MTLNOVEL Chapter 127.1
Rice Goes So Well With It — Let’s Enjoy Some Teriyaki Meat!
“Hello, Yuuri-kun.”
“Oh, hello, Hallow-san!”
Appearing with his usual friendly smile was Hallow, the ever-familiar traveling merchant. Yuuri welcomed him with a smile of his own. This man had become one of Yuuri’s closest acquaintances in this otherworld, and more importantly, a key partner in indulging in delicious meals here.
Whenever Hallow showed up, it was usually to deliver something Yuuri had requested or to receive something Yuuri had prepared. This time, it was the former. However, ever since Yuuri started living in Scarlet Lynx, Hallow occasionally visited for another reason: to ask if Yuuri knew how to use some mysterious ingredient. Somehow, Yuuri always seemed to be helpful in such cases, likely thanks to his Japanese genes, inherited from a nation of people who are notoriously passionate about their food.
“I’ve brought the seasoning you asked me to find.”
“Really?!”
“Yes. I wasn’t entirely sure if this was the right one, so I only bought a small amount. Could you confirm?”
“Absolutely!”
Yuuri answered cheerfully, and Hallow, still smiling, handed over a bottle from his bag. Receiving it, Yuuri hurried off to the kitchen with visible excitement, Hallow following closely behind.
In the kitchen, Yuuri poured a small amount of the bottle’s contents onto a small dish and tasted it with his tongue. The aroma, color, and flavor were exactly as he remembered—the seasoning he had been searching for. It was mirin.
“Hallow-san, this is it. This is the mirin I’ve been looking for.”
“Oh, is it? That’s great to hear! But wait, isn’t this a type of alcohol? How is it different from cooking sake?”
“Mirin is indeed a type of alcohol, but when used in cooking, it adds sweetness.”
“Sweetness? Couldn’t you just use sugar for that?”
Hallow’s question was perfectly reasonable. After all, sugar and honey are both sweeteners. But to Yuuri, mirin was irreplaceable. The sweetness of sugar and mirin are worlds apart—completely different entities.
So, with a serious expression, Yuuri declared,
“It’s no good. Using sugar or honey changes the flavor of the dish.”
“I see… If you say so, Yuuri-kun, I’ll take your word for it.”
“They’re entirely different, Hallow-san. Honey has a gentle sweetness, sugar has a lingering sweetness, but mirin… it blends seamlessly with the ingredients. Especially when combined with soy sauce—it’s perfect.”
“You’re really passionate when it comes to delicious food, aren’t you?”
“…?”
Hallow seemed impressed, but Yuuri tilted his head in confusion. Unaware of his own enthusiasm, he had reacted similarly when he first encountered miso here. Born and raised in Japan, Yuuri couldn’t do without essentials like soy sauce, miso, and rice. Mirin, too, had become a necessity for dishes like simmered foods. Sugar and honey simply couldn’t replicate its unique sweetness.
…Why did this culinary aficionado’s homesickness manifest in such peculiar ways? Missing the taste of teriyaki or stews might seem trivial, but it genuinely made him feel a bit down. If others found out, they would likely let out a collective sigh.
Still, it was undeniable that sugar and mirin yielded different results. Yuuri longed to cook with the flavors he grew up with. As someone who cooked by feel and relied on taste testing, any subtle difference felt significant. Honestly, he just missed the taste of his family’s teriyaki. Adjusting with sugar hadn’t worked—it always felt off. Not using any sweetener at all resulted in mere soy sauce grilling, which wasn’t satisfying either. So, Yuuri had asked Hallow, “If you come across mirin on your travels, could you buy it for me?” It was moments like these when Yuuri’s determination shone.
“Since we have it now, would you like to try some?”
“Eh?”
“I want to test if this mirin works properly in cooking. Would you like to taste it? I think you’ll understand the difference in sweetness.”
“I’d love to. Your cooking is always delicious, Yuuri-kun.”
“Great! Please wait a moment.”
“Alright.”
With a smile, Yuuri nodded at Hallow’s reply and got to work. His reason for introducing mirin’s taste to Hallow was practical—it could influence future procurement and distribution. If Hallow recognized its value and deliciousness, he might start sourcing mirin regularly, just like he did with miso.
Yuuri decided to make a small batch of food for himself and Hallow. Of course, it would be teriyaki—the dish he had been craving. At home, chicken thighs were the norm, but this time he opted for Big Frog meat, which tasted similar to chicken thighs. It happened to be what was left in the fridge.
“Yeah, teriyaki doesn’t taste right without mirin!”
Yuuri, cheerful as ever, started preparing with enthusiasm. Though he always appeared upbeat, his mood had definite highs and lows. Right now, he was clearly in a good mood—thanks to the arrival of mirin.
He began by heating a frying pan. While waiting, he used a fork to poke holes into the Big Frog meat, a trick he’d learned to help the marinade soak in and make the meat tender. He wasn’t entirely sure why it worked, but it seemed effective.
Once the pan was hot, he added a small amount of oil, spreading it evenly before placing the Big Frog meat in the pan. (If it were chicken thighs, he would use the skin’s natural oil instead of adding any.)
While the meat was seared, Yuuri mixed the essential ingredients for teriyaki sauce—sweet and savory perfection.
“Some sake, soy sauce, and mirin…”