Chapter 55 - Drinking Party
Gail and Dan arrived at the usual training ground in the forest.
"Young Master, how about doing some practice swings before we start?"
"Yeah, let's do that. I haven't touched a sword these days. In the meantime, could you chop up the wood scraps from Bossman into wood chips?"
"I've been wondering, what are you going to use them for?"
"I'm going to use them for smoking meat. You can also smoke fish and other things."
"Smoking?"
"It's a cooking method that uses smoke to add a smoky flavor to the meat. This will also make the meat last longer, although not as long as dried meat. You drink too, right? I think it would go well with alcohol."
"I see, I'm looking forward to it."
Dan started chopping up the wood scraps.
“Then, let's get started too.”
*thud*
Eh...?
*thud*
I can't do the vertical cut that I used to be able to do easily....
After several tries, Gail was finally able to swing his sword down through the gap without hitting the boards.
They say a swordsman's skill isn't acquired in a day. I only neglected my sword training for a few days, but my senses have already dulled. I'll try not to slack off from now on.
Gail ended his training after he managed to do vertical, horizontal, and diagonal cuts without hitting the boards.
This is enough for now. I still have other things to do today.
"Dan, learn earth magic, too."
"Earth magic? Me?"
"That's right. I want you to be my dummy until it becomes public that I can use magic."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It's fine here, but it'll be necessary when I need to use earth magic somewhere else."
Dan grumbles, wondering when it would be necessary. Gail then went to build a smokehouse a little away from the cabin.
The base image is that of a small household storage shed. The walls don't need to be thick, so I can make them in one go. Next add a chimney for ventilation on the top.
Hmm, what should I do about the door? Calling Miguel all the way here just to make one door seems a bit much. Let's just make it out of earth. Even if it's a bit heavy, Dan can open and close it for me.
Gail opened a hole in the wall and make a three-tier shelf out of earth inside.
Oh no, we don't have hinges. How do we open and close the door? For now, I'll make it removable and improve it later.
Okay, that should do it.
Gail looked at Dan. He was still trying to active earth magic while groaning. Gail then went over to him and created a small earth dome with magic in front of him.
"I want you to be able to make something like this at least."
"The earth doesn't budge at all."
"First, look at this earth dome and keep the image in your head. Then slowly, channel your magic power into the earth, just like when you use Fighting Spirit."
"Okay, I'll try it again.... Hngghhh..... Hngghhh...."
The ground was slowly rising.
"Good. Now imagine the earth dome slowly takes a shape."
"Hngghhh..... Hngh!!!"
"H-Hey, slow---"
*baam*
The ground exploded.
"I said S-L-O-W-L-Y, didn't I?"
"M-My bad...."
Gail spat out dirt that had gotten into his mouth.
He is like an old turbo engine that just goes full throttle out of nowhere. It's too dangerous to be near him.
"Do it again! I'll watch from a distance this time."
The ground exploded two more times after that.
“Dan, I think magic isn't really for you."
“Don’t say that. I need magic for my goal.”
“Goal?”
"I want to be able to use magic properly so that Pops will make me a magic sword."
Come to think of it, when Dwan gave me a magic sword that time, he also said something about wanting one too. Does he want magic sword that badly?
“Dan, even if Pops makes you a magic sword, as you are now, your magic power will run out in an instant.”
". . . . . . . . . ."
“This is a good opportunity. Learn to control your magic power with earth magic. Otherwise, I’ll tell Pops that it’s too dangerous to give you a magic sword.”
“N-No way.…”
Dangerous things are dangerous. I'll make magic power control Dan's homework.
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The day of the party. Brick was given two days off, so after breakfast, he immediately went to the forest with Gail and the others. Aina would take Bent around the city later this afternoon, and they would spend the night at an inn there.
Bent, you will have Aina all to yourself until tomorrow, so go ahead and be spoiled. Now then, there’s a lot to prepare from the morning.
