Published: August 13, 2025
As I mentioned yesterday, this is the "Aomori Arc."
The Tsugaru Strait Ferry's "Blue Grace" connects Aomori City and Muroran City.
"Abel, do you remember the curry ramen we talked about yesterday?"
"Hmm? Oh, curry ramen, right? The one Shinso is going to make. I'll send an official letter."
"Y-yes. It’s become quite a big deal."
Abel, who is eager, is the king of the Naitorei Kingdom, while Ryo, who caused this big fuss but is secretly delighted, is the first duke.
"Actually, in my northern homeland, there is a dish called miso curry milk ramen."
"The northern homeland you’re talking about—is that different from the place you mentioned yesterday...?"
"Yes, it’s a different place from Muroran, which I mentioned yesterday. But they are connected by ferry."
"Ferry?"
Abel tilted his head in confusion.
It seems he doesn’t know what a ferry is… which is understandable.
But Ryo decided to let that slide.
"Aomori miso curry milk ramen is also a soul food of that region."
"The food imprinted on the soul, right?"
"Yes, yes. It’s curry ramen with miso and milk added... Honestly, I can’t even imagine what it tastes like."
"But since it’s called soul food..."
"Exactly, it must be delicious without a doubt."
Abel said this, and Ryo nodded emphatically.
Soul food that has been loved by people for a long time—it’s naturally delicious.
"But what exactly is this ‘miso’? Milk, I understand, is milk."
"Yes, it’s milk. Right, I guess you don’t know what miso is."
Ryo sympathized with Abel’s question.
He had never seen miso in the Naitorei Kingdom.
Back when he was in the Forest of Rondo, Ryo once wanted to make and drink miso soup.
However, he gave up because it was difficult to obtain the soybeans needed.
After being sent to the Eastern Nations, specifically Darwei, which is at its center, he thinks he ate dishes that probably used miso.
So it’s not that miso doesn’t exist in this world...
"I think the dishes I ate in Darwei probably used it."
"I see. So, in other places, it can’t be found."
Abel looked a bit disappointed.
He’s just as passionate about food as Ryo.
"The name ‘hungry swordsman’ is no joke."
"Hmm? Did you say something?"
"No, nothing."
Ryo recalled from memory.
"Miso can be made at home... that much I’m sure of."
"Hoho. Ryo, do you know how to make it?"
"Sort of..."
Because he knew, he had tried to make it in the Forest of Rondo.
"Basically, you soak a lot of soybeans in water, boil them, and meanwhile, mix rice malt and salt... Ah! Rice malt is necessary."
"Rice malt?"
Since Abel didn’t know that term, it means rice malt isn’t common in the Naitorei Kingdom.
"We might need to go on a journey to find rice malt."
"Isn’t that even bigger than asking for help with curry ramen?"
"Can’t be helped. The path of food is long and far-reaching. Continuing down that path is naturally a big deal."
"There’s a better way."
"Huh? What is it?"
Ryo leaned in earnestly, his face close.
"Let Marquis Heinlein gather the information."
"Eh..."
"The Heinlein family’s information-gathering ability is the best in the Central Nations. It’s far better than us wandering aimlessly on a journey, don’t you think?"
"What a blatant mixing of public and private interests."
Ryo muttered, eyes wide with surprise.
"I see. Then should we give up? Take years and make it ourselves..."
"No, let’s ask your excellency the chancellor. If we succeed in developing it, it might become a new food culture of the kingdom. We are definitely not acting out of selfish desires!"
Ryo added a new interpretation.
Yes, if it’s for the people’s benefit, they shouldn’t be impeached for manipulating the information agency out of selfishness.
"We must find rice malt at all costs and make it one of the kingdom’s new food cultures!"
"Wasn’t the very first plan to make that thing called miso?"
"Ah..."
It seems the path of food goes on endlessly.
Will Ryo and Abel be able to create miso?
If there’s a chance someday, I’d like to write such a story too.
This time, the author got so excited about the collaboration that I wrote this short story.