There was a time when I thought Black Bull meat was the best among beef-type monsters.
However, as we started hunting higher-ranked monsters in the lower floors, their meat became tastier, as if proportional to their strength.
In other words, we are now thoroughly hooked on…
“Minotaur meat is amazing!”
“Meow!”
“Indeed, it is delicious.”
We were completely enamored with Minotaur meat. Monster meat that’s safe to eat is delicious whether boiled, grilled, or fried, but Minotaur meat is exceptional even raw.
After discovering its deliciousness in tartare steak, we began experimenting with different cooking methods, each time marveling at its flavor. Roasting it to make a mountain of roast beef was incredible, and when we paired it with a large pot of freshly cooked white rice as a roast beef bowl, it vanished in seconds.
We had planned to make sandwiches with any leftovers, but of course, there were none. As a result, we ended up making another batch of roast beef for sandwiches the following morning—a memory still fresh in my mind.
The roast beef sandwich used baguettes from a convenience store, spread with butter and mustard, and stuffed with lettuce, tomatoes, and onion slices, along with plenty of roast beef. We even added Ketsue’s favorite mayonnaise.
The vegetables were freshly harvested organic produce grown with Ketsue in our garden. Their crisp texture and rich flavors elevated the sandwich into a gourmet treat.
The beautifully red, tender roast beef was packed with concentrated umami, so delicious it left us trembling, unable to do anything but exclaim, “This meat is amazing!”
Tonight’s Minotaur dishes were yukhoe (Korean-style raw beef) and beef sashimi.
The yukhoe had a distinct flavor compared to tartare steak, and both Ketsue, the feline fairy, and Rei, the golden dragon, seemed thoroughly satisfied.
“This yukhoe goes well with white rice. I could eat this endlessly,” Rei remarked.
“Tasty, right? Honestly, this Minotaur yukhoe is way better than the yukhoe I had in Japan. Makes me want a beer.”
“Oh? Alcohol? I’d like some too,” Rei added.
“Dragons really are fond of alcohol, huh?”
Thanks to Japanese mythology, dragons have a reputation for being heavy drinkers. I hadn’t known Western dragons drank alcohol, but it was hard to resist with this exquisite yukhoe.
I opened my summoning magic’s online convenience store and ordered a few cans of beer. Convenience store purchases, whether bento meals or hot snacks, arrived warm, while drinks were delivered chilled in the [Item Box], making it very convenient.
Rei popped open a can of beer with practiced ease, clearly accustomed to Japanese food and drinks by now.
“Tohma, let’s toast. To the Minotaur that became our sustenance,” Rei said.
“That’s kind of savage, but sure. Cheers,” I replied.
“Meow!”
I served Ketsue some hot milk with honey. It didn’t exactly pair with the meat dishes, but as long as Ketsue enjoyed it, that was all that mattered.
(Someday, when Ketsue’s older, maybe I’ll get some catnip-infused liquor for him.)
Fairies seemed to enjoy honey mead, so a little alcohol probably wouldn’t be an issue. For now, though, he was a cute kitten happily lapping up his sweet milk, so this was fine.
“This sashimi is delicious too. How can raw meat taste so different from what we usually eat?” Rei asked.
“Hmm, maybe it’s because of the bloodletting process or the cut of the meat? But I think the seasoning and sauces play the biggest role,” I replied.
I picked up a slice of beautifully marbled red meat with chopsticks, dipped it in wasabi soy sauce, and tasted it. The melt-in-your-mouth texture made me smile without realizing it.
The blissful aftertaste lingered in my mouth until I washed it down with a sip of cold beer.
I had prepared various condiments: shredded white onion, shiso leaves, garlic, sliced onions, and ginger. The sauces included soy sauce with grated daikon, ponzu, and more. Ketsue, being a mayo lover, requested mayonnaise soy sauce. I wasn’t brave enough to try that one myself.
“Each flavor is so distinct and interesting. I might find it hard to eat raw meat without these sauces now,” Rei commented.
“Don’t worry, I’ll send you home with some,” I replied.
“Much appreciated,” Rei said, smiling as he sipped his beer.
Rei’s hair was now cut short. When he first transformed into his human form, he mimicked the Creator God with waist-length hair, but realizing it was inconvenient for daily life, he happily cut it short. He joked that the shorter hair made bathing easier and that he no longer needed to tie it up.
He also copied my casual indoor style and often wore sweats. Annoyingly, even in lazy loungewear or messy attire, Rei’s good looks made everything seem fashionable.
