Elf Tensei Kara no Cheat Kenkoku-ki

Vol 05 Extra Chapter 3-2 Something More Wonderful Than Sweets

Afterward, I quickly made some cookies by mixing flour, lard, a little bit of walnut paste, and sugar that I had taken from the Imperial soldier Lurvish. I added raw walnuts to the dough, gave them form, and baked them. When they were done I presented them to the girls.

「Cyril, these are delicious. They might be my favorite among all the ones you made so far.」

「The crisp texture with the crunchy walnuts is irresistible.」

「Yukino wants to eat these every day.」

「Kuro too, Kuro too, it's sweet, rich, and the best.」

「Ah! Kurone, Yukino, you are eating too much! Ah, I need to secure my own portion!」

The crispy, sweet cookies, layered with the richness and umami of walnuts and lard, ere a huge hit, disappearing as quickly as they were devoured. Watching them enjoy, I decided to surprise them even more with the dishes using the new seasoning.

◇

A week later, the day to present the new seasoning arrived. I immediately started cooking with it. I took out the walnut and cheese seasoning that had been resting in the shade. The paste, a tea-brown color, had a glossy sheen.

Tasting it, I found that the flavors of the cheese and the walnuts had completely integrated. The sticky sensation clinging to the tongue, the sweetness of the walnuts, and the richness and acidity of the cheese filled my mouth, bringing a feeling of happiness.

For today's dish, I prepared a whole duck that I had caught while hunting. It was a whole duck, that I had already plucked and gutted. I stuffed it generously with the new seasoning and sewed it up to prevent the contents from leaking. This way, the flavor would permeate from the inside. Then, I coated it liberally with malt syrup, locking in the moisture and juices, before putting it in a stone oven to roast.

It was a simple dish, but it was perfect to highlight the new seasoning strengths. After slowly roasting the duck for an hour, it would be ready.

「Ah, Cyril. It smells so good.」

Attracted by the aroma, Lucy came into the kitchen.

「It'll be ready in a little while. Is everyone here already?」

「Yeah, they're in the living room, drinking some tea while they wait. Everyone's really looking forward to your new dish.」

「I see. Then I will bring it over as soon as it's ready.」

While saying that, I paid meticulous attention to adjusting the fire. In such a simple dish, even a slight mistake could be fatal. And finally, it was perfectly roasted.

「Let's go, Lucy.」

「Yeah. Wow, this duck roast looks delicious.」

But this wasn't its true form yet. I was sure that the final form of this dish would utterly astonish Lucy.

◇

When we arrived in the living room, the table was already set with plates, and Kuu, along with Yukino, Kurone, and Kemin, were there. They swallowed their saliva at the sight of the duck roast I brought.

「Everyone, this is a duck roast made with the new seasoning.」

「Cyril-kun, it looks delicious. But where's the seasoning? I can't see it anywhere.」

「It’s a surprise, you will find soon.」

With a smile, I lifted the roasted duck. Then, I cut the seam and swiftly pulled out the string. Suddenly, the juices, a blend of the seasoning I made and the duck's own juices, flowed out.

Steam rose, and the aroma of the juices, along with the accumulated sweetness of the cheese and walnuts, exploded in a burst of fragrance. It was a bomb of aroma, that instantly captivated everyone's stomachs.

I sliced the now-empty belly of the duck and generously poured the sauce resulting from mixing the seasoning and meat juices over it, serving it onto everyone's plates. They were so engrossed in the duck dish on their plates that they couldn't even speak.

「And with this, it's ready. I should call it; special duck roast, Cyril-style, I guess. Go ahead, try it.」

Each of them reached for the duck roast and took a bite.

「「「「Mmmm」」」」

Exclamations of admiration escaped from each of them. This seasoning was like magic. It added just the right amount of richness and sweetness from the cheese and walnuts while the acidity tightened the flavor. It enhanced the taste of anything it was put on. Moreover, it could even be stored long-term. Everyone was eating voraciously. After seeing this, there was no need to ask for their opinions.

「…Phew, that was delicious. Cyril, this is amazing. I've never had meat this tasty before.」

「Yes, the duck was amazing, but the seasoning was incredible too. It seems like it would be delicious even spread on bread.」

「I'm glad you all enjoyed it. It pairs best with lean meats like bird, but as Kuu said, it's also great on bread or with potatoes.」

At the mention of potatoes, my three little sisters perked up their fox ears. The fire foxes often had potatoes as a staple in their diet, but they were probably already getting tired of it.

「Hey, Cyril-niisama, what's the name of this seasoning?」

Yukino, the silver fire fox, asked me while sending a hungry gaze to her empty plate. It seemed that she hadn’t had enough yet. But a name, huh? I hadn't thought of that. Suddenly, a good idea came to me.

「Kuraharito.」

I named it with a hint of irony for everyone who soon had forgotten about this seasoning and focused solely on the cookies. It meant “to awaken from sleep”. This seasoning would surely grab their attention, no matter what else was occupying their minds. And thus, a pleasant holiday mealtime passed by.