Original subtitles

Hello! I'm Rin Takanashi.

I'm in my 20s, and I used to work as a caregiver, but I took up acupuncture a while back.

My hobbies include playing TRPGs and camping.

More specifically, the type of solo camping where I can catch and eat my own food.

I've loved it ever since I was a kid!

Going out on a rare day off

and posting up with a fishing pole in the great outdoors made me happiest,

but I'm kind of in a pickle...

I got a bite!

Come to me, little fishie!

It's a big one!

GOTCHA!

It says this thing's tasty!

'Kay, I'm on it!

Leave it to us!

Well, I was in a pickle...

...but I'm actually doing pretty okay now!

Today I'm your right-hand woman.

That's true.

But since you're in the passenger seat, I think it makes you my left-hand woman!

Just a little farther and we'll be at Lake Lear.

Let's catch us something to eat for dinner there.

Fishing? How fun!

We'd have to camp outside for days if we went on foot. Your skill really is awesome!

I have a hard time believing anyone could think it useless.

This is it! Right around here!

What is, Rin?

The day I was first summoned to this world, I'm positive I went fishing near this spot!

Oh really?

This brings back memories!

Not sure it's been long enough for nostalgia.

Okay, maybe not... but ever since then, it's been one surprise after the next.

Y'know, now that I think about it, fishing Vil out of the lake is where it all began.

What?

Fished him out?

Oh, do tell!

I'm going to take a quick look around.

Now hold on a minute, Vil.

What exactly did Rin mean?

Wait, so Vil never told you guys that part...?

I'm more concerned about our dinner.

Oh... Right.

I guess the two of us are catching ingredients!

Us, too! We wanna help, too!

We'll lend you a paw!

Should I use my webs?

What if I go pssht-pssht in the water?

If I manage to catch something big, be ready to back me up.

'Kay.

You too, Gomamiso.

We got this!

And that's how... we ended up with these!

Aria and Miso both totally nailed it!

So I think we'll have this one for dinner.

We're eating... mad otter?

According to my Survival skill, they're tasty.

In the elven villages, they were eaten as a health food of sorts...

If my Survival skill says it's tasty, then I'm sure it'll be great once I make a meal out of it!

Is that Mt. Merlowa?

There's a lot less smoke than I expected.

It's been a long time since it last erupted.

Nowadays it seems... inactive?

It's going to be dark soon. Let's make camp after we get a little farther.

Roger!

Alright, Xenon and I will secure the area.

We'll set up camp and get dinner ready.

On tonight's menu is golden milk trout ikura and mad otter stew.

So we are eating it...

At least we'll get an energy boost...

Oh, just you wait!

Cut a peeled potato into bite-sized pieces and an onion into wedges.

I rehydrated these leftover mushrooms by soaking them in water.

We'll use the water to make a dashi, so keep it!

After lightly seasoning the mad otter meat...

Really? You leave it as one big chunk?

No, we'll cut it up after we pan fry it.

One big chunk isn't so bad...

There's something dreamy about a big slice of meat, isn't there?

Look at all those juices...

It smells wonderful!

And it's packed with rich, fatty goodness! No wonder people eat it as a pick-me-up!

Might as well make use of the fat and fry our veggies in it!

Ew, veggies...

But I like veggies when you make them, Rin.

You're going to make me blush!

Rin-chan, I won't let you steal her!

Because of the food, Ed!

Just kidding.

You were at least half-serious!

Still, I won't hold back.

I'll talk to a beautiful woman every chance I get, and nobody can stop me!

After combining the water and dashi, all that's left is to add your meat and veggies,

season it to taste, and let it simmer!

Another job well done!

Thank you for blessing us with our daily bread.

Let's dig in!

Smells great.

I think it turned out really well.

M-Mhm...

Oh, yum!

It's good?!

I win!

The meat is incredible! It's got a firm texture, but the fat practically melts on my tongue!

The mad otter I ate in my hometown had an overpowering greasiness to it,

but this has just the right amount of fat.

The broth's filled with the meat's rich flavor. I could eat a ton of rice with that alone!

Mm, yummy meat! Pure happiness!

Wow! The potatoes taste great, too!

I can stomach veggies when they taste like this.

'Cause they've soaked up all the other flavors!

Now then...

Time to give the golden ikura a try, too!

Those are... milk trout eggs, right?

Where I come from, we eat ikura all the time. And it's considered a luxury ingredient!

I see, so it's a difference in culinary culture.

Wh-What's the matter, Rin?

This is... insane.

Was it bad?

No, the opposite!

It's so tasty that I could eat it with rice forever and never get enough!

When the ikura bursts, its gooey filling spills out and coats my mouth with a rich savoriness,

but it's not fishy in the slightest!

That savoriness pairs perfectly with the rice,

drawing out more of the ikura's saltiness and the rice's sweetness!

It's... It's...

so addictive that I can't put my spoon down!

That's good!

Delicious!

Xenon's riding shotgun today. He said he wanted to try sitting in the passenger seat, but...

...hot damn! He's too freakin' pretty!

