I Became a Druid in Another World

After finishing our work, I chatted with the guard for a bit. We talked about the atmosphere in Corin, whether there was work for mercenaries, and if there were any big jobs around.

It seemed they had been troubled by carriage thieves for more than just a day or two, and the guard eagerly shared a lot of information with us as if he was relieved of a toothache.

Apparently, things in Corin were going smoothly which made it a good place for a mercenary like me to stay. He even mentioned that the lord would soon be recruiting mercenaries for a subjugation mission and advised me to keep an eye out for that.

After some small talk, I asked the most important question.

"Can you recommend an inn? Somewhere good for a drink. Price doesn't matter."

Unlike most mercenaries who wandered around looking for the cheapest lodging, my mention of price seemed to catch him off guard, and he burst out laughing.

"Price doesn't matter? Then you can't beat 'Obern's Vine'. The rooms are cramped, but the food is incredible."

"Thank you. I'm looking forward to it."

"Tell them Zachary sent you."

"Will do. Farewell."

I smiled and stepped out onto the street. It would be best to reach the inn and secure a room before evening. Mercenaries would start gathering by dusk.

We headed down the street and passed the market district on our way to the row of inns. As we went by the shops, I bought a basket each of fine apples and carrots for Storm, who had worked hard.

The inn the guard mentioned, "Obern's Vine", was tucked away in a quiet corner of the inn district. Even though it was in such a large city, it was only two stories tall with a pair of large grapevines flanking the entrance. That's why it was called "Obern's Vine".

We pulled the carriage up in front of the inn.

"El, while I get a room, feed Storm the apples and carrots. Let him eat as much as he wants. And keep an eye out; make sure no suspicious people come near."

"Yes, Master."

El nodded her head earnestly while looking up at me with a more serious expression than usual. Leaving El and Ayla behind, Lloyd and I entered the inn.

Like it appeared from the outside, the inn was small. The two main areas were divided by the staircase leading to the second floor. One side seemed to serve as the dining area, while the other was more of a casual place where people drank and chatted. There were only three tables in the dining area, and two of them were already occupied by people having their meals.

"Welcome!"

A short, plump woman who was as small as the inn itself greeted us. With her sleeves rolled up to her elbows and her curly hair tied high, she welcomed us in a cheerful voice.

"You're new faces around here. What brings you in? Food? Drink? A room?"

"We need all of them."

"You're in luck. There's one room left."

"Only one?"

"Yes, but it won't be too cramped for the two of you."

"There are three of us. There's one more outside."

"Oh! Three, is it…? In that case, I can move an extra bed from another room for you."

I exchanged a brief glance with Lloyd. Fortunately, he nodded without saying anything.

"That works."

We paid for a week's stay and carried our belongings up to the room she showed us. Despite my initial concern, the room was quite spacious. Even after adding a third bed, there was still plenty of space. However, there wasn't enough room for Ayla, so she would have to stay in the stable with Storm.

After sorting out our things, we headed back downstairs. Just then, a group of four or five mercenaries entered the inn. Judging by their worn expressions, they weren't there for drinks; they needed food. Before all of them could step inside, I quickly claimed the last table in the dining area. Sure enough, the innkeeper apologized to the mercenaries for the lack of space and sent them away. I laughed to myself as I watched them shuffle out. Good luck, you'll need it today.

"Alright, lucky folks! How about a round of goat's milk to start?"

The innkeeper laughed heartily as she handed us three wooden cups that were carved smooth and polished to a shine. They were filled with warm goat's milk, which gave off a sweet aroma that was different from regular milk. As I took a sip, the warm, sweet, and creamy flavor spread through my mouth. It had been boiled with sugarcane. A soothing appetizer, indeed. This meal was starting to look promising.

"How would you like your meal prepared?"

"What would you recommend?"

"We've just received some fine coral shrimp. Just stir-frying it with asparagus makes it amazing. We also have Lumer mountain black pork. It's so tender you can simmer it in wine and it practically melts. Serve it with figs, and you won't find anything better."

"And what about drinks?"

"We've got a wide selection of wine, or if you prefer something else, there's cream beer made from barley."

"Sounds great. Let's start with the coral shrimp. Half stir-fried with asparagus, and the other half fried with shallots. As for the black pork, prepare it however you think is best, but make sure to serve it with beets and mushrooms. And figs, please, with cheese and honey."

"We have hibiscus honey, actually."

"Perfect. Oh, and do you have cream beans?"

"Of course! It's a local specialty here."

