Menu 21: Sap-Based Cuisine / Lord Momonga Wants Sushi
The custom meals for Aura, Mare, and Shalltear were finished. Now, only Cocytus remained... and he was proving to be the most difficult challenge yet.
"How on earth am I supposed to use tree sap?"
I stared at the golden liquid, muttering to myself. I'd cooked plenty of things in my time, but tree sap was a first. I crossed my arms and let out a long "hmmm" as I pondered the ingredient. Finally, I reached a decision.
"First, a taste test."
Right. I couldn't know what it was without tasting it, and a sample might spark an idea. I poured a small amount of the sap into a glass.
"Oh, this is interesting."
I expected it to be thick and syrupy, but it was as thin and clear as water. It had a faint, woody aroma that gave away its origin, but otherwise, you might mistake it for some kind of juice. I took a sip.
"This is..."
The texture was nearly identical to water, but it carried a delicate sweetness and a refreshing hint of the forest.
"Wait a second."
The taste triggered a memory. I recalled a book I'd read years ago about people in Hokkaido using white birch sap for things like shabu-shabu or even for frying chicken.
"Let's give it a shot."
I couldn't think of any other way to use it. It was a recipe I'd only ever seen in a book, and I'd never actually tried it myself. It was a total shot in the dark, but that's what made it fun. I lifted the glass jar containing the Zy'tl Q'ae's sap.
"Everything's a challenge."
Life is just a series of trials and errors. Nothing starts if you don't take the first step.
"I think I'm supposed to marinate the meat in it."
It had been years since I was just an apprentice chef devouring every cookbook I could find, and I'd only caught a glimpse of the technique. In other words... I didn't actually remember the details. I poured the sap into a bowl and added chicken—sized for Cocytus, which meant massive, fist-sized chunks. I prepared three bowls, each with about four of these meat slabs, and tucked them into the fridge.
"Half a day of marinating should be enough."
I was glad the idea struck me before I started on Lord Momonga's breakfast. It would be ready in time for Cocytus's dinner.
"Lord Kawasaki. I have arrived."
"Ah, Albedo. Perfect timing."
Albedo stepped into the kitchen wearing an apron and a bandana. Because of her horns, she had swept her hair back, securing it at the nape of her neck with the bandana. Lately, I'd been letting her help with Momonga's breakfast while I taught her the ropes. Her motivation was through the roof—she called it "bridal training"—and I saw no reason to refuse a willing student.
"Alright. Today, we're making miso soup, salted grilled mackerel, and tamagoyaki. I'm going to teach you how to make a traditional human breakfast from the old world."
She had already mastered the miso soup, so I figured the rest would be easy. Albedo was a quick study.
"Yes! I will do my best!"
She was full of enthusiasm, but when I tried to teach her how to roll the omelet... it ended up as a charred, unrecognizable lump.
"Alright, let's stop there for today. I'll teach you again some other time, okay?"
She was meticulous when it came to measuring ingredients, so she excelled at recipes with fixed ratios. However, she seemed to struggle with dishes that required "feel" or intuition.
"Sniff... Y-yes..."
I couldn't let her keep mass-producing pitiful, burnt eggs. To cheer up the teary-eyed Albedo, I told her to make the miso soup for everyone on her own. She did it with practiced ease, confirming my theory about her cooking strengths. But that wasn't what surprised me most.
"Ah, Albedo made the soup today, didn't she?"
I was stunned. That ditzy skeleton's sense of taste had developed to the point where he could actually distinguish between my miso soup and Albedo's.
+++
"Alright, let's finish this up."
After a normal day of work, I returned to prepping Cocytus's dinner. I had added soy sauce and grated ginger to the chicken marinating in the sap earlier that afternoon. The meat looked far more succulent than standard fried chicken.
"This might be a winner."
I still had sap left over. I made a mental note to make this for Momonga next time as I dropped the chicken into the hot oil. The crackling sound of the oil... that really is the best part of frying food.
"Easy does it."
I laughed as I struggled slightly with the size of the meat chunks, but I eventually got them all in. Once the first fry was done, I asked an Eight-Edge Assassin to summon Cocytus and turned up the heat. Once the oil was piping hot, I dropped the chicken back in for a second fry. This was the secret to getting that perfect, crispy exterior.
