Mebius World Online – Mari’s VRMMO Diary, Embarking on a Laid-back Adventure as a Novice - Chapter 71
71. Mari-nee, Cassoulet, and big children
Upon returning home, I unfolded the mobile production kit on the sunny side of the counter.
Though there were no specialized items like a pizza oven, there were enough facilities lined up for cooking.
Having been forced to use them extensively during my cooking training, I’m already familiar with how to use them perfectly.
I don’t have the same level of attachment to cooking tools as Mareus-san and others do, so there’s nothing lacking.
If I were to nitpick, maybe the height of the facilities is a tad high for someone as petite as me.
But it’s okay, I have a step stool made by Kanna-san.
By the way, while I was cooking using the step stool, Mareus-san laughed and got smacked by Roulette-san.
See? There’s no problem, right?
So, you can’t possibly have anything to say about my cooking, can you?
“Now that I’m back home, let’s summon the two.”
Using Moira’s blessed thread, I summoned Nero and Kuuga, who frolicked happily.
Come to think of it, it feels like it’s been quite a while since I summoned them last, but it was just at the adventurer’s guild.
With so much going on, my sense of time has gone awry.
While enjoying some fluffy cuddles, I felt soothed by their presence.
“I’m going to cook now, can I have your help?”
“Nya.”
“Gaoo.”
It’s heartwarming to see both of them raise their hands.
First, I processed the vegetables with the Intermediate Preparation skill, using threads to manipulate multiple knives to finely dice carrots and onions.
What would normally take a considerable amount of time in reality was done in no time thanks to my skills.
Next, I soaked plenty of white kidney beans in water and used Intermediate Acceleration to absorb moisture.
With Kuuga lifting the large pot, I sautéed the lamb fat and released oil, then added the diced vegetables.
Nero skillfully handled the stirring with both hands using a spatula.
The lack of height was compensated for by using another pot upside down as a step stool.
Oh, and we should open the window for ventilation.
Before handling the tomatoes, Kuuga covered his hands with clean cloth and crushed them in a large bowl with a punching motion.
You could chop them, but I feel like this method makes them more like puree and tastier.
“…But, it might have been a bit of a mistake.”
There was Kuuga, drenched in tomato juice, already beginning to turn his body red.
If we encountered this in the mountains, he’d be mistaken for a man-eating bear.
I added the trimmed lamb and chicken pieces to the pot Nero was stirring.
After sautéing for a while, I had Kuuga add the soaked white kidney beans and the well-pureed tomatoes, then tied a bundle of herbs I bought from the old man to make a bouquet garni, which also went into the pot.
While Nero and Kuuga looked at the pot, I put the chicken bones I received then I bought the chicken into another pot, added water and ginger, and adjusted it with Intermediate Acceleration to remove impurities while simmering for several hours.
What resulted was a clear chicken broth.
I added this to the large pot instead of water.
I seasoned it with salt, but I held back a bit for the hidden flavor.
Then, I covered it and used Intermediate Acceleration again.
It’s such a useful skill.
In no time, when it finished simmering, I added a generous amount of the white miso I received as a seasoning through point exchange for a hidden flavor.
This should enhance not only the saltiness but also the sweetness and richness.
Upon tasting it… yes, it’s quite good.
What I’ve completed is a French home-cooked dish called Cassoulet.
Actually, it’s a much richer dish with lots of sausages and preserved meats, but I intentionally kept the fat content low.
When I checked the Cassoulet as an item, it had a VIT correction as a cooking buff.
I wonder, because it’s bean-based, does it make you healthier?
“Now that Roulette-san and others’ dinner is sorted, I should wash Kuuga.”
As I removed the soaked cloth from K?ga’s hands, at that moment, the door to the house opened.
“I thought it was the pharmacist’s husband who had returned, but what in the world is that creature!?”
Oh no, it’s already causing a misunderstanding.
In a fluster, I spent 20 minutes explaining to the visitor that Nero and Kuuga are family and don’t attack people, and that we were in the middle of cooking, before finally convincing them.
Phew, that was tiring…
“Sorry for visiting suddenly and causing a ruckus.”
