This “Summon Kitchen” Skill is Amazing! ~Amassing Points by Cooking in Another World - Ch 25
After returning from the kitchen, I went towards Hurst-san who was waiting and grinned.
Hurst-san who was standing beside the door, looked towards me and those blue eyes of his were shining.
“That’s today’s dish?”
Looking at those sparkling eyes of his, I couldn’t help but feel my heart race.
While I’m still all smile, I showed the plate I was holding to Hurst-san who was approaching me.
“It’s a tomato dish”
It the glass bowl where the tomato olive oil salad, the vibrant red of the tomato marinated by olive oil making it glossy and on the other plate is the garlic toasts. It’s still piping hot and the aroma of the garlic gently spreads.
“… …What a good aroma” Unintentionally muttered by Hurst-san.
That’s right. The room is ruled over by the rich aroma of the garlic. The power of the garlic is amazing!
“There’s only a few hours before dinner so it’s not a proper menu… … A, I was done testing the knife Hurst-san made. It has an amazing sharpness, as expected of the knife that Hurst-san made.
“I see”
“Yes. I’m really thankful! The size is also perfect, even the way it is sharpened is the best… …When I tried to slice the tomato it was really amazing! I was able to do it without much problem and I didn’t have to put in much strength, it went *suton, su-tu, su-tu* (eunie: she’s mimicking the sound of cutting the tomato)”
Hurst-san and I moved over to the sofa and sat beside each other and I placed the dish on top of the tea table and once again I thanked him for the knife he made and I also reported to him how it was so easy to use. Even when exchanging motions or handling of the knife, it was really amazing!
Though I wasn’t able to properly say it since I keep on imitating sounds most of the time I was telling him. But I’m really happy.
That’s why I couldn’t help but loosen up while looking at Hurst-san.
On the other hand, Hurst-san is gently looking at me, who’s been animatedly talking for a while now.
“…As long as you can smile, there’s nothing happier than that.”
There it is! That smile that can freeze me, that composed smile of an adult!
*pi-shitu* and I felt my body froze.
However, in order for me to compose myself, I closed my eyes to calm myself.
“… …Well then let’s eat.”
While still having my eyes close, I tried to say it in a calm tone.
Un. With this, I won’t have to lose my composure.
Next time, I definitely have to tell the shaved blonde ashime, that it will be alright as long as he closes his eyes.
“So, what kind of dish is this?”
Hearing Hurst-san’s words, I slowly half-opened my eyes then I saw Hurst-san’s blue eyes looking over at the dishes on top of the tea table, shining as he gazes over at them.
While feeling relief since, Hurst-san’s freezing smile is over, I finally opened my eyes and went on to explain the dish!
“This is a toast and salad marinated in olive oil and you put the latter on top of the toast”
“Place it on top?”
“Yes, something like this.. …”
Scooped some tomato olive oil salad using a spoon and then put it on top of the garlic toast.
“There are all sorts of toppings possible for this but this time I used tomato as the main. And just like this you placed the tomato on top of the bread”
“I see.”
“It’s fine if you placed the topping before but since tomatoes have a lot of moisture there’s a possibility that the bread will absorb them. My suggestion is to put it just before you eat it and it’s better not to put a lot as it will be hard to eat it so it’s better to place just the right amount for a bite-size, that way it won’t be messy and it’s prettier to eat it that way.”
Just like this, I placed a bite-size topping on top of the toast and then I gave the spoon to Hurst-san.
“I see. While holding the bread on your left hand, you’ll use the spoon on your right to scoop some tomato and then placed it on top. With that, you combine them and eat it together.”
“Yes, please try it”
With sparkling eyes, Hurst-san received the spoon from me and gently scoop out some tomatoes.
The red tomato on top of the silver spoon looks very beautiful.
Since the tomato also has some basil, I’m sure the aroma of the basil will spread.
After putting a bite-size of tomato on top of the garlic toast, Hurst-san took a bite of it. Then I heard the crispbread breaking off a little as Hurst-san took a bite of garlic toast.
He placed just the right amount and as if to feel the flavours, Hurst-san closed his eyes as he keeps on moving his mouth.
“… …Umai” (Eunie: Delicious. When Polar Bear really finds it delicious he’s saying umai, like an informal way of saying delicious/’oishi’. Since even when speaking to Isarai or Ashime, he always speaks on a formal way)
―― it’s the same as always, sign of deliciousness.
“I thought the tomato would be a lot harder but it’s actually soft and really sweet. There’s still the acidity but the firm flavour of the tomato seems to burst out”
“Yes. I placed a bit of salt to the tomato olive oil salad, the needed moisture comes out and the flavour deepens. The saltiness of the salt helps to pull out the sweetness of the tomato”
That’s right. Watermelon and salt.
Red bean soup also has salt.
This is the secret mystery of the salt!
“This flavourful of aroma is nice”
“Ah, that’s because of the herb I got from the head chef’s herb garden.”
“That one with a lot of plants. Speaking of, a while ago when I was getting some bread, the head chef looked so happy saying ‘finally someone who understands the little plants worth appeared’ ”
Is that so. When I asked if I can have some herbs, the head chef said, ‘get some if you want’, in a tsun-tsun way (Tsundere minus the dere) but it seems like it’s actually different from what Hurst-san said.
“What’s more this bread is delicious. There’s the firm flavour of the garlic and is this…butter?”
“Yes. I made the crisp and char part of the bread using butter then I added the garlic’s aroma. It’s the way of eating I love the most”
“The saltiness of the butter is properly there and well the bread is the same… …But the other side of the bread still has that softness so you can still taste the wheat.”
“A, I’m happy that you can realize that.”
As expected of Hurst-san.
And that’s exactly the taste that I was aiming for!
