Chapter 8

"Sure, I can let him win. I'll have one of the guild members approach that Timis. If he doesn't want to needlessly sacrifice his subordinates, tell him to seek the guild's power on 12th Street. After that, it's up to that knight Timis to decide."

"...Thank you. Such an unreasonable request would normally be refused. Yet, you..."

"No, if it's impossible, I'd normally refuse it. I don't run the guild to take on troublesome tasks."

"Still, I'll be grateful. The king just wants to promote his daughter. If I prioritize protecting Timis, I can't fulfill her wishes. Even if they join the same unit and I let Timis deliver the final blow, I can't eliminate the risk of her being caught in the fire dragon's last rampage."

It was good that Codi could calmly analyze the situation—fire dragons often make a final stand when cornered, thrashing about or spewing breath attacks.

"Regarding the reward, it would be best to have Timis pay it."

"Depending on the situation, what she offers as a reward... well, we won't know until we talk to her."

"You're being mysterious... well, fine. Codi, leave the rest to me. Whether I accept the request will depend on the 'interview,' but I'll make sure she doesn't die, no matter what happens."

"...I'm sorry. I should be advising her not to rush into dangerous missions for promotion."

"Leave the preaching to someone who can afford to be disliked. The job of a knight commander is to always be respected... but let's leave the serious talk there. Since we're at a bar, let's have another drink."

I ended the conversation because Miralca and the others had come out of the private room. When they saw Codi, they greeted him lightly and took the empty seats at the counter. The seating order was me, Codi, Aileen, Miralca, and Manalina.

"Ah, Codi looks better. Did his worries go away?"

"No, he's just taken on another troublesome task. Thanks to Manalina, he seems a bit more relaxed, though."

"Your Highness, I'm very grateful for your help. I heard you advised the king about the relationship between the nobility and the knights..."

"Talking about such things isn't always good. Dick doesn't like standing out."

"What's that supposed to mean... but, I appreciate it. In my shop, I'd prefer not to have discussions on a national scale."

"Hehe, still, it's nostalgic. It's been a long time since we've all been together like this, hasn't it?"

Yuma, the last of the 'Miraculous Children,' is the busiest among us. At 14, he's the orphanage director and studying to be the next archbishop, leaving him almost no time to play.

However, Aileen and Miralca occasionally visit her. She wants to see me too, but I feel embarrassed about it. It's a complicated male heart.

"Customers, it's almost last call. Would you like anything else?"

"Ah, Sir Dick, could I ask you for one more thing? Could you make that 'special drink' for me again, like you did for me?"

"Ah, sure... I don't mind. Just wait a moment."

I secretly went to the kitchen and blended drinks for the four of them. For Miralca, I mixed a liqueur made from moonflower and juice from a royal papaya, hoping she would become a calm and graceful lady. For Aileen, who likes strong drinks, I served a high-proof dwarf fire liquor on the rocks made from eternal ice from the permafrost. For Manalina, I combined cherry wine, a traditional Albein Kingdom drink, with cream and added syrup to make it easier to drink. For Codi, who likes ale, I simply refilled his glass. I also planned to stick with ale tonight—usually, I don't get drunk on one type of alcohol, so I need to drink multiple types to feel tipsy.

Velleine, my bartender, brought the blended drinks to everyone. Finding a craftsman who could make various glass shapes was quite challenging, but the glasses for the blended drinks couldn't be the same as the ale mugs. I've come to realize that enjoying the atmosphere is part of drinking.

"...Dick, where did you learn these recipes?"

"Well, I've been experimenting on my own. I have the time... Oh, right. Miralca, just to be sure, are you old enough to drink?"

"Um, yes... oh..."

Miralca looked as if she had realized something. She should be around 16, or just turning 16—her birthday was around this time, I think.

"...Ah! Miralca, is today your birthday? A year ago, you couldn't drink, but you said you could next year."

"...Yes, that's right."

"That's great. We can celebrate, even if it's by chance. ...Did you know, Dick?"

Of course, I didn't know, but Miralca looked surprised.

If she thought I knew and was celebrating her birthday, she might think highly of me and become more affectionate. It would be good for my mental health, but it's too good to be true.

"...Miralca, what's wrong?"

"...No, nothing. I just got something in my eye..."

Aileen, worried, saw Miralca pressing a handkerchief to her eyes. Her tears wouldn't stop, and she remained bowed.