"Brick, we're going to make bacon now, so arrange the salted ribs from the other day on the shelves inside this small shed."
It hasn't been long, so the curing is a bit shallow, but that can't be helped. The moisture has decreased considerably and the salt on the outside is mostly washed off, so the meat shouldn't be too salty.
Brick did as he was told. Underneath the shelves, Gail tossed in the hickory chips and light the fire.
"Brick, move the ribs a little further to the side."
The fat from the ribs could drip onto the chips as it heats up and cause a fire. Just in case, let's make something like a tray to collect it.
Brick's eyes widened when Gail created an earth tray with magic.
"Y-Young Master, what did you just do...?"
"I made a tray to collect the dripping fat so it won't fall on the burning wood chips just to be safe."
"No, that's now what I want to know...."
Brick seemed to be surprised by Gail's magic.
"If you get surprised by something like this, you won't last long."
Dan told the surprised Brick.
He'll get used to it eventually.
After confirming the wood chips were burning and producing smoke properly, Gail told Dan to close the door.
"Dan and I will go hunting now. In the meantime, Brick and Misha, please prepare the vegetables for the soup and make some tartar sauce."
Before left, Gail made some ice and filled the water jug with magic.
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"Young Master, what are we hunting today?"
"Chickens and, if possible, a fawn."
"I don't think we will be able to find fawns around this time of year."
Don't deer usually give birth in early summer?
"Then, I'd like the smallest one possible."
"Got it."
The two hunted two chickens and brought them back to the cabin. Brick would take care of the butchering while they went back hunting.
"I hope we can find a small deer. What kind of dish are you planning to make, Young Master?"
"Roast beef.... Well, we are going to use venison, not beef."
"What kind food is that?"
"The inside looks raw, but it's actually been cooked thoroughly."
"Are you going to feed us undercooked meat?"
"Meat becomes tender and delicious when cooked slowly at a low temperature. It's not the same as undercooked."
"I see, so that's why you're going with a fawn."
"Yes, because I need meat that’s as tender as possible this time."
The two found a big and a small deer that appeared to be a mother and her child, and hunted only the child. Gail felt sorry for the mother, but he decided that both their lives were of equal weight.
"Hey, we're back!"
"Oh, a baby deer...."
Misha reacted when she saw the lifeless little deer on Dan's shoulder.
Maybe we shouldn't have shown her?
"The meat must be tender."
No, never mind. It's just meat in her eyes.
"Young Master, I've finished butchering the chickens. What should I do next?"
"Use the bones to make broth and cut the meat into bite-sized pieces. We will use half for fried chicken and the other half for soup."
"Should I mince the portion for the soup?"
"No, just leave it as is. Today we're not making meatball soup."
"Yes."
Brick replied energetically and started working.
"Young Master, please wash off the blood."
Looks like the deer has been butchered too.
Gail washed off the blood with water magic and told Dan to cut the meat into bite-sized pieces for barbecue while leaving the loin part as a whole.
Even a small deer has a considerable amount of meat. Will we be able to eat it all? Oh well, if there's any left over, I can just turn it into dried meat.
Alright, all the preparations are done with this. Next, let's teach Brick how to make the new soup.
"Brick, let's make soup now."
"Yes!"
Brick replied energetically. He was full of anticipation for a new dish.
"First, sauté the chicken, potatoes, carrots, and onions in the chicken fat."
Brick sautéed all the ingredients with a pleasant sizzling sound.
"Next, add them to the chicken broth we made earlier and let it simmer. Misha, remove the foam that rises to the surface to prevent it from boiling over."
Gail left the simmering to Misha.
"Brick, dissolve the flour in the milk."
"Flour in milk?"
"Yes, we're making a dish called cream stew, so we're adding flour and milk. You can use this base for other dishes too, so remember it well."
It takes time to sauté the flour in butter and then add the milk, so this is a kind of mock white sauce where the flour is dissolved beforehand.
"Don't worry if lumps of flour form since we'll strain it with a mesh ladle later."