To show not only the butter and garlic taste on the bread but also to be able to enjoy the flavour of the wheat. For my intention to be properly delivered, makes me relieved.
While I was smiling, Hurst-san placed another tomato on the remaining bread he was holding.
“This aroma whets your appetite… …I feel like I can eat this many times”
Hurst-san muttered as if he’s troubled.
Seeing him being overly serious is so funny, I couldn’t help but laugh and then I also took a bite of the bread I was holding.
“Nn! Delicious!”
―― Even coming from me, this is delicious!
The tomato has been properly combined with the olive oil and the sweetness becomes richer and there’s that mellowness.
The mellowness of the tomato and the crispy crunchy texture of the garlic toast and the flavour of the wheat that you can feel from the french bread. Each flavour is delicious on its own but if you combine them it becomes a lot more delicious.
“It’s really hard to stop”
Just like what Hurst-san said.
The butter and garlic are irresistible.
And the acidity of the tomato makes it refreshing, you just couldn’t help but eat more and more Hurst-san has long eaten his second piece and is not on his third one.
Which mean I’ve only eaten a piece… well we did talk about all sorts of like the knife, talking about some matter and the dish. In a while, we’ll be having dinner.
I know. I know that as expected this is bad. I also want to eat another one. But at this rate, I won’t be able to think about dinner and just overeat.
“Is this the deliciousness of the tomato?”
After I finished eating my second piece, Hurst-san suddenly said.
And as if to examine it, Hurst-san stares at the tomato.
“The tomatoes has thin skin there’s no tomato like this. Thinking about it the tomato used in cooking here has thick skin and the body of the fruit is hard and instead of sweetness, it has more acidity.”
‘Tomatoes are delicious’ Hurst-san softly muttered.
Seeing him like that makes me smile for a bit.
“… …This is a tomato from my place”
―― That’s right. This is a tomato from Japan.
Since I acquired this through the point exchange, so it’s the same tomato I’ve always eaten.
The delicious taste I’ve always had.
“In the place I lived in before, we eat tomatoes raw”
“Raw?”
“Yes. Tomato is kind of like salad…. ….and as a garnish, it also helps to give a dish a vibrant look or just sliced it to pieces and served it on a plate. That’s why to make it easier to eat, the skin was thin and the body of the fruit isn’t that hard and even though it still has some acidity, it’s sweetness is quite popular.
Salad has tomatoes.
The garnish for a lunch box/bento, there’s also tomato when serving tonkatsu and karaage.
Even in an eastern dish or western dish, there’s also tomatoes.
“I like this tomato. The skin is thin, it’s sweet and if you just eat it as is, it makes me think that the tomato is the best.”
I see so you like it.
Japan’s tomato.
“But… …for sure, I’ll be able to like the tomato in this world”
Those blue eyes of his is staring at me worriedly again, it couldn’t be helped so I laughed.
“The tomato in this world has its charm and there’s a way of cooking to bring out its charm. Since I’ve come to another world, I should try all sorts of things”
I’ll look for some fun things.
So I can spend my days smiling.
If I do that, I can live anywhere.
“… …If the Saint there still can’t use her skill, this skill might ask for some unreasonable order to Isarai-sama”
“A… well, that might indeed happen”
It’s fine. I smiled.
Hurst-san doesn’t have to worry, I want to tell him
But it’s Hurst-san that we are talking about and so he continued the talk about the Saint and that it might be a disadvantage for me.
“If, If that happens… …”
His blue eyes looks directly at me and fixedly stares at me… … .
“I will take you away from here”
He firmly said.
“When it comes to Isarai-sama’s will, if something is being forced upon you, I plan on leaving this place with you”
“E, No, but well I am thinking about how should I live from on and it’s not something for Hurst-san to burden yourself with.”
Because Hurst-san is this country’s knight.
At first I did think of running away from this country and I have no plans of dragging Hurst-san.
Even now, he should have promoted big time, is now escorting a fallen noble lady and everyone sees him doing a shameful thing. I don’t want to demand anything more than this.
However, Hurst-san cutoff my words and with great strength, he looks at me.
“If I eat your dish, I’m invincible”
… …I see. If he does eat my dish he becomes strong.
He’s already strong normally, but if he eats my dish, his skills get strong and it’s like a ki-like aura can be used.
… …Well…that could mean that he’s indeed invincible.
“Hurst-san―― ”
It’s better to refuse him.
Since Hurst-san is a serious person if I say something he’s someone who’ll definitely do it.
” ――Please take me away from here ”
But different words came out of my mouth.
“Please tell me all the fun things in this world. This world’s delicious foods please tell them to me as well all those amazing sceneries I haven’t seen”
“Yes…without fail”
With my words, with brimming confidence, Hurst-san smiled.
Somehow seeing him smiling so innocently and happily, I feel at loss on what sort of face should I make. Then Hurst-san softly got up from the sofa and took my right hand.
“… …I will definitely protect you”
And then he was about to place his lips on top of my hand.
With knightly actions, knightly words and knightly knight.. …knight!?
“Wa, wait a minute, please! I peeled garlic a while ago… …!”
The stench of the garlic is hard to wash away even if you use soap….!
My hand should still have that delicious smell… …!
But, Hurst-san looked at the flustered me and again, with the composed adult like feeling and said,
“It’s a delicious looking hand”
And then, while still looking at me, he touched his lips to my hand.
“… ….hiiii”
I couldn’t help but blurted out an H.I. But….this time it couldn’t be helped.
Because this…this is a finishing blow! To fall and to kissed like that! The lingering smell of the garlic has firmly mixed in with Hurst-san. (Eunie: WUT. lol)
“Hurst-san”
I said his name to stop him but his smile deepens more.
And then while looking at me, he softly said.
“This life of mine is for your sake”