291 11-4 Schwardberts Empire Empire Lubek

We made it safely through the barrier and came to the Imperial City with great excitement!

But!　Not much has changed from the Kingdom Lands!

That's a drastic change for a neighboring country!　I think they are slightly different, but from my point of view, both of them are like the same foreign country and I didn't see any big changes.

The only thing I would say is that there were many wheat fields in the town on the way to the imperial capital.

According to Lady Sicily, the Empire is a major wheat producer, and they are putting a lot of effort into wheat-based cooking and, of course, lager.

In addition, people who work in agriculture and food production are eligible for tax breaks, which makes life a little easier for them, and it seems that even in this competitive empire, food shortages are unlikely to occur again.

This was decided by Sicilian-sama's younger brother, after all.

Not everyone who lives in the Empire dreams of moving up the ladder, and of course there are people like me who don't want to live a quiet, competitive life, wearing out their clothes in a variety of ways.

I guess those people are the ones who run the farming industry and enjoy peaceful happiness every day while having the money to enjoy their lives.

On a side note, I heard that cacao is grown in the south of the country.

'But I'm looking forward to the lager more when we have this much wheat.

Hmm. Wheat fields also have different characteristics in different regions. There's even more varieties of lager than that, so there's bound to be something to satisfy you.

Oh I'd like to compare drinks.

I was going to talk to myself, but I was asked, and since I'll be talking to Sicilia-sama, I'll change my words to something polite.

In addition, since I'm not in butler mode, I won't be that arrogant, and I won't call you Sicilia-sama either.

That's just the way it is.

I'm sure they have a few different kinds of lagers in my favorite store. If you like lager, I'll have a snack to go with it. I'll show you where to find them, of course, and you can look forward to it.

So this is Sicilia-sama's favorite restaurant.....

I'm sure their nibbles must be pretty good too.

But I'm confident in the snacks that go with lager, too.

From deep fried foods to mixed fries like mince cutlets and fried prawns, beef skewers from a beef skewer shop, and okonomiyaki that everyone at the orphanage has set up shop for....

I could make gyoza if I wanted to.

It would be fun to make them together, or even some oddball gyoza!

Aah!　The juices and gravy overflowing into the cold, chilled beer and the crispy, sticky dough crispy and sizzling in the heat!　　And I wish I could do it!

Of course, we can't forget the beef tongue.

I promised Yashis that I would look for a lager to go with the tongue, and I would buy a barrel of it as a souvenir to take home and have a drink with him.

Hmmm. Your eyes are shining for children.

I used to drink a lot in the original world. Like this........drifters have a keen eye for nostalgic food.

There were days when I drank a cold can of beer as it was, and other days when I drank it in a chilled glass.

I don't drink it every day, but I always have it in the fridge, and it is a drink that has become a part of my life to the extent that the first drink of beer in a pub is always beer.

"Hey mister. Is lager that good?

Hmm?　Ummm.....

'What?　Does it bother you?　Doesn't it taste good?

No, it's good, right?　Good is good, but....

'Well I guess I'll just have to pick and choose my people, or maybe I'll just like the ones I like and hate the ones I don't.

Well, a lot of the alcohol in the kingdom was fruit wine and other sweet drinks.

I'm sure the only ones I've had Mizella too are the ones that are fruit wine divided with fruit water and then further adjusted in thickness with water, and there are some fruity ones in beer, but if anything, I get the impression that's more of an ale.

Of course, it's possible that they call it a lager, including ales, but basically it's more of a taste, or a thirsty one... more bitter than sweet, and it's a taste I don't know how to describe... ....

'Is that so...?　Ummm.....

What's going on?　It's not like I have to force you to drink lager, you know?　I'm sure there are other drinks out there, and I've made and brought plenty of ginjars for Mizella to enjoy.

Ginger, honey, and spices like cinnamon, diluted in water, is Misela's favorite drink these days.

Each family seems to have a different idea of what to put in the spices and how much to put in, so our ginjal, which is Mizella's favorite flavor, has become a family affair.

It's delicious hot or iced, and it warms you up and relaxes you when you have a cold.

You may not be able to make your own at the store, but I'm sure there's something similar.

........And you don't seem to be aware of it, but Mizzella, who has low stamina, seems to be a bit tired from the long journey.

''I'm very glad to hear that, but ... your husband likes lager, doesn't he?

'It's well.... I don't know if the lager over here is the same as the one I usually drink, but I think you'll like it.

'Well then, since you're here, I'd like to like lager too. If I like what he likes, I'll like what he likes too, then we can drink together back at Ains Hale, right?

