THE NEXT DAY
REMANTIA'S ADVENTURER GUILD
"Okay, so you got 40 Bitch Leech's gelatins and 40 Tum Tumble's weeds. Each item has the same price, 2 large bronze coins. And the Frankenstein Kampfer's hand wraps are 8 large bronze and 5 bronze coins. So that's 1 large silver, 6 silver, 8 large bronze, and 5 bronze coins in total."
"Thank you, Freddy."
"And here are your cards, ladies."
The next morning, I visit the Adventurer's Guild as usual to sell our loot from the labyrinth yesterday. However, I'm not alone this time because Yomogi, Chantal, and Brunhild are coming along with me.
Just as Freddy promised, Yomogi and Chantal are promoted to S-rank after we conquered the eightieth floor of the labyrinth. And since the condition for a rank up is bringing the boss' drop item, I had duplicated the Frankenstein Kampfer's hand wraps that Yomogi took, so she still has the real one in her possession.
Meanwhile, Brunhild is also here to process her own "Special Companion" identity card, which is similar to what Salacia, Manas, and Lilith have.
As Yomogi and Chantal examine the letter 'A' on their cards that changes into 'S,' Yomogi murmurs in disbelief, and Chantal laughs awkwardly if they're not entirely convinced.
"I-I can't believe it... we're S-rank now. This feels like a dream..."
"Ahaha... who would've thought we'd come to this? It's just... unbelievable..."
Truth is, I'd kept this promotion promise thing a secret ever since Freddy told me back then. So, I just told Yomogi and Chantal to come with me today without saying anything else. And actually, seeing them both this stunned and happy makes me smile.
Meanwhile, Brunhild tilts her head at the card she's holding, furrowing and raising the card toward Freddy.
"Pardon me, what… is this?"
"Oh, that? That's a Special Companion card, miss. Not for adventurers or merchants. It's for powerful individuals who aren't registered but are clearly tied to someone important. You know, bonded types."
And I add in.
"It officially registers you as a resident of Remantia. You can use it to enter other countries too."
"I see..."
Then, she holds the card closer to her chest with a smile.
"Understood. Thank you, my Lord."
"You're welcome."
And Freddy suddenly tells me something.
"Oh, right, soap guy. If you clear the ninety-ninth floor, you're getting another promotion. A-rank next."
"Really?!"
"Yup."
"Well, I'll do my best, then!"
"Heh, I bet you will."
A-rank, huh?
Yeah, I'll definitely reach it no matter what. I'm getting stronger than before, and I feel even more motivated because right now, my companions are four S-rank adventurers, while the other ones are four legendary beings.
But wait... didn't Yomogi once mention that labyrinths stop at the hundredth floor?
So I ask Freddy about it.
"Hey, what about S-rank? What's my condition for that?"
"Simple. Defeat the labyrinth."
"That's it? Just beat the final floor?"
Freddy lets out an awkward laugh.
"Ahaha... it's not that easy, you know? No one's ever done it, and nobody's found the secret rooms either. So that's why the guilds agreed that anyone who conquers a labyrinth gets S-rank."
"I see..."
So... if the ninety-ninth floor is like a remote place at the edge of the world, then the hundredth floor will be the wild, uncharted territory like Sentinel Island or somewhere deep in the Amazon back on Earth. If you reach the remote town, you're an A-rank. But if you go beyond into that last wilderness, you're simply worthy to be an S-rank.
"Thanks for the info, Freddy."
"You're welcome. Take care, all of you."
And just like that, the four of us step out of the guild. As we pass through the market, Brunhild slows down in front of a nearby incense stall and turns to me.
"My Lord, may I purchase incense?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
"Thank you."
She excuses herself and heads off, stepping toward the stall.
Yomogi leans toward me and giggles.
"Fufu~... Brunhild is really religious, isn't she?"
"Yeah, she is an angel after all."
Chantal also snorts.
"And our house is gonna smell like a shrine now, Motegi-kun!"
"Hahaha... definitely."
Ever since I made that statue of the goddess Acrusse for her two days ago, Brunhild's been doing a little morning prayer ritual without missing a day.
A moment later, she returns with a small paper bundle in her hand.
"Thank you for allowing me to buy these, my Lord. The goddess must be pleased if I offer these to Her."
