Chapter 70
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Cafeteria Food is My Specialty. (1)
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Dominic's kitchen remained aglow with the light orbs well into the night.
The room, decked out with several high-performance ones stuck to the ceiling, felt even brighter than during the day.
But Dominic's face, as he sat cross-legged on the floor deep in thought, showed no signs of relaxing. Today, once again, he'd failed to produce a proper curry powder.
"Turmeric powder as the base, plus cumin—that much is fine. But what else? How do I make it work?!"
No matter how he mixed the spices, he couldn't replicate that distinct taste of boxed curry roux.
He'd tried blending over ten different ones by rough count, but it only left him more confused.
'Is it really the MSG?'
MSG, the unbeatable seasoning that brought out umami.
And yet, he'd managed everything so far without it. The idea that it'd trip him up now felt so unfair it made his head spin.
'I can't even taste salt anymore.'
After sampling spice after spice with their overpowering flavors and aromas, his own palate had reached a point where he couldn't trust it at all.
'Still, this one's starting to feel pretty Indian...'
He vaguely recalled hearing that India had thousands of types of curry.
So surely this powder matched at least one of those thousands, right?
Dominic let out a deep sigh and checked the cauldron.
The rice had come out perfectly fluffy.
Bread baked in the hearth was great, but curry really needed rice—that's why he'd made so much.
"Let's eat!"
Right on cue, the vigilante uncles burst in.
These days, every evening, groups of seven or eight would pair up and head to Dominic's kitchen.
"Sorry. It's not quite perfected yet."
"What're you talking about? We're the ones grateful for the free grub."
"Still..."
The uncles pulled out their big bowls like old pros, scooped up heaps of rice and what aspired to be curry, settled in, and soon enough were stuffing their cheeks full, chatting away.
Dominic appreciated their kindness all the more, which only made him feel guiltier.
"Thanks to you, we get to chow down on these pricey spices to our hearts' content. Sure, our pockets are fuller now, but who buys stuff this fancy? Whew, it'd cost a fortune!"
"Exactly, bro. When you think about it, we've really made it. Spices from the desert—the kind nobles sprinkle daintily on their meals—and here we are, scarfing down a whole bowlful."
"Can we take the leftovers? The kids are begging to try some."
"Yeah, our table's no slouch compared to any noble's these days, thanks to you! Hahaha!"
The reason the uncles showed up every evening was to help Dominic polish off the endless failed spice mixes from his curry experiments.
To test if a batch was any good, he had to cook up at least a small potful, and one person could only eat so much. One day, while sighing over that, he'd run into Kallon dropping off ingredients, and the old fishing cooperative crew had rallied once more.
'Plenty of it probably doesn't suit their tastes...'
They made a big fuss about indulging in rare spices, but Dominic, who'd handled their meals for so long, knew better than anyone.
Most of these batches wouldn't appeal to them at all.
And yet, worried he'd feel bad, they never let on, just powering through the ill-fitting food.
'It's gotta be torture. For their sake, I need to nail this soon. Argh, what's wrong? No way the spices in boxed curry don't exist here?'
If so, he'd be totally screwed.
Dominic grew increasingly anxious amid the lack of progress.
In the corner of the kitchen, he found himself nervously biting his nails without realizing it.
"Tough going, huh?"
Kallon sidled up after polishing off his bowl in no time.
"Can't quite hit the taste I'm after. Probably 'cause so many of these spices are new to me..."
"Moments like this make you seem almost normal."
"Huh?"
"You whip up all these wild dishes so easily, I half-suspected you were hiding something. You know, like in those kids' storybooks—reincarnated with past-life memories or whatever."
"...Haha, hahaha..."
Cold sweat trickled down Dominic's back.
'Why'd he have to hit so sharp out of nowhere?'
The guy seemed like a dull bear most times, but every so often, he'd drop something that put Dominic on edge.
"So, what kind of taste are you aiming for?"
"Hmm... Something bold but not overwhelming? Not too polarizing, easy to make just by mixing the spices, pairs great with rice or noodles... You know, like that?"
"Whoa, ambitious much?"
Kallon burst out laughing at Dominic's description.
He'd figured Dominic jumped in because the desert spice mixes seemed profitable, but the goal was grander than expected.
"Still, if you pull it off, I'd love a taste. You'll hook us up cheap, right?"
"Pardon?"
"Huh? You weren't planning to gouge us too, were you? Heartless punk!"
Dominic froze at Kallon's words.
"No plans to charge high prices... Wait."