"Phew... wow, this is actually great."
It was crispier than usual, and thanks to the sap, the inside was incredibly juicy and tender.
"This is a hit."
I felt a brief pang of regret for completely destroying the Zy'tl Q'ae, as I wouldn't be able to get any more of this sap. I shook it off and kept frying.
+++
Cocytus's Perspective
I... HAD... BEEN... SUMMONED... TO... LORD... KAWASAKI'S... ROOM. I... ARRIVED... AT... HIS... DOOR... FEELING... TENSE... WONDERING... IF... I... HAD... COMMITTED... SOME... OVERSIGHT.
"Lord Kawasaki. Lord Cocytus has arrived."
"Let him in."
The maid received permission and opened the door. As I stepped slowly into the room, my vision was filled by a massive platter piled high with fragrant, golden-brown morsels. While I stood there confused, Lord Kawasaki emerged from the back room.
"Welcome, Cocytus. Have a seat."
"L-LORD... KAWASAKI... WHAT... IS... THIS?"
I knew I should have offered a proper greeting, but I couldn't comprehend the scene before me. He laughed at my question.
"It's a meal made from the sap you gathered. Aura, Mare, and Shalltear have already had theirs. You're the last one."
I... WAS... SPEECHLESS. TO... THINK... HE... WOULD... TRULY... COOK... FOR... ME... I... SAT... IN... THE... MASSIVE... CHAIR... HE... HAD... PREPARED... TO... FIT... MY... FRAME... DEEPLY... MOVED... BY... HIS... MERCY.
"It's fried chicken marinated in the sap you brought. I tried a piece; it's quite good."
He poured a golden liquid into a glass sized for me and topped it with a clear, bubbling fluid.
"Zy'tl Q'ae sap mixed with soda. Have a drink."
"I... AM... BEYOND... GRATEFUL... FOR... YOUR... KINDNESS."
He laughed, telling me I was exaggerating, and headed back into the kitchen to prepare the next course.
"THANK... YOU... FOR... THE... MEAL."
I offered my thanks to the Supreme Being and raised the glass to my mandibles. The golden sap moved with a viscous grace, filled with beautiful, rising bubbles.
"HOOO..."
A refreshing forest aroma... followed by a deep, rich sweetness. The carbonation dancing on my tongue was an exquisite sensation. Though it was made from sap, I could recommend this to Demiurge with absolute confidence.
"IT... IS... HOT... YET... DELICIOUS."
Next, I took a bite of the fried chicken. The moment I bit down, scalding, savory juices flooded my mouth. I winced at the heat, but the incredible crunch and the shocking tenderness of the meat left me in awe. It was slightly spicy and aromatic... His culinary prowess was evident in every single bite.
"Good, isn't it?"
"YES. THIS... IS... TRULY... HEAVENLY... CUISINE."
He laughed again, saying everyone was being dramatic, but this was food that should normally only be touched by the Supreme Beings. For a servant to eat this felt almost improper.
"Now, for the next part."
I still had chicken left, but Lord Kawasaki returned with a pot. It was filled to the brim with that same golden sap, yet it was empty of any meat or vegetables. While I tilted my head in confusion, he returned with a massive tray held in both hands.
"And here we go."
"OOOOOOH..."
I couldn't help but let out a sound of wonder at the sight. It was a collection of ingredients that no servant should ever be permitted to taste. He chuckled and began explaining the meats.
"Raging Bull, Vanishing Cook, Devil Boar... the best ingredients I have on hand right now."
I was speechless at being offered such treasures. He looked at me and continued.
"You're heading out to the Lizardman village tomorrow to help with the reconstruction, right? I heard from Momonga."
"YES. I... HAVE... BEEN... SO... ORDERED."
I had been tasked with staying in the village to act as a governor for our first experiment in rule and to project the majesty of Nazarick. I would have four Elder Liches as assistants, and Demiurge would check in every few days.
"Consider this a send-off meal. Good luck tomorrow."
"YES... THANK... YOU... SO... MUCH."
