New chapter of Single Old Man is out! (2/2 chapters)

 

 

Man’s Solo Life and Rice Bowls

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

Today was a day off.

I was sitting on the sofa at home, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. The newspaper contained reports of heinous crimes in town, job advertisements, and a page with new product information from the Alexandrite Trading Company. The content read, “A New Step in Daily Life, the Bicycle”.

It seems that bicycle sales were imminent.

“Oh. It is already quite a topic… Ah, I see, it must be Rosso and the others.” (Gentoku)

The newspaper indicated that the topic was already circulating in town. Apparently, many adventurers had become curious after seeing Rosso and the others using bicycles for transportation. Rosso had unwittingly promoted them by shouting, “New product from the Alexandrite Trading Company!!” so that they were already attracting attention even before being released.

Moreover, there was even a map of the stores. Some branches of the Alexandrite Trading Company were withdrawing from selling magical tools to become specialty bicycle shops.

“…Are there even custom parts already? That Yeran is amazing.” (Gentoku)

There were not only bicycle catalogs but also custom parts.

Materials for tires, wheel shapes, streamlined cowl parts, and even spiked tires. I could envision scenes of decorated bicycles speeding through the town.

Ah, young people today probably do not know about deco-chari… well, this is another world, so no one knows anyway.

I closed the newspaper, finished my coffee, and lit a cigarette.

“Now then, what shall I do today…” (Gentoku)

“Nyaa.” (Daifuku)

Daifuku came down from the second floor.

I usually brought him home on the day before a day off. She immediately curled up on her special living room cushion and closed her eyes.

“…Come to think of it, I have not exercised recently. Well then, I might as well do some DIY today.” (Gentoku)

I decided to go into the garden to make something.

 

—

 

After about an hour of crafting, it was finally completed. At that moment, the doorbell rang, and Sandrone and Richter arrived. Seeing me, they immediately came toward the garden and tilted their heads as they observed what I had made.

“…What is that?” (Sandrone)

“A wooden dummy. It is a type of training equipment. I have not exercised recently… My grandfather always told me to strike it every day, but I have been slacking off.” (Gentoku)

A wooden dummy is a training apparatus used in Chinese martial arts.

While a sandbag is used for striking practice, the wooden dummy is made of wood. A vertical log has three protruding stakes at mid-height and one at the bottom. The three stakes represent the opponent’s arms, and the single bottom stake represents a leg. Practitioners strike it imagining an opponent’s movements to train for combat.

I assumed a stance and struck the wooden dummy with my fists.

“Ho ho, yoh.” (Gentoku)

*Thwack, smack!*

My fists and feet struck.

It had been a long time since practicing martial arts. My body was rusty… I decided to thoroughly regain my senses today.

Richter watched with interest.

“Gentoku-san. You are a practitioner of martial arts… This is a style I am unfamiliar with.” (Richter)

“Well, even in my world, it is not a widely known martial art. It is different from karate, judo, or taekwondo. It is a martial art handed down directly from my grandfather.” (Gentoku)

At that moment, Sandrone interposed a folding fan in front of my face.

“Hey, I would like to talk for a bit. Is that alright?” (Sandrone)

“I am off today, but…” (Gentoku)

“Just a little. About what we discussed in Zanad.” (Sandrone)

“…Zanad?” (Gentoku)

The sea nation, Zanad… Something happened there, did it not? Well, since she came all this way, I might as well listen.

 

—

 

We went inside and sat in the living room.

Sandrone smiled at Daifuku and sat on the sofa. Richter remained standing behind Sandrone. I served coffee to Sandrone and sat across from her.

“So, what is this about Zanad?” (Gentoku)

“It is about a food business. You had been considering rice bowl dishes, primarily featuring sweet potatoes, had you not? We at the Alexandrite Trading Company also want to enter the food industry.” (Sandrone)

“Now that you mention it, I think we did talk about that.” (Gentoku)

I lit a cigarette, and Sandrone took out a kiseru while Richter lit it with a match.

“Phew… I have already contracted with sweet potato farmers and secured produce in agricultural warehouses. Some 40 beastkin with culinary experience have applied to transfer from Amethyst Cleaning to the Alexandrite Trading Company to become cooks. They are already training at local restaurants. Eventually, they will demonstrate their skills at restaurants opened by the Alexandrite Trading Company.” (Sandrone)

“Furthermore, we have secured locations for the restaurants. For now, about ten.” (Sandrone)

“Y-your preparation is excessive…” (Gentoku)

“Next, we need your recipes. You have them, do you not?” (Sandrone)

“Well, I do have them.” (Gentoku)

In truth, I often made them at home… rice bowl dishes.

