#710 Crab is a Luxury Ingredient

I successfully won Junior’s admiration and felt confident in my progress as a father.

I see my son is already practicing the Hero Kick.

“Hokuto Golden Martial Kickkkk!”

Truly childlike play full of make-believe.

This dream, too, was made possible by the many who lent a hand to what was once an absurd idea.

In particular, the Crab Spirit Desmask, despite it being our first encounter, showed deep concern, and for that, I feel deep gratitude. 

I want to say thank you once again.

“There’s no need for that, desumasu. I’m thrilled I could be of help, desumasu.”

I shake hands with Desmask.

His “hand” is a pincer, though.

“I hope you will continue to rely on me in the future, desumasu. Ah, as a token of our friendship, I have something for you, desumasu.”

Huh? A gift?

Despite already being in his debt, I’m about to receive something more...

Giant Crab Desmask grabs one of his own legs with his pincer and tears it off.

“Wha...?!”

“For you, desumasu. Crab legs are packed with meat and very delicious, desumasu.”

No, um...!

While I understand that crab is a luxury food and incredibly delicious...!

Who would expect that for this purpose, he would tear off part of his body to give me?!

This is way too depressing!

“Don’t worry, desumasu. My torn-off leg will grow back, desumasu.”

As he says this, a new leg is already growing from the part where the old one was. Within seconds, it’s as good as new.

Is this the regenerative power of crabs?

Or is it the power of an elder spirit?

Well, whatever.

As long as he can regenerate, I should feel no guilt in thoroughly enjoying this crab leg!

When eating crab, there’s nothing better than a hot pot!

It’s one of the ultimate hot pot ingredients!

Being able to make a crab hot pot like this is a godsend!!!

They say eating crab makes one quiet, but if that’s the price for such an incredibly delicious food, it’s hardly a downside!

Okay, it’s crab hot pot time!

...I drop the giant crab leg, given by the giant crab, into the pot in one fell swoop!

“It won’t fit!”

The crab leg doesn’t fit in the pot!

Of course it doesn’t! I’ve been emphasizing how “giant” it is!

It easily exceeds the capacity of our household’s earthenware pot!!!

What do I do?

Do I chop up the giant crab leg to make it fit?

But the whole point of a crab hot pot is to boil it in its shell, to enjoy the experience.

If that’s not possible, it could be a fatal blow to the hot pot!

Then, should I make a special giant pot that can accommodate the giant crab leg...? But that’s too much trouble!

I mean, after using it once, it’s guaranteed that I won’t use it again...!

“Waaaaaaah! Maybe I’m just no good, after all, desumasu!”

“Desmask?!”

No, I can’t go on like this. If I can’t use this gift, I might shatter Desmask’s confidence!

In order not to waste his feelings, I absolutely have to cook this giant crab leg deliciously!

If boiling it in the pot doesn’t work...!

We’ll try grilling it!!!

Unlike simmering, which requires it to fit into a container, grilling it should work somehow!

I build a special stone hearth and place the huge crab leg on it.

Fire it up!

When it’s nicely browned, I try a bite to see how it tastes!

“Hot! It’s hot, hot, hotttt...!”

As one would expect, freshly grilled food is piping hot!

I somehow manage to eat it while burning my mouth...!

“It’s good!!!”

Why is crab meat so delicious?!

The muscle-like substance packed tightly inside the shell has such a unique texture!

But it’s still so hot!

I should drizzle some ponzu sauce to cool it down and season it!

“Alright, I’m finally off to a great start...!”

But I’m not stopping here.

I’m pulling out all the stops.

I pull apart the cooked crab meat...

...and mix it with fried rice!

I had prepared a serving of fluffy fried rice in advance.

“Crab Fried Rice!!!”

A classic staple of crab dishes!

The aroma of the crab intertwines with the hot and fluffy fried rice!

Even the knockoff-peddling shady art dealer would be satisfied with this!

“Good! Soooooooooooo good!!! The taste complements my dragon ramen perfectlyyyyyyyy!!!”

Veil is gobbling up the crab fried rice.

As usual, she never fails to show up whenever there’s a new dish on the table.

And she’s already trying to pair it with ramen.

If we added gyoza to this, it would be unbeatable.

“You’re some cool stuff, crab! I thought you were just a tough-shelled guy, but you were hiding this deliciousness all along!”

“I’m flattered to receive such praise, desumasu...!”

Desmask is overjoyed to receive such unreserved praise from Veil, a dragon.

All right, time for the next move...!

“This... is crab soup!”

“Crab soup, desumasu?!”

Yes, it’s a rich crab soup made from the shell of the crispy roasted crab.

If you drink this, your mouth will be so filled with the flavor of crab that you won’t be able to taste any other crab dish!

“Huh?! If I drink that, I won’t be able to enjoy the taste of any other crab dishes, desumasu! It’s a trap, desumasu!”

“Exactly, it’s a trap to eliminate all other crab dishes! Mwahahaha!!!”

As I laugh heartily, Veil next to me looks puzzled, wondering, “What’s this skit about?”

But out of nowhere, the savior makes his appearance!

“Don’t give up, Desmask!”

“Ah, it’s you...!”

It’s Kralc Kent the Kraken!

The great sea beast hailed as the tyrant of the deep sea and Desmask’s rival! The giant octopus!

He storms ashore, all eight of his legs flailing wildly!

“You just have to reset your palates by tasting something else, right? Goooo!!!”

As he says this, an octopus leg is shoved into our mouths!

What’s going on here?!

Ah... but this unique octopus texture...!

The delicate chewiness that’s just enough to make my jaw work stimulates the brain...!

“Oh! By tasting the octopus slice, my palate has been reset! I can enjoy the taste of crab again! Crab! Octopus! Crab! Octopus! I’m in a never-ending gourmet looooooooop!!!”

Veil is also delighted by the refreshing taste!

“Kralc Kent...! You did this... for me...?!”

“We’re... destined rivals, right? It’s only natural to help each other out in a pinch, isn’t it?”

“Kralc Keeeeeeeeeeeeent!!!”

The crab and octopus hug each other in an overwhelming wave of emotion.

What a heartwarming moment.

“Seriously, what is this charade all about?”

Since we’re at it, I thought it’d be more fun to eat in a lively manner.

Why not have a seafood party with Desumask’s crab legs and Kralc Kent’s octopus legs?

And so, we all delighted in the bounties of the sea, finding joy in a meal as delicious as it was enjoyable.