The «Forest of the Creation Witch» was once an infertile place but was now decorated with lush green nature and had become a new home for a multitude of demonic races.
While this place had eliminated the worry of finding a new home for demonkin, there were still many aspects that had to be looked after, specifically food. The farms we had before their arrival were few, thus we only had a limited production of food.
With no definite source of food, the gathered demonkin resorted to hunting monsters in the monsters-infested region outside of the barrier, gathering edible plants, mushrooms, fruits, and fishes from the rivers and springs, raising chickens, and asking for milk from mythical beasts.
The new farms were already in progress to create a more steady supply of food, however, farming wasn't something that could be done in a jiffy.
"......Majou-sama, what should we make?"
Moffa, the representative of the minotaur race who claimed to be excellent farmers, came to my mansion and posed such a question.
Currently, he was crouching in front of me as I listened to what he had to say— the minotaurs were a race blessed with excellent physique, so it was pretty obvious that I'd have to crane my neck to the limit to talk to them.
"Isn't it just fine to raise the necessary crops?"
"There are many crops to grow like wheat, barley, beans, radish, potato, onion, bell pepper, eggplant, asparagus, pumpkin, cabbage, turnip, corn, tomato, broccoli, and many more!"
Receiving no specific instruction from me, Teto listed out the number of vegetables they could grow.
"...... We received the seeds from Baretta-sama and have already planted the seeds of the staple crops. As for the other vegetables, it's just a matter of time before we plant them too."
'Then what exactly is troubling you?' I asked with a confused expression. Unlike his physique, Moffa was quite an untalkative one, so he paused to choose his words slowly.
"...... We have finally found our safe haven. That's why we want to create something new that we couldn't until now."
"Ah, so that's what you meant."
They were finally in a land where they could peacefully live with no worries of being persecuted and no need to live in hidden villages. They had gained enough solace to now desire to create something new.
"Hmm, then how about this? «Creation»!"
I produced a grain of rice with «Creation Magic».
"Is this… wheat?"
"No, it's called rice and they are grown in paddy fields."
"They taste soft and chewy, very delicious! You can also make delicious wine from them!"
We had rice in the mansion, which mostly came from me who created it with my creation magic, and was one of many things the maid groups were growing.
Our meals usually consisted of rice dishes, though we haven't promoted it much here. However, I also hoped for rice to be more widespread since there was a chance that popularization might lead to the reappearance of the dishes from my previous world.
"Majou-sama, may I ask you to impart your knowledge on how to eat them?"
"Of course, wait a while since cooking will take a bit of time. I must show you the multitude of dishes that's possible to make with it."
"Teto will also help out in cooking!"
Hearing our response to his request, Moffa was stunned as he stumbled with his words.
"Bu, Bumo! Majou-sama herself is going to make it!?"
"That, I will. I haven't cooked anything recently, I don't want my cooking skills to become rusty."
"It's been a while since we had curry, Teto wants to eat curry!"
We had Moffa bring back the supplied food materials while Teto and I promptly headed for the kitchen and started our preparation.
Well, it would have been hard to make so many dishes by ourselves, so I got the help of the other maids who were in charge of today's meal and prepared the dishes.
I soaked the raw rice in water, placed the pot on the stove and soon after, our base material, aka cooked rice, was ready.
"We'll make standard rice balls first. Ingredients...... let's just go with simple salted rice balls."
"Majou-sama, I've brought in the leaves!"
After deciding on the first item, Teto came back with the perilla leaves we were going to use in place of seaweed. I wanted to include things like pickled dried plum, but it might be hard for a beginner to handle its taste so I gave up on that.
I also thought of including seafood like seaweed, salmon, okaa, or tuna soaked in soy sauce but looking at my small hands, I abandoned that idea.
"Hmm, thinking about fillings for rice balls makes me crave seafood."
"Can't Majou-sama make them with «Creation Magic»?"
"I don't want them for myself, I want a stable supply for everyone else to enjoy."
I wanted to let everyone taste the food from my previous world that I had a vague recollection of. However, the practical answer was that there was no sea inland so we had no access to them.
We continued to chat like this while moving onward with dishes like cheese risotto chicken rice, chinese-style fried rice, paella, and also curry that Teto requested.
For paella, we used crayfish and freshwater clams collected from rivers and swamps. I wasn't making too much, so the quantity used wouldn’t hurt their population.
"I guess that much would suffice as samples. Maybe some more items like rice dumplings, rice crackers, and mochi with «Creation Magic»... Alright, that would do."
