NOVEL NEXT Chapter 415
As time goes by, more and more people are amazed by the rediscovery of kelp, but in Europa, seaweed has been used in various ways for quite some time.
It is almost considered “essential” as an ingredient for potions and magic tools for exploring and hunting underwater dungeons, and also has endless applications in magical reagents, medicinal herbs, alchemy, additives, dyes, and more.
Because of this, in the request board of the Adventurer Guild in coastal regions, there are many requests for gathering seaweed and other algae, overshadowing those for land herbs.
Catherine had plenty of related experiences as well. Of course, at the point of usage and request, not collecting.
Potions that are directly or indirectly related to water.
For example, for effects like diving, enhancing or resisting water-based magic, or walking on water, specific types of seaweed and algae must be included.
However, among them, some ingredients are treated like mere street weeds despite being magical materials.
Neptune’s Hair.
This seaweed is famous for the legend that it was born from the ashes of Neptune’s burnt hair, who barely escaped with his life during the fall of the Palatino Empire, only to become bald due to the Demon King’s army.
However, despite the grand name and its association with the gods, it was completely disregarded by even desperate low-level wizards due to its extremely inferior effectiveness.
It was to the point that not a single request for harvesting Neptune’s Hair appeared on the Adventurer Guild’s board.
Simply because it wasn’t cost-effective at all.
Thanks to the unique reproductive ability of seaweed, it even hinders sailing, but any seaweed or algae in that regard pales in comparison to barnacles or Ship’s Claw Crab, which are far more deadly.
Thus, Neptune’s Hair became a nuisance, bothersome to care about but still impossible to ignore, having long since fallen into the category of a money-draining headache.
“Yet, you’re going to eat that.”
“…Huh? What? What did you say?”
“So, you said you brought all of these to eat.”
“Yes.”
“…Does this have a name too?”
“Yes, it’s called Gim.”
“Right. Gim.”
Karem flinched at the naturally pronounced name like a native Korean.
“Catherine, you pronounce it perfectly at once.”
“How many languages do you think I can speak?”
While Catherine lightly teased him, she couldn’t hide her discomfort.
Using seaweed as a food. No matter how she thought about it, it just didn’t sit right.
But having already experienced the deep umami flavor of kelp broth, the inertia of her lifetime kept tugging at her.
Despite Catherine’s subtle reaction, Karem didn’t mind and swapped out the straw in the barn for the one left outside the day before. Before long, Mary also subtly joined in to help.
The reason, of course, was humidity.
Aquatic creatures are basically clumps of moisture.
This was a task to replace the straw that absorbed moisture evaporated from Neptune’s Hair while also preparing to remove moisture for the next replacement.
However, during this, Catherine looked at Karem as if watching an underling working hard for nothing.
“Well, boiling kelp that was once used as a fire starter actually brings out its flavor… So, are you going to boil this too after drying it?”
“Oh, then there’s no point in drying it like that. It will end up mushy again.”
“What then?”
“Well, you can dry it out thoroughly like birch bark and season it to wrap rice or crumble it to sprinkle over noodles—”
“Then there must be an easier way.”
Catherine playfully poked Karem’s shoulder as he passed by.
Karem, who had just stopped to replace the last straw, looked at her with a puzzled expression, wondering what she meant.
Catherine flicked her fingers toward the temporary drying rack, where the kelp was drying.
Karem realized her intent.
Swoosh—sizzle—
Steam wafted up from the kelp laid out like sheets on the temporary rack, and it made a slight crinkling sound as if the paper was warping.
Catherine smacked the barely damp kelp next to her.
The soggy feel was nowhere to be found, and instead, it was now smooth and dry.
“Well, this should be good.”
“Wow, what a luxurious kelp. Should I call it magic kelp?”
“This isn’t anything special.”
Catherine turned to look at Mary, who wore a gloomy expression.
“Mary, what’s the matter now?”
“If you think there’s no magic for drying among house fairies, that would be a misconception.”
“It’s a shame you couldn’t stop that.”
“I didn’t say that.”
Nothing serious, right?
*
“Victor, lunch time has finally arrived.”
“Even if you say that, some things are just not gonna happen.”
“Damn, did I say it too often?”
Regardless of Godwin’s grumbling, Victor pulled out a chair and sat at the table.
“Isn’t the meal satisfactory? More than anything, if you go to Sir Atanitas for a meal, it might disrupt the schedule—”
“You come here and say the same thing every time, so I’ve memorized it by now, and I shouldn’t need to say more.”
“…”
The look from him implied “Aren’t you the one who always brings it up?”
Godwin clamped his lips shut while avoiding eye contact, focusing on the table.
Pork chops with gravy sauce, broiled broccoli glazed with spicy honey sauce, beef stew, and walnut and fig tart.
Although Border Edge is indeed a frontier, fortunately, due to its relative proximity to Borderster, the outermost city of Kingsland, and its strong support, the table was surprisingly abundant.
The moment the knife cut into the crispy surface of the pork chop, juices erupted as if they were spilling from a broken dam, perfectly complementing the rich, heavy gravy.
The broccoli was astonishingly tender and savory, and with the sweet umami flavor, the coarse powder of Fire Witch Finger sprinkled in bursts of spiciness that awakened the mouth.
The meat of the rich beef stew was as tender as the well-cooked vegetables it accompanied, and the broth was thick and hearty, soothing the cold empty stomach.
Not to mention the finishing touch, the walnut and fig tart.
‘But still, something feels lacking.’
