A little something extra is food, right? I wonder what it's all about.

As I was excitedly eating my hamburger, Tori came back within five minutes.

They are fries made with potatoes that Yuna and her friends gave us this morning.

What appeared to be a long, thin, deep-fried dish was placed on the plate in front of us. It was built up in a heap.

Is this a potato?

Yes, it's a simple dish of peeling potatoes, cutting them into thin slices, and deep-frying them in oil.

This is refreshing, since potatoes are usually eaten by blanching, as an ingredient in soups, or in simmered dishes.

I wonder if this is just how they eat them in Rubera, just because we don't know about it.

I've never seen such thinly sliced and deep-fried potatoes.

I wondered that, but it seems that Mr. Dodogal, who lives here, has never seen it either.

So this must be Tori's idea, too.

Anyway, you should try it. I'd like to know what you think of it, since it might be served at a food stall or at an inn. This is also the type of food that you eat with your hands.

'Okay!

'Well, then, I'll eat it.

'I can't keep quiet when you say it's a snack.

At Tori's urging, everyone reaches for their fries.

There is a small dish of some kind of tomato sauce on the side, but we leave it as is.

The first thing that strikes you is the refreshing texture. They are fried in a crispy oil, and they pop in your mouth with a crunchy sound. And yet the insides are so soft. The natural sweetness of the potato overflows from the inside, and it's very chewy.

Oh, this is not only delicious, but also has an interesting texture!

It makes me want to reach for it one after the other!

'Elina seems to like .......'

I was going to say something like that, but I found myself reaching for it first.

I was embarrassed because I looked like a glutton.

It's good as it is, but the salt really enhances the taste.

I almost put the second fries in my mouth, but I resist and try to get some feedback on the taste for Tori and the inn. I think to myself that these are good words for words that came out on the spur of the moment.

I see. Too much or too little salt? Too thin?

'This is about right for me.'

'Me too!

I can go a little thicker.

My father prefers a stronger flavor.

Tori!

As I was cheerfully sharing my thoughts, Mr. Dodgal, who was sitting next to me, banged the table with a bang.

We were stunned by the sudden loud voice, but Tori, who was used to it, didn't seem to be freaked out.

What's wrong?

'You, you made me eat this stuff...'

Mr. Dodgal's shoulders are shaking with obvious anger.

This is the kind of thing, I wonder if Mr. Dodogal's palate didn't like the fries?

I know that different species have different tastes, but did they not like it that much?

Don't bring me something that goes well with alcohol by itself! And bring a proper ale! This is a snack that's meant for drinking!''

I thought, "What the heck," but apparently it was a dish that goes well with alcohol.

Even I know that dwarves like to drink, so I was somewhat convinced.

Yes, yes, that's what I thought Dodogal would say. As I recall, there is not only wine but also ale ...... around here. Is the red wine I served you the other day gone?''

'Hmm? I borrowed it and drank it while I was waiting for my hamburger.

By the way, Mr. Dodgal, after Tori left, you went through the shelves and borrowed wine and glasses to drink. I thought he had permission to do so, but he didn't.

What? Hey, that's my dad's stuff, and he just told me off for not letting him drink without permission!

'That's exactly what I don't know. If you bring dwarves into the house you should make sure that you hide any liquor you don't want them to drink.

'You don't have the option of not going through the house stuff without permission. ......'

Tori prepares ale for Mr. Dodogal, somewhat dismayed.

Dodogal accepts the ale and stirs up the ale with a mouthful of fries.

Kaa! The saltiness on the potatoes goes well with the ale!

It's a wonder that Tori is so easy-going and yet so caring.

I guess that's why the guests have been staying here for a long time.

'Elina, can't you just relax? We're running out of fries, though, aren't we?

''Huh?''

'Wow, this goes great with tomato sauce!

It's good with butter over here, too!

Tori told me that Mr. Dodogal, Yuna, and her father were eating the fries at a rapid pace. Half of the fries were already gone from their plates, even though there had been so many.

I reached for them as fast as I could to keep up with the pace of the others.



I was so excited to see how much food was left on the plate.



The hamburgers and fries served to Yuna and her friends were a great success and were quickly consumed. As for the fries, we fried them so much that we thought there would be too much left over, but everyone ate more than we expected and they were gone in no time.

Tori, your hamburger was really good!

'Yeah, yeah, and those fries!

'I can't copy the hamburger a bit, but I can copy the fries at home because all I have to do is cut potatoes and fry them in oil,' he said.

'Then I'll make it when I get home. I'm sure your mother will be pleased.

I agree!

The family is having a friendly conversation in the garden.

After eating so many potatoes, they still make and eat them at home.

Fries are an unlikely part of this world. I can't help but shudder at how addictive they are.

I wonder what would happen if I made potato chips. Just imagining it is frightening.

Well, if we stay too long, we'll be late getting home. It's time to go home.

The conversation continues in the garden, but Mr. Carls' words bring it to an end.

