Chapter 25 - Salt-Grilled Ayu
I changed the fish from sweetfish to an original fish called Ayu. It's almost the same as sweetfish, though...
"Well then, shall we all eat together?"
"I figured you'd say that, so I brought some salt!"
When I made the suggestion, Toak pulled a jar of salt and some skewers from his pocket.
I had been thinking of going back to my house to get some, but he was a resourceful guy to have brought them already.
"...You're right. I'm a bit hungry. Let's salt-grill them and eat right away."
"There's none for you."
"That's fine. It would be pitiful to take from Toak, who only caught five fish. I'll take some from Aldo, who caught plenty."
"...You bastard."
Provoked by Aisha sticking her tongue out at him, Toak ground his teeth.
Perhaps they were still holding a grudge over splashing water and tripping each other, as their conversation was quite prickly.
While thinking that, I washed the gutted fish in the river water.
Then, Flora, who had come to stand beside me, asked hesitantly.
"Um, is it really okay for Aisha and me to be treated to this?"
"Yeah, it's fine. There's more than I can eat alone. I was planning on everyone eating together from the start."
"Thank you very much. In that case, I'll help too."
Perhaps because the other two were so prickly, Flora's blooming smile and considerate words felt unusually healing.
Once I finished washing my five Ayu and Toak's three Ayu, I worked with Aisha and Flora to skewer them and sprinkle them with salt.
"Aren't you going to eat the Shiragisu?"
"I'm going to eat these by myself at home."
Toak replied curtly to Aisha's question while setting up stones to surround a fire he was starting with a flint.
Well, cooking Shiragisu here would be a hassle. Having the Ayu was plenty.
As Toak blew on the tinder, the fire grew larger.
Now that the fire was ready, we stuck the skewered Ayu into the ground so they would be properly exposed to the heat.
There, I added a little extra touch to the Ayu.
"...Hey, what are you doing, Aldo?"
"Oh, if you grill them with their mouths open, the moisture in the head escapes more easily. Also, if you crush the gallbladder near the gills, it suppresses unnecessary bitterness."
"Is that so?"
"...I didn't know that. I'm not fond of things being too bitter, so that helps."
"I didn't know either."
It seemed none of the three knew that method, and being praised by each of them made me feel a bit embarrassed.
"Well, it's just knowledge I heard from my adventurer companions."
This was also something Keel had taught me. That guy really was knowledgeable.
Since I started living alone, I've realized just how amazing Keel's attention to detail and knowledge were.
I thought I understood it, but it seems I hadn't fully grasped it after all.
If I ever meet him again, I'd like to ask him a lot about cooking, lifestyle tips, and knowledge about tools.
He did say he might come to Nordende, so I'm looking forward to the time we reunite...
While the piled-up branches crackled, we waited for the Ayu to grill.
As the moisture left the Ayu and they took on a brown char, the smell of grilled meat began to waft through the air.
This savory scent of salt was irresistible.
""............""
"...I wonder if they'll be done soon."
Aisha muttered the words that expressed everyone's feelings.
"...J-Just a little longer."
Flora tried to soothe Aisha, but her eyes were drawn straight to the Ayu.
"Ah! Big Sister, there you are!"
While enduring the savory smell and waiting intently for them to finish grilling, a young girl's voice called out from behind.
Turning around at the sudden words, there stood a girl dressed in work clothes similar to Aisha's, with her red hair tied in a side-tail.
"Ah, it's Ina-chan."
Flora muttered upon seeing the girl.
The name Ina, which I had heard a few times.
With that red hair, those work clothes, and calling her 'Big Sister'...
"Tch... You're here already?"
The older sister clicked her tongue blatantly.
"You said you'd be back by noon, right? How long are you going to play around after suddenly pushing your work onto me!?"
Ina approached with long strides.
By noon... it was already well past the middle of the afternoon. Aisha was skipping out big time...
"Big Sister is busy right now. Go over there."
"Don't treat me like a child! Look, we have to take care of the grapes, so we're going home! It's a big field, so if even one person is missing, the work increases and it's a problem!"
It seemed the family of the person who made the suggestion was suffering the most.
"Ah, I'm sorry for intruding so suddenly. I'm Ina, the younger sister of this Aisha-neesan."
