Seafood Platter

That should be the trap set.

Just need to wait for them to get enough ingredients and get out of there. Should be enough to buy them some time.

......

Man, Laios, sometimes you really do think of everything.

Hmm?

......

What's a treasure chest doing here?

Let me guess, this world has mimics too?

......

This one's barely even trying.

It's a beach! There's nothing here but sand! Who does it think it's trying to fool?

Hmm? Footsteps... I bet it's that weird guy.

They will become our brethren. Soon, soon, they will become something greater...

Tch, it's him, alright. I knew he was sending us to our deaths.

I've got an idea.

When the Inquisition comes, they too may have a taste.

A taste of what?

Why... Why haven't you gone inside?

I'm not much of a fighter myself, so I'm waiting outside.

...Is that so?

You mentioned the Inquisition. Who're they?

Our common enemy.

Oh, mind telling me more?

(It seems this Durin has no talent for combat. I suppose there's no harm in chatting with him.)

(With his build, where could he even run off to?)

I do not mind.

We might be seen talking here. How about we go chat by that chest?

Very well.

......

......

Let us begin with how the Inquisition have been fooling the people of Iberia—eh?

(Slams open) (Devours whole) (Clamps shut) (Sways contently)

You might call them your brethren, but you don't know the first thing about these monsters.

When you're in a party like ours, that'll cost you dearly.

*phew* That's all of them handled!

I thought there'd be a lot more.

If they were living alongside the kraken, most probably fled when it died.

The ones who killed it in the first place must have exquisite taste...

Think these monsters are edible, Senshi?

Well, I'm certainly not eating any! They're disgusting!

I think as long as we handle them carefully, we can turn them into healthy, delicious meals!

We're not that far from the city though, or particularly hidden. There's no reason the locals wouldn't know of this place.

If they won't eat any of this stuff, surely that means none of it's edible?

That mysterious priest must have sent us here to die!

Not necessarily.

These are monsters, after all. We didn't see any weapons in town, so maybe they can't hunt here, not that they won't.

Seafood's a good source of protein. If we can make a proper meal out of them, I'm sure it'll be filling.

NonononoNO!

There's nothing wrong with it, the way I see it.

I might not have cooked a kraken before, but I know how to handle fish, shellfish, prawns, and octopus.

Just a reminder that we don't have anything else to eat anyway. Other than whatever washes up on the beach.

I know, okay?!

This one's got a transparent head full of... some sort of sticky liquid? It surrounds the organs and this yellow thing...

Definitely can't eat the organs. Let's have a look at that yellow stuff and the liquid...

Really reminds me of an egg.

I'll try beating it in a bowl later.

Looks like the inside of an egg to me too.

You two do realize we're in the middle of taking care of the monsters, right? Can you save the cooking talk for later?

Don't say that! This is the best way to research monsters in general.

Have you noticed how you've already helped us cook these sea anemone monsters, Marcille?

Oh, you're right.

I think it's a bit burnt after getting hit by explosion magic.

Then there's this strange seagrass. It just withered up in the fire.

It's probably inedible, right? How about we hold off on trying it?

I think you kept the heat just right.

Doesn't seem like there's any more coming out from deeper in. Guessing they're afraid of us.

I think we've gathered enough monster parts for a feast. Let's go.

Huh. Chilchuck, why's there a treasure chest next to you?

And that man out cold over there... Is that the priest?

Yep. Thought he could talk us into walking to our deaths, so I decided I'd use this chest to teach him a lesson.

Wait, he was lying to us? We really did manage to get lots of seafood there, though.

And did you just say 'this guy'?

Yeah. *sigh* I figured this world was going to have mimics, too.

......

(Slams open) (Slapped by Chilchuck) (Unable to reach anything) (Shakes angrily)

Seems you've got it under control.

Well, it's pretty crappy at hiding itself.

Anyway, I assume you're going to want to see what this world's mimics taste like, so here, take it.

Wow, really?! You're the best!

(Whispers) Does this count as playing nice with him?

(Whispers) Probably.

(Whispers) You're a good egg, lad.

(Whispers) Shut up!

C'mon, let's go start a fire on the beach!

Let's start by opening up this one that looks like a sea anemone.

