105: A Seafood BBQ

January 15, 2021 - 7 minutes read - 1381 words

“Oh! Isn’t that a scallop?!” Al

“Oh? What? Is that a special shellfish?” Rumba

While I was surprised to see scallops, Rumba came over. It’s delicious to eat scallops baked on a grill with butter and soy sauce. Butter and salt are great, but I would love to get some soy sauce. The alluring smell of soy sauce on a scallop…

“You seem acquainted with it, did you eat it in the royal capital? It seems that many people don’t know how to eat shellfish, but I love them!” Rumba

I went around the fishmonger and asked questions about the ingredients that resembled Earth ingredients, like wakame seaweed and sea snails (sazae). I also found some unknown ingredients I had to be introduced to. Before I realized it, it was time to head off to meet Triela for lunch.

“You two, it’s time to get lunch, let’s go.” Ilya

“Yes!” Al & Rumba

We’re not aware of the local area, so we obediently nod to Ilya’s suggestion. It feels like a school trip. I was looking at ingredients today, but it seems we’ll need to stay in the city for another two days. It takes a while to get ready for a sailing voyage. Even if I can’t look at any more food ingredients today, there’s still tomorrow. I’ll purchase ingredients and souvenirs tomorrow.

After thirty minutes or so following Ilya

We’re walking along a street east of the port that’s lined with many food stalls, it’s a lively atmosphere. A variety of people are walking on the street with us, there’s workers going for lunch, travelers wearing cloaks, adventurers, and ordinary people. Everyone is trying to find something tasty to eat.

The salespeople at the food stalls shout at the passerby’s in an attempt to turn them into customers for their stall. I hear grilling sounds, smell meat and fish cooking, which causes my stomach to growl.

Since it’s a port town with a thriving fishing industry, many of the stalls were making fish-themed dishes like grilled fish, baked fish, roasted shrimp, seafood soup, which I didn’t see in the royal capital. They smell so good, I wasn’t that hungry a little while ago, but it’s really hitting me now. I blame the smell of seafood that’s been suffusing the air for a while.

Ilya shouted happily as the noticed somewhere while I endured my hunger.

“Oh, we’ve arrived. There!” Ilya points at a square across the street.

Even though it’s a plaza, it’s not a gorgeous place with plants, benches, and fountains like a plaza from the royal capital. An open building is built in the center of the square, surrounded by tables and chairs. Most of them are filled with people and the place looks quite busy. There’s also shops and food stalls set up around the plaza, and people are going back and forth between the center and the outer stalls and shops.

“Yeah, there’s so many people. It’s like a festival in the royal capital.” Rumba

“The royal capital is so crowded it feels like every day is a festival.” Al

This kind of festive mood isn’t bad occasionally, but I like the calming atmosphere of Koriat Village. I don’t think I could stand living in a busy place like the royal capital day in and day out.

“By the way, where’s everyone? It’s difficult to spot them since it’s so crowded.” Al

“Everyone else is already sitting at a table, right over there!” Ilya says as she points to the center area.

When I follow where she’s pointing, I spot familiar faces.

“Oh, Alfred is here!” Triela

“Hey, you guys have been practicing toasts over and over! Now we do the real thing!” Mark

“Wow!” Al & Rumba

Triela waves us over, but it feels like Irving, Mark, and the other employees seem to have already had a few. Their faces are a little red and they’re holding wooden mugs. What do they mean by toast practice?

Well, I guess they didn’t want to wait so they started drinking already. We make our way through the throngs of people and tables and make it to their area. Grills and griddles are lined up next to the table with seafood cooking on them.

“Hey, Rumba and Alfred sit with us!” Irving

“Ilya is with me” Alisha

Rumba and I sit across from Irving and Mark, while Ilya and Alisha sit at another table with Triela and his secretary. When such a prim secretary comes to a freewheeling place like this, it feels a little off.

“Alfred gets orange juice!” Irving says as he pours orange juice into a mug for the child at the table.

“Hey, can I get some fruit wine that just looks like orange juice?” Al

I’m not allowed to drink alcohol even though I’m eating fresh seafood…

It’s sad that I can’t be part of the group.

“Don’t be stupid. If I let you do that, Alisha would have my head. This is what you’re getting, Alfred.” Irving

I’m willing to get back at you soon, I’ll repay this.

“Oh! There’s so many fish that I saw at the fishmonger!” Rumba says as he looks at the items on the grill.

There’s large scallops, clams, shrimps, sea snails, white fish, and many more are on the grill. The smell of seafood is permeating the air around us, it’s a seafood feast. The main dish is seafood, and the appetizers are seafood as well.

“Hey, Irving doesn’t have any vegetables.” Alisha

“It’s it fine since it’s seafood, not red meat?” Irving

There’s vegetables on the other table, but it seems the men-only table didn’t get any. I’ll be fine, but I wouldn’t mind some vegetables. I’ll ask for some later.

“Look at this guy! This is amazing!” Irving

Irving points to a certain noticeable something on the iron griddle that had been placed there recently. Most of the griddle is covered in fish steaks, but the center is a giant fish head looking towards the sky. Is this a tuna fish? Really though, it’s too large for a person to eat…

“That’s a big fish! It looks to be worth eating! The head is edible, right?” Rumba

I though nobody would eat it, but Rumba sounds like he’ll try it.

After we had been chatting for a while, Triela stood up at his table.

“Well, everyone! We’ve made it to the port town of Esprit! After a week of sailing, we’ll arrive at Kagura! There’s still more work to be done before we can set off, but today we’ll eat and drink to heal our weariness and nourish our spirits! Hurray for journeys!” Triela

We all cheer when we hear Triela’s last bit. Some say that food where you don’t have to pay for is some of the most delicious. I’m not entirely understanding of that view.

“Then, Cheers!” Triela

“Cheers!” Everybody else shouts as the raise their mugs to cheer Triela’s mug.

The mugs collide and some ale and wine splash out, but nobody cares. Everyone is talking with smiles.

“Irving, Mark! Cheers!” Al

“Oh! Hey, are you trying to mix orange juice into my ale?” Mark

“Haha, that’s what you get for trying to get me to drink seawater. Oops, Mark? Don’t you want to cheers with a nobleman like me?” Al

I’ll try to splash orange juice into Mark’s cup, then cheers with Rumba normally. The orange juice has the refreshing sweetness and sourness like normal orange juice. When I put down my mug, Irving slams down his mug.

“Augh! It’s got a weird orange flavor now, but I don’t care!” Irving

“It’s free! What should I drink now!” Mark

“What’s next!” Irving

I guess Irving just drained the mug, he’s pouring his next liquor into it.

When my thirst was sated, I looked over the items on the grill. Triela calls out to me then.

“I have a wonderful gift for Alfred!” Triela

“Hmm? What sort of wonderful gift?” Al

What is it? Is this the surprise you were talking about this morning? What are you about to give me? I’ll still act happy even if it’s minor.

Triela then put a small jar in front of me.

“Hey! I got soy sauce!” Triela

“What did you say?” Al