I paused, my fork hovering just above the plate as I looked up at her, my expression shifting into a curious blink.
"Why? Running a culinary establishment requires an immense expenditure of logistical energy. I am a retired hunter, not a tavern keeper." I asked, my voice carrying a quiet, genuine note of confusion
Elicia set her fork down with a soft click, her crimson eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that was purely maternal and deeply wise.
"Well, remember the neighbors from before, Ren? They don't see you as a monster or a threat from another continent anymore. They see you as a human. Because of that, you need to socialize. You can't just hide in the dark or stay cooped up inside House 132 forever now that you're free. And besides, I know your talent as the best cook in this house… honestly, probably in the entire kingdom. So, open a restaurant."
As her words hung in the quiet comfort of the sunlit kitchen, a profound realization washed over me.
'She's right,' I thought silently. Elicia was entirely correct.
For months, my entire survival strategy had been based on isolation, but the world had changed today.
Suddenly, my mind began to race, filled to the absolute brim with an ocean of unique recipes and complex flavor profiles from my past life. If I simply opened a standard tavern and cooked the normal, common dishes of Andromeda… like basic roasted mutton, bland potato broths, and standard wheat bread… it would be utterly boring. It wouldn't challenge me, and it wouldn't do justice to the second chance at life I had been given.
No, if I was going to do this, I needed to introduce something entirely revolutionary. I needed to share the vibrant, comforting dishes of my true homeland.
Images of rich, savory adobo simmered in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic flashed through my mind. I thought of the crispy, golden tortang talong we were eating right now. I briefly thought of warm, comforting rice porridge like lugaw or arroz caldo for rainy days… before a sharp pang of reality hit me.
Right. Rice doesn't exist in this world.
I mentally crossed the rice porridge off the menu with a slight, disappointed sigh, realizing I would have to find a grain substitute later or engineer something entirely new. But even without rice, the sheer volume of unique, flavor-packed dishes I could introduce to the people of the capital was staggering.
I looked across the table at Elicia, a confident, radiant smile breaking across my face… a completely human expression of ambition and excitement that felt incredibly good to wear. My massive crimson wings gave a happy, definitive flutter behind my chair.
"Sure, big sister, I am going to do it. I'm gonna start a business." I said, my voice steady, warm, and filled with a newfound purpose.
Elicia's eyes lit up with absolute delight, a brilliant, calculating smile spreading across her elegant features. She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands as if she had been waiting for me to say those exact words all morning.
"Perfect! I've actually already been planning this out. We will open our restaurant in the 1st District of Caria City. It's the industrial sector of the capital, completely packed with factories, workshops, and Guild warehouses. The workers and laborers flock to the streets there on their daily breaks, absolutely starving for a heavy, satisfying meal."
She tapped the edge of the table enthusiastically.
"Combine that bustling location with your massive newfound fame as the Luminous Knight who stabilized the economy, and your restaurant will be more than just popular… it's going to be an overnight sensation."
I gave a definitive nod, the strategic gears in my head already spinning with operational timelines.
"Sure, Let's build a business. But first, before we secure a storefront, I need to grab some testing ingredients to ensure the recipes translate properly to a larger scale." I replied, a confident, thoroughly human warmth infusing my quiet voice.
"Okay, leave the logistics to me for now, I'll go ahead and dress up for our trip to the city center." Elicia said, standing up from her chair and smoothing down her robes.
We quickly finished off the rest of the crispy, delicious tortang talong. Since a small pool of the savory, citrusy calamansi soy sauce was still left in the ceramic dipping saucer, I didn't let a single drop of the valuable flavor go to waste… I picked up the saucer and drank the remaining sauce right out of it, the sharp, refreshing tang making my fangs tingle pleasantly.
With Elicia upstairs getting ready, I walked out to the kitchen pantry to collect my trial ingredients. I knew I couldn't make the eggplant omelette for the industrial workers just yet; Evelyn's garden had only produced two of those rare, white elven eggplants, and the crop was far too limited for a business launch. I needed to cook something robust, savory, and incredibly comforting that could be made in massive batches using readily available local supplies.
Adobo.
The ultimate, undisputed king of Filipino comfort food. It was perfect for an industrial district.
I began foraging through our deep pantry shelves. I grabbed several heavy cans of preserved beef… a perfect, hearty substitute for fresh meat that would absorb flavors beautifully. Next, I lined up large glass bottles of dark soy sauce and sharp, fermented white vinegar, followed by a jar of cooking oil. Finally, I gathered the aromatic soul of the dish: several plump bulbs of pungent garlic, a handful of sharp local onions, and a small sachet of dried, fragrant bay leaves.
I carefully arranged the ingredients into a large, sturdy woven market basket, ensuring the bottles were secure. Just as I tucked the last bay leaf inside, a rustle of fine silk announced Elicia's return. She stepped into the kitchen looking absolutely radiant, wearing a beautiful, high-collared walking dress suitable for the bustling streets of the upper districts.
"Little Ren, I'm ready, Let's go outside and conquer the 1st District." Elicia said, her crimson eyes shining with absolute excitement as she glanced at my heavy basket.
I lifted the heavy basket onto my forearm, my massive crimson wings giving a tight, eager flutter against my back as I adjusted my forest-green kirtle. Standing completely free in the bright, harmless morning sun, we stepped out of House 132 together, ready to turn the culinary memories of my past life into our family's brand-new future.