落とし穴２６掘：デリバリーの定番
**Pitfall 26: The Delivery Staple**
*I hope it arrives in time for the regions that offer delivery.*
**The Delivery Staple**
Side: Yuki
Another idle day continues.
Seraria is killing time by developing new cookie recipes, but I’m not helping her. Instead, I’m relaxing on the veranda, sipping tea.
"It’s peaceful, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it sure is."
I gaze out at the scenery with Ria.
For the record, even when Seraria was making cookies, I was always by her side, even if I didn't participate in the conversation. I helped with the baking, too. It’s just that since the story focuses on Seraria, Ria’s scenes got cut—it’s not like she’s a background character or anything.
Anyway, putting aside the issue of Ria’s screen time, she’s been just as bored as I have lately.
Well, her job is to be my bodyguard, after all. She’s getting paid for it, too—drawn from the other wives' funds. It doesn't hurt my wallet, though. As long as we’re here in Weed, those of us who know the truth about the dungeon can get anything we want using DP.
"Anything" might be a slight exaggeration, but as long as the residents of Weed are here, we rake in DP every day, which we can use to replenish supplies. It’s a lot of work to set up, but once it’s running, it’s no exaggeration to call it an infinite supply chain.
Because of that, I don't really spend money unless I’m shopping in Weed or other countries. My wives, however, are executives, so they spend plenty of money to take care of their subordinates or cover expenses during negotiations.
But I’m getting sidetracked.
"Ria, do you need to go shopping for anything?"
"Not particularly. The everyday clothes Narjia-san made for me are lovely, and Ratz-san showed me a catalog and provided me with some cute outfits as well."
"Ah, I see."
Ria hasn't been in Weed for long, so she probably doesn't know where to start. Besides, she’s already received plenty of clothes and sweets from Ratz and Riel. Given the standard of living on this continent, Ria is already living in luxury fit for royalty; it’s no wonder she’s at a loss when asked if she needs anything else.
"…Would you like to go to the bedroom?"
"No, let’s not. I’ll end up completely dried out."
"What a shame."
Why do all my wives think the same way? They aren't exactly exhibitionists, but they are far too aggressive toward me. I don’t dislike it, but my stamina is finite, you know.
"Still, we can't exactly go out shopping."
"We are technically still in the middle of preparing for an interception at the Demon Lord’s castle, after all."
In reality, we’re just working from home while our stand-ins take our place. If we played games, it wouldn't be that Ria wouldn't enjoy it, but I’d rather avoid a repeat of the Seraria incident.
"Hmm, then how about I think of a new dinner menu?"
"Dinner?"
"Yeah. You’re surprisingly fond of steak, aren't you, Ria?"
"Ah, yes. I could only eat meat during festivals back home. It’s different here, though."
Ria’s favorite is a thick steak topped with spices and steak sauce. Tori, Riel, Ratz, and Milly love it too. If they all start chanting "meat, meat, meat" at me, I feel like I’m going to lose my mind.
"Right, I suppose meat is a luxury item in this era."
"Yes. Though, the steaks you grill, Yuki-san, are so tender they melt in my mouth. The ones outside are always so tough."
Well, that’s to be expected. By this continent’s standards, "meat for consumption" usually means either an aged livestock animal or a monster. The former isn't raised specifically for food, so it doesn't taste great. Well, that’s assuming you’re judging by Japanese standards. In Japan, animals are raised with the intention of being eaten, so there’s a world of difference.
As for the latter—monster meat—adventurers hunt them, but it rarely hits the general market. Sure, there are monsters with delicious meat, but the wealthy and the nobility snatch those up. Also, meat doesn't circulate well because it doesn't store well long-term. At best, you get dried or smoked meat, so dishes that use fresh meat haven't really developed. I’ve been trying to spread various meat dishes starting with Weed, but it’s going to take time to catch on.
"Then, how about we make a dish that incorporates steak?"
"Incorporates steak? Are you going to make a lot of different dishes?"
"Ah, I’m not sure. That’s both right and wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"I’m only making one type of dish, but you could say it has a lot of variations?"
In the end, I didn't tell her the name of the dish and just had Ria help me out. I prepared the dough—crispy crusts and thick, regular crusts, which are the mainstream in Japan. Ria handled the prep work and finishing touches for the toppings as much as she could. All that was left was to put the toppings on the dough, sprinkle it with cheese, and bake it.
The dish was pizza.
It’s a staple delivery food in Japan, loved by everyone from children to adults.
"You’ve made another strange dish, haven't you?" Seraria remarked.
"Is this something like a pie?" Eris asked.
"It smells wonderful. Oh, is this pizza, like the kind found in frozen foods?" Ratz spoiled the surprise.
Everyone had their own thoughts, but it all converged on one thing:
"Can we eat it?"
And so, the battle for the pizza began. The first to disappear was the pizza topped with diced steak.
"Would you mind letting go of that?"
"No way, I grabbed it first!!" Milly and Riel glared at each other.
"Let’s just split it."
"That sounds like a good idea." Tori and Ria chose a more peaceful approach.
Next to go was the pizza topped with potato salad.
"I think I can still eat more."
"Indeed. Who knew potatoes could change so much just by being eaten with cheese like this..." Eris and Ratz were amazed as they reached for another slice.
And, of course, pizza requires the customary drinks.
"Ahhh!! This beer is delicious!!"
"Indeed. The wine goes well with it, too." Narjia-san and Seraria were enjoying the pizza as a snack for their drinks.
And above all else, pizza is...
"Big brother, it feels like a festival!!"
"…I suppose so. Since there are so many different kinds of pizza, everyone is walking around with their plates."
"Pizza is a wonderful dish. And since it’s handmade by you, Yuki-san, it’s the best. Isn't that right, Kirue?"
"Yes, it is truly delicious. Though, I always think that this leaves me with nothing to do..."
"Everyone, there’s delicious pizza over there!! Big brother, come this way too!!"
Pulled along by Firia, I walked toward the target pizza. Everyone was eating happily. It had a different vibe from our usual meals. Yes, this is the kind of food you eat while chatting and having a good time.
Well, hogging an entire pizza to yourself is a luxury in its own right.
I’m not wrong for thinking that!!