Feasting Lord in Another World

#When it's hot, food goes bad, doesn't it? (2)

What Dominic picked was raw oysters.

"Chef, are these the oysters you received yesterday?"

"Yes, they are. Don't worry, we stored them with plenty of ice, so they shouldn't have spoiled."

"Did a tall soldier with curly red hair help with the delivery or arrangement of these by any chance?"

"You mean Micky! That's right. He really loves shellfish, so he always comes out to help when we get a delivery of them."

"What snack did you prepare for him?"

"Of course, I'm not that heartless. Hehe. I made him ceviche so he could try it. But why?"

While not common, people in this region also had a tradition of consuming seafood raw.

Ceviche was a notable example.

It's a dish made by sprinkling fresh fish or various seafood with sour lemon or lime juice, then mixing it with various vegetables and herbs and serving it cold. In coastal villages like Evergreen, seafood was abundant, so people ate it more frequently than in inland areas. Nevertheless, it still wasn't a common dish.

In any case, for Dominic, who had been a sashimi lover since his past life, it was quite a treat.

'But eating raw always comes with this kind of risk.'

Dominic opened an oyster and gently squeezed the flesh inside.

"It's not spoiled; I've checked everything."

"It's spoiled."

"Look, the flesh isn't mushy, there's no strange smell, no slimy texture. I might not know as much as the village chief from the fishing village, but it's safe to eat."

The chef replied, slightly irritated.

The two had developed some camaraderie; otherwise, considering the chef's fiery temperament, Dominic would have no excuse even if he received a scolding and was kicked out.

Externally, the oyster showed no signs of spoilage.

"The oysters are contaminated."

"...? Hahaha! Listen here, village chief. You seem to know a lot about oyster flu. But you see, oyster flu mostly occurs in winter."

Oyster flu.

In 21st-century South Korea, it was known as the "Norovirus."

A type of food poisoning that struck fear into many oyster enthusiasts.

Typically, seafood infected with the norovirus doesn't appear spoiled.

Furthermore, since a notable characteristic of the norovirus is that it thrives in cold and dry conditions, it's primarily recognized as a winter-borne infectious disease. People tended to be less vigilant in the summer.

"Oyster flu usually spreads in winter, but it doesn't disappear in summer."

Since mentioning bacteria or viruses wouldn't be easily understood, he had to explain it as simply as possible.

"It's not commonly detected in summer because, in inland areas, the hot weather makes it difficult to obtain fresh seafood, and people avoid consuming it raw for fear of spoilage."

"Do you really believe...?"

"A soldier named Micky is currently experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, chills, and muscle pains. It all began this morning, right?"

"Oh my God!"

The symptoms aligned precisely with what one would expect from oyster flu.

"If he's a new recruit, he wouldn't have consumed food from outside like the senior soldiers. So, he must have eaten only the food provided here. But if other foods were the issue, many more soldiers would have been affected by now, wouldn't they?"

"Ugh..."

"The other soldiers didn't eat it, only Micky did. And it occurred within a day or two. Chef, what do you think it is?"

With Dominic's confident words, the chef began to feel uneasy.

If, by any chance, his words were true and he had disregarded them, he could have unintentionally served the soldiers infected clams, which would have been a disaster.

Normally, it might not have been a problem, but right now, it was the season of intense heat training. On top of that, the lord himself was personally inspecting the training, which was a matter of great concern.

'If there are casualties, it would be difficult to keep my position. What should I do?'

The face of the head chef, whose life goal was 'not to get fired,' began to darken.

'Let's see, with the money I've saved up, could I open a restaurant in the shopping district? No, what about the tuition for my eldest child attending the academy? I can't... Oh! What if I get imprisoned for causing casualties due to mismanagement of the ingredients? Lord Theodore, who might save me, is not around!'

His mind continuously painted the worst scenarios.

At that moment, Dominic, who was surveying the kitchen with a concerned expression, came into the chef's view.

"Please help, Chief!"

He was the only one he could rely on.

"You should have known better. How could you proceed with it, knowing everything?"

Although his tone was sharp, the meaning behind it was crystal clear to everyone in the kitchen.

"Sir Knight, when is the soldiers' lunchtime?"

"With the lord inspecting, it will be a bit later than usual. Why do you ask?"

"We need to change the menu."

"Is that all..."

Ian's voice grew somber. Simultaneously, the chef also slumped to the ground.

"Why is that?"

"Heatstroke training is conducted assuming it's the same as real combat. This includes meals. In real combat, it's common for food to be poisoned, so ingredients are always reported to the commander at least half a day in advance. It's the same now."

"By the commander, you mean... the lord! Oh my!"

As Ian continued, the chef's lament mirrored his sentiments.

"If we suddenly change the ingredients, we need to clearly state the reason and the person responsible, and obtain approval again. While it's training, the punishment won't be as severe as in real combat, but the chef might face a lot of humiliation."

"Kn, Knight! But I won't be fired, right?"

"Maybe a pay cut. After all, you're responsible for the ingredients."

