The Other World Dining Hall (WN) Chapter 47

TN: It’s a bit late since I cleaned up my site first. It’s a good thing this chapter is very short otherwise it would take a longer time to finish.

Deep-fried Oysters

At Western restaurant Nekoya, when the cold season came, it would join the menu until spring.

The owner's home and office on the 3rd floor of Nekoya's building.

The owner operated a vintage personal computer that he bought when he inherited the business and printed what he had saved long ago.

[Yos.h.i.+, it's printing cleanly.]

The owner nodded in good faith, looking at the paper coming out from the printer.

What was written there was a series of symbols that the owner didn't understand.

It was a different world characters named "Samanak" which was not English, let alone j.a.panese.

According to his predecessor, he asked one of his oldest regulars of his generation (that still came weekly to order Roast Cutlets and beers, the self-proclaimed "wiseman") to write it on a piece of paper.

"Deep-fried oysters are available."

It was a signal to let the customers knew that the popular item originating from the era of previous generation that was only available in winter could be ordered now.

When he pasted the same paper written on j.a.panese at Monday, a lot of orders came rus.h.i.+ng in.

(Because those small old men would definitely order it…)

That's what the owner's business managing experience felt.

Today again, he's going to be very busy.

He thought so.

At the evening of the day.

Heinrich, the knight of Princ.i.p.ality who finished his work at the fort, entered the restaurant and noticed it when he tried to order fried shrimp.

[…Eh? What are deep-fried oysters?]

There was a brand new paper stuck on the wall where people could see it immediately after entering from the entrance door.

He tilted his head seeing the words probably written by the same person that wrote the menu.

(Umu, maybe the "furai1" means that it's a deep-fried food like fried shrimp…)

He did not know any oyster cuisine. Even though he came from a port town, he was not familiar with oysters.

(Oh well. As usual…)

He would ask for fried shrimp. That was what he thought.

'Chirinchirin', the door opened.

[Ou! We're here, owner!]

[Oops! An obstacle! Move aside!]

At the same time, there was a loud voice coming from a height about as tall as Heinrich's waist.

[What, it's you dwarves.]

Heinrich sidestepped while sighing at the duo.

A pair of dwarves that were as tall as Heinrich's shoulders, carrying huge battles axes on their back.

It seemed that they always came at dusk and enjoyed their seafood with alcohol until midnight; they often came at the same time as Heinrich who visited after he finished his duties.

[Ou! Sorry!]

[Well today… ooh!]

As Heinrich avoided them, they could see the paper that was not visible till now.

One of them shouted.

[Oh my! Deep-fried oysters are available from today! Hyahoo~!]

[Guilem, what're deep-fried oysters?]

The other dwarf asked his friend (whose name seemed to be Guilem) that was in the middle of an ecstatic dance.

[Ou! Deep-fried oysters are something that was only sold during winter! It's delicious!]

(Hoo. I see, a special menu during winter.)

Heinrich unintentionally heard the dwarf's loud speech.

After that, Guilem immediately went to a nearby seat and called the waitress.

[Ou! I want to order deep-fried oysters! Two portions for the time being! And 2 cups of cold beer!]

[Ye, yes! Thank you very much.]

Sitting on a chair that was too tall for his short legs, the other dwarf ordered while swinging his legs.

[Here, Gard! Don't just stand there! Don't you want to sit down quickly?]

[O, ou!]

The other dwarf (whose name was Gard) hurriedly walked to his friend.

(…Fumu.)

Heinrich, who was watching the two of them, went to a different table.

[Welcome. What do you want to order?]

Heinrich ordered after the waitress came back from telling the owner of the order.

[Oh right… give me deep-fried oysters. I want it with bread. I also would like Shrimp Cutlet Sandwich for takeaway.]

Seeing the dwarf in high spirit, Heinrich became interested in it.

This unknown dish of deep-fried oysters.

After a while.

[Sorry to keep you waiting. Here's your deep-fried oysters.]

The waitress gently placed it before Heinrich.

[Umu. Thanks.]

