Chapter 323

Just a boiled leg, or so I thought.

Its true identity was a colossal squid sausage.

A squid sausage made not from the squid’s body but from its legs.

Normally, squid sausage is made by removing all the innards from the squid’s body and using its blood, but this time, the ingredient wasn’t an ordinary squid—it was a Kraken, making this an unavoidable choice.

Even if we ignore the amount of filling needed, no matter how many people gathered for the celebration, it would be impossible to devour the entire body of a Kraken, which was much larger than a room.

Thus, Kurt decided to use the Kraken’s legs instead, hollowing them out and using the sausage casing made from the legs.

After filling the legs to the brim, the open end was sewn shut with cooking thread, making it look no different from a regular Kraken leg. And so, the Kraken Sausage was complete.

As the Kraken’s leg was sliced open, revealing the sausage filling, everyone at the celebration could only stare in awe.

Even those who frowned and rejected it because it was made by a Lizardman or because they weren’t used to eating squid in inland regions.

Those who had no intention of eating it but were intrigued by the rare sight of such a unique dish, giggling as if they were watching a spectacle.

Those who didn’t want to eat it but felt obligated to at least try a bit out of loyalty to Kurt, mentally preparing themselves.

As Kurt’s knife passed through, it was as if a gem hidden within a rock had been revealed. They all fell silent once more, unable to look away.

But the meaning behind this second silence was entirely different from the first.

If the first silence was the shock of their expectations being shattered, the second was the shock of receiving an unexpected gift they hadn’t even hoped for.

Whoosh.

“….”

“….”

Gulp.

At the same time, as the sausage was sliced, the steam trapped inside began to escape, filling the hall. The sweet and savory aroma wafting through the hot steam made the members of the subjugation team unconsciously start to salivate.

But that was all, for now.

Because in their minds, the aversion caused by external factors still outweighed their desire for the Kraken Sausage.

So, they merely swallowed their saliva, none daring to take the first bite.

Yes.

For now.

.

.

.

“Wow! This aroma! It’s both foreign and somehow familiar—this sweet and salty scent! Did you use soy sauce?”

“Now that I look, it’s not just Kraken inside, but meat too! And it’s not just the casing made from Kraken—the filling has finely minced Kraken meat, so you can really taste the Kraken!”

“This fluffy yet chewy texture! I’ve never even had squid before, let alone Kraken, but this texture is amazing! And it’s savory without being greasy! How is this possible!?”

“It’s so delicious! Give me more!”

“No need to rush, there’s plenty of Kraken Sausage to go around.”

“But my stomach is getting hungry in real-time!”

The four who received the Kraken Sausage from Kurt and ate it with genuine delight.

They had been completely won over by Kurt’s cooking from the start, and unlike the others who froze when the dish was served, they eagerly accepted it without hesitation.

Given the size of the Kraken Sausage, a single serving looked more like a stir-fry of meat and vegetables with a bit of boiled squid on the side, rather than a traditional sausage.

Despite being called a sausage, it wasn’t something you could eat neatly—it looked more like something you’d scoop up with a spoon.

But the four didn’t care about such trivialities, happily scooping up large portions of the Kraken Sausage with big smiles.

“Ahhh! The texture of both pork and Kraken chewing at the same time! I can’t resist! If it tastes this good, I might go Kraken hunting a few more times!”

“Not only that, but the Kraken’s leg, steamed to perfection, is still moist and tender!”

“This Kraken Sausage pairs surprisingly well with alcohol! Washing down the rich flavor of seasoned meat with cold beer is a disaster! I could eat this endlessly!”

“Indeed…! Now I understand! We hunted the Kraken just to taste this!”

They stuffed their mouths with the meat and vegetable stir-fry, exclaiming with faces full of happiness.

“By the way, I took on a request a while ago… *glance*.”

“Really? Was that what happened… *glance*.”

“That’s a bad, tough, and sad story… *gulp*.”

Seeing the four enjoying the dish, the adventurers and soldiers at the celebration began to eye the Kraken Sausage.

“Hahaha. Did you just sneak a peek at the dish made by that Lizardman guy? Didn’t you say earlier that the food made by Lizardmen was terrible and disgusting?”

“I remember the food at the inn run by a Lizardman I visited long ago being awful… But you, who said you couldn’t understand the coastal people’s culture of eating squid, why are you swallowing your saliva so much?”

“W-when did I ever swallow my saliva!?”

Though their mouths said no, their bodies were honest.

Even as they denied it, they couldn’t help but sneak glances at the four devouring the Kraken Sausage.

In their minds, the dish made by a Lizardman, using Kraken as an ingredient, seasoned with the utterly foreign soy sauce—rationally, it shouldn’t taste good. Yet, the laughter of those enjoying it and the aroma of soy sauce, pork, and Kraken meat wafting through the air constantly stimulated their appetites.

As they ate, drank, and chatted, their eyes and ears unconsciously drifted toward the four enjoying the Kraken Sausage.

And soon.

“Um… Kurt.”

“Ah. Bram. What’s up?”

“Ahem! It’s just that… if it’s not too much trouble, could I have a bit of the Kraken Sausage…? Haha.”

Bram was the first, aside from Kurt’s party members, to step forward and ask for a taste of Kurt’s cooking.

The first protagonist was Bram.

Though he had initially felt aversion to the dish, he now felt a bit shameless for changing his attitude and asking for it, wearing an embarrassed expression as he requested a portion of the Kraken Sausage.

“Don’t make such a big deal out of it. There’s plenty of food, so eat as much as you want.”

Kurt, unfazed, smiled as if to say “well done” and filled Bram’s plate with Kraken Sausage.

Bram took the Kraken Sausage and returned to his seat.

Under the curious gazes of his party members, he scooped up a mouthful and ate it.

And then.

“Ugh, ughhh……”

“Bram? Bram! What’s wrong!?”

“Is there something wrong?”

“…There is.”

“Bram…?”

“It’s delicious!!”

With that, Bram, as if he couldn’t spare another moment to speak, began devouring the Kraken Sausage like a madman.

Seeing Bram wasn’t in trouble, his party members sighed in relief but couldn’t help but wonder just how delicious the Kraken Sausage was. They each took a bite.

“What the!? This sweet and salty seasoning soaked into the meat and Kraken!?”

“Soy sauce tastes like this!? It smelled awful at the market, but it’s so delicious!?”

“Hey! Bram! Don’t hog it all, share some with us!”

“Give it up! If you want some, go get it from Kurt!”

Bram and his party members, after just one bite, completely changed their attitudes.

Failing to steal Bram’s Kraken Sausage, his party members sheepishly smiled and extended their plates to Kurt.

“Is it really that good?”

“Should I try it too…?”

“Hey, Lizardman guy.”

Like a spreading epidemic, adventurers and soldiers began approaching Kurt one by one, asking for a share of the dish.

And soon, those who tasted it were once again exclaiming in amazement, completely absorbed in the Kraken Sausage.

Seeing this, others were swayed and went to Kurt to get their share.

Before long, the hall of the Red Shell Inn was in complete chaos, as if an Orc Shaman had cast a plague spell.