Chapter 168

After such a satisfying meal, Pey let out a contented sigh.

“Hoo… So this is the real traditional Lizardman cuisine… The rumors that Lizardman food isn’t fit for humans were really just that—rumors.”

As if that could be true.

If real Lizardman food was delicious, I would’ve stayed in the Lizardman Village and never left.

Well, maybe I would’ve left eventually since I wanted to try various dishes.

Still, it’s a relief that my efforts paid off, and the new cooking method turned out to be quite successful.

Is this what they call turning misfortune into fortune?

Thinking that, Pey smiled happily and thanked me.

“It was really delicious. It looked like barely cooked raw meat on the outside, but it had a unique flavor.”

“Good. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

I worked so hard to make it something humans could eat while keeping that Lizardman vibe.

In reality, the so-called Lizardman dish only resembled raw meat and undressed green salad in appearance. The actual composition was completely different.

It’s like how the Bûche de Noël cake in the West during Christmas looks like a log but has nothing to do with actual logs.

The dish I made looked like poorly cooked meat with a blood-like liquid poured over it and salad with dirt on it.

But in reality, the meat was a carefully cooked blue rare steak, the “blood” was a red wine-based sauce, and the “dirty” salad was just green salad with pepper.

If it didn’t taste good after all that effort, it would’ve been a waste.

Seriously.

This world is clearly a fantasy, yet there’s no fantastical cooking method.

Well, maybe the wealthy nobles have something like that, but it’s certainly not within my reach.

Shouldn’t a fantasy world have some fantastical cooking methods?

Like infusing mana into food to make it fresher and tastier, or magic that conjures food with a spell.

…

Thinking about it, that kind of world seems kind of unpleasant.

It feels like it negates the very concept of cooking.

Could you even call that cooking?

Yeah, I’d rather have this world.

As I was thinking that, the innkeeper laughed cheerfully.

“Young friend, your cooking skills are exceptional! I enjoyed it too!”

“I’m glad you liked it. I arranged the Lizardman-style steak in my own way, so I was worried it might not suit your taste.”

“Huh? Arranged? Is that why?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well… I felt like Kurt’s cooking was missing something… a wild flavor.”

The innkeeper said that, finally realizing what was missing.

After all the effort to remove the gamey taste, preserve the raw meat flavor, and melt the fat, using red wine sauce and marinade, only to be dismissed as lacking a wild flavor…

Is this the Lizardman palate?

The reason Lizardmen prefer raw meat is that they barely have a sense of taste and enjoy meals based on texture, valuing the chewiness of raw meat over cooked meat.

Thinking that my palate was at that level just a few years ago, I’m really glad I’ve transcended that.

As I sighed in relief, Pey’s eyes sparkled as he asked the innkeeper.

“Wait…! Does that mean you can make an even more delicious steak dish!?”

“Hahaha! Exactly! Kurt’s steak was excellent, but experience can’t be beaten. My steak dish has a wildness that his lacks!”

“Wow…!”

What?

While I was lost in thought, their conversation was taking a strange turn.

It wasn’t surprising for the innkeeper, a Lizardman with no sense of taste, to make such an evaluation.

It’s like a blind person not being able to tell if a painting is beautiful or poorly drawn.

But for Pey to believe the innkeeper’s words…

“Wait… hold on.”

“Kurt’s cooking was already this delicious, so how amazing must the savior’s cooking be…! I can’t wait!”

“Hahaha! Look forward to it! Today the young friend cooked, but next time I’ll show you my true skills! Kurt, why don’t you join us next time?”

“…I’ll pass. It’s rude to eat twice.”

Pey, with sparkling eyes, made plans with the innkeeper for the next meal.

After I saved him, he’s walking right back into hell.

I give up.

And it wasn’t just me thinking that. The staff and other guests in the inn were looking at Pey like he was a fool attempting suicide.

…

…

…

After the meal, the innkeeper and Pey began an emotional conversation, celebrating their reunion after ten years.

They had shared stories before the meal, but ten years of emotions couldn’t be resolved with just that.

Completely absorbed in their own world, the innkeeper and Pey.

Since the meal was over, I thought I should get up.

I was treated to food as a reward, so staying longer would just be a nuisance.

By the way, I never got to investigate the most promising pair of Lizardman travelers.

Well, I found the savior, so it’s not a big deal…

Ding dong.

As I was about to get up, the inn’s door swung open.

“Hoo… I’m tired.”

“Hey~. Don’t worry too much. We’ll find him soon~.”

And the voices of a man and woman behind me.

The innkeeper, recognizing the voices, stopped talking to Pey and greeted the newcomers with a smile.

But where have I heard that voice before?

“You’re late again today. Sounds like you struck out again.”

“Don’t even start. Humans can’t tell Lizardmen apart at all!”

“Totally~.”

This voice…?

“First, they introduced me to a brown-skinned Lizardman. I thought maybe my explanation was lacking. But then they introduced me to a Lizardman under twenty or a female Lizardman! That’s a bit much!”

“Yeah. Yeah.”

“Hahaha! You’ve had it rough!”

“Even the Lizardman I thought was the one I was looking for was absent all day, so I waited for hours and came back empty-handed!”

“That’s too bad! Wait, now that I think about it, there’s a Lizardman who came to our inn today. Could he be the one you’re looking for?”

Not particularly because of the innkeeper’s words, but I turned around as if entranced and looked at the pair who had just entered.

A Lizardman with darker green skin than mine.

He was wearing a helmet made from the skull of a Basilisk I had crafted and had a displeased expression.

And the other was a cute female Lizardman with pinkish skin, resembling an Uparupa.

“Kirsh? Lakia?”

Why are you two here?

Why are the two who should be in the Lizardman Village here?

Kirsh is the village’s great warrior, and Lakia is the next shaman. They shouldn’t be able to leave the village.

As I was panicking, they noticed me and widened their eyes, approaching me.

“Hey, Kur…!”

“Kurt! I missed you!”

Before Kirsh could finish, Lakia cut him off and hugged me.

In a daze, I patted Lakia in my arms and asked Kirsh what was going on.

“Why are you two here? Ordinary Lizardmen might leave, but you two can’t abandon the village, right?”

“Of course, we came to find you!”

“Me?”

You came all the way to Astram to see me?

“It’s not a one or two-day journey from the Lizardman Village to Astram. You came all this way just to see me?”

“That’s not the point! We need your help!”

“…My help? What do you mean?”