NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 149.2
Let’s Make Handmade Hamburgers Together!
Ridi, who had been making dull squishing sounds, perked up his ears and tail in shock. Etol also turned serious, focusing on the mixture. They didn’t want their hard work to go to waste. From then on, both of them worked hard, moving their small hands to shape the hamburgers.
While Ridi and Etol made one patty, Yakk made two, and Yuuri made three. To keep the sizes consistent, Yuuri and Yakk matched their patties to the smaller ones Ridi and Etol were making. Large hamburgers are juicy and delicious, but small ones have their own charm, as you can eat several.
As the patties piled up, Ridi let out a Nyaa. It seemed the kitten had gotten hungry while working. …It would be rude to point out that he had just eaten chilled dashi chazuke earlier. Kittens must have fast metabolisms. Surely.
“…Um, are you hungry?”
“Nyaa~ah…”
“No, he just says he wants to eat because it looks delicious. So, he can wait until it’s time.”
“Nyaa!?”
“Young master, you need to learn some patience. If you think food will appear just because you complain, you’re sorely mistaken.”
“Nyaa-Nyaa~!”
“Clearly, I’m in the right!”
Ridi seemed to be shouting something like “This is tyranny!” His fur bristled as he yelled, and Etol also shouted from the depths of his stomach. …Well, in this case, Etol was clearly in the right. After all, it was still too early for dinner, and they had already eaten lunch and a snack. Any more would disrupt their internal clocks.
Grumbling, Ridi returned to making hamburgers. It seemed he found the process fun, as his ears and tail started swaying happily again. …By the way, Etol’s ears and tail, though not as much as Ridi’s, also swayed happily as he worked. His face remained serious, but his ears and tail were honest.
Watching the two of them, Crest and Fia… from Yuuri’s perspective, looked like parents at a kindergarten open house. They were nervous but proud, exuding an aura of “Our kids are doing great!”
The four of them worked hard and ended up with a large number of hamburgers. But considering the appetites of the base members and the four Werecats, Yuuri and Yakk were still a bit worried it might not be enough. …The members of Scarlet Lynx have hearty appetites.
That said, hamburgers weren’t the only dish. There would also be salad and soup, and if they ran out, they could always grill some meat or make egg dishes. As long as they had ingredients, they could manage. Fortunately, the fridge was stocked with meat, fish, and eggs.
With the hamburgers done, they collected the gloves and had Rooks clean them. Meanwhile, Yuuri prepared juice for Ridi and Etol. The two kittens, having worked hard, happily drank the cold juice. Yuuri was soothed by the sight of Ridi’s happy, smiling face.
“Ah, that’s right.”
“Nyaa?”
“Yuuri?”
“Since we’re at it, why don’t we grill a few for a taste test?”
“Nyaa!?”
Yuuri stood up with a small “Alright.” Ridi’s face lit up as he watched Yuuri. He looked like he was about to pounce on Yuuri’s retreating back. …By the way, Ridi’s attempt to leap was stopped by Etol sitting next to him and Rooks at his feet. No interruptions allowed.
Yuuri quickly decided a taste test was necessary. He took out a baking sheet from the oven and preheated it. Meanwhile, he placed a few hamburgers on the sheet. Since they were small, eating a few now wouldn’t ruin dinner. It would be more like a snack.
Hamburgers can be fried in a pan, but Yuuri preferred using the oven for large batches. …After all, the quantity was no joke. Frying enough hamburgers for everyone in a pan would take forever. Plus, the oven cooks both sides evenly without needing to flip them, making it much easier.
“Yuuri, how many small plates do we need?”
“One for each person here.”
“Got it.”
Yakk’s voice reached Yuuri, who was watching the oven. Yakk, able to judge what was needed and act accordingly, prepared six small plates—one for each person, including Crest and Fia, who had been watching. He also made sure to have small forks ready for eating.
Soon, the oven signaled the hamburgers were done. Opening the oven revealed sizzling, delicious-smelling hamburgers. Yuuri eagerly took out the baking sheet and cut the small hamburgers in half. He then served the halves onto the small plates.
…By the way, while each person got half a hamburger, Yuuri had cooked a few extra in case anyone wanted seconds. Since they were small, he figured eating an extra one wouldn’t hurt. This was mainly for Ridi’s sake.
After all, even if the portions are the same, having seconds can make you feel more satisfied than eating everything at once! …Probably. At least, Yuuri thought so, which is why he prepared extra. Kids especially tend to feel this way.
“Here, they’re done.”
“Nyaa~!”
“Thank you.”
“Crest, Fia, please try them too. Ridi and Etol worked hard on them.”
“Let’s eat.”
Ridi leaned forward, Nyaaing eagerly for his plate, while Etol waited patiently. The two adults, called over, bowed slightly before approaching.
…By the way, Ridi was addressed casually, while Etol was addressed more formally because Ridi had gotten angry when Yuuri tried to address Etol casually. Similarly, when Yuuri tried to address Etol casually, Ridi got upset again. It seemed Ridi wanted to assert that they were close enough to be addressed casually. Kittens are willful and free-spirited.
“Alright, let’s eat.”
“Let’s eat.”
“Nyaa~!”
Everyone faced their plates and picked up their forks. The freshly grilled hamburgers were small enough to fit neatly in Yuuri’s palm. Since they were halved, they weren’t too big. Still, the sight of the juicy meat was appetizing.
The Werecats, finding the hamburgers still hot, cut them into smaller pieces to cool before eating. Ridi seemed to understand this, blowing on his small bite-sized piece. Even Yuuri and Yakk, who didn’t have heat-resistant mouths, ate their hamburgers in small, cooled bites.
The first thing that hit their tongues was the meat juice. Since these were meat-only hamburgers without onions, they felt slightly firmer than Yuuri’s usual ones. Onions add moisture, which might make them softer.
That said, the meat-only hamburgers had a strong, meaty flavor. Pre-seasoned with salt, pepper, and ketchup, they were delicious as is. The meat’s richness and the ketchup’s gentle acidity blended perfectly, creating a uniquely delicious taste.
“Nyaa~…”
“Hm? Ridi, what’s wrong?”
“Nyaa-Nyaa! Nyaa~!”
“…No, young master. They turned out well thanks to Yuuri and the others. You’re just along for the ride.”
“Nyaa!?”
Ridi, who had been looking proud, seemed shocked by Etol’s teasing. He must have thought the hamburgers were delicious because of his hard work! Well, that wasn’t entirely wrong. Putting effort into something does make it taste better.
However, Yuuri and Yakk had handled the seasoning and fine-tuning, so Ridi’s contribution was mainly in mixing and shaping. Still, his effort was commendable.
By the way.
“The ones we’re eating now were all made by Ridi and Etol.”
“Nyaa?”
“Huh?”
“I thought you’d like to eat the ones you made.”
Yuuri smiled as he said this, and Ridi’s face lit up. Etol looked a bit embarrassed, but both were clearly moved that they were eating hamburgers they had made themselves. Their cat ears and tails swayed happily.
Meanwhile, Crest and Fia, who had been treated to the young master’s handmade hamburgers, were overcome with emotion. One covered his face, while the other looked up at the sky, trembling with happiness. Whether they were overprotective or just proud parents was hard to say, but their happiness was genuine. The young master’s daily antics made this moment all the more special.
At dinner, the members of Scarlet Lynx praised the kittens’ handmade hamburgers, and Ridi, in high spirits, was reluctant to return to the inn. …Well, Crest eventually caught him and brought him back, but it was all in good fun.