CH 214

「…Puha~」(Felnote)

What I swallowed has the sweetness of the fruit, with a spiciness of the alcohol lingered on my tongue.

I feel that my consciousness floats softly (drunk).

As I’m enjoying this feeling, I talk to the person sitting face to face with me.

「…inviting me for a drink tasting huh, how rare of you, Aoba.」(Felnote)

「Yes, well… I was wondering if it would be right for me to check the result of fruit wine.

Or rather, Felnote-san is the only person who can drink other than me.」(Aoba)

「Richelle is a dark elf so I think it’s okay for her as well…

Even so, we have been staying here to the extent that you can make fruit wine.」(Felnote)

Was it just about 30 days today?

I think it’s a long stay, but I have a lot of things to do, so I almost forget about time.

「Well, this is good. Considering it’s a preparation state」(Felnote)

「We can’t drink it on the battlefield though.」(Aoba)

「By the way, this is easy to swallow. There is no astringency」(Felnote)

「Technically speaking it’s not wine. It’s like fruits soaked in sugar and liquor.」(Aoba)

「Fu~un…」(Felnote)

This is the first type of fruit wine I drank. Did she invent it?

She is the Queen of the Forest, Sherwood, and apparently intends to gain the right for territory in exchange for putting the end to this war.

I’m grateful for someone who has a clear interest.

She won’t betray us unless her interest is taken.

Above all, Aoba seems to be an acquaintance of Arge. In that case, I can trust her.

When I take another slip, I notice that even it’s easy to drink but also easy to get drunk as well.

I don’t drink a lot like a drunk but let’s keep it in moderation.

「Even so, don’t you have such luxurious things here?」(Felnote)

「These things are necessary for people like humans.

There are no humans in my forest, but …

There are many things that have hearts, and they aren’t so different from people.」(Aoba)

「…I see」(Felnote)

Aoba’s words sound dignified, or rather, they are unwavering.

There may be a reason for her to be able to assert so clearly like that.

But I didn’t think about digging it up.

I will listen if she wants to talk about it though.

「Thanks to the leader, people have a friendly atmosphere, but not everyone is like that.」(Aoba)

「It can’t be helped …

Because some people have lost their homes and important people.」(Felnote)

「Yes. That’s why I decided to make wine, fruits, medicine, and flowers to make even one more of them remember the feeling of having fun.」(Aoba)

Shaking the cup, Aoba drank the liquor in one breath.

「… Yes. It tastes good」(Aoba)

「You drank it…」(Felnote)

「Or rather, my circulatory function is so strong that Alraune can’t get drunk.

That’s why I invited Felnote-san to see how strong the alcohol is.」(Aoba)

…So that’s why.

Convinced by that reason, I look at the liquid remaining in the glass.

It has the color of the fruit, it’s a red color like a ruby.

「It’s called Bayberry, do you know?」(Aoba)

「I haven’t heard of it」(Felnote)

「Is that so. Because I improved the varieties」(Aoba)

「Aha. What’s with that, I don’t know such things」(Felnote)

「No, I was wondering if it already exists in this world」(Aoba)

I think that this kind of sensation is somewhat similar to Arge.

It’s understandable if they are relatives, but since they Alraune and Vampire, it probably won’t happen.

「…The Empire, huh」(Felnote)

I’ve been hearing a lot of nostalgic names these days.

When I was a knight, I fought with them many times.

But I think the empire now is much more troublesome than it used to be.

A hunting dog (hound) unit on an iron ship flying in the sky.

And the powerful magic tool (Artifact), Artificial Spirits.

The most surprising is all of them were brought by a single engineer.

「Do you remember something in the old days?」(Aoba)

「That’s right. Just a little.

But it seems more troublesome than when I was a knight」(Felnote)

「…Kuon’s family is dangerous」(Aoba)

「Do you know about it? I’ve never heard of it」(Felnote)

「… Well, just a little. It’s some rumors」(Aoba)

Did the name I had never heard of when I was a knight become famous while I was retired?

I thought I had read the newspaper without fail, but when I left the line, I wouldn’t be able to get the latest information.

「Hmm … well, if it’s about that airship, You can crash about five ships」(Aoba)

「Just now, I’ve heard words that I can’t ignore …」(Felnote)

「Because the movement was slow no matter how you look at it, their arms for interception are also just cannons.

「“Zudon”……」(Felnote)

(T.N: Maybe Aoba means to cut it with Felnote’s sword of light like Excalibur)

Did she just say something strange?

At least I don’t think it’s as troublesome as cutting the mountain in half or fighting that black wings.

I drank the rest of the liquor, tilting my head toward Aoba.

She poured more wine right away, so I didn’t even need to talk.

「… What will Aoba do when this battle is over?」(Felnote)

「That’s the death flag」(Aoba)

「Flag…？」(Felnote)

「Ah no. Nothing. As the Queen of Sherwood, I wonder if I’m going to make a triumphant return with Arge-san.」(Aoba)

「Eh, you are going to take Arge?!」(Felnote)

「Yes, well… that’s our promise in the first place」(Aoba)

I was surprised because it was my first time hearing this.

「Arge-san has already worked hard a lot.

I also want her to live a leisurely time in my forest.」(Aoba)

「…You are really concerned about that girl」(Felnote)

「I have known her since forever」(Aoba)

The words spoken were so clear as if even before they were born.

「What is Felnote-san going to do?」(Aoba)

「I… I am… uhm…」(Felnote)

「In my opinion, I think that if we end this war successfully, you will be praised as a savior.」(Aoba)

「…Ah」(Felnote)

Certainly, Aoba and Arge are doing so for Her Majesty.

If I fight the empire and stop the war, my name will be known. Her Majesty would be happy to pull me back into the kingdom.

I don’t hate to serve the palace again, but it’s true that I don’t want to stand out too much.

For some reason, I also enjoyed my retired life.

「Your face showed that you only noticed it just now, right?」(Aoba)

「…U~u, what should I do?」(Felnote)

「Fufu. Would you like to come to my forest to hide?」(Aoba)

「I’ll think about it …」(Felnote)

Aoba smiled happily at the sight of me began to sweat.

「…Fu fu fu」(Aoba)

「What’s with that? Do you have fun?」(Felnote)

「No. I’m not thinking about anything other than winning this war」(Aoba)

「Isn’t that obvious?」(Felnote)

Thinking about when you lost is just running away.

We can think about the future because we have a strong will to win.

Because I strongly believe that we will win and survive.

「Win. Exactly, let’s finish it… we will go home, all of us, Aoba」(Felnote)

「Yes. of course. At that time, let’s drink alcohol again」(Aoba)

「Fu~u. That’s good」(Felnote)

The fun has increased more.

I don’t think I hate it and I drink more fruit wine.