Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 202: Summer Vegetable Curry
The final harvest of the summer crops was done.
There was a faint sense of loneliness that came with the end of a season, but soon enough, we’d be planting autumn vegetables—so there was no time to linger on that feeling.
Today, we’d use the last of our summer vegetables to make summer vegetable curry.
I’d been wanting to make it for a while now, but a lot of things had come up, and I hadn’t found the right moment until today.
I could’ve left it to Norman, but since I’d been the one wanting to do it myself, it ended up being postponed until the very end of summer.
Still, today turned out to be perfect timing—Yato, Ashros, and Velvet had all come to visit.
“Sato, I brought the vegetables from the pantry.”
Velvet said, setting down a basket.
“Thank you, Velvet. You can relax in the living room or the lounge for now if you’d like.”
“Alright… but what exactly are you making today?”
Even though I’d told her she could rest, Velvet leaned over curiously to peek at what I was doing.
I was still just prepping ingredients, so there wasn’t much to see yet.
“I’m making a curry packed with fresh vegetables. You’ve had curry before, haven’t you, Velvet?”
“Ah… I’ve had the one with lots of meat chunks. It was spicy, right?”
“Yes, but that must’ve been keema curry. Have I really never served you regular curry before?”
“I’m not sure what ‘regular’ curry is, but I don’t think I’ve had it.”
So that’s how it was.
I’d assumed I’d already served Velvet curry, but apparently the only one she’d had was the keema curry I made during last year’s mock battle tournament.
Everyone else in the village had eaten it before, and even Yato and Ashros had tried it, so I’d just taken it for granted that Velvet had too.
“In that case, this will be your first time having the classic version. It’s one of Yato’s favorite dishes, so I’m sure you’ll like it too.”
“Oh, Yato’s favorite, huh? The keema curry was delicious, so I’m excited to try this one.”
“Please do look forward to it.”
“Maybe I’ll go ask Yato about it in the meantime.”
Velvet left the kitchen after saying that.
And while it was true that curry was Yato’s favorite, she had definitely chosen the wrong person to ask about it.
I wanted to stop her, but she was already gone before I could say anything.
That was bound to leave a bad impression—since Yato always describes curry as looking like poop.
I could already picture it: Yato going “poop, poop” with that mischievous grin.
I sighed and went back to cooking.
The vegetables I’d use today were eggplant, zucchini, pumpkin, bell peppers, and okra.
The recipe was simple: make a basic curry with meat, potatoes, and onions, then pile on a generous portion of grilled summer vegetables on top.
I’d gotten so used to making curry by now that I finished the main batch in no time.
Normally, I’d let it rest overnight to deepen the flavor, but since we didn’t have time, I’d serve it fresh.
Once the curry and rice were plated, I arranged the brightly colored vegetables on top, each grilled to a perfect golden brown.
Thanks to their vivid colors, the dish looked so beautiful that it erased curry’s usual “muddy” appearance entirely.
I plated enough for everyone and carried the dishes to the living room, where they were waiting.
I thought some might be in the lounge instead, but it seemed they’d all gathered in one place.
“Thanks for waiting, everyone. Here’s the summer vegetable curry.”
“Yay! Curry! But I don’t really like vegetables, though…”
“I think you’ll find these vegetables taste great, too. Velvet, though… you look a bit down.”
“It’s Yato’s fault. I lost my appetite after his… graphic explanation of curry.”
As expected.
It seemed Yato had described it in her usual, crude way.
Visually, curry and keema curry weren’t that different, but once an image sticks in your mind, it’s hard to shake.
“Don’t worry, Velvet-sama! I’m sure one bite will blow away any negative impression you have. It’s that good!”
“I know, I know. The keema curry was delicious, after all… And—oh wow, this actually looks way better than what Yato described!”
“It really does! The vegetables make it look so bright and colorful!”
“The aroma alone is amazing! These are vegetables we grew ourselves, so I want to savor every bite.”
“Then let’s not wait any longer. Let’s eat.”
We put our hands together and said our pre-meal thanks before digging in.
I scooped up some curry along with a bit of the grilled vegetables and took a bite.
—Delicious!
The spiciness of the curry blended perfectly with the sweetness and umami of the summer vegetables.
I do love hearty dishes like katsu curry, but this light, refreshing version with vegetables was just as good in its own way.
It reminded me again how wonderful curry is—so versatile, yet always comforting.
“It’s so good! Spicier than the one I had before, but the vegetable flavor makes it impossible to stop eating!”
“I like these vegetables after all! They’re tasty!”
“Sato, you really are a culinary genius! Every curry you make has a completely different charm!”
“I’m glad you all enjoyed it. This was the perfect way to wrap up summer.”
Since we’d grown the vegetables ourselves, they tasted even more satisfying.
There was still plenty of curry left, and the pantry was full of extra vegetables, so I planned to serve it later to Lua, Brittany, Rozzo, and the others as well.
For now, though, we enjoyed our final meal of the summer—a hearty serving of summer vegetable curry.