I received everyone's gaze except for Miralca's. Codi, who is weak with women when it comes to himself but meddlesome when it comes to others, looked at me as if to say, "Say something nice."

"...Well, if it's your birthday, that's quite a special occasion."

"Wow, that's so vague. You're totally blushing."

"Miralca, congratulations. On such occasions, people usually clink glasses, right?"

Miralca, realizing she couldn't hide it, raised her still red face and glared at me as if to say, "What's your problem?" I could only smile wryly.

"...Customers, I'll leave it to you."

"Don't you try to drink too, you're on duty."

"I'm a bartender, so drinking as part of my job is quite elegant, don't you think?"

Velleine, pouring expensive drinks into glasses, looked particularly stylish, thanks to her elfish appearance. Her favorite drink is the spirit wine she had when she first came to the shop. She loves anything that's nourishing and often soaks new ingredients to create new drinks.

"Whether it's elegant or not, I don't know, but fine. To the success of the mission and your birthday. Cheers!"

"...Saying it's to avoid standing out and omitting names... well, it's fine."

"Cheers! Wooh, I'm still drinking tonight!"

"Really? You've already opened a bottle of strong liquor..."

"Aileen doesn't get drunk easily, so she drinks like water. I'm completely different."

Until she grew into a proper drinker, I used to see her become more seductive when drunk—though, if that continued, I might have ended up in a compromising situation, which might have been for the best.

"Ku, it feels like my eyes are on fire! Dwarf liquor makes your body feel like lava!"

"The purity is so high, it might actually catch fire..."

"Let's celebrate with Aileen's fire breath. I always have flint."

"If the strongest martial artist of the demon race starts breathing fire, it will add another legend. I can't fall behind."

Talking like this reminds me of our travels. Correcting their outrageous actions every day—though nostalgic, I don't want to repeat that journey.

"Hehe... Everyone, you really are close. It's no wonder you defeated the demon king with such strong people as friends."

"Indeed... No, nothing, customers."

The demon king, who almost slipped, quickly covered up. Manalina, who doesn't know the demon king's face, wouldn't even dream that he was right in front of her.

Miralca and Manalina tasted the drinks I made. Based on my experience, I think these drinks suit their types and taste good, but this moment is the most nerve-wracking.

"...I thought alcohol was bitter, but it's not always like that."

"Mmm... It's delicious. It's so smooth, I can't even tell if there's alcohol in it."

"I made it stronger for you two, now that you're adults."

"What are you talking about, you're only two years older. You look like an adult, but you're not even 20 yet. Don't be fooled, Manalina."

"I know Sir Dick's age from when I first met him. I was surprised by how mature he looked when I met him again."

I try to maintain a certain level of appearance, even when drunk, to avoid driving away customers. I also get scolded by Velleine and Aileen if I look too sloppy.

Whether I look more mature or not, I think I've changed over the past five years. I don't get sick from drinking, and I can neutralize the alcohol with medical magic to avoid hangovers, which is appreciated by guild members who can then perform their duties the next day.

Thinking this, I believed Miralca and Manalina would be fine, but...

Miralca, who initially sipped elegantly, finished the glass in one gulp when it was half empty. Manalina, staring at her glass, took small sips, but she finished the strong drink in a short time.

"Miralca, Manalina. It might be sweet and easy to drink, but it's still a strong drink. Be careful."

"...It's my birthday, why should I hold back? Just give me another one."

"No... that's enough. You'll stagger home and can't get back."

As a more experienced drinker, I kindly warned them—Miralca, however, stood up and placed her hand on my shoulder, leaning in.

"Too close... How can you get drunk after just one drink? You only had juice in the private room!"

"...After teaching me the taste of such a delicious drink, how can you leave me hanging?"

"Sir Dick, I also want another drink... Could you extend the last call just once?"

The golden and black-haired beauty duo asked me for more drinks. I regretted not giving them a drink that tasted like alcohol but was weaker, but it was too late.

"Then... after closing, it would be an off-menu order, right?"

"Ah... I get it. It's my own doing. What do you want?"

"I want a delicious drink. Anything made by Sir Dick..."

"I want... the same as before. It was so delicious, I could drink it all..."

"Are you trying to get me? I won't let you drink to the point of collapse. One more, that's it."

"Sir Dick, can I have one more? I'll go back to the knight's quarters after this."

I worried that Codi's image might suffer if he returned smelling of alcohol, but he would still look fresh even when drunk. Using sobering magic when he's just tipsy would be a bit unrefined.