256: What is desired is vanilla beans.

"Hmm. Is it vanilla ice cream?"

"More precisely, vanilla ice cream with Sata's special mint added."

"Hmm, hmm... "

Zakurock, responding to Vilijiani's words, begins to ponder something.

Perhaps he's mentally sorting through which materials are needed to create what Vilijiani desires, simultaneously identifying which items can be scavenged from the Underlayer of Imperial Star Vanilla Sid, and deciding whether certain items should be sourced from the Middlelayer—where they're produced—rather than collected from the Underlayer.

It's undoubtedly a situation best left to professional chefs, so those relying on them should simply wait patiently.

"Then, what we should aim for is vanilla beans—perhaps even vanilla essence. Since the processing steps involving fermentation and drying can be shortened indefinitely with mods, if we're going to go to the trouble of using wild varieties, our priority should clearly be their aroma."

"Indeed. You're quite the professional, I see."

"????"

Zaclock then concluded that their target should be vanilla beans.

Vilijani nods in agreement, and I, Meqoxi, and Jhahris also quietly nod in approval.

However, some of Wami and the accompanying soldiers are puzzled—why focus specifically on vanilla beans? They tilt their heads in confusion.

Then, one of the soldiers raised his hand.

"Go ahead."

"Thank you. I have a question: I understand that vanilla beans are needed to make vanilla ice cream, and that's why we're seeking them. However, there are other ingredients required for vanilla ice cream, such as milk, sugar, and eggs. Are those acceptable as well?"

Hmm, hmm.

This is a meeting, and it's a legitimate question, so I should answer it.

But before I can answer, Zacrok and Vilijanira speak up.

"Um, sugar might be manageable, but it would be safer to avoid milk and eggs."

"What do you mean?"

As for those two ingredients, the quality is better when sourced from breeds that have been selectively bred within the middle class, and since superior quality directly translates to better results... unless you happen to find something exceptionally high-grade, using them would likely only be detrimental.

"In addition, there are issues such as inconsistent quality, illness, and parasites. No matter how skilled the chef, if the ingredients themselves are subpar, the resulting dish will suffer. Incidents like food poisoning are completely out of the question. Furthermore, evaluation in this regard is less subject to individual variation. In that case, it's safest to simply rely on the Empire's long-standing history and accumulated experience."

"I see. Thank you sincerely for taking the time to answer my rather impertinent questions."

Yeah, that's pretty much it.

Aroma and sweetness, for example, vary greatly from person to person—what one finds appealing, another might not, and each preference has its own merits.

But when it comes to straightforward aspects like quality and safety, almost everyone will give you roughly the same answer.

In such matters, it's better to rely on the finest products, not wild varieties, but those crafted through decades of accumulated skill and experience.

That’s precisely why what we must seek is the vanilla beans that serve as the core of the fragrance—few in number, but possessing the unique qualities inherent to their original species. They are precisely what’s required this time.

Moreover, if we were to source sugar from wild varieties, we’d need to gather a considerable amount of plants… so it’s probably safer to leave that idea behind.

Now that we’ve settled on vanilla beans, we’ll leave the matter there without further comment.

"I see. Then please wait a moment. I will search for areas within the current underlayer where vanilla beans can be collected, and determine a route to reach those areas."

"Leave it to me."

It seems locating the path will take some time.

At that moment, Zacrok turns toward me.

"By the way, what exactly is this special mint? If possible, I'd like to sample it first to confirm the taste."

"Um..."

"Sata. It's fine, but please be careful not to let it spread outside."

"Ah, if possible, I'd like fresh, boiled, dried, and grilled versions."

"Eh, um...?"

"Please try to make it happen, if you can. Oh, and if you do, please prepare two sets. I'm interested too."

Sata's suddenly very close.

Vilijanira's nearby as well.

Mekokushi and Joharis... ah, they're pretending not to notice each other.

To be honest, the other military personnel seem completely indifferent toward Wami as well.

Ugh... considering Mint's reproductive capacity, I personally would rather not have this here, but I suppose there's no helping it.

"Please wait a moment. I'll get it out now. But please read the warning label carefully and absolutely do not release it outside. I absolutely can't allow the Underlayer to become contaminated because of me."

"Understood. I'll be careful."

"Got it."

So, quickly process everything in the greenhouse.

Through the gate, dispatch the four requested types of mint to outside the greenhouse.

Also, during this process, adjust the pressure so that the greenhouse air doesn't escape here, and make sure to contain even the smallest scraps of fresh mint by using proper containers.

"Hmm, I see. This is quite interesting indeed. Now, regarding this taste... "

"I see. So this is what it tastes like. This is certainly..."

Zakrock and Vilijianira, having read the cautionary note before eating, immediately began carefully tasting the mint I handed them, one after the other.

Hmm, I hope this improves the quality when the goal is achieved... Well, it should be fine.

I know Zakrock's skills are reliable.

"Then, allow me to explain the route to the location where the vanilla beans are found."

Now, about what happens after we arrive at the lower layer.

I should listen carefully.