Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

Satou here. Do you like curry? I think both authentic specialty curry and retort pouch curry have their own distinct deliciousness. But the tough part is that when I eat it during lunch break, the curry smell sticks to my clothes, and the female employees look at me with disdain.

◇

Now, let’s get started with preparations for tonight’s curry festival.

In the morning, I asked Lady Lua to reserve a square in the plaza.

We lined up large pots on the ground.

These giant pots are big enough to fit a person whole and have eight legs at the bottom. Of course, they’re not for walking but create about a 10 cm gap when placed on the ground.

They were made during the stay in Duke’s Capital, where we made plenty in the underground labyrinth, developed to be heated using the spread of flames (flame field) magic.

"I’ll have you two peel vegetables."

"Yes."

"Understood."

"Liza, teach Nana how to trim the edges."

"Yes, leave it to me."

I asked Liza and Nana to peel vegetables. I took out the chicken meat that had been marinated before heading to Duke's Capital from the Treasure Vault (Item Box) and handed it to Lulu.

I wanted to make chicken cutlets as a topping too, but I’m a bit short on chicken meat.

"Mia, I want to get some chicken meat. Do you think someone can spare us some?"

"Hmm, Hiya."

She didn’t say much, but I guess Mr. Hiya is a hunter. Mia lightly tapped her flat chest, made a gesture meaning "leave it to me," then ran off with Pochi and Tama as her wings.

Please don’t come back with some rock bird?

The missing vegetable peeling helpers were quickly replenished.

Lady Nea, a hero cuisine researcher, came to help, bringing along some cooking-loving ladies. I entrusted the time-consuming prep work to a few trusted by Lady Nea and Lulu.

I cooked the onions with Lady Nea.

Cook slowly.

Slowly.

Slowly.

Cooked so slowly Lady Nea glanced back at me several times.

It’s done when they turn caramel color.

I had Lulu take over so Lady Nea and I could mass-produce. The onions give a subtle sweetness and richness to the curry, so they’re important, according to that memo. The visible onions are cut into star and crescent shapes with carrots and planned to be added later as garnish.

I felt gaze peeking sadly from the shade of a tree. It was Arisa and Lady Aarize.

This is troublesome.

Letting Arisa cook is a serious failure flag. As for Lady Aarize, I can only see a future where she upends a pot and gets covered in curry.

I beckoned them with a little wave.

Arisa and Lady Aarize pointed at themselves with faces like "Me?"

I nodded, and they came running over with beaming smiles as if they were in full bloom.

Thinking about what comes next made my heart ache.

"Hehe~"

"D-Do you need something?"

I handed them a basket with candies from Duke’s Capital. They received it with puzzled looks, and I offered them candy sculptures on thin sticks.

Arisa seemed to get my intent, reluctantly biting into the candy. Lady Aarize, still unsure, blushed a bit and hesitantly put the candy in her mouth. It was a little erotic expression.

"Give candies to the feather spirits so they won’t get in the way."

Ah, please don’t look so betrayed! Arisa, with the basket on her arm, pulled tearful Lady Aarize’s hand and gathered the feather spirits at the plaza entrance. Sorry, Arisa. I’m leaving you to watch the feather spirits and Lady Aarize.

◇

We heated the pots with roaring flames. Once boiled, we reduced the heat and moved to skimming the scum.

It’s a really tedious job. I handed the ladles for skimming to Nana and Liza, who were watching curiously. They meticulously scooped the scum. Such a tedious task can only be done silently by serious Liza and hobbyist Nana. I’ll thank them later.

During this, a warrior-like Elf man, probably intrigued by Liza’s serious face, jumped in to help skim. You two look like you’re having a serious battle… I felt like I’d lose if I said anything, so I left them be.

After skimming and vegetables softening, all that’s left is adding the curry powder.