"Shigure-nee, stop teasing Okabe-kun."
Seeing Shigure Kōsaka's playful expression, Miu Fūrinji couldn't help but speak up.
"This isn't bullying. It's... roughhousing."
Hearing Miu Fūrinji's words, Shigure Kōsaka straightened up and glanced over, where she saw the bowl of Tomato Knife-cut Noodles left for her on the stove.
Clearly, Akisame Koetsuji had noticed her.
"Okabe, come here."
"What is it, Master Shigure?"
Without giving the bowl of noodles a second glance, Shigure Kōsaka stood before the boiling iron pot and called Okabe over from nearby.
"Put the dough on a plate and bring it over." As if she'd thought of something, she added another sentence upon seeing Okabe's somewhat puzzled expression.
"Okay."
Hearing Shigure Kōsaka's request, Okabe had a faint guess as to her intention. He picked up the plate Akisame Koetsuji had used and placed a piece of dough on it.
"I'll demonstrate once. You can ask if there's anything you don't understand."
Looking at the dough in Okabe's hands, Shigure Kōsaka didn't take it immediately. Instead, she gently pressed the surface with her fingers to feel its hardness and elasticity, which would determine the force she would use.
"Hold the dough steady. Keep your wrist flexible."
Her voice was cool and her words concise. As she spoke, she moved her long, straight legs and came to stand behind Okabe, pressing her body right up against his. An iron slicing blade had appeared in her hand at some point.
"Master Shigure..."
Feeling the soft press against his back, Okabe's body stiffened, and he subconsciously called out her title.
"Focus on the dough. Don't get distracted."
Shigure Kōsaka reminded him with a placid expression.
As her words fell, Okabe suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and brought his gaze back. He saw her take his left hand, making him hold the plate steady and raise it to shoulder height.
Her other hand grasped his right, handing him the iron slicing blade and having him grip it tightly.
"Memorize this feeling with your body."
The moment Shigure Kōsaka finished speaking, a flash of white light shot past Okabe's eyes.
A uniformly thin slice of noodle, shaped like a delicate willow leaf, flew through the air with a "swoosh" and landed precisely in the roiling, boiling water.
Then came the second, the third... Shigure Kōsaka's wrist flickered, her movements deliberately slowed so that Okabe could feel them more clearly.
"Remember this feeling."
The process, which could have been finished in a second, lasted for over a minute due to Shigure Kōsaka's hands-on instruction, until all the noodles had fallen into the pot.
And under Shigure Kōsaka's hand-over-hand guidance, Okabe thoroughly memorized the feeling of slicing the noodles.
"I see. But before I make the noodles, I think I should make the saozi first. Knife-cut noodles without saozi won't taste nearly as good."
Feeling the softness pressed tightly against his back, Okabe's face flushed slightly, but he still focused his attention and memorized the movements Shigure taught him.
"It's fine. There's plenty of tomato and egg left in the bowl. We can just mix it in and eat."
Hearing Okabe's words, Shigure Kōsaka spoke simply and released her hold on him.
She used a strainer to lift the cooked noodles from the pot, gave it a firm shake to drain the water, and poured them into the bowl Okabe had been eating from.
"Taste it."
Shigure Kōsaka spoke as she added salt, chicken essence, MSG, and aromatic vinegar to the noodles. Then, using chopsticks, she mixed the remaining tomato and egg with the seasoned noodles on top and handed the bowl to Okabe.
"The shape of the noodles..." Noticing the noodles in the bowl, Okabe's face showed surprise.
The knife-cut noodles in the bowl were even more meticulously made than Master Akisame's. The cross-section was a perfectly regular triangular shape, thick in the middle and thin on the edges, with incredibly sharp ridges.
"Your knife skills are still stronger, Shigure. Using the same slicing blade, the noodles you cut are far more standard than mine. As expected of the 'Child of Sword and Weaponry'."
Akisame Koetsuji had appeared at Okabe's side at some point. He looked at the noodles with an expression of admiration, his voice tinged with a hint of lament.
