The Other World Dining Hall (WN) Chapter 29

TN: Hi guys! Here’s another chapter. It features the character from Meat Sauce chapter.

Pizza

Sirius Alphaid.

There was no one in the Kingdom who did not know him, the next head of the Alphaid Company.

A n.o.bleman who inherited his n.o.bility from his mother who was a daughter of an aristocratic family.

When he was born, the Alphaid Company already had a position as a royal merchant.

And then, at discretion of Sirius, he sent his uncles to the Capital city and other cities to create branch offices and further prospered the company.

Half a year ago, his grandfather, the founder of Alphaid Company, entrusted Sirius with his secret.

For the last 20 years… Thomas had been frequenting a restaurant that was the cornerstone for the company.

He entrusted Sirius the door leading to that place.

At first, it was awesome.

The restaurant's food was very delicious. There were many foods that he, the head of the Alphaid Company that mainly dealt with food, had never eaten.

He stared at the food and enjoyed himself.

And then, he noticed. If he could steal the "taste" of the restaurant's food "further", he could make his company even more prosperous.

But he's not the only one who thought that.

The information gathered by each branch of his company entered his ears and information from the otherworld dining hall was captured by his eyes.

There were many things that could be created if he integrated them.

For example, a young female priest who was good at baking was recruited from the Nun Monastery where talented female priests gathered by the religion which wors.h.i.+ped the Light G.o.d and boasted the highest numbers of believers in the Eastern Continent as an apprentice of the high priest who loved pound cake.

Another example was the n.o.ble of Sand Country who loved to drink coffee float resembling the magically chilled coffee that was presented by a messenger from the Sand Country in Western Continent who was visiting the Empire in search of new trade exchanges.

There was also a new alcohol created by the dwarves which was not only strong but also tasted good.

Yes, there were people in his world that had similar thoughts with Thomas.

And Sirius knew better than anyone that such ideas would bear fruit as long as constant effort and time were applied.

…They were not created just by looking at their fingers.

Thus, Sirius started to move.

In the past, it was impossible for Thomas as he feared that the secret would leak before the company became prominent.

It became a big secret that no one else knew. There was one person who "satisfies the conditions" because they were close friends. It was…

[Botchan, please tell me about it soon.]

A young cook called Jonathan who was dedicated to the Alphaid Company asked Sirius.

――― I have an important story. Will you keep it as a secret, Jonathan?

That was why they met up at an old warehouse of the company.

It was quite a respectable place and was rarely used now.

Jonathan did not understand.

[…Yes, is it good now?]

Once Sirius had entered the warehouse and confirmed that no one was watching, they started to talk.

[Today, we're having a meal together.]

[…Meal? With me?]

Jonathan tilted his head, feeling confused.

Jonathan's father was a cook that was engaged in making new products for the company. As such, he and Sirius were close since their childhood and often played together at the capital before he became Sirius' father's chef.

However, he had never been invited to a meal though they had eaten together while taking a trip.

Not to mention that they were currently inside the old warehouse.

He did not know what kind of "meal" they’re going to have.

[Aa, I can't bring anyone else there except for you.]

To the confused Jonathan, Sirius decided to tell him the truth.

It was a secret that only he and his grandfather knew.

[…Over there?]

[Yes, as far as I can tell, the food there was different from this world's. But they're delicious…]

In the back of the old warehouse was a black door with a picture of a cat.

The place where Alphaid Trading Company became the current major company.

[Otherworld dining hall.]

On that day, Jonathan Viennsburg became the third person to know that door.

'Chirinchirin', the doorbell rang when they went through the door.

Jonathan was surprised at first when they came to a bright place from the dark warehouse.

[Botchan, is this really a different world?… Tte, uwa!?]

While looking around, he saw a lizardman eating a huge heap of egg dish and unexpectedly screamed.

[It's okay. The customers here wouldn't attack anyone even if they're demons.]

