Chapter 57

After leaving the blacksmith Gieselheer's shop, we returned to our lodging, "The Nest of the Wild Buzzard." It was around five in the evening, and the adventurers staying at the inn were entering one after another.

We asked the innkeeper Mira for a bath. She said it would be ready in about thirty minutes, so I decided to practice my sword swings in the backyard. I started swinging my sword near the stable, but I was a bit conscious of the adventurers returning. No one approached me, but it must have been unusual to see a child practicing with a sword in an inn for adventurers.

(I should have started in a less conspicuous place. Well, it doesn't matter. The backyard isn't that big, and it would have been the same in the nearby square.)

At first, such thoughts crossed my mind, but as I started swinging my sword, they gradually disappeared. I liked this feeling of becoming empty-minded. In my previous life, I didn't have anything that could make me so focused. I thought that if I had been dedicated to something, I wouldn't have led such a gray life.

As cicadas chirped noisily, I continued swinging my sword for about thirty minutes. It was early evening in summer, so I was drenched in sweat. After practicing to my satisfaction, I returned to the room, took my change of clothes, and headed to the bath. The bath was next to the kitchen on the first floor and was separated for men and women. Inside, there was no bathtub, just a large basin on the stone floor.

(There's no bathtub, as expected... It seems that only high-end inns for wealthy merchants have bathtubs.)

I was disappointed but used soap to wash off the sweat.

(Since it's this time of summer, the lack of a bathtub isn't a big deal, but I need to think about something for Doctus...)

After changing my clothes, I took care of the leather items, except for the undergarments. I initially thought of washing the undergarments myself, but Guy strongly opposed it, so Sharon is washing them for me. However, I still feel embarrassed giving my dirty undergarments to a ten-year-old girl.

Guy, Ridi, and Sharon had also finished washing up and went down to the dining room. I don't know if Ridi has come to terms with it or if she judged the journey ahead to be relatively safe, but she was showing her face. Sharon and I didn't carry our swords, while Guy and Ridi did.

It was past six in the evening, and the dining room was quite crowded. Still, there were some empty seats in the large dining room, and we secured one table.

A female server came to take our order.

"Please choose from fish or meat dishes. We have ale, beer, and wine. Each drink costs 30e (300 yen) extra. We can also provide simple snacks if you ask."

We ordered the fish dish, Guy ordered beer, and Ridi ordered white wine. The dinner arrived in about ten minutes. As usual, I chilled Ridi's wine and Guy's beer to a crisp. Guy was initially hesitant but became satisfied after taking a sip.

The main dish was trout poached in a rich butter sauce with a hint of fresh herbs and a light touch of spices, which was exquisite. It came with a vegetable consomme-like soup and a baguette-like bread, both of which were quite delicious.

(The lunch was also good, but the cook here is really skilled. I should consider supplying scotch to this inn. The main issue is transportation and sales. Regarding sales, Joahn seems trustworthy when it comes to food, so selling in barrels shouldn't lower the quality. The problem is how to transport it here...)

During this journey, I realized that the road from Rasmoor Village to Periclitur is difficult for fragile items, and the Kalsch Pass is a challenging section. The Rockheart family can't afford to prepare their own wagons for the journey.

(Unless there's a reason for caravans to come, they won't visit Rasmoor Village. The village can currently sustain itself, and minor needs can be met by traders from Kilnareck, so there's no need to transport supplies to the village...)

I considered using the Norton caravan. This time, I joined them by chance, but his caravan transports iron products like weapons from Ars. Therefore, the wagons are sturdy but slow, and the 35 km from Bogwood to Kilnareck is a bottleneck.

From Bogwood to Rasmoor Village is 20 km, and from Rasmoor Village to Kilnareck is 25 km. The distance is just right. Additionally, Byron, who leads the guards, is cautious, ensuring safety. The problem is the poor road from the Ars Highway to Rasmoor Village.

(If the road is improved, there's little incentive for Norton to stop in Rasmoor Village. I need to think of an incentive for him to do so... Ah! The Rockheart family can transport it to Kilnareck...)

I realized I don't need to force caravans to come to Rasmoor Village. Luxury items like scotch don't need frequent transportation until they start selling explosively. Initially, one or two barrels a month should be enough, so reducing the load on the wagons would be sufficient.

If the load is lighter, the journey on the mountainous Ars Highway would be easier, and the risk of unforeseen events would be lower. Especially if it rains between Bogwood and Kilnareck, the possibility of camping would decrease, which would be a significant advantage.

Of course, the profit from weapons would decrease as the load from Ars is reduced, but if the risk of transportation is lowered, the profit margin from scotch, even if low, would still be beneficial.

(I'll visit the Norton trading company tomorrow. I should also talk to Byron, who seems to have a long relationship with them...)

With a tentative plan in place, I told Guy and the others about the scotch transportation and the schedule for the next day.

"Anyway, I want to visit the Norton trading company and Byron tomorrow. Do you have any plans?"

"Originally, I planned to go to the commercial district in the north, so there's no problem. However, while we can catch Norton, it's uncertain if we can catch Byron."

