Who Is the World’s Strongest Appraiser? ~Living in Another World With Satisfying Meals~

Let’s Make Mirin-Based Men-Tsuyu And White Dashi

“Huh?”

Yuuri was sitting seiza-style in front of Ali, who had furrowed his brow in confusion. For some reason, Halos was also sitting seiza beside him. If it were just Yuuri, this might be considered normal. The only odd thing was Halos being there, but it wasn’t unusual for him to unintentionally cause trouble and get scolded by Ali.

……By the standards of this other world, the natural-born modern Japanese had values and sensibilities that were completely off the wall. Who said they were off the wall even in modern Japan? Let’s not go there—that’s kindness.

“Well, you see, I asked for mirin to be procured for promotional purposes, and I mentioned that there are convenient mixed seasonings, so they asked me to make a prototype……”

“Hoh.”

“……It’s men-tsuyu and white dashi from my homeland.”

Avoiding Ali’s gaze, Yuuri held out two bottles. One had a dark color similar to soy sauce. The other had a light color resembling clear soup. Ali took them and stared intently at the contents.

By the way, as Yuuri had said, the contents were men-tsuyu and white dashi. Mirin was essential for making both. White dashi didn’t require as much mirin as men-tsuyu, but Yuuri believed that adding a small amount enhanced the flavor. He thought the proportions could be adjusted depending on the type, but for now, he just wanted to make them since they had acquired mirin.

This was, as explained, part of the promotion for mirin. While mirin is indeed an essential seasoning in Japanese cuisine, it’s not something used in large quantities. Moreover, using unfamiliar seasonings can be quite challenging.

That’s when Yuuri remembered men-tsuyu and white dashi.

The advantage of these two is that they are mixed seasonings. They already contain soy sauce, salt, sake, mirin, sugar, and dashi, so all you need to do is dilute them with water to easily season dishes. They might seem exclusively for Japanese cuisine, but depending on how you use them, they can also work for Western or Chinese dishes, making them quite versatile.

“……Well, I’ll at least acknowledge that you thought to report to me before releasing it.”

“……Yes.”

“Halos.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think this will sell?”

“At the very least, I think it’ll sell better than selling mirin on its own. It seems easy to use.”

At Halos’s explanation, Ali sighed. Halos, being a merchant, had a sharp nose for what would sell. So, if he said it would sell, it probably would. Knowing that only made Ali more exasperated.

To sum up Ali’s feelings in one sentence: “Why do you always do things so abruptly?” And to make matters worse, Yuuri always thinks he’s doing something completely normal.

“……Yuuri.”

“Yes.”

“How’s the quality?”

“…………It’s just delicious!”

Understanding the implication of Ali’s question, Yuuri answered with a straight face. Halos, seeing this unfamiliar side of Yuuri, looked puzzled. But both Ali and Yuuri were dead serious. Completely serious.

After all, whenever Yuuri makes something in the alchemy pot, the quality ends up being too high, which causes problems. If it’s just delicious, that’s fine. The issue is when it starts gaining additional effects. Like the bath salts he made the other day, which ended up having incredible moisturizing properties.

That said, Halos, who lacks appraisal skills, doesn’t understand their concerns. He just assumes they’re discussing quality as appraisers, so he doesn’t interfere. He’s just excited about the prospect of selling a promising product.

The merchant uncle was true to himself.

Well, it’s Halos, so it’s to be expected. After all, the first time he met Yuuri, he was instantly hooked on mayonnaise. Halos is always enthusiastic about his work. Finding a product that sells is a good thing. Definitely.

“So, there’s no issue with giving out samples?”

“None at all.”

“Then that’s fine.”

Given Yuuri’s history, it was no surprise that Ali would say this. Yuuri tends to cause unnecessary commotion, so Ali, as the de facto guardian, is always on edge. He’s basically the dad at this point.

That said, if there’s no issue, Ali won’t scold Yuuri. At least, since Halos said it would sell and it would help someone, Ali knows it’s not something he can outright reject.

After all, this men-tsuyu and white dashi are made using the mirin Halos procured, created in the alchemy pot. ……Don’t say the alchemy pot is being misused. It’s too late for that. Even novice alchemists can make seasonings, and there’s a demand for it. It’s helping people. ……Probably.

“So, how do you use this?”

“They’re mixed seasonings, so you use them to flavor dishes. For example, the teriyaki we made the other day—if someone struggles with mixing seasonings, they can use this men-tsuyu to make something similar.”

“Oh, that’s new. Can I use that for promotion?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“……You’re sharp, Halos.”

“I’m a merchant, after all.”