

There’s still so much potential in this meat roll. I’ll gladly assist in its exploration.

“By the way, can I ask you to gather a certain ingredient for me?”

“If it involves dangerous monster meat or something, I’ll have to consider it. What is it?”

“You defeated a Red Dragon, and yet you’re saying that?”

Well, it’s not solely my achievement, and I didn’t go out of my way to defeat it, so I’d rather not be overestimated.

But, considering we’ve had this exchange countless times and we’re still at this point, I’ll just give up and hear him out.

“So, what’s the ingredient you want me to gather?”

“It’s a small fish called Sarabi that inhabits a lake in the western forest. Have you heard of it?”

“Oh, I’ve seen small fish with that name being sold in the market. They’re quite expensive for their size, aren’t they? Are they tasty?”

“They’re delicious! Despite being mild, they have just the right amount of fat and can be fried or grilled!”

Mia suddenly burst in with excitement.

From her enthusiastic tone, it was clear that Mia had some strong feelings about this.

Bandel pushes Mia aside impatiently and resumed his explanation.

“It’s not just because they’re delicious; it’s a bit of a hassle to catch them. They only come out at night.”

“They’re nocturnal?”

“Yeah, they just stay submerged the whole time and don’t even go for bait.”

“At night, the city gates are naturally closed, and monsters become more active, right?”

“Well, that’s how it goes. Catching them itself is a piece of cake, but they tend to be avoided due to the effort and danger involved.”

“Yeah, it’s like that. It’d be great if we could catch them during the day.”

Bandel replied somewhat reluctantly, while Mia drooped her ears and tail.

I see. To catch Sarabi, one needs to venture outside during the dangerous night and spend the night there.

No wonder adventurers would avoid that.

The city gates close at night and won’t open until dawn.

Spending a night outside wouldn’t be a problem for me, but venturing out during the dark when monsters are active… Well, I have investigation skills, don’t I?

It doesn’t matter if the visibility is poor; my skills give me a clear view, so it’s not an issue. While there might be more monsters than usual, unlike in the sea, I can circumvent or hide from them.

“Sure, let’s go get that Sarabi.”

“Really!?”

“Are you sure? It means going outside the city during the dangerous night.”

“I’m fine. I can manage with my skills.”

“I see. If Shu says so, let’s trust him.”

Bandel seemed reassured, perhaps knowing the benefits of my skills.

“So, do I just need to fish them up?”

“No, a net will suffice. They swim near the surface in the shallow parts of the lake at night, so it’s easy to scoop them up.”

“Huh? You can really catch them with a net?”

“Just toss the net in and you can catch around five or ten!”

“Wow, got it. I’ll bring a net then.”

It seems that the environment is the only complication, and catching them itself is rather straightforward.

That’s a relief; it means less preparation for me.

“But why Sarabi? Are you planning to use it as an ingredient for the meat rolls?”

Mixing Sarabi into meat rolls or stuffing them in? Would fish even go well with that dish?

“No, it’s different. This time it’s a treat for the staff. Cat beastkin like Mia absolutely love it.”

Bandel seemed amused by the connection to the meat rolls.

Well, after hearing those words earlier, it’s easy to see why.

“…Ah, I see.”

“That’s right! So, make sure to catch plenty for us nya!”

“Got it. Leave it to me.”

If it’s a favorite of the Cat’s Tail Inn staff, as someone who’s indebted to them, I’ll do my best.

Hearing Mia’s encouraging words as she pats my shoulder, I nod in agreement.