My HP's gonna hit zero if I don't distract myself fast!

Wh-What's the cuisine like in an elven village?

"We make ample use of the forest's bounty."

An idea that sounds nice on paper, but it means plenty of tough meat and forageable plants.

Ah, so mainly wild game.

Oh, that's right. You mentioned knowing how to butcher animals.

Sometimes we used monsters in our cooking,

but strangely enough, the meals that you make are miles more appetizing.

Rin.

Is it almost time to eat?

All this talk about food is making me hungry.

Mm, good point.

Okay, why don't we have lunch once we get a little farther?

Yay!

Ever since Rin-chan joined the party, it's hard not to be excited about meal time!

Yeah.

Life without Rin was a living hell...

Oof, here it comes. The despair from their past experiences with food...

If we were unlucky, dinner the night we finished a quest was worse than the quest itself.

Ain't that the truth.

It was so bad that we've only been accepting daytime missions lately...

W-Well, I'll be making a whole lot of tasty stuff from now on.

Which is why I'll say it a million times!

We're really, really glad that you joined us!

Yup, yup!

You're an indispensable party member now.

Let us eat a smarty ember, too!

That's not a type of food.

To us, you're a gift from the heavens above!

Please continue to bless us with your cooking!

I have a lot of fun cooking in this world, so I hope you continue to enjoy-

Of course!

S-Sorry, everyone!

Wait a sec, is that it?

Yeah, that's Merlowa.

We're already there? What about lunch?

Couldn't we just eat in Merlowa?

You were obsessed with that one dish the last time we visited.

Steamed rainbow longtail with spring salt!

Yeah, that one!

The spring salt has a unique flavor that pairs super well with steamed chicken!

Spring salt?

It's a seasoning made by boiling water from a hot spring.

The city's famous for it.

Then that settles what we're having for lunch!

Out of stock?!

My apologies. Spring salt has been in short supply as of late...

Instead of our usual steamed rainbow longtail with spring salt,

we're only able to offer a side of herb salt at this time.

But I bet the herb salt's good, too!

C'mon, don't fret over it too much, Aria.

Rin...

It's a shame that they're out of spring salt, but it's a good opportunity to try something new!

You have to step outside your comfort zone if you want to find a yummy treat!

Yeah, you're right...

She listens to Rin-chan more than she listens to me!

Sorry for the wait!

My Survival skill says it's very tasty!

I have a good feeling about this!

Like it?

Rainbow longtails are pesky monsters, but flavor-wise they're second to none.

This meat is insane!

It isn't gamey at all! In fact, it smells subtly sweet! The skin is thick, chewy, and rich,

and the meat is so moist that it's practically bursting with juices!

When I bite into that springy texture, the savoriness comes gushing out,

and I want nothing more than to bask in that feeling forever,

but it disappears down my throat before I even realize it!

Sounds like someone really enjoyed it.

With flavors like these, I wish I'd gotten to try it with their famous spring salt.

Given how delicious it is with the herb salt,

I can't help but wonder what it tastes like with the spring salt!

Let's come back once it's in stock again.

Oh yeah, definitely!

Members of Smorgasbord, I welcome you to Merlowa.

Torey, the Guildmaster of Elrage, asked us to deliver this.

And now Eage, the Guildmaster of Merlowa, has received it.

By the way, could you spare a moment?

Not again...

The same pattern.

What? What's going on?

More trouble.

If Torey has you running errands for him, then you must be quite the capable adventurers.

I'm sure there are some fairly capable adventurers around here, too.

Except the adventurers in our guild have all been wiped out.

What?

What happened?

Recently, we started receiving reports of deafening howls

coming from the direction of the salt wellspring, so I ordered an investigation.

It seems as though a monster has made its home near the wellspring.

I sent several parties to hunt it down, but...

...they were wiped out.

Over the last few years, Merlowa has been stepping up its high-end cuisine.

Spring salt is our star attraction,

born of a partnership between the adventurers guild and the merchants guild.

If things continue this way, we won't be able to supply it anymore.

What?! But I haven't gotten to try it yet...

How awful...

That's why I'd like you to slay the monster.

I will, of course, back you up as best I can.

Can we have a moment to discuss it first?

Absolutely. It is a dangerous mission.

I'll step outside so you can talk it over.

Thoughts?

I believe there were some highly skilled adventurers working in Merlowa.

We would be facing an opponent who defeated every last one of them...

That's nothing to sneeze at...

Plus, we're supposed to be heading to the capital right now.

But I want you to try steamed rainbow longtail with spring salt...

Indeed, it really is delicious.

True enough.

She's gotta taste it at least once.

Alright, we'll accept the mission.

Wait, wait, wait!

That's not a good reason to say yes!

I mean, after hearing that, we can't do nothing.

That said, it's certain to be a difficult mission, so I was going to refuse if anyone is opposed.

It seems we're all on board.

B-But...

Rin, are you opposed?

No, I mean... If all of you plan on going, then I'll tag along, but...

Then that settles it! I'll go grab Eage.

Are you sure this is the best way to decide?

