At some point, they volunteered to do reconnaissance missions, though he agreed only when they allowed him to drop them some of the beast-repelling potion he had left.
They were quite quick on their feet and learned a lot about foraging and farming from him, so it was quite practical to have them scour an area before he went out.
They were fast enough to avoid most monsters, especially awakened-level ones, since they served as ’bait’ often back when they were working in the mercenary teams.
This started when they saw how he loved to forage and went on their own to help out without him asking them to. However, they were almost eaten and barely managed to get to the barrier on time.
Finn nagged them a lot, even yelling at them in shock, because he saw them almost eaten with his own eyes.
They cried a lot like the little children that they were. When they insisted on scouting ahead of him at least, he allowed it as long as they wore beast-repelling potions (which were dwindling because the Hearth Market hadn’t offered it to him again after the first time).
Even when the repelling potions were running out, they insisted on not using them. He only agreed if they didn’t go beyond 1 kilometer away without him.
They hadn’t missed a day. They had already finished their jobs for the past few days, and now they were looking for other ways to help Finn.
Who’d have thought they’d just run outside? He was prepared to give another scolding when the goblins brought home something so precious~!
They went East of the territory this time and brought home baskets full of odd, tall grasses, as it was the only ’new’ plant in the area.
[Bindergrain]
[Information: Tall, reed-like stalk with golden-grey husk and layered seed clusters. The internal kernel is soft when steamed, yet firm when dried and milled.]
His grain!
It was just a few stalks, though, so the very next day, he decided to come with them so they could gather a lot more! So, over the following few days, they managed to gather several basketfuls of the plant and also to study how to use them.
The goblins, when the inn didn’t have customers, just focused on improving their craft and creating useful things for the territory. Ranran was making yet another tent, while Tumble was making a great number of lunchboxes they could sell to customers.
He taught him how to make a bento box (well, what he knew of it), but he could trust the [Advanced Carpentry Skill] to make up for the lack of information.
Whenever the next customers come here, he would like to sell them proper meals in the proper package! More gold, more cores!
And what was bento without rice ?
He excitedly handled the new plant, bindergrain, and studied its preparation methods. The goblins would also occasionally head out to get more.
Finding out the right recipe and handling it was not easy, and he wasted quite a bit at first, which was a pity. If he didn’t know it was edible, he wouldn’t be so certain he could make something out of it.
He prepared it several ways, through plenty of trial and error, and eventually determined which was best for specific uses.
He steamed a few handfuls of the seeds, and then dried and milled another set, and then he tried different moisture content and temperature to get the texture and tastes that he wanted.
To summarize, the Bindegrain was this world’s rice and flour! It was a two-in-one crop!
He practically smooched the two goblins when he figured this out.
Anyway, this meant he could not only make rice, but also have his fluffy bread!
He already had everything needed to make them now. He had the starch and yeast (which could be taken from his thornroots and fruits), the gluten, and other things.
Another thing he had been developing the past few days was vinegar!
It had only been a couple of days, so his vinegar was far from perfect, not to mention he didn’t even have vats yet. He used the various fruits he had. Fermenting to alcohol took about 2 to three days (it was faster in this world), and the fermentation to vinegar took several more days after that.
It’d still need a few days to be a proper vinegar, but taking a bit was enough, because he already had a set menu to try for this lunch.
Today’s lunch was one of his comfort foods: Banh mi, or at least what he could do to get close to it.
First, he had to make this world’s version of a baguette~
And maybe something like a banh mi sandwich?
The kitchen had complete tools, appliances, and equipment. It just needed a lot more control, but that was easy for him, who had been cooking his whole life in different places and situations.
Then he slowly roasted some gugu bird and brindlejaw meat he shredded by hand. These were marinated in spiced sunberry reduction and smoked in vinegar (which he made from the fruits).
Since making vinegar a few days back, pickled stuff was also introduced to his diet. He sliced them into ribbons to add a crisp and cooling taste. And then there was the delicious herb layer that was a combination of various herbs like the basilume and the sunberry leaves.
Finally, for the spread, since he didn’t have mayonnaise (yet), he used whipped forest fat, which was just plant oil, plant gel, starch, and whipped artfully by yours truly.
[Spiced Brindlejaw and Gugu Bird Sandwich (D)]
[Information: Slow-roasted gugu bird and hand-shredded brindlejaw marinated in sunberry reduction, layered within a crusty forest-grain loaf. Increased 5% recovery for HP and Mana for 10 Minutes]
He gave the goblins and Pang their own sandwiches, and he happily sat down and ate his. When he finally took his first bite, he was met with the delightful texture. Creamy, but with a soft, grainy pull around the edges. Savory, but with the right amount of sourness and herbiness.
They all closed their eyes as the mixture of fresh and filling flavors entered their mouths, moaning lightly in satisfaction.
Ah, this is the life~