These noodles were sliced to absolute perfection, a level he would struggle to reach even with another ten years of practice.
It had to be said, Shigure Kōsaka's understanding of the way of weapons was astonishing. Even though she had never made knife-cut noodles before, she could grasp the key principles after just one look.
"Did you memorize the movements just now?"
"Mostly, but I can't guarantee I can replicate noodles as perfectly as yours, Master Shigure. Please wait until I've finished making the meat sauce before I try."
Hearing Shigure Kōsaka, Okabe nodded slightly to show he understood, then looked toward the strips of pork belly that Miu Fūrinji had bought earlier.
"I'll wait here. If you don't understand something, you can ask."
Shigure Kōsaka's face was expressionless. She walked over to a nearby chair and sat down, holding her beloved sword in her lap—a weapon she kept with her even when bathing.
"Okay, leave it to me."
Okabe nodded slightly and carried the pork belly to the cutting board.
Although the boards for dough work and meat work were kept separate, many pastries also used meat fillings, so the dough workshop was always equipped with a cutting board for meat.
A row of kitchen knives hung neatly beside it.
"The meat sauce for knife-cut noodles varies depending on the region. The most famous is from Shanxi, which generally uses pork shoulder. Shaanxi style, on the other hand, prefers skinless pork foreleg."
"But I think a mix of fat and lean tastes better, so I asked Miu to buy some pork belly. You can prepare it using your usual method."
Akisame Koetsuji came to Okabe's side. Worried that his general knowledge might be lacking, he gave a simple explanation before Okabe began cooking.
"No problem. I prefer pork belly over other cuts. It renders fat and absorbs flavors easily. When stewed, it soaks up all the spices from the braising liquid, making it especially fragrant when mixed with noodles."
Okabe took out the Seven-Star Knife: Wu Qu from his toolbox. This knife was perfectly suited for slicing and shredding harder vegetables like potatoes, winter melon, and pumpkin.
For cutting fresh meat, the Seven-Star Knife: Wen Qu was more often used. The Wen Qu knife could complete cuts with extreme efficiency, maintaining the uniform thickness and aesthetic appeal of the ingredients.
But since he didn't have the Wen Qu, using the Wu Qu as a substitute was fine.
After all, the functions of the two knives were similar; both could cut vegetables and meat. It was just that using the right knife for its specialized ingredient would enhance the precision.
For a top-tier chef, that little bit of precision was enough to raise the upper limit of their cuisine.
This was why so many incredible chefs, despite their extraordinary skills, were fanatical about their pursuit of culinary tools. Good tools really could elevate one's cooking.
Placing the pork belly on the cutting board, Okabe brought the knife down in the middle of the meat. With a little force, he cleanly separated the pork from the skin.
Afterward, he cut the pork into thick slices, then into coarse strips, and finally into dice about the size of half a thumb.
He heated oil in a wok. Once hot, he added the fattier parts of the pork belly, using the high temperature to render out the lard and add a complex fragrance to the oil in the wok.
When the fat had rendered out under the high heat and shrunk to less than half its original size, Okabe added the diced lean meat to the wok.
Once the meat changed color, he deglazed the wok with a small amount of white wine from the edge to remove any gaminess, then added chopped scallions and minced ginger to stir-fry until fragrant.
"Add the dajiang I made a while ago. The ratio of yellow soybean paste to sweet bean sauce should be 2:1."
Just as Okabe was about to proceed to the next step, Akisame Koetsuji suddenly placed two jars of paste by the stove, instructing him on the ratio to use.
"Great, this is just what I needed. I was about to skip it, but I didn't expect you to have some here."
Looking at the two jars exuding a rich, savory aroma, Okabe's face lit up with surprise.
He had been prepared to forgo the paste and season directly with five-spice powder and chili flakes, then add water, yellow bean soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and vinegar, season with sugar, salt, and MSG, and simmer for half an hour.
But since dajiang was available, he definitely had to add it. Adding it to a stew provides a deep, savory fragrance—in short, it makes everything more appetizing.
