Chapter 151.2
Encounter
""Uwaaaah! Uwaaaahh!""
And so, after finishing shopping and returning home, for some reason Serai-san and Shark were crying loudly in the room without even taking off their equipment.
"What's wrong? What happened to you two?"
"Th-That… these two didn't follow Coach's instructions and went down to the 2nd floor…"
Ah. So that's it. I listen to Nina-san explaining the situation with a sigh of relief.
"So, did you see them? The giant cockroaches on the 2nd floor…"
"Aaaah! Don't say that name~!!"
"Uuu… they were so big! So big…!"
Sigh. I shouldn't have mentioned it.
Although I thought they might be scared, I didn't reveal what kind of monsters were down there. With that, I exchange glances with Ruka and Nana-san, and we can only smile wryly.
"But Coach, you bought quite a lot. What did you buy?"
"Oh, this cras wasn't the one I bought. I hunted for them. (Thud)"
Since I still haven't revealed the spatial storage, I unload the items I brought back from outside after taking them out of the spatial storage.
"What is this…!? Crabs? Where did such huge crabs come from??"
"I was walking on the pedestrian crossing I happened to pass by. Well, that one got run over by a dump truck and became crow food, but I defeated one that came out of a spatially connected dungeon and brought it back."
"Wow, it's huge. But what are you going to do with this? Oh, could it be!"
"Yeah, it's a shame, so I thought I'd try eating it."
"""Eh…!?"""
With that statement, everyone in the room stares at me in shock. Yeah, well, it's a bit late for that. I've already been relying on the giant rhinoceros beetle meat for a long time.
"Are you sure it's okay, Coach? Some crabs have poison, you know. Like the Smooth Helmet Crab…"
Yeah, Nana-san, if you're going to say that, it's the Smooth Helmet Crab.
"Yeah, so first I'll try eating it. The crab that got run over by the dump truck looked delicious when the crows were crowding around eating it. I watched for a while, but there weren't any crows struggling and dying afterward."
"If Coach is going to eat it, then I'll eat it too!"
No, no, Ruu, you have to go through the safety confirmation procedure properly first.
"Crab… (Gulp)"
"Crab… (Chew)"
Sekira-san and Shark, who were crying, stop crying when they see the giant crab placed in front of them and stare at it intently. It seems the 2 are okay with giant crabs even if they can't handle giant cockroaches.
"Anyway, those who want to eat it, start with the patch test. First, I'll eat it. And then, let's see, let's wait for about three hours."
…..
Then, the water starts to boil gently, and white steam rises from the pot. Preparation complete. Everyone gathers around the pot, watching my every move intently.
"Now, let's begin."
"""Gulp…!"""
First, I chop off the limbs from the giant crab's body with a ‘crunch!'
Despite being a crab, the thickness is comparable to the arms of women like Ruka. Then, I break the joints, and with a ‘slurp,' the white, firm meat is revealed. Sekira-san and Shark cheer and lean forward.
"Look, Sekira-san. It's dangerous if the water splashes, so move back a little. Shark too. Now, let's dip it in."
"""(Sizzle… Bubbles…)"""
"""Uwaaaahh♪"""
As I immerse it in the hot water, the giant crab's meat opens up like a flower all at once. And immediately, when the delicious smell of the crab rises, everyone cheers.
"Oh, it looks delicious!"
"I want to eat it soon!"
Yeah, just wait a moment, you guys. First, I'll do the poison test. Having the skill [Disease Resistance] at times like this, although it's not [Poison Resistance], still gives me a bit of peace of mind.
"Well then, here I go."
I open my mouth wide and take a big bite of the crab's meat. Since it's so big and open, I can't eat it all in one bite.
"""(Chew chew chew…)"""
"Hey, how is it? How is it!?"
Wait a minute, Sekira-san.
Hmm? This spreads the crab's flavor throughout my mouth, incredibly delicious. Despite its size, it's not too bland, and the sweetness spreads throughout my mouth, making it feel luxurious. I didn't season it for the poison test, but it would probably be even tastier with ponzu sauce or something.
"Yeah! This is delicious!"
"See! Just one bite! Just one!"
"No, Serai-san, you have to wait and see for a while."
"Eeeh~!… Oh, come to think of it, Sensei didn't do a patch test either!"
"I'm fine. I got splashed with crab juice instead of backsplash when I defeated it."
"Whaaat?! That's torture! I can't wait for three hours!"
And so, after being bargained down by Sekira-san and Shark and shortened to a two-hour observation period, the giant crab, which became literally a drool-inducing target, was enjoyed by everyone as they competed to eat it.
I'm pretty bad for just eating monsters, but everyone, let's be a little safer.