Chapter 16

    Delicious Bear Stew

    “Brother Jason... aren’t you going to keep some of this meat for yourself?” Kit was trying to persuade his big brother, who was being far too generous—to the point that Kit felt like he was taking advantage of him. A massive pile of bear meat, weighing no less than three hundred kilograms, had already been set out on the wooden table for preservation. Kit had used an enormous amount of salt, yet the church still had nearly a whole sack left in storage. The remaining fresh meat had been washed and prepared, ready for cooking.

    Although salt was an expensive commodity, it was delivered from the central church every year as support for the faithful. Thus, they never had to worry much about this resource.

    “Consider it my way of repaying Sisters for saving my life. Don’t think too much about it.” The young man smiled contentedly before ruffling the little one’s head several times. “How about this? Before I finish recovering, why don’t you make me something delicious to eat, Kit?”

    Since his negotiations had failed, Kit slumped his shoulders and walked out of the infirmary. In truth, Jason had already recovered since the day before. His wounds had completely healed, and he was even stronger than before. The miraculous power of Sister Lisa had made Jason see this church in a new light.

    He was beginning to think... That the so-called low-level abilities were not as worthless as people commonly believed.

    After spending several days in this place, Jason had heard many incredible stories from the children. Many remarkable changes—such as delicious food, warmth inside buildings, and even the ability to forage for supplies in a rich forest—were all thanks to the creative mind of little Kit. The young man felt that these stories were too far-fetched. He wanted to see with his own eyes whether Kit’s cooking was truly as delicious as they claimed.

    That afternoon, Kit was busy brainstorming ways to prepare a delicious meal using various parts of the bear. He wanted to make a stew, slow-cooking the internal organs until they were tender. But right now, he was missing several fragrant herbs.

    “If only I had rosemary and bay leaves... What should I do…?” If he went ahead and made bear stew as things were now, it would turn into nothing but a soup reeking of garlic, meat, and a strong gamey stench from the entrails. Judging by the cooking time, it would take quite a while before everything was tender enough for everyone to enjoy.

    So, he first set a large iron pot on the fire and filled it with water. Dried garlic leaves and mushrooms were chopped and set aside. The bear meat, including tendons, connective tissues, and fat, was diced into large cubes before being seared over high heat in a pan until a deep brown crust formed. This process, known as caramelization, brought out the natural sugars hidden within the meat, enhancing its flavor.

    The offal were once again washed thoroughly in salt water. After being cut into small pieces, they were stir-fried in oil just like the chunks of meat.

    The little chef applied knowledge from his past life, recalling it perfectly. Pan after pan of meat and offal was sautéed until fragrant before being transferred into the boiling pot. The chopped wild garlic and mushrooms were added in, and the lid was closed. Then, he turned his attention to the misshapen carrots and a large batch of sweet potatoes.

    Their skins were peeled and washed thoroughly. These vegetables didn’t require meticulous cutting—just making sure the pieces were roughly the same size was good enough. Before long, the large pot was filled to the brim. Kit then asked Anna to keep an eye on the fire for a while. After that, he decided to step outside for some fresh air.

    Since he was now certain that he possessed an enhanced sense of smell beyond that of an ordinary person, the little boy took a deep breath of fresh air outside the kitchen, filling his lungs completely. In his mind, he recalled the scent of rosemary and bay leaves from his previous world. Then, he focused on distinguishing the scent molecules carried by the wind, closing his eyes tightly to concentrate.

    The first thing that hit his nose was the scent of dry straw, followed by the pungent smell of soil and the overpowering stench of waste from the orphanage, which made him shake his head. Deciding to move further away, he walked closer to the edge of the forest. Once he reached an upwind position, away from the air coming from the buildings, Kit exhaled in relief.

    “I need to get used to this new power as soon as possible. If not, I’m going to suffer every night.” Kit shuddered at the thought of having to sleep surrounded by those smells. He needed to either learn how to block out his senses or find something else to sniff as a distraction.

    A mere few dozen meters away, the scents changed drastically. The dry pine aroma of autumn reached his nose first, followed by the familiar smell of wild garlic and onions. Then, his nose plunged into a sea of fragrances from the rich, thriving forest.

    The mushroom patch he had harvested before was already releasing a pleasant aroma. James’s usual forest path carried his distinct scent along the way. Kit smiled upon realizing that James never once strayed from the route he had been instructed to follow. Such an obedient older brother deserved a special meal as a reward.

    Before long, Kit found exactly what he was looking for. This forest had everything, as if crafted by the hands of a great deity, just as Sister had once described. The little boy grabbed a small knife, waved at James, and then hurried into the forest. Within moments, they came across a grove of bay trees, towering well above James’s head. Kit quickly instructed his brother to pick large branches with both young and mature leaves, gathering dozens of them.