When I asked what he meant,

"He's a mercenary who has just finished a job, so he's probably letting off steam. He's likely to be in the red-light district in the west."

Sharon tilted her head at the mention of the red-light district and asked her father, Guy. Guy was at a loss for words but tried to explain. Ridi and I smiled at the scene.

"But, can we decide on our own? Don't we need Matt—Father Masias Rockheart's—permission?"

Shaking my head at Ridi's question,

"It's fine. I've already discussed it with Father, and he has entrusted this matter to me. Initially, someone from our family will transport it to Kilnareck, and then it will be picked up. I'll leave the details to Nicholas—Nicholas Garland, the squire in charge of internal affairs—who should be able to handle it."

After dinner, I took a bottle of scotch and sat at the counter with Guy. I called the innkeeper Joahn over when the kitchen was free.

"I have an interesting drink. Would you like to try it?"

Joahn perked up at my words, "An interesting drink?"

"It's something you've probably never tasted before. It's a specialty of my hometown, Rasmoor Village, but it's currently sold only to the dwarves in Ars..."

I explained about the scotch, gradually getting more enthusiastic.

"It's still a young drink, but it will get better with age. The dwarves in Ars sell it for two silver coins, or 20C, per mug..."

Joahn's eyes widened at the 20C price.

"20C... What kind of drink is it? Is it in the pot there?"

The long, narrow ceramic bottle looked like a pot to him.

I nodded and took out a wooden cup, pouring the scotch.

"It's strong, so take small sips. It's about five to six times stronger than ale."

I added ice made by magic to the scotch in the wooden cup.

Joahn was surprised, "You're a magician?" but quickly added, "That doesn't matter. Let me taste it."

I placed the cup in front of Joahn and warned him about the proper way to drink it.

"First, savor the aroma. If it's too strong, you can dilute it with water, but it should still taste good."

However, Joahn was completely focused on the high-quality drink in front of him and didn't seem to hear my advice.

He swallowed hard and took a sip. Immediately, he choked on the strong alcohol smell.

"What is this drink... But, it does have a unique aroma. It's not just the smell of the barrel... What do you add to it?"

"Nothing. The ingredients are just barley, water, and yeast for fermentation."

Joahn tilted his head at my words.

"No, my tongue and nose tell me differently. Confirm it with the person who made it."

I hesitated for a moment but replied,

"I came up with the method. I can assure you that nothing is added."

Joahn's eyes widened, and he took the cup away from his mouth. Then, he turned to Guy,

"I'm not doubting you, but is this true? Guy, you're not just flattering me, are you?"

"Yes, as Lord Zack said. This is something he thought of and had the village's brewing supervisor make."

Joahn looked at me, shook his head slightly, and said, "It doesn't seem like flattery," before taking another sip of the scotch. He finished the cup and asked for a straight shot without ice.

I silently poured a small amount of raw scotch from the bottle.

He slowly took a sip. For a moment, he grimaced but then seemed to savor the aroma.

The dining room was noisy, but a strange silence surrounded us.

After a while, Joahn began to share his thoughts.

"The ice makes it easier to drink, but we can't make ice here. It's too strong to dilute with water. Zack, did you let me taste this because you want to sell it here?"

I nodded, and he continued,

"I think this drink is good, but the price is too high. 20C is equivalent to a fifth-class adventurer's daily earnings. Only dwarves who are fond of drinking would buy it."

I had anticipated the price issue and had a plan.

"Scotch isn't meant to be gulped down in a mug. It's meant to be savored in small cups. So, it should be sold in small quantities. Also, the production is limited, so I only want to sell it to places that can appreciate it. I only plan to stock one or two places in Periclitur. It's already quite popular among the dwarves in Ars. Even if I sell it to their craftsmen, I think it will be profitable."

I suggested that it could be sold exclusively and that there was a market for it.

The dwarves in this city are either craftsmen or adventurers. Craftsmen, who are involved in the production of weapons, have a decent income. Dwarves who are adventurers are mostly below the seventh class, so they have a decent amount of money.

Moreover, the dwarf network is not to be underestimated. The reputation of the scotch, which is popular in Ars, might already have reached the dwarves in this city through the network of blacksmiths.

As can be seen from the blacksmiths in Ars, dwarves don't hesitate to spend money on drinks. Therefore, I thought that if I explained that the business could still be profitable even if it didn't sell to regular customers, Joahn would be convinced.

Joahn asked, "How much is a barrel?"

"The dwarves in Ars buy it for 1000C (1 million yen). The Rockheart family can't increase production, so we need that much to make a profit."

Joahn murmured, "1000C..."

For a prosperous inn in this city, spending 1 million yen on a single purchase is quite a challenge.

"I can offer you credit."

When I said that, Joahn exclaimed, "Really!"

"In return, there are two conditions. One is that the delivery will be in Kilnareck. That means you will bear the transportation costs and risks."

"Transportation costs... I don't have connections with merchants, but can you arrange it?"

I nodded.

"I'll negotiate tomorrow. I plan to finalize it the day after tomorrow."

"Understood. I