#1020 Mislead

The grand plan to pamper our expecting mothers has been decided.

A yakiniku party.

Apparently, there’s a belief that it’s good luck for pregnant women to eat yakiniku, and let’s not forget the nutritional benefits.

We want them to load up on protein and turn it into strong, healthy babies.

So, of course, we need to get the finest beef for this yakiniku extravaganza!!!

“Pork belly, pork belly, pork belly...!”

An insistent boar whispers in my ear.

Yes, yes, we’ll grill some pork belly, too, right after the beef.

But first, my mission is to get the best beef for our moms-to-be!

I don’t know whether this world has the same beef grading system as A5, but we need to find the most mouth-watering, premium beef available!

So, the quest for the world’s tastiest beef begins.

But where in the world can we find this top-notch beef?

I tried asking Sugawara no Michizane, but he didn’t have any helpful info.

Turns out, as a god from another world, he doesn’t possess knowledge of the local cuisine.

Even the all-knowing Sugawara-pedia has its gaps.

But surely, there must be some source of beef knowledge in this world.

“Hm-hm-hm... Have you forgotten someone, Lord Saint?”

“Ah, Sensei?”

It’s Sensei the Lifeless King.

The immortal king who has existed for over a thousand years.

Becoming a Lifeless King is all in the name of endless research and study, you see.

So, naturally, the longer you live, the more you know.

Sensei’s taught me so much over the years that his title is well-earned.

“But... lately, I feel like I’m not living up to my name...!”

“Sensei?”

“You went to ask Sugawara first, didn’t you? Clearly, my knowledge isn’t enough for you.”

“Sensei?!”

No, no, no, no, no, no, no! That’s not it at all!

I just went to Sugawara first because I wanted to learn about otherworldly customs!

I chose him because his knowledge fit the bill!

It’s like fishing—you use the right bait for the right fish! You fish for sea fish in the sea and river fish in the river. That’s all!

I wasn’t underestimating you, Sensei, not one bit...!

“But now, at last, the time has come! I will answer your questions with precision, redeem my tarnished honor, and prove my worth!”

Calm down, Sensei!

You’re talking about “redeeming” your honor, not tarnishing it!

Has Sensei become so flustered that he’s mixing up basic expressions?!

“Well then! Ask away, Lord Saint! I, a Lifeless King who has lived a thousand years, will unravel the mysteries of the world for you!!!”

He’s really coming on strong.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him push the whole “Lifeless King” thing this hard before.

Lately, Sensei’s been teaching at the Farm School, earning respect from the students, and his pride has been swelling.

So not being consulted on matters of knowledge, or worse, being overlooked entirely, must be unbearable for him.

The Lifeless King, who has lived for a millennium, is burning with the desire to clear his name!!!

“All right then, may I ask a question...?”

“By all means!”

“Where can I find the best beef?”

“B-Beef...?”

Even an immortal king doesn’t know everything about the world.

Especially not the mundane stuff.

Besides, a Lifeless King is an undead ruler, so he technically doesn’t even need to eat.

But, well, Sensei still chows down like it’s a feast.

Although, that’s really just for the taste. Undead, who defy the laws of nature by being both dead and alive, don’t need to eat to refuel or maintain their bodies. They don’t even have the system for it.

So, naturally, Sensei, who doesn’t actually need food, isn’t exactly brimming with knowledge about culinary matters of the mortal world.

And just like that, we hit a dead end.

“Wait! Just a moment, Lord Saint! Let me ask my fellow Lifeless Kings via telepathy...!”

But, uh, don’t they also not need to eat? So they probably don’t have much info on food either?

Isn’t this like fishing in a pond with no fish?

“I know!”

Just then, a hand shot up, completely overshadowing the flustered Sensei.

It was a beautiful woman in pure white robes.

Saintess Maradona.

She’s been diligently working as Sensei’s apprentice... But what’s this now?

“I know where to find the most delicious beef!”

