Chapter 50: Macaroni Gratin

Chapter 50:
Macaroni Gratin

In a small inn in a small town somewhere in a small country, business was bustling as ever.

“Heeey! Let me get some of that knight stew!”

“Same here! Two plates, lots of meat! And a beer and some bread, too!”

“Excuse meeee! Check pleaaaase!”

“Yes, yes, right away!”

Myra scurried around the tavern inn, carrying food and drinks, taking orders, accepting money from customers, and clearing tables once they had left.

They’d made a new hire, but it was still as busy as always.

Last year, the tavern had been fairly peaceful up until sundown, when travelers headed to the city would drop in to get a night’s sleep, and folks coming from work would swing by for a bite. Nowadays? They were busy from the second the doors opened until they shut at closing time.

Even the inn itself had grown to be a popular spot. Folks went out of their way to stay there even if it delayed their arrival in the city by half a day.

And all because the inn was the only place around where you could get a genuine plate of “knight stew.”

***

It had all started nearly a year ago, when a halfling couple swung by town.

They were a pair of chefs who traveled from city to city, cooking up dishes out of ingredients they came by and selling their fare to passing customers.

It was the halflings who brought “knight stew” to town. When Myra’s father Laury first tried some, he felt like a million-dollar idea was hitting his tastebuds.

The halfling duo sold out their entire pot of knight stew in no time at all, so when Laury offered them money in exchange for their recipe, they happily obliged.

Myra nearly lost it when she heard that her father had given half of the inn’s monthly earnings—over one hundred silver coins—to a pair of halfling strangers.

Their inn was hardly raking in cash to begin with. What did he think he was doing wasting so much money?

But at the end of the day, Laury’s bet paid off. Once they started serving knight stew at the bar, business boomed. Their pockets were heavier than ever.

“The moment I tried some of their knight stew, I knew that if we had it on the menu at the inn, it’d sell like crazy,” Laury said.

It was the end of the day, and the sun was beginning its slow descent.

“Perfect. We ain’t got no more ingredients left, so that’s it for today. Myra, you can rest until the evening.”

“Okay, Pops. Good luck with the rest.”

Laury gazed over at the empty pots he’d prepared in the morning and again just before lunch, waving Myra off on her break.

It went without saying that there were other dishes on offer at the tavern inn. Boiled potato dishes, simple soups, and the like. And booze, of course. But the real draw was the knight stew.

If the customers found out there was no more, the tavern would have a considerable drop in business. Laury was making another batch, but it wouldn’t be ready until the evening.

But Myra left the remaining work to her father and went off to rest.

Her mother had been a frail woman, and she’d passed away some years ago. Myra was her and Laury’s only child. Eventually, Myra would find a husband for herself and take over the inn. That was why her father never pushed her too hard. It’d be a real problem if she couldn’t inherit the business.

And that meant Myra had a lot of free time on her hands.

“Whew, I’m dead.”

Yet there wasn’t actually much to do out in the middle of nowhere. Myra collapsed onto the bed in her room on the first floor.

“It’s great we’re doing well and all, but there’s such a thing as being too busy,” Myra muttered to herself, face down on the pillow.

For a brief moment, she looked back fondly on the days when business was slow—when she’d had no responsibilities at all.

Back then, she’d been free to take a nap if she wanted, as customers wouldn’t show up until the evening when they needed a room. That being said, she had no desire to return to the days of of watching her father sigh anxiously over the account book.

***

Lost in this reverie, Myra heard a voice from outside her window.

“Heeey, Myra, are you there?”

Myra sat up from her bed. “What’s up, Johan?”

At her window was the second-oldest son of the baker next door. Johan wore an old sword at his waist (borrowed from the town guard). He was the same age as Myra.

After making sure see could see him, Johan made his proposal: “So I found this super amazingly delicious new shop, right? Wanna come with?”

Myra was puzzled by her friend’s words. “Amazingly delicious, huh? I don’t remember there being a place like that in town.”

