Chapter 402: Curry Again
I put the pot on top of the unlit stove with a thud, placed another pot of freshly cooked rice with a thud, and put the veggies pickled in soy sauce with a clink.
I plated the rice and topped it with pork cutlet before taking the lid off the pot.
「Hm? What’s this? 」
The aroma of curry wafted out, piquing Retze’s interest.
「Oh my, so you prepared curry powder for today, it seems. 」
Butler said from behind Dinosso.
「Oh, it’s not curry powder, but proper curry. Katsu — pork cutlet — curry. 」
Hmm, I’ve been serving foods sprinkled with curry powder from time to time, so it seems he misunderstood? Outskirt stores sell curry powder, so I used it sometimes.
「Ahh, yeah, it’s the scent of curry. 」
Retze peeked into the pot, seemingly recalling what it was because of the peculiar aroma.
I poured the thick sauce onto the plate and topped it with the pickled veggies and passed it to Retze since he already came over to check it out. Butler set up the table and did the rest.
Since I realized rice is okay, I took the plunge and served them a dish that was also popular among bread-loving foreigners back in Japan. As expected, everyone took it well.
I did consider making katsudon for a moment but decided against it in the end because of the eggs. Although I guess I can also serve them hardboiled, let’s do it later. I have to make them get used to soft boiled eggs first.
「Here you go. 」
There’s also salad and lassi, a type of Indian yogurt smoothie.
「Ou. Let’s toast first, then. Cheers. 」
Dinosso led all of us to toast.
We forego any table manners and eat while still carrying our plates. Facing the side table while eating seems a bit, you know… Well, it’s a difficult situation, kinda.
The taste of the thick, crispy cutlet blended nicely with the curry sauce, and the taste of pork fat spread in my mouth when I took a huge bite. It’s a bit hot, so I also sipped my lassi.
「Goodness, this tastes quite heavenly. 」
「Yeah, I prefer this over the curry powder. 」
Hauron seemed to like it. Ah, no, Dinosso, I already said curry powder is… Oh well, I guess we can just let this slide.
「It’s the thick type of cutlet, huh. I didn’t know the taste would change this much just by adjusting the thickness. 」
Retze commented on the dish while munching with great gusto. So they also have cutlets here, huh.
「It’s not bad. 」
「It is delectable. 」
It’s nothing special for Khan and Butler, huh.
Khan can only taste specific dishes in the first place, but I already lifted the spirits’ entry ban in the 『House』 kitchen, so I’m pretty sure he can taste the flavors of the dishes I prepared there.
However, he still prefers white wine the most. Ah, he also likes chai, and he likes spicy but sweet food too. He can’t taste dishes that hadn’t been influenced by spirits, so I guess it’s a relief that his number one favorite is white wine.
「Can I have another one? 」
「Sure. Do you want a cutlet too? 」
「Ah, can you cut it in half? 」
「Oh my, then let me have the other half. I like this better than the usually grilled ones. 」
Dinosso seemed to like the curry. Hauron prefers the cutlet, I think?
Is it alright for elderly folks to eat fried foods? Oh, now that I think about it, folks don’t really change their diet to simple and plain food when they get older, and their favorite food don’t really change from when they were young.
Ah, and one more thing, unlike Japanese folks, they don’t adjust the dishes according to their individual preferences. They don’t have this culture of eating the viand first, then scooping rice — bread, I mean — in their mouth after to lessen the deep flavor.
Even now, these guys also mix their curry and rice on their plate before taking a bite. Come to think of it, even if something is served on top of rice, people in other parts of Asia mix their food on their plates first before eating, huh. Maybe the Japanese are the minority in this aspect?
「Hmm, I’ll buy a bigger table and a tablecloth next time. 」
We have two more people added to our group — not to mention they’re huge ー so this table is too small for us.
「Oh my, it’s a bit cramped but I like this ambience, including the table. 」
Hauron said.
I repeat, Hauron and Khan are huge, so they’ve been bumping their heads on the lanterns that I hung on hooks.
The floorboards are already thicker than your average house, and I also added joists so I don’t think the floor will give way ー let’s just reinforced the floor with spirit iron later.
「Okay, now that we’re done with the meal, time to let it all out! 」
Dinosso downed his white wine in one gulp.
「Yes, let us vent a lot, okay. 」
Hauron.
They were both staring at Butler.
「Is it regarding the matter in Es? However, does it not seem somewhat awkward to express your grievances in the presence of the perpatrator himself…? 」
Butler replied with a faint smile.
「Jean-sama’s daily life ー weren’t you already aware that it would be nothing but ordinary before deciding to accompany him? 」
Butler poured the black tea, his every gesture refined and impeccable.
「Whoever calls that a typical day is out of their mind! 」
「Why the heck would he make a contract with Es if it’s a typical day!? You don’t do that no matter how abnormal your day is, no siree! 」
Dinosso and Hauron.
「Es…is it… 」
Butler was still smiling.
「Isn’t it better to go a bit easy on him? 」
Retze sipped his wine.
「This is far better than having to see it with your own eyes, isn’t it!? 」
「Those who abandon you in critical times don’t deserve mercy! 」
Abandoning at critical times ー isn’t that too harsh, Dinosso…
Khan’s eyes were glazed over as he guzzled his wine, looking at those two yet not seeing them at all. Butler also froze, so I gingerly took the cup of black tea from his hand and drank it.
Oh, Daifuku is about to fall off from Retze’s lap. Zabuton already gave up on lifting Khan, and was now sprawled on his knees. He seemed similar to a cat himself.
「Perhaps that incident was related to the matter of River Es’s waters receding once? 」
Butler asked Dinosso and Hauron.
It’s fine, they said it returned to normal right after!!
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
I Got Transferred in the Middle of a Mountain
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 80 hours
Thanks for the treat.