TN: To those that watched the anime before, you know what this chapter is about. To those that haven’t, be warned that this chapter is full of sweetness.
Hamburg Steak
There was a country named Sea Country located at the eastern end of the Western Continent.
The country was made up of coastal cities and numerous small islands where humans, beasts, demons and others lived.
Islands… Sea Country had a variety of islands but the amount of products that could be obtained from each islands were never many.
Therefore since ancient times, in exchange of such products… trade had been carried out frequently and at the same time, sea navigation techniques had been polished.
Speaking of the Sea Country of Western Continent, its history had great influence on the present. It was a trade nation that prospered greatly due to their trade with the Eastern Continent that had become peaceful after the war.
As such, there were an innumerable number of islands that were not suitable for intelligent creatures to live.
It was one of such islands where Alte led Roukei, a young fisherman who lived by selling homemade dried fishes after he received a small boat from his father and lived independently.
[Hey…]
[What?]
Still, not long after the morning sun had risen, Roukei turned to Alte and asked.
Alte, who was a mermaid hailing from the Southern Ocean with brown skin, ocean coloured hair and eyes, and the lower body of a fish though her upper body was slender like the people of Sand Country, turned around and listened with a serious look.
[No, it"s just… is it really there?]
Looking at the clear ocean coloured eyes, Roukei blushed and became fl.u.s.tered.
[Yeah… when I found it, it was useless to me since I had nothing with me. I can go now thanks to Roukei. I appreciate it.]
Alte nodded to Roukei.
Her confident face was beautiful.
It was too much for Roukei who had only known the burly women of the local fishing village.
Roukei and Alte met three days ago during a storm.
On that day, Roukei, who was swept away by the violent waves and thrown out of the sea, was saved from drowning by Alte.
The swimming mermaid was not bothered by the storm and prayed to the G.o.d of Water (which was actually the Blue G.o.d) to stop the storm.
And after the storm ceased, she brought him to an island with a village and Roukei easily fled from death.
Of course, Roukei appreciated her help and fell in love with her beauty and kindness.
He would do anything to thank her if he could do so, was what he said to her.
…Even if the payment was somewhat rude, as Alte asked "10 silver coins" for her favour, Alte was his benefactor and an important person for him.
After handing the promised 10 silver coins… although it was an enough amount to empty a fisherman"s pocket, it was a cheap price for his life, he then asked her what on earth did she want to use it for.
He did not know everything about this world, but he had never heard of a mermaid shopping with money like a human being.
Not limited to mermaids, there were tribes of monsters that had similar appearances to human beings. However, they usually did not consider money as "worthy things".
However, this mermaid that came from the Southern Ocean was different.
Apparently in her hometown, mermaids were known as "people who worshipped the Blue G.o.d" and traded normally with humans. They also knew the proper value of money.
However, when they journeyed to the Northern Ocean as a part of training, the mermaids who lived there did not worship the Blue G.o.d and did not try to interact with humans. As such, they normally had no use for money.
…Except for one use only.
And Alte told Roukei the sole purpose of it.
[It"s located inside the forest.]
[I see… inside the forest?]
To Alte"s words, Roukei scratched his neck and looked at Alte"s fins that were still submerged below the water surface.
It swayed in the water just like a fish.
It would be perfect for swimming underwater, but it was not suitable for walking on land.
[No problem…]
Alte who understood his confusion prayed to the Blue G.o.d.
Since she was a priestess of one of the six pillars, she could change her legs.
What was the bottom half of a fish… changed into a pair of human legs with blue scales and sharp nails.
[Ee!?]
[If I pray to the Blue G.o.d, I could get dragon legs… wings are still not possible though.]
Alte said a little proudly.
As Alte was an excellent priestess, she could pray to obtain the legs of a dragon.
Because of this training, it was a technique used to conduct trade with people of the land.
[Let"s go. The later it is, the more crowded the place.]
She held out her hand to the still surprised Roukei.
And a bit aggressively, Alte pulled him through the forest and reached that place.
[…We"re here.]
And they arrived in front of a door.
A black door with a picture of a cat that was the same as the one found at her hometown.
[Let"s go.]
She took Roukei"s hand and entered the door.
"Chirinchirin", while listening to the sound of the bell, they both went inside the door.
[Welcome… oya, it"s been a long time, Alte-san.]
