Chapter 77
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Diet for the Minority (2)
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Still, they were guests, and even if they were something like spirit creatures, he couldn't just let them go hungry.
Now that he looked closer, the hollows under their eyes made their nutritional state seem worse than expected, which only heightened Dominic's concern.
'They wouldn't have starved the elves, so why do they look like this?'
Dominic clicked his tongue inwardly without anyone noticing, and in his eyes, the elves were instantly demoted to a pitiful group that couldn't even get their hands on rice gruel.
Their image had drastically shifted in just half a day.
"For now, let's eat first and talk details after."
Dominic clapped his hands with a sharp snap to liven up the mood.
"I noticed earlier you didn't touch the snacks we prepared. Is there some ingredient you're avoiding?"
"We're sorry. We didn't mean to offend the lord's sensibilities. It's just that what you provided was something we couldn't eat..."
"Ah, I see. If you tell me what kinds you can't eat, we'll prepare accordingly next time."
"...No, we can't impose like that. It's not part of the contract."
Dominic shrugged at the elf leader's words.
"How can matters of eating and living be so neatly divided by a few lines in a contract? Does that mean you elves plan to have no interactions whatsoever with others while studying in Evergreen?"
"......"
"Most people don't enjoy every food or ingredient out there either. So don't worry about it—just tell us. Is there anything you dislike?"
But the elves remained silent.
From their expressions, it didn't seem like stubbornness so much as embarrassment.
'Are they agonizing over whether this is standard human etiquette or not?'
There were cultural differences between the two races, who had been out of contact for so long.
And cultural differences naturally bred differences in thinking.
He didn't know what trick the desert sultan had pulled, but after discovering the elves' village, they must have made some agreement to exchange a few elves for Evergreen.
'Like someone from abroad for the first time, fretting over how much tip to give?'
If so, he just needed to tell them.
"It could be a health issue, a matter of belief, religion, or even just simple taste preferences. No need to feel bad about any of that. Even if you're from another village or city—not some other race—we always try to accommodate guests' tastes."
"...Is that so? But we have many things we can't eat. Or rather, it's quicker to say our diet is very limited. It would be a lot of trouble."
"Are you vegetarians, by any chance?"
The elf froze.
"How did you know?"
Ah, as expected. At this point, it was clear: the first author to write a fantasy world on Earth in his previous life must have been a possessor or reincarnator. How else could it fit so perfectly?
'Dwarves go crazy for beer, so of course elves are vegetarians.'
Meanwhile, Dominic kept his subtle smile and friendly demeanor.
Still, he needed to make an excuse.
At least in this world, elves were the enigmatic other race with virtually no interactions with humans.
Half-elves born between elves and humans sometimes stayed in the human world, carrying on their lineage, but unlike dwarves, pure elves shunned revealing themselves, so almost everything about them was top secret—and truly known facts were scarce.
So Dominic, who had straight-up asked if elves were vegetarians, needed to justify himself.
"Oh, it's nothing special. I've gotten into the habit of observing what people eat or avoid. I wasn't spying or anything, but you smelled the bread and immediately set it down, so I figured no meat."
"...It could just be something they dislike."
"All twenty of you hating meat? Come on. What's the odds of that? It's far more likely there's some reason none of you can eat it."
The people nodded at Dominic's words.
It wasn't some divisive spice, or pungent lamb or goat.
For the sailors and students from afar, the academy's cafeteria cooks had prepared meat pies from breakfast onward—finely stir-fried pork and beef, simmered with tomatoes and other vegetables into a sauce!
It was a menu that always got absolute student support when it appeared in the cafeteria, so they'd made it specially...
"We thought you might not have had fresh meat on the long journey, but we're sorry."
"No, it's on us. You went to such lengths, Lord, but our beliefs kept us from accepting your hospitality."
"So, strictly vegetarian then?"
"Yes."
He'd finally gotten the answer from their lips.
In his previous life, schools were starting to designate 'vegetarian days' once a month, and in trendy alleyways with hot spots, there'd be three or four vegan joints.
Even without beliefs, plenty did 'vegetarian' days for health or beauty, surviving on salads alone.
'Temples serve vegetarian food—what's the big deal?'
Dragged to temples by his devout Buddhist parents in his past life, he'd eaten temple meals at least a hundred times.
Not just Buddha's Birthday, but nearly every day prayer was needed.
Once he was old enough to think, he'd protested that Buddhism wasn't about begging Buddha for wishes, but all he got was a loving whack on the back.
Well, the regular wild vegetable bibimbap and outer-leaf soybean paste soup were so good he'd eat two bowls, so no real complaints.
