Chapter 41

Continuing to practice with the bow, I gradually started to shoot arrows more or less straight. By "straight," I mean they fly toward the target, not that they hit the bullseye. Please note that they don't necessarily hit the target.

However, if I could get about 300 of me to form a line with bows, we might be able to mimic an archer unit using the sheer number of shots. But I shouldn't say that everything would be solved if 300 of me charged with bastard swords drawn.

I'm grateful to Rina and Ulrika, who taught me about archery. If it were a stubborn instructor from the guild, I would have quit after about three days. Rina was knowledgeable about accurate shooting, and Ulrika was skilled in practical shooting at moving targets or approaching prey. It's really hard to come by an environment where you can receive such specialized knowledge kindly.

Sometimes, Ulrika would leave my training to Rina and teach her instead, but overall, it was a comfortable practice time.

After each session, we would have a drink at the guild's tavern. Even though I treat them, they are young people. In another world, I would have to give them a few thousand yen as a gift on top of treating them. In that sense, I think this world is quite reasonable. ...What? I don't really understand what I'm saying myself.

"Hey, look, guys! Sir Chuck has brought some of Grandma Margot's special prosciutto!"

"Ooh!"

As usual, the three of us were drinking when Chuck entered, carrying a pig's leg. The yellowed fat, the shriveled and concentrated red meat—it was a ham log.

The guild suddenly became lively. Even though they usually eat dried meat to the point of being sick of it, there's a reason for this one. The reason is that the prosciutto made by the stubborn Grandma Margot is famously exquisite.

In this world, most prosciutto is so salty that it's almost inedible without desalination, often treated like preserved salted meat. When thinly sliced, it's not particularly delicious.

However, Grandma Margot's prosciutto is a different story. She reduces the salt content to the brink of spoilage. As a result, she reportedly spoils about half of the pork each time, but the select prosciutto that survives this rigorous process is as delicious as the prosciutto I ate in my previous life.

To put it simply, I love this prosciutto. And Grandma Margot only sells it to young men she likes. I'm not one of them. She's a crazy old lady. I doubt Chuck is happy about being liked by her either.

"I got it because Grandma Margot told me to take it. Let's share it with everyone here today! Oh, and I'll make sure to cut some for Elena and the receptionists too!"

"Thank you, Chuck."

The deliciousness of this prosciutto is well-known. No one feels bad about receiving it. The guild members' gazes naturally focused on Chuck and the others at the central table.

"I've never had it before."

"I haven't had it in over a year. Damn, I feel like having a strong drink."

I taught the noble method of making distilled spirits, but it hasn't been developed yet. Hurry up and invent whiskey and bring it to me.

"Grandma Margot has an ice room, right? Her meat is delicious. I haven't had it yet, though."

"Prosciutto is exceptional. Thinly sliced, it's even more exquisite. I've only had a few slices from someone else's generosity."

Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. I might give Chuck a shoulder rub today.

"But... I can't just give this away for free!"

"What did you say, you!"

"Do you want to die!"

"Are you just here to show off!"

"Shut up! I didn't say I wouldn't share! Let's play a game! Having delicious meat and eating it politely just isn't as exciting!"

Chuck grinned as he shaved the fat from the ham log on the table. An impatient person picked up the shaved fat and tried to eat it but quickly spat it out. It's not good, so don't bother.

"What kind of game, Chuck?"

"Listen well! The game we're about to play is... a lewd trivia battle! Two people face each other and share lewd trivia, and a judge decides the winner! The winner gets four slices, and the loser gets one slice!"

"Whoa!"

"I'm the one for lewd talk!"

"Absolutely!"

"Let's order more drinks! After all, I'll be eating prosciutto all I want today!"

It sounds like a middle school field trip. Chuck, the girl you like, Elena, is looking at your back with a very cold eye.

"Men are perverts, aren't they?"

"It's as lively as a harvest festival... every time..."

"Men are just like that..."

I can't say I don't understand. If Rina and Ulrika weren't here, I would have stood up and made a wrestler-like entrance to the central table. I want to eat prosciutto.

"But won't the judgment be ambiguous...? A lewd trivia judge..."

"Relax, Alex! We'll leave that to our leader, Dick Bart!"

"– I promise to be a fair judge. May you fight to your heart's content."

"Then I'm relieved!"

"Dick Bart can quantify lewdness!"

Dick Bart is well-respected... Recently, he's been in a financial bind and can't visit high-grade brothels, but he seems to have perked up a bit thanks to Chuck.

"Let's start slicing the meat!"

"I'll go first!"

"What! Then I'll be your opponent!"

Thus, the lewd trivia battle began at the central table. The men watching the battle were also getting excited, marking the start of a low-IQ brain battle.

"Listen up? This is a special piece of information... If you approach the girls on the street directly, you can get them for less than the usual price..."