She had been born and raised in this town, and she could count on both hands the times she’d ventured outside of it. Myra knew the place inside and out. Yet she had no clue what establishment Johan could be talking about.

“I found it just the other day. It’s kind of strange, but the food there is incredible! You in?”

“Incredible, huh? Well, I guess it doesn’t look like you’re lying.”

Working at an inn meant Myra spent a lot of time watching people closely. If nothing else, she could tell that Johan was telling the truth.

If anything, he was still the same kid he’d always been. He was too dumb to lie.

“Fine, I guess,” Myra shrugged. “It’s not like I have much to do until the evening anyhow.”

“Great! That’s what I wanted to hear!” Johan smiled. “Let’s get going. I’ve been so excited to go that I skipped breakfast this morning!”

Johan extended his hand to her, just as he had since they were children.

“Then go we shall.”

Myra took his hand in hers as she always did and climbed out the window. They went on their way.

***

But they hadn’t gone far when Myra began to suspect something was up.

“Hey, Johan. Are you messing with me?”

He’d led her through the woods—a place that the younger children were forbidden from entering. It was said that wolves lived in their shadows.

“You said we were going to grab a bite, right?” Myra continued, following her friend. “So why exactly are we walking through the woods?”

She was alone in a dark forest with a boy her age. Even though she’d known Johan since they were wee tots, it was the kind of situation that any girl her age would get anxious about.

“I’m telling you, I’m not lying!” Johan said. “It’s just up ahead.”

He didn’t seem concerned in the least. The boy was driven entirely by his appetite.

And he seemed entirely confident that there was some amazing restaurant right around the corner.

But Johan’s innocent honesty only added to Myra’s bewilderment.

“How did you even find a place like that out here?”

Why would there be a restaurant in the middle of the woods? And why would Johan think to even go there?

“It was about a year ago, right? Remember those halfling chefs that came by? You know, the ones who made the knight stew that you guys sell?”

Johan began to tell Myra about the man he considered his savior, and the story of how he’d learned about “that place.”

“I heard from one of my elders, right? Apparently when the halflings stayed in town, they would go into the woods singing some weird song.”

If it were just that, he wouldn’t have paid any mind.

It was impossible to understand the doings of halflings, travelers that they were.

“But see, after doing the rounds for a while, I realized that most of the halflings who come to town go to the woods.”

It was true. Halflings often dropped by their little town. The couple that made knight stew were the only chefs, but in general, a few halflings swung by once every few months.

Johan had seen that, after doing some light shopping, they would then enter the woods and vanish entirely. They took no room nor board in town.

By chance, one day Johan had the opportunity to talk with a warrior from another town who was guarding some nobles through the area. The warrior said that where he came from, halflings only popped up once every few years at most.

Too many halflings visited Johan’s town.

“I figured that there must be something they’re doing deep in the woods, right? So I went and checked it out.”

And that’s when he found it.

“What is that thing? Why is there a door in the middle of the woods?!”

Myra couldn’t hide her surprise at the beautiful oak door suddenly standing before them.

“It’s the door to the restaurant I was talking about! It’s called Nekoya.”

As he told Myra what she was looking at, Johan was just as excited as he had been seven days ago when he first stumbled upon the door.

***

As the door opened, they were greeted by the sound of ringing bells.

“Ah! Welcome! Take a seat here.”

Johan and Myra were greeted by a young lady with two strange objects adorning her hair. Her well-made uniform ended just above her knees, leaving her legs bare for all to see. She motioned for the two to take a seat. In her hands she was carrying a large book.

“Um, if I remember correctly, you can read. Right, Johan? This is our menu,” she said, handing the book over. “Once you’ve decided on what to order, feel free to call for me!
…Ah, yes! I’ll bring you your refill right away!” The waitress bowed her head, hurrying to attend to other customers.

And so the young friends sat down at the beautifully polished table.

“What is that?” Myra whispered, watching the girl retreat.

