#1028 One Part is Everything  

The yakiniku party is now in full swing.

The pregnant ladies seem to be enjoying the feast more than I anticipated. They’re devouring the grilled meat with gusto.

“Empty plates over here! Keep the meat coming!!!” 

“I’m eating until my belly’s about to burst! Who knows when we’ll get to taste something this good again!!!”

The mountain of Minotaur beef, enough to last a hundred years, is disappearing before my eyes.

Once it’s gone, it might be another decade before we can get more of this precious meat.

It’s truly the perfect main dish for today.

While watching the expectant mothers in their element, I quietly step back to a different spot.

There, the husbands who accompanied their wives are gathered together.

“Thanks for your hard work, everyone…”

I greet the husbands, who are playing their supporting roles perfectly today.

After all, it wouldn’t have been right to let these pregnant ladies come on their own, so their husbands had to step in as escorts.

And, of course, if you bring the couple, you’ve got to bring the kids too.

Families with young children are also joining in on the BBQ festivities.

“Lord Saint, we’re truly grateful for the invitation to such a wonderful event,” says the Demon King, the first to speak up.

Now that’s the commanding presence of a ruler.

“No matter how hard we try, men can’t give birth. Leaving such an important task to our wives, we can’t help but feel a bit useless. So for you to hold such a grand event to show our appreciation—it’s really something.”

Oh, come now.

You all do plenty for your wives, too.

Besides the Demon King, the usual gang is here: Arowana, Hendra, Orkubo, Gobukichi, Dalkish, Silver Wolf, Ardheg, and even the rare visitor, Mamoru the demon.

Oh, and what was Batemy’s husband’s name again? Olba, right?

Please, make yourself comfortable next to the Demon King.

By the way, how are you all enjoying the yakiniku?

I know it’s technically for the ladies, but it’s not strictly off-limits to the rest of us.

So, the husbands are also digging into the yakiniku, making the event a shared celebration.

“As always, the food you prepare is extraordinary, Lord Saint. Just grilling the meat, and it turns out this amazing!” 

“You’d think grilling would just make the meat tough, but this melts in your mouth! Who would’ve guessed?”

The yakiniku was a big hit with the men, too.

The most popular is the kalbi, with its tender, fatty goodness.

Then there’s the unique texture of the skirt steak and the refreshing taste of tongue with a squeeze of lemon. The classic loin is another favorite.

The Minotaur beef is expertly butchered, so it really feels like dining at a top-tier yakiniku restaurant.

“This is so good; I’m craving a drink!” 

“Agreed! A cold beer would really hit the spot after all this rich food!”

Let’s not get carried away now.

If we start drinking while our pregnant wives can’t, we’re bound to get some dirty looks.

Today is about showing appreciation for our wives, so let’s keep things low-key.

“On that note, I have an objection!”

Huh? What now?

I turn around, startled by the sudden outburst, only to find Veil standing there.

Behind her is a whole procession of other farm residents.

Even the elves, satyrs, and students from the farm school are lining up!

“What’s going on? Some kind of protest parade?!”

“Master! It’s not fair! How could you have a barbecue without us? We demand equality! No more discrimination—bring on the meat!!!”

“Yeah, that’s right!”

“We want barbecue too!”

A chorus of complaints rise up all at once.

But look, I only prepared the barbecue as a special treat for the ladies who are about to give birth. It’s only natural that I’d want them to have the first bite.

Then again…yakiniku is a big deal, like sushi or a feast.

Trying to hog it all to ourselves is just asking for trouble.

We’re practically breaking the Anti-Monopoly Law here.

Don’t worry, everyone!

There’s still plenty of meat left from the Minotaur cattle—enough to last a century!

Even if the whole farm digs in, there’s more than enough to go around. So let’s have a big, all-inclusive, no-holds-barred yakiniku party!

“Kids these days are ten years too early to be talking like that!”

Who just threw down the gauntlet like that?!

It’s Platy!

Platy and Veil.

The ancient rivals of this farm have assembled their cards!

“This event was set up by Dear as a thank you for us! And now you whippersnappers who’ve never known the pain of childbirth want to horn in? You’ve got some nerve! If you think you can get away with that, you’re sorely mistaken!”

“Shut up! You’re just stuffing your faces with the food the Master prepared, too! Don’t go acting like it’s all thanks to you!!!”

Gotta hand it to these two—they’ve been at each other’s throats for years.

They know how to put on a show when it comes to a good fight.

But wait!

Today’s event is supposed to be a peaceful yakiniku party.

No fires, no brawls, and definitely no street fights!

This is supposed to be a relaxing day! Let me enjoy my slow life in peace!

“Hehehe… Fine then, how about a little competition?”

“Bring it on! When opinions clash, we settle it with a contest. It’s straightforward and easy to understand!”

That’s a barbarian custom, isn’t it?

What do I do now? The event that was supposed to end quietly is being jeopardized...!

“Let’s get started with the first question! What’s this?!”

“This one’s a freebie… That’s a ribeye!”

Huh?

What’s going on?

Veil is looking at a slice of meat that Platy just held up and answering like it’s a quiz.

“Tch, correct! Veil, you’ve earned the right to eat this ribeye!”

“Hahaha! If that’s just a warm-up, it’s way too easy! Now I’ll dig in… Mmm, so good!!!”

?

What are these two even doing?

Wait a minute…

Is this some kind of ‘Name That Meat Cut’ quiz?!

“Exactly, Dear! We were just talking about how different cuts of meat have all sorts of fancy names, so we thought we’d make it a competition! Pretty clever, don’t you think?!”

“Now it’s my turn to attack! Where on the cattle does the ribeye come from? Give me a detailed explanation!”

“That’s actually a pretty good question coming from you! The ribeye comes from the cattle’s shoulder area! It’s a muscular cut, chewy, and rich in flavor! That’s why it’s considered one of the basics. Plus, it’s where you find the rare filet! And no, it’s not like a fish filet!”

“Ugh, adding all that extra info after just one question! You’re really something!!!”

Well, at least this seems like a peaceful conflict…!

Crisis averted!

But now that you mention it, the names of different meat cuts are pretty strange.

Even when you’re just talking about meat, there are different types like beef, pork, chicken, etc., and each has its own variety of cuts with distinct flavors and preferences.

It really makes you appreciate how deep this topic is.

Thigh.

Skirt steak.

Tongue.

Sirloin.

Zabuton.

Tendon.

Tri-tip.

Leftovers.

How many could you name correctly without Googling?!

And if we start getting into the organ meats, things could get really complicated.

“Guh…! That one hit hard! You’re pretty tough!”

“That’s my line! As expected of you, Veil, for standing by Dear’s side since the very beginning… ogh!”

Why do they sound like they’re taking punches in a trivia game?

After some mysterious clash of wills, it seems the two of them have come to an understanding.

“I’ve got to hand it to you, Veil! I realize now that you’re the perfect partner to help me support Dear! Sorry for being mean earlier!”

“And I have to say, congrats on your third pregnancy! Let me grill some meat for you so you can eat to your heart’s content and stay strong!!!”

The two of them shake hands firmly.

I’m not entirely sure what just happened, but it looks like the yakiniku party is about to get even livelier.