"Really...!"

"Sure, Nate is the master of haggling! To get those cheap prostitutes even cheaper!"

"Cheapskate!"

"Shut up!"

"Damn... I won't lose! Listen up! The girls at 'The Goddess's Shed'... 'drink'!"

"What...!?"

"– The winner is Ruranzo!"

"Yay!"

"Wh-What, I lost...!?"

"– Haggling is part of the fun... but quality service information comes at a price... Nate, you neglected the basics."

"Here are four slices for Ruranzo, and one for Nate."

This is really hard to listen to. The topics are mostly about the red-light district or brothels, but the vivid anecdotes mixed in make it even worse. I can feel the heat from their enthusiasm...

But... prosciutto is so good. Damn, why does it smell so good? Grandma Margot, it's overripe... I'll pay, so please sell it to me...

"Hey, there, Mongrel, drinking alone... Aren't you going to join the game? Or can't you talk about brothels when surrounded by cute girls?"

"I'll join."

"Whoa, you're really hesitant... What! You're joining!?"

"I am. I want to eat prosciutto."

"Really, Mongrel...?"

"..."

You guys are misunderstanding.

I'm not the type to avoid such talk just because there are women around.

Especially for prosciutto! If I can eat prosciutto like the Parma ham from my previous life, I'll become as lewd as a lewd alien!

Sorry, Rina. Ulrika. I'd rather you didn't see me now.

"– Are you ready, Mongrel?"

"Yeah, I'm ready."

Mongrel and Dick Bart nodded at each other. What is this?

"Then I'll be your opponent!"

"No, Chuck, you're the one who brought the ham."

"Are you kidding? You're planning to take four slices and go back to that table to enjoy yourself with the girls, right? Do you think I'll let you do that!?"

"You're a lonely man, Chuck..."

"Shut up!"

It doesn't matter who my opponent is.

"Wait, has Mongrel ever visited a brothel?"

In response to Alex's question, I shook my head.

"I've been to the most expensive one a couple of times. The ones with baths."

"Really...?"

"– 'The Honey of the Golden Cup,' I see."

"Stop identifying places so quickly!"

"Rich, huh? I can't forgive you! By the way, what were the girls like?"

"Well, I got a bath and a body wash, so I don't really know much about the girls."

"What?!"

"You're a weirdo, aren't you?"

"...You were there for the bath, weren't you?"

Actually, I thought I'd have a good time, but the girl had a lot of body hair, which turned me off. I don't know why... It's just a personal preference...

"Mongrel... You're really underestimating me if you think you can win with that attitude..."

"Relax, Chuck. I have plenty of lewd knowledge!"

"Just because you visited a brothel with a bath, you think you have confidence? I won't lose to a virgin! I'll go first!"

"Chuck's first attack!"

"It's a done deal..."

What is this, a first-mover game?

"I'll use my best one... Listen up. At 'The Paradise Dorm,'... there are girls with amazing hand skills who offer a discount!"

"– Mira, right?"

"You know her, Dick Bart!"

"Yes... – This is going to be tough for Mongrel, isn't it?"

I don't get it! This is supposed to be lewd trivia, but it's all local discount information about brothels!

Who is Mira? Is she cute?

"Come on, Mongrel... How will you counter?"

Just by putting Mira in attack mode and ending your turn, you're so confident. Is Mira that good? I'm getting curious...

But...

...You guys are amateurs.

You've only accumulated lewd trivia through hearsay and a little experience...

Do you really think you can beat me, who has been immersed in the lewd culture of information society Japan?

"My turn. Listen up... 'Men can...'... 'orgasm from their nipples'!"

"Huh, what...?"

At that moment, Dick Bart's eyes widened!

"– The winner is Mongrel!"

"What...!?"

"No way, Dick Bart!"

"Why...!?"

"Mongrel's words are true... A man's nipples do not produce milk and exist solely for pleasure... I guarantee it!"

"Wow, that's amazing!"

"I didn't want to hear that personal experience..."

"Is that true...?"

"Did you...?"

"No, I heard it from a lewd evangelist I met on the street."

"What a lewd evangelist..."

"– Mongrel... It seems I must recognize you as a comrade in arms..."

"Sorry, but I'd rather not."

"– Hmph..."

So, I successfully got four slices of prosciutto.

The generous slices were long enough to serve as a good accompaniment to a light ale. Overeating is bad for your health.

"Hey, I won, you two."

"...Mongrel, you're lewd."

"Wow, you know a lot about that..."

I won and claimed the delicious meat. However, when I returned to the table, Rina looked at me with a cold eye, and Ulrika's face was red.

...Did I... lose something important in exchange for the prosciutto?

"Want to eat it together?"

"I'd like that."

"Me too..."

But the prosciutto we ate today was undoubtedly exquisite, and they seemed satisfied with its taste.

That's enough for me...