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Volume 3 Chapter 4 Part 3

「Such a strange food, is it even going to be edible? 」

「Hmph. he’s just trying to bluff to salvage the situation. 」

Mitsuhide seems to be full of confidence and downplayed Yoshiharu’s actions. She was absolutely sure of her own victory now, so instead of paying any mind to Yoshiharu, she used the eyeleteer in her hands and skillfully fliped the Takoyakis to the other side.

「Seems interesting to me. Inuchiyo wants to help with it too. 」

「No! This job requires excellent skills at every step in order to not mess anything up! That’s why just I, Juubei, am more than enough for it! 」

「…..Uhh. Just once, let me try just once! 」

「It’s certain at this point that I, Juubei, have won this culinary showdown, but we should still be wary of accidents! There is this saying, ‘Even monkeys fall from trees’, you know? That’s why you can’t do it! No way I’m letting you do it! 」

「Uhh… okay, I understand. 」

Inuchiyo’s face was filled with disappointment as Mitsuhide berated her.

「Ok! Now that it’s this burnt, it should be done soon! The quantity of the oil is nice too! 」

Against all odds, Yoshiharu’s team was the one that completed their mysterious fried Takoyaki first. Witnessing that, the members of the Kaigi Gunshu were muttering to each other:「Is that even going to be edible? 」with worried looks on their faces.

The exterior of Yoshiharu’s fried takoyaki looked incredibly hard, and it was difficult to even poke a hole in it with a fork as well. No matter how everyone who looked at it saw it, it seemed to be burnt beyond any hope of recovery.

「Those other takoyakis on the pan seem to be the same. 」

「This can’t do. How can we sell something that looks like this? 」

All of them were muttering similar things to each other.

Then, after Yoshiharu sprayed a huge amount of sauce on top of the takoyakis, he brought out his ultimate secret weapon…..

「Y-Yoshiharu-san! What is that white fluid? It’s white, and sticky… and thick and gooey, and there is this weird odor to it… *Sniff!* 」

「Hanbei-chan, Hanbei-chan! Stop saying it in such a way, or else you’re going to give everyone the wrong idea! This is my secret weapon that I’ve spent the whole night preparing: mayonnaise! 」

「Ma…yo…nee…iz? 」

「Ma-yo-nnaise. It is a western sauce made from egg yolks, oil and vinegar, and it’s easy to make. As long as I spray this on top of the fried Takoyaki, it will definitely be delicious! 」

「Erm… we’re adding even more oil? Isn’t that too over-the-top? 」

Goemon stared at Yoshiharu with suspicious eyes.

「If I eat such oily food, I will definitely fatten up in no time. You should know that the body of a ninja musht be ash light ash a feather. Or elshe they won’t be able to carry out their misshions… 」

「Okay, okay, I get it. Just trust me on this one. Now then, Come hither, esteemed members of the Kaigi Gunshu! Please try out the taste of this fried Takoyaki for yourselves! 」

Yoshiharu put down a plate of mayonnaise-covered fried takoyaki in front of the members of the Kaigi Gunshu.

「Cuisine isn’t about the appearance or the quality of the ingredients alone! The taste! In the end, that’s all that should matter the most! 」

「…..Don’t tell me even I have to eat this? No…. What is this? It’s so black and hard…. And there is this thick white fluid on top of it…. 」

「Missy, you should just try it first before passing down the final judgement. 」

Other than Mitsuhide, who was busy with the final preparations of her own Takoyaki, all of the present members of the Kaigi Gunshu looked unwilling to even try what Yoshiharu prepared for them, but in the end they all put the fried Takoyaki smeared with mayonnaise into their mouths.

What followed was a short moment of silence.

「Huh?! Don’t tell me this flavor isn’t compatible with the people of the Sengoku era?! Is the mayonnaise too sour?! Is the fried Takoyaki too hard for them after all?! Ahhh, with this, I will have to go to back Gifu Castle and manage the kitchens after all! 」

Yoshiharu cried 「It’s all over! 」while collapsing on the floor in despair.

The first to open his mouth was Imai Sogyu.

「… Sagara-dono!」

Imai Sogyu’s eyes were full of warm tears which flowed down his cheeks and fell onto the ground at his feet.

