26: Chips & Juice

"Alright, first up are the vegetable chips."

"Made from freshly harvested vegetables grown in the Groglobeeta star system—sliced thinly, fried in a special plant-based oil, and seasoned. That's right, isn't it?"

"By the way, while the Groglobeeta star system is famous for these, they're produced by a major corporation and exported across the empire's star systems. So this time, we've also prepared some variations beyond the basic version."

Vegetable chips.

The packaged snack was commonly seen in shops throughout the Hilartrazugumi star system.

Manufactured by Bonebone Hatch Company, a major confectionery maker with a presence throughout the empire.

There appears to be a large-scale production colony in the Grogrobeta star system that handles everything from raw material production to processing for Bonebone Hatch Company.

Additionally, the company's most famous product is a snack made from sweet potatoes, distinct from the vegetable chips introduced this time.

Now, this time around, there are what seem to be a classic salted flavor, a similarly classic one lightly dusted with sugar, a regionally limited special flavor with a floral aroma, and another that simply cranks up the umami to the max.

Let's start with the salted flavor.

"The base vegetables used are potatoes, carrots, eggplants, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, zucchini, tomatoes, lotus roots... Well, there really are quite a few."

"Yeah, the colors are vibrant too... delicious, isn't it?"

Yeah, it's just like the usual taste.

The dish, prepared with nothing more than thinly sliced vegetables fried in oil and lightly salted, directly showcases the natural flavors of the ingredients.

But that's exactly what makes it good.

The subtle sweetness of fresh, properly prepared vegetables, each with its own unique aroma, spreads across the mouth, delighting our tongues.

Incidentally, in the days before mods, such products reportedly lost some of their nutritional value during processing.

But now, thanks to the effects of mods, nutritional loss has been minimized to the lowest possible level.

That's just my opinion, but eating one bag a day should provide sufficient nutrition from vegetable sources, don't you think?

"The sugared version is just as delicious as always."

"I agree. Personally, I find this one more like a snack, and I prefer it."

Moving on to the sugared flavor.

Even the sugar is from the Glogrobeta star system... but still, it tastes just as usual.

Still, it's slightly softer compared to the salty version—this subtle difference, carefully crafted to highlight the distinct flavors, is what makes you appreciate the skill of a top-tier company.

"Madam Vee, Master Sata. This one has a floral fragrance, and this one enhances umami."

"Sniff sniff."

"Hmm, hmm."

Continuing on, we have a limited-region trial product.

It's the kind of item that, if it sells well here, might even be shipped to various parts of the empire.

As for the floral aroma, it seems they're enhancing the scent of each vegetable chip's base vegetable—its flower—while adding it.

The scent is kept from mixing through the use of mods...

It feels like a product that's hard to handle, even though it's definitely in the delicious category—maybe it's not necessary to go to such extremes in quantity.

Hmm, perhaps it would be better to limit it to just one type or a few similar-scented vegetables?

There's no doubt it delivers a good, earthy flavor—so I really hope they keep working on refining it.

As for the umami enhancement, it's definitely kelp.

Yeah, kelp.

The scent of kelp is overwhelmingly strong.

It's as if I'm eating pieces of kelp shaped like vegetable chips.

There's a slight sense that it's not quite working out.

Personally, I'd prefer if the umami were enhanced in a way that better preserves the original flavor...

"I need a palate cleanser."

"Yes, indeed."

For now, I drink some fruit juice to refresh my palate.

Vilijaniola has regular apple juice.

I drink the mixed fruit juice that was touted as a new formulation.

"Indeed, the Grogloveta star system never fails. Even commercially available apple juice has undergone advanced breeding improvements."

Moreover, although we refer to it as "apple juice," the actual products come in dozens of different varieties.

This is not only due to the different apple varieties used, but also because each product prioritizes different qualities.

This time, Villigianira has chosen a refreshing drink, smooth on the palate and somewhat akin to water—though not quite that simple—something that's simply easy to drink.

Yet, the variation is so great that some products are overwhelmingly thick, others have a texture resembling freshly grated apples, and still others come close to tasting medicinal—such is the range found in the juice made from a single agricultural product native to the Grogrobeta star system.

"Hmm... this... 10... 20... no, maybe 30? Even my tongue can't quite pin it down."

As for the mixed fruit juice I'm drinking... well, it's chaotic, to say the least.

From the sharp sensitivity of my tongue—far beyond that of an ordinary human—I can detect at least thirty different fruits and vegetables blended together.

Nutritionally, it's top-tier, and as for taste... it seems to have settled around the level of a slightly sweet juice, probably due to the high performance of the mods added for quality stabilization.

If I drink one of these every day, and just take in the right amounts of calories, protein, and fats, it feels like my nutritional needs would be fully covered.

The quality of the fruits and vegetables used is consistently high... but what's slightly concerning is that even within this high standard, there's a subtle variation in quality that stands out.

But if it's only noticeable at the level my palate can detect, then it probably isn't an issue for the average person.

Incidentally, the new formulation differs in ratios, the specific agricultural products used, or even in the mods compared to the original version.

Yeah, I haven't tried the original, so I can't really compare.

"Well, in any case. I'm satisfied."

"That's right. Oh, Satā, could you handle the rest?"

"Of course."

Besides, my stomach capacity and Vilijaniira's are obviously completely different, so naturally it's up to me to clean up the leftover vegetable chips after she's finished.

Throw them away? There's no way I'd waste something like that.

Eating them all at once? No, I'll savor every bite properly.

Overeating? Well, my body is colony-sized, so this is just a negligible amount.

In short, I finished it all without a hitch.

Yeah, it was really delicious.