Brick stirred the milk and flour mixture with his practiced hands.
"Misha, how is the soup?"
"I think the vegetables are all cooked."
"Got it. Brick, take that pot off the stove for now."
The pot was quite heavy with everything inside it, so Gail told Brick to do it.
"Now, pour the mixture into the soup while straining it with a mesh ladle."
"Done."
"Put the pot back on the stove and let it simmer again over a small fire."
Brick stirred the stew carefully so as not to crush the vegetables.
"It's getting thicker."
"Stir the bottom of the pot too, so it doesn't burn."
Gail added salt to the stew and tasted it.
Hmm, it's a little bland.
Next, Gail added a table spoon of honey for little sweetness.
Yeah, almost there.
Lastly, Gail added cheese a little by little by grating it.
It's got more depth of flavor now. If we added sautéed mushrooms in butter, it would be even better, but this will do.
Gail let Brick, who was watching him season the stew with great interest, taste it. His eyes instantly went wide.
I've gotten used to that expression by now.
Next is roast beef.... or venison? Oh well, that's not important.
"Brick, poke holes in this meat with fork, sprinkle some salt, and then rub it with olive oil."
Brick did as he was told.
"Next, sear the entire surface of the meat over high heat until it turned brown."
Once seared, Gail told Brick to wrap the meat in leaves, tied it with string, and put it in the oven on very low heat for about 30 minutes.
"Okay, the preparation is complete. Now we just need to wait for Pops and Bossman to arrive."
It's well past lunchtime, so everyone is skipping lunch.
While Gail and the other were taking a break, Dwan arrived.
"Kiddo, I've made what you asked for."
Dwan showed Gail a barrel and mugs he brought. He made them from aluminum alloy, so they were shining with a dull silver light.
"Thanks, Pops. I'm sure something good will happen today."
"I'm not asking anything anymore."
Dwan sulked, thinking Gail wouldn't tell him even if he asked what they were for.
"Big Bro, you're already here?"
Miguel also arrived not long after.
It's a bit early for dinner. Maybe I'll have them enjoy some snacks and drinks. The bacon should be just about ready.
"Dan, open the smokehouse door."
There was almost no smoke coming out of the chimney anymore. When Dan opened the door, Gail saw that the bacon was perfectly cooked.
If you eat it immediately after smoking, it will taste a bit bitter, so let's use wind magic to air-dry it.
"It'll be a little while before dinner is ready, so have some of this while waiting."
"What is this, dried meat?"
Dwan looked displeased.
Well, even I wouldn't like it if dried meat was served at a party.
"This dried meat smells kind of nice."
Miguel sniffed it. Misha watched him with her finger in her mouth.
Well, we skipped lunch.
"Misha, you should eat some too."
As soon as Gail said that, Misha sat down next to Dwan.
"What the hell is this!?"
Dwan and Miguel were surprised after trying the smoked bacon.
"Booze! Bring me the booze!"
You are drinking already? There's only regular ale at the moment.
The beer called ale in this world was flat and served at room temperature. Dwan and Miguel started gulping it down from the aluminum mug. Dan looked restless, so Gail handed him a plate of bacon and told him to join them.
"Brick, since the party seems to have already started, let's finish up the main dishes."
While re-heating the stew, Gail had Brick fry some karaage (fried chicken).
Alright, time for me to do my part.
Looking at the aluminum barrel with a spout, Gail was sure it was meant for alcohol. The spout was fitted with something like a cork. Fearing it might fly off due to the pressure, Gail used magic to modify it into a screwed-on spout.
"Brick, fill this metal barrel with ale."
It was too heavy for Gail to carry, so he asked Brick, who was frying chicken, to do it. Two wooden barrels' worth of ale was poured into the aluminum barrel --- around 20 liters in total.
Next, I will use magic to chill it ice-cold and make it super-carbonated. But even if I fail to carbonate it, just chilling the ale should make it taste much better.
