#722 I Made Somen

It’s hot.

A while after spring arrived, the past few days have been unusually hot.

It’s hot enough to ask oneself whether summer has arrived.

“This world... wasn’t supposed to get this hot in the summer, was it...?”

Typically, the climate is either spring or autumn-like throughout the year, becoming drastically colder only in winter.

That’s how it used to be, right?

Could it be that global warming has reached this other world too?!

...No, that can’t be.

It’s just abnormal weather.

For now, we need to be careful about Junior and Norito getting heatstroke.

I’ll remind the students at the Farm School to hydrate regularly and wear hats.

Still, it’s undeniably hot...

...We need some kind of countermeasure.

“Let’s eat something cold!!!”

Let’s eat something cold!!!

I said it twice for no particular reason.

Beating the heat with food is basic knowledge.

Cool down from the inside and survive the hot season!

And even before I could suggest it...

“It’s hot~ I want to eat ice cream~!”

“Let’s have ice cream~!”

“Master~ Make ice cream for us~!!!”

Everyone on the farm craves cold ice cream.

Quite a while ago, I made simple vanilla ice cream using satyr milk as the main ingredient, which seems just perfect for this weather.

Everyone is trying to deal with this tropical weather in their own way.

I hear some people have even broken into the farm’s freezer.

Of course, it’s to cool down, but they are immediately found and kicked out by Discus, the current manager.

However, both ice cream and the refrigerator are a bit too cold for comfortably cooling down.

Thinking about everyone’s health, I’ll try making a dish that cools the body at a more suitable temperature.

Thus, I decided to make somen noodles.

“Somen,” not sumen, as in bare face.

Why somen? Well, when it comes to cold dishes that aren’t as cold as ice cream, I was torn between somen and chilled Chinese noodles.

Among the two, somen seemed to be less of a hassle.

Also, I vaguely feel like I might offend Kai*ara Y*zan if I make chilled Chinese noodles.

Anyway, I entrusted everything to the Hand of Supremacy and tried to make somen noodles.

I did it.

“Ugh... It’s so hot I don’t have an appetite...!”

“I only feel like eating ice cream...!”

When I serve the somen to Platy and Veil, who are making insinuations about their summer lethargy...

“Yummmmmmmmm!!!”

“This is so good! It just slides down the throatttttt! Master, give me another bowllllll! Keep the refills comingggggggggggg!!!”

Didn’t you just say you don’t have the appetite?

Of course, I prepared a large amount of somen and kept boiling more to make sure everyone on the farm could enjoy it.

It was truly starting to resemble a somen party.

And as the kind of person I am, I started to want to add some sort of twist to the event.

When it comes to adding a touch of playfulness with somen, there’s only one thing to do.

“Takenokkon, you’re up.”

“Understood.”

What appeared was a bamboo shoot, the tree spirit known as Takenokkon.

We’ve been nurturing a variety of beneficial trees in a mountain on one corner of our farm. Over time, spirits, or rather, mischievous entities, began to inhabit them.

Takenokkon is one such entity, possessing the bamboo.

Though I say “possessing,” they aren’t causing any trouble. Instead, they help the trees grow and protect them from natural disasters and pests. They’re rather reliable fellows.

Takenokkon always provides us with fresh and delicious bamboo shoots.

“But today, we don’t need bamboo shoots. We need something more grown.”

“This way.”

What it presented was a fully grown bamboo.

Once it has grown to this extent, it becomes hard and isn’t really edible.

However, bamboo as a plant has been loved by humans since ancient times.

Not only for eating but also for various other uses.

It can make wishes come true if you hang up a strip of paper on it, and you can even start a rebellion if you make a bamboo spear.

Among all those, what I want to do is...

“Brain-splitting Bamboo Chop!!!”

With a karate chop, the bamboo splits vertically into equal parts like cheese.

Its inner nodes are hollowed out, forming a semi-circular tube like a gutter. 

Tilt it at a 45-degree angle... or maybe a bit more. 

By now, you might be guessing what I’m going to do.

That’s right, I place a clump of somen noodles at the top of this split bamboo...

And let it flow down with water. 

“Nagashi Somen!!!”

It’s the ultimate, unique movement that somen noodles can offer. 

The motion and speed of the somen rushing down the bamboo tube provide more than just taste—it brings joy to the diner. 

Go ahead, everyone! Catch the running somen with your chopsticks and eat up!

“Whaaat? Ohhh...!”

“What’s this? What’s this? What’s this...?!”

“The moment I thought I’d eat them, they pass me by...!”

Well, if I let them flow without any warning, no one can respond in an instant. 

The somen, about to escape from the bamboo tube without being caught by anyone, was saved at the last moment by Gobukichi’s timely catch. 

Gobukichi, who can simultaneously use Future Sight + High-Speed Movement + Time Stop, managed to catch even the notoriously elusive nagashi somen. 

But with that demonstration, everyone should understand the intention. 

I’ll send more somen down the tube!

“Don’t let them flow without warning againnnnnn!”

“Catch it, catch it! Don’t waste the fooooooooood!!!”

“The bamboo tube is too short! There’s no leeway for errooooor!!!”

“Make the incline less steep, at leasttttttt!!!”

Hmm? Even a 35-degree angle is still too steep?

I took into account various consumer opinions, made the slope less steep, and added more bamboo tubes to create a more nagashi somen-like setup.

“All right! Now it’s more user-friendly!!!”

They gave their seal of approval.

But the one who should enjoy this finalized nagashi somen setup to its fullest... would be Junior.

After all, children should be the first to enjoy such playful ideas!

“Junior, ready to catch some somen?”

“Bring it onnnnn.”

Our younger son, Norito, is still too young to understand such things. 

I’m looking forward to the day when the brothers can enjoy it together... but for now, let’s let Junior enjoy it fully!

“Dropping the somen now.”

“Got ittttt.”

That was quick.

This kid managed to anticipate it.

Although what he did was correct, it somewhat lacks the elegance and ambiance of nagashi somen... 

Competitive spirit, perhaps?

“Hmm, as expected of my son. He shows no mercy in accurately grasping the points to conquer.”

That’s right, Junior also has Platy blood in him.

The genes of Platy, who would likely say, “Cheating is fine; in fact, why wouldn’t you use it if you can?” live on in Junior?!

“Hmm...! This seems deep.”

Watching the scene and muttering to herself is Veil, the dragon.

She, however, gets competitive when Junior is involved.

What might she be thinking as she watches him enjoy the nagashi somen?

“If Junior’s having fun, then I too shall take up the challenge! I’m taking on this nagashi somen thing!!!”

“Wh-Whaaaaaaaaaat?!”

“Watch closely! I, a mighty dragon, will create the ultimate nagashi somen slide! An invincible fortress!”

Veil’s words are worrisome, to say the least.

What kind of nagashi somen slide is she going to create?!

To be continued!