CH 26

“Is this, ‘that’?”

“That’s right. The Loyd family’s secret drink.”

There are two transparent bottles on the table, with no labels. Strictly speaking, this is not a commercial product, so there really isn’t any need to show what it is.

At a glance they just look like bottles filled with water, but they’re actually a rare alcoholic drink that’s the hardest to get a hold of in the capital.

“Still… You really managed to trade this for salt.”

Loretto salt to be exact. A famous product in Zenith.

I know very well how good it is, but that wouldn’t matter if he didn’t accept it. Now that I think about it, it’s actually a real wonder that the head of a family that represents the whole city tasted some unknown salt someone gave him in a small bottle.

“But what is that salt anyway, Weiss?”

Asks Sieglinde, sounding curious.

“Did anything happen?”

“Well… My father started drinking like he was possessed the moment he tasted that salt. He drank, licked more salt, drank some more, licked more… It was a surreal sight. He kept drinking until he couldn’t anymore.”

“…Well, that’s how it goes.”

That wasn’t a rare sight in Loretto’s place. Everyone reacted that way the first time.

The finely chopped medicinal herbs negate the odd flavor of booze, and make it so people feel like they can go on drinking forever. I’ve ended up waking up in that bar too.

“Didn’t you try it?”

“I was curious… But then I saw how it affected my father and got scared.”

“It’s just tasty salt. Wait, do you drink alcohol at all?”

“In moderation. I’m busy with work, so to be honest, I don’t have a lot of time for that sort of thing.”

“I see. Then how about drinking here in my place when you have the time? You can try the salt then.”

I still have more salt. I can’t tell Sieglinde about Zenith, but it might be a good opportunity to reminisce about my second hometown.

“…All right. I’m curious to hear what you’ve been doing these past ten years, and where. It might not be a bad idea to share a drink.”

Sieglinde says as she gets up.

“Anyway, I only got those two bottles. If you want more, bring more salt. I’m sure my father is going to start asking for more eventually.”

“All right. It’s not something I can get easily, but I’ll try to get more. Thanks, Sieglinde.”

I say to Sieglinde before she leaves.

…She’s here pretty often for someone who says she’s busy with work. Is she that interested in high elves?

◆

“Romero. Hey, wake up. I brought a rare drink for you.”

“…Ah…? Drink…?”

“That’s right. Now make me a staff for Ririi.”

After getting that alcohol from Sieglinde, I went straight to Romero.

When I told Ririi I was going to that beardy old man’s place again, she actually said she was fine staying home, so this time I’m here by myself.

It’s better this way, considering how unsafe this area is, even though it’s very unlikely anything would happen to her as long as she was with me.

Romero sluggishly gets up from a dirty, dust covered bed. I’m sure he’s never cleaned it. Maybe he thinks there’s no point because trash and sand gets in from the open gaps in the walls here and there. If that’s what he thinks, well, he might have a point.

“…You… You’re the one who brought a kid the other day. That guy that knows Esmeralda.”

“That’s right. I have a letter of introduction too.”

I slip the message Miss Esmeralda gave me on top of the bed, and Romero’s moist but sharp eyes land on the part that says ‘help this guy’.

“…Hmph, who cares ’bout that? Did ya really bring me rare booze?”

“Here.”

I hand Romero a bottle.

“This is something a rich guy from the capital makes for his own enjoyment. It’s not for sale in the market, and he almost never gives it to anyone. I managed to get my hands on it through a connection.”

“Hou…”

Romero’s eyes are firmly on the bottle. He didn’t care at all about the message, but that got his attention.

“I can let you have it if you accept my request.”

I really need to get him to accept, even if I have to bow for it… But if I start negotiations in a disadvantageous position, I lose. Especially when the other person is already showing interest in my trump card.

Back in Zenith, there was nothing more fundamental than the idea of not showing weakness.

“…”

Romero gulps.

“…The booze first. It might be just water. I need to test the taste. If it’s good, I’ll accept what you want.”

“Fine. Do you have a glass?”

“Do I look like I do? I’ll drink it straight from the bottle.”

“Tch… I don’t want you touching this with your mouth before you accept. Put out your hands and I’ll pour it on them.”

“Fine.”

I thought he’d complain, but he actually puts his hands together without any issues. I guess he doesn’t care about my attitude when he has a rare drink in front of him.

I open the bottle and pour it slowly into his hands. As the transparent liquid comes out, a peculiar smell envelops the room. It’s like hard smelling medicinal herbs, or sweet fruits.

I stop pouring, and Romero shoves his face into it like a wild monster pouncing on its prey.

“Slurp slurp… T-this…!”

He drank it all in an instant, and now he’s looking at me with bloodshot eyes.

“I’ll do anything. Just gimme that…”

“…Is it that good?”

I was planning to use both bottles in this negotiation, but now I’m curious too.

He accepted after I showed him one bottle, so I’ll save the other one to drink with Sieglinde.

“Here, drink all you want. But remember, I need you to work too.”

I hand him the bottle, and he snatches it out of my hand.

He points the bottom of the bottle to the ceiling before it even hits his mouth, and its contents quickly move inside Romero.