MTLNOVEL Chapter 144.1
It’s A Bacon And Egg Bowl With A Soft-Boiled Egg
“……Chick.”
“Yes?”
“What are you making with this thing?”
“Huh?”
Yuuri blinked in confusion at the exasperated face of the alchemical blacksmith, Old Man Gurgal. Being called ‘Chick was nothing new, so he didn’t mind. Gurgal called Ali ‘boy’ and Nina, the rabbit beastfolk doctor, ‘miss’. To Gurgal, a mountain folk elder over 200 years old, Yuuri was probably still a chick fresh out of the egg.
That said, while Gurgal had a sharp tongue and a loud voice, he was a warm-hearted craftsman. Despite calling Yuuri a chick and whatnot, he had custom-made an alchemical cauldron for Yuuri and even performed regular maintenance on it. He was a reliable craftsman and a dependable old man.
“What do you mean…? Uh, seasonings, I guess?”
“………………Chick.”
“Yes?”
“Why in the world are you making such things with a custom-made alchemical cauldron forged from Hihi’irokane and Orichalcum?!”
“Eek?!”
The moment Yuuri answered nonchalantly, Gurgal’s angry voice echoed. But honestly, even if Gurgal yelled, it wouldn’t change anything. In Yuuri’s mind, the alchemical cauldron was just “a magical item that can make all sorts of things when you put materials in,” and more specifically, “it’s so convenient for making seasonings!” He had never thought of it as anything else before or since.
However, alchemical cauldrons are considered high-spec magical items. To use one, you need to have alchemical skills, and the quality of the output depends on the user’s skill level and sense. Masters can create incredible things, while beginners might only manage to make basic potions. It’s a world where the gap in ability is vast.
Moreover, there’s a hierarchy even among alchemical cauldrons. Gurgal, being an alchemical blacksmith, crafts custom-made cauldrons. Compared to mass-produced ones, custom cauldrons are adjusted to reflect the owner’s traits, making them superior in performance. Of course, they come with a hefty price tag, but they deliver performance worthy of the cost.
And here’s the crucial part: Yuuri’s cauldron was custom-made by Gurgal using legendary metals. Both Hihi’irokane and Orichalcum are legendary-grade metals. Not only are they hard to find, but there are also very few people who can achieve compatibility with these materials.
Despite being one of those rare individuals, Yuuri had somehow managed to steer the cauldron’s usage in a completely unexpected direction.
“W-Well, it’s not like I use the cauldron for work or anything…”
“Then why are you only making stuff like this?! It’s starting to adjust itself in a weird direction!”
“Weird direction?”
“…Because you keep making seasonings, it’s starting to focus on ‘how to extract the maximum flavor from ingredients without losing their essence’.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. So, it’s making things tastier, right?”
“That’s not the point! Stop teaching the cauldron to do that!”
Yuuri’s face sparkled with excitement, and Gurgal yelled again. But even after being yelled at, Yuuri didn’t seem to care. Apparently, the more you use the cauldron, the more it learns and adapts to its owner’s work. What a fantastic magical item! In Yuuri’s mind, he imagined iron cookware that becomes more seasoned and easier to use the more you cook with it, like an egg pan or a wok.
The learning function embedded in the cauldron changes its rules based on how the user operates it. For example, if an alchemist continuously makes recovery potions, the cauldron gradually improves the quality, enhancing the potion’s healing effects. Similarly, if someone keeps making ingots, the cauldron will produce higher-quality ingots with fewer impurities.
…And thanks to this incredible feature, Yuuri’s top-tier cauldron, made from the finest materials, was now upgrading its ability to “preserve and enhance the deliciousness of the ingredients used”. It seemed to be working hard to improve the nutritional value and flavor of the final product. What a mess.
Perhaps realizing that arguing with Yuuri was pointless, Gurgal grumbled complaints while adjusting the cauldron. Despite his sharp tongue, Gurgal was a craftsman who prioritized his work above all else. And no matter how Yuuri used it, Gurgal cherished the cauldron he had made. To him, the cauldron was like his own child.
“Gurgal-san.”
“What is it, Chick?”
“It’s almost lunchtime. Should I make something?”
“Hmm, feel free to use whatever’s there.”
“Okay!”
Gurgal was already 80% focused on adjusting the cauldron. He was responding and holding a conversation, but Yuuri knew that more than half of his attention was elsewhere. Still, this was a common occurrence, so Yuuri didn’t mind. Making lunch for himself and Gurgal wasn’t a first.
Initially, it had been out of concern for Gurgal, who would get so absorbed in his work that he’d forget to eat. Bright, the accessory craftsman, was the same way. Craftsmen tended to lose track of time when they were focused, often only realizing they were hungry after finishing a task. Those with families had someone to look out for them, but for loners like Gurgal and Bright, such oversights were frequent.
“Roo-chan, please clean up without getting in Gurgal-san’s way.”
“Kyui!”
Rooks, Yuuri’s familiar who had accompanied him as a guard today, responded with a determined expression and began moving. It was becoming a routine for Rooks to clean up while they were out. For Rooks, a slime, this also served as a way to replenish energy, killing two birds with one stone.
After seeing Rooks off, Yuuri headed to the living quarters at the back of the workshop. Gurgal, living alone, had allocated most of the house’s space to the workshop. The bathroom and bedroom on the second floor were reasonably spacious, but the first floor was 80% workshop. The toilet and kitchen were compactly built in the living area at the back.
Though small, the kitchen was equipped enough to handle basic tasks. The refrigerator was surprisingly large for a single person, but upon opening it, you’d find it mostly filled with chilled alcohol and snacks. Gurgal, being a mountain folk elder, was quite the drinker.
“Let’s see… There’s plenty of rice in the rice cooker. Are there any other ingredients?”
Since Gurgal mostly ate out, there weren’t many ingredients in the fridge. Still, he kept some snacks for when he got peckish, so there were a few things here and there. Today seemed to be a lucky day.
“Eggs, bacon, cabbage, tomatoes, and cucumbers.”
Since he wouldn’t get scolded for using up the ingredients, Yuuri pondered what to make with what was in front of him. After some thought, he decided to make a bowl with bacon and eggs, topped with cabbage, and serve it with tomatoes and cucumbers on the side. The reason? He just felt like eating it. That was pretty much how Yuuri lived.
The recipe was simple: pile shredded cabbage on top of steaming rice, then top it with a soft-boiled bacon and egg. Season with salt, pepper, or soy sauce to taste. …Don’t call it lazy. The runny yolk mixed in makes it surprisingly delicious.
“Alright, first, let’s shred the cabbage.”
The small kitchen had limited counter space. Yuuri, used to cooking in larger kitchens, found it a bit awkward, but the high-quality utensils made up for it. Speaking of which, why did Gurgal, who barely cooked, own such high-quality kitchenware? Apparently, they were gifts from fellow craftsmen. Prototypes, extras, or items obtained through bartering—somehow, it all worked out.