Chapter 79: The Art of Grilling
Grilling—this most primitive, primal cooking method—has existed since humans first discovered fire and realized that cooked mammoth tasted better than raw. Grilling can be said to have traversed countless historical rivers, evolving from campfires to refined charcoal, finally appearing on people's tables in its current complete form.
Heat, the freshness of ingredients, the Maillard reaction, and the precise amount of rendering fat are all basics of grilling. They are also the art of completing a grilled dish. And among them, what best embodies all of this is the sizzling grilled meat on the hot plate in front of the two girls.
As long as you eat meat, as long as you're hungry, no matter when or under what circumstances... when you see a piece of well-marinated beef, glistening with oil after enjoying a chef's full-body massage, its texture becoming even softer, fully flavored... placed on a searing grilling plate, and when it makes that divine "sizzle" sound...
Ssssssssss...
Everything else becomes unimportant. Politics, magic, police chases—everything dissolves with that sound. This is the charm of meat, the charm of Yakiniku, an existence that has drifted down the endless river of history. This is a legacy that even evolution cannot erase; this is edible art.
Mirajane Strauss is a cooking enthusiast back in Fairy Tail. Although she hadn't seen this specific tabletop Japanese-style grill before, her skills as a barmaid and cook were sufficient for her to quickly master the rhythm. The tongs in her hand moved with grace, occasionally flipping the meat at the exact moment of caramelization.
To be honest, Mirajane herself didn't know exactly what cut of meat this was—Ren hadn't specified beyond "high quality." But it's precisely this mystery that makes it interesting; not knowing what cut of meat it is, then grilling it and putting it in your mouth... that unexpected texture and explosion of flavor is the best surprise.
Jinx watched the skilled Mirajane and swallowed hard. To be honest, no matter how full you are (and she had just eaten a massive bowl of spicy stir-fry), when you see barbecue and smell grilled meat, it's not something you can easily resist. The stomach has a separate compartment for Yakiniku.
Jinx watched a piece of marbled beef loin slowly emit its aroma, the fat rendering into liquid gold. She felt a bit hungry again. Or maybe it was just greed.
Mirajane smiled, her blue eyes gentle. "Hmm it should be ready like this. The sear is perfect. Jinx, you try it. Open up"
Jinx didn't refuse. She held out her plate like a beggar receiving gold.
Mirajane placed the steaming piece of meat on Jinx's plate.
Looking at the fragrant beef, Jinx didn't wait. She directly picked up her fork, speared the piece, and without any dipping sauce—wanting the pure flavor—put it into her mouth.
"Hoo hoo... Pff… Ha! So hot~!"
Despite being very hot, Jinx still didn't spit it out. She panted, letting cool air into her mouth, but chewed it carefully.
Burst.
The juice exploded.
Mirajane laughed softly. "No need to eat so fast, there's still plenty~. We have a whole cow's worth here."
Jinx nodded while chewing, her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.
Mirajane put down a new piece of meat on the grill. "How is it? Is it overcooked?"
"No," Jinx swallowed. "I think it's pretty good. It's... juicy. Better than rat-on-a-stick."
"Eh~ Jinx, come help me grill some vegetables," Mirajane suggested, pointing to the platter of raw veggies. "I always feel a bit flustered grilling by myself. I need a sous-chef."
When Jinx heard Mirajane ask her for help, a hint of surprise flashed in her purple eyes. After all, it was the first time someone had asked her for constructive help, not destructive help. Usually, people asked her to stop doing things.
Jinx felt a bit strange, a warm feeling in her chest. Then, she tentatively used her own tongs to pick up a slice of raw potato and placed it on the grill.
"Sizzle…"
This time, it wasn't the violent sizzling sound of rendering fat, but the softer, hissing sound of water clinging to the vegetables and the vegetables' own moisture evaporating.
Tiny water droplets, slowly roasted by the heat, jumped on the grill like they were alive before finally vanishing into steam.
Jinx looked at the grilled potato slice in front of her with intense concentration. "Mirajane, how much should this be grilled? Until it explodes?"
Mirajane chuckled. "No explosions. Roughly until the edges are slightly charred and golden brown~. About two minutes on each side."
"Mm! Two minutes. Counting."
