"Alright, here’s today’s main dish—roasted wyvern!"

"Whoa, a massive chunk of wyvern meat is sitting right in that pot!"

"Wow, this looks extravagant!"

Apart from the barbecue, I had been tending to another fire, heating up a Dutch oven. Yes, a Dutch oven!

This piece of camping gear became available for purchase when the outdoor shop’s level reached 4.

The Dutch oven is a versatile cooking tool that can roast, simmer, steam, smoke, and fry—all with a single pot. Additionally, by placing hot coals on its lid, it can act like an oven, heating food from above as well.

Another feature is its heavy lid and high sealability, which traps steam and concentrates the flavor, almost like a pressure cooker. It’s said to be a traditional cooking tool used during the American Westward Expansion era.

"This is a Dutch oven, a cooking tool from my homeland."

"That’s quite a large pot, isn’t it?"

"…Looks cumbersome to carry."

True enough, as Berna and Ferry pointed out, it’s made of cast iron, making it quite heavy and prone to rust. It also requires seasoning after use, so it’s not exactly practical for adventurers. For that reason, I don’t stock it in my shop.

If you have storage magic, it’s fine, but taking a Dutch oven along while exploring isn’t exactly easy. Though I did wonder if the lid could double as a shield, I decided to leave such ideas to armor shops.

"Tetsuya, the meat still looks raw!"

"Tetsuya-nii, shouldn’t you cook it a little longer?"

"No, this is called roasting. It might look red, but it’s cooked through just fine."

Roasting, in simple terms, is a method of slow-cooking meat by grilling or steaming it in an oven.

Though it still appears red, the meat is thoroughly cooked. I had checked earlier—by stabbing a skewer into the meat and confirming it was warm, I ensured the heat had reached the center.

"You’re right. It doesn’t seem raw."

"I’ve seen similar cooking methods in a distant town before."

The process for making roasted wyvern is quite straightforward. First, season a large block of meat with salt and outdoor spices to lightly flavor it.

Next, heat the Dutch oven on high with a bit of oil, searing all sides of the meat until they’re browned. Once seared, remove the meat from the heat, place a rack in the Dutch oven, and set the meat on top of it.

Adjust the heat to low, place coals on the lid of the Dutch oven, and cook it for 30 to 40 minutes. After removing it from the heat, wrap the meat in aluminum foil and let it rest for about 20 minutes, allowing the residual heat to finish the cooking process.

It takes about an hour to prepare a single roast beef-like chunk of meat, making it a time-consuming dish despite being simple to make.

"Yeah, this is amazing! As expected, wyvern meat is absolutely delicious!"

"Whoa, it’s cooked perfectly! This is a flavor I’ve never experienced before!"

Since everyone seemed hesitant about the red color, I took the first bite.

The roasted wyvern was tender and moist, with the flavor of the meat locked inside. Each bite released juicy bursts of umami that spread through my mouth.

While roast beef is often served at room temperature or cold, I’ve found that it’s even tastier when eaten warm, straight out of the oven.

"Tetsuya, this is really delicious! I’ve never had wyvern prepared this way before!"

"…And this sauce is amazing!"

I had made a gravy sauce for the roasted wyvern. The sauce was crafted by combining the meat juices from the initial searing, red wine, minced onions, and seasonings, then reducing it into a rich sauce.

Of course, the barbecue sauce and outdoor spices also paired excellently with the meat.

"I’m glad you like it. Wyvern meat truly is something special."

"No, while the meat is indeed wonderful, it’s your cooking techniques and this sauce that make it exceptional. Just as Lilia said, you’re an amazing cook!"

"…Even in the royal capital, there’s no one who can prepare wyvern this well."

"Hearing that makes me really happy. Please eat as much as you like."

It was a relief to see our guests, Berna and Ferry, as well as Angel, the star of today’s welcome party, enjoying the meal so much.

To be praised by two A-rank adventurers who operate out of the royal capital—it’s quite the honor.

Afterward, we all continued to enjoy the meal while listening to Berna and Ferry share stories about their adventures and life in the royal capital. Ferry wasn’t much of a talker, so Berna did most of the storytelling.

As expected of two A-rank adventurers, they’ve survived countless perilous situations. Everyone listened intently to their tales.

Personally, I was more interested in hearing about ingredients from the royal capital or the taste of dragon meat, which earned them their title of Dragon Slayers. Someday, I hope to try dragon meat myself.

By the way, Lange subtly tried flirting with them, but they dodged his advances skillfully. Lange might be handsome, but Berna and Ferry are both beautiful and highly skilled A-rank adventurers, so they must be quite popular in the royal capital.