The slightly hunched old man apologized, bowing his head.
“No, it’s… well, it couldn’t be helped.”
I replied while comforting the dejected Kuuga.
Yeah, Kuuga did nothing wrong, and he’s not scary, okay?
“I’ve been indebted to the pharmacist’s husband for a long time. So when I heard he had left the capital, I felt lonely. Every time I passed by this house and saw it dark, I felt a strange feeling. But when I passed by today, I saw the window open. So, I thought he might have returned.”
“He was someone who was beloved by everyone, wasn’t he?”
As I continued, the old man began reminiscing joyfully, sharing one story after another.
The way the old man spoke was so skillful that it almost felt like the pharmacist himself was standing in front of me, engaging in a real conversation.
And when he finished his story…
“I apologize for making you endure an old man’s long talk. But still, I’ve been smelling something nice since earlier, haven’t I?”
“I was making Cassoulet. Um, it’s a dish simmered slowly with white kidney beans, tomatoes, meat, and vegetables.”
“I see, Cassoulet. It’s a dish made in any household around here, like a taste of home.”
A taste of home, huh?
Since I’m the one who cooks, it doesn’t quite resonate with me, but I hope one day the pharmacist and his daughter could taste it.
At that time, I might also serve dishes like nikujaga or curry, which were often made in reality.
While thinking about that, I noticed the old man was still facing the pot.
“…Would you like to try some?”
“Oh, really? Is it okay?”
Although he asked in a questioning tone, the old man was already seated on a nearby bench.
Yeah, he seems eager to eat.
With a wry smile at the discrepancy between words and actions, I plated the Cassoulet in a wooden bowl and handed it to the old man along with a spoon.
We have ceramic dishes too, but since we don’t have a table yet, I decided not to use them this time to avoid burns.
“It’s well-cooked and looks delicious. Let’s see…”
“How is it?”
As the old man closed his eyes and savored the food, he eventually opened them and expressed his thoughts.
“…Delicious. It has a different taste from what I usually eat, with the richness of fat being restrained, yet it has an indescribably gentle flavor. I’ve eaten various Cassoulets around the capital, but I’ve never had one like this.”
“Oh, it’s really delicious. And it brings back some nostalgic feelings for us.”
“Miso, no, white miso? Surprisingly, it complements it well.”
“This could become our taste of home.”
Good, the old man seems satisfied… Wait, where did you all come from, Kanna-san, Mareus-san, Roulette-san?!
“When did you arrive… and you even brought your own portions.”
“Just as our stomachs started growling, we caught a whiff of something delicious in the air. Our bodies moved on their own. Hehe, delicious food is a sin, isn’t it?”
No, the sin lies in the one who eats without permission, not in the cooking, I think?
Since you’re in charge of meals, it’s fine, though.
But still, Mareus-san, you’re amazing for instantly identifying the hidden flavor.
Despite the smell of lamb, there shouldn’t have been much of a miso scent.
“Thank you for the meal. It was really delicious. By the way, I didn’t ask for your name. I’m Simon.”
“The pleasure is mine. My name is Maria. And these are my companions, Kanna-san, Mareus-san, and Roulette-san.”
The three just nodded and focused on eating.
These three…
“Thank you. Not only did you let me indulge in nostalgic memories, but you also served delicious Cassoulet. Do you plan to continue cooking here in the future?”
“Yes, I do. We have these people’s meals to consider, and I also need to make some for sale.”
I’m not sure how much I can sell on the bulletin board, but I should stock up before experiencing another shortage.
“I see, for selling… I understand. Then I’ll leave the rest to these old bones.”
“Huh? Leave what exactly?”
“Well then, see you again soon.”
Without answering my question, the old man left the house.
Was his back a bit straighter than when I first saw him? Maybe his uplifted spirits were reflected in his posture?
Well, let’s just go with that understanding. I finished the remaining Cassoulet and ate it.
By the time I finished eating, the three were already gone, leaving only the dishes on the counter.
Naturally, the dishes hadn’t been washed.
“What’s this feeling, like having three big children…?”
Encouraged by Nero and Kuuga, I washed the dishes alone, logged out for the day, and went to sleep.