I am a sword. I am Lord Ainz's loyal blade, meant to strike down any and all enemies. And yet, to receive such mercy... words were not enough. I could not possibly convey my gratitude to him with simple speech.
"There's plenty for seconds. Get your strength up."
He headed back into the kitchen. I watched his retreating back before reaching for a slice of Raging Bull and dipping it into the golden sap. The red meat turned white in an instant.
"OOOOOH... INCREDIBLE."
The sweetness of the sap did not interfere with the sweetness of the meat; rather, it enhanced the flavor and made the texture unbelievably soft. I couldn't stop eating. After fully enjoying the feast he had prepared, I set out for the Lizardman village the next morning. And the first thing I did upon arrival was—
"WE... SHALL... ERECT... STATUES... OF... THE... GREAT... LORD... AINZ... AND... LORD... KAWASAKI."
"Yes, sir!" the Lizardmen shouted.
My first act was to build statues of the Great Ones, establishing this land as part of their sovereign domain.
+++
Ainz's Perspective
The leveling experiment was a success. Clementine led the pack with a nine-level jump, and Brain and the others were steadily gaining ground as well. As expected, Clementine's growth was the most significant due to her constant sparring with Yuri of the Pleiades. Brain and his group were fighting monsters around Level 10 by Yggdrasil standards, so their level growth was slower, but their Martial Arts skills were developing rapidly due to the constant combat. There were pros and cons to both methods, but I decided a broad range of capable fighters was better than a single outlier. We would keep Brain's group on their current path while pushing Clementine to become a powerhouse.
Leveling is definitely possible in this world.
The monsters here likely provide extremely low experience points, which is why there are so many low-level warriors. By forcing Clementine and the others to fight monsters that pushed them to their limits, they were breaking through their shells and refining their techniques. The plan was perfect. I needed Clementine to reach at least Level 50 if she was going to act as Kawasaki's guard.
"Lord Ainz. Regarding the plan to have Clementine and the others refine their Martial Arts so we can teach them to Narberal and the rest... we are still facing difficulties," Demiurge reported.
"I see," I replied. I knew this would be hard. It was a technology that didn't exist in Yggdrasil; I never expected them to master it overnight.
"Narberal and the others are putting in the effort, but—"
"It doesn't matter," I interrupted. "Why the rush? The success of the leveling experiment is enough. Martial Arts come next."
Demiurge bowed. "I understand."
"Momonga, are you busy?"
Kawasaki knocked and peeked into the office. Demiurge bowed to him and took his leave.
"Please, come in, Kawasaki. I just finished."
"I didn't chase him out, did I?" Kawasaki asked, taking a seat across from me.
"No, it's fine. He was done."
"Leveling seems to be going well. I heard from Clementine."
"Yes, it's a massive success."
While they were weak compared to the servants of Nazarick, once Nigun and his men reached a certain level, we could send them back to the Theocracy as spies. We could do the same with Brain and the others. The plan was moving so smoothly it was almost scary.
"Lilliette hasn't seen any new prophecies. In a way, that means things will be quiet for a while. She told me to tell you that if you're going to move, now is the time."
"I see. That's a good point."
I had been hesitant to move because I was worried about the lack of prophecies, but perhaps moving while things were quiet was the better strategy.
"Alright. Let's try to contact Gazef Stronoff. I want information on something other than the Theocracy soon."
We had Nigun and Clementine, so we had plenty of info on the Slane Theocracy. We also had the corpses of the Black Scripture—though we hadn't resurrected them yet. I knew that country's internal affairs; now I wanted to know about the neighbors.
"Baharuth, Re-Estize, Argland, the Draconic Kingdom... we need info on all of them," Kawasaki noted.
As long as we didn't know where the weapons of the Eight Greed Kings were, information was our most valuable resource. We'd start with Re-Estize since I already knew Gazef.
"And after Re-Estize?"
"The Empire is a candidate. I hear they have plenty of 'Workers'—fallen adventurers whose disappearance wouldn't cause much of a stir."
"Stop planning to kidnap people," Kawasaki said with a wry smile. But from an information-gathering standpoint, snatching people with no official status was the cleanest method.
"Contact Gazef and focus on the Kingdom first. If you rush and try to do everything at once, you'll trip up."