Mizera....

Oh, my God, that's healthy!

What a lovely thing to say.

It's not that I don't like lager, I just want to be able to drink it with you....

But there's something very pleasing about wanting to like something I like.

'There seems to be a variety, and I hope you have a favorite one to compare drinks with. Then we'll have a drink together when we get back!

I hope there's a flavor that you'll like the mizella too....

But it looks like there's quite a variety, and it might be easier to drink if you combine it with ginger in a chandigaf style.

'Yes yes yes yes yes!　Lord!　I've had lager before!

'I have one too!　That's it!　It's like an adult flavor!

'Yes!　That's right. That bitterness is what makes me feel like an adult...

Oh, you two have had it before, haven't you?

And it looks like you liked this feeling a lot.

''........both Sorte and Renge looked reluctant when they first drank it......'' I can't help but understand your desire to be inspired by the healthy Mizera and match your lord's taste, but lying isn't a good idea.

Uh, I'm not lying, okay?　You weren't an adult then, but you're a lot more mature now. I'm sure you'll love it!

Yeah, that's right!　

Yeah. I like it, you know?　But only if it's chilled.... It's not so much the taste of a cold chilled lager as the refreshing feeling you get after drinking it.

'Huh ... there's a chilled one too. I usually drink the chilled ones too, so I'd prefer that one.

'Yes, that's right. I tried to ride on Mizella's naturalness, but frankly, I prefer sweet drinks!

Me neither. I don't like bitter drinks.... But I very much understand your desire to like the same things as the Lord of Mizera!

No ... well ... well ...

.........no, that's why he didn't have to force himself to drink it.......

And, for some reason, Mizzella was embarrassed when she was called a natural and her face turned red when she was told that she was a natural.

''Hm. Aren't you going to go Wendy?

'Well..... I think you can enjoy the drink. But I'm troubled by the fact that I can't drink too much.... I don't want to show my master that I'm too drunk....

Hmmm... do you usually have it under control?

'Yes. I know how much I'm allowed to drink. I do drink a little too much at celebrations and such, but I do try to be able to take care of my master when he's drunk.

....always really helpful.

Someday I'd like to see Wendy drunk and drunk as much as I can because I'll take care of her.

My guess is that she'll be spoiled to the hilt.

'Hmm..... White probably won't let me drink........

Well that's...well.

You get the message that I'm not being mean or anything, I'm just thinking about White, but again, I can't allow it.

'Well White's not ready. We'll have a drink together when he's older.

Hmm. I think you'll enjoy the taste of everything.

But I've heard it's bitter, you know?

Hmmm ... when you're older, bitterness will be okay ... I guess.

'Mmm-hmm. Would you like to try some bitter vegetables at practice now?

I'm not ready.

Other than burnt meat, it's hard to find any bitter meat, so if I had to practice, it would be vegetables, but White doesn't like vegetables very much....

Lately, he's been getting better at eating vegetables to grow up, but he's still not a fan of vegetables that he knows are bitter from the start.

But a lot of people have learned to eat peppers since they grew up, so maybe White will like lagers when he grows up.

'Well, there's no need to be cautious, but just be prepared. It may be a hassle, but I want to report your return and show you the faces of the people I'm going to be taking care of from now on.

The carriage stops and while Seren-san waits for us to open the door and come out, Lady Sicilia nails us and checks each of our buttons, sleeves and innerwear for protruding buttons, sleeves and innerwear.

After all, we are about to meet the current emperor of the Schwaldberg Empire.

The same is true for Lady Sicilia, but as a former businessman, you're always nervous to meet the right authority, or ruler, or someone of importance.

Are you ready?　Yeah, there's no need to be nervous. And don't worry about your rough edges. ....rather, feel free to gouge your brother if he messes up.

"Huh? Hmm?

Sicilia-sama looks at Wendy and Aina and gives them an expression that says that a bad feeling is about to hit them, but they immediately laugh to themselves.

''Well what is it I'll go ahead and say it. I'm sorry. I don't mean to offend you, but I may be a bit like you.

The resemblance to me?

Your brother, the Emperor?

Me, the average person?

Mm. Yes, but please don't kill him if you can. He's my brother, after all. But as long as you do it with a bang, you have my permission. If you want to beat him to a pulp, I don't mind, as long as he's capable of doing government work.

Hm. If it hurts the Lord, I'll punch it. I'll beat the shit out of him.

Hmm. It's not a problem if it's White. Just make sure it's enough to heal with a large recovery potion.

"Hm.

Huh?　Huh?　

Gasp?　A bump in the road?　You remember the emperor?