12 midnight.
The area around Mohed’s Great Dungeon is filled with darkness and only the roars of beasts can be heard. I start walking quietly out of the Temple of Teleportation and then I gradually quickened my steps until I reached my destination, —the forest. As I continued into the forest, I caught a familiar scent on the wind.
“It looks like things are going well huh.”
I mumbled as I proceed further. The thick roots of the trees are spread out like a maze on the moss-covered ground. This is a place called “Shoyu Forest”, it’s about 10 kilometers from Mana City. As for the origin of the name, it is said that a man named “Shoyu” used to live in this forest. So the Shoyu Forest came to be.
Strangely enough, I couldn’t think of Shoyu-san as a stranger. If we could meet and talk, I feel like we would be best friends. When I reached the center of the forest, I can see the fields spread out in a circular shape. The scent in the air also becomes even stronger.
“I’m sure it’s around here…”
As I walk through the fields, I relied on my memory and grope around. From the point of view of an onlooker, I look like a weirdo groping around aimlessly. That’s a big misunderstanding though. This is because I am looking for an isolated space that is in the middle of this field. This isolated space is made to be invisible to the surroundings. Moreover, only authorized people are allowed to enter.
Then, I had touched something like a lump of cotton in my hand.
“Alright, let’s work on it again today.”
When I entered the isolated space, a familiar scene appeared before me. It is a wooden factory that was built in the field. White smoke billowed out of the chimneys and skeletons in white work clothes carried large quantities of beans into the warehouse.
“Katakata”
“Is the work going well?”
When the skeletons greeted me, I responded by raising my hand. The skeletons also responded to my question saying, “It’s going well”. I entered the factory and then I also put on a white work clothes and special boots. Going further inside, I arrived at a place where large wooden barrels are lined up.
“Katakatakata!”
Sukejiro came running over and immediately saluted to me. He is accompanied by Lich A, who also saluted to me.
“I presumed that it would be completed today but-, how is it going?”
“Katakata”
Sukejiro replies apologetically, “We can’t be sure of the taste.”
I expected that this would indeed be the case. I approached the barrel and scooped out the black liquid inside with my finger. When I licked it, the same taste as I remembered spreads in my mouth.
It’s definitely soy sauce.
“It’s completed! I can call it soy sauce without any complaint!”
Hearing my words, the skeletons who had been watching me do the tasting clattered their jaws and cheered. That’s right, we finally made the soy sauce. When I think about it, it’s been a long road. First, we find soybeans and grow them in the miniature gardens on the 24th floor. Then after storing the harvested beans in the bangle, we built a factory to make soy sauce. The wood used in constructing the building was obtained from the sacred tree of Sanargia Great Forest Kingdom. As it is called the World Tree Treant, its wood contains just the right amount of moisture and is extremely sturdy. Not only the building, but also the soy sauce barrels were made from the same wood, and judging from the finished product, it can be said that the wood was suitable for making the soy sauce containers.
Now, let me explain why I am making soy sauce outside and not inside the dungeon. As you know, Mohed Gread Dungeon has an environment where microorganisms cannot reproduce. In other words, the koji mold necessary for making soy sauce cannot be produced there. For this reason, I built the factory in the forest near the Great Dungeon. It is now operating as a splendid soy sauce factory.
Let’s then talk about soy sauce making. To make koji mold, we had to mix soybeans with brine, wheat and koji and then stir them every day. Once you repeat this process, you will gradually get a mushy brown liquid. People call the mushy brown liquid “moromi”. After another year or so of fermentation, it becomes the soy sauce that everyone knows. In fact, there is more detail to be done but let me leave it to here.
It’s been about two months since we first started making soy sauce. Perhaps it was thanks to the building and barrels made out of the World Tree Treant’s branch, the fermentation was completed extremely quickly. And today is the day to pack the long-awaited soy sauce in a jar.
“Alright, next is to squeeze the moromi and cook the soy sauce!”
“Katakata”
The skeletons wrapped the mushy moromi in a cloth and they began to squeeze it. A black liquid then drips into the bucket placed directly below where they are squeezing. This is the commonly known soy sauce. Then they heated the collected soy sauce in a pot until it boiled, let it cool and afterwards, they poured it into the prepared black bottle.
When I received the completed bottled soy sauce, I placed a raw egg on a bowl of rice and dripped soy sauce on it. It’s an authentic TKG (Tamago-Kake-Gohan* Egg sauce over rice). When I stuffed it into my mouth, my breath became rough, probably because I am too excited.
