The situation shifted rapidly once Momonga arrived. The giant tree monster, Zy'tl Q'ae, was incinerated until only a recognizable charred husk remained, which was then concealed by illusion magic. The plan remained unchanged: use the remains as bait to lure out the Black Scripture. Afterward, accompanied by the Floor Guardians, we headed toward the Lizardman village.
The village was in an uproar, with cries of "The Spirits have descended!" echoing through the air—the residents had clearly seen the pillars of fire from their homes. While the Guardians were muttering rather terrifying things about "inferior species," they refrained from any actual slaughter out of reverence for Momonga and me, much to my relief. Momonga went straight into negotiations with the tribal chiefs, while I... well, I set about preparing the meal for the meeting. To be honest, I felt the destruction of the village was partly my fault, so I intended to pour my heart, soul, and every possible stat-buff into this cooking.
"Hmm... a high-quality whitefish. And remarkably fatty," I noted.
I was currently in a small hut in the Lizardman settlement, cleaning the fish I had caught along with some local specimens the Lizardmen had offered as tribute. Momonga was in the meeting with Albedo by his side, and Shalltear had stayed behind as my personal guard. Everyone else had returned to the Tomb to monitor the Black Scripture and draft a counter-offensive strategy. Clementine had also gone back, as she was the only one who could identify the Scripture members on sight.
"Master Kawasaki, why do you spend so much time observing the staple food of such a lowly race?"
I wiped my knife with a cloth. Just a few cuts and the blade was already coated in rich oils.
"They might be a 'lowly race' to you, but this fish is exceptional. I could serve this to Momonga with absolute confidence."
The lake was fed by snowmelt and nutrients from the forest. The water quality was staggering. I sliced a bite-sized piece of the white meat and held it out to Shalltear.
"Taste it. You'll understand."
"Very well," she replied, tilting her head as she took the morsel.
I popped a piece into my own mouth as well. It was firm, with a springy texture that resisted the teeth, followed by a burst of rich fat.
It's close to sea bream, but the aftertaste is more like sea bass... or maybe rockfish?
Having worked in high-end kitchens in the Arcology, I had experience with real, albeit farmed, raw fish. I ran through every species I knew, but none matched. It was a species unique to this world. If I had to compare, it was like a sea bass but with much more fat and a firmer bite.
"It is indeed quite flavorful," Shalltear admitted.
"Good is good, and bad is bad. Besides, this tribe is about to become part of Nazarick. Don't look down on them so much. Momonga feels the same way."
Securing this lake was a massive win for our future operations. Shalltear muttered something about following orders, but she still looked visibly dissatisfied.
"By the way, I heard you managed to secure some ingredients from that tree. Good work."
I had entrusted the items to Pandora's Actor for now, but I heard that Shalltear, Aura, Mare, and Cocytus had all successfully harvested the parts with culinary compatibility. When I praised her, she blushed and gave a happy smile.
"I could hardly return empty-handed after you personally provided me with equipment to do the job."
When she smiled like that, she looked like an ordinary girl. If it weren't for Peroroncino's weird personality settings, she'd be a perfectly sweet kid. I wished she were a little less bloodthirsty, but I suppose that was just part of who she was.
"Now for this one..."
I tried to slide my knife into the giant fish I had caught, but the scales were like armor. This will chip the blade. I equipped the same frost-suppressing bracers I'd given Cocytus and pulled a knife with a blade of solid ice from my item box. The sheer cold radiating from the blade instantly froze the water I was using to wash the fish.
"Master, is that a sword?"
"I can't equip swords. This is a kitchen knife—a specialized tool for butchering S-rank ingredients like the Raging Bull. Its name was incredibly long, so I just call it the Glacial Cleaver."
It was an item used to process the Vanishing Sail, a giant fish with a flaming hide that lives in the Great Ice River. It was a legendary monster that only guilds with a Level 70+ Cookman could even encounter. Since almost no one played Cookman to that level, the fish was treated as a myth. I remember Nazarick throwing a literal festival when we finally found one. I touched the blade to the two-meter-long fish, and it slid through the scales as if they were soft tofu.
"The sharpness is... divine," Shalltear whispered.
I was surprised myself. I hadn't used the blade since the transition, and its performance was beyond my expectations.
"Hmm? This is interesting."
I had assumed it was a whitefish, but the fillets were a pale, translucent red. It seemed this fish was a relative of the salmon.
"Master, may I ask why the flesh is red?"
"Freshwater fish are usually white-fleshed," I explained, dicing the red meat. "But fish that eat a lot of shrimp and crab turn red because of the pigments in the shells. I forget the name of the chemical, but that's the gist of it."
"You are so knowledgeable, Master," Shalltear praised.
