Chapter 79: Peace Served in a Bowl

“I saw the two tribes arguing over the catch.”

The penguin replied with a reluctant expression.

“So?”

“I’ve been thinking hard about a solution.”

Snort! 

“It’s not a problem that can be solved just because one human steps in.”

The sea lion snorted and cut him off.

“Come on, calm down. Let’s listen calmly for once.”

Despite the rebuke, I maintained the most relaxed expression possible.

Then, the two representatives also calmed down accordingly.

“The solution I thought of is none other than!”

The two beastkin pretended not to be interested but glanced sideways.

“Increasing food that can replace fish!”

“”What?””

The two representatives asked in surprise at the same time.

They raised their eyebrows, showing sudden interest.

“”Food to replace fish? What exactly?””

“It’s seaweed and crustaceans!”

“Seaweed? Crustaceans?”

The two beastkin’s faces crumpled.

“Are you telling us to eat seaweed now?”

Snort! “Crabs with hard shells?”

It was natural for them to feel repulsed.

Seaweed was scattered all over the coast, but no one paid it any attention.

Moreover, crabs that got caught in the nets were just a nuisance.

“You can eat them! And they’re delicious too!”

The two cut off my words.

Snort! “We just wasted our time.”

“Chief. If there’s nothing more to say, we’ll be going.”

The two abruptly left the office, whispering to themselves.

“Seaweed? How absurd.”

“The wise chief must be getting old.”

My face hardened.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“No. It’s not easy to persuade those stubborn ones.”

I couldn’t end it like this since I started it.

Moreover, Chief Balbo believed in my opinion. 

I couldn’t tolerate him being treated like this because of me.

“I’ll definitely persuade them!”

“You saw it too. That firm stubbornness won’t break easily.”

“Don’t worry. I’m confident!”

My eyes sparkled with determination.

When it comes to persistence, it’s me!

“It seems useless to stop you. Fine. Give it a try. But do you have a method?”

“I plan to demonstrate the cooking right at the dock.”

“Hmm… Showing it directly by eating is more effective than a hundred words.”

“So, please allow me to open a stall at the dock.”

“Alright. Bill all the costs to me.”

“I’ll definitely persuade them!”

A free tasting event.

But the more I sell, the more profit for me!

If I succeed this time, I’ll buy all the carpets and blankets.

Plus, if successful, I’ll gain Chief Balbo’s trust as a bonus.

Motivation overflowed.

***

The next day, I headed to the dock fully prepared with cooking tools.

Thanks to the know-how from running a stall in the Elf Forest, setting up at the dock was a piece of cake.

“This should be perfect.”

Thanks to bustling from morning, preparations were done before lunch.

Murmur murmur.

“What’s he trying to do over there?”

“Looks like a stall. Is he really planning to sell here?”

Passing beastkin glanced at the stall.

It wasn’t just them paying attention to me.

“With that, he’s going to persuade us?”

Snort! “I can’t understand the chief’s thinking in allowing this.”

The penguin and sea lion representatives narrowed their eyes.

“Shall I gather the ingredients slowly?”

I put discarded crabs from one side of the dock into a basket. 

Then, I brought a large strand of kelp from the coast.

“Fresh and lively!”

Seafood straight from the sea was bursting with freshness.

There were plenty of ingredients to trip over.

“Then, shall we start!”

Chop chop chop chop.

Cut the kelp into edible sizes, and finely chop the garlic.

Put garlic and kelp in sesame oil and stir-fry gently.

“Mmm! Smells good!”

I deliberately shouted loudly.

Whisper whisper.

“What’s that smell?”

Sniff sniff.

As I expected, the beastkin who heard it sniffed curiously.

“Huh? This savory smell?”

Inhale. 

“Why is my mouth watering suddenly?”

Once you smell the savory sesame oil, you absolutely can’t resist!

Add the crabs on top!

Bubble bubble.

“Crab kelp soup complete!”

Now, just need customers.

The stall was deserted. Still cold reactions.

But I’m not one to get discouraged.

“Come on, it’s free today! Everyone, come and have some hot soup!”

Mutter mutter.

“Like anyone would eat that?”

Snort! “Useless effort.”

The two representatives clicked their tongues.

At that moment.

“You’re giving food for free?”

An elderly sea lion approached and asked.

“Yes, please try it!”

“It does smell delicious.”

I was excited by the first customer, but not entirely welcoming.

“It might be a bit unfamiliar food, are you okay?”

“In times of food shortage, who can be picky? I should eat gratefully.”

An elderly penguin approached from the side and chimed in.

“In my days! Because of the hydra, we couldn’t even fish properly, so we licked fish bones!”

“That’s right.”

They nodded and suddenly started reminiscing about old times.

Seeing no end in sight, I interjected.

“Come on, continue the story while eating slowly.”

Encouraged by their words, I filled bowls full of kelp soup.

“My eyes are dim, can you give me a spoon there?”

“Here.”

“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Yeah, the smell is really savory.”

“I don’t know what’s in it, but it looks delicious.”

They stirred the soup and brought the spoon to their mouths.

Slurp.

“…Unfamiliar taste.”

“…The texture is slippery too.”

Their expressions were subtle. Was it a failure?

Just as I was about to be disappointed.

“But it’s delicious. The soup has a strong sea flavor.”

“Yeah. It’s addictive.”

Slurp. Slurp.

Their spoons moved, gradually speeding up.

