New chapter of Plant Magic Lord is out! (10/10 chapters)

Special appreciation to my Patreon supporters:

Jason, Cathe, Joao

Andrer, Isaac, Micaiah, Shawn

Thank you Andrer for being new Patreon supporter, I really appreciate it!

PS1: I’m currently offering Commission-based Translation Service. If you’re interested, kindly visit the Translation Service for Hire page. Thank you very much.

PS2: If you like my work, I really appreciate if you can support it through Patreon, Ko-fi, or Paypal. Any amount of donation is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

PS3: Click links here to read today’s chapter releases, Plant Magic Lord 81.

PS4: I really appreciate if you can spend some time to read it and if you extra time, you may click here to rate and comments about the novel in NovelUpdates. Thank you very much!

PS5: Please join my Discord channel here: https://discord.gg/TV7GwTDP, X/Twitter: https://x.com/bayabusco, and my Facebook: www.facebook.com/bayabusco.translation and Patreon: https://patreon.com/bayabuscotranslation. I would love to engage with you, share updates, and be part of a community that appreciates language and translation.

Elf Cuisine

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

The next day.

Today was a day off. After everything that happened it might have been the first full day off in a long time. There was truly no schedule today. Still even on days off I sometimes had to work not like in my previous life where I’d be called out and lose the whole holiday but whenever something or someone new arrived, I had to be there. That happened occasionally.

When I got up stretching, I noticed the weather was very nice. Autumn was almost over. It wasn’t colder than eastern Japan not just by feeling but actually. This world had near-modern magical technology including thermometers. This month’s highs were around 20 degrees, lows about 10. It was warmer than Hokkaido or Tohoku. Even in Zanzas, it seemed to snow little during midwinter. The climate was probably like western Japan.

Then, everyone woke up, and it was breakfast time. Usually, Wood cooked but today Stella volunteered. She wanted to make Elf-style food for a change.

“I have no problem with that…” (Elt)

“Thank you very much!” (Stella)

Before, Stella made a dish called Ice Dragon’s Fang. From my point of view, it was completely shaved ice.

Wood crouched down.

“Ugo ugo, is Stella cooking today?” (Wood)

“Yeah, it seems so… If Marcosias or Dia come, please play with them.” (Elt)

“Ugo ugo, got it!” (Wood)

Marcosias and Dia woke up late. Or rather, it took time for Marcosias with long hair down to her waist and Dia with fluffy fur to get ready.

I had carefully taught them how to groom themselves, but after that, I let them do as they liked. Stella’s bed hair was quite bad, but she quickly fixed it with a strengthening magic on herself, so it was not much of a reference. I only occasionally helped with her hands or mouth but mostly let her do it herself. Sometimes it was frustrating, but I had to be patient.

Dia was newborn but very intelligent. Her innate mana was strong, and she had to learn to control herself or else suffer consequences later.

Marcosias… well, I hoped he would gradually increase what he could do at his own pace.

“…Education is quite difficult.” (Elt)

“Elt-sama, aren’t you still on the receiving end of education? You are 15 years old, right?” (Stella)

“Ugh.” (Elt)

I was at a loss for words. That was right. I was still fifteen years old in this world. Although I was an adult, it was probably rare for nobles to be independent from their parents.

“In my memory, fifteen was still treated as a child… Those with mana lived collectively to become forest guardians. Others apprenticed under magicians. There was no one as independent as Elt-sama at that age.” (Stella)

“Are forest guardians like knights here?” (Elt)

“Oh, yes. Forest guardians was the term used in my homeland… It is like the knights of this country.” (Stella)

Knights were basically soldiers who used magic. They lived collectively to train their mana and prepare for emergencies.

By the way, I could not see what Stella was making because her back was turned. I thought she put something into a large pot. I could also hear a sizzling sound from the kitchen.

It seemed she was using a heating magical device. Our kitchen had both induction-like magical heating devices and ones that produced actual fire.

“To become a full-fledged forest guardian takes around 20 years old. Those entrusted with territories are probably a bit older…” (Stella)

“…Well, nothing happened here anyway. Even if mistakes are made, it won’t cause serious problems.” (Elt)

Stella kept moving and talking. Her movements were quite fast and skillful. She seemed to be taking out various spices. She took ingredients out of the pot, then added other ingredients. They looked like cabbage or vegetables.

A dish where you put ingredients in and take some out again?

Elf cuisine was unusual.

“Even so, it is difficult. Doing everything alone… And since the village has grown this big, you should be proud.” (Stella)

Stella’s movements suddenly stopped. Her ears twitched. I heard footsteps going down the stairs. It was probably Dia and Marcosias.

“Tou-sama, Kaa-sama, Nii-sama… good morning piyo!” (Dia)

“Good morning to you too!” (Marcosias)

They were full of energy. It was refreshing.

“Piyo, is Kaa-sama making the meal today?” (Dia)

“Yes, for a change… I am making a dish from my homeland.” (Stella)

Saying so, Stella began to shake the pot boldly. The ingredients flew through the air and returned into the pot.

“…Eh.” (Elt)

A splendid hand movement.

There is no doubt about it… but I had seen this sight before! Isn’t it Chinese cuisine!? It is exactly the way of shaking the pot that I often saw on TV.

“…Stella, that dish is…?” (Elt)

“I am just heating vegetables… but is it really that unusual here?” (Stella)

“Amazing, piyo! The vegetables are flying and returning, piyo!” (Dia)

“Ugo ugo, the hands are amazing!” (Wood)

Come to think of it, the only cuisines I know well in this world are my home country’s and this Zanzas region’s. After regaining my memories, I researched famous cooking styles here, but there was no Japanese cuisine. Soy sauce and miso did not exist no matter how much I searched. I stopped researching there.