“What?!”

Sensei, caught off guard by his apprentice stealing the spotlight, let out a shocked yelp.

“Back in my day, the Church was overflowing with power and wealth, taking bribes left and right. And among those bribes included the finest delicacies from all over the world!”

Ah, yes, gourmet gifts—right up there with the classics.

Sure, golden sweets are nice, but sometimes a simple treat is just as satisfying...

“And oh, I remember the most delicious beef among those bribes! I got to try some myself and let me tell you; it practically melted in my mouth!!!”

Now, that’s how you describe top-notch beef!

But, Maradona?

Weren’t you, during your saintly days, a stickler for living modestly and virtuously?

Is it really okay to just chow down on bribe food like that?

“Food isn’t to blame for anything!!!”

Ah, right—she’s always been one to follow her instincts above all else…

I had my reservations, but suddenly, the situation took a turn for the better.

We had just found a lead on that top-grade beef we were after.

“Wow, amazing, Saintess! From now on, I shall call you the Beef Saintess in your honor!”

“I’m honored to receive such a special title!!!”

While we were all getting excited, Sensei quietly sulked nearby.

***

So.

Maradona, where exactly can we find this A5-grade, top-tier beef you mentioned?

“It’s Minotaur beef!!!”

“Minotaur?”

Wait a minute.

That sounds familiar…

Isn’t that one of those monsters that live in labyrinths?

You know, the kind that shows up in pretty much every fantasy story ever?

They’re usually the mid-boss guarding something important.

They play a somewhat significant role.

They’re typically depicted as humans with the head of a bull—one of those hybrid beast types.

But even though they’re part human, they’re often shown as these massive, muscled giants towering over two meters tall.

But with a body that big, living in a labyrinth must be super inconvenient, right?

So, Minotaur… meat?

Did Maradona really say that?

But hold on—Minotaurs have bullheads, sure, but from the neck down, they’re pretty much human, right?

So, if you’re eating that meat, isn’t it basically… human meat?

Ethically, and well, just in general, isn’t that kind of… off-putting?!

Seeing my pale expression, Maradona tilts her head in confusion.

“What’s wrong, Lord Saint? Minotaur meat is delicious!”

“Uh, but Minotaur meat? Are you sure it’s okay to eat that?”

“Of course it is! These Minotaurs put their heart and soul into raising their cattle. It’d be rude not to enjoy it!”

“Huh?”

“?”

It finally dawned on me that we weren’t quite on the same page.

And then Sensei chimes in.

“The Minotaur isn’t just a monster—it’s a kind of therian that lives in the Human Kingdom. You’re familiar with how the therian race came to be, aren’t you, Lord Saint?”

Oh, right.

Long ago, in the Human Kingdom, there was this magic that fused humans with animals. It was used for war enhancements, punishments for criminals, you name it.

And so, various therians were created, with their traits passed down through generations, giving us the modern-day therian like the Golden Bat or Silver Wolf.

“In today’s world, most of the therians born are the result of atavism, where a hidden therian’s gene suddenly decides to make an appearance. However, there are still some tribes out there that have managed to keep their therian heritage alive and well, passing it down through the generations. Take the Satyrs, for example. Then there’s also the Minotaurs, who, like the Satyrs, continue to live and work as a tribe.”

I’ve heard about the satyrs.

They’re those goat-like therians who make a living by producing delicious milk, right?

We have a few of them staying at our farm. They provide us with the most amazing milk every day, so I know exactly who they are.

“And the Minotaurs are another tribe-based species, also known for their work in dairy farming. I remember hearing rumors a few hundred years ago about how they raise some of the tastiest cattle you could ever imagine!!!”

Sensei seems pleased to finally contribute something useful.

And at last, the truth became clear, and I could finally breathe easy.

So, ‘Minotaur meat’ just means…

‘Beef raised by Minotaurs.’

How confusing.

Couldn’t they have cleared that up from the start?