"Only when it comes to food," I laughed. We shared another taste test. The initial bite was a explosion of fatty umami, but as I chewed, it became a bit watery. The flavor was being diluted by the high water content of the meat.
"It's soft and fatty, but the flavor disappears too quickly," Shalltear noted.
"Agreed. It's good, but it's a bit thin. However, with the right technique, I can turn this into something legendary."
"You've already decided the menu?"
I laughed at her shock. "Of course. Now, let's see what's in the water jar..."
I lifted the lid and— "Whoa!"
"Master?! Are you hurt?!" Shalltear rushed over, but I waved her off. I looked into the bottom of the jar. There were long, black, snake-like creatures writhing in the water.
"And there's our third course."
Looking around this hut, I doubted the Lizardmen knew how to cook these. If they did, they'd have the specific tools for it.
"Master... you intend to eat those? They look like common snakes."
"Don't let the looks fool you. These are fish—and back home, they're a luxury item."
I laughed at her skepticism and began pulling the necessary spices and seasonings from my item box.
***
The meeting with the "Spirit of Death," Ainz Ooal Gown, had been more of a ritual of submission than a negotiation. It was remarkably smooth. The Lizardmen knew they stood no chance against the monsters serving Ainz. The giant tree's attack had wiped out nearly an entire generation; only a dozen children remained.
The Dragon Tusks had it worst. Excluding the seven who had gone to battle, only five females remained. The warrior tribe was essentially dead. Crusch of the Red Eyes had already pledged her people's service, believing they should seek the protection of the Spirit led by their ancestors. My own tribe, the Green Claws, only had four surviving females, including my brother Shasuryu's wife. We had thirty strong males, but our homes were splinters. We decided to gather at the Sharp Tail village, which had suffered the least damage, to begin reconstruction with Ainz's help.
"So, it is settled," Ainz announced. He was flanked by a beautiful woman in a white dress with black wings. "Once your migration is complete, I shall provide food and assistance in rebuilding your homes. Is that acceptable, Shasuryu?"
"Our people are on the path to ruin," Shasuryu replied. "If we may rest under your protection, we shall focus all our strength on the reconstruction."
It was the only way to prevent a civil war over the remaining food. But I, Zaryusu, still had doubts.
"Great Spirit, may I ask one question?"
My brother and Crusch looked at me with alarm. I wasn't a chief; I had no right to speak. But I had to know.
"This support is not a charity. What do you require of us?"
I would have preferred he asked for our treasures. This deal felt too one-sided, and that terrified me. The demon standing next to Ainz narrowed his eyes, but Ainz just laughed.
"You have a sharp mind, Zaryusu. I enjoy wisdom. In answer to your query: we were slumbering in the Great Tomb to the north. We awoke to the pleas of souls begging for aid. But..." Ainz paused, looking around the room. "A king without subjects is a farce. I wish to bring prosperity back to this land under my name. You survive, and in exchange, I shall call upon your strength and your wisdom when the time comes. Is that not a fair trade?"
It wasn't a trade; it was an annexation. But I nodded.
"Do not fear," Ainz continued. "Neither I nor Kawasaki intend to destroy you. However... you are currently too weak to serve me properly. I wish to borrow four or five of your best warriors. They shall train at my fortress. Think on it; there is no rush."
His voice was calm, but the dark voids of his eyes made me shiver. To receive "mercy" from a being so much stronger than yourself is a specialized form of terror.
"Lord Ainz," Zenberu spoke up. "If we follow you... can we truly become stronger?"
"Zenberu! How dare you—" the demon began, but Ainz raised a hand.
"Do you seek strength, Zenberu?"
"I was useless against that tree!" Zenberu roared. "I need power!"
Ainz laughed, a sound of genuine approval. "Then come to my castle. I will make you stronger than you ever dreamed."
"I... I will be there," Zenberu stammered, bowing his head.
"Is the talk finished? I've brought the first course," a voice called out.
Kawasaki entered, accompanied by a girl in a black dress. They placed a tray of thick, raw fish slices on a leaf, along with two large pots of steaming liquid and a dark sauce.
"This is just an appetizer," Kawasaki explained. "Take a slice of fish, swish it in the hot broth until it changes color, dip it in the sauce, and eat. Do it as long or as short as you like—it's up to your preference."
Kawasaki demonstrated, popping a cooked slice into his mouth before stepping back. We looked at Ainz, unsure if we were allowed to touch the "Spirit's" food.
"Kawasaki's cooking is a masterpiece," Ainz said. "Eat it as a sign of our friendship."
I took a slice of Kizusu and dipped it into the pot.
"Delicious!"
"Incredible..."
The cries came from all of us at once. The broth was filled with seasonings we had never tasted—complex, savory, and deep. The fish changed from raw to firm, but the center remained tender. Combined with the tangy sauce, it was a revelation.
