New chapter of Single Old Man is out! (1/1 chapter)

 

 

Scarlet Camellia and Camping (2)

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

“Hey!! Time to wrap it up and start cooking!!” (Rosso)

While I was engrossed in fishing, Rosso came up to me in a swimsuit.

A red bikini… this girl seriously has an amazing figure. Not just the twin-tails, her chest is bouncing too.

Looking over at the tent, smoke was rising… looks like Blanche is starting the fire.

Ao smiled brightly at me.

“Big catch, huh.” (Ao)

“Yeah, since it’s a sea bream, it’s a big catch, get it?” (Gentoku)

“…??” (Ao)

Sorry, that wasn’t a sea bream, was it? That made no sense.

I wanted to punch myself for that dumb line as I grabbed the bucket and headed to the tent. I lit the magic lamp and placed the fish I caught onto the cutting board.

“Pretty big. By the way, Ossan, can you even cook?” (Rosso)

“Fufufu. Don’t underestimate me, I’ve been living single for 15 years!” (Gentoku)

Right away, I used the back of the knife to remove the scales, gutted it, and chopped off the head. After making a clean three-piece fillet, Rosso, who had been watching, looked surprised.

“Whoa, amazing. You look like a real chef!!” (Rosso)

“Fufufu. I’m good at handling fish. Glad this world’s fish can be prepped the same way…” (Gentoku)

“This world’s fish?” (Rosso)

“Ah, just talking to myself. By the way… should you be helping over there?” (Gentoku)

“I’m totally useless when it comes to cooking. But Blanche is super good. Ao’s good at cutting fish too.” (Rosso)

“Huh…” (Gentoku)

“So, what are you making?” (Rosso)

“Let’s see… looks like sea bream, but maybe I’ll pass on sashimi. For now…” (Gentoku)

I sprinkled salt over the fillets and let them sit, dusted them with flour, heated some butter in a frying pan, and added the fillets. Once they were nicely cooked, I moved them onto a plate.

“Butter sauté… yeah, that’s good.” (Gentoku)

“Oooh, that looks delicious~!! Hey, hey, can I have a bite?” (Rosso)

“Yeah, go ahead.” (Gentoku)

Looking at the campfire stand, it had turned into nice embers.

I set a grill on top and placed some ayu-like fish I’d also caught, aside from the sea bream, sprinkled with salt, and started grilling them directly.

“Delicious… Ossan, this is so good!!” (Rosso)

“Definitely tasty… ugh, you just grilled it normally, right?” (Ao)

“Munch munch… More, please.” (Blanche)

“…Hey, why are you eating all of it?” (Gentoku)

My butter sauté… they ate it all. Well, it’s fine. There’s more to cook.

I tossed all the leftover bones and head from the sea bream into a pot, added water, and let it simmer.

“Alright, simmer it for a while, season it with salt… and the salt broth is done.” (Gentoku)

By the way, I later learned that this sea bream-looking fish is actually called “Reddai,” and it’s apparently super delicious.

Well, let’s just call it sea bream. A delicious sea bream you can catch in a lake.

I sautéed the remaining tai fillets in butter, grilled the ayu-like fish until nicely done, and with the salt broth finished, I brought out the cheese I’d bought in town for snacks, along with some whisky.

“Done. My super delicious camp meal is complete!!” (Gentoku)

“““Waaah!!””” (Rosso/Ao/Blanche)

The three girls clapped… wait a second.

“Blanche, what about your food?” (Gentoku)

“It’s almost done! Since we have a ton of fish today, I made them all grilled fish~!!” (Blanche)

You… You grilled over twenty fish… seriously? Looking closely, around the campfire, there’s a ring of fish skewered and roasting. I’ve seen that kind of street food setup before. Well, can’t be helped… maybe I’ll have a little.

“You girls have cups? I’ll share some of my salt broth with you.” (Gentoku)

“Really!? Yay!! I’ve been thinking that pot smells amazing!!” (Rosso)

“Ufufu, I’m happy.” (Blanche)

“Score.” (Ao)

I poured salt broth into their cups. Since it was a good opportunity, we all sat and ate together.

“Well, let’s eat. Itadakimasu.” (Gentoku)

“Delicious… what is this soup!? It’s amazing!!” (Rosso)

“…Fish heads? You made such delicious soup from parts you can’t eat…” (Blanche)

“More.” (Ao)

The salt broth was a hit.

Yeah, it’s good. The broth is really good. The grilled fish is also great, and the butter sauté pairs perfectly with whisky. I got to try one of Blanche’s grilled fish too. Yep, that’s definitely salted mackerel.

“Ojii-sama, could you teach me how to make this soup?” (Blanche)

“Sure. But I don’t know if it’ll work with other fish, so try it yourself.” (Gentoku)

“Hey, hey, Ossan. This cookware really is easy to use! It’s called a cooker, right?” (Rosso)

“Yeah. I’ll make one for you guys too.” (Gentoku)

“Yay!! Thanks so much, Ossan~!!” (Rosso)

And then, I noticed Ao was gone. Wondering where she went, I spotted her in front of Hikuroku.

“Ah, it’s Hikuroku’s food. That’s Ao’s job.” (Blanche)

“Huh…” (Gentoku)

And then, I suddenly froze, staring at Ao.

“Hikuroku, here’s your food.” (Ao)

“Woof woof.” (Hikuroku)

The food bowl… she was putting something into it.

“Ojii-sama?” (Blanche)

“Ossan, what’s wrong?” (Rosso)

“Ah, no… what do you feed Hikuroku?” (Gentoku)

“It’s ‘Zatsumai’ for dogs. Something wrong?” (Ao)

“…Wait a second!!” (Gentoku)

I suddenly rushed over to Ao.