And in this life, vegetarianism wasn't foreign to Dominic either.
They didn't advertise it as 'vegetarian,' but the resort sold 'detox diet' packages centered on salads and vegetable soups.
Under the slogan [It might not be what you're not eating causing problems—it's what you're eating too much of!], it trended among guests wanting to lose weight or soothe upset stomachs, who signed up for a few meals.
'If elves are vegetarian, maybe detox diets get a popularity boost? They're all skinny with great skin—mix that into some ads...'
Dominic was already plotting to raise detox diet prices at the resort.
Seeing Dominic calmly prepare to take notes without fuss, interest and curiosity finally flickered in the elves' eyes for the first time.
"Just tell me, and I'll note it down properly."
"Well... it's not simply eating vegetables. Our way, I mean. Ah, sorry—I'm Heinrich."
"Nice to meet you, Heinrich. Dominic here."
After a brief handshake, Dominic asked again.
"So if it's not just plain vegetables, is there some other method?"
"Yes. Even among the same vegetables, some we can eat, some we can't. We can eat animal byproducts like milk, eggs, honey; even fish or red meat sometimes."
"...?"
Confusion rose on Dominic and the southerners' faces.
It was hard to grasp at first.
"That's why we said at the start not to worry about our meals. We've discussed this with the desert kingdom too."
"Right. They said they'd ship ingredients regularly by ship. I thought it was just homesickness, but now I see there's a reason."
"Yes. So please don't worry, Lord."
The elf smiled gently again, trying to wrap up the talk on their eating habits.
Dominic found it frustrating—why hide something like this?—but chalked it up to personality differences and tried to understand.
"But what if the ship sinks in a storm or can't sail at all?"
"Then we'd scour the area for the closest match..."
"Exactly. You'll have to tell us eventually. So just say it now. Who knows? We might even supply ingredients or cook for you."
"You might not understand."
"Another person's table is about respect, not understanding."
Dominic believed that as long as it didn't violate universal values, everyone's plate deserved respect.
He thought you couldn't judge personal tastes' vulgarity or nobility, or cultural superiority, from a dinner table.
Tsk tsk. Looks like the desert folk didn't get it either.
Given their hesitation, awkward situations must have happened multiple times.
He got it.
Even in previous-life Korea, early veganism or halal food awareness was shallow due to limited exchange.
'And it's not just food culture. Food stirs up ignored personal tastes, habits, situations.'
Rice cakes in tteokbokki: rice or wheat?
Sweet-and-sour pork sauce: pour or dip?
Mint choco: divine genius or abomination?
Pineapple pizza is delicious—making it shouldn't be illegal.
Etc.
Food talk always sparked debate.
'Who cares about arguments? If it sells, it's golden.'
Right, right.
While he drifted into side thoughts, Heinrich finally began explaining.
"We mainly eat vegetables. But we do eat animal eggs, milk, and byproducts—as long as it doesn't violate the Earth Goddess's providence."
"What do you mean by 'doesn't violate providence'?"
"It means we don't confine or raise animals just to get eggs, milk, or byproducts. We accept eggs the mother has abandoned or excess milk the young can't finish."
"Hm, got it. What about the fish and meat you mentioned?"
"Same principle. We don't confine free creatures for food or hunt for culinary pleasure. If we find already-dead ones, we take the meat and organs, bury the rest."
"What about vegetables? You said even among the same kind, some you eat, some not. Is it production method?"
"Spot on. We don't eat vegetables grown with magic fertilizer."
"Because it violates the goddess's providence?"
"Yes."
Only then did Dominic understand why they'd insist on shipping their own vegetables.
In the entire western continent, farming without magic fertilizer—which boosted yields and repelled pests—was for eccentrics only.
"So no need to worry about what we eat..."
"Dominic. Don't we have plenty of restaurants in Evergreen cooking with non-magic-fertilizer veggies? Those organic or natural food spots. I haven't tried 'em myself."
"Yeah, sure. Even in the resort? Guests love 'em."
The Old Lord chimed in perfectly timed.
Dominic inwardly cheered.
'Things are falling into place.'
He already had a farm avoiding magic fertilizer, selling premium produce and using it for dishes.
'Twenty more steady customers? Piece of cake.'
To lock them in, he needed the clincher.
"Want to try some? Then you'll see you won't need to ship ingredients."
"If that's really true..."
"Have you ever been scammed? Let's go! This meal's on me. Historic day, right? Haha!"
Ah, snag 'em first.
We'll set the price later.
End of Diet for the Minority (2)