I Have Tamed a Spider Monster - Chapter 121 (Patreon)

Orphanage Restaurant "Spiderling’s Nest"
The day has come, and finally, the opening day of the orphanage restaurant has arrived.
The name of this shop is the "Spiderling’s Nest”.
Since I took the lead in establishing it, the children begged for a name associated with spiders, and despite feeling somewhat uneasy about it, the name was decided.
However, isn't this more on the side of being eaten than eating?
Nevertheless, the sign has been put up, and there was no turning back.

Inside the shop, the head chef, the hostess, and the many children in charge were doing a final check to boost their morale.

"... All right, no oversight to fix!"

"The magic stove is working fine!"

"The cutlery is sparkling!"

"There's not a single piece of trash on the floor!"

"We've got plenty of change prepared. No issues at all."

"Understood. Today is the first day of opening! The future sales will be determined by the number of customers today! Everyone, put in your best effort!"

(Yes!)

Everyone seemed to be really fired up.
I hope things go smoothly.

Now, since I'm not involved in the dining room and everyone from "Wildcat Claws" was in the way, let's move to the back of the shop, which serves as a break area.
We can only offer support, but do your best, everyone.

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(Alizée's Point of View)

Mhm, it seems that Lady Lily's restaurant has opened successfully.
The exterior of the shop looked clean, and at the entrance, two Rock Wolves were standing guard, serving as gatekeepers.
It's unlikely that unruly individuals would approach easily.
Well then, let’s enter as a customer.

Next to the entrance, there was a small menu sign with today's menu written on it.
As I heard, there seemed to be only a daily set menu.
Today's recommendation was...'Orc Meat and Seasonal Vegetable Hot Pot.'
It's a dish I've never heard of, but it might be worth trying.
Let's enter the shop right away.

"Welcome!"

As I entered the shop, a lovely, girly voice greeted me.
When I turned to look, a girl of around 10 years old was waiting with a menu in her hands.
She was dressed in a one-piece outfit with an apron, and from what I can see, all the female servers in this shop were wearing the same outfit.
As expected of Lady Lily, making multiple copies of the same outfit was a piece of cake for her.

"Dear customer, are you dining alone?"

"Yes, just one person."

"Then, please follow me to your seat. Right this way."

While being guided by the girl, I observed the interior of the shop.
Lady Lily had indeed made it welcoming for women, with plenty of windows for an open feel and increased lighting to brighten up the space.
Besides the typical counter seats, there were also two-person booth seats.
I suppose female solo customers like me are directed to those.

"Your seat is here. Also, this is today's menu. Our restaurant only offers three daily set menus. In return, for a base price of 20 Rubies, you get three slices of bread or a large serving of rice. If you choose two slices of bread or a regular serving of rice, it's 15 Rubies. Adding one extra slice of bread is an additional 5 Rubies, and for a rice refill, it's 10 Rubies for a large serving and 5 Rubies for a regular serving."

Hmm, I heard this was a place for hearty eaters, but the service was more elaborate than I expected.
20 Rubies for lunch was a normal amount, and you could add more if needed.
Good service.
Now, let's actually order from the menu.

"Miss Waitress, what's today's recommendation?"

"Yes. Today's recommendation is the 'Orc Meat and Seasonal Vegetable Hot Pot,' which is only available once a week. It's a dish where broth is poured into an iron pot, and thinly sliced Orc meat and seasonal vegetables are simmered in it. It will be served in the pot, so you can feel free to help yourself to a portion directly from the pot."

… I see, quite a daring dish indeed.
I heard the recommendation included rice, especially in a large portion, but I don't have the confidence to finish a large serving of rice, so I opted for a regular portion.

The dish that arrived after about 10 minutes was truly spectacular.
To think they serve the dish in the actual iron pot...
There were indeed thin slices of Orc meat in the iron pot, but it looked more like an extra for those who want meat.
The main part was the abundance of vegetables.
The waitress said it was delicious as it is, with the flavors soaked in, but I decided to try dipping them in the accompanying sauce.

First off...I saw a radish.
The radish was cut into slightly thick slices, simmered until semi-transparent, and easily pierced with a fork.
I transferred it to a plate, cut it into bite-sized pieces with a knife, and just that released a lot of juice from the radish.
Now, let's take the first bite...

"~~~!"

It's hot but delicious!
The broth had thoroughly soaked into the radish, and the soft texture combined with the flavor was indescribable.

Next, it's frightening, but let's try the dipping sauce.
The sauce apparently has dissolved spices, but really...

"~~~~~!?"

It's spicy!?
And delicious!?
The spiciness of the spices enhances the umami of the radish even further!?
This is an indescribable harmony!

After that, I tried various vegetables like carrots, lotus root, green onions, sweet potatoes, and more.
Each vegetable, with its natural flavor and the taste of the soup, created an exquisite blend of flavors.
In the end, I had a second serving of rice and my stomach was full.
Honestly, the Orc meat was just a real bonus.
However, when I asked the waitress, the Orc meat apparently also played an important part in the flavor of the dish.
I'm worried about how the meat-loving adventurers will react, but I've eaten something good today.

However, after returning, it was annoying... troublesome dealing with Lady Priscilla, who sensed that I had eaten something quite delicious.
Well, let it be.
An orphanage restaurant called "Spiderling’s Nest" huh?
It's a bit far from the Trade Guild, but I might visit a few times a week.
I just need to increase my training time, or I might gain unnecessary fat...

Next: https://www.patreon.com/posts/96835937