Chapter 018: Magical Drill Starts

Re-Translated by Gumihou

Please read this at kitchennovel dot com

 

After leaving the town Faliel, I started walking down the road with Fer.

Perhaps it was due to Fer’s presence but there were no monsters to be seen. [1] When I travelled from the Kingdom of Reijseger to Feenan, the carriage encountered all kinds of monsters such as Goblins and Grey Wolves.

Well, it’s a good thing that there were no monsters around, [1] but after a while, I got curious. [3] “Hey Fer, you can use magic, right?”

“Aa, of course.”

That’s right, he had used the Barrier magic before but, since I couldn’t see it, it really didn’t make a huge impression on me. I guess something like Fire or Water magic would be more visually exciting?

Although I’m an adult man, I felt quite excited about seeing magic. After all, I’m in a different world now, and furthermore, it’s magic! Magic! You know?!

“Do you think I can use magic?”

[6] Please say I can use magic. How unfair it would be if I can’t use magic in this magical fantasy world?

“Umu, you have Magic Power in your stats. So that means you can use magic.”

[6] Uwoooh! I’m super motivated now!

But, “How do I use magic?”

“What do you mean how? Just think about what you want to happen and make it happen,”

“…what do you mean by that?”

“Say you want to use Wind Magic. Just think about Wind Magic and it will happen. The same goes with Fire Magic,”

… what kind of explanation is that?! What kind of genius does he think I am?!

Wait, if magic depends on thinking. That means… imagination, right? I just have to think it into existence.

Kuuuh, let’s just try it.

If we’re talking about Fire Magic, it has to be Fireball, right?

Yes.

Fireball, fireball, fireball, fireball.

I reached out with my hand and called out “Fireball!”

… …

Shameful! Embarrassing! Aaahhhh!!!

“What are you doing?” [3] Fer was now rolling his eyes at me. [6] Ugh, I want to roll myself into a hole with shame!!

“You can’t use magic if you don’t circulate the magical power inside your body.”

“Eh? What are you talking about?” [5]

“Hmm, it’s hard to put it into words,” Fer came nearer and pressed his body closer so that I could touch him. “I am circulating the magic within my body now. Go ahead and feel it.”

Tentatively, I placed my hands on Fer’s back. Ohh, it’s warm, but it’s a different kind of warmth that has nothing to do with his fur or body temperature. I guess I’m starting to get it? Kind of? [5]

“Once you know how to circulate magic within your body, the next thing to do is bring it out through incantation or thought.”

Right. I don’t quite understand the whole concept, but I know enough to give it another try.

My magic source. The flow of magic within myself. The circulation of power along the veins of my body. The warmth…

The warmth is moving within my body and-

“Oi, I’m hungry,”

Aah, it’s that time again. “Alright, let’s have lunch. [5]

Leaving the magical practice to the side, Fer and I went to a small clearing by the roadside. Hmm, what should I make?

Since Fer is all about meat, meat, meat, let’s make some simple Pork Chops. Although we’re really making ‘Orc Chops’… but, Orcs are pigs right? So, Orcs are just… porc?

While I’m kind of uncomfortable about eating a bipedal pig, the Guild’s ossan told me that Orc meat is not only edible, but prized as high-class meat.

I have 5 Orcs worth of meat. So, it will be a huge waste if I don’t try cooking it.

If I really can’t face it, I’ll just let Fer eat them all.

To make the Orc Steak, first thinly slice the onions as well as the Orc meat. Then, in a different bowl mix together tomato ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, sake and a little soy sauce.

[8] Next, heat up a heavy pan with salad oil and stir-fry the onions. Once the onions are translucent, scrape them to the side of the pan as much as possible before throwing in the meat. Once the pork looks about done, I poured in the pre-mixed sauce and stirred everything to thoroughly coat the meat and onions with the red-orange sauce.

The sweet, sour and savoury smell brought Fer over.

“Umu, this is also pretty good,”

Oh good, it looks like Fer likes the Orc meat. [2] I guess I should try eating some? [6] I mean, my cooking is pretty decent and the Pork Chop looked really good. I hesitantly picked up a piece of pork and stuffed it into my mouth.

Chew, chew… hm?

This is… really good!!

It’s like, like, well, like high-quality pork!

Wow, Mister Orc is really delicious!

Orcs were damn ugly, but their meat is high-quality stuff!

Yes, yes, I can eat this. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say it’s pretty delicious.

“Oi, seconds,”

I had made myself a Pork Chop Sandwich, but since Fer looked kind of impatient, I stir-fried more Pork Chops for him first.

A short after-meal break later, we continued our journey.

As we walk, I practised circulating the magic within my body. [6] It was rather hard, but I did my best to work on it as much as I can. After all, this is an opportunity for me to use magic, so I don’t plan on slacking off.

 

Finally, I felt somewhat confident about trying again. [5]

I stretched out my hand, palm up and concentrate. Hmmm…..

“Fireball!”

Po!

A tiny flame, the size of candlelight, appeared on my hand.

… …

*Snorts!*

I guess I can’t blame Fer for snorting at me, but, but this isn’t a failure! I have made an actual flame on my hand you know?!

I started a fire from nothing!

…anyway, let’s just keep practising.

 

[Gumihou: Ahh, work hard Mukouda-san]

 

[1] Structural Change: Combine 2 paragraphs

[2] Structural Change: Combine 3 paragraphs

[3] Structural Change: Combine paragraph & dialogue

[4] Structural Change: Change passive sentence to dialogue 

[5] Delete Repetitive or Pointless Information

[6] Additional Information for Aesthetic Purpose

[7] Add Dialogue Tag

[8] Japanese Pork Chop – is made with thinly sliced pork that’s about 40g per slice. If you order this dish in a restaurant, you’ll probably get 4 slices of meat. So it’s very different from the Western idea of a ‘chop’.

https://www.abc-cooking.co.jp/plus/recipe/detail/?id=39272

By the way, I didn’t follow the original text for the recipe, because… it’s kind of suspect? I mainly use the steps from the link above. Also, I checked a few more links and while the ingredients for the sauce change, the cooks always stir-fry the onions first before the pork.

There’s a reason for this: Overcooked pork is tough!

Therefore, unless you’re planning to make a stew or soup, never, ever cook pork first before the onions. Sliced pork cooked through very quickly, for those who are worried about e coli or parasites, you don’t have worry about undercooking the pork since you’ll need to simmer it lightly in the sauce too.

Cooking the onions first gives you more control over the end result.

Here’s the original if anyone’s interested:

First, I sliced the onions, and thinly cut the orc meat.

After that, I mixed ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and sugar, and then added some alcohol and soy sauce to make the sauce.

I fried the orc meat on a frying pan, and added the onions when the colour changed.

I stirred the meat and onions, and when the onions became transparent, I threw the sauce into the pan. After a light stir fry, the pork chop is complete.