Chapter 73: Peperoncino

Chapter 73:
Peperoncino

There were more customers than usual that day.

“I shall return.”

The Red Queen carried her large silver pot of “beef stew” out of the restaurant with no trouble, and silence fell upon Nekoya.

Once the door closed, and the Red Queen went home with her stew, the workday was officially over. The restaurant’s three employees began to chat amongst themselves, enjoying the sweet release from a day of hard work.

“All right. Good work today, ladies.”

“Thank you very much! There sure were lots of customers today.”

I would like curry. As usual.

It was nine at night, Nekoya’s usual closing time. In the master’s world, that wasn’t considered terribly late. But in the other world, it was standard practice to go to bed once the sun set. Staying up late was rather rare, so very few people dropped by the restaurant after dark, and the folks who came to Nekoya in the evening seeking booze had all gone home already.

It had been a busy day due to the arrival of multiple halflings—little people about the size of human children who could probably have shut down an eating competition. Although Nekoya had barely any food left over, there was enough chicken curry and other ingredients for the master to feed his employees.

With work finished, the master stretched his arms.

He didn’t hate his job at Nekoya at all. In fact, he felt that it was extremely rewarding. Like anyone else, however, the master felt a sense of relief at the end of a hard day’s work. He returned to the kitchen with light steps.

Then it happened.

Ring ring.

The sound of bells filled the restaurant, signaling a customer’s arrival. When the master turned toward the entrance, he saw a brown-skinned young man with black hair, a black beard, and slightly tattered white clothes.

The young man was a new face. This was probably his first time at Nekoya. That said, a customer was a customer.

“Hello…” Aletta said hesitantly.

“Welcome to Western Cuisine Nekoya!” The master greeted the young man with a warm smile.

“N-Nekoya? What is this place? Why is it in the middle of the desert?”

“Ah, well, actually…”

As he explained what Nekoya was, the master thought carefully. Given the ingredients he had left, what could he serve?

***

Nadel the traveling merchant rode his trusted camel beneath the shimmering full moon, watching his surroundings. Fortunately for Nadel, camels were tough creatures that could withstand the cold and didn’t slow down at night.

Nadel surveyed the dunes bathed in the blue moonlight, keeping his guard up. He was making sure that the corpses hidden below the sand didn’t rise from their graves, jealous of the living.

***

The great desert that covered so much of the Sand Nation had always been tremendously dangerous during the full moon. Yes, the embodiment of light and flame—the sun—was more than capable of burning the living to death during the day. However, the full moon held its own unique danger—that of being attacked by, and turned into, the undead.

Those who died of dehydration in this massive desert were rarely able to rest in peace. Thus, on nights when the moon—the embodiment of darkness and death—shone directly above the land, the dead rose from their graves and attempted to bring the living to their side.

I screwed up real bad. I should’ve known to avoid the full moon!

Nadel had stopped at a familiar oasis to get water, only to discover that it had dried up. He’d ended up having to take the long way to another oasis, which had led him to this dangerous predicament. His original plan had been to arrive in town before the full moon rose, and to use the money he’d earned selling silk in the port to pay for a room at the inn and some liquor. Unfortunately, that plan had gone out the window.

I wanted to get to town before the sun set, at least.

Nadel was about half a day’s travel from town. If he kept his course, he would arrive by morning. The only problem was the full moon up above.

I sense something strange… Hm?

Nadel stopped his camel, noticing something in his peripheral vision. A single door stood on the blue-tinged sand.

A mirage, perhaps? No… That’s impossible.

It was the middle of the night, and the full moon sat high in the sky. Nadel had never heard of anyone seeing a mirage at night.

“So, it must be an actual door. Maybe it even opens.”

Dismounting from his camel, Nadel touched the door, confirming that it was real. It was extremely well polished and constructed. Moonlight reflected off its smooth surface.

Nadel turned the handle ever so slightly. He was surprised to find that the door wasn’t only unlocked—it even opened.

“What? What is this? Some kind of restaurant?”

Nadel caught a whiff of an aroma that smelled like various spices and some kind of meat soup.

It made his dry throat ache and reminded his empty stomach that it was, in fact, empty.

Come to think of it, all I’ve eaten today are dried figs.

Nadel’s journey had been rushed due to a lack of water. He hadn’t had much time to eat. In an attempt to keep himself from sweating unnecessarily throughout the day, he’d shielded his body with his hood and cape, washing the figs down with his limited water supply.

This was what led the merchant to opening the door and stepping through to the other side.

The sound of bells ringing filled the air, snapping Nadel back to his senses, but it was too late.

“Hello…”

“Welcome to Western Cuisine Nekoya!”

Peeking into the shop, Nadel was greeted by a black-haired human man who resembled a Mountain Nation resident and a demon girl with horns on her head.

***

Nadel’s glass of water was so cold, it gave him a headache. Although water was a precious commodity in the desert, he downed his glass loudly.

“Hey! Another pitcher of water, please!”

The water, which tasted faintly of lemon, filled Nadel’s dehydrated body. He nearly teared up over how delicious it was.