“Apparently that’s the uniform they wear in the other world,” Johan said, repeating the explanation he received from Aletta, which was the waitress’s name. “She told me it was a little embarrassing, but I guess it’s normal here?”

“Other world?” Myra’s eyes went wide. “Are you telling me we’re in another world right now?”

“Apparently. It’s a restaurant in another world—that’s why folks around here like to call it the Restaurant to Another World. Wait, did I forget to tell you all of this?”

Johan finally realized that he had failed to explain any of today’s plan to his friend.

Myra sighed loudly. “You literally told me nothing.”

She expected as much from her childhood friend; he was as spacey as always. She took a look around the restaurant.

“This place is pretty weird.”

It didn’t take long for her to notice that the clientele was exceptionally…varied.

And that was an understatement. Surrounding them in the dining room were normal families (albeit a bit dressed up), finely dressed nobles who Myra would normally never mingle with, an older gentleman who appeared to be a mage, a group of young priestesses, and a warrior who looked like he was at least a hundred times stronger than Johan. There were even customers who were very clearly not human. Little people, faeries, some kind of giant lizardman, a pair of girls with bird wings, and even a woman who appeared to be half human, half serpent. The restaurant was full of such monsters. This place was a far cry from the small world that Myra came from.

Now truly believing she was in another world, Myra opened up the book on the table and took a look at the pages inside.

They were full of beautifully written Eastern Continent characters detailing each dish’s name and description. Of course, she knew she couldn’t fully understand the meaning of everything without trying it. But there was one thing she understood after a single glance.

“…It’s a little more expensive than our place, huh?”

The prices listed next to each dish were affordable enough for Johan with his meager pay. But they were still slightly more expensive than they would have been at Myra’s inn.

That must mean this was a place friendly to commoners—not like the fancy places nobles frequented where you’d pay dozens of silver coins for a meal and drink.

(Of course, there were still nobles dining in this restaurant who far outclassed the lord of Myra’s town.)

Johan nodded. “You’d think, but not quite. So get this. Along with any order you make here, you can eat as much white bread as you want. And it’s incredible, too! I’m talking the kind that’d cost at least a single silver coin at our bakery.”

Johan’s words completely flew in the face of Myra’s hypothesis.

“Huh? You’re kidding!”

“That’s just how it works here. No matter how much bread or rice you eat on top of your meal, the price is always the same.”

Madness.

That was the only way to describe the expression on Myra’s face. Johan continued explaining the shocking truths he’d learned on his visit seven days ago. Then he pointed to a single item on the menu.

“I personally recommend this right here. It looks just like knight stew—but it’s even more delicious.”

On Johan’s last visit to the restaurant, he’d requested “something cheap.” This was the dish they’d brought out for him. And this time, he was here to order it outright. He was sure that Myra would like it, too.

The young lady read out the dish’s name.

“Macaroni gratin?”

According to the description, it was a dish that involved baked cheese over knight sauce.

They gave the waitress their order, and it didn’t take long to come out.

“Sorry for the wait! Here’s your macaroni gratin. It’s hot, so please be careful.”

The voice belonged to a middle-aged man, likely the master of the restaurant, who came out from the back holding a large tray. On top of it were fresh bread rolls the size of their hands and beside that a tough-looking, deep porcelain dish with a handle, filled to the brim with food.

It was quite clear that the food in question was hot; it quietly sizzled as the master lowered the tray.

“Yahoo! Now that’s what I’m talking about!”

Johan couldn’t help but raise his voice in glee. He’d waited seven long days to eat this again. It had only taking one meal to turn him into a slave to its great taste. The fact that he could only have it here, at the Restaurant to Another World, made the wait that much more unbearable.

“Please take your time and enjoy!”

The master grinned, delivering his usual line as he watched the young man’s excitement. Then he left for the kitchen.

“All right! Let’s eat! …Iz hawft?!” Johan said through a full mouth. “But it’s delicious! Myra, c’mon, you gotta try some before it gets cold. It’s amazing.” He turned his full attention back to the macaroni gratin and the fork lifting it up to his mouth.

