Chapter 56: Stuffed Bell Peppers and the Feudal Lord’s Request 

Several days passed.

On one particular day, while I was busy serving meal after meal to the adventurers gathered inside Tsurugi Hachi, the long-awaited visitor finally arrived.

The lord of this region had come to inspect Papel Village.

The entire village turned out to welcome him.

Men, women, children—even the elderly who usually preferred to stay indoors—lined the road as a dragon-drawn carriage rolled slowly into the village square before coming to a graceful halt.

The man who stepped down from the carriage was a middle-aged gentleman with traces of white beginning to streak through his neatly groomed hair.

“It’s been quite some time, Village Chief.”

“Indeed it has, Barsat-sama.”

“…Being addressed so formally by you always makes me feel rather awkward, Village Chief.”

The two exchanged a firm handshake before slipping naturally into light conversation.

Watching the feudal lord speak to the village chief with respectful language looked rather bizarre at first glance.

But once you knew the chief’s past…

It somehow made perfect sense.

“People of Papel Village,” the lord announced, turning toward the assembled villagers. “I’m Barsat von Algama, the lord entrusted by His Majesty the King with governing these lands. I look forward to making your acquaintance today.”

“Come now, Barsat-sama. Before anything else, please allow me to treat you to a meal prepared by the finest cook in all of Papel Village—Eight.”

“Oh? The very chef who supposedly surpassed Master Tardolf, the Royal Court’s Head Chef? Where’s this remarkable fellow?”

“Ah… yes. That would be me.”

As Barsat-sama looked around expectantly, clearly searching for someone much older, I raised my hand.

The moment he realized I was the cook, his eyes widened in disbelief.

“So young? I’d heard rumors that you single-handedly drove off armed bandits who attacked an orphanage with nothing but a sword. I imagined a burly warrior built like a fortress.”

“Ah… hahaha…”

Well…

The rumor wasn’t exactly wrong.

It was just wrong in a completely different way.

Forcing an awkward laugh, I guided Barsat-sama into Tsurugi Hachi.

The instant he stepped inside, an audible gasp escaped him.

“Oh! The exterior already had an exotic charm, but the interior is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. And these brilliantly shining lights…”

“U-Um… I worked together with the village carpenter to recreate the style of the restaurants from my homeland.”

“I see.” He slowly looked around with genuine fascination. “Then your homeland must be remarkably advanced. I find myself looking forward to the meal even more.”

“Thank you. Please give me just a little while.”

With that, I headed into the kitchen.

Today’s main ingredients were simple, but carefully chosen.

Fresh green peppers harvested right here in Papel Village.

And meat from an orc and a minotaur that local adventurers had hunted in the nearby forest.

First came the onion.

I finely diced it, spread it onto a plate, covered it with plastic wrap, and microwaved it until softened.

Next, I sliced the green peppers in half lengthwise, removed the stems and seeds, lightly scored the outer skin with a fork, then dusted them with flour.

This little extra step was important.

It helped the meat adhere properly and prevented the filling from separating during cooking.

Now then…

“Time to grind the orc and minotaur meat with my brand-new electric meat chopper!”

“Wh-What in the world is that tremendous noise!?”

The deafening whir of the electric meat chopper echoed throughout the restaurant.

Barsat-sama practically jumped in his seat.

“Did… did that machine just mince minotaur meat? Isn’t that rather wasteful…?”

“Those cuts are from the tougher, stringier portions,” the village chief explained.

“Oh? Is that so?” Barsat-sama stroked his chin thoughtfully as he watched the machine at work. “…Hmm. I suppose once it’s ground that finely, toughness would no longer matter.”

Since today was an exclusive reservation for the lord, the open kitchen allowed every step of the cooking process to be seen.

Their conversation drifted naturally into my ears as I worked.

“This restaurant is fascinating,” Barsat-sama remarked. “Watching the cooking unfold before one’s eyes is unexpectedly captivating. Perhaps I should have an open kitchen built in my own manor.”

“If you decide to do so, I’ll happily send Papel Village’s finest carpenter.”

While the two chatted, I transferred the freshly ground mixture of orc and minotaur meat into a large bowl before adding the softened onions.

Then came the seasoning.

Salt.

Pepper.

Milk.

Egg.

Breadcrumbs.

I kneaded everything together thoroughly until the mixture became pale, sticky, and cohesive.

Once the filling had developed enough elasticity, I packed it tightly into each floured green pepper.

No air pockets.

Not even the slightest gap.

The trick was to be generous with the filling.