"I didn't know Kizusu could taste like this," Shasuryu muttered, nodding with every bite.
"This is amazing!" Zenberu shouted, shoveling the fish in.
Everyone was smiling, but I was worried. Kawasaki had called this a "light" dish. What could possibly come next?
Back in the kitchen, I had been prepping the "Mousa"—the salmon-like fish. I had salted it heavily to draw out the excess moisture.
Man, this thing is like a sponge, I thought, draining the tray for the second time. I washed off the salt, dried it, and re-salted it. I couldn't cook it until the texture was right.
"While that sits, let's make the base sauce," I told Shalltear. I pulled sake, soy sauce, sugar, and mirin from my inventory. "Shalltear, what kind of pots do we have?"
"Will this suffice?" she asked, hoisting a massive cauldron that was nearly twice her size.
"Perfect. Put it on the fire."
I was going to make a massive batch of teriyaki-style glaze. I added two bottles of sake and two of mirin, letting the alcohol burn off while keeping a close eye on the flames. Then I added the sugar, stirring constantly so it wouldn't clump. Finally, I added the soy sauce and let it reduce over a low flame.
"It's turned jet black," Shalltear noted. "What is it?"
"A reduction sauce. It's for glazing the fish. Want a taste? It's very strong."
She took a tiny lick and winced. "It is... potent."
"It's not meant to be eaten alone," I chuckled, pulling the heat.
The fish was finally ready. I prepped the ingredients for the Meunière: flour, butter, soy sauce, lemon, herbs, and a splash of white wine. I dredged the large fillets in flour, shaking off the excess, and heated a pan with a mix of butter and oil. The oil adds a sear, and the butter adds the flavor. I laid the fish skin-side down and covered the pan to steam-cook it.
"Perfect."
The skin was crispy and golden. I flipped them, deglazed the pan with white wine, and let the aroma soak into the meat. Once finished, I plated the fish and made a quick pan sauce with butter, soy, and lemon juice.
"Behold: Otherworldly Fish Meunière."
Shalltear's eyes were glued to the plate. I plated a smaller portion for her with some greens and tomatoes.
"A reward for the help. Eat up."
"Really?!" She dropped her formal act for a second, her eyes sparkling. "Thank you, Master!"
"Take a break. I'll carry the plates to the chiefs. Food is best when it's piping hot."
I left Shalltear to her meal and headed back to the meeting. She watched me go, then took a bite, her eyes widening as the butter and lemon hit her tongue. In that moment, her loyalty to the "Gods" of Nazarick reached a new, feverish peak.
***
We were still reeling from the first course when Kawasaki returned.
"Second course: Meunière. I hope it suits your palates."
The fish—the Mousa—looked unrecognizable. It was golden-brown, glistening with a savory sauce and garnished with lemon.
"The lemon adds a nice acidity, but taste it plain first," Kawasaki advised.
I took a bite. It was firm, but not watery. The unpleasant texture of the Mousa was completely gone, replaced by a rich, buttery savoriness that made my head spin.
"Master Kawasaki, is this the right spot?" Shalltear asked, appearing with a table.
"A little to the right," Kawasaki directed. "And bring the jars."
"On it!"
Momonga and Albedo were talking quietly, not eating. I assumed they were either used to this luxury or were simply above such mortal needs.
"How did you fix the Mousa?" I asked Kawasaki as he worked.
"Salted it to draw out the water," he said casually. "Then seasoned it with herbs and pan-fried it. Simple physics, really."
To us, it was magic.
"Gah! This is so good! Can I have more?!" Zenberu shouted. Albedo shot him a look that could kill, but Kawasaki just laughed.
"Save room for the main event. It's a heavy one. Crusch, you still have room?"
"I... I would like to try," she said, blushing.
Momonga watched the Lizardmen eat, feeling a familiar pang in his non-existent stomach.
(Kawasaki... I want to eat too.)
(Wait until we're home. Don't break character.)
Ainz sighed internally. He watched Kawasaki pull a long, black creature from a jar.
"Kawasaki... is that a snake?"
"It's an eel," Kawasaki grinned. "And it's delicious."
"You're going to cook a 'Nuru'?" I asked, shocked. The Nuru were slimy, bony, and considered inedible by our tribes.
"A Nuru? Is that what you call them? Watch this. I'm going to show you what you've been missing all these years."
Kawasaki flashed a confident, predatory grin. "Shalltear, get the rice going. We're doing this right!"
"Yes, Master!"
As the two of them worked in perfect sync, Albedo watched with a look of pure, unadulterated envy. Ainz, meanwhile, could only stare at the writhing eel and hope his friend would hurry up so they could go home and eat.
Next — Menu 15: Eel Kabayaki
***
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