His head whipped around.
As his eyes landed on the stacks of spice sacks on the counter, was that a pop in his brain, or just his imagination?
"Damn! I forgot the most basic thing!"
"Basic? What?"
"Price! Price! Why didn't I think of that? Uncle Kallon, thank you! Seriously, thank you! When it's done, I'll gift you whole sacks!"
"Uh, yeah?"
"See ya! Looks like I'll be pulling an all-nighter. Go on, go. I'll handle the dishes. Haha! Kallon, you really saved me!"
Dominic laughed heartily as he herded the uncles out the door.
Ian, passing by, tilted his head at the scene. His new quarters were near the kitchen, so he'd run into it.
"Perfect timing, Sir Knight! Help me out."
"...If it's taste-testing, I won't be much use."
"No, you will. Trust me."
"I don't enjoy spices. I can't appreciate what you're making."
"Heh, that's not it. Come on, quick! You need dinner anyway!"
"B-but!"
For the first couple days, Ian had joined the uncles to help clear out failed batches, but he'd soon given up.
He just couldn't adapt to the intense spice blends.
Even batches some uncles deemed 'decent' were impossible for him to call 'tasty.'
'If it doesn't suit you, no helping it.'
Dominic had eventually insisted he didn't have to force it, and lately Ian dined at the academy-area eatery.
Now here was Dominic nagging him for a taste test.
The uncles wondered why but figured there was a reason—'Hang in there, Sir Knight!'—and vanished in a flash.
Dominic's motive was simple.
'Target: boxed curry. Dozens of pricey, rare spices? No way.'
Even in a food-abundant 21st-century Earth, instant curry roux didn't pack that many.
'And one more: minimal pickiness. Overpowering spice aroma? Can't have that. Needs to be something even someone like Sir Knight can eat without hesitation! Yeah, that's it!'
Dominic promptly cleared the dozens of spice sacks from the counter.
Especially the pricier, rarer desert imports in decorative jars—they all went straight into the cupboard.
'Turmeric powder's essential, though. And up the flour ratio a bit.'
Next, coriander, cumin, and a few others.
But dialing way back on quantities to avoid polarizing scents.
As he mixed, he itched to add more, but he held back.
"Then garlic, onion, ginger... Some fresh herbs for the rest of the flavor and aroma..."
Excitement was building.
Common knowledge: same amount, and veggies from the field beat camel-loaded spices in price.
At least in Evergreen, these were staples thanks to Dominic, so folks were used to them.
"Tomatoes too. Need that tang. Salt, sugar for seasoning... Umami from those dried shiitakes I have somewhere."
Ian watched Dominic mutter to himself, honing the taste, and thought he resembled a knight breaking through to a new realm.
'He's smashed through another wall.'
A spark of rivalry flickered in his chest.
His own progress in the sword arts remained stagnant. Despite one-on-one guidance from his swordmaster mentor, it wouldn't click, while Dominic lounged around only to breakthrough in a flash. It felt like facing a genius as a dullard.
[Don't push yourself too hard. Sometimes, you need to set it aside and rest, Ian.]
Was rest really what he needed?
'But...'
Ian's fist clenched.
"Ooh! This might work!"
Ignoring him, Dominic dove into cooking with his mixed powder and prepped ingredients.
He heated a wok over high flame, tossed in lard, and stir-fried chopped onions for ages.
The onion mountain wilted and shrank, turning brown and releasing a sweet aroma.
'The longer you caramelize onions, the better.'
Properly caramelized onions turned even three-minute curry into gourmet territory.
It took time, but classics never failed.
Whoosh—.
Finally satisfied with the onions, Dominic added roughly chopped potatoes, mushrooms, and carrots, stir-frying again.
Unlike the onions, he didn't overdo it—just pressed tomatoes and pork chunks till juicy, tossed them in, and stir-fried once more.
As the ingredients half-cooked, he added water to cover. It soon bubbled vigorously.
Bay leaves, a touch of pepper, sugar, salt—the supporting cast of seasonings followed in quick succession.
Ian thought, 'Swap the spice mix for cream and milk, make a stew instead,' but kept it to himself.
"Please...!"
Regardless, the new yellow spice blend dissolved gently into the boiling water, and the characteristic aroma gradually filled the kitchen.
'Hm?'
Ian wrinkled his nose involuntarily.
Unfamiliar spices, yet the aversion was far less than before.
He glanced at Dominic, who was—
"Ehehehe!"
Grinning like an idiot and licking his lips. Ian quickly looked away.