Making Honey Toffee at the Guild
When the folks from the Iron ranks get promoted, I don’t know if it’s because that’s considered the “minimum line”, but recruitment efforts seem to become more active.
Or maybe it’s more accurate to say poaching. They ask if you want to quit your current party and join them instead.
The rookies who have been working for a while and are judged to have enough ability to protect themselves are the ones who start walking their own paths here again. That pattern is quite common.
After all, when we first became guild members, we had no choice but to form parties with just us locals who had left our hometowns.
There are no kind adults here who will kindly protect clueless brats with no backing or knowledge of what to do. If there are adults being kind, they’re probably just kidnappers.
“Alright, Rolan. From today, you’re one of us, the ‘Sword of Harvest’ party. Compared to others we’re a bit lax, but our catch phrase is that our strength is the real deal. Be prepared, I’ll train you strictly at first so you don’t shame our party’s name!”
“Y-Yes, thank you very much!”
Around this time, the most popular party for youngsters is undoubtedly the “Sword of Harvest.”
Even though it was an accidental encounter, the rumor of them defeating the Harvest Mantis is told as a heroic tale, with traveling bards sometimes singing about it at taverns. Tales of local warriors’ exploits are bound to be popular. The “Giant Mantis Extermination Heroic Tale” will probably be passed down for a while longer.
With that kind of popularity, there were many newcomers hoping to join the Sword of Harvest. Since they operate in a pretty lax style with a large membership to begin with, they’re quite strong even at times like this.
I thought there were multiple major parties in Legol that were nicely balanced against each other, but it feels like the Sword of Harvest has really stood out here.
“……What should we do?”
“It’ll be fine. We got promoted too. They’re probably not avoiding us…….Why don’t we find other strays and form a party together? That way we’d have enough numbers……”
“Yeah……It’s still winter, so we have time to carefully choose partners……”
The ones who are a bit pitiful are the remaining party members who had teammates poached from them.
They may have been operating with few members since leaving their hometowns, but having their most capable comrade taken is rough. Things they could easily do before become impossible.
It’s common for those folks to find similar others and form a new group together.
Incidentally, it’s around this stage that most of the chuunibyou-named parties disband, and they settle on more mature names befitting high schoolers. People grow up fast…….
“……Um, Mongrel-senpai?”
“Yeah? What is it, Raina?”
As I was leaning against the wall by the guild’s fireplace to warm up, Raina called out to me.
Artemis was probably watching over the new archer recruits today.
“What are you doing-su?”
“Just quietly observing the encounters and partings born in the guild. “
…… that’s so weird. ……
It’s like watching a living movie for me……”
“What’s a movie-su…..Never mind, I don’t really want to know. But anyway…”
Raina pointed at the fireplace.
More accurately, at the small pot bubbling right next to it.
“That’s yours, right Mongrel-senpai? What is it-su?”
“Ah…..That’s my special honey.”
“Eh, you’re heating up honey by the fire in the guild-su?”
“I asked Elena and she said ‘As long as it’s within common sense, it’s fine.'”
“……Elena is looking at you with a really suspicious gaze from the reception desk though-su.”
“It’s honey with herbs and various spices, plus citrus juices added. It should be about ready.”
While becoming the laughingstock of the guild is one thing, letting the food burn is unacceptable.
I grabbed a large bowl and walked towards the guild entrance.
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“H-Hey, Mongrel-senpai! The fire! What about the pot-su!?”
“It’s fine, I’m just grabbing one more ingredient.”
“But it’s already bubbling and everything…!”
Ignoring Raina’s flustered voice, I headed outside. Ooh, it’s cold!
Then I immediately came back inside.
“Got it.”
“Eh, already…? What is that, snow-su?”
“Tightly packed snow.”
The bowl was filled to the brim with compacted fresh snow.
I borrowed some from untrodden snow, so aside from maybe a few dust particles for forming snowflakes, it’s about as clean as water gets in this world.
“I’ll drizzle the boiling, gloopy honey over this bowl of snow…like this, tracing short lines.”
“Ooh…eh, what are you making-su?”
“Just watch. After drizzling multiple honey lines…something like this. Then you take this random stick and press it against the end of the honey…”
I twirled the stick around, wrapping up the honey at the end onto it like winding thread.
The result…a honey-flavored candy made with snow that’s slightly grated.
Let’s call it honey toffee. It’s actually a Canadian treat usually made with maple syrup, but since I don’t know where to find maple trees, honey is the substitute.
“Oooh!”
“Here, try this honey candy.”
“R-Really, I can-su!?”
“Yeah yeah, I made plenty.”
“Yay!”
The new beehives seem to have increased our honey production nicely.
Well, ever since someone developed that highly effective oral rehydration solution, sweeteners have gotten more expensive. But this rare food entertainment is worth spending money on.
“Umm, then…I’ll dig in. munch……Mmm!”
Raina let out a blissful groan after tasting the honey toffee. See, delicious, right? This candy is great for your throat.
Now for me to try a bite……Mmm, yep, honey toffee. I prefer a more subtle honey flavor, but…the spices are nice too, so it works.
“What’s this, Mongrel making weird stuff again?”
“Don’t eat it if you don’t want to, Barlgar.”
“My bad……Hey, mind giving me one?”
“……I guess not, here’s one to celebrate your new recruit joining.”
“Thanks man……Mmm, sweet! Maybe a bit too sweet for me though.”
“Figures.”
“Mongrel-senpai, can I try twirling it around-su?”
“Sure, go ahead. Press against the end like this.”
“Got it-su!”
Having the snow give a crisp, shattering texture in your mouth is pretty nice with this.
It’s kind of like enjoying the pleasure of eating ice cream while warming yourself on a cold day.
“Everyone! What are you all doing in front of the fireplace!”
“Yo, Elena.”
“Don’t just ‘yo’ me! It’s been smelling like honey this whole time!”
As we were all chatting, the flustered Elena came over to us.
“I said ‘within common sense’ but this is too much…!”
“Here, have some.”
Since her true feelings were completely transparent, I got tired of the back-and-forth and offered her three sticks of the honey toffee.
This is what you wanted, right?
“……Just take them!”
Although I hadn’t really persuaded her of anything, Elena took the three treats and stomped back to the reception desk.
This is basically a bribe at this point, isn’t it? But making things go smoothly is important in our small community……
“Ah, the reception ladies seem happy-su.”
The honey toffee was a hit with the reception staff too. Sweets really do work wonders on women.
“Ah, excuse me, can I have some milk please?”
“Milk……I see! So that’s what you mean, senpai! Me too please!”
“You get it, Raina. This flavor pairs perfectly with milk.”
“That’s criminal-su.”
After that, we refilled the snow bowl several times, twirled more honey toffee, and enjoyed the winter sweet treat together with milk.
Some other party guys gathered around at one point, but I’ll let them off since I hadn’t made that much.
Today is the anniversary of my transfer, after all.
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