    Ten minutes further north, they discovered a wild rosemary patch growing near narrow rock crevices, accompanied by mint plants. Though they weren’t the exact varieties he recognized from his previous world, he trusted his nose and was certain they were edible. So, James took on the task of carrying even more of these strange, fragrant herbs.

    The eldest brother could only watch as his little brother hugged a bundle of leaves with pure joy. Kit confidently claimed that they were safe to eat. After carrying the branches for a while, James, too, started picking up on their gentle aroma.

    Kit’s nose continued to detect various culinary herbs floating in the air. The young boy turned to his brother and declared that they would venture into the forest again tomorrow. The big man nodded in understanding, following behind while listening to the cheerful humming of the little one leading the way.

    I don't want a lot this winter

    There is just one thing I need

    I don't care about the presents

    Underneath the Red Pine tree

    I just want you for my own

    More than you could ever know

    Make my wish come true

    All I want this winter is you.....

    A familiar tune from his old world, slightly modified to fit this new one, filled the air on their way back. Even though James had no idea what the presents underneath the Red Pine tree was, he enjoyed the song so much that, for a moment, he forgot everything else.

    It seemed that even the enthusiastic singer had forgotten himself. As they neared the church, Kit suddenly realized that he had done something embarrassing. Feeling flustered, he flashed a sheepish grin, grabbed the herbs from James’s hands, and scurried off toward the kitchen.

    The bubbling stew pot was uncovered. Kit plucked several bay leaves and tossed them in. A small rosemary sprig followed shortly after. He stirred the massive pot until the ingredients blended in perfectly. As the liquid began releasing a tantalizing aroma, little Kit suddenly realized he was still missing onions. And so, the kitchen fell into chaos once again.

    Watching over a stew that filled the air with mouthwatering fragrance for several long hours was true torment. Even Anna couldn’t resist—she made an excuse to check on the younger children, leaving the creator of the dish and the other older brother to leisurely prepare the strange, fragrant herbs.

    The bay leaves were washed thoroughly. Then, both the stems and branches were tied together with coarse rope before James hung them along the stone walls of the room. The rosemary was handled in the same manner.

    Judging by the amount they had, these fragrant seasonings would likely last them throughout the winter.

    As for the mint, its leaves and relatively soft stems wouldn’t keep for long. Kit decided to use them for himself. They were turned into an emergency deodorizer—wrapped in coarse cloth and tucked into his pillow at bedtime. The fresh scent of mint helped him relax for a while. From now on, he would have to rely on himself to train his sense of smell—to be able to turn it on and off at will.

    He didn’t know whether this attempt would succeed, but he would try... Hopefully, what White Wings God had preached in the teachings would be true.

    Three hours later, James was called to lift the massive pot once more. The children sat neatly around the table. Among them were Jason and the two nuns. The stew had a well-balanced taste—mildly sweet, creamy, and savory. It emitted a soft, fragrant aroma, without the gamey smell everyone had initially feared.

    The carrots and sweet potatoes had softened to the perfect consistency, making them easy for the children to eat. The soup’s aroma wasn’t overpowering, yet it left a refreshing sensation as it went down. The garlic and mushrooms, now thoroughly stewed, added depth to the broth. The true stars of the dish—the tender bear meat and its meltingly soft offal—were highlighted in their full glory. Everyone devoured their portions with such enthusiasm that it was nearly impossible to stop.

    Several of the younger children ate while crying—because, since birth, they had never tasted such large and delicious pieces of meat before. Fortunately, Kit had miscalculated the portions and made far more than needed. This mistake meant that everyone had the chance for second and third helpings until they were completely satisfied.

    Even the elder nuns could not maintain her dignified etiquette. So why should anyone else pretend?

    Laughter filled the air. Jason was now convinced—Kit was truly gifted. He had no regrets about giving all the bear meat to this church. If he had taken it back for himself, the best meals the villagers—or even he—could have prepared would likely have been salted grilled meat or dried jerky, still carrying a lingering gamey odor.

    This time before winter was truly wonderful and filled with miracles for everyone. They expressed their gratitude to one another—thankful for the hardships they had endured throughout the year, thankful that the gods had granted them the opportunity to reach for this moment of happiness.

    The atmosphere in the main hall was warm and full of joy...

    A multitude of torches illuminated the room, making it glow brightly. That light concealed the subtle transformation occurring within their bodies—a faint radiance… as if they had tasted the food of the gods—just as described in the ancient scriptures...