Rising from the Slum City of Reincarnation in Another World ~ Gathering, Hunting, and Living a Slow Life by Eating

Chapter 109 Crayfish party

Not too long ago, we disassembled a bear near the fountain, right next to the waterway. While Trieste City had numerous wells, here in Eldania, they rely more on waterways, and it seems they primarily use them. The flowing water is so clear and pristine that they even use it for drinking purposes.

Even now, aside from the waterway connected to the fountain, there are several other water channels running through the area. Though the structures above might have all deteriorated, they make sure to maintain and repair the waterways to prevent any overflow issues. The stonework was originally quite robust, making the maintenance less laborious.

Downstream, you can see cows grazing by the waterway, drinking from it as well.

In this waterway, you’ll find small fish, shrimp, and even crayfish. Of course, there are water plants too. It’s either due to not being heavily managed or left as is to maintain a natural environment.

And today’s target – crayfish.

In this world, the crayfish are also red and about twenty centimeters in size. Their form resembles that of the American crayfish.

And in Japan, there’s an image of crayfish living in polluted water, so they are often considered undesirable for consumption due to their muddy taste. However, I’ve heard that in the United States and Canada, they have a tradition called “Crayfish Party,” where people gather and catch a large quantity of crayfish to eat.

“I’ve got an idea! Let’s have a Crayfish Party!”

“Yay, a party!”

Minya also seems excited, hopping around in high spirits. Expectations are at their peak.

I’ve caught shrimp before, but the crayfish definitely seem bigger. Whether they’re deep-fried or grilled, they taste completely different, so it’s not a matter of which is better, but crayfish looks delicious too.

I think there was a bug-catching net that we used to catch grasshoppers before. To be honest, it’s a net suitable for both land and water, commonly known as a “dip net.”

We use it to swiftly scoop up crayfish from the flowing water in the waterway.

“Look, there’s a red one!”

“Yeah, that’s a crayfish.”

“Meow meow meow, it hurts!”

The mischievous fairy, Ciel, tries to pick up the crayfish from the dip net but ends up getting pinched.

“Put it back once, and it’ll let go.”

“Yeah, meow.”

Once it’s back in the dip net, the crayfish naturally releases its claws.

I hold it by pinching its abdomen with my fingers.

“This is how you hold the body. You should just be able to reach the back part.”

“I see, meow.”

One by one, we use the dip net to catch crayfish. After catching them, we place the crayfish into the item box to prevent them from escaping.

With their conspicuous red bodies scattered around, it’s easy to catch them in a snap. They might try to flee towards the back, but the stone walls are sturdy, and the holes aren’t too deep, so we can catch them easily.

“Caught another one, meow.”

“Great job!”

Ciel is delighted. It’s time for a player substitution, and now it’s Lania’s turn.

“Hehe, I caught one.”

“Wow, well done!”

Lania also beams with pride.

“Meow, got one!”

“As expected of Minya.”

Minya enthusiastically wades into the water, skillfully herding the crayfish and catching them with her bare hands.

Truly impressive, Minya.

We caught a lot of crayfish like this. To ensure we didn’t wipe them all out, we held back a bit. The waterway is quite extensive, so there are still plenty left.

Let’s head back to the Lord’s mansion hotel and start cooking.

We toss the crayfish into a large pot and boil them. Though I felt a little sorry for them, that feeling disappeared once I saw them come out bright red, looking like giant spiny lobsters or crawfish.

After boiling them, we take them out and start the tedious process of peeling the crayfish, using both knives and hands to remove the legs and shells. Normally, at a crayfish party, people would grill them and peel them individually, but today, we had a little mishap.

Everyone divides the work and peels all the crayfish.

Next, we move the crayfish meat to a frying pan. We sauté it with salt, pepper, olive oil, and garlic. Then we add the remaining bear meat from earlier.

“Ta-da! Crayfish and bear meat Aglio e Olio.”

“Aglio e Olio?”

“Yeah, it’s related to spaghetti aglio e olio.”

“I love spaghetti aglio e olio!”

Minya seems to remember it well, with a big smile on her face. The delightful aroma of seafood sweetness, garlic, and other flavors fills the air, making it look incredibly delicious.

Then, the aroma of the meat follows up, making it irresistible.

“Bon appétit!”

Everyone starts tasting the crayfish.

The succulent red and white crayfish meat looks just like large, juicy prawns. It’s incredibly appetizing.

And the bite-sized pieces of bear meat are undoubtedly satisfying.

“Mmm, it’s delicious!”

“Yeah, it’s incredibly tasty. The sweetness is perfect.”

“So delicious, meow, so delicious, meow.”

The blend of garlic and chili spices adds just the right touch, making it amazingly flavorful.

This is a hit—a grand slam! I could eat this over and over again.

Everyone looks delighted.

We also share some with the others at the hotel.

They all seem delighted and appreciative.

The effort put into meticulously peeling the shells was definitely worth it.

I toss the shell and other waste into the item box. Later, I’ll use them as compost along with eggshells.

Wait, are crayfish shells rich in calcium or chitin? Ah, never mind, they’ll probably work well as compost.

I can use them as fertilizer for the fields or mix them into Egg Bird’s feed.

We caught quite a number of crayfish, so there were many people at the hotel, but we had enough for everyone to enjoy one each. While it’s usually a complimentary service, we decided to set up a tip jar, and surprisingly, many adults happily contributed with silver coins and such. We made quite a profit.

And so, the Crayfish Party ended on a high note.