Katsudon, tendon, steak bowls, egg bowls, tekka don, pork bowls, beef bowls. There was also porridge and Chinese-style rice bowls… For a man living alone, rice bowls are standard. I had made so many variations.

I brought my recipe notebook from the kitchen.

“This contains every rice bowl dish I have made during my single life!! Sweet potatoes… They are a limitless ingredient!! A marvelous food!!” (Gentoku)

I became slightly excited.

Sandrone and Richter merely glared at me, so I cleared my throat.

“This is my treasure… I will not give it away lightly. If you want it, then you must compete with me!!” (Gentoku)

“…Do you really enjoy putting on such a performance?” (Sandrone)

“Come on, join me a little. Well, it was a joke.” (Gentoku)

I placed the recipe notebook on the table. Sandrone flipped through it, speaking with interest.

“Heh… this is amazing. All dishes I have never seen before.” (Sandrone)

“Since you are here, shall we have lunch at my place? I will make any rice bowl dish you like from this notebook.” (Gentoku)

“Very well. Then… I will have this beef bowl.” (Sandrone)

“And Richter?” (Gentoku)

“May I also have one? Then… I will have this oyakodon.” (Richter)

“Leave it to me. Now, I shall show you my manly cooking!!” (Gentoku)

I stood and headed toward the kitchen.

 

—

 

I made the beef bowl and the oyakodon.

First, I cooked the sweet potatoes. After they steamed nicely, I began cooking.

I prepared two pots, each containing water, sake, fish sauce, sugar, otherworldly ginger, and otherworldly onions, simmering them slowly. Into one pot, I placed minotaur meat, and into the other, cockatrice meat, and simmered. Into the cockatrice pot, I poured about half of the beaten eggs and cooked for 30 seconds, then added the remainder.

The cooked rice was placed into bowls, and the contents of each pot were arranged on top. No pickled ginger was available, so I forgave the omission. I garnished the oyakodon with chopped otherworldly mitsuba.

Thus, it was complete.

Simple is best.

“Done. A man’s solo life otherworldly beef bowl and a man’s solo life otherworldly oyakodon.” (Gentoku)

“…That name. You will need to rename them for the restaurant. But… the aroma is wonderful.” (Sandrone)

“Indeed. Are these… eggs?” (Richter)

The two began eating immediately with spoons.

“…!!” (Sandrone/Richter)

“Ho ho. How is it, a man’s solo life rice bowl meal?” (Gentoku)

“…Delicious. I am amazed… Truly amazed.” (Sandrone)

“Indeed, it is surprising that such a meal can be made with sweet potatoes.” (Richter)

“Heh, how is it? A man’s solo life rice bowl is supreme, is it not?” (Gentoku)

“You do not need to keep saying it is a man’s whatever meal. This will sell… Richter, expedite the restaurant renovations and gather the aspiring beastkin cooks for cooking lessons using this notebook.” (Sandrone)

“Understood.” (Richter)

They finished completely.

I handed them water, and they drank it all in one go.

“Phew… That fills the stomach considerably.” (Sandrone)

“Indeed. Not to discriminate, but these dishes are designed for hungry men. If you put them on a menu, it would be best to have ‘regular’, ‘large’, and ‘small’ sizes.” (Gentoku)

“Indeed, that is a good idea… Phew, I am full. It might be a bit too much for women.” (Sandrone)

“Also, do not only serve rice bowls, provide soup as well. Pickles help refresh the palate.” (Gentoku)

“I see. Gentoku, I have a request… Would you cook all of the recipes once in front of the cooks?” (Sandrone)

“Eh? That is bothersome.” (Gentoku)

“Please. Just once, alright?” (Sandrone)

Sandrone leaned slightly forward, displaying her cleavage… This villain, attempting seduction.

Yet, sadly, my gaze was drawn.

“…Well, I do not want my man’s solo life rice bowl recipes to be misrepresented. One time only is acceptable.” (Gentoku)

“Agreed. I will contact you soon. Richter, let us go.” (Sandrone)

“Yes. Gentoku-san, regarding payment for your ideas, we will arrange it later.” (Richter)

“Nyaa.” (Daifuku)

“Heh, I shall return.” (Sandrone)

Sandrone patted Daifuku and departed.

Thus, the Alexandrite Trading Company entered the food industry. The menu was rice bowls. How it would turn out remained to be seen.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)