The next morning, I take Yomogi, Chantal, Kimberly, and Pinna to the terrace garden. After last night's dinner, the girls had been buzzing with curiosity about what the ingredients actually looked like, especially the tomatoes, chilies, and strawberries. So now's their chance to see them up close.
As I open the door and step outside, the girls stop almost immediately.
Yomogi is the first one to speak, her eyes wide as she crouches beside the strawberry patch.
"Wow! Motegi-chan, look at this! There are so many!"
"Yeah, they really do."
And then, she points toward a group of tall colorful flowers swaying near it.
"What about those? What are they?"
"Ah, the pink ones are dahlias, and the golden ones are sunflowers. Do you like them?"
"I've never seen flowers like this before. They're so beautiful..."
But then...
"Blehhh! Ugh!"
I turn toward the sound and find Chantal, her face twisted in disgust with her mouth open, tongue halfway out, and eyes squeezed shut like she just licked dirt.
"What's wrong, Chantal?"
And then, I see her hold a small red chili on her fingers, which makes me laugh awkwardly.
"I picked one and ate it, it's so bitter!"
"Yeah... people don't usually eat chilies raw, you know?"
"But it tasted amazing last night! Spicy and hot!"
"That's because I cooked it first. Chilies are like that."
And she keeps complaining.
"Stupid plant."
Meanwhile, Kimberly gently lifts one of the tomatoes, cradling it in her palm.
"I've… never seen… fruits… so round… and red… before…"
"Well… technically, there's a debate. Some people call tomatoes fruits, but others say vegetables since they're mostly used in savory dishes."
And yeah, she blinks in confusion when I say that.
"That's… confusing… Motegi-sama..."
"Don't think about it, please."
Then, I crouch down to pick a few ripe strawberries and tomatoes and stand back up with them in my hands.
"Alright, which one do you want, girls?"
Yomogi and Pinna both reach for the tomatoes. Chantal and Kimberly take strawberries. Each girl bites into their pick, and their eyes go wide in an instant.
"Mmmm!!!"
Yomogi beams.
"This is so good, Motegi-chan! I can't believe the sauce you made came from this!"
"I told you, didn't I?"
Pinna nods.
"Flavor analysis: well-balanced acidity and natural sweetness. Texture: crisp skin, juicy flesh. Freshness level: exceptional. Conclusion: very satisfactory."
"Ahaha... is that so?"
Chantal's eyes half-lidded.
"This is fresher than the one in that dessert you made last night. Uh... what was it called again?"
"Parfait?"
"Yeah, that one!"
Kimberly hums.
"It's… sweet… and tangy…"
"You like it?"
And Kimberly just nods in delight silently as Pinna points out somewhere.
"Master, what are those tall plants over there?"
I follow her finger, and I'm surprised by what I see. The cacao tree has sprouted ripe pods. Next to it, the corn stalk is heavy with a golden cob. And I can already picture popcorn and chocolate in my head.
With that, I pluck one of the cacao pods and a corn cob, then turn to face them, holding the produce like treasure.
"These are two of the most amazing things to ever exist. We can make something incredible with them."
The girls look puzzled but curious.
"Kimberly, could you bring me some trays and cloths?"
"Of course… Motegi-sama…"
She disappears inside and comes back moments later, carrying what I asked for.
"What… are you going… to do… with these…?"
"Magic."
I set the trays on the ground under the fence, then split the cacao pod open and scooped out the beans inside. Once I've emptied it, I spread the beans out on the trays and drape the cloths gently over them.
"What is… this process… Motegi-sama...?"
"Fermentation. It'll take at least a week."
Then, I peel back the husk on the corn and hang the cob from one of the hooks. But because I think one isn't enough, I decide to duplicate it into many and make them neatly lined up like golden soldiers.
And Pinna quickly understands what I do.
"Are you drying them to remove excess moisture, Master?"
"Correct. It'll take about four weeks."
As we walk back, Chantal suddenly points to another corner with a puzzled look.
"Motegi-kun, I saw a strange plant over there too. What are those?"
