Rou-chan’s Glorious Exploration Record
Side Story: Hana Grandpa
Rou-chan has come to visit the capital.
Among all the grandchildren, Rou-chan is particularly adorable. He loves medicinal herbs and is a special child who seems to be loved by them in return.
However, geniuses often take actions that ordinary people would never think of.
Since he’s still just a little kid, Rou-chan’s sense of “normal” is quite loose, and he tends to rush headfirst into things out of pure curiosity. That’s why we adults need to keep a close eye on him.
Rou-chan can be a bit high-maintenance, and when you look away for even a second, he’s bound to do something surprising. But the more trouble he causes, the cuter he becomes… making it hard not to spoil him.
Spending time with Rou-chan, whose expressions change so freely according to his emotions, is always stimulating and fun.
That reminds me—how about taking Rou-chan for a walk in the nearby forest today?
I decide to borrow an escort from the Dorao family as I step out of the house.
…
And then I freeze.
Right there in the flowerbed directly in front of the door, medicinal herbs have somehow sprouted.
The morning glory vines that Louis gave me as a gift are now entangled with the vines of some kind of herb.
More than entangled—it looks like the herb is aggressively overtaking the morning glories.
…
Ah, yes, the infamous Kurukuru Grass.
It’s a notoriously difficult-to-cultivate medicinal herb. Its thin leaves grow in a spiral pattern, curling like a vine, and it’s said to only thrive in specific group-growing environments; attempts at cultivation elsewhere usually fail because the vine struggles to extend properly and eventually withers.
But… this one seems to be growing perfectly fine all by itself?
Its curly, spiraling vines are winding around everywhere, tightly wrapped around the morning glories…
In fact, the morning glories look downright pitiful under its grasp.
Could it be that these spirals depend on other plants to coil around?
Perhaps thanks to the morning glory’s natural curling structure, this plant was able to thrive alongside it?
But wait… how did Kurukuru Grass end up right outside my front door in the first place?
A small figure darts past me, running toward the Dorao residence. That tiny silhouette undoubtedly belongs to Rou-chan.
So the culprit behind this is definitely Rou-chan, isn’t it?!
But I checked him thoroughly earlier… how could I have missed this?
Over in the Dorao family’s garden, Rou-chan is busily popping something. As I approach, unease creeping into my mind—
“Rou-chan?!”
Startled, Rou-chan turns around. In his hand is a jar, filled to the brim with seeds of a certain medicinal herb: Wasabi Mustard Grass.
“Hana Grandpa! Just now, I finished extracting the sauce for today’s breakfast sausages!”
“…Rou-chan, that’s a medicinal herb.”
“Ch-ch-ch! Rou-chan can make awesome spicy mustard sauce!”
I’m left unsure how to respond to his proud declaration.
“I’ll give Hana Grandpa the most delicious breakfast ever!”
Looking at Rou-chan’s face, full of kindness and good intentions, I start to wonder if he perhaps misinterpreted my lack of interest in breakfast as me finding it unappetizing, so he decided to make something tasty instead.
“So this is going to be breakfast made by Rou-chan, huh? I’m looking forward to it.”
At my words, Rou-chan’s eyes shine even brighter.
“I’ll make some for Louis too!”
“All right, then. While you go ahead and start cooking, I’ll invite Louis over.”
“Yes, sir!”
With great enthusiasm, Rou-chan dashes off toward the house.
Once he’s gone, I turn toward the Dorao residence instead of Louis’s home. To be honest, I have no idea what Rou-chan will come up with, so I can’t involve Louis in this. Let’s pretend Louis isn’t home for now.
While Rou-chan may already possess skills equal to those of a seasoned pharmacist when it comes to mixing medicinal herbs, he’s never actually cooked before.
Rou-chan loves eating and has tried plenty of delicious foods, but I doubt he fully understands the process or appreciates the skill involved in cooking. Learning about the craftsmanship required in any profession will broaden his horizons and provide valuable experience.
