172-Strong taste, light taste




 
 When I process the salmon, I grill it with salt.

 After all, Japanese food is salted grilled salmon. I think the grilled fish that goes with rice is salmon or yellowtail teriyaki.

 In addition, boil spinach and soak it in water. When it cools down, I drain off the water thoroughly and cut it into pieces.

 Once that's done, I just add soy sauce, mirin, and a small amount of dashi to the mix.

 Because crisp, watery spinach is delicious in this hot season. Finally, let it cool down a bit with ice magic.

 After those two are done, the next step is the miso soup.

 I turned up the heat in the nameko mushroom pot, which had a rich aroma, and just before it was about to boil, I dissolved the miso.

 This time we didn't need to use the broth because of the flavor of the nameko mushroom. The taste of miso and nameko mushroom is enough for this dish.

 As the miso is dissolved and stirred, the rich aroma of the miso wafts through the air.

Oh, it smells so good.

The miso that had such a thick smell calms down so much when it's melted.

 I muttered in relief as I smelled the miso soup, and Bartolo also said with a somewhat soft expression.

 The smell of miso soup is really somehow soothing.

 Even when I was busy with work and had no appetite, smelling this scent made me feel strangely relaxed and my eating progressed. If you throw in a lot of vegetables, it's full of nutrition, and I was saved a lot.

 As I was thinking about this, I heard a whispering voice from the kitchen's exit: "Is that the Kagura dish?

'Is that the kagura dish? It smells great!

There's a strange, relaxing scent to it.

It's true.

 The scent of miso wafting from the kitchen has spread to the mansion and seems to have drawn Meena and Saara, the maids, and Mother Erna to the mansion.

 Aside from Mother Erna, will Meena and Saara be okay? Well, Saara's there too, so it doesn't seem like she's throwing her work away.

 I turn back to Bartolo, ignoring the three faces peeking through the door.

'Do you want to have a little taste of it?'

'Oh, yes! Please!

 At the same time Bartolo replied that, from the door, "Oh! I hear a voice that sounds envious, but I don't care.

 I ignored the piercing gaze and poured the miso soup onto a small plate.

 Bartolo took the plate and slowly sipped the miso soup.

 Then Bartolo's strong expression becomes calm.

''........Oh, oh. Just drinking it makes me feel at ease.''

'I've never seen Mr. Bartolo's face so soft before! Is it that good?

..........

I'd like a taste of that too.

 Erna, Mom, you're purposely trying to make us hear you, aren't you? 

 And Sarla, please don't make an appeal to taste it just by looking at it. If you don't have words, that's the opposite of what you're supposed to do, because that's what scares me.

"Doesn't the miso taste good?

'Oh! It seems to be no problem to put various ingredients in this. But I think it's a bit light on flavor. No, this is about right for me, but there are people who prefer a thicker taste...

 Ah, I see, because even in this mansion, there are people who prefer light and dark flavors.

 Father Nord and Brother Silvio prefer light flavors and don't like thicker flavors like fried food, skewers, and fried bread. Even the maids are on this side of Sarra.

 On the other hand, Elna's mother, Elinora's sister, Meena, and Mel like strong flavors and eat a lot of strong foods.

 By the way, I'm somewhere in between. There are times when I prefer lighter flavors and times when I prefer thicker flavors. It's true that I don't eat a lot of fried or sweet foods like Mother Erna or Sister Elinora do, but I do eat when I have to.

 Maybe it's because I lived in a previous life saturated with food, but it was natural for me to change depending on my mood.

'We'll have to find a flavoring that works for each of us.

...Yeah. Well, it would be better if you actually had a taste for that, wouldn't it?

 Bartolo glances towards the door while saying that.

 At the door, I wonder if they heard our conversation, or the three of us sending them expectant looks.

''That's right. Let's get everyone in the mansion to have a taste of it. Let's season it while listening to their opinions.

 The moment I said that, Mother Erna, Meena and Saara came into the kitchen with happy expressions on their faces.

 I'd really like to have one of them call Nord Dad and Silvio brother, but I don't think I can say it.

''Well, I'll go get Nord and Silvio.

All right.

 Seeing the women, Bartolo chuckles and walks out of the kitchen.

 For what it's worth, Bartolo is very caring.

 I pour a small plate of miso soup for the three women and hand it to them.

 Surprisingly, Mother Erna, who was the first to get her hands on it, and Saara, who was the second to get her hands on it, don't take a bite.

 As I wondered about that, their gazes fell on Meena, who was about to receive the third and carry it to her mouth.

'It's hot!'

 When Meena, who was the first to put her mouth on it, got hot, Mother Erna and Saara breathed elegantly on the small plate with a breeze.

 They were checking the heat by using Meena as a test subject?

 Mother Erna and Saara were cheating. But I think these are the kind of people who live in the world to the point.

 Mother Erna and Saara let the miso soup cool down a bit and then slowly stirred up a small plate.

 I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it.

''Another drink.''

I want to know what you think.

It's delicious.

It's delicious.

 When I ask them what they think, they both give such simple feedback.

 I don't need that kind of reaction from Elinora's sister.

It's just a matter of taste, but...

All right. I'll check again and then you can pour me a drink.

'It was my first taste, you see. I think one more drink and I'll be able to judge.

 The two people who said such a thing, even though they clearly understood the meaning of our conversation.

It's a calming taste. Oh, I'd like another one too, please.

 When it comes to Meena, there isn't even a building block. I wonder if she understands the meaning of tasting. I felt like I was dealing with a taster who hadn't even bought it.

 Well, I guess that means they liked it that much. It's good to know that they liked it so much.