“It’s egg sauce over rice…” (**Imagine him speaking while munching so it sounds stuttering)
I let out a blissful sigh after I finished eating the bowl of rice. I finally got what I wanted so badly.
“Well done! This will be popular for sure!”
“Katakatakata!”
The skeletons jumped up and down. Right, maybe you are thinking why we even built a factory just to make soy sauce. Well, of course, it’s for selling.
There is no soy sauce in this world. Everyone here dies without even knowing the best seasoning, —soy sauce. It’s sad, right? So, it is better to make one and sell it. I want to spread this wonderful Japanese seasoning in this world.
“Katakata”
Sukejiro brought a small box. When I opened it to look what’s inside, I found a reddish-brown sticky stuff. I lightly pinched it with my fingers and brought it to my mouth.
“Hmm-, yes, this is good enough.”
Sukejiro bows deeply at my evaluation. This is miso. The skeletons are also making miso in parallel with making soy sauce. That said, it was quite difficult to make miso. I can see the hardships faced by soy sauce and miso companies when we tried to make them.
As the skeletons begin to bottle the soy sauce in earnest, they also put on the labels they have made. It’s called dark soy sauce with a homeless trademark on it. Of course, the same label is attached to miso as well.
“Katakata”
“Well, when the work is done, we will celebrate.”
The skeletons happily jumped up and down after hearing my words. After about an hour of packing the boxes, I prepared a number of large sake barrels. The skeletons who had washed their bodies clean were already waiting in a line.
“Alright, come on in!”
At the moment I gave the signal, the skeleton on the first line jumps into the barrel. Then his red eyes gradually turned pink. He is drunk. After the first one leaves the barrel, the next skeleton enters. Well, skeletons cannot eat or drink because they are just bones. However, they are known to actually absorb water from the surface of their bodies. When I learned of this fact, I decided to serve them alcohol as a consolation. Even if they don’t need a salary, they must be rewarded for their hard work. Besides, even though they are magical beasts, they also have personality.
“That’s everyone huh.”
After confirming that all the skeletons in the factory have entered the sake barrel, I warned Sukejiro to keep the banquet in moderation and then I returned to the dungeon.
When I arrived at the fifteenth floor of the Mohed Great Dungeon, I followed the usual path without getting lost. When I reached the dome-shaped open room, a guard in gray cloth at the entrance bowed to me. He wore a mask on his face and he is also wearing gloves and boots. At first glance, he looks like a person, but he is unmistakably a homeless skeleton.
The room is set up with tables and chairs and a number of skeletons dressed in gray cloth are diligently cleaning inside.
“Everyone gather around.”
The skeletons quickly gathered together after I spoke. There were about ten people. Including the skeletons outside the room, there were about 30 people here. However, only those inside had things to do.
The skeletons clattered their jaws as if asking, “Is it made?”.
“Yes, the soy sauce and miso are ready. This place will open in a week.”
The skeletons hugged each other and rejoiced. That’s right. A week later, this Homeless cafeteria will open. Why was the cafeteria inside the dungeon? The reason is simple. I wanted to do a small business with the adventurers who roamed inside the dungeon.
Of course, I can make a good living as it is now but it is still very unsettling to earn money by fishing for the corpses of adventurers. In order to live a stable life, it is important to have a stable income. That’s when I came up with the idea of a cafeteria. The main dishes served are Japanese food, and soy sauce and miso are indispensable for it. I also plan to casually sell soy sauce and miso in the store.
I took out the soy sauce and miso from the bangle and hands them to the skeletons. They will learn how to make Japanese food from now on. There are only about three kinds of dishes served in the cafeteria so they shouldn’t have much trouble. There won’t be that many adventurers anyway. This cafeteria is just a small business after all.
“Well then, let’s practice cooking.”
I immediately decided to teach them how to cook.
◇◇◇
(A certain tavern in Mana City)
Inside the tavern, two male adventurers were conversing.
“Hey, do you know?”
“Ah? What do you mean by that?”
“It’s rumored that a cafeteria opened in the dungeon recently.”
“Huh?”
The man says something like, “That’s impossible”, and takes a swig of ale. The other man continued talking as he watched his behaviour.
“Well, listen. I’ve only heard about it through rumors, but apparently, there is a cafeteria in the rearmost of the fifteenth floor. What’s more, the food served there are delicious. All the famous people in this city are now all talking about that cafeteria.”
“A cafeteria in the dungeon… Is it really there?”
“I’m not sure either. But if it really exists, it would be a blessing for us adventurers.”
