Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 184

The maid who pushed in the trolley began arranging the dishes in front of us.

A butler came over and poured red wine into our wine glasses.

“Hmm? This aroma smells familiar. What kind of wine is it?”

“This is a wine made from the Seven-Colored Grapes. It’s twenty years old.”

“Seven-Colored Grape wine? Does that mean all the flavors are mixed together?”

“Although it uses Seven-Colored Grapes as the ingredient, not all the fruits are mixed. Only the grape-flavored fruits from the Seven-Colored Grapes are selected, and skilled craftsmen make the wine.”

Artorius answered my question.

“Using just that one kind of fruit…”

“Even though we grow them in our territory, it takes a lot of time and effort. It’s rarely distributed in the market.”

While I was astonished, Artorius spoke proudly.

To make wine using only the grape-flavored fruits of the Seven-Colored Grapes must take considerable effort.

Since I actually know the ingredient, I could imagine the labor involved.

Moreover, it’s twenty years old. The wine being poured to the brim seemed intimidating.

“I will drink it with care.”

Those were the simple words I managed to squeeze out.

It might be better for someone with a more refined palate to drink it, but since it’s a rare opportunity, I should savor it properly.

“This is Proreo Dried Tomato and strained yogurt.”

A small dish was placed in front of me.

There was a spoon, and on it were yogurt, tomatoes, basil sauce, and other toppings.

Since the dishes were served one by one like this, it seemed to be a full-course meal.

This dish, which could be eaten in one bite, might be considered an amuse-bouche in a full-course meal.

It’s like the small appetizer served at Japanese izakayas.

“Well then, let’s toast to meeting Shuu-dono and reuniting with Fran.”

“Cheers.”

We clinked our thin-rimmed wine glasses at eye level.

Without hesitation, I took a sip of the Seven-Colored Grapes wine.

“…Delicious.”

A rich flavor spread throughout my mouth.

It was mellow and slides easily down my throat like heavy water.

It has just the right amount of astringency, which is unique to red wine, and is very easy to drink without any bitterness.

Above all, the flavor of the Seven-Colored Grapes was concentrated.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“It’s delicious, even as wine.”

It was a very luxurious taste.

I had thought eating the grapes as they were would be best, but turning them into wine was not bad either.

After enjoying the Seven-Colored Grapes wine, I lifted my spoon.

The taste of dried tomatoes and yogurt spread in my mouth.

The dried tomato’s deep flavor and sweetness were concentrated, and the more I chewed, the more these flavors seeped out. The combination with yogurt and basil sauce was excellent.

The slight touch of black pepper and the fresh herbs’ aroma also lingered pleasantly.

“Delicious.”

“I’m glad to hear that. More dishes will be coming, so please enjoy them.”

“Yes, I’m really looking forward to it.”

It was almost regrettable that it ended with just one bite.

However, that single bite was enough to raise high expectations for the upcoming dishes.

I wondered what kind of dishes would come next.

As I waited with anticipation, the next dish was brought out.

“This is marinated golden salmon.”

Looking at the dish in front of me, golden-colored salmon was placed on top of unusually transparent sliced onions.

I had seen salmon in this world in Lindblum, but it was the first time I’d seen one with this color.

It felt slightly strange, but the presentation was very beautiful.

I took a bite of the golden salmon along with the onions.

“The salmon’s flavor is strong.”

The rich fat melted on my tongue, and the flavor spread gradually.

The taste was truly exquisite, like eating a high-quality steak.

The flavor was a bit too strong when eaten alone, but the tangy sauce and sliced onions balanced it perfectly.

These onions were not ordinary either. Their crisp texture added a nice contrast.

“This is giant pumpkin potage.”

In no time, after finishing the appetizer, the next dish was pumpkin potage.

The soup was topped with croutons and diced pumpkin.

It had a beautiful pumpkin color.

“Giant pumpkin?”

“It’s a huge pumpkin from Gigant Forest. The smallest ones are at least three meters, and the largest exceed ten meters.”

“A forest with such enormous pumpkins exists?”

Though I felt the urge to analyze this unknown ingredient, discussing it with Artorius and Franryule was enjoyable, so I refrained.

Savoring the unknown and encountering the unexpected was also delightful.

I slowly scooped the potage with a spoon and brought it to my mouth.

The rich pumpkin flavor and pleasant thickness spread in my mouth.

When I make it myself, it tends to be heavy and cloying, but this potage was nothing like that.

“It’s a refined taste.”

“Not only the ingredients we use, but also the skill of the chefs are amazing.”

“Yes, you can tell the chef’s skill by the fine details.”

The pumpkin potage’s basic recipe was simple.

However, its simplicity highlighted the cook’s expertise.

“This is poached sea serpent.”

After finishing the giant pumpkin potage, the next dish was a fish course.

“This is the sea serpent monster, right?”

“Yes, we brought it from Lindblum.”

I had seen them in the deep sea of Lindblum but had never actually eaten one.

“It must have been difficult to catch.”

Sea serpents are hard to catch due to their deep-sea habitat and aggressive nature, making them rare in the market.

Having engaged in sea collection activities myself, I understood the effort required to obtain this ingredient.

“We have contracts with skilled adventurers.”

“I see.”

They likely have contracts with A-rank and B-rank adventurers active in Lindblum.