Soon, under Okabe's meticulous handling, the meat sauce began to emit a rich aroma.
The others gathered around in tacit understanding, flaring their nostrils and taking deep breaths in front of the pot, their faces filled with enjoyment.
"Yellow soybean paste is primarily salty and savory, with a rich, mellow fragrance. Sweet bean sauce is sweet within its saltiness, umami, and gentle.
The combination of the two is perfect for stewed meat dishes. It saves a lot of subsequent seasoning while enhancing the flavor of the meat sauce, making it even more delicious."
Akisame Koetsuji softly explained the effect of the dajiang on the meat sauce, noting how it effectively enhanced the flavor and filled the entire kitchen with the aroma of stewing meat.
"I just finished the tomato and egg noodles! How has it only been a short while? Why is my stomach growling again!"
Sensing the incredibly rich, meaty aroma in the air, Miu Fūrinji's stomach rumbled audibly. The sound made her blush deeply, and she stomped her foot in frustration as she spoke.
"Next up are the knife-cut noodles."
Looking at the meat sauce simmering over low heat, Okabe turned his gaze to the dough Shigure Kōsaka had used earlier. Four-fifths of it was still left.
One block of dough could make five standard bowls of knife-cut noodles. Now there were forty-eight blocks left, which meant two hundred and forty bowls.
Counting him and Ikaros, Ryōzanpaku only has nine people. Even adding Tochumaru, that's just nine people and one mouse. Could they really finish that many noodles...
"Don't worry. Shio Sakaki and Apachai Hopachai alone can eat two hundred bowls. No food will be wasted."
As if sensing Okabe's concern, Akisame Koetsuji explained with a smile.
"Then I can rest easy. Miu, could you help me keep an eye on the meat sauce? Adding the dajiang will make it thicken much faster, so it needs frequent stirring."
"Leave the rest to me!"
Miu Fūrinji gave Okabe an "OK" sign. Seeing her gesture, Okabe's slightly restless heart immediately settled down.
Without much hesitation, he stepped forward and picked up the half-used dough Shigure Kōsaka had been slicing.
The water in the pot was still boiling. Visualizing her earlier movements in his mind, Okabe closed his eyes.
With his Perfected knife skills, Okabe could quickly master any kind of blade. Even though it was his first time using the hooked slicing blade, he could still wield it as if it were an extension of his arm.
"Ssshh!"
Strips of uniformly thick noodles flew from the dough, landing in the scalding water and cooking through from the inside out in an instant.
Okabe's gaze was like a torch, his hand movements astonishing. He didn't stop until the entire remaining dough was sliced into noodles, then waited quietly for them to cook through in the boiling water.
"For a beginner, you're very good."
"Tilt the blade down by 3 degrees and maintain a consistent speed while slicing, and it will be even better."
Shigure Kōsaka had appeared behind Okabe at some point. Her voice was concise and clear, directly pointing out the flaws in his recent actions.
"Okay, I'll adjust on the next batch."
Her sudden proximity no longer caused a change in Okabe's expression. At this moment, his eyes were completely locked on the pot. As the noodles gradually cooked, he picked up the strainer beside him and lifted them out.
Before long, four bowls of noodles were ready. Miu Fūrinji had also dished out the meat sauce. Okabe used a stone mortar to make some ginger-garlic juice and began the final assembly.
Noodles at the bottom, seasoned with salt, chicken essence, MSG, and aromatic vinegar. Then came the ginger-garlic juice and the meat sauce, followed by a ladle of fresh broth, a spoonful of hot chili oil, and a sprinkle of chopped scallions and cilantro.
And thus, a bowl of incredibly delicious Dry-mixed Knife-cut Noodles with Minced Meat Sauce was complete.
