Chapter 107 - The Imitation Meat Ravioli and the Witch’s House
Translator's Note: Let's start off the month with an additional chapter 😸
The carriage heading towards the Green Tower now carried only Volf and Dahlia.
On their way back from the magical tool shop, the “Goddess’ Right Eye,” they had passed by Ivano’s house, so they dropped him off first. As for his request to “return to the Merchant Guild and do a bit of overtime,” Dahlia had firmly rejected it.
“Volf, do you have any plans for later?”
“Not really... I was actually planning to invite you to dinner, but I forgot my change of clothes back at the barracks.”
“I’m sorry for making you go out of your way on a workday...”
Volf had likely rushed over after finishing his training with the squad. By this time, he would usually have already had dinner.
“If it’s alright with you, Volf, how about we test the improved expedition stove while having dinner? Fermo-san and I have been working on it since the day of our meeting, and I also have some pre-made dishes ready.”
Since the day of the meeting with Ivano and Fermo, Volf hadn’t visited the Green Tower.
As a knight of the royal castle, busy with monster subjugation and training, Dahlia hadn’t been able to call him over.
“Thank you, as always. I’d be happy to join you.”
Today, Volf, who usually worried about being a bother, nodded without hesitation.
Dahlia felt relieved and began mentally going over the dinner menu.
Upon returning to the tower, Dahlia lit the magic lamp at the entrance and headed to the second floor.
As she carefully climbed the stone stairs, Volf held the magic lamp for her. The light, coming from a much higher position than usual, brightly illuminated Dahlia’s feet.
Ever since the day they created the “Crawling Magic Sword,” she had been slightly bothered by the tower’s darkness, so this small gesture made her happy.
When the two magic lamps on the second floor were lit, the room became quite bright.
Dahlia opened the window and turned on the cool wind fan, but it didn’t seem like the heat would dissipate anytime soon.
After handing Volf a towel and a glass of white wine, she hurried to her room to change into her house clothes. She couldn’t possibly cook in her work clothes, especially not with the menu she had planned for today.
Suddenly remembering something, she rummaged through her closet before returning to the second floor.
“Volf, that shirt of yours... wouldn’t it be bad if it got dirty?”
“I have a spare, so it’s fine.”
Though he had taken off his knight uniform, the shirt underneath was white.
Moreover, it was a silk white shirt that would undoubtedly make the laundromat cry if any colored ingredients splattered on it.
“If you’d like, you can use this. It hasn’t been worn yet.”
“Whose is this...?”
What she handed to Volf was a black summer T-shirt. It was probably one size larger than Volf’s usual size.
He looked at it with a confused expression, so she reluctantly gave an explanation she’d rather not have to say.
“It’s... mine. It’s cool to sleep in. Oh, but I haven’t worn this one yet! It’s a spare.”
“Thanks. I was actually drenched in sweat...”
Volf raised one arm slightly to reveal the extensive sweat stains. It was no wonder, given that he wasn’t wearing summer clothes.
“You really need summer knight uniforms.”
“We only have to wear it twice in the summer. During ceremonies in this season, we stuff towels into our backs and compete to see who can keep the coolest expression.”
“What kind of training is that?”
“Something about maintaining composure and spirit. Afterward, the one who breaks their expression or sweats the most buys drinks for everyone. It gets pretty lively.”
“I see, so that’s part of the whole set.”
“Yeah, otherwise, it’d be unbearable.”
Volf’s exhausted expression hinted at the harshness of ceremonies under the blazing sun, attended in all-season uniforms. Dahlia couldn’t help but worry if they might suffer from heatstroke in such attire.
“If only there were some magical tool to keep you cool.”
“True. I heard there was a senior who once carried an ice magic stone on his back and ended up with frostbite.”
“...At least he didn’t freeze himself.”
It seemed that in the face of extreme heat, some people resorted to equally extreme measures.
Ice magic stones had high output but short durations, making them difficult to use by themselves.
Dahlia, who had once frozen Volf’s hand along with a dagger during the creation of a magic sword, had deeply reflected on that incident.
“Is the monster subjugation unit’s budget tight?”
“It’s decent, but like everywhere else, we’re told to cut costs. We’d rather spend on weapons or expedition expenses than on clothes we rarely wear.”
“I’ll do my best to keep the expedition stove affordable.”
“Please, for the sake of our expedition meals.”
Volf said, adopting a formal tone, which made them both chuckle.
Dahlia decided to let Volf change while she headed to the kitchen.
She took out the two improved expedition stoves and a tray from the refrigerator. She also drained the water from the lightly pickled cabbage, daikon, and carrots and placed them on a plate.
As she took out some ale from the fridge, Volf arrived, so she asked him to carry it to the living room.
“Is this... ravioli? It’s an unusual shape.”
“Well, it’s ‘imitation meat ravioli.’ I made the dough with just flour and filled it with a mix of ground meat and vegetables.”
