Chapter 573: Ginger Pork Set Meal

I only made it the normal way, so it shouldn’t be that unbelievably delicious… right?

…Or could it be that my ‘Cooking’ skill secretly did something weird to it?

Well, I suppose it’s better than people eating it with a sour look on their faces. Yeah… let’s just decide that it’s a good thing.

When I glanced to the side, I saw that both Fabienne and Nero were eating with their eyes shining brightly, their expressions full of delight. It seemed they liked it quite a lot.

Good. That’s a relief.

Alright then, I should start eating too.

Hm?

This is…

“Wow—this is amazing! Why does it taste so good?”

“Why, you ask? You were the one who made it, Julius-sama. Why are you the one who’s surprised?”

Fabienne gave a small, amused smile as she spoke, though she already had another slice of ginger pork speared on her fork, clearly eager for the next bite.

So she really liked it. That’s a relief.

The meat—cut slightly thicker than the thin slices usually sold for ginger pork at supermarkets—released a burst of juicy flavor the moment I bit into it. The savory juices spread across my tongue, blending perfectly with the sharp, fragrant taste of ginger.

The flavors wrapped around each other, creating an incredible harmony inside my mouth.

In other words—

It was ridiculously delicious.

“Delicious! This is amazing! I never expected it to be this good…”

“As expected of Julius-sama. To think you could create such delicious food that even you yourself would be surprised.”

Nero spoke with heartfelt admiration as he happily devoured his ginger pork.

As for Lionel… ever since he started eating, he hadn’t said a single word. He was simply continuing to shovel food into his mouth in complete silence.

Well, ginger pork is good for restoring stamina, so that’s perfect for people who’ve been working hard.

When we get back, I should teach the head chef how to make this. And while I’m at it, I’ll have them plant a large amount of ginger in the herb garden.

Somehow… I have a feeling we’re going to need a lot of it.

The ginger pork set meal, which had been met with overwhelming praise, was gone in the blink of an eye.

If only there had been miso soup to go along with it…

Unfortunately, there wasn’t any.

Man, I really want some miso. If I had that, I could even make tonjiru.

…Wait.

Yeah, that’s right.

If there’s no miso, then I just have to make it, don’t I?

But somehow…

I had a very bad feeling about this.

After finishing our slightly early lunch, we began preparing meals for the gardeners who would soon be returning, as well as the knights working outside.

Since this was the second time making the dish, Fabienne moved with impressive efficiency, her hands working swiftly and smoothly.

As expected of Fabienne.

She really is capable.

At this rate, maybe she’ll eventually awaken the ‘Cooking’ skill herself. And when that happens…

I might get to eat Fabienne’s homemade cooking someday.

Whoa.

My dreams are expanding!

While the two of us busily continued preparing the meals, the workers gradually began returning to the shed.

The moment they stepped inside, they suddenly paused, clearly noticing something.

As expected of these hungry people. After a brutal morning of labor, their stomachs must be completely empty.

“W-What is this incredible smell…?”

“What could it be…? I’ve never smelled anything like this before… and yet, somehow it feels strangely familiar…”

Uh-oh.

Before too many people crowd in, we should start serving the ones who’ve already returned.

The break room was fairly spacious, but not nearly big enough to fit everyone at once.

“Those who have returned, please wash your hands first and then sit at the table in order. We’ll bring the ginger pork set meal to you right away.”

“Ginger pork set meal? So this smell is ginger? But… isn’t ginger supposed to be an ingredient for magic potions?”

“You’re well informed. It can be used for magical potions, yes—but it can also be used as a food ingredient.”

Smiling gently, I began serving the ginger pork set meals one by one to those who had washed their hands and taken their seats.

Anyone who hadn’t washed their hands?

Skipped.

Perhaps they noticed, because they hurriedly ran to the washing area.

Sanitation management—perfect.

“I never knew ginger could be used as a food ingredient. As expected of Julius-sama. You truly know everything.”

…Apparently, ginger really hadn’t been used as a food ingredient at all.

This is bad.

Very bad.

Now I can only hope that somewhere, in some book, there’s at least a line saying something like:

“Ginger can also be used as a food ingredient. It tastes quite good.”

While I silently offered a desperate prayer to the gods, everyone had already started eating their lunches.

“Then, Julius-sama… thank you for the meal.”

“We give thanks to Julius-sama.”

Everyone began eating without the slightest hint of suspicion.

…Not that I should be the one saying this, but shouldn’t you all be a little more cautious?

After all, this is a completely unfamiliar dish to everyone here.

Sweating internally, I watched their reactions closely.

Fabienne and the others had loved it, and I thought it tasted great myself, so it should be fine…

But still.

My heart was pounding.

Then suddenly—

“W-What is this…?! IT’S SO DELICIOUS!!”

Wait a second.

Hold on.

That shout sounded exactly like Lionel earlier…

Did the knights pick up that reaction from him or something?

Right beside me, Lionel stood with his arms crossed, nodding with a smug expression that practically said, “See? I told you so.”

“This is a flavor I’ve never tasted before, but it’s truly delicious. The meat juices blend perfectly with the seasoning. So this is the taste—and power—of ginger. Why has it never been used until now?”

The gardeners tilted their heads repeatedly in confusion.

Well, that’s because…

No one thought it was food.

Hmm.

This is bad.

Seriously bad.

At this rate, it’s going to look like I’m the one who discovered ginger as a food ingredient.

I never expected things to turn out like this.

But…

What’s done is done.

And there’s nothing we can do about it now.

So, even as more and more gardeners returned from their work, we continued preparing additional ginger pork set meals for them.

Incidentally, even the gardeners who had brought their own lunch boxes were given a small piece of the ginger pork.

Those who tasted it…

Actually had tears in their eyes.

Guys.

Please, whatever you do—

Don’t start complaining about the people who made your lunch boxes.

I really don’t want my ginger pork set meal to become the reason someone’s family falls apart, okay?

“Finally finished. Good work, Fabienne.”

“You as well, Julius-sama. The cooks in the castle must always work under conditions like this while preparing meals for everyone. It made me realize that I should be more grateful whenever I eat.”

“You’re absolutely right. We should always eat with gratitude—toward the cooks, and toward every ingredient that made the meal possible.”