This was the first time Jinx had done something proper and domestic, and she became exceptionally focused. She stared at the potato slice as if staring down the sights of her rocket launcher at Caitlyn's tall hat.
Mirajane just smiled and said nothing when she saw it. The chaotic girl looked surprisingly peaceful when focused on a potato.
The little shop was quiet, with only the BBQ meat and vegetables making sounds like a tennis match—sizzle, pop, sizzle—besides that, only the soft sound of Ren turning pages in the background.
This was not Ren's time; this was Mirajane and Jinx's time. A moment of unlikely friendship forging over fire.
Ren just sat quietly to the side, guarding their peace.
Jinx stared intently at the potato in front of her. Finally, she saw the edges curl and change color to a crispy brown. She picked up the tongs and flipped it over with a quick wrist movement.
Flip.
Perfect golden brown.
Looking at the successfully grilled potato slice, Jinx breathed a sigh of relief.
Mirajane clapped her hands lightly. "Hmm! Very successful! Perfect timing. This side only needs to be grilled for a little while longer."
Jinx nodded, feeling a strange swell of pride.
When Jinx placed the potato she had grilled herself onto her plate a few tens of seconds later, the sense of accomplishment made her incredibly proud. It tasted better than any potato she had stolen.
When she lowered her head, she saw several pieces of perfectly grilled meat added to her plate by Mirajane.
Mirajane smiled radiantly. "Mm! Very successful! Jinx, you're very clever. You have a knack for fire control."
Jinx could cook—survival in Zaun demanded it—but she was the type who just needed food to be edible and hot; she wouldn't consider texture or timing.
Today, when she carefully grilled a potato slice for the first time with intent, she truly felt a sense of success.
Afterward, Jinx proactively grilled the pumpkin, onions, and peppers, becoming more and more skilled.
The two of them worked together, eating with a certain tacit agreement. Mirajane handled the meat, Jinx handled the veggies.
In her free time between batches, Mirajane also grilled the Beef Tongue (Gyutan). Because it required a relatively precise grilling time—too long and it becomes rubber, too short and it's chewy—Mirajane asked Jinx to try it too.
The difference between beef tongue and other meats is that it is a very resilient, yet soft cut of meat.
Mirajane squeezed a wedge of lemon over the grilling meat.
Ssss!
The beef tongue, which doesn't need to be grilled for long to be cooked, sipped up the sprinkled lemon juice with the help of the high temperature. Occasionally, a few drops of lemon juice fell onto the coals below, creating a fragrant steam.
Under the high heat, the beef tongue slowly changed from a pale pink to a terracotta color, with the edges curling slightly like a flower petal. This is the beef tongue showcasing its unique tenderness.
"Ready," Mirajane announced, placing a slice on Jinx's plate.
Jinx picked up the beef tongue, dipped it lightly in the lemon-salt sauce, and took a bite.
Crunch-chew.
Tender. There was only one word: tender. But with a satisfying, springy resistance.
This uniquely tender and smooth texture even overshadowed the impact brought by the flavor of the sauce itself.
Jinx's little feet couldn't help but swing under the table.
With the aid of lemon juice, the beef tongue fully displayed the deep, iron-rich flavor of the meat it should have. At the same time, the acidity of the lemon cut through the fat, making the already tender beef tongue feel lighter and cleaner.
In front of any grilled meat, the sauce is merely a supporting role; the true protagonist is always the meat. After all, this dish is called Grilled Meat, not Grilled Sauce.
The two beauties ate the grilled meat, occasionally letting out a grunt of enjoyment or a giggle.
Mirajane herself hadn't expected that grilled meat, which she usually ate often at the Guild hall brawls, could be so refined and delicious here.
Time was tranquil.
Against the backdrop of the eternal night outside the dimensional door, inside the quiet little house, they listened to the symphony of the grease dripping on the grill. They enjoyed the primal satisfaction brought by the meat, and in leisure moments, took a sip of refreshing, cold beer.
Oh, right. There was also the extra crispness when eating the meat wrapped in Perilla (Shiso) leaves, as suggested by Ren earlier. The minty, herbal kick of the shiso refreshed the palate instantly, preparing them for the next round.
The charm of grilled meat was fully reflected in the sizzling sounds, the rising smoke, and the clinking of glasses between a Demon and a Loose Cannon.
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