"You'll see."
We arrive at the spot, and I crouch down beside the plant she mentioned. Its leaves are starting to wilt slightly, a sign that the roots might be ready. With that, I dig carefully into the soil to loosen the earth and slowly pull it up until thick, lumpy tubers emerge from the dirt.
I turn back to the girls, lifting the large tuber in one hand.
"This one here is called a potato. It's a type of vegetable."
"Ooh! Is it delicious?"
"Of course, Chantal!"
Yomogi's eyes sparkle at the potatoes.
"Motegi-chan, can I make stew with these?"
"Of course! And not just stew, you can make something more from potatoes."
With that, I bring them back inside, and the girls trail me close behind excitedly.
Once in the kitchen, I bring the harvest to the sink and begin rinsing the dirt from the potatoes, and then I pat them dry with a cloth.
From my dimensional inventory, I pull out a peeler, which I made from my [Blacksmithing] and [Carpentry] skills and I've been keeping for this moment, and get to work on the potatoes. As I peel, I turn to Yomogi.
"Yomogi, can you give me a hand?"
"Yes, Motegi-chan!"
"Cut the potatoes into pieces about the size of a finger."
"Okay!"
She picks up a knife and makes a careful slice as she asks me for confirmation.
"Like this, Motegi-chan?"
"Perfect. Now toss them into a bowl of water."
"Why?"
"If you don't, they'll turn bad."
"Ah, I get it!"
Yeah, let's say that's the simplest way to call "oxidize." This is a medieval world after all, and I'm not like Pinna, who says everything scientific bluntly.
And just like that, I peel, and she slices and submerges the pieces into the water. Once we're done, I gently massage the potatoes to rinse away the starchy layer and drain them.
Then, I transfer the pieces to a pan filled with water and a pinch of salt. After that, I twist the Fire magic stone knob, and the flame ignites beneath the pan. Once they're boiled just right, I lift them out and spread them across a rack.
And then...
"Wind Breeze!"
I cast that Wind spell to cool them down quickly, which is also kinda similar to a fan.
When they've dried enough, I deep-fry them until they form a light skin. Once finished, I put them into the freezing box.
Pinna, watching silently until now, asks me.
"Master, why are these not eaten immediately?"
"Because this is the best way to enjoy them later. And besides, don't we still have a store to open?"
"Confirmed."
"Yup, then they should be ready for lunch."
Then, I dry my hands and look at the girls.
"So, shall we do it now?"
"Yes!"
They answer in unison and rush off to the wardrobe room to change into their clerk uniforms. A few minutes later, they return, and we head downstairs.
I take my seat at the counter while the girls push open the door and step outside, welcoming everyone.
"Welcome to our store! Please enjoy your visit!"
And just like that, customers pour in as our second day is officially underway.
LUNCH BREAK TIME
After the crowd thins out, I stand up from the counter and stretch as I declare to the girls.
"Alright, it's lunch break, girls!"
"Yay!"
Just like that, they close the store and we go upstairs. As we climb the stairs, they excitedly ask questions.
"Motegi-chan, are you really going to make that potato?"
"Of course, didn't I say they'd be ready by lunch?"
"Mmm, I can't wait! This better be good, Motegi-kun!"
"That potato… I'm… very... curious…"
Then, I'm caught by what Pinna says.
"Based on your previous meal patterns, Master, I estimate a 91% chance that you are about to prepare something high in oil, low in fiber, and… nutritionally questionable."
"Ah! Ahaha... umm... can you please not talk about it, Pinna?"
Once I arrive at the kitchen, I immediately get to work.
First, I mix up mayonnaise with diced pickles, minced shallots, chopped capers, a bit of dill, and a zest of lemon. Once it's blended smooth, I set it aside.
Next, I open the freezing box and pull out the main ingredients: five thick sturgeon fillets and the batch of parboiled, lightly fried potato slices from earlier.
Yes, I know saltwater fish is the common option, but honestly, it's a bit hard to find it here since marine products in this world come from the country of Oserin. And it somehow makes me really want to visit that country someday.
