Chapter 22

After confirming that Mari and Karina had received their food, I focused my attention on the dishes that were served for me.

First, the dish I was going to eat was scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

Scrambled eggs with tomatoes is not just scrambled eggs with ketchup, as some might mistakenly think.

The moment I took a bite, I felt the fluffiness of the eggs in my mouth.

If you add ketchup to scrambled eggs, the strong acidity and saltiness would overpower the natural flavor of the eggs.

Of course, I don’t dislike that either.

But the natural fluffiness and soft taste of the eggs, enhanced by the addition of fresh tomatoes, is a special flavor that you can’t get from ketchup and scrambled eggs.

The tomato juice soaked into the scrambled eggs, giving a mild acidity that wasn’t as intense as ketchup but still pleasantly infused.

It’s not just the acidity.

Tomatoes are a vegetable that is often used in Western cuisine to bring out umami.

Just as Japanese cuisine uses dashi or bonito stock to enhance the umami of rolled omelets, scrambled eggs with tomatoes use tomatoes to bring out that savory flavor.

The umami from the tomatoes blends with the fluffy texture of the eggs, creating a smooth and satisfying bite.

The acidity of the tomatoes gently wakes up the stomach in the morning, while the softness of the eggs ensures it doesn’t feel heavy.

It’s a quiet awakening for the stomach.

Truly, this is the perfect dish for breakfast.

In this world, the Three-legged Fowl is often seen as a symbol of foolishness.

In many fairy tales, the Three-legged Fowl is portrayed as a stupid animal.

Having lost its wings and unable to fly, this foolish creature chose to run instead.

Running on four legs is faster than running on two.

So, if it had three legs, wouldn’t it be faster than running on two, even if not as fast as four?

The result was a third leg awkwardly placed, making running more difficult rather than easier.

Thus, the creature that was once a chicken became the Three-legged Fowl, but the outcome was disastrous.

The third leg, instead of helping, got in the way of the other two, making it slower than a regular two-legged chicken.

So, in fairy tales, the Three-legged Fowl often serves as a warning against greed or a mockery of foolishness.

But I dare say the Three-legged Fowl is not a foolish animal.

What the Three-legged Fowl gained by giving up flight was not speed, but reproduction.

The doubled cloaca allowed them to produce twice as many offspring, making them a preferred livestock among humans, regardless of species.

Whether the creature intended to become livestock or not, the Three-legged Fowl’s survival strategy was a brilliant success.

Yes.

This scrambled egg with tomatoes contains the essence of the Three-legged Fowl’s life.

“Ah… This is the taste of life.”

“Um, are you okay?”

“Ah, Kurt? Don’t worry. He’s like this sometimes.”

While I was deeply contemplating the taste of life left by the Three-legged Fowl, Karina and Mari were whispering about me, but I paid no attention.

Karina had acted like the world was ending when I made something other than stew with tomatoes, but now she was happily munching on the scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

Well, everyone seems to be enjoying it, so I’ll continue with my breakfast.

Next on the menu was, of course, a BLT sandwich made with smoked Shavel Tiger bacon.

The crisp texture of lettuce, the refreshing acidity of tomatoes, and the savory aroma and chewiness of the bacon.

A dish perfectly balanced with these three elements.

The first bite brings the distinct grain flavor of rye bread.

Unlike wheat bread, the unrefined, coarse texture fills the mouth with a nutty richness.

As you chew, the nutty aroma feels like it’s flowing out through your nose with every breath, making you truly feel the carbohydrates you’re consuming.

Just when you start to feel the rye bread’s crumbly texture, the crispness of the generously added lettuce kicks in.

The lettuce asserts its presence with every bite, but never feels overwhelming.

The lettuce, so fresh it feels like water is springing from it, revitalizes the otherwise crumbly texture of the rye bread.

But with just rye bread and lettuce, the flavor would be lacking.

That’s where the tomato comes in.

The tomato, rich with juice, fills the mouth with a refreshing liquid and its unique tangy flavor stimulates the appetite.

While the generous amount of lettuce provides texture, the tomato, though not as abundant, holds its own and does its job well.

And as the lettuce and tomato whet your appetite, it’s time for the star of the show: the bacon.