What she described as “imitation meat ravioli” was, in fact, a dish from her previous life—gyoza. However, since such a dish didn’t exist here, it was easier to explain it as something similar to ravioli.
The royal capital had a wide variety of ravioli.
From the standard ones filled with ground meat, vegetables, and cheese to seafood versions, healthy vegetable-only options, and even dessert-like ones with fruit or jam fillings.
The sauces were equally diverse, ranging from tomato and cheese to basil, chili, and even sweet sauces.
Grocery stores sold bottled sauces and dried ravioli skins, making it a common dish.
But gyoza was gyoza.
That afternoon, Dahlia had mixed strong and weak flour in equal parts and kneaded the dough with determination. She then rolled it into thin circles to make the wrappers.
Gyoza had been one of her father’s favorite dishes, so she was somewhat accustomed to making it.
If Volf came, she’d serve it; if not, she’d freeze it for later. With that in mind, she had prepared two types: one with a standard filling of ground meat, chives, and cabbage, and another with shrimp, onions, and cabbage.
She had wrapped them diligently and arranged them on a tray, only to realize she had made far too much. There wasn’t enough space in the freezer, so if Volf hadn’t come, she’d end up eating gyoza for several meals in a row.
She was truly glad he had come.
“The imitation meat ravioli... looks delicious.”
Volf already had high expectations, which made Dahlia a little nervous.
But setting that aside for now, she placed the two improved expedition stoves on the table.
They were slightly larger than the ones from the previous meeting but still much smaller than the compact magic stove.
The day after the meeting, Dahlia had used scrap magisteel to create a pot with a bellows attachment, while Fermo handled the surface treatment.
They had also made several versions of the lid-cum-frying pan, which Fermo had treated, and Dahlia had tested extensively in the kitchen.
The result was an incredibly non-stick frying pan, perfect for grilling meat and even making flawless omelets. Fermo’s wife had also tried it and was delighted.
The main body of the stove hadn’t changed much in appearance, but it had been significantly improved.
To prevent tipping, the center of gravity had been lowered, and eight gummy feet had been added for stability. This ensured it wouldn’t slide even on slightly uneven surfaces.
The reflective material for the fire magic stone was already safe by design, but Dahlia had added extra precautions.
This was a lesson learned from the incident with the “Freezing Magic Sword,” where Volf’s hand had been frozen. She had considered scenarios where users might apply unexpected force or place flammable materials underneath.
She had also reinforced the lock mechanism to ensure it wouldn’t ignite during transport.
For now, she felt she had done everything she could.
“All right, let’s get started.”
She placed the gyoza in the pot and lit the stove. Once it heated up, she added half a cup of water and covered it with the lid-cum-frying pan.
“Just that much water?”
“Yes, we’re steaming them. We’ll wait about five minutes.”
As Volf watched the pot intently, Dahlia quietly poured red ale into his glass.
“Shall we toast while we wait?”
“Sure. Today, it’s your turn.”
“Hmm, let’s toast to mastering the royal castle etiquette and wishing for good fortune tomorrow.”
“To the prosperity of the Rossetti Company and wishing for good fortune tomorrow.”
They clinked glasses and drank the red ale, which had a slightly strong acidity and a robust flavor. The refreshing carbonation hit their throats, followed by a faint fruity tang on their tongues.
The lack of a strong aroma was likely due to it being slightly over-chilled.
But when thirsty, this level of coldness was just right.
By the second or third cup, when it’s slightly lukewarm, she couldn’t help but think it was the perfect time to savor the aroma—perhaps that was just the nature of a true alcohol lover.
As they drank, time passed, and Dahlia quietly removed the lid. Confirming that the gyoza were perfectly steamed, she decided to wait a bit longer.
“We’ll wait a little longer to let them crisp up.”
As they waited for the moisture to evaporate and the bottoms to brown, Volf made a slightly awkward face.
“Um, Dahlia...”
“It’s fine, this is how it’s supposed to be.”
The gyoza, fused together by the shape of the pot, their skins turning golden brown, and the crispy edges spreading around them, would undoubtedly look like a complete failure if judged as ravioli.
Once the gyoza had reached the perfect color, Dahlia transferred them to a plate and placed condiments in front of Volf.
Since she hadn’t had time to make a sauce, she laid out salt, pepper, vinegar, chili-infused oil, fish sauce, tomato sauce, and powdered cheese. Given that gyoza weren’t a common dish here, she had prepared a variety of options.
“These are already seasoned, but feel free to add whatever you like.”
“Okay...”
Dahlia decided to eat first to ease his nerves.
She separated the stuck-together gyoza with her chopsticks and dipped half of one into a small dish of vinegar, chili-infused oil, and fish sauce.
Taking a bite, the savory mix of steamed meat and vegetables filled her mouth with warmth.
As she chewed, the texture shifted from the softness of the wrapper to the crispiness of the browned bottom and the crunchy edges, creating a delightful contrast.
The wrapper might have been slightly thick, but considering this as the main dish rather than a side, it felt just right.
