Chapter 76: The Welcome Party

The next evening.

Since I planned to serve Japanese cuisine today, I finished work early and started preparing dinner.

After taking a quick shower to wash off the day’s grime, I stood in the kitchen and began by purchasing ingredients.

I had a rough idea of what to make, but I hadn’t made a final decision yet.

With everyone except me being women, I was torn about whether it was okay to make deep-fried food so casually.

From observing Sheila and Velvet, I knew fried food was well-received, and many women enjoy it. But at the same time, I was aware that many also worry about calories.

I crossed my arms and pondered for a bit… but ultimately, I realized that expecting delicious food to be low-calorie was impossible with my skills.

With that conclusion in mind, I decided to make katsudon curry—a dish that embodies high-calorie indulgence.

I had considered making an authentic spice curry, but for people unfamiliar with curry, European-style curry would definitely be the better choice.

I also felt that katsu pairs better with European-style curry, so I opted for the standard version this time.

While the rice was cooking, I purchased curry roux, onions, thinly sliced pork, and butter.

I sautéed the chopped onions until they turned golden brown, then added the pork and continued cooking.

After that, I poured in the appropriate amount of water, added the curry roux, and let it simmer. Once the flavors melded, I finished it off by adding butter.

Next, I prepared the tonkatsu.

I bought pork loin, breadcrumbs, flour, and eggs. First, I tenderized the pork loin and seasoned it with salt and pepper.

Then, I coated it in flour, dipped it in beaten eggs, and covered it with breadcrumbs before deep-frying it to a golden crisp.

Once fried, I sliced the tonkatsu, plated it over rice with the curry, and—voilà! Dinner was ready.

The fragrant aroma of curry and the juiciness of the tonkatsu filled the air, making it clear this meal would be delicious even before taking a bite.

I hurriedly carried the katsu curry to the four waiting in the living room.

“Sorry for the wait. Tonight’s dinner is katsu curry!”

“Katsu curry! This is my first time eating this! I can’t wait to try it!”

“A brown dish…? Is this… edible?”

“It doesn’t look appetizing…”

“But it does smell delicious.”

Sheila was brimming with excitement, while Lua and the others eyed the dish suspiciously.

Having grown up with curry, I naturally associated it with something delicious. But I had to admit—the appearance alone might not be the most appealing to first-timers.

“It might not look great, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy the taste.”

“I have no doubts at all! Can we start eating?”

“Of course, go ahead.”

After saying our meal prayers, Sheila took a bite without hesitation.

She chewed thoughtfully, then pressed her cheeks with her hands, showing an expression of pure bliss.

“This dish is absolutely amazing! It’s spicy yet packed with umami, making it a treat for both the taste and smell!”

Hearing Sheila’s enthusiastic review, Lua and the others swallowed audibly.

I wanted to see them try the dish properly, but my own patience had run out—I scooped up a spoonful of curry and took a bite.

—Delicious! Once again, it turned out fantastic.

By caramelizing the onions, their sweetness and umami had fully blended into the curry.

The meat added even more depth to the flavor. Ideally, I would have included potatoes and carrots too, but for katsu curry, a simpler, smoother sauce pairs better.

So, I took a bite of the katsu with the curry.

As expected, the combination was perfection.

It was a dish that made me grateful to be alive.

“W-what is this…? This dish is unbelievably delicious! Does something this good even exist in the Greyland Kingdom?!”

“It’s not from the Greyland Kingdom—only Sato-san can make it! We’re truly lucky to be able to eat his cooking!”

“Sato, you’re a chef as well?! I’ve never had food this delicious in my life!”

“I’m honored to hear that. As long as you work hard in the fields, I’ll make it for you regularly.”

“”We’ll work hard!”

Posha and Lois, who had been silently eating, responded energetically to my words.

Seeing that they enjoyed the meal was a relief.

“Farming is fun, we have a house, and now we’re being served such amazing food… This place is like heaven!”

“It really is. My life has completely changed since meeting Sato-san.”

“I’d say that sounds exaggerated, but honestly, it’s not far from the truth!”

“No, no, you’re overpraising me! Flattery won’t get you anything, you know?”

That said, their words made me so happy that I decided to make dessert for them as well.

With Lua and the others clearly enjoying the meal, the Japanese cuisine welcome party was another great success.

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