Just as I was thinking it was about time to start preparing lunch, a beastman approached me carrying a large iron plate.
“Hey kid, is this the kind of griddle you need to make those ‘takoyaki’ things?”
“Amazing… you actually made a takoyaki griddle. In a single day, no less.”
“Hahaha! Something like this is child’s play for us.”
Looking at the takoyaki griddle capable of cooking twenty pieces at once, I could practically feel the beastmen’s overwhelming determination to eat takoyaki.
So, I left the grilled meat to Toria-san and had Ao handle the okonomiyaki-like dish while I focused on making takoyaki.
Besides octopus, I also used meat and cheese for the fillings, and for the sauce, I decided to substitute yakisoba sauce. Using replacement ingredients, it looked like I could somehow pull it off. As I kept turning out batch after batch of takoyaki, Kent-chan watched my cooking with sparkling curiosity written all over his face.
“Round! Round!”
“That’s right. You eat them once they turn nice and round like this.”
“Round bake!”
The first serving was ready in no time, so I prepared plates for the former lord, Emilia-sama, and Kent-chan.
“Here, be careful. They’re hot.”
“Yaaay!”
Kent-chan eagerly stabbed a takoyaki with his fork, just about to claim the honor of being the very first to taste one—
—and then it happened.
Snatch. Chomp.
“Mm. This is excellent. I like how easy it is to eat.”
“Ahhh! My round snack!”
To everyone’s disbelief, the Margrave had casually plucked one away from the side and eaten it himself. No matter how hungry he was, that was crossing the line. Poor Kent-chan, who had been so excited to get the very first bite, immediately drooped in disappointment.
“My dear, how could you do such a thing?!”
“You’ve always been gluttonous, but this is where you should’ve yielded to your son!”
“My, my… Young Master truly hasn’t changed at all.”
“A-Awaaaah…”
The members of the Margrave’s household had entered full outrage mode and dragged the Margrave away somewhere. Everyone watching could only wear expressions that said, Well, what did you expect?
With the troublemaker now gone, Kent-chan’s tasting session could finally begin properly.
Thanks to all the commotion, the takoyaki-like snacks had cooled down to the perfect temperature as well.
Munch.
“So yummy!”
“I’m glad you like it. Make sure to eat slowly, alright?”
“Okay!”
Kent-chan grinned from ear to ear as he happily devoured one takoyaki after another. Watching over him, Sue and the others smiled warmly while wiping the sauce from around his mouth.
“Mmm, this is pretty fun. You don’t know what’s inside until you bite into it.”
“They’re all round, so ‘Round Cakes’ huh? I kinda get what Kent-sama was trying to say now.”
And just like that, the takoyaki snacks gradually became known as Round Cakes, little treats where discovering the filling inside was part of the fun. Well, it was an easy name to remember, and the roulette-like surprise element probably made them entertaining too.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com
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