A+A-Chapter 106
Teriyaki Burger
‘Hyiiiii’, the wraith raised a voice of resentment as it disappeared, Tatsugorou confirmed that it had completely disappeared before he exhaled, he then wiped his beloved sword with leather cloth and sheathed it.
[It’s done.]
It was not possible to kill wraiths in a normal way, and it was a dangerous monster to fight against even if novice adventurers and mercenaries grouped together, but Tatsugorou trained himself in order to be able to defeat it just by himself.
[Are you okay, young men?]
Hou, he exhaled a breath, while thinking that adventurers wouldn’t be able to defeat it even as a party, he then called out to the three adventurers.
[You saved us, jii-san! I couldn’t cut it at all, and my body wouldn’t move after it touched me, so I thought we are going to die!]
The one who said so cheerfully was a young male warrior wearing a leather armor of not-so-good quality and had a wide sword similar to a hatchet, just a teenager that’s starting to mature.
[You’re really a great help. I didn’t think that that necromancer was strong enough to summon a wraith, we were nearly killed.]
Subsequently, the one who said so was a young male who covered his whole body with thick durable clothes suitable for a long journey, he carried a leather-bound book and a large staff like a magician.
[We appreciate your help… even so, your swordsmanship is really different, to think that you can defeat a wraith even without using magic, you must be really skillful.]
The one who said so was a boy slightly older than the others, he was a knight-like boy wearing good-quality steel armor on top of his tailored clothes, and he also had a steel sword that seemed to be custom-made by a blacksmith with good skill.
Apparently he seemed to have figured out who Tatsugorou was.
(I guess he’s a n.o.ble that trains his swordsmanship, the other one is an apprentice magician and… un?)
Tatsugorou seemed to have seen the three boys who had the atmosphere that they were adventurers before, he then remembered and tilted his head.
[Umu. No need to worry. I try to help as much as I can by using my swordsmanship whenever people are troubled… I haven’t told you guys my name, huh. My name is Tatsugorou. A wandering swordsman.]
[Oo! As I thought!]
They who he had seen somewhere before though he didn’t know their names, the boy who seemed to be the most talented said so with sparkling eyes.
Apparently he seemed to know various stories about Tatsugorou.
(This reminds me of Fried Shrimp… oo, right.)
At the same time as he remembered a knight he was acquainted with several years ago and was now a
regular of the restaurant, Tatsugorou remembered where he saw these boys.
[That’s it. You guys… you’re the children that frequented otherworld dining hall right?]
Hearing Tatsugorou’s words, they were surprised.
[Jii-san… no, Tatsugorou-san! You know about otherworld dining hall!?]
The one who said so was the first boy.
The boy was surprised and asked Tatsugorou.
[Jack! You’re being rude you know!? Forgive my companion…]
[What, I don’t mind it. I’m just a mercenary. No more, no less.]
The first boy… who apparently was called Jack, was warned by his good-looking companion, Tatsugorou recalled his original words and said.
[Today’s Satur’s Day, I think I will go to that restaurant now, do you guys want to come? What, don’t worry about the money. I don’t mind treating you guys.]
The three nodded at the same time to his question.
(Youth indeed. Would it be like this if I have a son, no, grandchildren?)
Seeing them, Tatsugorou, who left his hometown since he was young and never had a wife or a son before, felt his chest warmed up a little bit.
‘Chirinchirin’, the bell sound rang as usual, Tatsugorou felt nostalgic hearing it.
[Welcome… eh? Tatsugorou-san, are you with Jack-kun and his friends?]
[Umu, just a little bit of a tour.]
[Ou! Long time no see, Aletta-oneechan!]
[I’m glad that you’re fine.]
[We haven’t visited yet since we became adventurers, but you seem to be unchanged, more than anything.]
To Aletta who welcomed them, Tatsugorou and the boys (Jack was the leading warrior, the magician was Kein, and the good-looking boy was Terry) greeted Aletta.
(I think I haven’t visited much lately.)
In this situation, Tatsugorou remembered that he also came here for the first time in a while.
He would visit if he happened to pa.s.s by a door during Satur’s Day like today.
