Anime Episode 04

"The Forefinger Twitches" is the 4th episode of the "Genjitsu Shugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki" Anime adaptation.

''After Souma realizes the true gravity of Tomoe's ability, he ensures that it remains a secret, and that she is kept safe. Juna and Poncho host a program that shows how to prepare readily-available but unconventional ingredients during the food shortage.''

Summary
Souma explains that from the world he is, monsters are neither people nor animals, and are a separate type of creatures. But in this world, those creatures fall into both categories of people and animal. Humans, elves, beastmen and dragonewts fall into "mankind" category. Giant lizard, giant ants, man eating plans are still considered animals and plants. Dragons are treated differently as Godbeasts. The reason those creatures are considered animals is because they are incorporated in the ecosystem. Monsters are considered creatures that look like different creatures fused together. Among them are some that are relatively humanlike in form, but their intelligence is no different than a common beast.

Tomoe whispers something into Souma's ear which shakes him up. As he confirms no one else outside Tomoe's mother knows it, he tries to act normally. Souma returns to his throne, stating that he heard her request and will consider fulfilling it. He tells Marx that Tomoe's talent is a rare one and he wants to discuss later with him on how he can use it. Souma then thanks the new recruits and hopes they lend them their aid to revive the kingdom.

Souma then gathers, Tomoe, Liscia, Marx and Ludwin. He wonders if anyone else heard what Tomoe told him, but as they confirm they couldn't hear, Souma feels a bit relaxed that it probably wasn't broadcasted to everyone in the country. Liscia wonders if what she told him is that serious. Souma explains that Tomoe told him that she talked with a demon.

It was believed that monsters have the intelligence of an animal. However, among the Demon Lord Domain's monsters there are some that work in groups, could use weapons and magic and behave almost like people. The humans started calling these unique monsters "demons", however, there is a difference between them and other races and breeds that are considered people. The demons speak a language that cannot be understood.

Marx and the rest can't believe Tomoe spoke with a demon as no one can understand them. Tomoe reveals she spoke to a short demon with a dog face. She met him in the mountain while gathering vegetables and instantly yelled for help. The demon then was surprised she could understand him. Tomoe believes he was a scout and told her that he can't watch someone with same scent as him get killed and that she must run. Souma guesses that only a handful of demons would let mystic wolves escape, but if they can talk with them, that can alter their situation greatly. Liscia wonders if he plans on negotiating with them to get their lands back. Souma states that mankind is currently united and is fighting the demons, but if people learn they can communicate with the demons, there would be some that will attempt to forge an alliance with them. Souma guesses that there are some conflicts between kingdoms and Ludwin confirms that Amidonia and Elfrieden were in a conflict before. Souma and the rest agree that they must keep this a secret and Souma wishes to safeguard Tomoe as she is more important than him and could turn the tide of relations between mankind and demons. Marx wonders if that won't bring more attention to her as she is a peasant. He then suggests they welcome her as royalty and that Souma could adopt her, but since he isn't married, that would not be possible. Marx afterwards proposes Souma to take her as secondary consort, but as she is too young, Souma is hesitant. Souma suggests that the previous king adopt her and Marx and Liscia welcome that idea. Tomoe states that she already has a family and her mother and little brother are waiting for her at the refugee camp. Souma assures that if she is adopted, her family will become his family and they will be able to live in the castle as well. Tomoe agrees and Souma tells Marx to wait a bit before announcing it as it may draw suspicion. Until then, Souma wonders what position they could give her to keep her at the castle. Marx then suggests putting her in charge of the horses that draw Souma's carriage and Souma agrees.

Wanting to relax a bit, Souma goes to Liscia's room. He wonders how Tomoe is doing and Liscia explains that her mother took a liking to her and now spends a lot of time with Tomoe. Souma receives news of Poncho's return and takes Liscia to meet him. Poncho comments that he managed to get all the food he was after. Liscia recognizes his sack as the hero's sack and Souma confirms as it can hold more than it seems and things in it are less prone to spoil, so it was perfect to gather food.

Using the broadcast system, Juna and Poncho announces "The King's Brilliant Lunch". Souma then appears and first apologizes for the country's food shortage, but informs the people that they are moving with a plan to increase food production. Souma explains that the broadcast is designed to help until the food shortage is resolved by introducing foods that the people in this nation are unaccustomed to eat and methods on how to prepare them. To demonstrate the foods can be eaten, he has Liscia, Aisha and Tomoe taste them. Poncho shows the first dish - an octopus, which Liscia and the rest find disgusting to eat. Souma then prepares and cooks the octopus. As Liscia and the rest taste it, they find it delicious and can't stop eating it. Poncho shows the next dish, burdock roots. Tomoe wonders if they can eat them, but Aisha states that as she lives in the forest, she had eaten them before. Souma then prepares a salty and a sweet version, which both end up being enjoyed by the group. Poncho then reveals the third dish, stating it's something he cooked beforehand. Liscia and Aisha are shocked to see locusts, but Tomoe quickly eats one, stating the bean-boiled locusts remind her of her home. Souma is surprised they were bean-boiled and Poncho explains the process of how he seasoned them. Souma realizes that the fermented bean product is miso and the mashwater is soy sauce. Souma then takes a bite and cries of joy as it reminds him of his homeland and that this world has the flavors he loves. They proceed with the next dish and upon seeing it, everyone is shocked.

Characters in Order of Appearance
Characters in italics debuted here.


 * Kazuya Souma
 * Tomoe Inui
 * Marx
 * Liscia Elfrieden
 * Ludwin Arcs
 * Serina
 * Poncho Panacotta
 * Juna Doma
 * Aisha Udgard
 * Robthor Udgard
 * Wodan Udgard

Changes

 * In the Anime, Tomoe meets the Demon Kobold when she went to the Mountain to collect food, while that Demon was their out Scouting, and was surprised to find that Tomoe could understand him.
 * In the Light Novel & Manga, Tomoe instead meets and talks to the Demon Kobold (who is a Solider), while they were attacking her settlement.
 * In the Light Novel & Manga, Souma & Liscia did a meeting with the Five selected people, after they had assumed their positions. Where as the Anime only showcased them doing a meeting with Poncho.
 * Compared to the Anime, the order of Food tasted is different in the Light Novel & Manga.
 * In the Anime, they tasted in the order of "Octopus", "Burdock Roots" & "Locust", with "Gelin" being covered in next episode.
 * In the Manga, the order was "Octopus", "Gelin" & "Locust" ("Burdock Roots" wasn't showcased).
 * In the Light Novel, the order was "Octopus", "Burdock Roots", "Gelin" and finally "Locust". Some extra ingredients like "Red Bear's Paw", "Sword Tiger's Liver", "Salamandra" were also showcased.

Trivia

 * This Episodes adapts Light Novel Volume 1 rest of "Chapter 2" & part of "Chapter 3".
 * The title is adapted from Chinese Spring and Autumn period history The Commentary of Zuo Chapter of Duke Xuan of Lu, 4th year (605 BC). In this chapter there was a person that his index finger twitched when there was some delicious food present, and "index finger twitching" got the meaning "delicious food that gets an appetite" in Chinese since then.
 * Souma does an impression of the viral "sprinkling salt" performance by Salt Bae.