#1019 Food to Help with Safe Delivery

A jinx...?!

Wait, are we talking about one of those superstitious beliefs?

You know, the kind of thing that’s not exactly holy enough to warrant a visit to a temple, but still, something everyone just sort of believes in?

Yeah, that. The kind of thing that feels like it’ll bring good vibes if you follow it, but if you don’t, it might make you feel a bit off.

Even someone like me, who’s not all that into this stuff, has heard a few of these things. For example...

— “The number four is unlucky because it sounds like ‘death.’“

— “If a cat washes its face, it’s going to rain.”

— “If you don’t put away the Hina dolls promptly, you won’t be able to marry.”

— “If a tea stem floats upright, something good will happen.”

— “Keeping a snake’s skin in your wallet will make you rich.”

...You’ve probably heard these at least once if you’ve lived in Japan for a while.

Now, these superstitions don’t have any scientific backing, nor do they have much to do with actual deities, but if there’s even a tiny chance they could bring good luck or ward off bad vibes, you kinda want to follow them, right?

So, are there any jinxes related to a safe delivery, which is what we’re hoping for right now?

“...Ah! Is that thing about not drinking coffee or tea during pregnancy... actually a jinx?!”

“Nay, that is just because caffeine is not good for the expecting mother.”

Oh, so that one actually does have a scientific reason behind it.

What we’re discussing now, though, is more like those superstitions that make you scratch your head and wonder, “Where did that even come from?”

Let’s see what Michizane has to say!

“They say many things, indeed. ‘If a pregnant woman witnesseth a fire, misfortune shall befall the child to be born,’ and such like.”

What?! That’s terrifying!

If that’s true, what’s going to happen to Lampeye’s kid, given she’s the Witch of Hellfire?!

“And then there’s, ‘Keep thy privy clean, and a comely child shalt thou bear,’ and also, ‘Feed not autumn eggplant to thy wife,’ which, I have heard, means that eating eggplant cools the body and might cause a miscarriage.”

Wow, Michizane really knows his superstitions. I guess that’s to be expected from someone of the olden days.

And, you know, he’s also the god of learning, so he’s probably super knowledgeable.

Anyway, I decided then and there that I would absolutely not let Platy eat any eggplant.

I’d get her to settle for cucumbers instead.

“All right! Then I know what we have to do! We’ll get Platy to clean the toilet!!!”

“Might she not take offense for pressing homework on the pregnant?”

Michizane’s got a point.

Even if it’s supposed to bring good luck, if you think about it objectively, it’s still just making someone do work.

Even though I want to ensure a safe delivery, something about this plan just doesn’t sit right with me.

If we’re going to do something for her, it should be something that’s not only lucky but also fun.

“Do you have any ideas, Lord Michizane?”

“Thou dost seem to be leaving everything entirely unto me.”

Well, he always gives me an answer when I ask!

That’s what makes him the god of learning, after all.

“Hmm... though it be a more recent saying, here is another jinx.”

See? He always comes through.

It’s like Michizane’s Wikip***a or something.

“...Eating yakiniku shall bring a safe delivery.’”

“Yakiniku?!”

That’s a new one for me.

Yakiniku... is there some sort of pun or wordplay going on here?

Yaki...niku...?

Maybe “Yaki” as in “grilled” and “Niku” as in “meat,” leading to... what? A child that’s “well-done”?

No, it doesn’t feel right.

Uh...

Are we sure this isn’t just a clever marketing strategy?

This smells suspiciously like those commercial traps, like needing to return Valentine’s chocolates with something three times as expensive on March 14th or the sudden popularity of eating sushi rolls on Setsubun.

“To speak truth, I do think the same, yet... even if it be so, might not such a jinx be but a ploy of commerce? What sayest thou?”

True that...!

Like they say, “Fools who dance and fools who watch, if both are fools, might as well dance!” So why not?

And besides, yakiniku tastes great, so even if the good luck doesn’t pan out, at least you’ve enjoyed yourself.

That’s already a big difference from just doing chores.

So, let’s pamper our hardworking mom-to-be, who’s carrying our precious little one, with a ton of delicious yakiniku under the guise of “praying for a safe delivery.”

A little rest, some recharge, and a good meal—sounds like a win to me!!!

