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Chapter 15: Bread
The bread that we eat in modern japan is made from mixing things like flour, eggs, butter, and milk, and baked through, having it rise with yeast.
But ancient bread was different.
It didn’t contain such luxurious things as butter, eggs, or milk.
Yeast also has yet to be developed.
They were made by just mixing water and wheat, having a texture similar to that of crepes.
It’s by no means inedible.
But it doesn’t taste good.
Although I’ve become accustomed to rough foods, I want to eat tasty foods if possible.
Eh!? There are people who eat centipedes, so I should deal with it you say?
No way, I don’t wanna. They do that because it’s an emergency, they have too. They are crazy.
Anyway, let’s make some tasty bread!
We don’t have any cows’ milk, but we have goat milk. I don’t know if it will work as a replacement, but it has to be better than water.
We will need yeast for later.
Just as the name implies by the ending, yeast is a bacteria. (TL: yeast = イースト菌, bacteria = 菌)
It needs to be cultivated.
It’s a mystery whether or not yeast is present in this world’s atmosphere, but it probably does.
Pigs, cows, goats, deers, grapes, olives, wheat, barley, turnips, and clovers all exist just like my world, so it would be strange if yeast didn’t.
It’s definitely there. Probably.
“That yeast thing, how do you make it?”
“Rather than say make, its better to say you grow yeast……but first you put raisins inside pots I think? Then you put in water. Then you seal it, and you let it sit for a while.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
You shouldn’t doubt me since I learned how to make homemade bread during elementary school!.
What should I do when the knowledge that I learn in class is not useful in another world?
During the lesson, I did this using a bottle so I know the details…….
But we don’t really have any bottles……
Can it be left alone for three days untreated? If we couldn’t do it then that’s too bad, then we’ll just have to challenge it again.
“We did it!!”
I held the finished bread in my hand.
HOT!!
I unintentionally dropped it.
Careful not to burn myself, I tore off a piece and threw it into my mouth.
Delicious!!
It’s not possible to make bread like that, which is commercially available in Japan, but it’s much better than what we are always eating.
With this I will be released from my rough diet.
“Is it really that good?”
“If you try it, you’ll know”
I carry the bread towards Tetra’s mouth.
Tetra was wide-eyed.
“It’s soft!!”
“Isn’t it? From now on we will eat this every day.”
The children, trying to be first, pick up some bread.
It was a huge hit. (I think it sounds better than “It was very popular”
Well, now that the atmosphere has calmed down I broke the ice. (TL: Would break the news be better?)
“According to Julia, the countries of King Domorgal and King Gilberd have had a bad harvest, but the country of King Rosaith produced a decent amount of wheat”
“…What are you trying to say?”
Roswald gave a dubious look.
“You were probably born in the country of Rosaith, weren’t you?”
“…..That’s right but…”
“If it’s now you could probably go home.”
I said so quietly.
There were eight people in additions to Roswald who came from Rosaith.
If they were to leave we wouldn’t be able to take care of our fields.
But that doesn’t matter.
Children should grow up in the same environment as their parents. As for me, I don’t have any parents, so it doesn’t really apply to me.
“Hey, Nii-san.”
“What is it?”
“Are you an idiot?”
“…. what do you mean by that?”
They suddenly started abusing me without reason.
What I said was correct. At least I thought I was right.
“It is true that we loved our parents, but you know, they discarded us. In the first place, even if there wasn’t any other choice in the matter, of course we won’t forgive them. Anyhow, we aren’t welcome so we can’t go back. We would just be another mouth to feed and even after that we might still be kicked out again. This time we might also be sold as slaves, so of course we don’t want to go back.”
…..
…..
…..
Certainly, that’s true.
In the first place, returning a child to someone who abandoned them, of course can’t be right.
If I calmly think, such a thing is obvious.
Rather than be given the cold shoulder, it’s more likely for them to get screwed.
Why didn’t I realize it earlier?
Ah, that’s right.
It was just my complex I guess.
Since my parents aren’t here, I glorify the presence of parents. (TL: since he misses his parents and home)
I was just arbitrarily pressing my ideals on them.
“And one more thing.”
Roswald said, laughing.
“Since everyone loves Nii-san, since nii-san did not forsake us, but rather helped us. Despite having no relation to us. ”
“I see…..”
It was just me who was thinking such a strange thing.
“Hey! Is there anyone who wants to return to their parents?!! Raise your hands!!”
Ron yelled out to the children in a loud voice.
No one raised their hands.
“Then, those who want to stay with the leader, raise you hand!!”
Everyone raised their hands in unison.
“Oi, it’s fine not to go with the crowd you know. Those who want to go home, you can go home if the opportunity arises you know?”
Of course, there has to be one person right?
I mean, wasn’t everyone crying at the start?
You were crying out for your parents weren’t you?
But, still no one came forward.
And no one’s expressions changed at all.
Even if the atmosphere were washed away their expressions should be able to change. But no one changed.
They just stared at me.
What does it mean? (TL: why are the protags always this dense?)(pengu:jap thing)
“We may not have been loved by our parents in the first place, or the village could have been the one that disliked us, so even though we were sad at the start, when we calmly thought about it, we decided we didn’t want to return after all. Of course we always have thoughts of going back home. Besides if we stay with you we won’t go hungry and you are kind to us. Everyone loves you, are you convinced now?”
Tetra said, trying to persuade me.
I see, it’s like that, huh?
I was loved by them that much, huh….
“Almis-san, are you crying?”
“I’m not crying!! I couldn’t be crying silly! I’m the leader you know!!”
Damn, to cry this much….ah, right now I’m twelve aren’t I?
“I understand. From now on I will continue being the leader of this group! Henceforth,  follow me to the future!”
“”” ROGER, LEADER!!  “””
The children shouted together in unison.
Why are did they all breathing in unison?
It couldn’t be…..
“Were you already prepared for when I said this?”
“Ah, were we caught?”
Soyon stuck out her tongue.
“Tetra said that you occasionally seemed concerned about something.”
Gram told me.
I see, Tetra huh.
“The long awaited moment when the leader will cry!!”
Ron said
“Hey, wait a minute. Roswald was the one who was the most excited for this you know! You little… was this rehearsed?”
“Well, we knew this subject was gonna come up you know? It’s a long awaited thing so we wanted to say everything right and the one who proposed that we all shout at the same time was Ron!”
“Don’t put the blame on me!!”
A fuss has started.
It’s not like I was going to cry without exception you know…..
“Calm down. I’m not really angry or anything. C’mon, let’s eat the bread. Today is a party!!”
“…..there’s only bread though”
Tetra muttered quietly.
Don’t say unnecessary things, stupid.