Perhaps noticing our wry smiles, Ina straightened her posture and gave a greeting.
Unlike her lazy older sister, she seemed to be a serious younger sister.
"Hello, Ina-chan."
"Yo."
Flora and Toak, who seemed to be acquainted with her, returned the greeting in a casual tone.
However, Ina looked at me, the newcomer, with a curious face.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Aldo, I recently moved to this village. I'm a hunter. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you, Aldo-san!"
When I gave a light bow, Ina hurriedly bowed back and gave a bright smile.
...She really is completely different from her sister.
"Ina is right. Aisha, you should go home. You have work left, don't you?"
Taking advantage of Ina's words, Toak said with a smirk. That wasn't out of concern for Aisha's family, but rather to make her go home without letting her eat the salt-grilled Ayu.
"As expected of Toak-san! Come on, Big Sister, we're going home."
Ina, impressed by Toak's words, tried to take her sister home.
"Wait! Anything but that! If I have to go home, at least let me eat this first!"
"What is 'this'... Ah! Salt-grilled Ayu!"
Ina, who had turned her gaze toward what Aisha was clinging to, let out a joyful voice.
Her voice shifted from its previously calm tone to one appropriate for her age.
She must really like salt-grilled Ayu. Her love for food must be inherited from her sister.
"Hehe."
"Ah..."
Flora giggled, and Ina looked down bashfully.
"Aisha has been a help to me, and there are still plenty of fish left, so Ina, you should eat some too."
"...Um. ...Yes, I'll have some."
When I encouraged her, Ina sat down quietly next to Aisha.
"Look, they're done."
"Finally!"
Everyone's faces lit up at Toak's voice.
The Ayu, which had been thoroughly cooked through, had a brown char and looked truly delicious.
Unable to wait, I immediately bit into the back.
The crispy grilled surface was well-salted, and the light white meat crumbled softly in my mouth. The balance between the sweetness of the Ayu's lean white meat and the saltiness was exquisite.
"...It's delicious. As I thought, salt-grilling is the best for Ayu."
I muttered, letting out a sigh of relief at the sheer deliciousness.
"It really is delicious, isn't it?"
"...Yeah, it's good."
Flora ate in small bites as if savoring it, while Toak chewed slowly and deliberately.
The remaining two, Aisha and Ina, were biting into their Ayu in silence.
It seemed they were identical in this regard.
Seeing the heartwarming sight of the two, our faces couldn't help but soften.
Then, we bit into our Ayu as well, not wanting to be outdone.
As I ate further, the unique bitterness of the Ayu's innards appeared, but it wasn't too strong and served as a nice accent.
"...Huh? It's not as bitter as the ones I usually eat."
Ina, who had been eating single-mindedly, muttered as she suddenly noticed.
"Ah, that's because I crushed the part called the gallbladder before eating. If you let out that bitter liquid, the bitterness is suppressed."
"Heh, I see! I like it better this way!"
Ina smiled brightly and bit into the Ayu again.
Aisha, who was next to her, gave a silent thumbs-up, so I gave a thumb-up back for the time being. Please use your words properly.
"Aldo, use this."
Saying that, Toak handed over some Kuku Fruit.
"Oh, this acidity should go well with Ayu!"
"Right? Flora, how about you?"
"Ah, thank you."
I crushed the Kuku Fruit I received from Toak and drizzled the acidic juice over the Ayu.
Then I took a big bite of the Ayu.
The sweetness of the fatty meat and the acidity intertwined. It also weakened the saltiness just right, making me feel like I could eat any amount of it.
Flora, beside me, also crushed a Kuku Fruit the same way and took a bite with her small mouth.
She chewed and narrowed her eyes as if it felt wonderful.
"Hey, what about for me?"
"Yes, yes, here. You too, Ina."
"Thank you very much!"
Toak handed out Kuku Fruit to Aisha and Ina as well.
It seemed he had gotten into a good mood after eating the delicious Ayu. After eating something this good, minor things probably didn't matter anymore.
After that, we finished the Ayu in a peaceful atmosphere and disbanded, and I shared some large Ayu with Elgis-san.
Today was a very fun and fulfilling day. I'd like to gather like this and spend a relaxing day with everyone again.
I debated a bit on whether to make it landlocked salmon. I want to eat salt-grilled fish too...