"Thank you for waiting. Here's your ordered set. Please enjoy it with either salt or fish sauce."

"Thank you."

Oh, the plate is filled with various grilled fish and shellfish. Each piece is sizzling, emitting a delicious aroma.

This small dish holds the salt, and this other one, with its soy sauce-like color, must be the fish sauce. If I recall correctly, fish sauce is made by fermenting small fish or fish innards with salt.

"Let’s eat!"

First, I’ll try this skewer of fish fillet with a sprinkle of salt.

Mmm! The tender meat bursts with juicy flavor, and the crispy, fatty skin is absolutely delicious! It’s simply seasoned with salt, but that simplicity enhances the natural taste of the fish.

Now, let’s try it with the fish sauce... Hmm, I see. The flavor is much stronger than soy sauce and has a very distinctive aroma. I bet some people love it, but personally, I find it doesn’t pair well with grilled fish. Soy sauce would probably be tastier in this case.

That said, fish sauce might go well with soups or rice. I should see if it’s sold in the market and try it out later.

Wow, everything was so delicious! There were shellfish with shapes I’ve never seen in Japan before—it was really fascinating.

"Let me take your plates."

A female server came to clear my table. Although we’re near the sea, she wasn’t wearing a swimsuit. …What a shame. Then again, I’m not even sure if swimsuits exist in this world.

"Yes, everything was absolutely delicious. I enjoyed trying a variety of fish and shellfish."

"I’m glad to hear that. Fresh fish and shellfish are best enjoyed near the sea, after all."

"Thanks for the meal. By the way, is there a place around here where I can eat raw fish?"

"...Sir, no restaurant serves raw fish around here. No matter how fresh, eating raw fish or shellfish would upset your stomach."

"Ah, is that so… I thought freshly caught fish would be okay."

I figured a seaside town would have places serving raw fish.

"They say that fish and shellfish sometimes carry tiny, invisible creatures that can cause harm. Cooking them ensures safety."

Ah, parasites, perhaps? I’ve heard freshwater fish can be dangerous, but I didn’t know sea fish were the same. And considering this is another world, I have zero desire to test its parasites. Though I inherited purification magic from the Grand Mage, it’s only effective against undead monsters.

…Wait a second. Parasites are living organisms too. Maybe I can use my Detection Skill to check if a fish is infested. Let’s head back to the market later and give it a shot.

What a haul!

I went back to the market and bought all sorts of fish and shellfish that I enjoyed eating earlier. I tested my Detection Skill to see if it could identify parasites—and it worked perfectly.

Using the skill, I scanned the fish displayed at the market. Sure enough, some of the fish had slender organisms inside them. These must be the parasites. If I avoid these, eating raw fish as sashimi should be fine.

It’s too late today, so I’ll store everything with magic and enjoy it next week. I’ve never prepared such large fish before, so I’ll need to ask Farrah, the head chef at Lady Sara’s mansion, for help.

I rely on Lady Sara and her household a lot, don’t I? I should bring a proper thank-you gift when I visit.

"Hooh!"

"I’m back, Fūsuke. Thanks for holding down the fort."

Fūsuke greeted me as I returned to my room. Having someone waiting for you is unexpectedly heartwarming. I can see why people living alone want pets.

"I brought some souvenirs. Let’s see if there’s anything you can eat."

"Hooh?"

After buying ingredients in Rowan, I also explored the food stalls. The streets were bustling with tourists, offering a variety of skewered grilled fish and shellfish that looked delicious.

I enjoyed some snacks while walking around and picked up souvenirs, but the question is whether Fūsuke can eat them.

According to my online research, some owls eat fish in addition to meat. But I remember Fūsuke didn’t seem too interested in fish when we went to the supermarket.

"Hooh!"

Oh, so you can eat all of these? And you even shrink your body to eat as much as you like. This kid is so clever—and cute!

The Grand Mage’s records stated that summoned beasts don’t need food to survive, but it seems they can enjoy regular meals too.

Owls are adorable when they eat, aren’t they? Just watching Fūsuke eat is incredibly soothing.