The Shavel Tiger bacon, smoked with no expense spared, from the wood used to the spices applied, is simply exquisite.

The heightened expectations from the lettuce and tomato.

It’s like the high bar in pole vaulting.

A mediocre dish might fail to clear the bar and fall.

But the Shavel Tiger bacon clears the bar with ease.

The thinly sliced bacon, layered several times, offers a rich, oily texture despite being smoked and dried.

And as if declaring that the dish is complete with the meat, it awakens the deep-seated craving for meat that vegetables alone can’t satisfy.

Yes, this is it.

I deliberately ate the scrambled eggs with tomatoes first to heighten the craving for meat.

I know that if I had cooked the bacon first and used the rendered fat to make the scrambled eggs, it would have been even more delicious.

But I chose to make the scrambled eggs and the BLT sandwich separately.

I didn’t want the taste of meat in the scrambled eggs to diminish the impact of the bacon in the sandwich.

And the result was excellent.

As I ate the scrambled eggs, my stomach slowly awakened, and just as it began to crave meat, the intense flavor of the Shavel Tiger bacon hit my mouth.

The protein, finally added to a diet full of carbohydrates and fiber, brought a satisfying resonance.

But this isn’t the end.

This BLT sandwich also contains my homemade mayonnaise, and the tangy, oily flavor of the mayo fills in the last missing piece of the puzzle.

The carbohydrates from the bread, the vitamins and fiber from the vegetables, the protein from the bacon, and the fat from the mayo complete this balanced sandwich.

It’s a classic, reliable taste with no shocking twists, but that’s why it’s a solid, fail-proof flavor.

The BLT sandwich is like a taste from a venerable noble family.

After finishing the last bite of the BLT sandwich, I let out a satisfied sigh and concluded my meal.

.

.

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“Hoo. The BLT sandwich is as delicious as ever.”

“I enjoyed it too! Thank you for the meal!”

“I also enjoyed it very much. I was surprised when something other than stew was made with tomatoes, but it turned out to be delicious.”

“Kurt’s sandwiches are the best! I knew it all along!”

“Indeed… To master not just stew but all kinds of dishes… Then, perhaps…!”

Mari and Karina, having finished their breakfast, started chatting with satisfied smiles.

It was a peaceful morning, as always.

But as with all peace, the everyday routine doesn’t last forever.

A peaceful routine may seem like nothing is happening, but like a swan paddling furiously beneath the surface, maintaining it requires endless effort.

“Um, Kurt! I wanted to say something…”

“We’ll start adventuring soon. Huh? What were you about to say?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s just that we’re starting our adventure soon.”

Karina brushed off my question, saying it was nothing.

She seemed to have something to say.

Well, if it’s important, she’ll bring it up herself.

“Ah! Finally, it’s starting!”

At my words, Mari exclaimed with an excited face.

After hunting the Shavel Tiger pack, we spent the past few days relaxing and adapting to the new city, not taking on any special requests.

I was busy too, processing the Shavel Tiger meat, smoking it, and buying cooking tools and rare spices, so it’s not like I did nothing.

But that life ends today.

It’s time to start working in earnest.

“Hmm. It’s earlier than I thought. We hunted an Awakening Species Shavel Tiger, so money shouldn’t be a problem for a while.”

“That’s right. Even I, who only got the reward from the herbalist for not hunting the Shavel Tiger, still have quite a bit of money left.”

“Right. Even the few dozen silver from the herbalist’s rescue reward is enough to last half a month if you don’t splurge. Not to mention the Awakening Species carcass, which would have left us with close to a few gold even after paying the guild’s dismantling fee. But even with that much money, the spirit to keep challenging danger is admirable.”

“It’s not about the money! The adventure itself is meaningful! That’s the true spirit of an adventurer!”

“No. It’s about the money. I’m out of money.”

I spent all my money buying cooking tools and rare spices to make more diverse dishes, and before I knew it, I was broke.

Honestly, in a few more days, I’ll be struggling to pay the guild’s lodging fee.

What a strange thing.

The two women looked at me as if I were some unbelievable fool.

Seriously. I’m not Mari, and looking at a Lizardman like that is rude.