The first water he drank from the well-made glass cup was meant to wash his dehydration away. He took his time drinking the second cup, restoring his body to normal.

“Yes, right away!”

In response to Nadel’s request, the demon waitress immediately brought another silver pitcher of water. As far as Nadel was concerned, she wasn’t particularly voluptuous, but the way her uniform exposed her legs like some sort of dancer was rather seductive.

I was worried at first, but this water has made this visit more than worthwhile.

Being a merchant, Nadel was always concerned about getting his money’s worth.

A wooden bowl of the lukewarm water sold in town by the water merchants cost about one copper coin, so the fact that Nadel could drink so much ice-cold water for the five copper coins he’d paid the master meant he was getting a bargain. Nadel estimated that this amount of water was worth at least twelve copper coins
in town.

Quite the stroke of luck today!

Nadel went over the master’s words in his head.

According to its owner, this restaurant was located in another world and was accessible only via a mysterious door that appeared on Nadel’s side once a week. For a certain amount of money—slightly high prices for commoners, as far as Nadel could tell—one could order otherworldly meals.

Unfortunately, however, Nadel would be unable to eat the soup or spicy dish he’d smelled when he entered the restaurant.

“I really don’t have many ingredients left,” explained the master. “I can only serve you curry or peperoncino.”

Still, Nadel felt blessed that he would get to eat a warm meal that evening.

Anything the master served would be far better than the dried figs he’d been eating. And once he ordered the “pepewhatever,” he was allowed to drink as much water as he liked.

Nadel sighed in relief as his body absorbed the water, thinking about the otherworldly dish he’d ordered. He could hear oil sizzling in the kitchen in the back.

Earlier, the master had explained to Nadel that the “pepewhatever” was made of wheat noodles with pork, cooked with oil seasoned with chili pepels and garlik.

At any rate, the master here must be reasonably talented. I doubt he’ll serve anything too bizarre.

“Sorry for the wait. Here’s your peperoncino.”

With that, the master set a plate down on the table in front of Nadel.

Oh. The smell alone is rather appetizing.

The merchant gulped as he felt his stomach tighten. On the plate were rings of bright red chili pepels and thinly cut garlik pieces as yellow as the desert sands.

The dish also held thin slices of colorful meat, bright green herbs, and noodles covered with yellow oil.

All of these elements were beautifully arranged atop the mountain of golden noodles. Nadel’s stomach growled as he took in the delectable aroma of the chili pepels, garlik, and meat, his nostrils flaring.

“Please, enjoy, and take your time.”

The master offered those words before vanishing. Nadel picked up the silver fork beside the plate and dug fiercely into the meal in front of him.

It’s hot but delicious!

Nadel immediately spun pasta around his fork and put it into his mouth, then reached unthinkingly for the water glass to one side and took a sip.

The noodles were as thin as yarn spun from sheep’s wool. They were high quality, golden, and dressed with just the right amount of oil. The yellow oil was so fine that Nadel assumed it must’ve been pressed from an excellent crop. It absorbed the chili pepels’ heat perfectly.

The dish also included a spicy variety of chili pepel. At first glance, they appeared to be nothing but small flakes resting on top of the pasta, but they burned Nadel’s throat.

This isn’t just spicy, though. It’s also incredibly good!

The otherworldly noodle dish was undoubtedly hot, but it had much more going for it than that. The aromatic, lightly cooked garlic crunched and fell apart in Nadel’s mouth. The salted and seasoned smoked meat maintained its savory taste, and the green herbs topping the other ingredients provided a gentle but recognizable flavor to the dish.

The noodles were salted, but that flavor had melted into the oil and was quite gentle. Clearly, the master hadn’t just sprinkled salt over the noodles and called it a day.

This oil is excellent. Not only is it refined, it has successfully absorbed the other ingredients’ flavors.

The true star of the dish was indeed the high-quality yellow oil.

It was so completely pure that Nadel felt as though he could have drunk it on its own. It was capable of taking on the other ingredients’ much stronger flavors and fusing them into one.

The noodles absorbed the oil and served as the vessel to transport the flavors to Nadel’s mouth.

Depending on what techniques I use, I could make this dish on my side.

Cooking anything as delicious as the meal in front of Nadel would require not only immense skill but also a lot of research. Still, Nadel felt that something similar could be created.

If I figure the recipe out, this might end up being one hell of a product.

Since Nadel was a businessman, the gears in his head started to turn as he filled his stomach. Eventually, all that remained on his plate were small puddles of yellow oil.

Unable to hold himself back, Nadel placed a second order immediately.

“Excuse me! Another plate, please!”

***

Returning to the desert, the merchant sat atop his camel, leaving for the next town as the blue moon hovered above.

I hope I can get there before dawn.

Stomach full and body hydrated, Nadel forgot about his exhaustion completely, now wide awake as he began the night’s travel. He would get to town before sunrise, rest at the inn for a day, and begin to market his wares.

He’d sell his stock of silks, use that money to buy more products, and then set off on a new journey. He might even exchange information with fellow traveling merchants over a cup of cafa, telling them of the otherworldly meal he’d indulged in.

Filled with hope for the future, Nadel rode across the ocean of sand.