Chapter 621: A Day In Winter
The civil servant exams held in Wedgefort ended smoothly, and the new recruits’ moving process has finished.The new recruits immediately began working in the government building alongside Madam Rosary, Madam Elizabeth, and Madam Lumia.
They also seemed very happy with their employment conditions.
I was busy making various things in the workshop.
「『Transmute』!」
Light enveloped the wood and bamboo materials, turning into a round steaming basket.
「This many steaming baskets should be enough.」
As for why I was making a large quantity of steaming baskets was because I thought winter meant mochi.
Ever since I was a kid, we had mochi before the new year every year.
It was also rare since we used firewood to steam the glutenous rice.
And so, I accidentally let it slip that I suddenly felt like eating mochi.「When winter comes, it really makes you want mochi, huh?」
「Ahh, mochiiii. That’s nice. Now I want sweet bean mochi.」
My innocent mumbling in the living room made Akane nod nostalgically.
However, when the rest of our members heard this, they reacted differently.
「Mochi nya?」
「Mumu, I’m getting a feeling that it’s something tasty.」
Beastkin ears are amazing. Lulu-chan and Laeva did not fail to hear the conversation between Akane and I.
「Akane-sama, is mochi something delicious nya?」
「Takumi-sama, what kind of food is it?」
「What color nya?」
「Is it a snack? Or could it be some dessert?」
Surprisingly, the two bombarded Akane and I with questions and we were taken aback by their enthusiasm.
「Hey, hey…… calm down you two.」
「Really, wouldn’t it be faster to just make it? If we ask Dryas, we might be able to produce glutinous sticky rice.」
「Oneechan was called~!」
「Uwah! You scared me! Don’t show up all of a sudden like that!」
The moment Dryas’ name was mentioned, she appeared out of nowhere.
「Perfect timing. Dryas, do you know of any glutenous rice?」
「Of course, I know~ But it’s not grown in the Sanctuary~」
「Ahh, about that, we want a large amount of it, can you do it?」
「It’s Takumi-chan asking~ Leave if to this oneechan~」
Since it looks like we’ll get a supply of glutenous rice, so it’s been decided that we’ll be pounding mochi soon.
It would be impossible to have everyone in the Sanctuary participate, but we need enough to be able to share a bit with everyone.
Perhaps we could have the Catkin siblings, Cat Sith sisters Miri and Lala, Human sisters Colette and Shirona, Elven family Melty-san, Melanie, and Malorie, Vanga-san, Martha-san, and the Dwarves Doganbo-san and Golan-san join us.
With that being the case, we will be pounding the mochi.
The other things I will need aside from the steaming baskets was a type of rice pot with a wooden lid known as a hagama, cotton cloth, a table to work the mochi…… oh and we also need potato starch to coat it and prevent it from sticking.
The reason not everyone in the Sanctuary would participate in making the mochi was because sometimes preparations can’t be made in such short time, but since I didn’t know if the people of this world would accept mochi, this also serves as a trial run.
I quickly transmuted a mortar and pestle from wood.
We need a lot, so being able to do this all at once was very convenient.
In the plaza at the Central district of the Sanctuary, several sets of firewood stoves with hagamas and steaming baskets were lined up.
Similarly, there were mortars and pestles were set at specific intervals.
Quite a number of people assembled in the Central District plaza.
「Is the glutinous rice enough?」
「It should be? It’s helpful having more hands around.」
More people gathered than expected, so I was worried if there was enough glutinous rice, but Maria was glad that there were more helping hands.
The grains were soaked in water overnight, so it would be impossible to add more if it wasn’t enough.
I added firewood to heat the water inside the hagama.
I laid down the cotton cloth on the steaming basket, then poured the rice onto it and began steaming it.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying their roles watching the fire and pounding the rice to mochi.
Now then, I should start pounding the mochi too.
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