No matter what Rou-chan makes, I’ll praise it as “my favorite flavor,” so don’t worry and just enjoy cooking!
After arranging for an escort for our forest stroll at the Dorao residence, I return home only to lock eyes with Rou-chan, who should be in the kitchen. For some reason, though, he’s holding alchemical tools instead of cooking utensils.
Wait… shouldn’t Rou-chan be using cooking tools instead of equipment meant for herbal concoctions?
Rou-chan quickly disappears back into the kitchen.
Is everything okay? Could it be that he doesn’t understand the difference between preparing medicinal mixtures and cooking?
Curious, I peek quietly into the kitchen.
He’s grinding the Wasabi Mustard seeds.
Then, he adds salt, honey, wine vinegar, and stirs in some Turku Grass , mixing it all together with the ground seeds before pouring it back into the jar.
Is this supposed to be the sauce he wants me to try?
Next, he pulls out boiled sausages and okra, plating them neatly. Then come roasted potatoes and beans.
“Huh?”
Wait… Rou-chan, isn’t your technique way too good??
Are you seriously handling both boiling and roasting perfectly during your first-ever cooking attempt??
He strips the leaves off a Masha plant, washes them, dries them, and then shreds them all in one swift motion.
What’s going on here?!
“Wh-what…? His knife skills are so good… Is he actually a chef or something?!”
He’s handling everything like a pro!
In the blink of an eye, he finishes julienning the vegetables, salts them, rinses them with ice water, shakes off the excess water in a colander, and dries them thoroughly.
After placing a stick into the jar of Wasabi Mustard seeds, Rou-chan tastes a bit off the back of his hand, then scoops out two spoonfuls onto a small plate. He seasons it with condiments and mixes it into the shredded Masha leaves.
Wait… this isn’t his first time cooking, is it?
His movements are unmistakably those of someone who’s spent time in a professional kitchen.
No doubt about it—this kid is a chef.
Where on earth did he sneak into a kitchen…? Maybe I should call my son over…
It’s not appropriate for a high-ranking noble’s child to be hanging around kitchens where fire and sharp knives are flying everywhere. If something were to happen, it would be irreversible.
For now, I called Louis over.
I lost confidence in handling everything by myself, so I decided to call Louis.
“Wow! Amazing! Did Rou-chan make all this? It’s so beautiful and looks delicious!”
“Please dig in while it’s still warm~”
“All right, I’ll help myself.”
Without soup, this setup looks exactly like a noble family’s breakfast.
If other chefs knew that this was made by a 9-year-old for the first time, they’d probably quit their jobs.
The upper nobility’s lifestyle, which refines every aspect of life with beauty and perfection, has clearly instilled a strong sense of aristocratic sensibility in Rou-chan.
With perfect proportions, color theory, and even the design of the plates considered, this dish is visually flawless.
The real question is… the taste.
“…”
I take a bite of the salad.
!!
What…?
This salad is incredibly delicious!
“Whoa, this salad is amazing!! Walnuts, cheese! Not just the texture but the sauce too!! The mustard sauce is incredible!! Wait, whole-grain mustard?! You had some here all along?! Louis, I’m so moved!”
“As expected of Louis! You have such a discerning eye! Feel free to pour as much as you want over the sausages!”
Rou-chan dramatically places what appears to be whole-grain mustard on the table.
“This is legit whole-grain mustard!? Incredible!! Rou-chan, where did you buy this?? I need to stock up too!!”
“This is homemade! Made from the medicinal herb Wasabi Mustard seeds!”
“By the way, this herb costs ten gold coins per plant.”
“What?! That’s expensive!!”
Louis, who was about to scoop a large spoonful of the mustard from the jar, quickly puts half of it back.
“It’s fine—he grew and harvested it himself in the garden.”
“Since you like it so much, Louis, I’ll give you half as a souvenir!”
“Rou-chan, I love you!”