It's entirely possible that this incident has something to do with the Saintess Summoning.

Besides, if it delays our trip to the capital, then that's a plus for me.

Huh?

...I'm joking.

If things go awry, please prioritize your safety over doing damage control.

I intend to pay you regardless of whether you slay the monster.

Your kind words are most appreciated.

Also, be careful not to overexert yourself.

The route to the wellspring is a five-hour walk with multiple steep hills in between.

I think... we'll be just fine.

It requires a slight detour, but if we stick to the wider roads,

it should take us pretty close to the wellspring.

If it's five hours on foot, then I'd estimate that we'll get there in about an hour.

That's crazy fast!

According to the files we have, the monsters in this area are all small fire types.

The tricky part... is the boss at the wellspring.

But the eyewitness accounts that have been recorded are totally all over the place.

Y'think there's more than one boss?

No. What they saw varies even between members of the same party.

I suspect illusion magic was involved.

Talk about a pain in the neck...

If we know what we're up against, we can be somewhat prepared.

I hope we manage to slay the monster. Eage looked pretty stressed about the whole thing...

Spring salt seems to be a really valuable resource for Merlowa.

It's not just that.

The wellspring is located near the peak of Mt. Merlowa, and it's sacred ground.

There's an old legend in Merlowa that's been passed down through oral traditions.

Somewhere far, far away

Stood a dragon atop a mountain

Frolicking among wind and fire

Whisking between the heavens and earth

A village maiden wandered into the mountains deep

Two hearts did resonate;

To her the dragon granted its protection

And the maiden became its priestess

Long story short, the peak of Mt. Merlowa is an important place

'cause it's where the mighty dragon and the priestess met,

which means trespassers are frowned upon.

So if a monster made its nest there,

I imagine anyone who believes in the legend even a little isn't happy about it.

Yeah, I wouldn't like it if monsters invaded the shrines back home either.

What's the matter, Rin?

Y'know that feeling when something gets stuck to the bottom of your shoe?

Ah, that's the volcano slimes.

I think the files I read yesterday said those things are poisonous!

We're in trouble if Campy's tires are damaged!

I'm gonna check real quick!

Hold on, Rin.

I sense something outside...

Something really big...

Really?! That lizard thing is edible?!

What?!

Apparently steaming it will make it taste good!

That was some impressive teamwork.

That's why we're Smorgasbord!

We hear the word "delicious" and can't help but get involved.

That goes for us, too!

Then Rin makes it even more delicious for us.

Exciting, isn't it?

I'll do my best not to let you guys down!

Hm, they recommend steaming it... but I don't have a steam cooker.

Maybe I can get away with a pot and a plate...

Then could you use a thermal spring instead?

Thermal spring?

They're holes in the ground that spout steam.

There ought to be some around here. Perhaps you can use one to steam the lizard meat?

Oh! The restaurant we went to yesterday had one of those, too!

Great idea! It'll be a picture-perfect campfire meal with rustic charm and a sense of novelty!

Alright, let's find a thermal spring and take a break to eat.

Sounds good to me!

I think that should do it...

My goodness...

Why'd you pick us up?

We were all warm and cozy!

I get that it feels nice,

but I'm worried you'll accidentally burn yourself if you lay there for too long.

That won't happen! Not right away, at least!

Let's see... While that's steaming, I should make a sauce to put on it.

Rin!

What's wrong?

Tartar sauce! What about tartar sauce?!

Uh-oh! Have you been converted too, Aria? To the tartar sauce dark side?

Did somebody say "tartar sauce"?!

Tartar sauce?! That's a great idea!

I think it'd pair well with a steamed dish, too!

I guess everyone's fallen down the tartar sauce rabbit hole!

Sorry to disappoint. I'm making something else.

Really?

That's right. I'm thinking a spicy mayo sauce.

Mayo... sauce?

A mayonnaise sauce with a slight kick to it!

Mayonnaise!

It's a frighteningly versatile condiment!

To our pricey yet rich and insanely savory premium mayo,

we'll add some country-style miso from a brewery in my hometown

along with the local hot spring's famous seven-spice blend!

There's a hot spring in your hometown, too?

Yup, there sure is!

Which means our meal is about to be a collaboration

between the hot spring in my world and the hot spring in this world!

What else...? Maybe I should make another sweet 'n' sour sauce to go with it...

How dare you add more flavors when mayonnaise is already so yummy?!

It makes me want to eat a whole bunch!

Resist all you want!

But I'll prove to you that logic and reason are no match for a hungry belly!

Would you mind not flirting with my wife?

Hey, whoa! It was just a little joke, I promise!

Oops, the food should be just about done.

Wait, Rin! Don't go outside alone!

There are monsters in this area!

Oh, I forgot! My bad-

RIN!

No! Us, too! Us, too! Take us with you!

Mm, nice and toasty.

Kinda smells like sulfur though...

I'm really comfy, but something keeps poking me on the cheek...

You are awake at last.

For somebody sent to be my caretaker, you're an awfully dim-witted girl, aren't you?

Your... caretaker?