Chapter 1
Chapter 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Prologue
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Reincarnation—what a fine tale.
The legitimate son of a count. Proficient in both letters and arms. A tall, handsome figure. And even a beautiful childhood friend turned fiancée. Everything about it was perfect.
But even for me, with all this going for me, there was one major issue I simply couldn't tolerate.
The cooking in this world... had no taste.
To be precise, it wasn't just "not very tasty"—it was literally closer to bland.
Sweet, salty, bitter, sour, umami.
Dishes blending the five core flavors with all sorts of aromas. Sometimes even a pleasant spicy kick.
For a modern person accustomed to diverse tastes and scents, with the right to enjoy new flavors through fresh cuisine every time, it was impossible to endure.
But—
"What era do you think it is, cooking like that? Good grief. Sure, it tastes good... Ah, no! Don't clear the plates! I'm serious!"
"I admit your cooking is truly delicious. But to think it takes this much effort... Still, just one more bite."
"Keep cooking like this, and you'll strip the place down to its roots. Even with a personal chef, it'll be tough. Hmm..."
It was only natural.
There was no way the whole world would start copying every recipe I came up with.
People's incomes varied, and even those with full pockets often lacked the time or labor to pour into food.
In the midst of such worries, a certain sight caught my eye.
"-Oh, this? It's just a pie I threw together with whatever leftovers we had and baked in the oven..."
Watching the maid pull out a fresh herring and meat pie from the oven reminded me of those "home-cooked" meals American housewives would serve up.
Stuff bought from the supermarket—canned sauces, pre-seasoned meats, boiled macaroni, and the like—tossed in and heated in the oven. Home cooking? Debatable. But to me, it was a groundbreaking item all the same.
If it took too much time. If it required too much labor.
Then prepare facilities to mass-produce only the most labor-intensive, hardest-to-cook items and turn them into products.
A magical ingredient that lets anyone eat deliciously, even without cooking talent, as long as they had the basics.
Yes—develop sauces.
Use a sauce that takes little effort to make, and the entire food culture of this world would improve overnight.
Of course, the extra money rolling in would just be a bonus.
And who knows? Someone inspired by my sauces might even create new dishes I like.
And so, the sauce business began.
Or at least, that's how it was supposed to go...
"Hey! The wyverns are about to wake up! When are you sending the mayonnaise as exhibit goods!!"
"Fresh tomato sauce is the best~ So tasty, tomato sauce is the best~ With one tomato sauce, we become lions!"
"Oh my! This sauce is just too wonderful! Ahh, with this sauce, I won't even think about picky eating anymore!"
"This is the very gravy sauce His Majesty partook of? Dip some fried chicken in it... Heavens!! Delicious!!"
"Sauces!! Bring more sauces!! The soldiers fight with sauce!!"
"What?! The sauces are running out?! Fine, silver coins—no, gold!! How much do you want?! Please, just give me the sauces!!"
"-Sauces! More sauces!!"
"-So where are the sauces atttt!!"
...It exploded in popularity far beyond my wildest imagination.