He opened his mouth to let out hot steam, but his hand never stopped moving. He was like a hungry beast.

It looks hot, so I guess I’ll start with the bread…

After watching Johan dig in, Myra immediately understood that the food was so hot that she might burn herself if she wasn’t careful. She figured it’d be safer to start with the so-called “all you can eat” bread.

Ah, this is delish.

Myra’s cheeks swelled with one bite of the freshly baked bread. The surface was nice and crunchy, and the inside was warm and soft.

The inside of the bread was also white as snow; it was clear the dough had been made using quality wheat.

It also clearly contained more than just water and salt. Myra could sense the flavors of butter, milk, and high-quality white sugar, giving the bread a faint sweetness. Johan couldn’t have been more right; his father’s bakery would charge at least a silver coin for one piece.

“See? Amazing, right?” Johan smiled, noticing Myra’s reaction.

“Yeah…”

Myra was forced to admit it. Just this one piece of bread was worth the price she’d read on the menu earlier.

To someone who helped run a “normal restaurant,” it really proved how amazing the Restaurant to Another World was: they were able to offer this caliber of food for basically free.

“Now c’mon, you gotta have some of this macaroni gratin. I brought you all the way here ’cause I wanted you to try it!”

“Okay, hang on.”

Myra picked up her fork and dug into the main attraction.

Thanks to the thickness of the porcelain plate, the macaroni gratin was able to maintain its temperature long after it had been taken out of the oven.

Myra pressed her fork into the macaroni gratin, breaking the surface of the browned cheese.

Peeking out from beneath was the white knight sauce. Seeing that bright color only deepened Myra’s anticipation. She pulled her fork up to her mouth.

It’s so hot! …But it’s amazing!

She let some of the hot steam from her mouth and began to chew the gratin.

Cheese and knight sauce go amazing together.

The first thing Myra tasted was the cheese. It was cooked just right, spreading a wonderful sour taste throughout her mouth. Then she noticed the thick knight sauce and its rich flavor.

It was this fusion of milk and butter that made the knight sauce richer and creamier than the stuff Myra sold at the inn. The sour cheese and the sweetness of the sauce melded together in her mouth, bringing out the best in one another.

Let’s see… Oranie, chicken breast, mushrooms, and…noodles? Is this macaroni, then?

Myra took a moment to identify all of the ingredients, each of which tasted absolutely wonderful.

The caramelized oranie brought its own unique sweetness to the dish. The chicken breast provided a savoriness and a satisfying mouthfeel. The thick mushrooms soaked up the flavor of the sauce, while the noodles, which were made from flour of some sort, were smooth and toothsome.

This macaroni stuff is fantastic.

The best part of these mysterious noodles was the hole inside them that soaked up the rich, creamy sauce.

Every bite into the noodles made the sauce caught in the holes come spilling out. It was tremendous.

“Well? It’s damn good, right?” Johan asked.

“It is!”

Myra smiled at Johan as he used a piece of bread to mop up the remaining sauce on the plate. He was right; this was indeed an “amazingly delicious new shop.”

At the same time…

“It’d be great if we could serve this at the inn,” Myra whispered.

Myra couldn’t help but consider it: a knight sauce dish with all sorts of other ingredients inside of it, baked with cheese on top. If they could somehow reproduce this at the inn, they’d get even more customers than before.

“For real?! If you end up making it, I’d come by every single day!” Johan replied excitedly to Myra’s statement.

The thought of being able to eat macaroni gratin outside of the Restaurant to Another World was enough to fill Johan with pure joy.

Encouraged by her friend’s enthusiasm, Myra quietly made her decision.

“Really? Hm… I guess I’ll give it a try.”

Making the noodles would be tough, but as long as she figured that out, everything else would fall into place.

I wonder if this is how Dad felt when he first decided to learn how to make knight stew…

If Myra could make the macaroni gratin happen, it’d be incredible. Excitement building in her chest, she continued to dig in. Surely eating more of the dish would help her understand its secrets.