Chapter 87

Swoooosh

Serena’s magically chilled beer filled the mug, bubbling up as if it would overflow.

But with a perfectly controlled pour, the beer never spilled.

I gulped down that golden liquid to wash away the greasy residue of cheese and sausage lingering in my mouth.

Gulp gulp gulp

Even though my transcendent body doesn’t feel heat, standing in front of the oven making pizza isn’t exactly pleasant.

The heat I absorbed while making the pizza wasn’t just washed away by the beer; it also cooled down the warmth that had built up in my body.

“Hooooo…”

As I kept gulping, the golden barley drink, along with the heat in my body, disappeared.

Feeling both satisfaction and a hint of regret, I ordered another beer and picked up another slice of still-steaming pizza to warm up my chilled body.

This time, the pizza I picked up wasn’t made by me but by Tommy.

Hah

I couldn’t help but nod as I ate Tommy’s pizza.

Hmm. It’s clear.

I had a vague feeling while cooking, but…

The sauce used in Tommy’s pepperoni pizza wasn’t just ordinary tomato sauce.

It was a spicy sauce made by adding pepperoncini to regular tomato sauce.

It was a type of tomato sauce called “Arrabbiata” in my past life.

Indeed, as a dwarf who had run an inn for many years, he was skilled in various dishes.

Even though I hadn’t specifically taught him about Arrabbiata sauce, he instinctively found the perfect flavor combination and recreated it.

And it’s a well-known fact that spiciness isn’t actually a taste but a form of pain.

After eating spicy food, your tongue feels a tingling sensation because it’s partially numbed by the pain.

This dulls your sense of taste, so even if you eat something with the same seasoning as usual, it tastes bland.

But Tommy added extra meat to the pepperoni pizza, so even with the spiciness, it didn’t taste bland.

Whether he calculated this and added more meat or just did it out of personal preference, it turned out to be a brilliant move.

“How ironic…”

For some reason, Tommy’s pizza reminded me of American-style pizza, and it ended up being even more American-style than the one I made.

Unlike me, who clumsily added onions, bell peppers, and spices to balance the flavor, Tommy’s pizza was soulfully American.

After finishing a slice of Tommy’s pizza, I turned to look at the others eating.

“As expected, Mr. Kurt’s cooking is the best! Tommy’s is delicious too, but Mr. Kurt’s is still the best!”

“Hmm. The harmony of vegetables, mushrooms, and sausage is truly exceptional in this dish!”

Mari and Karina, after eating a slice of Tommy’s pizza, went back to eating mine, continuously praising it, suggesting that my pizza suited their tastes better.

“Ugh, ugh! Sorry, Kurt! But my hands just won’t stop!”

“To my taste, Uncle Tommy’s pizza is more delicious. Maybe it’s because I’ve been eating his food since I was a kid?”

On the other hand, the dwarves Serena and Nail, enjoying the pizza made by their fellow dwarf Tommy, alternated between his pizza and beer.

It seemed that Tommy’s pizza suited the dwarves’ tastes better.

After all, dwarves know dwarves’ tastes best.

It was a clear 2-to-2 split.

Well, to be precise, since the dwarves Serena and Nail sided with Tommy, it was effectively a win for him in targeting the dwarves’ tastes.

Since Tommy runs an inn in a dwarven village, the opinions of dwarves are naturally more important than those of other races.

Come to think of it, I had a similar realization when I ate clam chowder in the seaside city of Leila.

The culinary culture of this world isn’t something to be underestimated.

But had I already forgotten that lesson and become arrogant?

“Hahaha! How is it? My dwarven-style pizza is pretty good, right?”

“Impressive… I’m almost embarrassed to offer you the recipe now.”

“Hahaha! Don’t say that! I wouldn’t have even thought of this pizza recipe if it weren’t for you!”

As I ate his pizza, I said,

“But it was you, Tommy, who perfected it in your own style.”

I praised Tommy’s pizza.

However, despite its excellent quality, I noticed one flaw in Tommy’s pizza.

It wasn’t out of jealousy.

In terms of taste, as a dwarf who had established his own domain, there was nothing to criticize.

But what bothered me was…

It’s already a salty and greasy pizza.

Considering that dwarves drink beer like water, this dish is definitely 100% a drinking snack.

Honestly, the combination of salty, greasy food and alcohol is highly addictive in terms of taste but nutritionally the worst.

That’s why I added vegetables like onions and bell peppers to balance it out.

But Tommy’s pizza pushed that nutritional balance over the edge.

Making an already salty pizza even saltier and greasier, and adding spiciness?

Honestly, eating this every day could ruin your stomach.

So, I had to warn the beer-loving dwarves that eating too much of this pizza could harm their health.

I couldn’t stay silent knowing that their bodies could be ruined just for my convenience.

This wasn’t about taste but health.

“But with such a strong flavor, eating too much could lead to adult diseases like high cholesterol or diabetes.”

I felt bad criticizing Tommy’s excellent dish, but it was a necessary point.

However, Tommy just looked puzzled at my words.

“High cholesterol? Diabetes?”

Oh, this world still lacks knowledge about such adult diseases.

Just as I was about to explain what those diseases were, Tommy suddenly remembered something.

“Ah. I think I’ve heard of that. I heard that other races can get those diseases if they don’t control their diet.”

“…What?”

For a moment, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

But Tommy calmly answered my question.

“Dwarves don’t get those so-called adult diseases. Well, maybe very old and frail dwarves might occasionally get them.”

“…I see.”

I knew dwarves had blessed bodies, but…

Their overwhelming strength and senses compared to other races.

Their ability to drink beer without damaging their livers.

And now, immunity to adult diseases despite an unbalanced diet?

This world is completely a dwarf cheat map.

I blankly thought this as I sipped my beer.

Tommy, pleased with the pepperoni pizza he learned from me, laughed heartily as he drank his beer.

“Hahaha! This pizza is really good. And that tomato sauce can be used in various dishes besides pizza!”

Oh. He’s already realized that.

Indeed, he’s got a great sense.

Even without formal culinary training, his years of running an inn have given him experience.

This seemed true for Nail as well, Tommy’s friend’s son and the reason we came to the dwarven village.

He devoured the pizza, tomato sauce smeared around his mouth, and asked Tommy,

“I want to let my father taste this pizza. Can you make it again tomorrow?”

“Aigoo! Such a filial son! Of course! When Trail comes back after work and eats my pizza, he’ll be blown away! Hahaha!”

And so, our group, and Tommy and Nail in their own way, laughed and chatted warmly, celebrating the success of the pepperoni pizza and enjoying the meal.

The next day, the Dwarven Warrior Squad officially confirmed the presence of vampires hiding in the Great Marsh.

And in the process, a clash occurred between the Dwarven Warrior Squad and the vampires.

But the surprising thing was the outcome of the clash.

Despite each warrior having the combat power of a trained knight, the result was the defeat of the Dwarven Warrior Squad.

Only less than half of the warriors returned to the dwarven village.

The rest were missing.

And among them was Trail, Nail’s father and the leader of the warrior squad.