However, could it be that no dish could compare to what was prepared back home? The sense of satisfaction didn’t quite reach the same level.
It was only natural to feel the difference.
In Winterhome, Alfred and his family’s meals, barring any major variables, were overseen by Zigmeser.
Naturally, the dishes served at the royal seats during dinner banquets were also included.
If time was short, he would at least intervene in the final touches to elevate the flavors as much as possible, but Zigmeser was not present at this gathering.
“Even though you complain, every time you clean your plate and bowl, huh?”
“Isn’t it natural for a person to want to eat and live?”
“Mayonnaise and vegetable sticks?”
“With bacon crumbs and cheese powder sprinkled on top.”
At least this was one good point.
That he could eat mayonnaise freely.
Of course, it was good for packing on the pounds, but with a golden balance between desk work and field work, Godwin surprisingly hadn’t gained weight yet.
As usual, once Godwin finished his meal, he sought to ease the remaining 2% with a snack before returning to work—
“Alright, if you’re done eating, the next schedule is—oh.”
Checking the itinerary, Victor was unexpectedly impressed.
“Ah, Your Highness has some good news.”
“What do you mean by that all of a sudden?”
“Thanks to Your Highness’s busy schedule and the Adventurer Guild’s miserable work rate, today’s itinerary ends with the morning tasks.”
“…Really?”
“Ah, of course, there’s a dinner hosted with the guild representative and the village chief that’s dispatched for the evening banquet.”
Well, that was just part of the daily situation update and socializing that happened after arriving in the village, so it wasn’t necessary to even consider it an itinerary.
“Damn, oh my! Then I can walk around outside this damn command post!”
Godwin burst out of the command post right on the spot.
Of course, with vegetable sticks to dip in mayonnaise sauce.
Victor, who had anticipated this impulsive action, quickly followed Godwin, ordering the escorts to keep their distance while following.
“You speak as if you were trapped doing work in one place after arriving in the village, but strictly speaking, Your Highness has been going around outside multiple times a day.”
“Victor, I won’t call going around for work as going out. It’s just an extension of work.”
With a somewhat plausible rebuttal laid out, Godwin moved on.
Though it was just for half a day, the taste of freedom was sweet, salty, and savory.
Crunch—!
“By the way, it strikes me that the reconstruction speed is pretty fast.”
“Honestly, it feels slow given the support we have.”
“That might be true, considering it’s winter.”
Godwin looked around over the falling snow.
“If things keep going like this, the reconstruction should go smoothly, but…”
“What are you worried about?”
“Hmm… Victor. Isn’t it customary for students to be appreciated when they do their homework in advance?”
“That just means they showed enthusiasm for the class, so it’s only natural.”
Victor flicked off the snowflakes resting on his brows.
“Are you considering the reconstruction of the other two villages as well?”
“Right now, I’d see it more as an early reconnaissance. If monsters were nesting in the ruins where the village used to be, that would be a bigger issue, wouldn’t it?”
“It’s beyond the scope of the task given by my lord, but… that’s certainly true.”
He gulped back the comment about not being greedy in unnecessary places while stroking his beard and nodding.
“When spring comes, the ruins themselves will become dungeons.”
“More manpower is overflowing, so there’s plenty of room to work.”
“Are you just going for reconnaissance?”
“First, I want to gather updates. If necessary, I’m even considering arson… but—”
Wait a minute.
Godwin stopped, his nose twitching.
Although the undead corpse disposal near Border Edge was winding down, giving off more of a charred odor than a foul one, it had long exceeded the acceptable range.
Outside the village, tents and barricades were already set up, and if this situation became chronic, a slum would form.
In those circumstances, there’s no way it would smell pleasant.
Fortunately, it was lessened by the sea breeze blowing in from the winter coastal area.
Conversely, a delightful aroma was distinctly palpable.
A clear and different smell brushed against Godwin’s nostrils.
At first, it was like a nutty blend of ground mushrooms but much more intense and certainly not just mushrooms.
“Victor, do you smell that as well?”
“Yes, it’s intense and robust, definitely a sesame scent.”
“Sesame? That… the stuff you sprinkle on bread?”
Victor suggested unexpectedly.
“There are countries that grind it to make sauces, would you like to go check it out?”
There was no way Godwin would decline that suggestion.
“Then let’s go right away.”
“Somehow, I think I know who the source of this smell is.”
“Oddly enough, I have a feeling I know who that culprit is as well.”
Godwin and Victor promptly turned their steps in a new direction.
As they drew closer to the source of the smell, which was undoubtedly Catherine’s abode, the aroma grew more potent, and more people were commenting on how delectable the scent was.
There was some ruckus along the way, perhaps due to a dispute, but with this many people around, a minor spat was commonplace.
Before Godwin could say anything, several adventurers arrived with soldiers to quell the scene due to the commotion.
Meanwhile, the two of them kept walking without stopping.
“Ah, my heart is already racing.”
Standing before Catherine’s lodgings, Godwin muttered absentmindedly.
Currently, she was the only chef in this village who could match Zigmeser’s skills.
It was probably because of the remaining 2% of dissatisfaction he had felt that his heart raced.
Besides, this time, he was attempting to complete a task solely on his own strength, as he decided to avoid Catherine, which inadvertently meant that Karem couldn’t help him either.
Knock knock knock—
No response.
“Damn, I should have sent a message beforehand—”
“Your Highness? The sign says to knock on the barn door if you have business.”
At the attendant’s words, Godwin, without even thinking, turned his body around and walked toward the barn with a clueless expression, knocking on the door again.