“Even when thinking with logic, there can be naught amiss with providing nourishment to the body that nurtures new life within. The belief that high protein equals high energy is now common sense. ‘Eat much, and let it become the flesh and blood of the child,’ this reason holdeth sound.”

Michizane’s absolutely right.

Oh, I’ve got a great idea!

Yakiniku isn’t something you eat alone; it’s a party dish, perfect for a group gathering.

And Platy isn’t the only one with a big belly right now—there are plenty of other expecting moms we know.

How about we gather them all together, fire up the grill, and have a grand time while filling their bellies?

A little fun to chase away the maternity blues, maybe?!

Suddenly, this is turning into a full-blown event!

This is all thanks to having a chat with Michizane!

“All right, then! Time to get this yakiniku party started!!!”

So, what do we need for a barbecue?!

That’s right—meat!

It might seem obvious, but without meat, there’s no barbecue!

I’m on the hunt for the juiciest, most succulent, fat-laden cuts that’ll sizzle and ooze deliciousness on the grill!!!

“At your service, whenever I’m summoned!!!”

Uh... I didn’t call for anyone.

Who is this?

“When someone’s in need of meat, I’m the one to answer the call! Behold, the farm’s prized source of protein, the one and only—Square Boar!!!”

Well, this is a twist—the meat’s coming to me.

Square Boar is a monster that lives in the mountain dungeon near the farm. Despite being a monster, its meat is absolutely top-tier.

We hunt it, cook it, and everyone ends up licking their fingers. Whatever’s left over gets turned into ham, sausages, and other foods for later.

Square Boar’s meat is practically a staple resource on this farm!!!

“And there’s no way I’d ignore a cry for meat! Come, Lord Saint! Use my tenderloin, roast, and trotters to create the most delectable barbecue!!!”

Lately, we’ve hunted so many of these boars that they seem to be endlessly reincarnating and leveling up their souls, like Lord Michizane ascended from man to deity.

“It doth not sit well with me to be thus used as an example!”

But isn’t it spot on?

The Square Boar, too, is gathering virtue in this life and reincarnating again and again, aiming to inch closer to godhood.

“But I’m gonna pass this time.”

“What?! Why, Lord Saint?! It’s a barbecue, isn’t it?!”

The Square Boar is baffled.

Well, you see, it’s precisely because it’s a barbecue...

“Pork just doesn’t cut it, y’know?”

Now, Square Boar, despite its wild origins, has meat that tastes a lot like pork.

It’s fatty, mild, and tender.

But when you think barbecue, the star of the show is always beef.

Which means cows.

An animal that’s been with humans since ancient times, providing labor, food, and even milk, depending on the breed—a truly remarkable livestock.

And for a barbecue, beef is the go-to choice.

“So, you see, a barbecue isn’t really your stage, Square Boar.”

“What?! But what about pork belly or pork ribs?!”

“Even so, the main act is still beef.”

“This is unfair! Waaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

And with that, the Square Boar trudges away.

Sorry, buddy.

I’ll call you next time when we’re making some dry-cured ham.

“It is said that raw ham is ill-advised for a pregnant woman. It may carry bacteria harmful during pregnancy.”

Trust Lord Michizane to be the fountain of wisdom.

Looks like your big debut will be postponed even further, Square Boar.

But right now, it’s all about beef.

On this farm, we’ve got the Kirisaki Deer, a monster hunted in the mountain dungeon, which serves as a decent stand-in for beef.

Even in my previous world, some animals called “deer” were genetically similar to cows and were used as food sources.

The Kirisaki Deer seems to be one of those types. When you cook it, it’s surprisingly fatty and doesn’t have much of that wild gamey smell.

Its name, Kirisaki, comes from its razor-sharp antlers, which can quite literally slice through anything when it charges headfirst.

It’s got a four-star reputation out there, feared by adventurers even more than the Square Boar.

It’s often hunted in Veil’s dungeon, and while it’s close to beef, it’s still... well, deer.

As much as I want to call it beef, the taste is... just a bit off.

If we’re going to cheer on our hardworking, expecting wives, I want to offer them only the finest beef!

Something like A5-grade, black-haired wagyu!

“Lord Michizane! What’s the best beef in this world?!”

“As for this world’s customs, even I know not all the answers...”

Oh. Right.