Cross-Cultural Cooking

Mmm...

Phew, I slept like a baby last night!

Oh look, he's finally up.

The sun already passed its lateral alignment with the Pekari trees! Nonexistent as they may be here.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Shall we get going?

Wait. We have some refreshments for our human guests.

Hm? This pod even provides us with lunch?

Such impeccable hospitality... I could learn a thing or two from them.

I'm just glad there are things humans can eat in this world.

I never would've guessed we could eat the same metal food as meks...

There is no cause for concern. My analysis shows these metals are fit for human consumption!

Yes, yes, I got that bit...

Come to think of it, Amy, when the villagers cooked us that feast the other day...

Oh yeah! Amy disappeared in the middle of dinner. Where did you go?

What? Um... Well...

Urgh, honestly! Quit bugging me!

I did wonder at the time... Did you...?

Dammit! Not again!

Hm?

I wonder what happened.

Let's go and ask.

Excuse me. Is something wrong?

Oh? You're...

Please help me! Please! You have to!

Whoa, calm down! What happened?

Just look at my field!

So this is your field?

Yes. Pretty great, isn't it? Farming is big in the village, but my crops are always the best. But this has happened a few times lately! My crops are being eaten away!

Eaten away?

Are they being stolen by hungry children?

What? No! This isn't the work of a villager. Judging from the mess they left behind, this must be the doing of a monster from the woods.

So a monster trashed your field? Does this happen often?

No, they hardly ever even come near the village. That's why I'm so baffled.

I see. It must be tough if you don't know why this is happening.

Exactly. So I thought I'd go to the woods to see what I could find out...

Why don't we help you with that?

Thank you so much! But the next problem is, how do we find the monster?

Riica, can we leave that to you?

Absolutely!

Scanning... Identifying areas of severe crop damage. Analyzing components deposited on bitten crops. Comparing with particles left in atmosphere...

Scan complete. We can now track the culprit.

What? Really? How did you do that?

Riica's really good at this sort of thing.

You guys make no sense to me, but you sure are incredible!

The woods will be dangerous. We'll come with you.

Thank you. I can't offer much by way of thanks...

You don't need to thank us. This village has already done so much for us.

As a civil service droid, it is my duty to help those in need!

What she said.

Oh? Then I'll gladly accept your offer. Let's head to the woods.

Stop.

Did you see the culprit?

Shh! Be quiet and look over there.

Bird-shaped mechanical lifeforms? That's what trashed your field?

Incorrect. The crop damage and particles collected are not a match with those creatures.

Well we haven't got all day. Let's get to it already.

Wait a minute, you bloodthirsty hooligans!

Look closer! They're eating bugs off the trees.

They are? I can't really see...

My vision is unimpaired! They are pecking at insects scuttling around the trunk of that tree!

Huh?! Stop it, Riica! You're imagining things!

Calm down, Amy. They are not ordinary insects. They are metal insects.

That wasn't the issue... But you mean there are even metal insects?

The machine life in this forest has its own ecosystem and food chain. Insects eat plants, animals eat insects, and meks eat the animals.

So you eat beasts like those birds?

Of course we do. We'd have an unbalanced diet if all we ate was crops. We farm, and we hunt. But now is not the time for that. I'd like to avoid bloodshed wherever possible right now.

Interesting... This world is surprisingly similar to ours.

Yeah, it's strange, isn't it? But if you care about balanced diets, does that mean meks, like, grow and stuff?

We don't grow in size naturally like humans do. We just replace our various parts with new ones. But diet is still important. The lower the metabolism, the less likely you are to get sick.

And with the recent epidemic... No, never mind. My point is, I don't want to disturb the peace of this forest. So try not to provoke them.

Roger that! The culprit's tracks continue down this path!

Stop.

What is it this time?

Look over there. I think that's what trashed the field.

Wait, what?!

The field residue and composition of surrounding particles is a match! That's our culprit!

Okay, this time, surely we can just fight it and get outta here?

No, wait. Something isn't right.

Why's it acting so cautious? Is it frightened of something?

Perhaps that's got something to do with why it came to the village and trashed your field.

Yes, I think so. Maybe it's being chased by something, so it can't feed in the forest?

Did you just hear that?

Over there!

Wh-What the?

That's a Lightspark Hollow monster! What's it doing here?

Strong energy signature detected. None of the lifeforms of this forest would be able to compete with this.

So this is what's been driving the beasts into the village.

But this is terrible! If we leave this be, the whole ecosystem of the forest will start to collapse!

Please! Deal with that monster!

We're on it! Let's go!

I thought it was only monsters leaving the forest that was the problem, not them coming in...

The beasts of the forest lost their feeding grounds thanks to that monster.

But now, balance can be restored to the forest. Thank you.

I have to admit, I never thought kind humans like you existed.

Don't forget about kind androids!