“Eh? W-What’s wrong?” (Ao)

“No way…” (Gentoku)

I stared at Hikuroku’s food bowl.

Because what was in there—

“Th-This… isn’t this rice!? Rice!! RIIIIICE!!” (Gentoku)

That’s right. Rice existed in this world. Unbelievably, it existed… as dog food.

 

—

 

After the meal, we were chatting while drinking some warm tea.

“Zatsumai is a wheat subspecies, mostly used for livestock feed. You didn’t know, ossan?” (Rosso)

“N-No clue… livestock feed, seriously? Do people eat it?” (Gentoku)

“Nah, we have bread. People don’t eat it. It’s dog food.” (Ao)

“…Where can I buy it? Where is it grown?” (Gentoku)

“You’re really curious. You can just buy it at any general store in town. I think domestic farmers grow it normally.” (Blanche)

“…I see.” (Gentoku)

“Ojii-san, you’re totally going to buy it.” (Rosso)

Of course I’ll buy it. It’s rice!! Wait a sec.

“Hey, do you still have that Zatsumai?” (Gentoku)

“It’s for Hikuroku, so yeah, lots.” (Ao)

“Give me some!! I’m making it for breakfast tomorrow!!” (Gentoku)

There’s still fish left… and I have a mess tin, so I can cook rice!! It looks like brown rice… seems they just removed the husk from the stalk. It hasn’t been polished.

That’s fine. Now I have a goal: build a “rice cooker” and maybe even make sake by contracting with a rice farmer… I once did electrical work at a sake brewery and got a factory tour, so maybe I can do it!!

“Kukkukkukkukku…” (Gentoku)

“…He’s laughing. Is he okay?” (Rosso)

“Shall I use healing magic?” (Blanche)

“…It feels like he’s going to make something tasty.” (Ao)

That night, since Rosso and the others said they’d take turns keeping watch, I took the liberty of sleeping. It had been a long time since I went camping. With excitement for tomorrow’s breakfast in my heart, I fell into a deep sleep.

 

—

 

The next morning.

I stepped out of the tent and stretched big… Blanche was reading in front of the campfire.

“Good morning, Ojii-sama.” (Blanche)

“Yeah, good morning… yaaawn.” (Gentoku)

“Fufu, you slept well, didn’t you?” (Blanche)

I slept great… that sleeping bag felt amazing. I quickly boiled some water and brewed coffee.

“Um… is that tasty? I’ve never had that drink before.” (Blanche)

“It’s called coffee. Want to try it? It’s super bitter though.” (Gentoku)

“V-Very bitter, huh…” (Blanche)

“Hahaha. It’s better with milk and sugar. If you come to my place next time, I’ll make it for you.” (Gentoku)

“Yes. Fufu, you’re so kind, Ojii-sama.” (Blanche)

“Hahaha. Maybe only to the young ones?” (Gentoku)

“Oh my, is that so? Fufu.” (Blanche)

I sipped my coffee, bathed in morning sunlight.

Ah, perfect. Alright, time to prep breakfast.

“Hey, what about breakfast?” (Gentoku)

“Let’s make it when the other two wake up.” (Blanche)

“Then, I’ll make it for you guys. It’s just Ossan’s cooking though, is that okay?” (Gentoku)

“Y-Yes.” (Blanche)

I lightly toasted the bread I brought, spread butter, layered in lettuce, tomatoes (from this world, there was a different name, but this was easier), lightly grilled some bacon, and added sliced boiled egg. The soup was leftover salt broth from yesterday. As I warmed it up, the other two woke.

“Moooorniiiing… yaaawn.” (Rosso)

“Nnngh… Slept so good.” (Ao)

“Hey Rosso, don’t come out naked!!” (Blanche)

Wha—Whaaaat!! I almost turned around!!

But with a will of steel, I didn’t. Once I confirmed Blanche had shoved Rosso back into the tent, I slowly turned back.

“Y-You okay?” (Gentoku)

“Yes. Ojii-sama, you’re a gentleman. I respect you.” (Blanche)

“Hahaha… alright, breakfast’s ready. Dig in!!” (Gentoku)

On the table were the sandwiches and salt broth. After seeing the three of them start eating, I prepped my own breakfast.

The rice… I washed the rice I got yesterday and placed it on the campfire.

Normally you soak it, but today it’s fine.

After about fifteen minutes, bubbles started forming, so I took it off the fire, flipped it, and let it steam. Meanwhile, I grilled some fish in a frying pan.

Salmon would’ve been ideal, but oh well.

Once it was done steaming, I opened the lid.

“Oooooh… R-Rice!!” (Gentoku)

“““Oooooh!!””” (Rosso/Ao/Blanche)

“Whoa, too close.” (Gentoku)

Before I knew it, all three had gathered around. I put the grilled fish on the rice and, with my personal chopsticks, began eating.

“Itadakimasu!! …Delicious.” (Gentoku)

It’s rice. The taste of rice. Ahh, so good… I can’t believe I’m eating rice in another world. Using livestock feed… I never thought of that. I’d looked around food stores before but never found it. But now, rice is in my hands.

“…Thanks, everyone.” (Gentoku)

“O-Ossan, are you crying?” (Rosso)

“It’s my first time seeing a man cry.” (Blanche)

“…It’s dog food, right? But it looks tasty.” (Ao)

And so, the camp brought new discoveries, and a fateful encounter with rice.

Thank you, Scarlet Camellia… I’ll never forget today.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)