[Detected that the host has mastered the basic techniques of knife-cut noodles under the guidance of Special-Grade Chef Shigure Kōsaka and completed a dish combined with self-made meat sauce. Now unlocking recipe: Dry-mixed Knife-cut Noodles with Minced Meat Sauce (Blue)]
[Dry-mixed Knife-cut Noodles with Minced Meat Sauce (Blue)]: A chewy dough made from high-gluten flour, sliced into willow-leaf-shaped, triangular noodles with a special iron blade. After being boiled, it is served with a minced meat sauce made from a mix of fatty and lean pork belly.
The sauce is based on a 2:1 ratio of yellow soybean paste and sweet bean sauce, stir-fried with fragrant scallions and ginger, then slow-simmered to allow the savory aroma to fully penetrate the meat. It is finally garnished with ginger-garlic juice, hot chili oil, and fresh cilantro and scallions, creating a Northwestern-style noodle dish that is smooth and chewy, with a rich and savory meat sauce and complex layers of seasoning.
[Proficiency]: Novice (1/500)
[Note: Increasing recipe proficiency will improve the uniformity of the sliced noodles and the flavor fusion of the meat sauce, with a higher probability of creating a high-scoring dish with the traits 「Sharp Edges」 and 「Sauce-infused Oil」]
There it is, the system notification!
As Okabe carried the bowl of Dry-mixed Knife-cut Noodles with Minced Meat Sauce to the nearby dining table, the system's prompt sounded in his mind, and it started at the Novice level right away.
Guidance from a master really makes a difference!
"Not bad. For a first attempt at making knife-cut noodles, achieving this flavor is truly remarkable."
"The noodles have sharp edges, the meat sauce is rich and savory, and you didn't rinse the noodles after cooking, allowing them to absorb all the juices from the meat sauce."
"The only pity is the lack of preparation today. If the boiling water for the noodles were replaced with meat broth or chicken stock, the flavor would have even more depth."
Meanwhile, Akisame Koetsuji had already begun tasting.
There are many types of knife-cut noodles, and the dry-mixed version with meat sauce is just one of the most common, so simple that anyone can make it without much research.
To elevate a simple bowl of knife-cut noodles to the level of a supreme delicacy requires time and dedication.
"Next time, I should try to research a more advanced version. When I have time, I could also set up a small stall outside Ryōzanpaku to earn some money to help with household expenses."
Hearing Akisame Koetsuji's words, Okabe mused to himself with a smile on his face.
The current Dry-mixed Knife-cut Noodles with Minced Meat Sauce was only at the Blue level; there was still plenty of room for improvement.
For instance, he could use better quality flour to improve the texture of the dough, refine his slicing technique, and create a more innovative sauce.
The charm of cooking lies in its potential for limitless innovation. Every innovation brings a new flavor, making it impossible not to be captivated by it.
Thinking of this, Okabe didn't hesitate any longer. He picked up another block of dough and began slicing noodles.
Before long, bowls of knife-cut noodles topped with steaming hot meat sauce were placed on the table, then carried out by Miu Fūrinji and Akisame Koetsuji.
Soon, only Okabe, Shigure Kōsaka, and Ikaros were left in the room.
Ikaros simply sat on a chair, watching the intimate interaction between Okabe and Shigure Kōsaka, her hand gently pressing against her chest.
For some reason, she felt a slight discomfort in that spot.
Was there a problem with the power reactor?
"Ikaros, help me take the noodles to the table by the door. That way, Master Akisame and Miu won't have to come all the way in to get them."
With a fresh batch of noodles cooked, Okabe dished them out one after another, soon filling the stovetop. He then instructed Ikaros, who was sitting behind him.
"Yes, Master."
Hearing Okabe's words, Ikaros stood up and, following his instructions, carried the noodles to the table outside, though her gaze occasionally shifted back towards him and Shigure Kōsaka.
However, Okabe didn't notice this.
He listened intently to Shigure Kōsaka's suggestions, adjusting his slicing technique, and soon he was able to slice relatively perfect noodles.
And the proficiency of his basic Knife Skills, which had been stagnant for a long time, began to grow steadily throughout this process.
Time passed, minute by minute. Okabe spent two hours in the kitchen, turning all the dough into knife-cut noodles.
