When they returned to base, Mashiro’s group had yet to come back.
“Souma-kun, while we’re waiting for everyone, is it okay if I ask for a favor?”
On her way down from the Mikron and heading to the front door, Shion spoke hesitantly. “Of course, go ahead.”
“Well, I found some soybeans and I want to make soy sauce and miso.”
“Oh, so you want to make condiments. With your Craft Ability, you can make those if you have the ingredients.”
But she had a troubled look on her face.
“Well, there’s a problem with the ingredients. I need soybeans, salt, and koji…” “Koji… is that mold?”
“Yeah, and since mold is a microorganism, I’m not sure what would happen if I tried to store it…” “I see, that’s true…”
Living things can’t be stored as they are.
That’s why animals need to be killed to be stored…
The two of them scratched their heads.
“Um, if I’m mistaken, your master can store mushrooms, right?”
「Oh, right. Roa was right.」
Right, mushrooms are also fungi, aren’t they?
Whether something is a living organism or not is just a matter of how I perceive it. 「I’m honored.」
By broadening my interpretation, I was able to extract brine from seawater.
Then, could I also obtain the koji mold in the same way?
「By the way, where do koji molds live?」
「Well, in Japan, they seem to be pretty much everywhere…」
This isn’t Japan, but I might as well give it a try.
「I can’t store air as it is, so… I’ll put barrels around the house and store them. There might be something in them.」
If I can store the water inside the barrel, then I should be able to store the air inside the barrel as well. All I need is a container.
I tried it in as many environments as possible, both indoors and outdoors, in sunny and shady spots, and in places like the bedroom and the bathroom.
「…Let’s see. Ah! There it is, Shiono! It’s the koji mold!」
「Wow…! You’re really amazing, Souzoku-kun!」
「You even caught the yeast… As expected of my master, you have wonderful abilities.」
Now that I’ve got the yeast too, it should be easy to make bread.
Since Shion has the starter culture, I can make bread with that later. For now, I need the koji mold.
「Um, I think… I have notes on how to make condiments.」 We head to the living room together.
「Yeah! It was written by Shinpo-chan!」
They spent their time in the bonus area memorizing the ingredients and methods for making whatever they wanted, and then hurriedly taking notes when they woke up from their dreams.
Deep Method’s memory is particularly impressive, and the accuracy of his notes is almost like a transcription, which is very helpful.
By the way, they usually use rice koji made from rice, but this time they are substituting with soybean koji.
The processes of steaming and roasting the beans would normally be considered cooking, but the ‘Crafting Ability’ seems to prioritize what is being made rather than the process, so it will omit any process if the end product is not a dish or ingredient. This means that the koji-making and fermentation processes are also omitted.
Even something that would normally take six months to make can be done in an instant with this power.
A craftsman would probably be furious if they heard about it, but I hope they will forgive me if I only use it to survive on a desert island.
Building a house in an instant is also a cheat that shouldn’t be brought into reality.
I intend to inherit my abilities on Earth, but I don’t plan to cause a big commotion. “Alright, it’s done…!”
The miso is in a wooden container, a replica of the plastic ones commonly seen in Japan.
The soy sauce is in a glass bottle with a pouring spout.
Placing them on the dining table, Shion’s eyes shine like stars.
Then she rapidly claps her hands together.
“Yay…! Thanks, Souma-kun!” Shion hugs me.
I feel rewarded just by this, so I guess I’m a pretty easy-going guy.
“I think it’s something we all need, so don’t worry about it.”
Saying that, my cheeks are probably red.
“No, I do mind! Hey! Do you want to eat something?”
“Hmm… Ah! Could we make some teriyaki?”
「Great! I can make it! The ginger I got from Sohatsu-kun is already coming in handy!」
By the way, I had bought various seasonings since Shiomi had wanted them. Ginger was among them.
「Then I’d want rice and miso soup and cabbage… but I don’t have the rice and cabbage.」
「I could use other leafy vegetables instead of cabbage, but rice is a problem…」
「For miso soup, the ingredients are important. The typical one would be tofu, wouldn’t it?」 Roa’s words remind me.
「Ah, right. I have nigari, so I can make tofu now.」 But it won’t be added to the recipe.
Even if it’s not cooking, ingredients like tofu are considered important enough to require a cooking roll to make.
「I know how to make tofu.」
Shiomi says so, and I set up the necessary ingredients and leave it to her.
「It’s a bit hard to crush the beans, though.」 「Ah, then I’ll help.」
「Of course, I’ll help as well.」
The three of us work hard to crush the beans.
「Thanks to both of you. I’ll be fine on my own from here on.」 「Is that so?」
「I will continue to assist you until the very end.」
「Hmm. I’ll keep making tofu, but I want to do the cooking after everyone gets back… Besides, you two must be tired from gathering ingredients, especially you, Tsugusa-kun, since you have other things to do in the afternoon. I hope you’ll take a little rest.」
I could have Loa heal me with a basic healing spell later, but I appreciate her concern.
Besides, she might think that having too many people in the kitchen would be a hindrance.
Two people are fine, but three is too many.
「I agree that you should rest, but please don’t worry about me.」
「Is that so? Then maybe I should ask Tsugusa-kun to give Loa a massage.」
It seemed like Shion was giving Loa a look…
…Wait, isn’t something wrong here?
「No, Loa did the most work gathering ingredients, so I can’t ask that of her.」 「――Understood.」 「Loa…?」 「Hehe, then I’ll ask you to do it.」
「Then, Master, please come this way…」
She leads me up to the second floor.
――This flow… Could it be that Roa is…?
Having been with four people and having that kind of experience, I can’t help but feel déjà vu.
Besides, Roa should have heard about our relationship from the girls.
For her to willingly come and be alone with me….
“Would you like me to go to your room, Master?”
“Ah… No, that’s not what I meant… I mean, is that okay with you, Roa?”
“I am a maid who serves you, Master.”
“No, no… That’s weird, isn’t it?”
For a master and servant to do something like that… It’s something I’ve seen in porn books.
But Roa worked at a maid café, and during work, she probably interpreted the master-servant relationship as a job to fulfill such fantasies.
Wouldn’t she feel repulsed if she actually had to do something like that?
Before I knew it, I had arrived at my room.
Unable to resist, we were alone in the room.
“Indeed, I don’t do such things with just anyone. In fact, I have no dating experience at all…”
Her cheeks flushed as if she were embarrassed. “Then, all the more reason—”
Loa pressed her body against my chest and looked up at me, her lips almost touching mine.
“I’ve decided to serve you of my own free will, with full understanding of what I’m doing. …Is that not what you want?”
Who could possibly turn this down?
Even if there were, I’m definitely not on that side. I gently put my arm around her waist.
Loa then smiles softly, looking pleased. “Then, is it okay if I leave?”
Thank you for the year-end ranking 7th place…!!!! Tomorrow is maid day…!
The reason why she relaxed around Kousuke…!?
So please look forward to tomorrow as well!!!!!!!!
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