After thanking her, Heinrich looked at the plate in front of him.

(Fumu. It looks similar to fried shrimp…)

The deep red fruit vegetable called cherry tomatoes were placed on top of thin green leafy vegetable.

The white tartar sauce that could only be found in this restaurant which were tastefully made of eggs, mayonnaise and the strong sour taste of lemon.

While it had the same composition as fried shrimp, there was a notable difference.

There were six brown elliptical deep-fried food.

There still was a sizzling sound coming from it.

(Umu. First of all… eat it without adding anything.)

Swallowing his saliva, he pierced the unknown food with his fork.

Besides fried shrimp, in this restaurant there were other "deep-fried foods" such as "Katsu" that were cooked in a lot of oil.

Those dishes looked the same at first glance, the only difference was the seasoning that fit them.

Sauce if it's meat, tartar sauce and shoyu if it's seafood.

A woman adventurer that was his acquaintance preferred her minced cutlet to be eaten with sauce, while an elf customer of this restaurant preferred to use shoyu.

In Halflings' case, there was even a possibility of seeking various way of eating the food according to their mood.

And this time it was deep-fried oysters.

The fact that it was served with tartar sauce indicated that it's seafood.

However, Heinrich didn't know what it tasted like.

That's why Heinrich decided not to add anything to it at first; he wanted to determine its taste.

The moment he stabbed it with his fork, it seemed to have a light texture.

It was not so big so he didn't need to cut it with a knife.

Heinrich gently carried it to his mouth… and chewed.

(…Oo. It's a kind of sh.e.l.lfis.h.!.+ It's hot… but it's delicious!)

Spreading in his mouth was the juice plentifully contained in the oyster.

The taste had faint bitterness with its umami along with the light and fragrant taste of the coating.

Heinrich unintentionally let out a hot breath.

[Delicious! It's delicious! What is this!?]

[Ou! This is deep-fried oyster! Winter doesn't start before you eat this!

Oi! Another serving! With a bottle of whiskey!]

While Heinrich was about to start on his second oyster, it seemed that the other table had already finished their food and ordered another serving.

(Yos.h.i.+, next.)

He took the lemon placed beside the oysters.

If he ate this fruit normally, it wouldn't be delicious due to its strong acidity.

However, Heinrich already knew.

With his fingers calloused from swinging his sword every day, he squeezed the lemon juice onto the oysters.

After that, he placed the lemon and pierced the oyster.

He lightly dipped the oyster with the tartar sauce and took a bite.

(Umu! As I thought! Deep-fried oysters fit with tartar sauce!)

He was very satisfied with the taste.

The fragrant coating with the scent of the sea.

When lemon juice and tartar sauce were added, a different side of deep-fried oyster was shown.

Heinrich ate the oysters one by one while being very satisfied with the flavor…

He finished his food in an instant.

But, it's not enough. It's still not enough.

[Young lady. Sorry to inconvenience you but I would like a serving each of deep-fried oysters and fried shrimp please.]

Heinrich told her his additional order.

[Umu. Deep-fried oysters, huh. I'll remember it.]

After a while, Heinrich returned to the forest where the door was located while rubbing his satisfied belly.

After eating his additional deep-fried oysters and fried shrimp, he ordered another serving of deep-fried oysters.

[I give up. This makes me want to eat it again next time.]

He walked while muttering that.

The fried shrimp was as delicious as usual, but deep-fried oysters were delicious too.

Recalling the taste that was different from fried shrimp, he swallowed his spit.

(Since it's only available during winter, that means when spring comes, it can't be ordered again for more than six months.)

When he thought so, it would be a shame if he didn't eat it.

For the time being, he would order both fried shrimp and deep-fried oysters the next Satur's day.

Heinrich made that conviction.

That was the day he had a new favourite food.

TN: I wonder to be sorry or not to use KFC’s picture. It’s the only picture that I found in google though.

フライ - furai of Kakifurai, the deep-fried oysters. I don't want to write "deep-fried means deep-fried food". That just sounds repet.i.tive and weird.