23: Leather Artisan Garda / Forbidden Laser Cut Magic / Aglio e Olio 2.0 6

The dining room had about five tables.

At one of them, Jill laid out a tablecloth and urged the three to sit.

“Master, I’d like to help, but…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I wanted to serve Maureen some food too. It’s an order. Please stay and eat with us.”

“Brother, say something!”

Maureen, looking defeated, turned to Matthew for help.

But Matthew was beginning to find the situation amusing.

“Oh dear, as a maid, you should obey your master’s orders, shouldn’t you?”

“Sigh… good grief.”

Jill listened to the unreserved conversation between the siblings as she began preparing the meal.

In less than ten minutes after entering the kitchen, she had the dishes ready and placed them in front of the three.

“Um… is this pepe?”

Garda muttered in confusion.

Jill, thinking it was certainly not what Garda had expected, answered with a calm expression.

“It’s a gazpacho with a hint of pepe… a chilled tomato-based soup.”

The dish in front of them was a vividly red soup.

A cool air wafted from the bowl.

“Pepe is probably short for one of the previous master’s specialties, peperoncino. You’re calling it pepe as an abbreviation, right?”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“But even that is an abbreviated name. The full name is Aglio e Olio e Peperoncino.”

“Really? I didn’t know that.”

“Yes. In a foreign language, aglio means garlic, olio means oil, and peperoncino means chili pepper. You didn’t know that?”

All three of them were surprised.

As Jill had predicted, they didn’t know the origin of the name.

“I didn’t know that… but still, calling this pepe as a dish…”

“Of course, I’ll make the proper one. For now, enjoy this while you wait.”

“I see, so it’s an appetizer?”

“Well, something like that. Or rather…”

Jill hesitated.

She wasn’t sure if she should say it straightforwardly.

“Hmm? What is it?”

“No, it’s just a bit difficult to say…”

“Don’t worry, just tell me.”

Garda said with a serious expression.

Jill, feeling pressured, nodded.

“Um, well… Garda, you smell a bit like alcohol… and your complexion doesn’t look so good. Could it be a hangover?”

“Ugh.”

At Jill’s words, Garda blushed.

“It’s a dish that uses a strong amount of garlic, so at the very least, you should settle your stomach, or you’ll only feel worse.”

Garda had no response. Matthew, perhaps embarrassed to have brought such a useless friend, put his hand on his forehead and sighed. Maureen, on the other hand, couldn’t hide her laughter and was giggling openly.

“Now, please, Matthew and Maureen, don’t hesitate.”

“I’m really sorry… but huh!?”

The moment they each took a bite, their expressions changed.

Garda ate without a word.

Matthew carefully tasted each bite.

Maureen enjoyed the dish with a blissful expression.

Seeing their different reactions, Jill felt a warm, contented feeling.

In fact, this gazpacho had been slightly modified for someone with a hangover.

Normally, gazpacho is a cold soup made by blending tomatoes, other preferred vegetables, bread, wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and garlic. However, Jill reduced the olive oil and completely omitted the garlic.

While reducing the oil diminished the richness, Jill compensated by adding a small amount of sautéed onions to enhance the sweetness. Additionally, instead of garlic, she used ginger and powdered chili peppers. Though the dish lacked a bold and obvious flavor, it was crafted to be gentle yet flavorful enough for a weakened stomach.

Furthermore, she used magic liberally while blending and straining the ingredients, ensuring a smooth, creamy texture that could rival that of any fine restaurant.

“Master… this isn’t something you should casually serve for lunch.”

Maureen murmured in defeat.

“Hehe, I’ll take that as a compliment. Now then, I’ll go make the pepe… Aglio e Olio e Peperoncino.”

◆

Jill returned after about twenty minutes.

Peperoncino was one of Jill’s specialties, and she skillfully prepared four servings.

In fact, it was the only dish in which she could confidently say she surpassed Conrad.

This was because Jill had a unique technique that Conrad could not replicate.

However, this very fact was a source of concern for Jill.

“Alright, the peperoncino is ready. But, um, there aren’t any toppings or anything—are you sure this is okay?”

Jill voiced her doubts as she set out the four plates, including her own, on the table.

“This is exactly what I wanted. Just this, plain peperoncino.”

“Well, whether it’s just plain peperoncino or not, you’ll have to taste it to find out.”

“Hmm? That sounds intriguing.”

Jill didn’t answer Garda’s question, instead responding with a smile.

At the same time, she gently stopped Maureen from getting up to help with the serving.

After all, Jill had originally planned to invite Maureen for tea.

“Master, at least let me help by serving the drinks.”

“Nope! You’re the guest today. I’ll have you help with formal dinners and tea parties.”

“Come on, Maureen, just give in already.”

Matthew chuckled as he chided Maureen.

Finally, as Maureen resigned herself, Jill clapped her hands together with a smile.

“Well then, shall we have lunch? Itadakimasu.”

Jill raised her right hand, extending her index and middle fingers, and moved her hand in a circular motion.

This gesture was the way the people of Argenes Island expressed “Itadakimasu.” It symbolized the cycle of food, giving thanks for the opportunity to eat and praying that no one would go hungry.

After completing their prayers, the four of them picked up their forks and took their first bites.

“…This is…”

“No, this is different! Yes, it’s definitely peperoncino, but… what is this…!?”

“This is incredible… it might even be better than that restaurant…”

What was supposed to be a quiet lunch quickly turned lively the moment everyone took a single bite.

Jill looked around, surprised at everyone’s reactions.

She expected them to be a bit surprised, but not to this extent.

“Was… was something wrong?”

“It’s not wrong, it’s delicious!”

“Oh, really?”

Garda’s words made Jill sigh in relief as she began eating her own portion.

For Jill, who was used to this dish, there was no amazement, just a comforting “yes, it’s as usual” feeling.

She even felt a bit envious of the others’ surprise.

“How did you achieve this flavor? It’s the simple taste of olive oil, chili peppers, and garlic—it’s unmistakably peperoncino. But there’s something richer, or perhaps the texture is different… is it the oil?”

“Indeed. It clings to the pasta so well. Even without using any umami ingredients, there’s a depth to the flavor.”

“I make it sometimes too, but it never turns out this creamy… how did you do it…?”

All three of them muttered to themselves, continuing to eat with serious expressions.

It was as if they were carefully savoring each bite.

“People in Shelland have oddly refined palates…”

Jill remembered the little girl who had once wandered in and had been oddly expressive as well.

Jill had a hunch as to why.

Conrad had likely introduced various dishes to this town.

It had become ingrained in their culture.

Garda must have a particular attachment to peperoncino as well.

Thinking about it that way, Jill didn’t mind having to suddenly cook after all.

“Are you curious?”

“Of course I’m curious… wait, you’re not seriously going to tell us, are you?”

“I don’t mind. It’s not a secret or anything particularly tricky.”

“What?”

Jill’s words left everyone speechless.