While saying so, Sirius went to seat on his usual table.

[Welcome.]

Soon, the owner came with a menu and gently put it down on the table.

Sirius, who recently came often, usually ordered different foods though the Napolitan was his favourite.

Since he knew it, the owner brought the menu along with lemon water and towel.

[Aa, thank you.]

Sirius was familiar with the process and picked up the menu.

He then put it aside gently and said,

[But today I had already decided what to order.]

Then Sirius spoke the order's name.

[I want to order two onion and bacon pizza.]

That day, he ordered something that he wanted Jonathan to eat.

[Okay.]

The owner nodded and immediately retreated to the back.

[…So, what kind of dish is onion and bacon pizza?]

While waiting, Jonathan asked Sirius who was wiping his hands with the towel that the owner brought.

It's an unfamiliar dish. Honestly, he couldn't imagine what kind of dish that is.

[Aa, if it's you, Jonathan, it think you will know after you eat it.]

Sirius answered with a mischievous smile.

(Maa, it's useless to ask about otherworld cuisine.)

Learning from Sirius, Jonathan started to wipe his hands with the towel.

Just like what Sirius-botchan said, this is a different world.

…Perhaps that's the truth.

The furniture of the restaurant was so far from Jonathan's common sense, not to mention some of the customers could not be seen at the Kingdom, let alone at the Capital City.

Indeed, people who were told that this was a different world could be convinced.

(…O, this water, it's infused with lemon.)

Jonathan understood one thing, that the water brought by the owner had a faint refres.h.i.+ng taste.

The owner of this restaurant may be as skilled as the chefs of his world.

(No, Botchan said that the food here is delicious.)

His childhood friend was the heir of a major company dealing with food, he grew up eating the fine cuisine made by the elite chefs of Alphaid Company at the Capital and had a more refined taste palate than even the royalty.

There was no doubt that the owner was a skilled chef.

With that thought, he patiently waited for the onion and bacon pizza with Sirius.

[Sorry to keep you waiting! Here's your onion and bacon pizza!]

After a while, a young demon girl, not the owner, brought their order.

(…This is, baked cheese bread, right?)

Jonathan stared at the freshly baked food.

The food was stretched flat and was cut into 6 pieces, just like bread.

On top of the bread was something red, minced Oranie, cheese, smoked meat and shredded green vegetables.

[Well then, shall we eat? This is particularly delicious while it's still hot.]

That's when Sirius started to eat quickly.

He did not use any knife or fork; he just picked it up with his hand.

Apparently, it was a dish that was eaten just like that.

(What kind of dish this is all along…)

Jonathan was puzzled by the unknown food.

He could tell by eating it. Sirius said so.

Then he would have to eat and see.

Thinking so, Jonathan picked one of the six pieces.

(It's pretty hot…)

Apparently it was baked just like how it looked.

As the melted cheese was stretched out, it was hot enough to burn his hand. He scratched his eyebrow a little.

(Umu. The scent is not bad… un? This is…)

A good scent drifted from the pizza.

The scent of melted cheese and burnt bacon fat mingled together.

Jonathan inwardly tilted his neck as a fragrant scent was also mixed in.

(…Oh well, I will be able to tell once I eat it.)

Though he felt doubt due to the scent, he took a bite of his pizza.

(N!? This is!)

The taste of slightly sour milk of melted cheese and the taste of baked smoked meat with its melted fat.

The bitter taste of Oranie and the green vegetables that were baked while they're raw complimented the dish.

The thin bread used as the base was very soft though its surface was well baked and crunchy; its taste of simple plain bread that was made of good quality wheat with salt and water was suitable for the strong tasting ingredients.

But what made Jonathan most surprised was not those.

[Botchan!? This is… Marmette!?]

Yes, it was sandwiched between the bread and the ingredients.

Marmette was a sour vegetable that contained an extraordinary umami found by the Alphaid Company. It was cultivated in a remote border of a small country, making it difficult to s.h.i.+p to the Kingdom.