It was quite a surprise seeing that the customers who arrived early in the morning were a female that was not recently seen and an unfamiliar male brought by her.
[Long time no see. Order please?]
While returning the owner"s greeting, Alte wanted to order as soon as possible.
[Yes, it"s fine. The usual for you… well, what about the other one?]
As Alte"s order was always the same, he only asked for confirmation, but he remembered that there was another customer that day.
Rather than a woman who was a bit older than Alte as usual, it was a sunburned black haired boy.
He was a first time guest.
[Un. Hamburg steak with demi-glace sauce. Two portions.]
Whether or not she knew the owner"s concern, she ordered her usual.
It was a cuisine of baked meat of a land beast and not seafood.
Alte had been a prisoner of this dish after she was taken here by her senior as a "reward" for learning the prayer to obtain dragon"s legs.
[Okay. Please wait a moment.]
The owner retreated back to the kitchen after receiving the order.
[Let"s sit down.]
Alte went to a suitable seat.
[Etto, where is this…?]
After he sat, Roukei asked Alte when his head was finally able to catch up with the situation.
First, Alte obtained the dragon"s legs, then there was an unnatural door in the forest, and the place beyond the door was a mysterious room.
He could not think clearly.
[This is otherworld dining hall.]
To such Roukei, Alte indiscriminately taught him.
[It"s a place where people can eat demi-glace Hamburg steak.]
…But it was only recognizable for her.
Then after a while.
[Sorry to keep you waiting! I brought your demi-glace Hamburg steaks!]
A girl wearing clothes that boldly showed her legs brought their food.
Placed on the center of a black plate were vegetables with vivid colours, small yellow grain vegetables that were eaten in the Eastern Continent, and brown rounded meat with an egg on top and reddish black sauce poured over it.
It was a dish made of minced meat of a land animal that Roukei had never seen before.
It was placed on top of hot iron dish that emitted sizzling sound.
At the same time, pure white rice of fine quality was served in a separate bowl.
[Hee…]
To the sound and smell of burning meat, Roukei swallowed his spit.
[Etto, this is…]
When he tried asking, he gave up as soon as he saw Alte starting to eat the "Hamburg steak with demi-glace sauce" with a knife and fork.
[Feel free to ask any questions.]
While chewing her mouthful, Alte said that important words.
[…Un, thank you.]
Roukei who had gotten used to their unique interaction decided to start eating.
[…A, it"s pretty soft, huh.]
Learning from Alte, he picked up a knife and fork and started to cut the meat first.
He thought that the meat was going to be pretty hard but it was softer than expected and the well-polished silver knife was able to cut it easily.
To that softness, it probably seemed to be soft enough to eat it with chopsticks that he was accustomed to.
[Well then…]
He brought the bite-sized meat to his mouth.
He chewed…
[…Ee!?]
He was surprised by its deliciousness.
It was a land animal"s meat that he could not eat normally.
It was a fine quality meat with no beastly smell.
Every time he chewed, the meat juice contained in the meat spread in his mouth.
Then the meat juice mixed with the sweet and sour flavor of the sauce poured over the meat.
(Thi, this… I want to eat this with rice!)
He picked up the bowl of rice and scooped it with his fork.
(Oo! This is amazing!)
The slightly sweet rice met the taste of meat juice and sauce, which made a wonderful combination.
It was good enough like that but the rice was extraordinary.
[…It"s even more delicious when eaten with the egg yolk.]
Alte gave Roukei an advice and proceeded to continue eating grandly.
Alte taught him the way she was taught by her senior.
Yes, the soft taste of half-cooked egg yolk further enhanced the complex taste of Hamburg steak.
[…It"s true. It"s even more delicious when eaten with the egg.]
A smile was directed at Alte with such words.
It brought wonder and satisfaction to Alte.
They ate a lot and left the restaurant.
[You asked for silver coins so that you could eat at the restaurant.]
On the way back to the sea, Roukei asked and Alte nodded to his question.
[Yes.]
Listening to her answer, Roukei made a suggestion that he had thought up while feeling that his cheeks were getting hot.
[Well then, would you like to go there together with me again sometime soon?]
[Is that okay?]
To that proposal, Alte asked while tilting her head.
[Of course.]
To Alte, Roukei mustered all his courage to answer her with a smile.