After savoring the hot gyoza, Dahlia took a sip of the red ale. There was hardly a more perfect combination than this.
In her previous life, she had loved pairing gyoza with beer, and it seemed this combination worked just as well in this life.
Before reaching for the next gyoza, Dahlia glanced at Volf across the table.
Seeing him with his eyes closed, happily chewing away, she already knew the answer before asking. She quietly refilled his empty glass with red ale.
“This is really delicious... Is there some special meat in here?”
“No, it’s just discounted pork belly and regular vegetables.”
“Do any restaurants serve this?”\
“Maybe in foreign countries. As for domestic ones, I’m sorry, I’m not sure.”\
“It’s strange. Every time I come here, I encounter dishes I’ve never had before, or familiar ones that taste incredibly good... It’s like the ‘Witch’s House in the Forest.’”
\
The “Witch’s House in the Forest” was a common children’s picture book.
It told the story of a hungry boy who, despite his parents’ warnings, ventured into the forest and found a small house.
Though he had been taught not to enter strangers’ homes, an enticing aroma drew him in.
Inside, the witch who lived there served him one delicious dish after another, things he had never seen or heard of. Eventually, the boy tried to thank the witch and leave, only to realize he couldn’t exit through the door.
The story ended there.
The moral was unclear—whether it was about listening to one’s parents or not overeating.
“Does that make you the boy who’ll be fed until he’s round and can’t leave the witch’s house?”
“And that’s how I end up trapped in the witch’s house, right? If I get that round, I’ll definitely become monster food,” Volf replied.
“But you’ll be stuck at the door before that happens, so you’ll be fine.”
The last page of the “Witch’s House in the Forest” showed the boy transformed into a large sphere, unable to pass through the door.
It seemed less like he had overeaten and more like the witch had turned him into something else entirely.
“...Should I just let myself get round?”
“You’re the type who doesn’t gain weight no matter how much you eat though.”
While laughing and talking, they finished off the first plate.
“I’ll cook some more, so please enjoy these in the meantime.”
“Thank you. I’ll dig in.”
Volf, munching on the lightly pickled vegetables she recommended, looked younger than his age. The high number of chews suggested he liked them quite a bit.
“This is also delicious... I eat salted vegetables often, but this is different. What’s this aroma... It really complements the dish.”
“It’s yuzu.”
“Yuzu, huh. So this is what it’s like when it’s paired like this. Whenever I think of yuzu, I always picture it soaking in white liquor.”
“Yuzu wine? That’s good too. Do you drink yuzu wine, Volf?”
“Sometimes in winter, I drink it mixed with hot water. It warms you up.”
Dahlia thought it might be nice to make some yuzu wine for winter by soaking yuzu and rock sugar in white liquor.
A yuzu wine mixed with hot water would pair well with soy-marinated flatfish.
As she cooked a second batch of gyoza with a different filling, Volf stared oddly at the pot, not moving an inch.
“...Could we dry these and take them on expeditions?”
“That might be difficult. Freezing them would be a different story though.”
Drying gyoza would undoubtedly cause them to spoil.
Besides, the idea of frying frozen gyoza during an expedition felt somewhat off.
“Calling them ‘imitation ravioli’ now feels disrespectful... Given their shape, are they like leaf-wrapped dumplings?”
“Those actually exist, don’t they? The ones wrapped in leaves?”
“Yeah, they do. This is tricky...”
She felt a little sorry for him as he seriously pondered the question.
As for this dish, it might be best to just go ahead and mention the name.
“My father used to call them... ‘gyoza.’ Is that okay?”
“Yeah, it feels like the name captures the essence of their deliciousness. ‘Gyoza.’”
As Dahlia served the newly cooked gyoza, Volf thanked her and took a bite.
He paused for a moment, then chewed slowly and thoughtfully, then took a sip of ale.
Watching him exhale and bask in the aftertaste, Dahlia couldn’t help but laugh.
“Dahlia...”
“...Yes?”
Volf, noticing her amusement, paused with his chopsticks. In his right hand, he firmly held the glass of red ale.
“This one is also incredibly delicious. Is the filling shrimp?”
“Yes, it’s shrimp and vegetables. I made two types today. Which do you prefer?”
“What kind of difficult choice is that?”
“If you can’t decide, I’ll cook both alternately. There’s still plenty.”
“Both are delicious, and I’m really happy, but choosing between them is tough...”
“Understood. Next time, I’ll make different varieties. Maybe chicken, vegetable-only, or even a cheese version.”
“How far do you plan to make me struggle with these choices...?”
Volf, narrowing his golden eyes in mock distress, was a delight to watch.
The next tray of gyoza had a slightly spicy seasoning, but Dahlia decided to quietly focus on frying them.
She thought it might be fun to try fried gyoza or water-boiled gyoza in the future.
“...I really might end up like the boy in the ‘Witch’s House in the Forest.’”
Dahlia let out a big laugh at his words that came out with a sigh.
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