"I know," I agreed. I had no intention of making a choice that would put Nazarick, the NPCs, or Kawasaki in danger.
"Then let's set out the day after tomorrow."
"Any particular reason for the delay?"
"I'm posing as a magic caster, and he's already seen Albedo. But the biggest reason is..." I paused. "If we look like peasants, my servants will snap."
"A perfect answer."
I decided to take a day to prepare a carriage and equipment that wouldn't be looked down upon by the people of Re-Estize.
"So, that's the plan for now?"
"Yes. We might stay in Re-Estize for a while to gather intel and see if it's a viable base of operations."
"We'll need to select the right Guardians and servants to accompany us."
"I bet there will be plenty of volunteers."
Kawasaki and I were heading out. I knew Albedo and the others would protest, but I'd just have to make them endure it.
"Oh, by the way, Kawasaki. There's a dish I've been wanting to eat."
"Sure. What is it?"
I figured once we left Nazarick, I wouldn't be able to eat whatever I wanted. Better to ask now.
"I want to eat sushi. Real sushi... Uh, Kawasaki?"
Kawasaki had an expression I'd never seen before. He stood up and gripped my shoulders.
"Whatever you ate in the real world wasn't sushi. I refuse to recognize that garbage. Just wait, Momonga. By tomorrow night, I'll serve you the best sushi you've ever had."
"Oh... okay."
His intensity was overwhelming. He stormed out of the office to begin preparations.
"Was that not sushi?"
I tilted my head. In the world of 2138, real fish was a luxury. Most "sushi" was just flavored konjac—that translucent, jiggly jelly stuff. I thought it was pretty good, but I wondered why Kawasaki was so angry.
+++
That Momonga... I thought he just had a dull palate, but to think he was calling flavored konjac "sushi" and enjoying it! I know real fish is rare in the real world, so restaurants use konjac as a substitute, but I cannot accept that.
"But this is a problem..."
I had fish like Vanishing Sail and Tuna in the larder, but for a proper sushi spread, I needed shellfish, white fish, and shrimp...
"Alright, I'll talk to Pandora's Actor."
Lately, he'd been spending time in the library and the dining hall, not just the Treasury. Being a "genius" by design, he might have an idea. Albedo? No, I couldn't ask her. She was being invited along with Momonga; it wouldn't be a surprise if she helped.
"So, that's the situation. Any ideas?" I asked Pandora's Actor, who was currently eating curry in the dining hall. Since I was there, no one else was around, making it easy to talk.
"I see. Demiurge's intelligence reports mentioned a floating city on the sea to the east," he replied.
The sea exists in this world too, then.
"I believe the best course of action is for you to head to the coast yourself to select the ingredients, Lord Kawasaki. I can secure travel permission from Lord Momonga, and Demiurge and I shall act as your guards."
"We wouldn't know which creatures are edible, after all," he added with a shrug.
"Wait, can't you just transform into me?"
"That has been strictly forbidden."
Only Momonga could give him an order like that. Pandora's Actor finished his lassi and donned his military cap.
"I have been told: 'Lord Kawasaki is in Nazarick; therefore, you are forbidden from mimicking him.' Thus, you must select the ingredients yourself."
"...You're just using that as an excuse because you know I want to go outside, aren't you?"
He pulled his cap down low. He was definitely making it up, but I'd take it. I appreciated the sentiment.
"Hey, Demiurge!" I called out as the demon entered the dining hall. He hurried over.
"Lord Kawasaki. How can I help you?"
"Momonga wants a specific dish, and I need to gather ingredients. Will you help me?"
"Of course," Demiurge replied instantly. I told him to eat first, but he shook his head.
"I'll have a sandwich prepared. It's better to leave early, is it not?"
For a moment, my slight unease around Demiurge vanished.
"Got it. Pandora and I will get permission from Momonga. Meet us at the First Floor once you have your sandwich."
I turned and headed back to the office with Pandora's Actor. I'd just left, but here I was going back. I rushed out to check ingredients and made a mistake, I thought with a self-deprecating laugh. Haste really does make waste.
In the end, permission for the coastal expedition was granted, on the condition that Demiurge and Pandora's Actor remained by my side at all times.
***
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