The sauce of the dish was based on Marmette, which was not known by anyone other than the Alphaid Company.

[Aa, it's called tomato at the otherworld. That's right… this is a dish that was made using Marmette as the main ingredient.]

Sirius nodded to Jonathan.

Yes, because Jonathan had a refined palate, he could be hired as the company's chef.

It was the right answer to bring him.

[I'll explain my intentions later… let's continue our meal first.]

Sirius said that to his friend who was eager to resume his "research".

[A, aa… I see.]

Jonathan nodded and immediately stretched his hand towards the rest of the pizza.

(Hot water was added and it was crushed… No, I need a lot of ingenuity.)

Though Jonathan was surprised, he was a chef. He continued to a.n.a.lyze the food while taking a bite.

The basics were similar to the meat sauce that Jonathan helped to develop.

It was a sour sauce that was made by adding hot water and various preparations to the boiled Marmette.

Even Jonathan needed considerable research to be able to recreate the same taste or a taste that was even better than this.

(And this kind of bread was used…)

There was a long time concept of using bread as a plate.

However, there was no concept of putting the ingredients on the bread "before baking" and baking them together in the kiln.

However, he understood the intention. By doing so, the bread and the ingredients became familiar to each other like a couple that had been together for years.

Both the middle part where the bread was thin and its taste mixed with the sauce and ingredients, and the outer edge with strong taste of wheat were delicious.

Bread was no longer just an addition to pizza. It was one of the necessary ingredients.

(If I study it at the company… I see.)

Jonathan noticed Sirius' intention while eating the pizza.

Sirius' aim was…

[Botchan. The food is already finished before the research is over… can we order another one?]

[Of course. That's why I brought you… etto, Aletta-san. Another bacon pizza for him. I want Napolitan.]

He ordered an additional serving to the pa.s.sing by waitress while smiling at Jonathan who noticed his intentions.

Jonathan was the same as before. For him, his favourite is to exceed the meat sauce that his grandfather loved.

[Yes! Thank you very much!]

The waitress replied lively.

Two meals… no, the research was still on-going.

[But still, that pizza has a very high degree of perfection.]

After coming back to the warehouse, Jonathan relaxed and admired the dish.

After all, Jonathan ate 3 onion bacon pizzas.

The taste was firmly memorized by his tongue. Now he could begin his research.

[Aa, you can change the ingredients as much as you want… at the same time it would be better not to exclude the Marmette.]

Sirius nodded back to Jonathan.

A number of sauces made using Marmette were certainly delicious, but it was not yet known at the Capital. The only company that could trade it reliably was the Alphaid Company.

…In other words, if the people of the Kingdom learnt of Marmette and loved it as much as themselves and Sirius' grandfather, it would mean further profit for the company.

That is why Sirius chose pizza as a dish for Jonathan to eat first.

The novelty of otherworld manufacturing method and its various applications. Along with pizza's sauce that used Marmette.

Once completed, that dish could replace the Knight's Sauce as the main product of Alphaid Company.

Sirius evaluated pizza so.

[By the way, botchan, that restaurant…]

He looked at Sirius with hopeful eyes.

Jonathan also knew.

To use that door, he needed his friend's permission.

[Aa, I'll take you there again. We can only go there once every 7 days.]

He replied, smiling at his friend.

A young and talented chef, trained by the elite chefs of the company, without any worry of betrayal.

In the company, which was constantly exposed to many enemies due to its rapid growth, it's hard to have trustworthy people.

It was not a mistake that he taught him the secret.

[Thank you very much.]

Jonathan laughed without trying to hide his happiness.

(There's still a lot of delicious food there, I wonder… I'm sorry, but I'm going to steal the technique.)

He recalled the noddle dish with Marmette sauce that his friend ate.

Jonathan secretly resolved to recreate it.