"You're welcome."
And with that, the four of us continue to walk back home.
BACK AT MOTEGI'S HOUSE
Arriving here, Kimberly, Lilith, and Puck welcome us.
"We're home!"
"Welcome home, Motegi-sama, Yomogi, Chantal, Brunhild..."
"Welcome home, all of you~..."
"Kyuu!"
Then, I ask Kimberly.
"Do the others haven't returned yet?"
But just before Kimberly answers, three people emerge from two portals in the living room. Two people step out from one portal connected to Oserin, and the last one is coming home from the other portal connected to Nomah.
Salacia, the first to emerge from the Oserin portal, is soaked from head to toe and leaving a trail on the floor. But she doesn't seem to care, and instead, she beams as she holds a massive fish high in one hand like a prize catch.
"I'm hooome~! Look what I got~!"
We all stop and stare as Yomogi is the first to ask.
"Is that a shark?!"
"Mmhm~! Big one, right~?"
Chantal is already drooling like a hungry cat.
"That thing looks huge. And delicious already…"
Then, I quickly approach Salacia.
"You okay, Salacia? Did you get hurt?"
"Ehehe~... it bit me once, but the wound's gone now."
"Glad to hear it. But still, be careful next time, okay?"
"Yes, darling~..."
Honestly, it's no surprise. Salacia is a kraken after all, so her regeneration is in a league of its own. But just because she can recover, it doesn't mean I want to see her get hurt in the first place.
Pinna steps out behind Salacia, carrying a crate in her arms.
"Master, I have returned safely. Mission complete."
I take the crate from her and nod.
"How was it?"
"There was significant data. I documented forty-three new structural details of Hagetaka, previously unnoticed. There are still many areas I wish to examine further. The propulsion system, especially, holds mechanical anomalies beyond my current understanding."
"Good work. If you ever need to check Hagetaka again, just let me know."
"Understood, Master."
The whole reason I sent Pinna with Salacia back to that remote island in Oserin was she requested to study Hagetaka more, as she'd been itching to understand it better ever since our first flight. So I gave her that shrinking crate from Turivel and told her to go wild, restoring the ship to its full size, and to take her time.
And from the Nomah portal, Manas announces grandly as she hands me a pouch.
"I hath returned with the coffee, mine king."
"Thanks, Manas."
Then, I turn to Salacia.
"Let me take care of that, Salacia."
"Yes, darling~!"
"Thank you."
With that, she passes the slippery shark into my arms. And then, I carry it into the kitchen and set it down on the counter.
First, I lop off the head clean. Then I bleed and gut it, cut it into thick fillets, skin them carefully, and trim off the dark bloodlines. I soak the meat in a bowl of milk and lime juice to neutralize the ammonia scent and slide it into the fridge.
Honestly, I've had shark meat before back in Japan, specifically when I was on a random summer trip to Tochigi. It was a local specialty, and I remember watching the fishmongers show how to prep it properly.
And yes, my name really did come from the motor racing circuit there, the Twin Ring Motegi. I guess it's a little funny because there were already so many people with the name Suzuka, which was another racing track and the most infamous one in Japan.
Finally, I return to the living room.
"Alright, the shark will be ready by lunch. So... shall we open the store now?"
"Yes!"
With that, I scoop Puck up and rest it on my shoulder, then I take my usual spot behind the counter. Then, the girls move to the front and swing open the doors, stepping outside and saying in unison.
"Welcome to the store! Please enjoy your visit!"
Once the customers pour in like a flood, another busy day begins until the first shift ends at noon.
LUNCH TIME
When the last of the customers filter out, the girls lock the doors, and we all head upstairs. As the girls and Puck take their seats at the table, I immediately rush into the kitchen to take the shark meat out of the fridge along with some broccoli.
First, I rinse the fillets thoroughly, washing off the milk and lime marinade. Once cleaned, I pat each piece dry with a towel, making sure there's no excess moisture left on the surface. Then, I move on to the broccoli, giving it a quick rinse as well and patting it dry. Finally, I measure out some long-grain rice and wash it in a bowl.
