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Chapter 38: That’s Why I Drink Milk

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Translator: Haruchin   Editor: Marky

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Alrighty, it’s time for the oysters. I chose the ones that didn’t have norovirus*. I won’t eat them raw here, so there’s probably no problem, BUT I really wanted to eat them raw.

I also got a bit of those sardines that were small but fatty, and also a little bit of anchovies for processing. I also have them in my『 Food Storehouse 』, but I can’t help but want to buy a product if it is in season.

I washed the shells with a brush to remove the dirt. This is making me wish for some gloves.

There’s no oyster knife here, so I just inserted a short knife through the crack and pried the shell open. This requires a bit of strength, but the current me didn’t have any problems with this. Of course they weren’t aquacultured, and it’d be nasty if clam worms peeped out, so I washed them with salt water to remove the gunk and rubbish.

I squeezed some lemon on it; it was slippery and tasty. The ponzu* and grated radish were also yummy.

I mixed some light brown miso, mirin and mayonnaise with the sea urchins. Grilled oysters, oh grilled oysters ~ oh, wait a sec, what should I use to grill these?

(….)

I put the oysters in a line, piled up some stones and put a net on top, then placed a few pieces of glowing coals on it. A mouthwatering scent wafted from the sea urchins as they grilled. I also wanted to grill some oysters in miso, but they’re best eaten raw. Let’s settle for half-cooked, alright.

I smoked and pickled the rest in oil. I’ll burn the shells later and pound them into powder and scatter them on the ground where I plan to plant my spinach.

It’s still early in the morning but I already gorged myself with oysters, and I’m also done shucking and pickling them in oil. Only the sardines were left for me to process, but since they’re inside 【 Storage 】 , I decided to take advantage of that. Riche and I relaxed as we watched the snow fall in the yard, blanketing the ground. Should I make a lounge sofa or a couch for whenever I want to laze around?

I teleported to the rented house.

I always reappear on the third floor, but it was super cold going down to the first floor!!! Well, it’s only natural since there’s no remaining warmth from a fire, but this is way too cold.

And so, I hurriedly kindled the stove, lit the fire at the workshop and boiled some water, then I started processing the sardines. I should do this by the well since it’s difficult to get water to wash this, but since it’s super cold out there, I put some water inside the 【 Storage 】 and brought it here. I took just enough whenever I needed it. It’s like I’m using a faucet cheat. Maybe it’s better to swap the sink with an enamel one.

The good thing about renting a house is that one can chuck the food scraps into the toilet hole to throw them out. I plan to dig a hole in the yard so I can bury the biodegradable waste, but will just do that when the weather’s warmer. Hey, piggy that’s gonna be eaten by some other guy, go ahead and eat up.

Now, on to the anchovies and sardines in oil. To make the sardines more delicious, I first soaked them in brine and let them rest for one to two hours before pickling them in olive oil. Put some thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, garlic, and add some chili to taste.

The anchovies were soaked in brine for the meantime. It’s a fermented food, so it’s still got a long way to go before it’s ready.

My hands stink, so I washed them thoroughly to remove the fishy smell, then cleaned up the kitchen too. I opened the window. It’s too cold, so I’ll go to the workshop —nope, let’s retreat to the house.

Riche came dashing to welcome me, but he threw a disapproving glance at me as he sniffed my fingertips. He drew back a step as he looked up at me, so I turned him over and we played together. My frozen fingertips were tingling from the warmth of the room.

My lunch was the simmered food I prepared before I went out. I’ll use the remaining broth to make some udon for dinner later. I brewed some coffee and relaxed to kill some time before my appointment. I’m going to the pottery and metal casting shop this afternoon to get the items I requested.

Cast metals need moulds. They are made by putting some sand mixed with clay into frames. The metal is then poured into the hollow part of the mould and cooled. It will solidify into the metal product that has the shape you wanted.

Well, it’s important to fix the shape from there, but that’s it, basically.

I also wanted to do smithing, but I’ll do that after I make another windmill. I don’t want to strike and shave metals right beside where I’m grinding the flour (where the food is).

Right now, I’m doing my best to gather the materials. Got my hands on some brass, so it might be a good idea to use them to make lanterns and lamps. It’s an alloy of copper and zinc, so the most familiar thing closest to it should be a 5 yen coin, I guess.

The snow geese cushions also fetched a hefty price, plus my commission from the building structures that I registered before was more than I imagined. Thanks to that, there’s no need for me to go hunting during the winter season, and I don’t have to suffer from the cold.

Maybe I’ll pass the time by making some baskets out of olive branches and reeds beside the fireplace? I can also sew underwear or knit some socks, I guess.

***

They told me the bathtubs and toilet seats were doing quite well when I visited the workshop. The first workshop I inquired at were not the only ones who benefitted from this — the whole town actually prospered. This happened because the workshop also passed the job to other studio’s in order to meet the deadline of demanding aristocrats, apparently.

Now that they’re jumping on this bandwagon and expanding too much, I was a bit scared. What will happen when the craze is over? The bosses of the pottery and metal casting workshops assured me that everything’s fine, though. Not only the enamels, but their pottery was also getting famous, so they’re now establishing their brand.

The metal casting shop and the first pottery workshop that I inquired at eventually collaborated with each other to create the products. Well, a bathtub sized enamel pottery won’t fit in the metal casting shop’s furnace, after all.

「 Ah, I want to make a sink made of enamel. Plus a wash bowl, too. 」
「 See, it’s gonna be fine! 」

He pounded my back while laughing out loud.

「 Ohh, you look so skinny, but you’re unexpectedly well-built, huh 」

The burly metal cast boss had been pounding my back with his meaty hand, but I didn’t even tremble, so the pottery shop’s boss was in awe.

That hurts, plus I’m not skinny, you know. Metal Casting Boss is a great, brawny guy, while Pottery Boss’ got that potbelly, that’s all.

………I should drink more milk as soon as I get home. Maybe I should drink it aside from mornings and evenings, too?

After all this, I finally got a kettle, a small teapot and a pot I can put in the fireplace, so I set out for home in high spirits. I’ve been brewing green tea in the teapot all this time, so I can settle down now that I have these. The teacups are also okay, too.

Alright, let’s go to the Adventurer’s Guild for a bit since I’m already out shopping. I’ll just take a peek at the Commission Board so I’ll have an idea about requests during this season. It’s the spot where I can grasp the general gist without having to talk to people.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely didn’t come here to search for handy body-building exercises, got it. I know I’ve been repeating this countless times, but I’m normal, you know. Based on Japanese standards, I’m considered as the slender but macho type. It’s not my fault that the people in this world are muscular, husky, brawny, beefy and huge.

「 It’s imperative that we go to the depths of the forest once again to investigate! 」

When I entered the guild, a blonde guy was giving some kind of fervent speech at the pub. He’s an adventurer, yet he’s wearing clothes trimmed with frills, and his shoulder-length, golden hair was tied into a low pony with a ribbon — and look at that cleft chin. Frills, ribbon, square face and cleft chin…that’s so mismatched.

Alright, I didn’t see anything. I feel like I saw Dean at the same table, but I’m probably imagining things.

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T/N: norovirus – common cause of viral gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines), causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea :D.

Ponzu sauce – a a citrus-and-soy-based Japanese condiment

Udon – thick noodles, often cooked in broths with various condiments

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