"Thanks for waiting!"

"Wow, that was fast. We just finished setting up the camp too."

"We’ve been smelling that amazing aroma for a while now; I’m starving!"

"Same here! I’m so hungry I can’t take it anymore!"

"Well, all I did was grill the wyvern meat."

"Even so, for us, that’s a feast. And there’s so much of it—three big platters full!"

"Actually, each of the three platters has a different flavor. Feel free to pick your favorite. Oh, and there’s plenty more where that came from!"

"Three kinds? That’s incredible. We’ll gratefully dig in, then."

"I’ll start with this one... Wow! The salt and pepper are really bringing out the flavor! You used some pretty high-quality pepper, didn’t you?"

That dish was simply seasoned with salt and pepper—a classic choice, using the familiar blend often sold in Japan. A foolproof taste.

"This one is amazing! It’s sweet, savory, and has a unique flavor I’ve never had before!"

That dish was grilled wyvern meat with Japanese yakiniku sauce. Specifically, the classic "Golden Sauce." I don’t think there’s a single Japanese person who’d dislike this.

"This one’s so refreshing! There’s some kind of grated vegetable on top—what is this?!"

And the last one was topped with daikon oroshi (grated radish) and served with a Japanese-style sauce. Personally, I think this pairs best with steak. The sauce was a blend of soy sauce, dashi, vinegar, and lemon juice—the perfect Japanese seasoning. Soy sauce and dashi are unbeatable for a Japanese palate!

Since I had the rare chance to eat dragon steak, I figured it was a good opportunity to try some of the Japanese seasonings and sauces I brought with me.

I had done a quick taste test earlier, and the wyvern meat went perfectly with them. While the wyvern dishes I had at the restaurant earlier were delicious, these Japanese seasonings held their own.

"Whoa! They’re all delicious!"

"Yeah, the wyvern meat itself is amazing, but the sauces are out of this world! Masayoshi, what’s the secret?"

"That plate over there is just salt and pepper, while the other two have sauces from my homeland. Pretty good, right?"

"Good? This one’s fantastic! Sweet and rich, it’s absolutely my favorite."

"I agree! The sauce really brings out the meat’s flavor."

"I like this one best—it’s so light and refreshing. I’ve never tasted anything like it!"

"Same here. With this sauce, I feel like I could eat an endless amount of meat."

It seems they’re evenly split—two for the sweet and savory sauce, and two for the refreshing one. Salt and pepper is tasty too, but I guess they’re more accustomed to it.

"Masayoshi, is there any place we can buy this sauce? It’d be a hit with adventurers!"

"Yeah, the usual salt seasoning is good, but it’d be nice to change things up once in a while."

"Sorry, but I can’t make enough to sell commercially."

Just like with the cake incident, people here seem surprisingly interested in food. I used to think this world didn’t care much about cuisine, but it’s probably just because they lack ingredients like sugar or soy sauce.

"Ah, that’s a shame."

"Then we’d better eat as much as we can now!"

"Exactly. I’ll grill some more for you!"

The wyvern meat disappeared at an incredible pace. I underestimated the appetite of four grown men. At this rate, I’d need about double the amount I originally prepared.

"Thanks for this, Masayoshi."

"Well then, I’ll take my leave here."

"You’ve really been a lifesaver this time, Masayoshi. And on top of that, you even treated us to such delicious food. We’re just C-rank adventurers, so there’s only so much we can do, but if you ever need help, look for us in Egarton City."

"Not that I think there’s anything we could do that you couldn’t handle on your own!"

"Exactly."

"That’s not true. I’ll definitely reach out if I need anything."

"Alright, take care!"

After parting ways with Ian and the others, I climbed a bit further up the mountain before using teleportation magic to return to the Great Mage’s house. From there, I stepped through the portal to return to Japan.

Tomorrow is Sunday, and I’ll finally move forward to face the dragon.

Dragons in this world are man-eating monsters. No, they’re more like natural disasters, with far more destructive power than mere pests. Usually, they stay in their lairs, but during their breeding season, which occurs once every few decades, they descend into human settlements and wreak havoc.

When that time comes, countless adventurers and knights are conscripted to fight them, often at great cost of life, to bring them down. The dragon I’m after has only been in the northern mountains for a few years, so it’s not expected to enter its breeding season anytime soon. Taking it out early shouldn’t be a problem.

Every part of a dragon is highly valuable, from its head to its tail. Its meat is a top-tier delicacy, available only to royalty and nobility. Successfully slaying one brings wealth and fame, but many, like Ian’s acquaintance, lose their lives trying.

I’ll need to ensure I know when to retreat. Reckless bravery won’t get me anywhere.