“Yes, it is done!” (Stella)

On a large plate was stir-fried vegetables.

Vegetable oil and fragrant spices… Crispy cabbage, onion, and carrot. Hmm… visually it was definitely meatless Hoikoro.

“Gratitude for the blessing.” (Stella)

“Ugo ugo, gratitude for the blessing!” (Wood)

“Gratitude for the blessing, piyo!” (Dia)

“Gratitude for the blessing!” (Marcosias)

This phrase “Gratitude for the blessing” was like “Itadakimasu” in Japan. After finishing the meal, people said “Thanks to the gods.” That was like “Gochisousama deshita”. The order was because in the past, many people got sick from eating monster-derived ingredients.

If you finished eating safely, you should thank the gods. Now, how did this dish taste…?

*Munch, munch.*

Yeah, it was Hoikoro. It had a proper spicy and delicious taste. The vegetables were cooked perfectly.

*Munch, munch.*

Delicious… How many years has it been since I last had Chinese food? This is completely Chinese. It was the kind of high-quality Chinese food you eat at a restaurant.

Does Elf cuisine have similarities to Chinese cuisine…? Chinese food had been a blind spot. No one had cooked it or even mentioned it until now, so I hadn’t looked into it. Come to think of it, if I had doubanjiang or chili oil, this would be a dish I could make myself…

*Munch, munch, munch.*

Ah, the sharp tingle on my tongue is irresistible…

“How is it, Elt-sama? Does it suit your taste?” (Marcosias)

“Ah… It’s delicious. It has umami and spiciness…” (Elt)

“Ugo ugo, interesting flavor!” (Wood)

Wood had been eating quite a bit lately too. I shouldn’t think about how he actually senses taste. Dia was skillfully using a spoon to eat. Or rather, she was forcibly holding it with her mana. Apparently, it was not difficult for her personally. By the way, Dia was a Cockatrice, so she could eat most things. She was a creature much tougher than humans.

“Hafu, so tasty piyo!” (Dia)

“Spicy… but this is good!” (Elt)

“…Not spicy piyo?” (Dia)

“My lord, it’s quite spicy.” (Marcosias)

Marcosias didn’t stop eating but definitely didn’t give in here. Stella watched Marcosias eat while drinking water with a nostalgic look.

“…No change. It’s always Marsis-chan who writhes and complains about the spiciness while eating.” (Stella)

“So, that’s how it is…” (Elt)

“On the other hand, Dia seems strong against spicy food.” (Stella)

For me, this dish was mildly spicy. Honestly, it was a bit lacking.  Dia was also eating vigorously.

“I thought spicy food wasn’t common here… but it seems they can handle some level.” (Stella)

“Maybe it’s from their mother’s influence?” (Elt)

“If you say that, Elt-sama is eating it smoothly too…” (Stella)

Hmm, that’s true. The nostalgic flavor makes it hard to stop eating.

“But it’s really delicious. …How did you find the seasonings?” (Elt)

From what I saw from behind, she didn’t make the seasonings needed for Hoikoro on the spot. I don’t think she made them herself earlier either. So, the seasonings must have been procured beforehand from somewhere…

“Leia ordered them for me. It was difficult to obtain, but… for the first time, I felt grateful to those lined-up statues.” (Stella)

She said that and pulled out a small glass bottle from her pocket. Inside was a red-black liquid… probably something like doubanjiang.

“Can’t make it because the raw materials aren’t available? If the plants were needed, I could have produced them with magic.” (Elt)

“I could make it if I had the necessary spices… but I didn’t want to trouble Elt-sama. Also, I wasn’t sure if it would suit your taste. But now I can make dishes from my homeland… May I continue to borrow the kitchen sometimes?” (Stella)

“That’s absolutely fine. But…” (Elt)

I groaned.

This is perfect Chinese cuisine. Chinese food is a cuisine system that can conquer the world. So, why didn’t I know about this? I can guess to some extent. The spices and their fermented seasonings are probably not available outside the Elves’ homeland. At least, they weren’t among Naru’s available goods.

Only the Guild Master Leia could manage to procure them. It’s not food that ordinary humans can eat. That’s why Elf cuisine has become a minor cuisine in this world, I think.

“…Do you remember the talk about opening a dining place at the Adventurer Guild?” (Elt)

“Yes, it’s like the taverns you often find in Adventurer Guilds.” (Stella)

“Right… I want to serve more elaborate dishes if possible and make it a sightseeing spot too.” (Elt)

Stella seemed to understand what I was hinting at.

“…No way…” (Stella)

“If we advertise it as Stella’s homeland cuisine, everyone will want to try it at least once. Even if it’s rare and expensive, it won’t be a problem.” (Elt)

I said this with confidence. Stella’s fame and popularity were considerable.

“…But will it suit people’s taste? Elf cuisine tends to be spicy.” (Stella)

“I think it’ll be fine to some extent. People will come out of curiosity. Besides, it doesn’t have to be all Elf cuisine. Just a few featured dishes will do.” (Elt)

“I see…!” (Stella)

Stella’s eyes began to sparkle. Lately, I had started to understand this feeling too.

“Can you cooperate with the Zanzas’ Adventurer Guild and help create the menu?” (Elt)

“Yes, of course!” (Stella)

Good, good. This will give the Adventurer Guild dining place real impact. I can produce any spices needed with plant magic.

Hmm… I’ll ask Stella later if Elf cuisine has things like gyoza or ramen.

 

—

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)