I melt a small spoonful of ghee in a pan, and as it liquefies, I toss in the washed rice, stirring it gently so every grain gets coated in the golden fat. Then, I add turmeric powder, garam masala, and ground cardamom. Once it's stirred evenly, I pour in the stock, place the lid on the pan, and let it simmer gently.
While the rice cooks, I turn my attention back to the shark fillets. First up, I quickly head to the terrace garden to pluck some thyme before I return to the kitchen. Then, I season every fillet with salt, black pepper, minced garlic, lemon zest, and thyme.
I heat oil in a large skillet, and then I lay three fillets down at once, and they're sizzling immediately. I give them four minutes on one side, then flip them carefully and do the same on the other. Once those are done, I repeat the process two more times until all the fillets are cooked to a golden finish with slightly crisp edges. For the final round, I cook the smallest fillet with the same care.
Next, I boil a pot of water with a generous pinch of salt. As it heats, I cut the stems off the broccoli and break the heads into bite-sized florets. Once the water is boiled, I drop them in and let them cook for exactly three minutes before draining them quickly to lock in their color and crunch.
When the rice is cooked, I fluff it gently with a spoon and plate everything: nine full portions of rice go onto large plates, and a smaller portion goes into a tiny plate for Puck. On each big plate, I lay a shark fillet beside a serving of broccoli. On the tiny one, I gently place the little fillet and three neat broccoli florets.
Finally, I head out of the kitchen and carry everything on a large tray.
"Lunch is ready, everyone!"
Their reactions hit me immediately once I set each plate on the table.
And Salacia is the first one to speak.
"The shark I caught turned into this~! Darling, you're amazing~!"
Yomogi and Lilith inhale deeply. The former has her eyes brighten in delight, while the latter is shivering and biting her lips as she holds a moan.
"Mmm! It smells so wonderful already, Motegi-chan!"
"Nnhh~... this is… so dangerously tempting, honey~…"
Chantal's tail twitches as she drools like a hunting cat.
"Fish… fish… fish…"
Kimberly and Manas have their eyes locked onto the dish.
"I can't... wait... to eat this… shark…"
"Mine stomach doth clamor in impatience. This beast's scent tempteth mine appetite most sorely."
Pinna and Brunhild examine their plates. The former analyzes as usual, while the latter places a hand to her chest and bows slightly.
"The golden hue of the rice suggests turmeric infusion. The aroma is multilayered and mild fat content. I predict this will be a highly satisfactory meal, Master."
"This shall be a very interesting dish to taste. I thank you for preparing it, my Lord."
Puck chirps cheerfully, already nose-deep in its tiny plate.
"Kyuu!"
As I take my seat and speak...
"Alright, let's dig in then."
Nobody wastes even a second, and reactions burst one after another as they take a bite.
Salacia hums softly, practically glowing.
"Thank you for making this shark so delicious, darling~. I really, really love you~…"
"Thanks, Salacia."
Yomogi and Kimberly chew with delight.
"Mmm! It tastes like chicken! This is amazing!"
"This is… different... than any fish... I've ever had. It's so... unique…"
Chantal and Manas have their cheeks stuffed as they eagerly take another bite.
"I love fish! I really love fish!"
"What manner of creature be this shark? What doth it consume to render such flavor upon thine tongue?"
Lilith presses a hand to her cheek, moaning.
"Mmhh~... I think I'm falling for this shark~. Sorry, honey... I might cheat on you now~…"
And I can't help but chuckle.
"What are you even talking about, Lilith?"
Pinna analyzes again as Puck chirps happily through its tiny plate.
"The meat is firm with a low flake rate, indicating moderate fat content. Citrus and herbal seasoning enhance the flavor profile, while the rice and broccoli balance the overall salinity. Nutritionally and sensorially, it is optimal. As I predicted, Master, a highly satisfactory meal."
"Kyuu!"
Brunhild lifts a bite and chews, her eyes closing with subtle pleasure.
"This is... incredible, my Lord."
"Do you like it?"
She nods silently and wordlessly lifts another bite to her lips.
"Good to know that."
Then, I finally take my own bite, savoring the soft rice, the tender and rich shark, and the crunchy broccoli florets in my mouth.
"Yup, it really tastes just like the ones in Tochigi."
And just like that, we continue enjoying our lunch together and reopen the store soon after.