“If you get tired of raw meat, try lightly searing it. It might go well with Ketsue’s mayonnaise soy sauce too,” I suggested.
“Meow?”
“Want to try? Hold on.”
I carefully seared the surface of the meat using fire magic. As the fat began to melt, releasing a mouthwatering aroma, I handed the piece to Ketsue.
“Careful, it’s hot,” I warned.
“Meow!”
“I’ll try some too. Rei, want to taste? No, wait! Don’t use your fire breath! You’ll burn down the house. Stay, stay. Good dragon!”
I barely managed to stop the overenthusiastic golden dragon from unleashing his fire breath. Instead, I prepared seared meat for him. Both Ketsue and Rei seemed to love it, asking for seconds repeatedly.
We got carried away, adding cheese or mayonnaise before searing, experimenting with new flavors. Each one was delicious, and I had no regrets.
If I ever get my hands on fresh sea urchin, I’d love to make Minotaur meat sushi. Once the dungeon raids calm down, maybe it’s time to head to the sea.
◆◇◆
The two and one feline, who had completely become obsessed with Minotaur meat, tirelessly hunted Minotaurs in the dungeon on repeat.
Well, the meat is delicious—there’s no helping it.
Thanks to the Golden Dragon Rei, their drop rates seemed maxed out, and treasure chests appeared every single time.
They quickly accumulated around 30 million points, and their levels steadily increased. The blessings of a dragon are truly astounding.
Since Rei was earning so much for them, they treated him to extravagant feasts every time they returned home.
Meat dishes took center stage, complemented by noodle dishes inspired by gourmet manga, and finished with convenience store desserts.
Rei, the gourmet dragon, indulged in beer, wine, sake, whiskey, and even brandy. They diligently “spoiled” him with all these treats.
As a result, Rei had become like a housecat, curled up on a sofa cushion.
“I want ice cream, Tohma.”
“Sure, sure. Just make sure to sit up properly when you eat it so you don’t mess up the sofa, alright?”
Rei, who had become quite familiar with Japanese cuisine, even specified his preferred brand of ice cream.
He squinted his eyes in satisfaction as he ate vanilla-flavored cup ice cream.
When Ketsue, sitting beside him, begged for a bite, Rei casually fed him a spoonful.
Tohma had grown used to seeing this scene.
Since finishing off a pile of encyclopedias and reference books, Rei had taken to leisurely enjoying reading.
Lately, he’d developed a liking for entertainment novels and manga, taking his time to read them carefully.
Apparently, he realized it would be a waste to speed-read through them.
His interest in the culture of other worlds had expanded his reading to include everything from fantasy to contemporary and even historical novels.
“Is it interesting?”
“Very much so. Human lives are truly diverse. I feel like I’ve come to understand the feelings of the Creator God a little.”
“The feelings of the Creator God…?”
“A heart that cherishes the small and fragile. I hadn’t fully understood why the Creator God felt so pained by the actions of the God of Destruction.”
Rei closed the paperback he was holding, narrowing his eyes. The book he’d been reading was a school-themed novel.
With long, graceful fingers, he gently stroked the book’s cover.
“Even if something is destroyed, it can simply be rebuilt. The Creator God has the power to do so, after all. That’s what I thought was so strange. But when life as it is now is lost, and nations are turned to wastelands, it takes a long time to recover.”
“Yeah, probably. What was it—the demons? I don’t know what they’re thinking, but if they believe they can manipulate a god to suit their needs, they’re delusional. Do they seriously think the God of Destruction would spare just them?”
That god is consumed by an urge to destroy everything indiscriminately. It’s obvious they’d all be wiped out together.
“Indeed. That’s likely why they cannot comprehend and continue to wage war.”
“What made you change your mind, Rei?”
“Reading books from other worlds and imagining their cultures. This world is still immature. Even so, it’s gradually growing. If everything were destroyed now, it would take an eternity to enjoy delicious food again.”
“Pfft, so it’s food, huh.”
“And I want to read more books. I’ve been living on autopilot for so long, but lately, I’ve been completely free from boredom. It’s thanks to you.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that. Hopefully, this world will start producing interesting books too.”
“Indeed. To make that happen, the human world must be protected.”
Tohma refrained from teasing him about his materialistic motivations.
Whatever the reason, having the strongest divine beast care about the fate of this world was a blessing.
While Rei couldn’t directly intervene on behalf of humans, there were always loopholes.
“…Want a second helping of ice cream?”
“I’d like that. This time, chocolate flavor.”
And so, to keep Rei well-fed and content, Tohma continued diligently using summoning magic for online shopping.
