"Really!? If you don’t mind, I’d love to join!"

"I want to eat Tetsuya’s cooking!"

Well, I guess that’s what it is.

Of course, there’s no doubt that they also came to see Lilia, whom they were close with, but maybe they also came because they liked the food they had last time. Besides, the chocolate bars and yokan I gave them as souvenirs aren’t sold anywhere else.

"…I see, that’s how it is. Tetsuya, should I help with anything?"

"No, I’m not making anything too fancy today. Since they’re here, why don’t you take the chance to talk with them?"

I’m just making some toppings for the curry.

"Ah, Tetsuya. We brought you another gift today, so if you’d like, please feel free to use it."

"I want Tetsuya to cook it!"

"Ohh, thank you! …This meat looks darker than the wyvern meat you gave me before. By the way, what kind of meat is this?"

The meat that Ferry pulled out of nowhere using storage magic looked a bit darker than the wyvern meat they gave me during our barbecue last time. Since it was stored with magic, it shouldn’t be spoiled.

"This is Be-Hee-Moth meat."

"It was the boss of the dungeon near the royal capital!"

"………………"

Now that’s some ridiculous meat…

The Behemoth, which was the floor boss of the recently discovered dungeon near the royal capital. A massive quadrupedal monster covered in thick fur on the outside, but with incredibly tender and highly nutritious meat inside—an ultra-premium ingredient.

Apparently, in terms of taste, it’s about the same level as wyvern meat, but its difficulty to hunt far surpasses that of a wyvern. This time, Berna and Ferry’s party joined forces with three other A-rank adventurer parties to defeat the dungeon’s floor boss.

It seems Ferry was especially fired up this time, and thanks to that, they managed to take down the dungeon boss without losing a single person. The Behemoth’s materials were divided among the participants, but since it was such a massive creature, even after splitting it, they each got a considerable amount.

"Since the two of you are staying in town tomorrow as well, I can make a more elaborate dish then. For today, I’ll use this Behemoth meat for the dish I originally planned."

If possible, I’d like to make some smoked Behemoth meat since it lasts longer. I’ll also prepare a few things as souvenirs for them.

"Sorry for the wait. Tonight’s dinner is katsu curry. I breaded and deep-fried the Behemoth meat you gave me, making a dish called ‘katsu,’ and placed it on top of curry. The curry has a bit of spice and a distinct aroma from the seasonings, so if it’s too strong for you, let me know."

"It smells amazing!"

"…But the color is a little odd. I trust Tetsuya’s cooking, though."

"I thought the same at first, but it’s fine, Ferry. This ‘katsu’ is new to me. It’s different from the karaage you made before?"

"Karaage is marinated before frying, and the coating is a bit different."

Now that I think about it, this is the first time I’ve made katsu here. If I’m making katsu, I really want some sauce to go with it, but I haven’t been able to get any yet. Since I’m making katsu curry this time, it won’t be a problem.

"…! The crispy breading bursts with the rich flavor of Behemoth meat! And when I dip this brown, paste-like sauce onto the Behemoth katsu, it’s absolutely delicious!"

"It’s a bit spicy, but the taste lingers in a good way. If eaten alone, it’s just spicy, but when combined with the white grains underneath, the flavor is perfect! Mixing the curry with the katsu creates an exquisite taste I’ve never experienced before!"

As always, these two give great reactions. Maybe this is how people from my world reacted the first time they had katsu curry.

"Tetsuya, this Behemoth katsu is incredible!"

"Yeah! The meat tastes totally different from what we usually eat. It’s distinct from wyvern meat, but this Behemoth meat is delicious too!"

It’s just like how beef and pork have slightly different flavors. The Behemoth meat is as good as the wyvern meat but with a unique taste.

Katsu really is great after a long time. But if I’m making katsu, I really want some sauce. It’s fine with just salt or some outdoor spices, but I’m definitely on the sauce team. Still, katsu curry is perfect even without it!

"I made extra katsu and curry, so if you want seconds, don’t hesitate to ask. Also, adding some melted cheese makes it even better."

"Tetsuya, I want seconds of both! And cheese too!"

"Me too, Tetsuya!"

"Tetsuya, I’d like more as well!"

…Everyone sure eats a lot. Since the Behemoth katsu turned out better than I expected, I’ll have another serving too.

"I’m home~! Wow, something smells amazing today. I’m starving! Man, I almost got a girl to come home with me tonight, but at the last moment, she ran away! I was so close to getting her into bed… Huh?"

"………………"

Just like that, Lange came home blurting out something ridiculous, breaking the atmosphere completely.