“Hehe.”
Louis shamelessly piles the whole-grain mustard onto his sausage and takes a big bite.
And then… he shudders.
“Oh no, this is too good!! Rou-chan, you’re an amazing cook!! Would you consider selling the recipes for this salad dressing and mustard to the Galon family?”
Louis suggests selling the recipe not directly to himself but to his servant’s family, the Galons, indicating his intention to use it for large-scale business.
Indeed, this sauce brings a new flavor profile that existing seasonings lack, and its golden hue alone guarantees popularity among kings and nobles.
In this continent’s culture, gold is revered as the color of royalty, while black symbolizes poison and is considered ominous. In fact, many toxic substances share a dark coloration.
“If Melissa House sells the recipe, people might mistake it for medicine. It’s tricky since Rou-chan created it, and we want to protect his rights.”
“Huh? Hana Grandpa, sharing delicious things with lots of people is a good thing, right? Then, the people who eat it will try to make even more delicious things, and Rou-chan will get to eat lots of tasty food too!”
“…”
If this is how the children of the coming era think… what a wonderful age of hope it will be.
Rou-chan’s philosophy, shaped by his upbringing as a high-ranking noble, will spread downward and outward as an absolute justice.
The era when people fought over wealth and resources has finally ended.
We are transitioning from an age where simply having enough to eat was the goal to one where everyone strives to enjoy delicious food.
And alongside this shift is a mindset of sharing—no, of communal enjoyment —where delicious food is naturally shared among all.
Yes…
We adults were still clinging to outdated notions of profit and control over delicious foods. How embarrassing.
What we elders should be protecting isn’t vested interests but rather systems and laws that prevent mistakes and ensure no one becomes unhappy. Spreading correct knowledge is key.
“Louis, there’s actually a downside to cultivating Wasabi Mustard—it’s why we need to be careful about spreading the recipe.”
“Cultivation issues? Isn’t it possible to grow it in the Great Hana Mansion’s garden?”
“Cultivating Wasabi Mustard is relatively easy, and it grows anywhere, but once it bears fruit, the land becomes unusable. Moreover, it won’t sprout again in the same place. That’s why it’s so expensive.”
“I see. If people start growing it recklessly for profit, it could lead to serious problems.”
“Exactly. Land is finite. The more Wasabi Mustard you plant, the less land remains available for future planting. And most importantly, it ruins the soil for other crops. This herb was named ‘Mustard Grass’ because it essentially sucks the land dry.”
The soil in the Great Hana Mansion’s garden is regularly replaced due to its original purpose as a security-focused space, making it suitable for growing Wasabi Mustard without significant harm. Rou-chan avoids planting it in our territories and instead comes here specifically to sow the seeds.
“Hmm… Well, there are already quite a few deadlands in the south. Temporarily turning unused land into profit might not be a bad idea. Since it’s a luxury item, it would fall under the jurisdiction of high-ranking nobles, and others wouldn’t dare imitate it, reducing the risk of widespread land damage.”
“Land affected by salt damage, perhaps… Didn’t the Orlard family shift away from agriculture?”
“Yes, though marine ventures require hefty initial investments. Being able to raise funds within their own territory is a good long-term strategy.”
“Mm-hmm.”
At our knowing nods, we turn around to find Rou-chan attentively listening while munching on freshly baked bread.
When our eyes meet, he gives us a carefree “Don’t worry about me~” gesture.
“!!”
We had completely forgotten Rou-chan was there, feeling like we were at a secret meeting in a fancy restaurant!
Louis and I exchange slightly awkward glances.
Let’s talk about this later… It wasn’t a topic meant for a child’s ears.
“Rou-chan, these beans are so good! I love the spices!”
“It’s cumin, garlic olive oil, and a little butter! I boiled them briefly, then stir-fried until crispy!”
Louis praises the beans, and I decide to try them too.