It is now mid-afternoon. Yuna and her friends' village is more than two hours' walk from here.

If we don't go back soon, it will be dark before we reach their village.

Okay...' she said. Thanks again today, Tori!



Thank you for going out of your way to make hamburgers for us even though there were no food stalls.

Yuna and Elina look at me and thank me.

I always feel embarrassed when they thank me because we have always had an easy-going relationship.

There is no need to be so formal. It's also a way of thanking you for always bringing us vegetables from far away.

Yuna and her friends are always the first to bring vegetables to our store before they go to the market.

In addition, they sometimes go out of their way to bring us things that are rarely sold at the market, such as the recently harvested pritch tomatoes.

It is only natural that we should entertain such farmers who patronize us.

Well, you know. It's hard to get up early in the morning and carry the vegetables, but if Tori cooks a delicious meal for us, we'll do our best!

Even if you are tired, you will feel stronger if you eat good food here. So I'll come back for more food.

Yuna and Elina said this with a smile and left pushing the cart with Mr. Carls.

They were cheerful girls, weren't they? So which one of you is the real love of your life?

As we were seeing Yuna and the others off, Mr. Dodogal appeared out of nowhere.

I was surprised to see him, as I had expected him to be drinking again at the inn.

'...... We don't have that kind of relationship. But more importantly, were you satisfied with the big burger?

Originally, the deal was that in exchange for having a meat chopper made, we would treat Mr. Dodgal to a hamburger that met his requirements.

The meat chopper that Mr. Dodgal made was satisfactory, but was my hamburger satisfactory to him?

'Yes, it was very satisfying! One of those big ones will fill you up!''

Good. The Big Burger was to Mr. Dodgal's satisfaction.

I was worried about the seasoning and how the meat would be cooked, since it was a different size than usual. I was relieved to see that my fears were unfounded.

I mean, I don't think normal people can eat even half of a Big Burger, but I wonder if Dwarves are such gluttonous people.

I mean, I don't know if the Dwarves were such gluttonous eaters... They could eat a Big Burger in a single sitting and drink five glasses of ale while eating fries. If he wanted to, Mr. Dodogal could probably fit two in his stomach.

You could sell those at the food stall.

It's impossible to mass-produce that size. At best, we can make a regular hamburger longer or sell it in a slightly larger size.

'Oh! Longer vertically! That sounds interesting too! Maybe next time I order from a food stand, I'll do that.

It would take too much time and effort to sell the Big Burger we served today at the food stand, but we could do something like that.

Maybe we can give it a try next time, besides Mr. Dodgal's.

'Then we could try to motivate customers to buy by offering only the first ten customers or something like that.

You think cunningly, don't you? You'll have to save a portion for me as a privilege of making meat choppers, won't you?

You call me cunning, but you are cunning yourself!

I'm going out for a drink.

'Huh? Why don't we drink at my place today?''

We have a wide selection of alcoholic beverages, so you don't have to go to a different restaurant.

We always drink at my place.

When I ask him about it, he looks at me with a puzzled look on his face.

What is it? Have you not been looking at the dining room?

At Mr. Dodgal's request, I peek into the dining room through the front door.

'Mr. Abel! Bring me these fries!

'Oh, and I'll have some of Tori's new stuff, please! Black pepper seasoning, please!

Is this really just a potato? I'm about to go to work for the night, but I can't stop eating ......'

'Sierra! More ale!

Then the dining room was packed with the usual guests and visitors who had stopped by. Everyone was eating a pile of fries and drinking ale.

Wow, my dad said he'd try serving them to the guests, but it's a big deal.

Everyone seems to have fallen under the spell of the novel yet tasty fries.

The cafeteria is already crowded with people busily frying the fries while Lettie and Mom serve the fries and bring the ale.

The consumption of alcohol seems to be quite high since these snacks go well with alcohol.

I don't think I'll be able to drink to my heart's content today because of the fries you made.

'...... seems so. You look a little busy right now, I'm going to see Dodgal off...''

'If you've done your business over there, why don't you come over here next time?

'Dad! My brother was trying to run outside!

I was about to run away with Dodogar when my mother's cold voice fell on me and grabbed me by the shoulder.

Letty, who was standing beside me, also launched her special sting.

What the hell? I can't keep up with the potatoes. Pull me forcibly into the kitchen!

'Come on, help me in the kitchen with that.

My mother drags me along with her unbelievably strong arms.

Unexpectedly, I call out to Dodogal, who is standing beside me, for help.

'Dodogal-san! We had an important conversation about meat choppers, didn't we?''

No, I think we're done with that. Even if there was, I'd like to have a drink as soon as possible.

I tried desperately to make eye contact, but Dodogal was completely oblivious. He strode off at a very slow pace.

Oh, no... ......!

'Come on, Tori. Time to peel the potatoes.

Then I was taken to the kitchen to continue prepping the piles of potatoes.

Next time I'll ask Dodogal to make me a tool to peel potatoes.