It should bulge just slightly over the edge of the pepper rather than sit flush.

Next, I heated salad oil in a frying pan and carefully arranged each stuffed pepper meat-side down.

They sizzled immediately.

Once the meat developed a rich golden-brown crust over medium heat, I flipped them over to lightly cook the pepper side as well.

Finally, I poured in a small amount of water, covered the pan, and allowed everything to steam gently.

That completed the stuffed peppers.

“A delightful aroma is filling the room,” Barsat-sama observed, his nose twitching. “Are they finished?”

“Not quite. Just a little longer.”

Normally, ketchup alone would have been enough.

But today’s guest wasn’t just anyone.

He was the lord of the territory.

There would be no cutting corners.

Into the flavorful meat juices left in the frying pan, I added ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and a splash of cooking sake.

I simmered everything over medium heat until the sauce thickened into a glossy glaze.

Then I generously spooned it over each stuffed pepper.

Done.

All that remained was to serve it alongside steaming freshly cooked rice and a hearty bowl of miso soup generously filled with wakame seaweed, fried tofu, and soft tofu cubes.

I arranged everything neatly on a tray.

“And… the Stuffed Green Pepper Set Meal is ready.”

“O-Oh!!”

The moment I placed the tray before Barsat-sama, he stared at it with unconcealed amazement.

“I’ve never seen a dish like this before. Those are green peppers, aren’t they? To be honest… I’ve never cared for their bitterness.”

“Come now,” the village chief chuckled. “There has yet to be a disappointing dish made by Eight. Give it a try.”

“…You’re right.”

Barsat-sama nodded firmly.

“It would be disrespectful to the cook to reject a dish without even tasting it.”

Looking as though he’d steeled himself for battle, he picked up one stuffed pepper and took a decisive bite.

The next instant—

His eyes flew wide open.

“Th-This is incredible! The rich sweetness of the fatty meat softens the pepper’s bitterness, while the pepper’s own natural flavor cuts through the heaviness of the meat! They balance one another perfectly! I could eat these forever!”

Wow.

His food commentary skills were surprisingly impressive.

While I was silently admiring that fact, Barsat-sama had already polished off the entire plate in what felt like mere moments.

Watching someone eat with such wholehearted enjoyment was strangely satisfying.

“That was magnificent! Absolutely magnificent! I’ve made up my mind, Village Chief!”

“Oh? About what?”

“Next month, students from the Royal Capital’s academy will be visiting my territory for a social studies excursion.”

“…A social studies trip?”

I blinked.

I honestly hadn’t expected to hear those words in another world.

Talk about nostalgic.

Back in middle school, our class had gone to Tokyo Destinyland.

I’d had an absolute blast.

“This event was originally created so the sons and daughters of noble families—the future leaders of the kingdom—could learn about the lives of ordinary people.”

According to Barsat-sama, however, the tradition had gradually lost its original purpose over the past decade or so.

Nowadays, it had largely become an excuse for territorial lords to compete over whose lands looked the most prosperous.

Well…

I could understand that.

It wasn’t so different from school field trips back on Earth.

They were supposed to be educational…

Yet before long everyone treated them like vacations instead.

“The prosperity of a territory can’t be measured solely by magnificent buildings or flourishing towns,” Barsat-sama continued passionately. “Music, paintings, and every form of art also reflect the strength of a land’s culture. Cuisine is no exception.”

“Hmm. A reasonable point indeed,” the village chief agreed with a nod.

“And therefore!”

“…!?”

Barsat-sama suddenly leaned so far across the table that I nearly stumbled backward.

Then he grabbed both of my hands in an iron grip.

“Eight! I need your help!”

“M-Me?”

“The students will pass through this village during their tour. I want them to stop here and dine at your establishment. I want your cooking to slap those self-important young nobles—those little food critics with overly pampered tongues—right across the face!”

“U-Um… if there’s something I can do, then…”

“Thank you!” Barsat-sama declared enthusiastically. “Together we’ll teach those bratty little snobs who look down on my territory as some uncivilized backwater—”

He coughed into his fist.

“Ahem. Forgive me.”

“We’ll educate those pampered young gentlemen and ladies who have yet to learn proper manners.”

“…Didn’t your correction somehow make it sound even worse?”

“Now, now,” the village chief laughed. “For all his colorful language, this man truly does place the prosperity and defense of his lands above everything else. Don’t give him such cold looks.”

Even as he said that, the chief himself wore an unmistakably pleased grin.

It was obvious he could already see how much this would benefit the future development of Papel Village.

…Why was he grinning so smugly?

Seriously.