They smelled wonderfully spicy, but since they weren’t burnt despite being fried, I assumed they might be undercooked and left them for later.
Turns out they were perfectly boiled inside, soft and fluffy, while the outside was delightfully crispy.
Amazing! The texture was exquisite!
These Dal beans typically harden the more they’re cooked. Boiling makes them fluffy but prone to losing shape, so they’re usually mashed. If you want to keep their form, you fry them until they’re crunchy and brittle, but that often reduces their flavor, relegating them to snacks or appetizers.
Rou-chan’s bean dish strikes the perfect balance—not overly hard like fried beans but with just the right amount of crunch. The fluffy interior retains the full flavor of the beans, making this a proper side dish.
“Rou-chan, don’t you have too much culinary talent? Where did you train?”
Louis casually asks, and Rou-chan tilts his head.
“?? This is my first time in the kitchen!”
“…”
Louis freezes mid-bite, blinking rapidly, and looks at me.
I nod in confirmation.
Whatever it is, Rou-chan seems to have some kind of cheat ability in cooking.
Like a samurai child instinctively knowing the correct way to swing a sword, Rou-chan has an innate, almost supernatural sense for cooking.
Thinking about it this way, his obsession with delicious food starts to make sense.
“Rou-chan, want to go on an ingredient tour next time? Hana Grandpa knows a special place where rare ingredients from across the country are gathered.”
“I’m in!”
“Professor Hana, is that… the Royal Castle’s food storage by any chance?”
“It’s fine! We’re just looking! Just looking won’t deplete anything~”
“Ah, now you’re starting to sound like Rou-chan…”
Well, if Rou-chan wants something, maybe I could ask for a little ingredient favor?
The food storage management isn’t perfect anyway, and there’s always waste from pests or rodents. Adjusting the inventory records slightly wouldn’t hurt, right?
“Ah! What is this?! These sausages are too good!”
I absentmindedly bite into a usual sausage and am shocked by how much better it tastes.
Wasabi Mustard seeds are incredibly delicious!
Rou-chan’s idea of using medicinal herbs as seasoning is pure genius!!
After receiving lots of praise for breakfast, Rou-chan happily uses the leftover bread to make egg sandwiches with whole-grain mustard and delivers them as gifts to the grumpy old neighbors nearby.
The next day, Rolo, the veteran commander of Dorao House’s army, came to announce his retirement from the military to open a restaurant.
Rolo, originally from a commoner background, had dreamed of opening a restaurant since childhood. To secure stable access to ingredients, he joined the national army to rise through the ranks.
As a vassal of the border marquis house, he trained and raised the current Earl Dorao and managed young soldiers’ development in the national army. Like other veterans, he assumed he’d die honorably in battle someday. However, after tasting Rou-chan’s egg sandwich, he remembered his初心 (original dream) and decided to pursue it, albeit late in life.
“I’ll live as a commoner and work as a chef from now on!” He renounced his noble status.
Rolo, who rose from a commoner to a distinguished warrior, was admired by many. To prevent a wave of young soldiers following suit, the national army officially announced his retirement due to old wounds.
Later, Leol , the national army’s overseer, sent an angry protest letter: “If you do anything else that reduces our military strength, I’m suing you!”
My son brought the letter personally, sighed exaggeratedly, and gave me a look as if I were a useless bug for causing unnecessary trouble.
Truly regrettable.
Later, we all went to eat at Rolo’s new restaurant. Somehow, Rou-chan started saying, “The era of slow living is here!”
Rou-chan, you’re not seriously thinking about retirement or living a hermit life at just 8 years old, are you?
It did make me slightly uneasy, but today Rou-chan is happily sowing seeds in the garden again… wait…
“Hold on a second!! Rou-chan, what are you planting?!”
“Weeds w”
“Where did you bring those from?! Seriously, why do you have so many medicinal herb seeds?!”
And so, the saga of Rou-chan’s relentless herb-planting continues at the Great Hana Mansion.