Because he was like that, sometimes he didn’t visit for many months if he didn’t come across a door.
For Tatsugorou, the otherworld dining hall was such a place.
[If that’s the case, I will show you all to the same table.]
Just like what Aletta said, the four was seated at the same table.
[…Eh? There’s a new waitress.]
[That’s true. Err, is she a human?]
[It seems so. Looking at her features, doesn’t she resemble the people of Western Continent similar to the rumours?]
Looking at the boys who looked around the restaurant with sparkling eyes, Tatsugorou felt a bit nostalgic.
(Aa, that’s right. They resemble me when I just started to travel.)
Though he was the successor of his family headship, he was ashamed that he was disinterested in it though he was the oldest son, after listening to a travelling poet that came from the Eastern Continent about the battle against demons, he left his hometown to become like the great hero hailing from the Temple of Darkness that
that killed the demon king, he used his meager travelling expense to go to the sea, after that, he took odd jobs as a sailor of a ship in order to travel to the Eastern Continent, that was many decades ago.
However, he could still vividly remember his “first adventure” at the continent beyond.
(Well, they are going to be good adventurers… mu?)
While feeling nostalgic, he flipped through the menu and found a name of a dish he had never seen before, but he was attracted to the name.
[What is this? Teriyaki burger?]
[The name is similar to hamburger. What kind of dish is this?]
[I can’t tell what kind of dish this is just by the name alone.]
The boys also noticed the same dish and they looked at each other.
[Aa, waitress, can we trouble you a bit?]
[Yes? How may I help you?]
If there’s something that’s not understood, it’s better to ask.
Thinking that, Tatsugorou called the pa.s.sing by newly hired waitress.
[What kind of dish is this teriyaki burger? I can guess from the name that it’s similar to teriyaki chicken.]
Hearing his question, the human waitress with features that reminded him of his hometown and wore otherworld costume pondered a little before replying.
[It’s about teriyaki burger is it? Err, this teriyaki burger is a new menu.
We make it by combining minced pork and beef meat to make the patty and bake it with sweet teriyaki sauce that’s used for teriyaki chicken.
Besides that, we also add the sour mayonnaise sauce and shredded cabbage, and sandwiched it all between breads. A, we also add slices of raw onions in order to make it spicier, so for people that dislikes spicy foods, we can exclude it.]
Apparently, this newly hired waitress was more familiar with this dish and responded clearly to his question.
[Hou. That sounds delicious… I’ll order that. I would like to order cold tea too as my beverage.]
[Me too, me too! I want to try it after I hear that!]
[I would like to order the same thing. A, I would like to order c.o.ke for my drink.]
[The same thing for me.]
The three boys also ordered the same thing after hearing the explanation.
[Yes, please wait a moment.]
After writing on a board that she retrieved from her waist pocket, the waitress retreated to the kitchen.
(Well, I wonder what kind of dish will come out…)
While watching her retreating back, Tatsugorou wondered.
While waiting for the food to come, Tatsugorou exchanged words with the three boys.
[Tatsugorou-san is that Tatsugorou right!]
Though he had poor equipment, Jack who was on the verge of becoming an adult was the most accustomed to fighting and asked Tatsugorou who was the main character of bards’
of bards’ tales with shining eyes.
[Aa, don’t believe the minstrels’ songs. When I heard that I took down 10 or 20 trolls alone, I almost shouted “it’s a lie”.]
If he remembered correctly, he only killed 8 of them.
Not only was it embarra.s.sing just to listen to songs that praised his journey, his achievements had been exaggerated, so he felt embarra.s.sed once or twice and often smiled wryly.
[Still, during prayers, I heard the rumours that the only people that could vanquish wraiths without using magic are the Sword G.o.d Alexander and Tatsugorou-san, so it’s really true.]
Kein, who was more slender than the other two and was a wizard with intelligent gleam in his eyes, said so while interestedly looking at his sheathed sword that hung from his waist.
[No, that’s not true. This sword is merely imbued with magical power by an elven acquaintance of mine, so it can kill even the undead. Anyone can do so with this sword with a little training.]
[I see.]