Let's go back to the village. Your field should be safe now.

...... Sorry, would you mind going back without me?

Um, sure? But we can always help if there's more to do.

No, this isn't something I can ask of you.

......

Okay then. Well, we'd better get going.

Hmm... He's still not back yet.

Do not worry, Aldo. There were no other strong signatures in the forest.

You got a minute?

What is it, Amy?

I sensed it when we first came to the village...

Answer our question. Who are you?

What could humans possibly want in a mek village? Are you Imperial arbiters?

But after all that's happened since, I figured we were on good terms with them now. But that guy was definitely hiding something from us... I guess meks still don't have a particularly good impression of humans?

Mmm...

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Did you manage to do whatever it was you were doing?

Yes, I did. I'd like to talk with you... Are you free right now?

Right now? I mean, we are, but...

What is this about?

Well, I wanted to treat you to some of my cooking as thanks for all your help.

Wait, what?!

That's what you've been up to all this time? Cooking?

Pretty much! Sorry for keeping it secret.

Oh... In that case, we'd love to try your cooking.

Great! Why don't you gather up your other friends and meet me in the tavern?

......

Are you okay, Amy? You're looking really pale...

I-It's nothing! It's just...

I feel kinda bad for doubting these lovely people.

Come on, it's bound to happen. There's so much we don't know about each other.

They farm, they cook... I guess meks and humans aren't so different after all.

No, I guess not.

Aldo!

And Amy and Riica, what are you doing here?

We were looking all over for you. What a waste of time.

What were the three of you doing?

Humans, a beast, an android, and a synth human... You'd think we'd be used to different species by now...

Heheh, you're right!

I'm so excited for dinner! I wonder what's cooking?

Me too. I'm really looking forward to it.

My heart sure is racing...

Come what may, it is the thought that counts. Whatever they serve, I will be most grateful for it!

Meh. If I don't like it, I've got no problem telling them so.

Wait, what about Riica and Helena?

Oh yeah. I wonder if they'll have a different menu.

Sorry for the wait! Dinner is served!

To start, we have some soup! A potage of boltomatoes harvested from my own field!

Boltomatoes? So it's metal?

It sure looks that way...

Don't worry! All metal served is perfectly fine for humans to eat.

It's been cooking away for ages, so it should taste nice and rich. Go on, try it!

Okay, let's dig in.

Whoa, that's tough!

Wh-What an interesting flavor! I've never had anything like this in the human world.

Yeah, it's like chewing on iron...

Indeed. The uniquely metallic sourness is both stimulating and flavorsome.

Not bad. I like the chewiness.

I'm so glad you like it! Dig in! Next, we have steel leaf salad and steamed gear potatoes.

Another unique, or rather, metallic looking dish...

Y-Yeah... But it has such an aromatic scent!

Doesn't it just? Steel leaf is rich in nutrients and very aromatic. Go on, have a bite!

It's gonna be okay... You can do this... You can eat this...

Let's eat!

It's so hard to chew again. But not impossible.

Wow! My whole mouth is filled with a wonderful aroma!

I am truly astonished! Never before have I tasted anything like this!

Heh. Perhaps I should gift some to Vares and the others.

Chef, give me the ingredients later. And the recipe.

It would be my pleasure! Now onto the main course. Wait just a moment!

Amy, are you okay?

Ugh... My mouth is tingling. How are you all dealing with this?

You're not looking so good. I guess you really can't cope with mek food?

No. You see... Ages ago, I saw my dad holding parts in his mouth when repairing weapons. I thought they were sweets. So I tried to eat them. Eating this food is making me relive that trauma...

Wow, I had no idea...

Don't force yourself, okay, Amy?

Here we go!

I got the others to help with this one! Every ounce of my expertise went into this dish! Dig in!

What is it? It looks vaguely familiar...

Heheh... It's the monster you killed earlier! I've grilled it, deep-fried it, roasted it, you name it, it's here!

Wha...

WHAAAT?! We're eating that thing?

Yes. The monster was made of a metal humans can eat. It was so big, I needed the other villagers to help me butcher it! But it was worth the trouble!

I-I'm sure. Thank you. But I think Amy's had enough for today...

......

It's okay. I don't want to be rude.

But this is by far the toughest ordeal I've ever been through on any of our adventures!

......

H-How are you doing, Amy?

......

Aldo... Feinne... It's...up to you now...

Amy? Amy! Wake up!

Amy!

Was that Feinne's voice? Perhaps the food is so delicious, it caused her to let out an involuntary scream?

I wonder...

Anyway, how are you finding the oil the villagers gave you?

It's perfect! Plant-derived oil is the best for your joints!

How are you finding it, Helena?

I like it. It is so moisturizing on the skin. It is good oil.

I am so glad to hear that! It seems like we're all fitting in really well here.

Yes indeed, I do hope so.