Shigure Kōsaka stayed by his side the entire time, an appreciative look on her face as she watched his rapid progress.
"You are a genius."
Looking at Okabe, who was breathing a little heavily, Shigure Kōsaka spoke.
"It's just practice makes perfect."
Okabe waved his hand. At that moment, his hands didn't feel like his own. First kneading, then slicing—he had spent at least five hours in the kitchen that afternoon.
"An ordinary person wouldn't have this much stamina. And even after months of making knife-cut noodles in a kitchen, they couldn't produce noodles of your quality. Therefore, you are a genius."
There was very little emotional fluctuation in Shigure Kōsaka's voice, as if she were stating a simple fact.
"Viewed that way, I suppose so. Let's eat the remaining bowls. Master Shigure, if you're still hungry, I can make you a private meal later."
Quickly cleaning up the stove, Okabe picked up a bowl of noodles and started eating. Seeing Shigure Kōsaka standing motionless beside him, he asked casually.
"I've had enough. I don't eat much."
"Thank you."
In response to Okabe's polite offer, Shigure Kōsaka thought for a moment before thanking him seriously.
"Do you know where your room is?"
"No."
Okabe shook his head. Because Akisame Koetsuji had brought him straight to the dough workshop to start teaching him kneading techniques right after he arrived, he didn't know where his room was.
"I'll take you. Miu told me where your room is. Before I came here, I already helped you two move your luggage over."
"Thank you, Master Shigure."
"You're welcome. It is my... duty."
Shigure Kōsaka shook her head slightly, then reached out and took his hand, leading him toward the living quarters.
"Ikaros, let's go."
After cooking all day, Okabe felt a bit tired and wanted to take a nice shower to relax, so he called out to Ikaros.
Ikaros said nothing, silently following along a step behind, her eyes fixed on Okabe's hand being held by Shigure Kōsaka.
Before long, the three of them arrived at a room that was over ten square meters in size.
There wasn't much in the room: just a desk, a wardrobe, a bed, and a nightstand.
The floor was tatami, there was no air conditioner, and next to it was a large floor-to-ceiling window overlooking a long veranda, and beyond that, a spacious courtyard.
A faint, earthy fragrance filled the air.
"You'll stay in this room. Ikaros's room is next door. I'll take you there."
After bringing Okabe to his room, Shigure Kōsaka spoke to Ikaros.
"No need. I will just stay with Master."
Hearing Shigure Kōsaka, Ikaros shook her head in refusal. She then walked to the bed to measure its size; it was just big enough for two people to lie down.
"Okabe's opinion?"
Shigure Kōsaka looked at Okabe, deciding to ask for his input.
"Let's keep the room next door for now. I'm old enough to sleep on my own."
Although cuddling with Ikaros was nice, sleeping together every night was a bit inconvenient.
Besides, their rooms were very close, like an adjoining suite, separated only by a thin sliding door. If anything happened, a single shout would be heard by the other, so there was no need to stay in the same room.
"Very well."
Hearing Okabe's words, Ikaros got off the bed. Without further argument, she silently walked to the boundary between the two rooms and reached out, intending to dismantle the door.
"Wait, Ikaros, put the sliding door down!"
Seeing this, Okabe rushed forward to stop her, a helpless expression on his face.
"You two get acquainted with the surroundings. I'm leaving."
Seeing that the two of them still had things to sort out, Shigure Kōsaka left with those words, while Okabe pulled Ikaros by the hand and sat her down on the bed.
"Anyway, first, put down the door in your hands..."
He looked at the door in Ikaros's hands. It was an older style sliding door, made with a wooden frame and camphor paper.
While not extremely fragile, it couldn't withstand much rough handling. Holding it without care could easily break it.
It would be one thing if this were their own home, but this was Ryōzanpaku.
They had just arrived, and breaking someone's door on the first day... Okabe felt it would be too embarrassing.
"Okay."
On the bed, Ikaros heard Okabe's words and obediently set the door panel down. She then knelt on the bedding, awaiting his next words.
"Is your request to live together?"