"Oh! What about the merchant who supplied the ingredients?"

"If they provided faulty goods, their contract would be terminated, and they might have to pay a penalty. If it was intentional, they might even face imprisonment."

While Ian explained based on military law, his expression remained troubled.

'If Dominic is right, you can't tell just by looking if the clams are infected. Then it's neither the chef's fault nor the merchant's...'

However, someone had to shoulder the responsibility, and it was clear that these two powerless individuals would bear it.

For Ian, who valued knightly honor as much as his own life, the thought of what they would go through was distressing.

'Is ignorance also a sin?'

Ripples began to form in the heart of the young, talented knight whom the high-ranking young lord had personally brought from the capital to mentor.

"What are you suggesting, then? Should we discard all of this?"

"If it's infected with clam flu, it has to be discarded. There's no other way, Chef..."

It was oysters that he had painstakingly prepared to boost the soldiers' morale during the scorching weather. He had hoped that mixing ample amounts of sugar in sour lemon juice, along with onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, and corn, would temporarily alleviate their fatigue.

Perhaps the lord's inspection today might have been due to these very oysters.

While Lord Theodore, who is currently in seclusion at the tower, had a strong liking for meat and offal dishes, his son, the current Count of Sinclair, had a preference for fish and seafood.

"Why waste this? We can just cook it."

"Cook it? Even with the clams being infected?"

"Yes, when you have a cold, you eat hot food and sweat it out, right?"

"That's true."

"It's the same with clam flu. They say it gets better when boiled at a high temperature or cooked, right?"

If he were to mention specifics like, "To prevent the virus from activating, the protein structure must be destroyed by exposing it to temperatures above 85°C for more than 1 minute and 30 seconds...", he would surely be considered a fraud.

So, he explained it in a roundabout way.

"That makes sense! Chief, you really know everything about ingredients, don't you? So, how should we use these oysters now? Hmm?"

The chef, who had looked defeated earlier, brightened up upon hearing this explanation tailored to his understanding. The bright eyes of the middle-aged man were a bit overwhelming.

If they could use the oysters in another way, they wouldn't have to report a change in ingredients. In cooking, the method often changed, but they only had to report the name of the ingredient, not the name of the finished dish.

"We'll dip the oysters in egg and fry them with plenty of oil. Quickly squeeze the lemon juice and mix it with sugar, as we need that tangy taste to stimulate the appetite."

Dominic took charge of the kitchen. No one objected to his instructions, and the chef also began to move as Dominic had suggested.

'I guess I'm not needed anymore.'

Watching the scene, Ian quietly made his exit. In the small makeshift kitchen, his presence was not helpful but rather a hindrance.

"We'll make a Cobb salad with diced tomatoes, onions, corn, leafy greens, and boiled beans. It will be a finely chopped salad that you can eat with a spoon. Let's quickly make a soup too! On a hot day, when you sweat it out properly, you'll naturally say, 'It's so refreshing!'"

Sometimes, a piping hot soup was the most effective way to whet one's appetite in the heat.

'They say fight fire with fire.'

There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of savoring a bowl of soup while dripping with sweat.

"We had planned to make a salad with shredded chicken; can we use it for soup?"

A kitchen worker asked.

"Chicken, chicken... Oh! Perfect, let's make spicy chicken soup. Let's add some spicy flavor."

He had initially thought about making a clear chicken broth, but time was limited. Getting a rich broth flavor was deemed difficult.

'We don't even have MSG here.'

While the spiciness was a bit of a concern, he remembered that when he served dishes made with red pepper flakes to the fishermen in the village, they were initially surprised but ended up enjoying it.

'They'll eat anything if you just label it a special dish. After all, it's the thought that counts. Who wouldn't find it delicious after working so hard under the blazing sun to gather it?'

He decided to rely on the hungry soldiers' appetites.

Although he had to use up all the red pepper flakes from his always-carry seasonings, he thought he could replenish them from the supplier later.

After saving the supplier from a deal that could have been canceled, they surely wouldn't decline this small gift!

As the reddish soup with various vegetables and shredded chicken started to boil, a few workers not accustomed to spicy food began to cough slightly.

But more than that,

"Gulp!"

Those involuntarily salivating at the tantalizing aroma outnumbered them.

Although opinions on the taste might differ, they felt confident it wouldn't be a complete failure.

The red pepper flakes were slightly less than what Dominic preferred, but judging by the chef's expression after tasting the soup, it seemed just right.

Sizzle!

As the soup began to boil, they swiftly added the finely chopped oysters and green onions, then commenced frying the pancakes, which had flour added for consistency.

When the batter met the oil, a savory fragrance once again filled the air.

Several soldiers were openly glancing at the makeshift tent, curious about the unfamiliar food scents that intermittently wafted out.

The same applied to the village chiefs, including the elders.

And finally, the enticing aroma of the oyster pancakes and spicy chicken soup reached the lord's nostrils.

"What in the world is today's meal that it smells so delicious?"