As a true gourmet, they spare no expense for delicious food.

I kept the conversation light, then used a knife and fork to cut a piece and brought it to my mouth.

The sea serpent meat was very light, with a crispy surface.

It had a unique, robust flavor, different from cod or sea bass.

There was no trace of fishiness; the simple seasoning of lemon, parsley, salt, and pepper made it delicious.

It paired perfectly with the mushrooms and leeks on the plate.

“For a palate cleanser, here is milk herb sorbet.”

After finishing the fish dish, a small bowl of sorbet was served.

The poached sea serpent was quite easy to eat and didn’t leave a greasy taste, but the sorbet would prepare me for the meat dishes to come.

I had never heard of milk herb before. What could it taste like?

Curious, I scooped it up with a spoon.

With a crunchy texture, a rich milk flavor spread in my mouth.

“It’s made from the milk squeezed from milk herb in our reserve. It’s richer than regular cow’s milk.”

“A plant can produce a flavor like this?”

It’s amazing that such rich milk could be extracted from a plant.

The gourmet reserve managed by the Reilert family truly piqued my interest.

The milk herb sorbet was so delicious that I finished it quickly.

“Now, it’s time for the main course.”

Artorius wiped his mouth with a napkin, speaking with a look of anticipation.

Appetizers, soup, fish dish, and palate cleanser—all of this quality.

Naturally, my expectations for the main course were high.

“Fran, aren’t you going to eat quickly?”

“Father, it’s not polite to rush a lady’s meal. Besides, it’s not that I’m slow; it’s that you two are just too fast.”

Artorius, eager with anticipation, hurried his daughter, only to be scolded by her.

It was a heartwarming scene.

Though slightly flustered, Artorius watched as Franryule finished her meal at her own pace.

Then, the main course was brought out.

“This is a whitened beef steak.”

A steak was served on a plate.

“It has an unusual color.”

“The meat of whitened beef remains pale pink even when grilled.”

It didn’t have the meaty appearance of a typical steak, but it was beautifully cooked.

Moreover, it was quite thick. Artorius and I aside, even Franryule received the same size portion.

I wondered if her small frame could handle such a thick steak.

“What is it, Shuu-san?”

Franryule noticed my gaze and tilted her head slightly.

It would be strange to be vague here…

“I was just wondering if you could manage such a thick piece, Franryule-sama…”

“Whitening cow meat is very good for the skin and makes you healthy when you eat it! It’s only natural for a woman to want to maintain beautiful skin!”

When I voiced my concern, Franryule responded a bit defensively.

“Haha, you don’t have to make excuses. You could just say it’s your favorite.”

Artorius revealed with a laugh.

“Father!”

Franryule shouted, her face turning bright red.

Her embarrassment made her speech sound more informal, which was endearing.

Though Franryule was a bit pouty, we turned our attention to the whitening cow steak.

Despite its thick appearance, the knife slid through easily.

As it did, the beautiful pink meat was revealed, with sparkling juices seeping out.

The contrast between the slightly reddish exterior and the pale pink interior was beautiful.

I cut a bite-sized piece and ate the whitening cow steak.

A soft, tender texture. Then the marbled fat bursts.

It wasn’t overpowering at all, but very light.

The more I chewed, the more the flavor emerged.

“Amazing. It’s so easy to eat, it doesn’t even seem like steak.”

“That’s the hallmark of whitened beef.”

Artorius responded to my remark while taking a large bite of the steak.

A steak this delicious that’s also good for the skin is truly wonderful.

Women would surely love to eat such meat.

When I glanced at Franryule, she had an ecstatic expression on her face.

It seemed she was enjoying this dish even more than the previous ones, likely because it was her favorite.

Her expression was endearing, but I didn’t want to stare rudely, so I focused on my steak.

The whitening cow steak, despite its considerable size, was so easy to eat that I made steady progress through it.

Franryule, too, seemed to enjoy her favorite dish, and for the first time, all three of us finished eating at almost the same time.

The air was filled with a happy atmosphere from the delicious food.

“Here is the grand strawberry mille-feuille.”

As we basked in our satisfaction, dessert was brought out.

Between the layers of pastry were not just cream and custard, but also sliced strawberries.

At the top, a bright red strawberry sat majestically.

When I carefully cut a piece with my knife and took a bite, the pastry crisped delightfully, and the rich cream and custard intertwined.

The juicy grand strawberry added to it, creating a perfectly balanced flavor.

Compared to the strawberries I’ve had before, the balance of sweetness and acidity was exceptional.

This must also be a special strawberry cultivated in their reserve.

Unlike the previous dishes, I decided to savor the dessert slowly.

After finishing the dessert, tea and sweets for after-dinner were brought out, and time passed leisurely.

“Shuu-dono, did you enjoy our cuisine?”

“Yes, it was truly wonderful.”

I could have praised in many more ways, but I thought it was simply amazing.

Not only were the ingredients unfamiliar to me, but the chefs who masterfully prepared them were also remarkable.

“I see. I’m glad you’re satisfied.”

Artorius nodded with a genuinely pleased expression upon hearing my response.

While he appeared very composed during regular conversations, when it came to food, he spoke with innocence and enthusiasm.

He must really love delicious food.

Despite his higher title and age compared to mine, I felt like I got to know him better through sharing a meal.