“Oh, wow~ The smoke really does smell nice.”

“That’s because these are chips made from fragrant woods when burned. There are also versions where different types of wood chips are mixed and compressed together.”

On the next day off after Berna and Ferry arrived, the two of them went out with Lilia, while Lange and I were in the yard making smoked meat.

As for why Lange was helping me...

“I figured that if I could cook like you, Tetsuya, I'd definitely become even more popular! Especially since even someone as shy as Ferry can talk to you so normally—it must be because you can cook!”

…Well, I suppose Ferry and I do talk normally now, but I think that’s less about popularity and more about just feeding her well. But hey, it never hurts to be able to cook, and I appreciate the help.

“Still, making smoked meat takes quite a bit of time, huh?”

“This is actually a simplified process. Ideally, you’d season the meat more beforehand.”

This time, we were smoking some Behemoth meat that Berna and the others had given us. Last night, I seasoned the meat with salt, pepper, and some outdoor spices, then stored it in a cooler with ice that Lange created using water magic.

Normally, I’d want to let it cure for at least a few days to a week, but that wasn’t an option this time.

“That char siu you made this morning was seriously delicious. Are you smoking that too?”

“Yeah, the Behemoth char siu was great. Since we have the time, I figured I’d make two different types of smoked meat today.”

Smoked char siu is delicious, but its shelf life is short. The meat that was seasoned and stored in the makeshift refrigerator lasts a little longer. Plus, I can test out the preservation packs Gregor made.

Ferry and Lange can use storage magic, so they don’t have to worry about spoilage, but for the rest of us, it's not that easy. I really envy them.

Char siu with fish sauce seasoning is surprisingly good. It might work better than soy sauce in stews. That said, soy sauce pairs better with yakiniku sauce, so I still need to keep some on hand.

“Alright, the smoked meat is done. Next up, let’s make some roast Behemoth.”

“Okay!”

Every now and then, it’s nice to just relax in the backyard, cook, and have a little mini-camping session.

…Well, aside from the massive amount of smoke billowing everywhere.

By the way, I did get permission from the neighbors. I’ll be sharing some of the smoked meat with them as thanks.

“Tetsuya, thank you again for all these gifts.”

“Tetsuya, thanks!”

“No, no, I should be thanking you for the high-quality meat. Once we have a transport method set up, I’ll contact the Adventurers’ Guild in the capital.”

Our day off ended, and today was back to business as usual at the outdoor shop. Before opening, I was seeing Berna and Ferry off.

Last night, they thoroughly enjoyed bowls of char siu ramen topped with plenty of smoked Behemoth char siu. Using a Dutch oven makes cooking char siu much faster than a regular pot.

And, just like last time, I sent them off with gifts: smoked Behemoth meat, roast Behemoth, instant foods, chocolate bars, and yokan. Considering they shared such a high-quality meat, this was hardly enough in return.

For transportation to the capital and other towns, I planned to wait about a week to see how things went. If everything looked good, I would ask Gregor to start mass production. Once the preservation packs were ready, I’d officially request Berna and Ferry’s help.

“Yes, I’ll be waiting for your call.”

“If anything else comes up, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

“I don’t think I’ll have anything to ask A-rank adventurers for, but if something does come up, I’ll let you know.”

With the reward I received for contributing to the dungeon raid in the capital, plus shop profits and the money from the Adventurers’ Guild for maps and field guides, I had more than enough to cover their request fees. But honestly, I couldn’t imagine needing their help for anything in this small town of Al-Flare.

…And no, that’s not me jinxing anything.

“Berna and Ferry should be fine, but take care.”

“Of course! Stay well, Lilia!”

“Lilia, take care of yourself too.”

“Safe travels to you both.”

“Berna, Ferry, see you again!”

Along with Lilia and Lange, I waved as Berna and Ferry departed.

Once we started selling to the Adventurers’ Guild in the capital more regularly, I should probably go introduce myself. Now that our shop was running smoothly, maybe it was time for a trip.

Yeah, it had been a while since I arrived in this world, but I had barely left Al-Flare.

Alright, I’ll start preparing for a company trip to the capital with everyone!