"Please bring some boiled cream beans as well."

"I'll include some salt for you."

"Thank you. Ah, and two beers as well."

The innkeeper looked at me with a grin, as if thinking, "It's been a while since I've had such good customers" before heading back to the kitchen.

The first dishes to arrive were a fig salad with cheese and honey and some cream beans.

Cream beans, a specialty of Corin, were a peculiar crop with white flesh inside a thin, pale green skin. When eaten raw, they were no different from regular beans, but when boiled, they transformed into a texture that was both firm and soft, almost like cream. That's how they earned the name "cream beans". Unlike most beans, they had a slight sweetness, and when dipped in a little salt, that sweetness became even richer, creating a deep, satisfying flavor.

"Cream beans…"

El's voice was tinged with nostalgia as she held a bean in her hand.

"When I was young, I really hated cream beans. They felt weird. People said they were sweet, but I couldn't taste it at all."

"I can't imagine you being a picky eater."

"I used to hide them under my plate because I didn't want to eat them, and then my father would scold me."

El gazed at the cream beans with a faint, bittersweet smile before popping one into her mouth.

"… They taste sweet now."

Some foods were like that. I too had memories of picking beans out of rice as a child, only to get a smack on the back from my mother. I lightly patted El's head and picked up a cream bean to eat as well.

The fig salad was also delicious. The tender flesh of the figs melted gently, blending with the fragrant hibiscus honey and the rich flavor of the goat cheese to create an incredible burst of flavor. Bad figs often have a grassy, off-putting smell, but the ones in this salad were fresh, moist, and sweet.

After finishing the appetizers, the stir-fried and fried coral shrimp were brought out on separate plates. And finally, the much-awaited beer arrived! Just as the innkeeper had described, the cream beer made from barley had a thick, dense foam that resembled cream. Its fresh aroma already heightened my anticipation. I dipped a plump shrimp into the sauce and took a bite. Crunch! A burst of heat spread through my mouth. The batter was unbelievably crispy, and the shrimp meat had a pleasantly firm texture. Before the heat could fade, I quickly gulped down some beer.

"Kuhaaa…!"

Yes, this was it. The cold beer washing down the grease from the shrimp left my throat refreshed, jolting my senses awake. This is the reason I live for moments like this! Wow, the innkeeper's cooking skills were no joke. Sure, fried food is always good, but this was on another level.

"The batter is really crispy. Did you use 'that method'?"

"Oh, you noticed? That's right, I used a beer batter."

She knew what she was doing. When carbonation is added to the batter, it becomes even crispier. I only knew this from watching a cooking show in passing, but to think that this innkeeper in a pseudo-medieval world had picked up such knowledge… this innkeeper wasn't ordinary!

The shrimp stir-fried with asparagus was also delicious in a completely different way from the fried one. The combination of the asparagus juices and shrimp was exquisite. It was impressive how just salt, pepper, and olive oil could bring out such flavor.

As we finished off the shrimp dishes and beer, the black pork dish arrived. Lloyd and I ordered another round of beer each.

The black pork dish had a slightly dark brown sheen, and just as she had explained, it seemed to have been thoroughly simmered in wine. Alongside it were beets and mushrooms, also simmered in the same wine. Unlike roasted meat, the slow-cooked pork was so tender that even the fat and skin seemed to melt. The moment I touched it with my fork and knife, the meat tore apart easily, releasing its juices. I divided the meat into three large pieces, giving one each to Lloyd and El, and placed the last piece on my plate.

"If you eat it with the beets and mushrooms, it will be just perfect."

I was eager to try. I cut the beet, which had been cooked until it was as soft as the meat and placed it on top of the pork. I added a piece of the well-simmered mushroom and popped it all into my mouth.

"Mmm…!"

The sweet taste and aroma of the wine had deeply infused the meat, and the unique flavor of the black pork blended perfectly, making my taste buds happy. The meat was so tender that it melted away before I even had a chance to chew. Wow, this is amazing. Absolutely amazing. Whenever it felt just a bit too rich, I took a sip of beer, and it made the meat go down so smoothly. The combination of the soft, sweet pork and the cold, slightly bitter beer was perfect! Despite the large portion, I cleared my plate in no time.

Ahh, it's been so long since I've had such a satisfying meal. While I do enjoy my own cooking, there's nothing quite like a meal prepared by someone else….. Now, if I could soak in some hot water, I'd have no more wishes left. I raised my hand to call for the innkeeper to ask for a bath.

"Hey!"

And then it happened.