The air around us was mostly composed of two main gases: nitrogen and oxygen. Other gases, such as carbon dioxide, which was needed for carbonation, didn't even make up 1% of the air's content.
Carbon dioxide, in other words CO₂....
Gail imagined collecting the chemical symbols for carbon dioxide (CO₂) floating around him and forcing them into a metal barrel.
More, gather more.... and push more....
“Now, close it, quickly!”
Gail had Brick tightened the screw-on spout just in case he didn't have enough strength to do it.
"Dan, carry this metal barrel over there. Misha, help me carry the food."
It's supposed to be a party to celebrate the completion of the cabin, but it's started around the barbecue grill outside, so let's just move everything there.
The party had started rather haphazardly as the food kept coming one after another. No one said a word, they continued to devour the fried chicken, stew, and bacon.
I forgot the roast beef.... I mean, venison.
Oh well, I can just serve it for later.
"Brick, you should eat too."
Dwan called out to Brick and started eating with him.
"Your skills seems to have improved!"
Dwan praised Brick while gobbling down his food.
"No, I simply followed Young Master's instructions...."
"I know that. But you're the one who actually made it, right? I'm not going to ask for the knife back."
Brick scratched his head with an awkward smile.
"Tih-ih-sho-helihus!"
Misha, don't talk with your mouth full.
“Hey, kiddo. What did you do with the barrel I gave you?”
Dwan asked Gail.
“I just filled it with ale, so try drinking it.”
Upon hearing this, Dwan put his mug to the spout and twisted it in one go.
*pshhh*
The mug becomes full of foam.
"W-What the hell is this!?"
“You poured it wrong, watch me!”
Gail discarded the foam and put the mug to the spout.
“You pour it like this so it won't overflow with foam.”
Gail personally preferred it without foam, but he poured it the traditional way for Dwan.
“Here, drink.”
Dwan immediately drank the ale, paused for a moment, then gulped it all down.
“What is this?! Is this ale? It exploded in my mouth! But what flavor!”
Hearing that, Miguel poured himself a mug and drank it.
“What have I been drinking so happily all this time…?”
Dan also poured himself a mug and drank it.
"Brick, you should try this ale, too. It’s your job to think of dishes that go well with it.”
Brick took a gulp after being told that and made the usual face.
“Misha, you can’t drink alcohol yet. You’re only fifteen.”
Misha puffed her cheeks. Gail then poured white grape juice into a mug and made it fizzy for her. He also poured a glass for himself.
It’s a mock champagne. The glass is not fancy, though.
"Hawawawa!"
Misha was surprised by her first carbonated drink.
“This makes the meat go down so easily!”
Misha ate even more fried chicken.
Normally, drinking non-alcoholic soda fills you up, though.
"Brick, let's finish the roast meat before you get drunk."
Gail took Brick back to the kitchen. He told him to remove the leaf wrapping from the roast meat and set aside the spilled meat juices. For the sauce, Gail had Brick sauté chopped garlic in olive oil until fragrant, add the meat juices from earlier, red wine, then let it reduced by half before adding some grated onion.
"Now then, slice the meat around this thick."
Brick did as he was told.
"The inside is still not fully cooked yet, Young Master."
The meat was perfectly cooked, but to Brick, who had never seen such a dish before, the meat looked undercooked.
"Meat gets tough at high temperatures, but if you cook it slowly at a low temperature, it won't get tough and will turn out like this. Try some before you put the sauce on it."
Brick took a bite the undercooked-looking meat and his eyes instantly went wide.
“Tasty, right? Beef round is usually tough, but if you cook it like this, it will become tender and delicious too. It gets even better with the sauce, so remember the taste.”
Brick served roast venison to everyone after that. Gail thought they wouldn’t be able to eat anymore, but once they realized it wasn’t undercooked, they started eating it ravenously.
"Red wine! This will go well with red wine!"
Dwan started asking for some red wine. Meanwhile, Misha was stuffing her mouth with roast venison as if she could eat a whole deer by herself.