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

The Staff Meal Tonight Is Egg Rice Bowls Made With Leftover Dinner

“Urgus, how about egg rice bowls for breakfast today?”

“Huh?”

Urgus, who was on kitchen duty, tilted his head at Yuuri’s suggestion. Why egg rice bowls? he wondered. After all, right now, he was busy preparing breakfast for everyone: bread, soup, salad, and bacon and eggs—he had been told the menu already. So where did this sudden “egg rice bowl” idea come from?

That said, Yuuri hadn’t just blurted it out randomly; he had his reasons. However, Yuuri, the embodiment of “laid back,” sometimes failed to explain things fully. This was another one of those times.

Realizing that Urgus was confused, Yuuri clapped his hands together and opened his mouth, wearing his usual lazy smile.

“You see, everyone else will get the breakfast you’re preparing, but I was asking if you and I could have egg rice bowls for our staff meal.”

“Ah, I see. So that’s what you meant. …Wait, why do we get a different menu?”

“Well, you see, I’ve got leftover sauce from last night’s dish.”

“…Leftover sauce from last night?”

Urgus searched his memory for anything relevant. While he did so, Yuuri bustled over to the fridge and pulled out a bowl, proudly showing off its contents. It held a fragrant broth, still sloshing around invitingly.

Technically, it was leftovers.

“Last night, I made steamed orc meat and bean sprouts, remember? This broth was left over, so I thought I’d use it for egg rice bowls.”

“…You didn’t throw it out?”

“Of course not! That’d be wasteful. The broth is full of meat and bean sprout flavor.”

“…Ahh, yeah. That’s just like you.”

“Is that a problem?”

Urgus sighed in exasperation at Yuuri’s “waste-not” attitude. It wasn’t even enough to fuss over, he thought. Still, with the number of people eating last night, the bowl held a decent amount. It was understandable that Yuuri couldn’t bring himself to throw it away, thinking of the spices and effort that went into it.

By the way, the steamed orc meat dish was simple: steam bean sprouts and meat in a pot with bones and sake, then finish with sesame oil and soy sauce. If you had a big pot, you could make a lot of it—highly convenient. Despite its simplicity, the dish was a crowd favorite, and it had become a staple. Half meat and half bean sprouts made it appealing even to the less carnivorous folks. Tasty is justice.

“Well, whatever. Let’s just hurry up and eat the staff meal.”

“Yeah. Once everyone’s awake, it’ll get busy.”

“No, I was just thinking it might get noisy if they see us eating something different.”

“…You think so?”

“…Depends on the person.”

“…That’s true.”

Yuuri nodded earnestly at Urgus’s pensive comment. He was right. The adults probably wouldn’t care, but if the trainees or younger members came in, all they could see was “That looks delicious!” To avoid such an outcome, Yuuri got to work.

First, he poured the broth into a shallow pot to heat it. While Urgus kept an eye on it to prevent it from boiling off, Yuuri busied himself with other tasks. Urgus, meanwhile, absentmindedly stirred the broth with a ladle, watching as congealed fat melted back into liquid. …And when he found a small piece of meat floating around, he looked a little pleased. Growing boys do love their meat.

Leaving Urgus to the pot, Yuuri pulled out onions and carrots. He peeled the onion and sliced it into slightly thick strips—not too thin to lose texture, but not too thick to resist soaking up the broth. He did the same with the carrot before calling out to Urgus.

“How long should I simmer this?”

“Until the onion changes color? …I think the carrot will cook through by then too.”

“Got it.”

Urgus responded while ensuring the onion and carrot were submerged in the broth, stirring carefully. He’d gotten pretty good at cooking—partly because he was extra motivated when it was something he’d eat.

While Urgus worked, Yuuri cracked eggs into a spouted bowl, mixing them lightly with chopsticks. He didn’t beat them completely, breaking up the whites just enough so they stayed partly separate from the yolks. He’d heard somewhere that this made for tastier eggs, as they absorbed the broth better. Whether or not that was true didn’t matter—it was all about the mood.

With the eggs ready, Yuuri prepared deep bowls, gently scooping rice into each one. He didn’t pack it down, to avoid crushing the grains. If it wasn’t enough, seconds could always be served.

“Urgus, is it simmered enough?”

“Probably.”

“Alright, time to add the eggs!”

“Got it.”

Urgus moved aside, and Yuuri took his place by the pot, pouring in the eggs with ease thanks to the spouted bowl. He spread them evenly, watching the broth bubble gently. Once the eggs started to set, he turned off the heat and covered the pot to let the residual heat finish the job.

“Urgus, can you ladle out some vegetable soup while we wait?”

“On it.”

Yuuri moved the rice bowls closer to the pot while Urgus poured two cups of vegetable soup. Today’s staff meal consisted of egg rice bowls, a hearty vegetable soup, and a plate of labyrinth-sourced fruit, ignoring seasonal logic. They say morning fruit is golden—it’s great for nutrition, absorption, and digestion.

When Yuuri lifted the pot’s lid, a delicious aroma wafted out. The eggs, streaked with white and yellow, looked soft and inviting. Using the ladle, Yuuri carefully scooped the eggs, broth, and veggies over the rice. The rich orc-and-bean-sprout broth combined perfectly with the soft eggs, creating a mouth-watering harmony. If the broth was good, the egg rice bowl would naturally be delicious.

With the steaming bowls ready, Yuuri left the pot soaking in water to clean later. Right now, eating the freshly made rice bowls was the most important task for Yuuri and Urgus.

Yuuri carried the bowls to the dining room as Urgus returned with water and spoons. Their eyes met, and they exchanged a silent conversation. Words weren’t necessary. Let’s eat quickly! was their unspoken agreement. Early morning appetites are a privilege of youth, after all. Don’t judge them too harshly. The egg rice bowls’ aroma was even more tempting than expected. Egg rice bowls are no joke!

“Alright, let’s dig in.”

“Let’s eat.”