Seeing Ikaros put the door down, Okabe let out a soft sigh of relief. He then asked about her request, preparing to solve the door-dismantling issue at its source.
"Yes. I want to protect Master and take care of his daily life. It has always been this way."
Ikaros nodded lightly, stating the basis for her actions.
"Before, when I was younger, I did need someone to protect and care for me closely."
"But I'm grown up now and can be relatively independent. I don't need you to watch me every second like a baby anymore, Ikaros."
After saying this, Okabe looked at Ikaros and saw that her expression hadn't changed; she just stared at him quietly with her platinum-blue eyes.
"Ryōzanpaku is full of masters. Under normal circumstances, no one will come in to attack me."
Okabe looked at Ikaros again. She remained sitting calmly on the bed, her expression unchanged.
"How about this? You can come over one day a week, and we'll sleep together."
"Two days, and no more!"
"Four days."
"Three days. That's my final offer. At least leave me some time to myself."
"Deal."
Ikaros nodded slightly, then fell directly onto the bed, burying herself in the soft mattress.
"Put the door back first!"
After some wrangling, Okabe and Ikaros finally managed to sort out their luggage.
Through peaceful and friendly negotiation, Ikaros decided to give Okabe enough personal space, only coming over to sleep together on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
"So you're in your room. How was your rest? It's about time for evening practice to begin."
Just as Okabe was about to rest, Akisame Koetsuji's figure appeared at the doorway. Seeing him on the bed, a dangerous smile spread across his face.
[Detected that Special-Grade Chef Akisame Koetsuji has formulated a strict training plan for the host's growth. Triggering mission: Master Akisame's Special Training]
[Mission Triggered]: Master Akisame's Special Training
[Mission Content]: Undergo systematic training according to the plan formulated by Akisame Koetsuji. Based on Akisame Koetsuji's research, this mission will not affect the host's normal development.
[Time Limit]: Permanent
[Mission Reward]: Corresponding Combat Power points will be awarded based on training intensity.
"Eh?!"
Spring passed and autumn came; three years went by in a flash.
At the French Patisserie.
Okabe was leisurely enjoying afternoon tea, a small girl with purple hair sitting beside him, listening to his commentary with a look of pure adoration.
"Copper has the highest stability. We tested this a year ago. To make the perfect canelé, it's imperative that we have a batch of molds made from copper!"
"I've already had someone start making them. They should be delivered by tomorrow afternoon at the earliest."
Momo Akanegakubo, hugging Bucchi, replied after hearing Okabe's words, wearing an expression that was begging for praise, since she had thought of this as well.
"Also, the canelé in this photo has a very bright sheen. I don't think we can achieve this level of gloss with normal baking methods."
Okabe pointed to a photo on his phone, which showed a color that clearly couldn't be achieved through standard Western pastry baking.
"Beeswax! Momo thinks we can use beeswax!"
Momo Akanegakubo said excitedly. This was something she had read in a cookbook after a failed attempt, and now was the perfect time to show off her knowledge.
"I was thinking the same thing. Beeswax and butter. It's best to preheat the copper molds, otherwise the beeswax-butter mixture risks flaking off."
Okabe nodded slightly. Beeswax had many uses, but the one that left the deepest impression on him was its ability to increase the gloss and crispness of candy, which is why he thought it could be used here.
"But the crust doesn't seem crispy enough..."
"That's probably because the cooling time wasn't long enough, plus you didn't add the beeswax and butter. You probably only used butter here, right? That makes unmolding a bit difficult, and you took it out immediately after baking, so it's not crispy enough."
Okabe pointed to the surface of the canelé, identifying the crux of the problem. A faint warmth still lingered on it.
"Ah, Okabe-kun, so you were here!"
Just then, Miu Fūrinji's slightly urgent voice came from the shop's entrance.
"A girl came to Ryōzanpaku! She says she's from the Nakiri family, her name is Erina Nakiri, and she wants to challenge you! She says you should come out and accept her challenge right away."
"Erina Nakiri?"
_____
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