“It’s easy to swallow, even kids can eat it. I want to take some for my grandson at home, can you pack one?”

“Me too, please.”

“Of course!”

I dished out bowls full of kelp soup.

“But what’s the ingredient? Doesn’t seem like fish.”

“It’s soup boiled with crab and kelp. It’s East Continent food.”

“My, you can make this taste with seaweed and crab?”

The two elders widened their eyes.

Since their eyes were dim, they really didn’t know the ingredients.

“Seaweed and crabs are everywhere. To think we had this delicious thing under our feet and didn’t know.”

“I should pick some up on the way. Now that I’m old and can’t fish, I should help this way at least.”

The two elders blinked and asked.

“To come up with this, you’re an amazing young man.”

“But which tribe are you from?”

“I’m not a beastkin?”

The elder tilted his head.

“If not beastkin, then what?”

“I’m human.”

“Hey! Don’t tease an old man!”

“We should go now. Stop joking and work hard on your business.”

They stood up happily, each holding a kelp soup, and left.

They didn’t believe I was human until the end, but I was grateful just for eating my food without prejudice.

Suddenly.

“Give me a bowl too!”

“Mr. Alek? What brings you here?”

“I stopped by for a free lunch. It’s free food, right?”

“You came at the right time! I’ll give you plenty!”

Slurp.

As Alek was enjoying the kelp soup, someone else barged in.

“M-me too, one bowl please!”

It was the wolf soldier who came with Alek.

“Huh? Captain’s here too?”

“Why are you here?”

“Obviously for lunch. That’s disappointing. If you were going, you should’ve said so.”

I thought they came together, but they came separately.

It was just yesterday he was dragged by Alek, but now he comes to my stall on his own.

“I’ll sit too.”

“Excuse me.”

Soon, wolf soldiers streamed into the stall.

Seeing that, Alek asked.

“Why are you guys here?”

“They’re giving delicious stuff for free?”

“That guy bragged all morning about going to eat this.”

It seemed the wolf soldier brought his comrades.

I hurriedly dished out the soup.

“Come on, hot soup. Give it a try.”

“”This is….””

The first-time wolf soldiers showed confusion.

Whisper whisper.

“Hey! You said it was delicious?”

“What’s this? Soup with slippery kelp and spider-like crabs floating?”

They glared at the wolf soldier who lured them.

“Did I tell you to come? You followed on your own. If you don’t want to eat, don’t.”

Then, he unhesitatingly slurped the kelp soup.

“Mmm! Delicious! Subtle yet deep sea flavor!”

He expressed satisfaction ostentatiously.

Alek too was busy eating regardless of what others said.

Growl.

“…Is it really delicious?”

“…Shall I try one bite?”

They seemed very hungry from hard training. Hesitating, but eventually bringing it to their mouths.

Slurp.

“Whoa!”

Just one bite shattered their prejudices.

“”D-delicious!””

The sight of wolf warriors gathered, devouring the kelp soup, was quite a spectacle.

“E-eat slowly, there’s plenty.”

The wolves had never eaten seafood dishes before, yet they ate well.

In the midst of that.

“I’m back again.”

“Penguin grandpa?”

“One bowl isn’t enough. I have a big family.”

Behind him, five grandchildren were waddling.

“So I brought them all.”

“You came well! Please sit.”

Word of mouth is scary.

Customers led to more customers.

The once deserted stall was now full of beastkin.

“How can you make this dish with kelp and crab?”

“Teach me the recipe. So I can try at home.”

Especially, the ladies showed exceptional interest.

“I’ll give you some sesame oil and soy sauce, so definitely try at home.”

“Thanks! I should take crabs and kelp too.”

Penguins and sea lions were huddled in the narrow stall as if nothing happened. 

Even wolves who never ate seafood were mixed in occasionally.

Food is magically amazing. Sharing the same food easily forms empathy.

I think I understand a bit why in the East Continent they say ‘sharing affection through food.’

The tasting event ended successfully like that.

The stall was a battlefield, proving the busy day.

“But I sold a lot.”

Chief Balbo will be very surprised when he gets the bill.

***

“Wh-what is this?”

Chief Balbo’s mouth dropped open upon receiving the bill.

“It’s the cost for the free tasting event.”

“Ugh….”

Chief Balbo, holding the bill for the tasting events over several days, groaned softly.

I didn’t expect it to go this well.

“Anyway, thanks to you, the matter is resolved well.”

After starting the tasting, elders, children, women all began picking seaweed and collecting barnacles.

The whole village was buzzing with interest in new ingredients. 

There were also movements to find and utilize new ingredients.

It seemed the food problem would subside.

“Thanks to this, this winter will be more abundant than any other year.”

Since they’ll master ways to use more sea resources, the situation will improve over time.

Chief Balbo opened a drawer.

“Take this.”

“What’s this?”

“It’s a necklace made from ‘hydra tooth.'”

“Hydra? Why give this to me?”

“We give this to the village’s hero.”

Chief Balbo smiled.

“You solved the village’s long-standing problem, so you deserve it. You all agree, right?”

The representatives of each tribe nodded.

“What are you doing? Hurry and take it.”

“I-It’s an honor!”

Fabir put the necklace around his neck.

“Congratulations, Mr. Fabir.”

Alek clapped from behind.

Then, the penguin representative and sea lion representative also clapped along.

“A hydra tooth….”

Plus the title of hero of the beastkin village. 

It was a moment that made his chest swell with pride.