「What…… Just what kind of food…… did you prepare for us?! 」

Imai Sogyu, who was always calm and collected, was crying! Everyone present took it as a sign that his fury was so immeasurable that he simply couldn’t stop himself…

「Uwahhh! Old man, are you really that angry about it? You are crying tears of regret now? Sorry, it’s all my fault! I hadn’t considered the fact that the result will affect who gets the position of the next representative…!!! 」

In an instant, Yoshiharu was kneeling in front of him and apologizing profusely.

「No! It’s not like that, Sagara-dono! It’s just that the Takoyaki that you prepared is simply too delicious! I feel so overwhelmed by how good it tastes that I simply can’t help it but shed tears! 」

「Eh? 」

At that time, all the people who had finished tasting Yoshiharu’s dish were letting out similar voices of praise.

「Really, it’s too good! How is that even possible?! 」

「Though it’s a totally different cuisine compared to the Naya Takoyaki, this taste can’t be compared with anything else! 」

「The exterior is crispy while the interior is still hot! This is the first time I’ve tasted anything like that! 」

「*Sobsob!* Though it’s so oily…. it’s still really good! I can’t stop eating it! 」

「Hot, hot, hot, hot! I’m not good with hot food, Sagara-shama! But, this is just too tashty!「

「…..Inuchiyo want seconds! *Chew!* *Chew!* 」

「Mhmm. This really is a combination of barbarian-style tempura and Takoyaki. It does not look like much, but this is really good despite its unassuming appearance. 」

Even Tsuda Sokyu finished all of Yoshiharu’s fried Takoyaki without voicing a single complaint.

「To have fried the Takoyaki was an excellent choice. Sagara-sama might just be a genius in the art of cooking! 」

「Not at all. Actually, fried Takoyaki wasn’t even invented by me, so it’s really not…… 」

Even Imai Sogyu chipped in.

「Though this cuisine has the name of Takoyaki, it’s totally different from what I had expected. With this, I am completely willing to give up the rights of the Naya Takoyaki. As expected of someone from the future. That was masterfully played out, Sagara-dono. 」

He did not spare any of his compliments on him.

「Ehhhhhhhh?!!!! 」Towards this sudden turn of events, Mitsuhide’s jaw dropped to the ground from shock.

「I-i-i-in cases like these, s-s-s-shouldn’t the one who brings out their cuisine first be the one to lose!? I-I-I-I don’t believe it! 」

However, the thing that Mitsuhide just couldn’t bare to see was…

「It’s really nice. Saru, give me another one! 」
「Yeah, coming right up. Just be careful not to get yourself burned, because these are really hot. 」

「Really. It’s so hot, how do you expect me to eat it?! Blow on it for me quickly! 」

「Again? There’s no helping you. Ah, whatever, here goes… 」

「Ah~mmm… 」

… seeing Nobuna in her ordinary girl attire wearing an unbelievably bright smile while being so close to Yoshiharu.

「……All that is left now is the sauce. 」

Inuchiyo said after running back to Mitsuhide’s side.

「T-T-Things like sauces are not needed! Right now, we must think of an ultimate supplement to win against that ridiculous mayonnaise of his! 」

Mitsuhide, who was overwhelmed with jealousy was burning with flames of anger.

「…..is there even such a thing……? 」

「Of course!! As long as I use this, Nobuna-sama will definitely love it! 」

*BLAM!*

With a sound that was almost audible to everyone present, Mitsuhide’s brain had totally began to overheat as her ultimate Takoyaki made without a care for skill or budget was about to be finished.

「Come! Everyone hurry and taste this! 」

「T-This is…!!! 」

「What…… Just what kind of food…… did you give us…..?!!!]

On the top of the takoyaki, there was a thick layer of Hatcho Miso. Yes, this thick sauce-like thingy was none other than the Miwa province’s specialty, Hatcho Miso….. Such a Takoyaki was placed in front of the Kaigi Gunshu.

「This miso has matured beyond even the renowned Hatcho Miso! I asked Matsudaira Motoyasu for it! Quick, don’t be polite and eat it! I know you want to! 」