Then, I pour a generous amount of rapeseed oil into the pan and set it on the stove. As it heats up, I prep two bowls: one with flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, ginger powder, and just enough Heiligeichen beer to form a thick, bubbling batter. The other bowl is a dry mix, just flour with a bit of salt and pepper.
Next, I season the fillets with salt, then dust each in the dry mix before dipping them into the beer batter. And once the oil's hot, I slide the fillets in gently and fry each one until deep golden and flaky. After that, I move on to the fries, dropping them into the oil until they're crisp and golden brown.
When everything's ready, I lay out five wooden plates and assemble them: one golden fillet each, a mound of crispy fries, a lemon wedge, and a scoop of the sauce on the side.
Then, I call out to the girls.
"Alright, can I get some help here?"
"Coming!"
With that, each of us grabs our plates and carries them to the table. As we take a seat, Yomogi's eyes go wide delightfully.
"What is this, Motegi-chan?"
"This is fish and chips."
Chantal's ears perk up immediately, and her lips are drooling like her inner feline instinct has awakened.
"Fish?! Wait, really? Ohhh… It smells amazing!"
Kimberly smiles at her plate, and I tease her a little.
"It already… looks… delicious…"
And Pinna speaks up again.
"As expected, this dish exhibits the typical hallmarks of high-fat, high-sodium cuisine. I am concluding this is now a normalized household pattern."
"Just this once, okay?"
With that, I glance to the girls.
"Well then, shall we eat?"
"Yes!"
And the moment they take the first bite, their eyes close and they moan delightfully.
"Mmmm!!"
Yomogi beams.
"The fish is so crispy! And the potatoes… they're soft and crunchy at the same time!"
"You like it, Yomogi?"
"I love it, Motegi-chan!"
Chantal grabs another fry, chewing enthusiastically.
"The potatoes are amazing! And it's been forever since I had fish! Glad to know the people here know how to catch the good stuff."
Kimberly murmurs as she takes another bite.
"Everything… is so new… Motegi-sama…"
Then, she points at the sauce with her fork.
"And what… is this…?"
"That's tartar sauce, Kimberly."
"It balances… everything…"
And Pinna adds her usual commentary again.
"Texture: flaky and moist. Flavor profile: savory-forward with mild citrus tang. Nutritional evaluation: energy dense. Despite being objectively unhealthy, the overall composition is… satisfactory."
"Come on, sometimes unhealthy food just tastes better, you know?"
And then, we dig in and enjoy every bite. I take mine and murmur to myself.
"Yup, this is really good."
And just like last night with the tomatoes, chilies, and strawberries… introducing potatoes to the girls is another success for real.
HOURS LATER
REMANTIA'S LABYRINTH, TWENTY-SECOND FLOOR
After lunch, we reopened the store. And by closing time, we earned around 550,000 yen for our second day of business.
Then, as usual, once the store was closed, I teleported myself, Yomogi, Chantal, and Kimberly to the labyrinth again as Pinna stayed back at the mansion to focus on my appliances task.
And right now, we're walking through the twenty-second floor. Our goal today is to reach the twenty-fourth floor, and honestly, it was the three girls who suggested it to me.
After that crispy fish and chips and another day of strong sales, they're more fired up than ever. So, if they're like this, all I can really do is follow their lead.
Yomogi and Chantal take the front like always as I walk behind them with Kimberly beside me.
But then, Yomogi and Chantal come to a halt, and we instantly know what it means.
Yomogi sniffs the air, narrowing her eyes.
"It's coming."
Chantal's ears twitch as her daggers are already out.
"Yeah, I can hear it too, Yomogi."
Kimberly nods.
"I'm… ready..."
Yup, here we go again.
Even though we're living in a brand-new mansion now, not much has changed. We still run the store together, head into the labyrinth by nightfall, eat delicious foods, travel to new places in between, have wild sex at night, and repeat the same patterns.
And I'll continue to live this kind of life and enjoy this quiet, comforting rhythm.