I was thinking earlier... It should be here... Yep, there it is! Its head is on the bottom.

Eh? That flower organ on the top isn't its head?

Let's cut it open and get a better look. The head's structured a lot like a starfish...

Peel back its skin a bit...

Oho, it really is all yellow inside! Every 'petal' seems to be the same. I think this is its reproductive organ.

Now I really don't feel like eating it.

......

I know, I know, I'm not gonna eat another sea creature raw.

Like I said, you need to handle that stuff carefully or you're definitely getting a stomachache!

But properly-made normal ceviche and sashimi are delicious. Remember that for next time!

Then, how do you properly prepare 'normal' raw food?

Hah! Told you not to say anything!

Well? Go on.

......

......

Add mustard, lemon slices, onion, coriander, and minced garlic to soy sauce. If you have fish sauce, add a dash if you'd like, then in goes the raw seafood. Mix well and leave to marinate.

Something along those lines.

Sounds great!

...But we don't have any soy sauce or mustard.

We do have this. I noticed half a box of... 'Emergency Sanity Potions' tucked away in a corner of the cave.

Says here: 'Contains mustard extract.' Might be some sort of seasoning.

...'Manufactured by Rhodes Island'?

A product of the place we're looking for. If this is here, we might be closer than we thought.

Might as well use it to give the meat some flavor.

Just need to cut these up into the right size, put them in a container, add in some 'Emergency Sanity Potion,' onion and minced garlic, then finally add the raw meat and mix it all together...

Here, try some.

Delicious!

As for everything else...

Let me see.

A big pile of roast seagrass.

About a dozen of those egg monsters.

Another dozen of the sea anemone ones.

And one mimic.

Yep, this should be plenty.

And there you have it.

It looks like a lot, but there's still plenty left over. Should be enough to feed the city folk.

It all smells amazing.

Hmm... Even though it's a monster meat feast, it actually looks pretty good once it's all cooked.

Do you really plan to share all this with the people in town? Seems to me like you guys are itching to dig in.

But they don't even understand us when we speak...

I've got a plan.

We start eating here, by the coast, which will attract those wandering the beach.

It's clear they still possess some sort of reason. We let them eat their fill, then they can share the rest with their friends.

So, just an excuse after all.

Hmm... The locals might not be too familiar with this style of cooking. I do think we should demonstrate that it's edible first.

You heard him. Eat up, everyone.

I want more seaweed alcohol!

Oh, you're such a glutton.

Because it's delicious!

Well, I'm glad you like it.

I hope the singer will like it too, the next time she stops by.

What's wrong?

The outsiders are at the beach.

Huh? The beach?

What are they doing there?

Cooking.

Cooking?

With monsters from the sea.

What?! I need to go stop them, quick!

Too late.

This ceviche is really sharp.

Texture's good though. Haven't had anything like it before.

This world's mimics turned out to be pretty tasty too.

Kin... We many... What's that smell? It's good...

Oh. That lying priest's woken up.

So very good... Wait, what are you doing?! You... What the hell is that you're cooking?!

Oh, hey there, Mister Priest. That cave you told us about really was full of seafood!

The townspeople don't need to go hungry any longer!

Want to try some?

You... You... This is blasphemy! Blasphemy of the highest order!

M-My brethren, I will not allow—

......

Oh dear. Looks like he's passed out again.

Maybe he's hungry?

I've got it! We can gather up some of that strange seagrass and use the tingle to wake him up!

I already told you, he tried to get us killed! Why do you care about him so much?

No matter how you cut it, Chilchuck, we're only having this feast thanks to him.

We ought to show our gratitude somehow.

I really don't get you.

Alright, come help me gather some seagrass while the bonfire's still lit!

Hey, you're just doing this because you're still hungry!

Augh, the water's so cold...

Wow! There's creatures here nibbling at my toes!

Huh? Th-Then doesn't that mean the stuff we just ate was...

That's just how things are in most places, Marcille.

I think I hear people yelling behind us.

Really?

Oh wow, there's some glowing round thing over there! I'm gonna go have a look!

Ahh! Ahhhhh!!

They—! Th-th-th-they—!

AHHHHHHHH!