 With this understanding, I took the three small plates held out to me and poured the miso soup into them.

 Then I give them another taste, and this time I get their feedback on the seasoning.

''It's good, but I like it a little thicker,''

Me too!

I think I'm good enough as it is.

 And I was splendidly divided between the darker and lighter flavored groups.

'What? Wouldn't it taste better if it was a little thicker?

This is about right. If you make it any thicker, you'll spoil the freshness of the nameko mushrooms.

He said it would go well with rice if it was a little thicker.

It's not all about food and eating.

 Oh, unusually, Meena and Saara are arguing over seasoning.

 It's unusual for two people who are always so calm to argue so strongly with each other.

 On the other hand, doesn't Mother Erna have any reaction? 

 It's scary that Mother Erna, who's supposed to be the loudest to taste, is quiet.

 With that in mind, I looked next to Meena, but I didn't see Mother Erna who should have been there.

 I looked around hurriedly and saw that Mother Erna was in front of the pot of miso soup.

 Moreover, she's taking the liberty of scooping up some miso with a spoon and trying to intensify the flavor.

''Wait a minute! Elna, Mom! What are you trying to change the seasoning on your own!

'Get out of my way! This miso soup just needs a little more miso! That will finally get it done!

What are you talking about, Mother Erna, who rarely cooks!

'Oh, it's not fair to take away the spoon and miso with a psychic!

 Watch out, if I hadn't used my psychic to take away the spoon and miso, he would have thickened the flavor on his own.

''If only ... I could use unattributed magic...''

'I'm truly relieved that Mother Erna can't use unattributed magic.

 She is such a tricky mother. I think it's right that he didn't have the aptitude for no attributes.

'Only Al is cheating. You can psychically draw or take things that are far away from you, or lock or close doors without moving. I didn't need an aptitude for fire magic and water magic, I wanted an unattributed aptitude for me as well.

 Mother Erna, who was gobsmacked and drooped in a paragraph, let out a rare mumble of complaint.

 I'm sure that Erna's mother also wanted to use no magic, no matter what it was. The same hassle is probably why the no magic I use was enviable.

 No-attribute magic is a pretty versatile and useful magic.

 It's not hard to understand why I envy you. Well, that doesn't mean I won't use it out of concern for it.

 It's a good thing that magic is no longer an essential part of my life.

'Oh, it smells so good,'

Honey, this is miso soup. Go ahead, have a taste.

 While I was thinking about this, Nord Dad and Brother Silvio came into the kitchen, and Mother Erna, who was drooping, immediately put the miso soup in a small plate with a ladle and took it to Father Nord.

 And Mother Erna, who was drooping, immediately ladled up a small plate of miso soup and took it to Father Nord.

 What was the frustration on his face earlier?

 Erna mom has Nord dad, and he seems happy without any magic.

'How does it taste?'

'Delicious! It's as thick as I like it!

 Mother Erna smiled at him, but Father Nord said the opposite.

It's true. It has a very gentle taste, I think I like this kind of taste too. I like this kind of taste too!

 Next, Brother Silvio also asserts his thinness while smiling a fresh smile.

 At this, Mother Erna and Meena can't help but freeze up.

 A few seconds after that, they turn their smiling smiles towards me and Bartolo.

 ........I'm scared because their eyes aren't smiling.

 As Bartolo and I unintentionally back away, Mother Erna walks up to me, sits down, and grabs my shoulder.

'I wonder which one is Al? Of course you're a fan of strong flavors, right?

''Well Mother Erna, do you have a finger sunk into your shoulder? I mean, the choice is already cut off, right?

 From the side, it looks like the mother is gently placing her hand on her son's shoulder, but in reality, it's not at all.

 Her fingers are digging into my shoulder, as if to say that this shoulder will be broken if I insist on being a thin-skinned person.

 It's no wonder they're threatening me with this.

'What about you, Mr Bartolo?'

What? No, which one was I, I guess?

 Bartolo also understands this situation, and is desperately trying to muddle his words and mislead us.

 However, such a sweet answer is unacceptable in this situation.

 Meena, who became furious, says in a voice sound as if she had an idea.

''As I recall, Bartolo-san liked darker flavors, right? Then the same goes for miso soup!

Oh my! So, Bartolo will have to go for the strongest flavor!

Oh, yeah.

 Giving in to the pressure of the two women, Bartolo easily nodded his head.

 This is how the vote for the darker and lighter flavors is evenly distributed, and it's all going to be left up to me.

 And even Nord's father, who claims to be in the light-flavored camp, couldn't keep his mouth shut.

'Al likes a subdued taste, doesn't he? You always said Bartolo was so good at bringing the flavors of the ingredients to life.

'No, it's not. Al likes to make fried food and sweets, you know? I'm sure you like the strong flavors.

No, no, Mother Erna. I'm not the one who likes to make sweets-- ow, ow, ow, ow!

 I was just trying to correct a little mistake, and my fingers dug into it terribly.

'Erna, Al's in pain, okay?'

 Oh! Dad Nord was the first to respond to my scream.

'It's been a long time since I've been back from Kagura. I need to be in touch with my darling child.'

 .........I wonder what it is. When you say that now, it makes me think that the bond between us and our son is terribly light.......

So, Al, which way is it going to be?

Which one is it?

 Mother Erna and Father Nord ask me, the pressure exuding behind their smiles.

 I try to avert my gaze, but Erna holds my shoulders in her hands and Nord Dad presses me.

 I answer sluggishly, holding on to the heavy air.

''Can't we have ... both ... then?''

No.

 It was only after struggling for the next five minutes that I came up with the idea to adjust the individual flavors of the miso soup when adding it.