Now, I just needed to gather the recipes for these rice dishes and pass them on to the others......
Just as I was pondering this, Moffa, along with another person in tow, came back from handing out the supplied food materials at the appointed time. I guess I was too engrossed in cooking and I didn't realize the passing of time.
"Gahahaha! I heard Majou-sama is cooking something today, so I came along."
"Bomu...... I apologize for his rudeness, Majou-sama......"
"Moffa, and Gast too, welcome. Also, I don't mind, the more people who'll taste the rice dishes, the merrier."
"There is also rice wine for post-meal that Teto loves!"
As I welcomed them, Teto came back carrying the barrel of rice wine I created and left to age.
Then, Moffa swiftly took the rice ball from my small hand and tried it out.
"Bomu...... It has a marvelous taste...... and is also slightly sweet when chewed on."
"But it's quite small in size, I prefer a larger one."
While Moffa quietly tasted the rice balls, the oni-kin Gast tossed 2 to 3 rice balls into his mouth. From the looks of it, one wasn't enough for him to taste anything.
"Normally, fillings are also used in making rice balls, but for now, you'll have to make do with these."
I took out miso and soy sauce, the fruits of the years-long research done by the mechanoids, poured them on the rice balls and left them on the grill to roast.
The savory smell of grilled soy and miso seemed to have stimulated the appetite of both men as they quickly reached out their hands for the grilled rice balls.
Moffa ate slowly from the dishes that were in small quantities to savor them while Gast, being himself, selected the dishes that were plenty in number.
"Rice is really delicious!"
On the other hand, Teto piled up a small hill of curry rice on her plate and began to eat. Her action probably intrigued the other two, as they also reached out their hand to taste the curry rice.
After that, they continued to relish the taste of roasted rice cakes, dumplings, and crunchy deep-fried rice cakes with euphoric expressions.
"This one might be good as a snack with alcohol. The saltiness works well and it's tasty."
"......This fluffy, chewy strange texture...... Is this thing also made from rice?"
"That's called mochi, made from a glutinous rice variety that's steamed and pounded with a mortar and pestle. There are also variations where rice flour is kneaded with hot water to form the shape."
Dango used rice flour made from regular rice used in cooking after making a powder of it and mixing it in hot water. Sticky rice flour was made from glutinous rice, or refined rice flour from rice soaked in water to extract the starch. Each variation served a different purpose.
The rice available in the harbor town of the Lovile Kingdom was of long grain variety, perfect for making paella.
Though the two were eating the rice dishes with such relish that it would have been boorish of me to pass the knowledge about rice now so I kept the explanations to myself for the time being.
Gast seemed to prefer salty deep-fried rice crackers, while Moffa preferred the sweeter options.
When they were finished with the dishes,
"It's time to open the barrel!"
"Bring me one, I've been waiting for this!"
"Bumo...... But is alright though?"
It was a bit funny to see Moffa looking hesitant as he gulped on rice wine after eating all those dishes.
"This is the delicious~"
"*Gulp* *Gulp*...... Fuwaa! Delish! It's called rice wine, right!? Alright, I'll have my wife back home make them!"
The male members of the oni-kin used their gifted physical abilities to work as mercenaries in other nations while the females stayed behind to protect their hidden village while working on the farms and sake brewing.
They were also the ones who made the honey wine from the honey of the queen bees.
As for the impression of Moffa who also finished drinking his cup,
"Bumo...... It's different from wheat-made ale or wine from grapes. It's really amazing how it looks like clear water, yet has a deep flavor."
It seemed to have hit the spot as he closed his eyes, apparently savoring the drink.
Once he was finished drinking, he lined up his knees on the floor and deeply bowed his head.
"I have carefully tasted the rice dishes made by Majou-sama. We would be honored to add rice as our tribe's new crop."
"Ohh! We'll grow it too, but if you have any surplus, bring it to us! We'll make sake from all of it, gahahaha!"
"Teto would also like to taste your wine!"
The determined voice of the Minotaur Moffa coupled with the intoxicated voices of Teto and Gast created a lighthearted atmosphere.
Afterwards, the three settlements of the Minotaurs, the Oni-kin, and...... the Dragon-Demons — who saw that Dragon Grandpa seemed to enjoy rice wine — started cultivating rice. Along with the assistance from the mechanoids, it took just a few years for them to get ready to send rice or rice wine to our place.