Hearing his serious answer, Kein nodded while feeling satisfied.
[However, to think that you’re a regular of this restaurant. I didn’t notice.]
Finally, the boy dressed like a knight and seemed to be a better warrior than the other two said so while looking around the bright interior.
[Umu, I too didn’t think that the regulars of this restaurant would be travelling around as adventurers. I meet unexpected people at unexpected places. That’s why travelling life is interesting.]
The experience of encountering unfamiliar customers of this restaurant in their world was a rare experience for long-time regulars like Tatsugorou.
That’s why, this unexpected encounter was interesting.
[Thank you for waiting. I’ve brought your orders of teriyaki burger.]
While they were talking, the waitress brought a tray filled with teriyaki burgers and gla.s.ses of cold tea and cola.
[Umu, thank you… well, gentlemen, today is my treat. Let’s eat before it gets cold.]
With his eyes narrowing due to the fragrant scent drifting from the teriyaki burger, Tatsugorou said so to the boys.
As it was, their eyes were also nailed to the dish and they nodded silently, their meal time then started.
On top of the white plate was the dish called teriyaki burger with French fries as the garnish.
Sandwiched between the fragrant light brown bread with white seeds were otherworld vegetable called cabbage, a bit yellowish white sauce, and the round and thick dark meat patty.
The same small soft paper as the one placed on the table was placed on its bottom to prevent the hand from getting dirty.
(This meat is seasoned with the same sauce used for teriyaki chicken.)
Tatsugorou reached for the food and picked the burger up.
Sauce dripped down from the burger and the sweet teriyaki fragrance drifted tofragrance drifted to his nose.
While enjoying the smell, he opened his mouth and chomped down onto the burger that was lightly wrapped with paper.
(Oo, this is very…)
As he bit down, the first he tasted was the soft sweetness of the bread. The bread had crisp and fragrant surface and was soft in the inside.
Following after that was the crispy texture of fresh cabbage and Oranie. The otherworld vegetables provided texture without adding bitterness or gra.s.sy smell, the sliced raw Oranie also provided vivid pungent taste.
The taste of sweet teriyaki sauce complimented the flavor of raw vegetables and the white sauce with soft acidity.
(If I remember correctly, this is called mayonnaise…)
Mayonnaise seemed to be the sauce that some regulars really liked. He usually ordered teriyaki chicken so he never tried it much, but it really fit well with the teriyaki burger.
(This meat is really the protagonist of the teriyaki burger.)
And the center of the burger is the meat.
Perhaps this dish had a hamburger on its name because it’s similar to the hamburger dish that the boys liked. The minced meat was rounded and then baked like a meat dumpling.
(The softness is really good.)
The minced meat was really soft and contained plenty of meat juice. Sometimes, he would chew upon the cartilage included in the patty. The crunchy texture was really delicious.
(And it really suits the teriyaki sauce.)
The meat juice of this patty was sweet, and it was not beaten by the strong flavor of teriyaki sauce. And by eating it together with the fragrant bread and fresh crunchy vegetables, teriyaki burger was completed.
(Umu, this is really delicious…)
In a blink of eye, he finished his teriyaki burger, ate all of the French fries and drank his cold tea, Tatsugorou then thought.
This teriyaki burger, it’s delicious. It’s delicious, but…
[This, I would like to try this with rice.]
Such words leaked out.
It was delicious when eaten with bread, and as he ate bread ever since he crossed the sea, he was not opposed to it, but if it’s teriyaki, he preferred to eat this with rice.
[Un. Teriyaki burger is nice, but I prefer the usual hamburger.]
[Really? I think that teriyaki burger is more delicious. Un, I like this one better than hamburger.]
[Even the meat of this hamburger alone is enough for a treat. I think it’s delicious enough to be eaten alone.]
They finished eating almost at the same time as Tatsugorou, they then exchanged their opinions.
(Aa, this is nice sometimes.)
While thinking so, Tatsugorou called the waitress for another order.
(Next time, I’ll order this with rice, and I’ve heard such a dish would appear on daily special sometimes.)
Looking at the boys preparing for another order, Tatsugorou pondered on his next order.