“Well, that’s right… If there’s really a place where we can take a break in the dungeon, that’s certainly a good thing.”
The man said and then he gulped down the remaining ale in one shot. He put his glass down on the table and grinned at the man who started the conversation.
“Then, shall we look for it now?”
“Now?”
“Yeah. Both of us can transfer to the fifteenth floor so we can just go there directly. Let’s check if it’s true.”
“……Right, that’s a good point. I’ve been curious about it too and it’s indeed a good time to check it out.”
The two men left the tavern, packed up their gear and decided to dive into the Great Dungeon. Using the Temple of Teleportation, they reached the fifteenth floor but they immediately felt uneasy.
“……Hey, isn’t it too quiet?”
“Yeah…., it’s not like the previous fifteenth floor. There is no sign of the enemy at all.”
The two of them draw their swords and searched for signs of magical beasts. However, they didn’t see any of those creatures.
Katakatakata.
Hearing the sound, the two of them immediately braced themselves. Footsteps can be heard from the other side of the aisle, indicating that something is approaching them. The two of them waited with bated breath. Is it a man or a beast?
Then they soon find out what it is.
“Katakata”
What appeared was a man with a gray cloth over his head. He is fully covered, he wore a mask on his face, gloves on his hands and boots on his feet. Looking at his waist, he is equipped with sword, and the two of them somehow recognized him as a fellow adventurer.
“I’m sorry, I thought it was a magical beast.”
When the other guy said that, the figure in the gray cloth just waved his hand lightly, as if to say, “I don’t mind.” The two of them felt relieved, and just as they were about to leave, the mysterious person suddenly handed them a piece of paper. They took the paper and checked its contents.
“Homeless cafeteria opening? 30% off now?”
There was even a map to the store, and they thought it was close to their current location.
“Uhm… This is…”
When the two of them looked up to talk to the mysterious person, he was already gone. They were scared, but still, they decided to go to the cafeteria with the help of the paper they were given.
“This….., can you smell it?”
“Yes! It smells good. I suddenly felt hungry.”
“Me too.”
They walk as they talk to each other and then they came to the designated place. There was a door in front of them. From the other side, they can hear a lot of people talking. The two of them made up their minds and opened the door.
“Whoa! This is amazing!”
“What the hell is this?”
Beyond the door was a large room, where nearly fifty adventurers were chatting and eating happily. Men wearing gray clothes moved in a practiced manner between the customers. They were carrying trays of food and serving them to the table with efficient movements. Although the two were surprised by the sight, they knowingly sat down on an empty seat.
“Katakata”
A man in gray cloth who appeared to be a waiter asked the two of them for their order. Looking at the menu on the table, it seemed that there were only three dishes.
| MENU ・ Teriyaki hamburger steak set meal – 5 copper coins ・ Sashimi set meal – 3 copper coins ・ Stir-fried vegetable set meal – 2 copper coins |
“Then I’ll have a teriyaki hamburger set meal.”
“I’ll have a sashimi set meal.”
The waiter bowed and walked away from the table. The two of them immediately wondered about the dish they have never heard of.
“The price is quite low. I can’t imagine what kind of dish it is from the name though.”
“Yeah. I know about stir-fried vegetables but I’ve never heard of sashimi.”
Looking around, it seemed that many adventurers were drinking and eating. Some of them can be seen dipping white things in a black liquid and eating them. The two adventurers felt concern but they also have an uncontrollable curiosity.
“Katakata”
Not long after, the waiter brought their food. The two men’s eyes widened in surprise. Served in front of them were dishes they have never seen before but a good aroma that increases their appetite tickles their nostrils.
“Why don’t we try it…”
“Okay…”
For the time being, they decided to drink the soup served in a wooden bowl. When the two of them put the warm soup in their mouths, they let out a cry, “Wow!?”
“What a complex taste! The amount of salt is just right and it’s so good! I’ve never eaten anything like this before!”
“Hey-, it’s pretty good if you eat it with this white lump!”
As he began to gobble on the soup and rice, he also took a bite of each main side dish.
“Wow! The sauce on the hamburger is so delicious!”
“Is this a raw fish? It’s delicious when dipped in the black liquid and eaten!”
The two adventurers eagerly ate the set meal and continued eating until they were full. When they finished eating, they paid the bill at the counter and headed back to the Temple of Teleportation.
“…..The rumors were true after all.”
“Yeah. The food is also great. I want to come again.”
They returned to the ground feeling satisfied.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Previous ⚜ Table of Contents ⚜ Next
Yume Neiji's Works 