#1105 A White Kimono’s Flavor

And so it began.

The Great Milk Showdown: Satyrs vs. Minotaurs!

“All right, we satyrs are up first! First strike wins the day!”

Bravely stepping forward is the representative of the satyr tribe.

What was her name again?

...Oh right, Paidra.

She looks like one of the younger members of her family, short and slender, like Panu’s little sister.

But, being part of the milk tribe, certain parts of her are undeniably impressive.

Even though she declared first, in most cooking competitions, going second usually gives you the advantage.

I wonder if she’s sticking to that old rule or not.

Then, the milk in question is presented before us judges.

It’s already poured into a cup.

...Oh, so they’re not serving it freshly squeezed right there?

All right, time to fulfill my duties as a judge. Let’s scrutinize the appearance, taste, and aroma with a keen eye.

First, a light tasting…

One sip down the hatch.

“Mmm, this is definitely satyr milk.”

Having milk from Panu and the others every day on the farm, I could tell immediately.

Rich flavor, deep creaminess, and a smooth, silky texture that went down effortlessly...

…Everything is top-notch!

This has to be the shining star of the industry: satyr milk, no doubt about it.

“Wow, this milk is completely different from anything I’ve ever had!”

“No slimy texture at all! It’s pure, packed with only the delicious parts of milk!”

“This is nothing like the cow’s milk I squeezed from our village cows!!!”

Our gallery of pioneer friends give it rave reviews too.

“Hmph! How about that! The world-renowned satyr milk must make Lord aint absolutely satisfied!”

“Yes, very satisfied.”

“Huh?! That reaction’s kinda lukewarm!”

I was expecting something more high-energy.

Of course, satyr milk is so delicious it could make anyone lose their cool. People might even spit lasers from their mouths, have volcanoes erupt from their heads, or call the cultural club’s newspaper reporter trash.

But since I drink it every day, I’ve grown accustomed to its greatness.

I genuinely think, “This is tasty,” without being overly moved.

After all, getting too excited every day would wear you out.

Is this what it means to become spoiled…?

It’s quite intimidating when I think about it.

“Hahaha, goat milk is just mediocre! If you’re satisfied, get out of our way! Now it’s time for us Minotaur tribe to shine!!!”

Stepping forward is a minotaur woman with a surprisingly sturdy build for a female and impressive bull horns adorning her head.

“My name is Io! I’ve come to repay the kindness bestowed by the saint! Witness the true honor of our tribe!!!”

Minotaurs, even the females, have a robust physique, likely due to their therian heritage.

Like before, they presented their pure white milk poured generously into cups.

But…

“Isn’t this cup way too big?”

How big? It’s more like a glass… no, a mug, and a massive one at that! They filled it to the brim with minotaur milk, the sheer quantity was overwhelming.

“Surprised? The hallmark of our milk is its abundant quantity! We prepared this vessel to showcase it clearly! How do you satyrs like that? This is how you ‘blow their minds!’“

“Ugh! You didn’t have to go overboard!!!”

The satyrs, feeling outmatched by the performance, look frustrated.

Is this a minotaur advantage?!

It seems like the minotaurs are gaining the upper hand.

But the crucial part of the judging is the taste.

Don’t get too dazzled by appearances; we need to taste it properly.

Here we go!

I want to see my best side!

Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug! Phoenix!

“You don’t have to chug it just because it’s in a mug, Dear.”

Platy’s calm and precise retort.

Sure, I had to pull back the glass when I almost choked halfway through, so I took a step back and said:

“...It’s a bit bland.”

“What?!”

No… this milk tasted a bit thin.

Maybe it wasn’t actually, but having just drunk satyr milk, which was rich and deeply flavorful, made the minotaur milk seem even thinner by comparison.

I remember hearing that goat milk has higher nutritional value than cow’s milk in my world.

Maybe that’s why there’s a taste difference?

“Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-What?! Our milk can’t be beaten by goat’s!”

“Look! This is the undeniable truth! Mass-produced cow’s milk can’t compete with top-tier satyr milk! If you understand, just scurry away and hide your useless tails!”

Paidra’s beaming with pride, but the quality of milk isn’t solely determined by taste.

For instance, why didn’t goat milk, which should be nutritionally superior, dominate the market in the old world while cow’s milk took over?

It was probably due to production volume.

Cows are naturally larger than goats, so they produce more milk.

Mass production means even with slim profits, cow’s milk could dominate the market.

Sure, if you spend money generously, drinking goat milk every day would be a luxury.

But I’m just an ordinary person.

With a lingering sense that “luxury is bad,” I couldn’t fully agree.

So…

“Can we get more of this milk?”

“Huh?”

The minotaurs handed over the necessary amount, and we fetched the other ingredients: yoschamo eggs, specially milled wheat, and sugar, all from the farm.

The goblins delivered them in no time when asked.

I dump everything into a bowl and whip it vigorously with a whisk!

Then, I pour the smooth batter onto a preheated iron griddle and carefully watch as it puffs up, flipping it at the perfect moment to achieve the fluffiest pancakes ever.

Order up! My special fluffy pancakes are ready.

“Dig in.”

“Wow, these are sooooo good!!!”

They didn’t hesitate to take a bite.

I had told them to “eat,” but I didn’t expect them to go full throttle so quickly. Didn’t they have any caution?

“This is delicious! So fluffy and sweet! Did such food even exist in this world?!”

“Lord Saint can create such amazing things! Wonderfuuuuuuuuuulllllll!!”

Both Paidra from the satyrs and Io from the minotaurs are devouring the pancakes with pure joy, forgetting themselves in the moment.

I’m just glad they like the pancakes I improvised on the spot.

Ideally, I’d have added whipped cream and made a shortcake, but separating the cream from milk takes time.

Asking them to “wait until next month for real shortcakes” isn’t an option.

Because…

“Milk isn’t just delicious on its own. It’s also a crucial ingredient in various dishes, enhancing other flavors and materials. That’s important too.”

I thought cow’s milk had an advantage in its lack of strong flavor, making it versatile with other tastes.

If it’s not overpowering, it can blend easily with other ingredients.

That would create a harmonious symphony of flavors.

Isn’t that another advantage of cow’s milk?

“It’s not just about being rich in flavor. Both goat milk and cow’s milk have their own strengths and should shine at their respective stages. Just respect each other’s qualities.”

“You wrapped it up nicely so no one gets offended, Dear.”

Platy, quiet.

What’s wrong with avoiding grudges? What’s wrong with seeking peace?

“But well, for raising our children, we need quantity over quality right now. Even if goat milk has higher nutrition, compared to cow’s milk, it’s still sufficiently nutritious. We want to rely on it when our own supply runs low.”

Platy seemed to appreciate the charm of cow’s milk after all.

And as for the competitors…

“Yummy yummy yummy! These pancakes are delicioussssss!!!”

“Ah, that’s our share! Honestly, minotaurs are such greedy eaters because they’re cow-like! Don’t you guys have four stomachs or something?!”

“Human standards, that’s why! You satyrs are the real goats, so go munch on some grass! It’s presumptuous to eat Lord Saint’s cooking!”

“You cows are herbivores too!!!”

A new argument ignited for another reason.

With everything muddled up like this, I’m just glad it wrapped up without further conflict and that the farm got some new ingredients added. Phew.